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The article presents news on medications. On February 11, 2011 France's Health Products Safety Agency suspended the marketing authorization for medications containing buflomedil. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved abiraterone acetate in combination with prednisone to treat prostate cancer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved rituximab in combination with glucocorticoids to treat patients with Wegener granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis.

Abstract: Male breast carcinoma (Male BC) is a distinct biological subtype of breast cancer. We previously reported an association between 5-year overall survival and strong intratumoral aromatase (ITA) expression in Male BC. In this study, we investigate survivin and COX-2 expression and their relationship to ITA. Clinical data were abstracted for all Male BC patients diagnosed between 1985 and 2005 in Nova Scotia, Canada. Archival tissues were retrieved for tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Of 54 Male BCs identified, 39 cases had tissue available for IHC. Survivin expression was noted in 27 cases (69%); 12 nuclear and 26 cytoplasmic while strong COX-2 expression was observed in 14 cases (36%). Cytoplasmic survivin and COX-2 expressions were positively associated with ITA expression. However, survivin and COX-2 expression were not predictive of survival. Additional studies are needed to further elucidate the correlation between cytoplasmic survivin, COX-2 and ITA expression in Male BC considering their potential therapeutic implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The people of Canada are now taking measures to protect their health from the dangers of smoking. There are several reasons that provide adequate evidences from which it can be concluded that ETS poses meaningful health risks. Randomized studies have identified the adverse cardiovascular effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Active smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It is also responsible for causing lung cancer, heart disease and other conditions.

This article reports that the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX 2) inhibitor Prexige or lumiracoxib has been taken off the market in the U.S., Canada and Australia but will remain on the market in Great Britain. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to approve the drug due to adverse effects on the liver. Health Canada looked at the drug after Australia pulled the 100, 200 and 400 milligram doses from the market and found the danger to be more significant than the benefit. Canada found that even the 100 milligram dose caused hepatitis. The drug is still available in more than 50 countries in Europe and Latin America.

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are prevalent and costly conditions. A large proportion of the direct costs associated with these conditions relates to management of iatrogenic side effects. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-specific inhibitors lead to equivalent control of pain and disability compared with traditional NSAIDs. However, the COX-2-specific inhibitors have significant potential to reduce health-care costs, principally through the reduction of side effects. These cost savings are most likely to be realized through reductions in costs associated with dyspepsia and upper gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Reduced indirect costs through improved disability scores and improved health-related quality of life are also predictable with the use of COX-2-specific inhibitors. This is accomplished without the attendant increase in risk to the gastrointestinal tract associated with traditional NSAIDs.