PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS MEDICAL NEWS

A LITTLE WORKPLACE HUMOR MIGHT GET PEOPLE BACK ON TRACK
April 15, 2002 ATLANTA (Cox News Service) -

Laughter is good medicine for what ails you at work. "There's an amazing
amount of benefit to just having a laugh break," says Susan Bixler, president
of The Professional Image Inc. "Who doesn't think better after they've
laughed?" Professional Image is an Atlanta consulting firm that conducts
seminars and workshops to help companies
develop effective internal communication.

In times when work-related stress and economic pressures are no joke, a
little humor in the workplace might be just what the doctor ordered.

"It can be used as a way of bonding. It can be used as a way of recovering.
It can get us back on track," Bixler says. "It takes sharing laughs to have a
real business. I don't think I've ever seen a real healthy corporate
environment without some laughter, and I've been doing (consulting) for 22
years. Offices have to laugh. It's a good thing."

It's an especially good thing in times of change, says Lee Kricher, who is
regional vice president for Linkage Inc., a leadership development firm with
offices in Marietta, Ga.
"Because change is so high anxiety, I find humor can be a great way to
relieve that tension and help people to keep perspective," Kricher says.
Denial, resistance, exploration and commitment are the predominant phases
that people experience in the face of change, Kricher says. "I think it's
particularly during the denial and resistance phases that you really try to
get people to keep a perspective on what's going on in the situation, and I
think humor can help do that. Humor is one way to alleviate some of the
tension." That can be a serious benefit in a fast-paced work environment.

"We use humor on a day-to-day basis," says Lynn P. Hood, president of Hood
Marketing Solutions in Atlanta. "We're in a stressful business with tight
deadlines, sometimes ridiculously so. To diffuse that, we have a lot of
humor."

Exactly what is and isn't funny depends on your workplace, sources say. There
is no one-joke-fits-all approach to livening up the work atmosphere. Some
companies, once or twice a week, especially during stressful times, will
bring in short funny movies at lunch, Bixler says.

"There are a number of different strategies. I think it's fine to have books
of cartoons, some anthologies of"Dilbert" and "The Far Side," or whatever
makes you happy, on hand for a five-minute happy break. Or, you can have
someone you can call who makes you laugh," she says. "It's a whole lot more
to laugh with other people. It's an act of release. It's an act of
camaraderie."

When it comes to implementing new procedures or in training situations,
adding a little levity to the discussion can be a great way of easing
anxiety. "Humor used within a context of learning can be an effective
disarming mechanism because people bring so many different things into a
learning situation," Kricher says. "It's a way to make people comfortable.
When people are laughing, especially with colleagues, it just creates a
positive environment for learning."

Knowing how to use humor effectively is a mark of good leadership, Kricher
argues.
"When you think about the fact that such a large portion of our lives is
spent at the workplace - for that to be a humorless existence, that really
doesn't make sense," he says. "I think a huge part of a role of a leader is
to make that extensive time that peoples' lives are in the workplace under
your sphere of influence an enjoyable environment. When you talk about
retention, one of the top reasons people give is, 'I don't enjoy my job."' A
little humor in the workplace can go a long way to change that sentiment,
Kricher says.

Guidelines for humor in business:
Susan Bixler: "It should never be at the expense of someone else. If it's
going to be hurtful, sexist, if it's cruel, if it's obscene, if it's racist -
all that ends up being so hurtful, and many people don't even find it funny."

Lee Kricher: "I'm not talking practical jokes."

Lynn Hood: "It has to be clean. I think that you really can't be sexually
suggestive. That's offensive, and you can't be ethnic. You can't really make
religious jokes, either."

Kricher: "Self-effacing humor is the best and safest route. The main person
you should pick on in humor is yourself. Then I think you're pretty safe in a
work environment." Hood agrees: "You can laugh at yourself for being in a bad
mood on Monday morning. You can laugh at yourself for having a messy desk.
Mine is atrocious! You can be defensive or you can laugh about it: "Oh, it's
probably buried on my desk."
Copyright 2002 Cox News Service.

