US Pharm. 2006;4:15.

Patch for Depression Approved
The first skin patch to treat major depression has been approved by the FDA. The selegiline transdermal patch was developed by Somerset Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and will be marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. under the brand name of Emsam.

The patch is designed to deliver selegiline, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), once a day through the skin and bloodstream. According to the FDA, at its lowest strength, Emsam can be used without the dietary restrictions recommended for all oral MAOIs that are approved for treating depression.

Estrogen May Have Narrow Benefit on Women's Heart Health
While the latest findings from the large-scale Women's Health Initiative uncovered that the effect of estrogen therapy on heart health in postmenopausal women was neutral, a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that estrogen therapy may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in women ages 50 to 59. However, according to the study's author, Judith Hsia, MD, a Professor of Medicine at George Washington University in Washington, DC, this finding has to be weighed carefully against other findings that show estrogen therapy could lead to a greater risk of stroke and other disorders.

In this trial, more than 10,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 who had undergone a hysterectomy were randomly chosen to take conjugated equine estrogens or a placebo and followed over a 6.8-year period for the risk for coronary events. There was a hint of lower risk in the 50-to-59 age-group.

FDA Approves Drug for Chronic Angina
CV Therapeutics, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has been given the green light by the FDA to begin marketing Ranexa (ranolazine) for the treatment of chronic angina. Ranexa is the first new drug to treat this disorder in 10 years.

While the exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, it is believed to affect electrical conduction in the heart by prolonging the QT interval.

Red Grapefruit May Lower Heart Disease Risk
According to researchers at Hebrew University's Hadassah Medical School in Israel, eating a red grapefruit a day could reduce cholesterol by 15% and triglycerides by 17%, which could protect against heart disease.

The results of in vitro and human studies were published online in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Grapefruits and other citrus fruits are believed to contain high concentrations of antioxidants. This study claims to be the first to look at different grapefruit types and their influence on people who suffer from hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

The in vitro studies measured antioxidant activity in terms of radical scavenging activity, beta-carotene linoleate models, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Red peeled grapefruits scored 15% higher on the beta-carotene test and 10% higher for radical scavenging.

For the human trial, 57 postoperative bypass patients with hypertriglyceridemia were divided into three groups. The standard antiatherosclerosis diet of two groups was supplemented by one Israeli Jaffa red or white grapefruit for 30 days. The third group ate the standard diet and was considered the control group. According to lead researcher Shela Gorinstein, PhD, "The results of the investigation in humans have shown that a generally accepted antiatherosclerosis diet supplement with fresh red or blond grapefruits positively influences the serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL [bad] cholesterol. However, only a diet supplemented with red grapefruits was effective in significantly lowering the level of serum triglycerides."

Chewing Gum Linked to Colon Surgery Recovery
As strange as it might seem, a small study that was recently published in Archives of Surgery has positively linked chewing gum to a quicker return of normal bowel function after colon surgery and a reduction in hospital stays for the surgery of more than two days.

While it is not clear why gum chewing might reduce the recovery time from these surgeries, it is theorized that the chewing stimulates the same nerves as eating, which in turn releases hormones that activate the gastrointestinal tract.

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