People with the lung disease COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) who overdo it on bacon, salami, and other cured meats may be at greater risk for experiencing a flare-up that lands them back in the hospital.

COPD is the umbrella term for chronic lung diseases including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. People with COPD often experience a worsening of their breathlessness and other symptoms (exacerbations) throughout the course of their disease. these flare-ups can result in hospital stays.

New research in the European Respiratory Journal suggests that people with COPD who ate more than one slice of ham or the equivalent of another type of cured meat each day were more likely to have a flare-up that sends them back to the hospital, when compared with their counterparts who did not eat as much cured meat.

Nitrates and nitrites are added to cured meats to enhance their flavor and color, and to extend their shelf life. Nitrates can be converted in the body to nitrites, which have been linked to increased cancer risk in animals. some studies have also linked nitrites to an increased risk of stomach cancer in humans, but the evidence has not been conclusive.

Previous studies have suggested that eating cured meat may make a person more likely to develop COPD in the first place. The new study, however, shows it may also worsen disease in people who already have it.

Exactly how it may do so is unclear. The study authors suggest nitrites can damage lung tissue. “Our findings provide the first evidence that an excessive intake of cured meat can worsen progression of COPD,” says researcher Judith Garcia-Aymerich, MD, of the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, Spain. “We believe that adherence to current dietary guidelines, which recommend a moderate or occasional intake of cured meats, will be sufficient in order to avoid this excess of risk.”

What Is It about Cured Meats?

In the study of 274 people with COPD, participants ate about 23 grams of cured meat per day — which is about one slice of ham — on average. during more than two years of follow-up, 35% had at least one hospital readmission. Those who ate more than the equivalent of one slice of ham per day were more likely to be rehospitalized, and to be hospitalized sooner in the course of the study, than those who ate fewer cured meats.

Barry make, MD, says it could be the salt, not the nitrites, that is driving this. he is a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health in Denver. these meats are loaded with salt. “COPD patients can have heart problems and may need to be cautious about their salt intake, which could lead to readmission,” he says.

These meats may be attractive to people with COPD. “They don’t have to be prepared so if you have trouble cooking, like many people with COPD do, they are easy and accessible.”

Len Horovitz, MD, is not a surprised by the findings. he is a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in new York. “Nitrites are pro-oxidants that damage tissues, and we are now seeing this in the lung,” he says. “We are what we eat and it matters to organs beside our gastrointestinal tract.”

Along with quitting smoking and other lifestyle changes, not overdoing it on cured meat is good advice for people with COPD, Horovitz says.

Neil Schachter, MD, says more study is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn about how cured meats affect COPD risk or its progression. he is a professor of pulmonary medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in new York City. “We are a long way from proving that cured meats have a role in COPD, and that modifications to the diet will change that risk factor,” he says.

SOURCES:De Batlle, J. European Respiratory Journal, published online March 9, 2012.Barry make, MD, pulmonologist, National Jewish Health, Denver.Neil Schachter, MD, professor, pulmonary medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, new York City.Len Horovitz, MD, pulmonary specialist, Lenox Hill Hospital, new York City.

22:13, Tuesday 8 March 2011

* Advisers urge approval of lower dose of indacaterol

* Higher dose key to combination product

* FDA usually follows panel recommendation

* Novartis shares close down 1.3 percent (Adds FDA, company comments; adds details on drug andcombination product)

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 8 (Reuters) – Novartis AG failed to win support from a U.S. advisorypanel for the highest proposed dose of a new lung drug, asetback that could delay development of a potential blockbustermedicine.

a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted 13-4 onTuesday to urge approval of a lower dose of inhaled drugindacaterol for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), the third leading killer of Americans.

But in a 12-5 vote, the panel declined to endorse thehigher dose. Opponents said they were not convinced the higherdose provided any additional benefit.

“I saw no compelling evidence there was a significantdifference” between the two doses, said Dr. Peter Terry, thepanel chairman and a professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins inBaltimore.

The lower dose is 75 micrograms and the higher dose is 150micrograms.

The FDA usually follows panel recommendations. a finaldecision on indacaterol is due by April 1.

Modest sales are forecast for indacaterol as a stand-alonetreatment, but analysts say the drug could bring in more than$5 billion a year when combined with another lung therapy.