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NEW ARTHRITIS DRUG SEEKS APPROVAL IN U.S. & EUROPE
April 9 - By Julie Steenhuysen and Ben Hirschler CHICAGO/LONDON (Reuters)

Abbott Laboratories Inc. said on Tuesday it had filed for regulatory approval
of a new rheumatoid arthritis drug, developed by British biotechnology group
Cambridge Antibody Technology Plc. If approved by U.S. and European
regulators, the drug -- known by the codename D2E7 -- will be the first fully
human monoclonal antibody to
reach the market. The injectable medicine is designed to intercept the
process that causes
joint inflammation by targeting and blocking the activity of proteins that
regulate the body's inflammatory response.

In its fourth-quarter conference call, Abbott described it as a potential
blockbuster and industry analysts estimate it could generate peak sales of
between $500 million and $1 billion a year. CAT will receive a royalty
payment of around 3.5 percent on Abbott's
sales -- a relatively low rate reflecting the fact that CAT signed the
licensing deal when it was a private company with little negotiating clout.
D2E7 is CAT's most advanced product.

The Cambridge-based company will not receive any milestone payment following
the filing but will get a fee if the drug is finally approved. The strength
of Abbott's regulatory submission is expected to become clearer when Phase
III clinical data on D2E7 is presented at a European League Against
Rheumatism meeting in Stockholm in June.

NEW DRUG CLASS - Most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients currently treat the
disease with a variety of anti-inflammatory drugs, but D2E7 is part of a new
class of
drugs that uses monoclonal antibodies to inhibit inflammation-causing
proteins.
Monoclonal antibodies mimic naturally occurring antibodies. Current drugs
using monoclonal antibodies to treat RA are either man-made or made with a
portion of mouse protein. But because D2E7 is the first monoclonal antibody
made entirely from
human protein, it is essentially indistinguishable from antibodies present in
the human body. This should minimize adverse side effects. Analysts believe
the overall market for antibody drugs to treat RA could reach $3 billion to
$5 billion within the next few years. Johnson & Johnson and Immunex Corp.
already have competing drugs on the market.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disorder in which afflicts about five
million
people worldwide. Abbott based its submissions in the United States and
Europe on 23 clinical trials involving more than 2,300 RA patients in North
America, Europe and Australia. Patients received a dose of the drug every
other week.
Copyright 2002 Reuters News Service.

********************************

I am continuing our series on other forms of arthritis related diseases. This
is our eighth, and will deal with a disease that so many members live with
and battle everyday. It's called Fibromyalgia

WHAT IS FIBROMYALGIA?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread
musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. "Tender points"
refers to tenderness that occurs in precise, localized areas, particularly in
the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. People with this syndrome may also
experience sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome,
anxiety, and other symptoms.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FIBROMYALGIA?
According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia affects 3 to
6 million Americans. It primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but
children, the elderly, and men can also be affected.
WHAT CAUSES FIBROMYALGIA?
Although the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have several
theories about causes or triggers of the disorder. Some scientists believe
that the syndrome may be caused by an injury or trauma. This injury may
affect the central nervous system. Fibromyalgia may be associated with
changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue
and decreased strength. Others believe the syndrome may be triggered by an
infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people, but no such agent has
been identified.
HOW IS FIBROMYALGIA DIAGNOSED?
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms mimic
those of other disorders. The physician reviews the patient's medical history
and makes a diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on a history of chronic
widespread pain that persists for more than 3 months. The American College of
Rheumatology (ACR) has developed criteria for fibromyalgia that physicians
can use in diagnosing the disorder. According to ACR criteria, a person is
considered to have fibromyalgia if he or she has widespread pain in
combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites.

HOW IS FIBROMYALGIA TREATED?
Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive approach. The physician,
physical therapist, and patient may all play an active role in the management
of fibromyalgia. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, such as swimming
and walking, improves muscle fitness and reduces muscle pain and tenderness.
Heat and massage may also give short-term relief. Antidepressant medications
may help elevate mood, improve quality of sleep, and relax muscles. Patients
with fibromyalgia may benefit from a combination of exercise, medication,
physical therapy, and relaxation.

Editors Note: During my last Doctors' appointment earlier this month, I
received news that I now have joined the ranks of those who fight the battle
of Fibromyalgia.

