Bits and Pieces, June 17 2006

Hi Everybody,
here's another dose of science fact and fiction, and a bit of humour.
Enjoy.
Chris

___________________________________________________
The effect of paraprotein heavy and light chain type and free light  
chain load on survival in myeloma: An analysis of patients receiving  
conventional dose chemotherapy in Medical Research Council UK Multiple  
Myeloma trials:
<http://tinyurl.com/q238n>
___________________________________________________

A kyphoplasty study:
<http://tinyurl.com/pt5md>
___________________________________________________

An abstract on Revlimid and Thalidomide:
<http://tinyurl.com/nav3r>
___________________________________________________

Gentium announces Defibrotide, a drug to combat Veno-Occlusive Disease:
<http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=2468372>
___________________________________________________

Here’s a good article about monoclonal antibodies (mabs):
<http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/NCI_Cancer_Bulletin_061306/page4>

A rather sad story on the wire:
<http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060615/NEWS/606150306>
___________________________________________________

A new study indicates that Zometa may increase survival in patients  
with high baseline bone alkaline phosphatase measurement:
<http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF68525718E00699073>

KFC about to be sued for its cooking oils !!:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5084768.stm>
___________________________________________________

Here’s a similar story to the one Beth posted this week:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5071874.stm>
___________________________________________________

A slightly worrying story about some sunscreens:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5062860.stm>
___________________________________________________

Gene therapy could be used to shield healthy bone marrow stem cells  
from the effects of radiotherapy treatment for cancer, research  
suggests:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5062840.stm>
___________________________________________________

Following my silly story about green tea ‘protecting’ Asian smokers  
against lung cancer, Here’s a story about a vaccine to prevent  
niccotine addiction!!:
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=45003&nfid=rssfeeds>

Report Focuses On The Role Good Microbes Play In Future Medicine:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=44893&nfid=rssfeeds

___________________________________________________

Steroid use by pregnat women can reduce illness in unborn babies:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=44884&nfid=rssfeeds

___________________________________________________

Here are a couple of web casts and PDF downloads from the recent ASCO  
conference:
http://www.cancereducation.com/cancersyspagesnb/a/mmrf/mm0602/index.cfm?rid=69
___________________________________________________

Following the KFC story, Starbucks might be in the gun!:
<http://tinyurl.com/kffrk>
___________________________________________________

One dose of chicken pox vaccine might not be enough protection for  
school children:
<http://tinyurl.com/zudqa>
___________________________________________________

Accupuncture shows promise for Fybromyalgia:
<http://tinyurl.com/f77oc>
___________________________________________________

The family cat is not likely to give your baby asthma :):
<http://tinyurl.com/l3etu>
___________________________________________________

Cheers everybody!
Chris

Chris Hollyer
Auckland New Zealand
chris at mmsupport.net
mma at lists.mmsupport.net
IMF homepage http://www.myeloma.org
Please support the IMF by using Goodsearch for all your on-line searches
www.goodsearch.com