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Maryland County Officials Create State's First Suburban HIV/AIDS Commission
Anne Arundel County, Md., Executive John Leopold recently appointed 20 community leaders, government officials and health workers to serve on the county"s first HIV/AIDS commission, which aims to understand and develop strategies for addressing the disease, the Baltimore Sun reports. The Sun reports the commission is believed to be the first of its kind in a suburban Maryland county and similar to a commission launched in Baltimore City. Council member Daryl Jones in 2008 proposed legislation to create the commission, citing the increasing number of HIV cases in the northern part of the county, likely because of its close proximity to Baltimore. According to Jones, the commission aims to generate funds for testing and outreach services; address stigma associated with the disease; and heighten awareness of the virus among residents. The commission also will produce an annual report on HIV/AIDS-related issues in the county, Jones said. Anne Arundel County had 1,000 recorded HIV/AIDS cases in 2006, with 56 newly reported HIV cases that year, according to the Maryland AIDS Administration. "It"s pretty much what I would classify as having the potential to reach epidemic proportions," Jones said, adding that Baltimore has the second highest AIDS rate among major metropolitan areas in the country. According to Kelly Sipe Russo, a physician clinical specialist with the county health department"s division of public health, the department has identified "hot spots" in the county with high HIV/AIDS rates, including the northern area and Annapolis. Russo noted that while HIV/AIDS rates in the county are not on the rise, they also are not declining, even with programs in place to increase awareness and provide help for those living with the disease. According to the Sun, although res and staffing are limited for many programs, health department officials still believe the programs are slowly having an effect and that more outreach is needed, especially for testing and treatment. Jones said that the economic downturn could lead more people to drug or alcohol use. He also noted that the stigma surrounding the disease is a major factor behind the creation of the commission. "Part of what the commission will address is figuring out ways to take away some of the fear factor" associated with HIV testing, he said. The Sun also profiled Carolyn Massey, an HIV-positive woman appointed to the commission. She said that stigma associated with the virus still is widespread, adding, "I feel we"re doing some of the right things the right way. HIV infection is something that does not have to happen" (Dixon, Baltimore Sun, 5/18).
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Republicans Test Public Plan Supporters' Will
Congressional Republicans are pushing an idea unlikely to garner much traction that would force members of Congress who vote for a government-run public plan for health insurance coverage to enroll in it, Politico reports. "Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), a family physician, kicked off the quixotic bid last week, urging House members to give up their right to participate in the much-revered Federal Employees Health Benefits Program if they support a government-run program as part of the health care reform package. Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma are pushing the same concept in the Senate, preparing separate amendments that would require members - and maybe even their staffs - to sign up for the public option."
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FDA Accepts Final Section Of NDA Filing For LUCASSIN(R)
Orphan Therapeutics, LLC and Ikaria Holdings, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the final section of the New Drug Application (NDA) filing seeking marketing approval for LUCASSIN(R) (terlipressin for injection) for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) Type 1. The filing was completed on May 4, 2009, and LUCASSIN has been granted Priority Review as well as Orphan Drug status and Fast Track designation.
Diagnostics

New Paper Highlights Antimicrobial Effectiveness Of Medical-Grade Honey In Topical Wound Care

According to a recent paper published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiological Infectious Diseases, a certain kind of honey can be an effective agent in topical wound care, particularly where antibiotic resistance is an issue. The irony is that this most exciting new treatment has been around since the dawn of history-honey was first used as a first aid treatment four thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt. Entitled, "The unusual antibacterial activity of medical-grade Leptospermum honey: antibacterial spectrum, resistance and transcriptome analysis," the report describes the palliative effects of Leptospermum honey, a particular kind of honey indigenous to New Zealand and Australia. Leptospermum honey has been shown to possess unique plant derived components that make it an ideal wound dressing, including novel antimicrobial and immune-modulatory compounds. In addition, the honey has several properties that also aid in wound healing. Among these properties are the honey"s low pH levels, its ability to help remove non-vital tissue from the wound area, the stimulation of new tissue growth, and reported reduction in scarring and pain levels. What is also key is that all these benefits exist without any toxicity to healthy tissue. "There is an urgent need for new, effective agents in topical wound care," the report begins, "and selected honeys show potential in this regard." The paper also describes how medical-grade honey might be a strong combatant against antibiotic resistant pathogens such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant strains (VRS). "Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most commonly acquired pathogens in both the community and the hospital settings, and it is particularly problematic in skin and wound infections. The emergence of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and, more recently, vancomycin-resistant strains, has seriously compromised treatment options," the report states. "Multi-drug resistance limits treatment options and results in the use of more expensive or more toxic drugs, with corresponding increases in patient morbidity and mortality. . . The current issues surrounding antibiotic resistance, and a growing body of evidence supporting the use of honey as a dressing for a wide range of wounds, has increased interest in its use in the clinic." MEDIHONEY dressings, a unique line of products containing active Leptospermum honey, provide a moist, occlusive environment conducive to optimal wound healing and contain a high percentage of honey, enabling them to work effectively in the presence of wound fluid, blood, and tissue, promoting an optimal healing environment. Available in dressings and gel form, MEDIHONEY products, leading brand of Princeton, New Jersey-based Derma Sciences Inc., are indicated for the management of lightly to heavily exuding wounds such as: Diabetic foot ulcers, venous stasis leg ulcers, arterial leg ulcers, leg ulcers of mixed etiology, pressure ulcers (I-IV), first and second degree burns, donor sites, traumatic and surgical wounds. "The paper also shows that MEDIHONEY is effective against antibiotic resistant strains," says Edward J. Quilty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Derma Sciences Inc. "Although this has been demonstrated before, this article does a great job of showing that not only is it effective against these strains, but that the same amount of MEDIHONEY is necessary for the non-resistant strains as is required for the resistant strains. This is unusual, as more antibiotic or antimicrobial is typically necessary for the antibiotic resistant strains." The paper also demonstrates that use of MEDIHONEY at sub-lethal levels (levels too low to kill bacteria) does not induce resistance. This is unusual because this is precisely what causes resistant strains to form after sub-lethal antibiotic / antimicrobial concentration exposure. Further, a gene expression analysis was undertaken to see if MEDIHONEY"s effect was different than that of traditional antibiotics. The conclusion was "when compared to the published data on the effects of various antibiotics on the gene expression of E. coli, active Leptospermum honey produced a unique expression signature, suggesting that it works by a different mode of action to the other inhibitors." "The data presented here argue for a greater use of medicinal-grade honey in wound care, particularly where antibiotic resistance is an issue," the European Journal of Clinical Microbiological Infectious Diseases paper concludes. "Our study suggests that it is unlikely that resistance to honey will develop, even with increased use. . . The gene expression signature of E. coli cells exposed to active Leptospermum honey indicates that it has a mode of action that is distinct from conventional antibiotics. Further investigations into the mode of action of the non-peroxide antibacterial activity of this honey are warranted, as these may lead to new classes of antimicrobials, which are desperately needed." Derma Sciences


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