********************************

HUSBANDS OF FIBROMYALGIA SUFFERERS IN SLIGHTLY POORER HEALTH, MORE DEPRESSED
THAN OTHER MEN
(Center for the Advancement of Health) --

Men whose wives suffer from fibromyalgia, a painful rheumatic disorder, have
slightly worse health, including higher rates of stress and depression, than
other men. But the same new research that reveals these differences also
indicates that they are not as great as predicted, possibly because the
husbands have developed ways of coping.

Authors Silvia M. Bigatti, Ph.D., of Indiana University Purdue University
Indianapolis and Terry A. Cronan, Ph.D., of San Diego State University
recruited 135 male volunteers whose wives or long-term partners suffered from
fibromyalgia syndrome. For purposes of comparison, the investigators also
recruited 153 men with healthy wives from the same Southern California HMO.

All of the men completed questionnaires revealing details of their physical
and emotional health. The men whose wives suffered from fibromyalgia also
indicated how much the illness had affected their lives. A review of each
man's medical records revealed how extensively he had used health care
services during the previous year.

The results, published in the March issue of Health Psychology, reveal that
despite a few significant differences between the two groups of men, the men
whose wives face fibromyalgia are more average than expected in several ways.

While the spouses of fibromyalgia patients are in poorer health than the
spouses of well women, their health scores are still within normal range for
their age. The observed differences in health scores do not appear to be
related to the severity of their wives' illness, or to its perceived effect.

Spouses of women with fibromyalgia do experience more depression and
loneliness, and report more stress and fatigue, than spouses of well women.
However, scores for all three problems generally fall within, or very close
to, normal range. In addition, other indicators of psychosocial well-being --
including self-rated satisfaction with life, tension and anxiety -- were
similar in the two groups of men.

Health care costs in the two groups of men also are similar.

While these findings are less dramatic than expected, they are nevertheless
revealing, the investigators conclude.

"A possible explanation … is that we were observing [individuals] who had
successfully adapted to the chronic illness in their partners," Bigatti
notes. "Participants reported that [fibromyalgia] symptoms in their wives had
begun on average nine years earlier," she explains, which "may have been
sufficient for these spouses to develop resources for dealing with the
changes caused by the disorder."

The way participants were selected also supports the idea that the men, as
well as their wives, were a particularly well-adjusted group and not
necessarily representative of all couples coping with fibromyalgia. All of
the women with fibromyalgia were voluntarily enrolled in a clinical study,
and their spouses had accepted an invitation to participate in the present
study.

When study participation is voluntary, Bigatti points out, "those who are
dealing poorly with their situation or who are under extreme stress"
generally don't have the strength or time to participate.

Future research is advisable to "determine whether spousal adjustment to
[fibromyalgia] varies as a function of time since diagnosis, as it does with
other chronic illnesses," Bigatti concludes. If this is true, she suggests
that insights gleaned from men like those in her study "might lead to the
development of effective interventions," such as support groups, for others
facing a chronic illness in the family.

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CLARITIN, ALLEGRA, AND ZYRTEC COULD MOVE OVER-THE-COUNTER

Drugmakers are in a quandary over how to get the most mileage out of their
profitable allergy drugs, weighing whether 3 years of exclusivity on
over-the-counter sales would stem competition from generics.Last year, the
drugmakers opposed a petition to move such popular medicines as
Schering-Plough Corp.'s Claritin to over-the-counter status.

But some analysts believe their resistance was just a smoke screen until the
companies take the drugs out of the pharmacy's domain and onto drugstore
shelves.

Such a move to make allergy drugs available to the public without a doctor's
prescription could be initiated by companies rather than by the US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), although the agency would still have to clear the
switch.

Normally, when allergy sufferers seek relief, they need a prescription to get
antihistamines like Claritin, which costs $65 per month or more with a
prescription.

But consumers could soon face an unusual choice -- either grab cheaper and
more convenient Claritin from a drugstore shelf, or go to the doctor and
obtain a prescription for an even cheaper generic version. Schering-Plough
might be able to soften the blow from generic competition by opting to be the
sole manufacturer of Claritin for over-the-counter sales.