Novartis is seeking approval to sell indacaterol for COPD,also known as smoker’s cough because smoking is the majorcause. The disease causes breathing trouble and chroniccoughing and is sometimes fatal. An estimated 80 million peopleworldwide have moderate to severe COPD, according to the WorldHealth Organization.

Indacaterol is a once-a-day long-acting beta agonist, orLABA, a type of drug used to open to airways in patients withasthma or COPD. Other LABAs are taken twice a day. The drugscarry strong warnings about worsening of asthma and deaths insome patients.

Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline Plc are racingto sell a two-in-one medicine that combines a LABA withlong-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) to produce a moreeffective, convenient therapy.

The Novartis combination product, known as QVA149, combinesa LAMA with 150 micrograms of indacaterol. An FDA rejection ordelay on that dose could stall the combination product,analysts said before the meeting.

Until recently, Novartis was not on the radar as a majorforce in lung drugs, which are difficult to make because of theinhaler devices they require for delivery.

now the field is emerging as pivotal to the company’sfuture through the drive into new branded drugs plus work withpartner Vectura on generic copies of products likeGlaxo’s Advair and AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN.L – news) ‘s Symbicort.

Indacaterol already is sold as a single therapy in Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURTRUSD – news)under the brand name Onbrez Breezhaler and had revenues of $33million in 2010. its U.S. name will be Arcapta Neohaler.

Novartis told the panel the higher dose provided betterrelief of COPD symptoms with no greater safety risk.

“Patients need a safe therapy that is optimal and not justminimally effective,” David Morris, head of respiratoryproducts for Novartis Pharma, told the panel.

Novartis shares fell 1.3 percent to close at $55.48 on theNew York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

Overall RatingNo Ratings0

Ok so you might find the next few links interesting. These are from around the web, just random snippets that I’ve picked up in my reading, but I found some very cool information in them. You might too. here goes…

The Psoriasis Association 'Bring Psoriasis to the Surface' For Psoriasis …

Just because symptoms appear on the skin's surface, the impact of a diagnosis of Psoriasis is far from superficial. the more comfortable a person is in the …   Read More…

New Anti-TNF Study Shows Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving REMICADE …

any type of cancer or a risk factor for developing cancer, for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or had phototherapy for psoriasis. …   Read More…

New Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Data show Efficacy of SIMPONI® in …

New or worse psoriasis symptoms may occur. Tell your doctor if you develop red scaly patches or raised bumps that are filled with pus. …   Read More…That’s all the news for today guys, so until next time, thanks for stopping by.

A Woodley woman is encouraging people to test for lung disease after advances in healthcare allowed her to improve her quality of life.

Janet Fuller is 72 and has suffered lung problems since she was a child.

She was first diagnosed with asthma but as time went on doctors discovered it was a lung disease called bronchiectasis, giving her frequent infections in small pockets of the lungs.

She has since had surgery to remove part of her lung, which improved her quality of life dramatically, and is continually monitored to control her condition.

Now Mrs Fuller, who is a patient at Woodley Centre Surgery, wants to make sure people are aware of the tests available which can identify lung disease at an early stage.

She said: “I still have to take antibiotics in winter to avoid infection but I was always tired before – I sometimes passed out and I had a dry cough.

“Everything’s changed now and I know how to manage my condition so I can lead a normal life.”

Her nurse, Shena Gray, said: “There are a lot of lung conditions that come under the umbrella of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Testing people for the condition and early diagnosis can help us control symptoms and relieve symptoms early on.”

Using a breathing device called a spirometer, the amount of air in a person’s lungs can be measured. It is painless and usually takes less than 10 minutes but requires taking a very deep breath, the test can then show any signs of lung disease.

You should think about taking the test if you cough a lot, become short of breath when walking quickly, are worried about the health of your lungs, are already receiving treatment for lung disease or are aged over 40 and have smoked cigarettes during the past 12 months.

Lesley Wyman, senior public health specialist for NHS Berkshire West, said: “We are committed to raising awareness of the importance of picking up lung disease early. A simple test can help to identify changes in the lungs that may have already occurred. Your GP and Practice Nurse can then help to further identify what these changes mean and advise you how they can best be managed.”