A new group of aspirin type substances have been developed in Italy. Physicians know that a low daily dose of aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in some, but we also know that aspirin causes an upset belly as well. A safer form of aspirin is needed and that is exactly what these researchers have set out to accomplish.

In the new study, Alberto Gasco and colleagues designed a new form of aspirin by attaching a special chemical structure — called a nitrooxy-acyl group — that allows the drug to resist breakdown by stomach acidity while promoting its absorption by the blood.

The results were positive among the mice that were used.  Time will tell, but I am in hopes for this to pan out!

via American Chemical Society 

Big trouble again for the magic blood thinner Heparin. Health officials identified a contaminant in batches of the medication associated with 19 deaths and are trying to determine how the chemical got into the drug. The lots of heparin were recalled on the 28th of February and there has been no new deaths. The key ingredient in this case was imported from China.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, head of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said the contaminant is oversulfated condroitin sulfate, a chemical that does not occur naturally. Condroitin sulfate is a natural compound that occurs widely and is used as a dietary supplement but the oversulfated version has not been widely studied. “We cannot rule in or out whether this was accidentally or deliberately introduced into the product,” Woodcock said, “We are investigating how it got in.”

The lots were marketed by Baxter International and China has given full cooperation in getting to the bottom of this. Does this make you nervous? Do events like this frighten you into not wanting to comply to medication?

More to come as this is updated…

via Comcast.net

There are so many new studies each and every day and at times it seems that the second totally discredits the first. So that is why I am posing this question to you…