Pfizer Inc. could make similar moves with their Zyrtec and Allegra drugs.
Officials at Pfizer and Aventis said the firms oppose a forced switch by the
FDA, but neither company would comment on their own possible plans to
initiate it.

The main US patent for Zyrtec does not expire until 2007, and Allegra is
already facing legal challenges from generics, but analysts do not expect
copycats until late 2003 or 2004. Reuters - New York

******************************

FDA APPROVES NEW INDICATION AND LABEL CHANGES FOR THE ARTHRITIS DRUG, VIOXX
April 11, 2002 ROCKVILLE, MD (FDA) --

FDA has approved a supplemental application for the use of Vioxx (rofecoxib)
for rheumatoid arthritis adding the indication to the previously approved
indications for osteoarthritis and pain. FDA has also approved new label text
and precautions that are based on the results of the Vioxx Gastrointestinal
Outcomes Research (VIGOR).

The VIGOR study, a prospective, randomized, double-blind, one year study,
evaluated approximately 4000 patients on Vioxx 50 mg a day (twice the highest
approved dose for chronic use) and approximately 4000 patients on the
standard dose of naproxen (1000 mg a day), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug (NSAID). Patients who were under treatment with low dose aspirin for
heart attack prevention were excluded from the study.

The study demonstrated that Vioxx was associated with a lower incidence of
serious upper gastrointestinal(GI) adverse events of major bleeding,
perforation and obstruction compared to naproxen. The reduction in risk was
over 50 percent in cumulative rates for Vioxx (.52%) compared to naproxen
(1.22%).

An additional finding in the study, however, was that there was a higher
cumulative rate of serious cardiovascular thromboembolic adverse events (such
as heart attacks, angina pectoris, and peripheral vascular events) in the
Vioxx group (1.8%) compared to the naproxen group (0.6%). Data from two
smaller studies comparing placebo and Vioxx 25 mg daily did not show a
difference in the rate of serious cardiovascular thromboembolic adverse
events. The relationship of the cardiovascular findings in the VIGOR study to
use of Vioxx is not known.

After carefully reviewing the results of the VIGOR Study, FDA agreed with the
Arthritis Advisory Committee recommendations of February 8, 2001 that the
label for Vioxx should include the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular
information. The committee advised that the NSAID-class warning regarding GI
adverse events should be modified, but not removed from the VIOXX label. This
warning advises patients and their doctors about the risks of GI ulcers,
bleeding, and perforation.

The committee also advised that the CV findings should be included in the
Vioxx label to provide doctors and patients with the available data on the
potential risks and benefits of Vioxx compared to naproxen. The new labeling
information approved by FDA will advise doctors to use caution in prescribing
Vioxx for patients with ischemic heart disease and notes that Vioxx 50 mg is
not recommended for chronic use.

In addition, the new label provides information from studies of patients with
rheumatoid arthritis at the chronic dose of 25 mg, showing that Vioxx was
associated with a higher incidence of hypertension compared to naproxen 1000
mg.

In addition, the geriatric section of the label will reinforce information in
the existing standard warning section of all NSAIDs indicating that the
elderly are at higher risk of serious GI and renal events such as GI bleeding
and acute renal failure.

**********************************

GREEN TEA EXTRACT POLYPHENOL MAY HAVE PROTECTIVE EFFECT ON PARKINSON'S
DISEASE April 16, 2002 DENVER, CO (American Academy of Neurology)

Polyphenol, a potent antioxidant found in green tea, has already been shown
to have protective effects on several disease processes, including some
cancers and forms of heart disease. Researchers have now shown that green tea
polyphenols may also have a protective effect on Parkinson's disease,
according to a study presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy
of Neurology.

Previous studies indicate that green tea extracts may have protective effects
on Parkinson's disease in test animals, yet the underlying protective
mechanisms were not clear. Today's study demonstrates the possible mechanism
by which polyphenol protects against Parkinson's disease.

