Sound Medicine -- June 8, 2002

Barbara Lewis and co-hosts talk to experts about topics in medical research:

Iressa, a new lung cancer drug
An eye disease and early-stage multiple sclerosis
Growing new cartilage in the lab

Iressa, a new lung cancer drug

A cancer drug called Iressa isn't FDA-approved yet, but people with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer have been seeking out the new drug. It is being given to people with advanced lung cancer on what's called a "compassionate use" basis. Since the drug is close to approval the government is allowing the drug maker and oncologists to treat patients who meet specific requirements. Joining us to talk about the drug is oncologist Dr. Jean Miller from St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis. Her group has been conducting a clinical trials with Iressa over the past three years.

Iressa (eye-ressa) is a targeted drug, one that exclusively reacts to cancer cells and doesn't harm normal tissue. Dr. Miller explains in detail how Iressa works, and why it's so effective for lung cancer. It probably will be used in combination with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, she says. Miller also talks about types of patients who qualify and benefits they experience.

Resources

Since Iressa is not yet FDA-approved, limited information is available on the Internet. The prominent British cancer resource, CancerBACUP provides a summary.

The NIH and the NIH clinical trials Web sites are good places for looking up U.S. research on experimental drugs and treatments. Search by disease or drug.

An eye disease and early-stage multiple sclerosis

An eye condition called optic neuritis is often an early sign of multiple sclerosis (MS). In fact, 55% of MS patients have had an episode of optic neuritis. Two recently completed studies use the connection between these diseases to discover new ways to diagnose and treat MS.

IUSM researchers Robert Yee, MD, and David Mattson, MD, discuss the relationship between the two auto-immune diseases and the recent studies. Dr. Yee manages patients with optic neuritis and counsels them about drug treatment. Dr. Mattson, a neurologist and MS specialist, supervises the administration of drug treatments.

Drs. Yee and Mattson explain how the first study showed cortical steroids in intravenous high doses could delay the onset of MS. The second showed the addition of drug called Avonex (Interferon beta-1a) could further reduce the risk of optic neuritis patients developing MS. Yee and Mattson discuss how steroids and immunotherapy drugs reduce risk for developing MS and how these two studies established the importance of optic neuritis diagnosis in the treatment of MS.

Dr. Yee is professor and chair of the IUSM Department of Opthalmology Also at IUSM, Dr. Mattson is director of multiple sclerosis and neuro-immunology programs.

Resources:

Get more information about the drug used to treat multiple sclerosis at Avonex.com.
Read about the latest research into multiple sclerosis on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society web page.

Growing cartilage in the lab

Damage to joint cartilage, the thick rubbery cushion that protects bones where they meet in the joint, leads to pain, swelling and wear on the bone. Current treatment for debilitating cartilage damage is full joint replacement with synthetic material, plastic and metal. But now, in some laboratories, researchers are looking to grow real cartilage. Using a patient's own regenerated cartilage could mean longer-lasting joint replacements.

Stephen Trippel, MD, is leading research in the regeneration of cartilage. He is professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at IUSM. Dr. Trippel explains cartilage and the problem with current joint-replacement treatments. He proposes a biological solution, using gene therapy, that "teaches" cartilage cells to grow new tissue. Dr. Trippel has succeeded in regenerating cartilage in the test tube. He discusses the interesting challenges and future possibilities of the research.

Dr. Trippel presented his findings on gene therapy for biologic cartilage repair at a recent medical conference in Boston.

Resources:

Get a brief explanation of the studies from the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Upcoming program:
Working with NASA, Purdue researcher Cary Mitchell is researching how to sustain human life in outer space -- by growing a space garden. If you've got questions for Dr. Mitchell, email us or leave a voice mail at 317-274-4848.

email: soundmed@iu.edu

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Tired of hearing what's wrong with daycare? A recent study showed children who go to daycare have which of the following health benefits:
A. Fewer colds in elementary school.
B. Increased physical fitness in elementary school.
C. Better hearing than the kids who didn't go to day care.

What's the answer?

Maybe you're off on your morning run. Or playing some pickup basketball. Then suddenly your calf muscle cramps -- one of those painful contractions that makes 15 or 20 seconds seem like an eternity.

What causes these sudden painful episodes?

Find out!

The key to exercising in the summer sun is staying hydrated. Thirst is not a good indicator of hydration, so drink plenty of water on a regular basis throughout the day. Use the following guidelines to promote optimal hydration:

• Drink at least 8-12 cups of fluid each day.
• Drink 2 cups of fluid two hours before exercising.
• Drink 1 cup of water 15-30 minutes before the workout
• Drink at least 4 - 8 oz. of fluid every 15-20 minutes during exercise.
• After exercise, drink to satisfy your thirst and then drink some more.
• 100% fruit juice is an excellent option after exercise to replace lost fluids, electrolytes, and carbohydrates.
• As a general rule, consume 2 cups for every pound of body weight lost during exercise.

Source: The National Institute for Fitness and Sport.