The main pathologic and biochemical characteristic of Parkinson's disease is
the selective cell death of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain called
substantia nigra and marked decrease in dopamine neurotransmitter produced by
these neurons. "We tested the levels of dopamine uptake density in a
controlled study of mice and the protective effects on dopaminergic neurons
against neurotoxin MPP+-induced injury before and after treatment with
polyphenol," says study author Tianhong Pan, M.D., Ph.D., of Baylor College
of Medicine in Houston. "Our results indicate the mechanism, or action, of
polyphenol is to inhibit the uptake of dopamine or MPP+ by blocking dopamine
transporter (DAT), suggesting that its protective effect in Parkinson's
disease is its ability to block the DAT-dependent uptake of environmental
neurotoxin." Clinical effects of polyphenol on human Parkinson's disease
patients remain to be studied. In addition to being a major component of
green tea, polyphenol can also be found in a concentrated capsule form.

*********************************

FREE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
Aug. 26, 2000 (CBS)

Many patients may not be aware that there are prescription drugs available
for those who could not afford to pay for the high cost of medications.
And it is true, they are free.

Julia Erwin cannot afford the chemotherapy she needs in her battle against
breast cancer. "It would have been so expensive, I think for one month,
$4000," says Erwin, a cancer patient.

That's exactly why she's getting her medication for FREE, thanks to the
aggressiveness of her doctor and his staff. "Free medications are readily
available and they should be used,
because that's what they are there for," says Denise Seth-Hunter, doctor's
office administrator.

They are readily available because of little-publicized assistance programs
sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. This year alone, drug companies
will give away almost a billion dollars' worth of prescription drugs to two
million Americans, patients like Donna Betsch and her family.

Betsch works two jobs, both without benefits and makes about $30,000 a year.
Her husband has been unemployed since January. "You have to pay rent, you
have to pay for food," says Betsch. "I have two children, so right now to buy
health insurance, it's astronomical. For me, it's impossible."

She and her daughter both need thyroid medicine. Everyday her husband has to
take blood pressure pills. And today she's applying for free ulcer
medication. A doctor can certify that it is a hardship for her to pay for the
medication, then, she will be given a three-month's supply.

To qualify, applicants must show they have no insurance coverage for
outpatient prescription drugs; that their income must be low enough that
paying for medicine would pose a hardship; and that they do not qualify for
Medicaid. In some cases, households with incomes as high as $50,000 can
receive free drugs.
Who Qualifies?- NO INSURANCE COVERAGE - INCOME IS AT HARDSHIP LEVELS - NOT
QUALIFIED FOR MEDICAID - UP TO $50,000 INCOME

What a patient should do is get in touch with their individual doctor to be
able to determine whether they will be eligible for a specific program, for a
specific medicine. Patients must apply for the free medicines through their
physician. But some doctors say the process can be daunting. "A lot of the
paperwork is very complicated," says Dr. Kevin Maloney, a family physician.
"Some of the forms that the pharmaceutical companies require are a pain in
the neck to do."

But a non-profit organization, called The Medicine Program, can help simplify
the application process. "Our purpose has been to spread the word," says Dan
Hogg of The Medicine Program. "We just serve as a middleman, a patient's
advocate."

For just $5, refundable if you don't qualify for the free drugs, The Medicine
Program helps physicians and patients fill out the forms and get them to the
right pharmaceutical company.

"You should not be embarrassed or ashamed," says Denise Seth-Hunter, doctor's
office administrator. "You should seek what you can get for free, and it's
out there for anybody who wants it."

Average prices for prescription drugs in the United States are the highest in
the world, hitting the uninsured and seniors the hardest. A recent study
indicates that elderly health care costs now run an average of $12,000 a year
- making these prescription drug assistance programs even more important - if
only people in need knew they
existed.

Useful Web Sites
http://www.phrma.org/patients (for a directory of drug company assistance
programs)
http://www.medicineprogram.com (for assistance in filling out forms)
Copyright 2000. CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved

Editors Note: Even though this information is from an August 2000 report, I
have visited both the listed web sites and they are still viable. If anyone
has tried this and been successful, send an e-mail to our group and let us
know how it worked out. Some people have to make decisions every day whether
they are going to buy food or medications, or a little of both. Many senior
citizens are caught in this reality.

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SEVEN DRUG COMPANIES ISSUE DISCOUNT CARD
April 10, 2002 - WASHINGTON (AP)

Seven major drug companies are offering elderly consumers a discount card
that will let them save on more than 100 brand-name drugs.

The Together RX Card will be offered free to eligible Medicare enrollees, the
companies said.

Participating in the new card are Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca, Aventis,
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson and Johnson and Novartis.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, in a statement, called
the card a "tremendous new initiative."

In announcing the card the companies said it will offer discounts on more
than 145 widely used drugs, including many used to treat asthma, arthritis,
depression, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

There is no charge for the cards, which will be available to people who lack
prescription drug coverage and have incomes of up to $28,000, or $38,000 for
couples.

The companies said discounts will range from 20 percent to 40 percent off the
price individuals usually pay.

Enrollment for the Together RX Card begins immediately and the cards become
effective in June, according to the announcement.

The companies said other drug firms are welcome to join the group.

Two other major pharmaceutical companies have announced their own discount
cards - Pfizer, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Co.

Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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NEW STUDIES LINK RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND HEART DISEASE

Two new studies report a link between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease.
Both studies suggest that people with rheumatoid arthritis should pay extra
attention to their heart health, and may wish to seek aggressive screenings
from their doctors.
In one study, people with rheumatoid arthritis were found to be nearly three
times as likely to suffer symptoms of heart disease (atherosclerosis) as
people who did not have RA. Atherosclerosis is a condition in which fatty
deposits build up in the arteries, resulting in smaller pathways for blood to
flow through. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, congestive heart
failure, and other cardiovascular events. Obesity, poor diet, diabetes,
smoking, and high blood pressure all can contribute to atherosclerosis. The
new research suggests that rheumatoid arthritis is another factor increasing
your risk.

The study, reported in the December 2001 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism,
was lead by Inmaculada del Rincon , MD, and colleagues from the University of
Texas Health Science Center.

"The main message is that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a predisposition
to atherosclerosis and have increased incidence of cardiovascular events
compared with persons of the same age and sex," said Dr. del Rincon in an
interview January 25, 2002. In other words, people with RA seem more likely
than other people to have heart problems.

According to Dr. del Rincon, physicians who care for rheumatoid arthritis
patients should have "a high index of suspicion for coronary artery disease,"
and refer RA patients for evaluation if any suspicious heart symptoms occur,
even minor ones.

"Sometimes symptoms might be subtle, as patients with rheumatoid arthritis
have decreased physical activity and low physical demands," said Dr. del
Rincon.

Another recent study, reported in the Journal of Rheumatology, December 2001,
showed a link between people with RA and heart disease. This study focused on
people who have had RA for a long time, approximately 20 years or more. The
study was led by Solveig Wallberg-Jonsson at the University Hospital of Umea
in Sweden. The Swedish researchers said it is important that in addition to
seeking treatment for arthritis, people with rheumatoid arthritis be screened
and treated for cardiovascular risk factors, including high cholesterol.
Further research is needed in determining the factors linking heart disease
and rheumatoid arthritis so that meaningful recommendations can be made, said
Dr. del Rincon. People with rheumatoid arthritis or their caregivers may wish
to discuss this information with their physician.

*******************************

WHY WOULD YOU USE ANTI-CHOLESTEROL DRUGS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS?

Patients who take statin drugs to control their cholesterol levels appear to
get the added benefit of fewer broken bones.

Previous work in the laboratory and in animals had suggested that statins
could strengthen bones, but studies in people have had mixed results.

As women age, and especially after menopause, their bone mineral density
tends to decrease, upping the risk of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis,
and painful and disabling fractures of the hip, spine and other bones.

Researchers have found that statin drugs, used for the treatment of
hypercholesterolaemia (high levels of cholesterol circulating in the
bloodstream), may increase bone mineral density and protect against fracture.

They explored the relationship between statin use, bone mineral density and
fracture in a well-characterized female population and were unable to find
any difference in risk factors for osteoporosis between those using statins
and non-users that might explain earlier observations.

The researchers found that statin users had a 60% reduction in fracture risk
associated with statin use, which is greater than what would be expected from
increased bone mineral density alone. Archives of Internal Medicine March 11,
2002;162:537-540

Good Health to All

Jack Nicholas
Newsletter Editor
Cornishpro@aol.com
Issue 2002 4/23/2002 - 10