Industry News

Study Links Drug, Cancer Risk

  A study recently concluded by researchers in Canada has found an association between use of pioglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of bladder cancer. According to the findings, more than two years of daily exposure to pioglitazone doubles the risk of bladder cancer. The risks, however, are said to be low – up to 137 extra cases per 100,000 person years, according to researchers at the Lady Davis Institute at Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. No increased risk was seen with rosiglitazone, a similar drug within the thiazolidinediones class. Both drugs are reportedly known to increase the risk of heart failure.    Using a database from patients in the United Kingdom (UK), the study included 115,727 people newly treated with diabetes drugs from 1988-2009. Results showed 470 patients were diagnosed with bladder cancer during the average 4.6 years of follow-up (a rate of 89 per 100,000 person years), researchers said. The rate of bladder cancer in the general UK population is reportedly 73 per 100,000 person years for those ages 65 and older. Full results can be found online at www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3645.

New Wound Center Appoints Medical Director

  A new hospital-based outpatient wound center in California has named its medical director. Donato J. Stinghen, MD, has been appointed the position at the Kate Creedon Center for Advanced Wound Care, which is expected to open at Alameda Hospital the week of June 25. Hospital officials made the announcement May 30. Board certified in general surgery, Stinghen has practiced at the hospital 32 years. He previously served as president of the medical staff and chairman of the surgery committee. Stinghen received his doctoral degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and graduated with honors from the University of California–Davis. He completed his internship and residency programs at Highland General Hospital in Oakland. In his position, he’ll lead a physician panel, participate in marketing activities, and provide governance over the utilization of clinical practice guidelines, officials said.    “Don’s surgical and medical expertise, combined with his extraordinary leadership skills and passion for delivering the best possible outcomes, make him an ideal fit for this critically important position,” said Deborah Stebbins, Alameda’s chief executive officer.

Vascular Surgeon Joins Wound Care Center

  Nowokere Esemuede, MD, has accepted a position at Wuesthoff Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center in Melbourne, FL.   A fellowship-trained physician who’s board certified in vascular surgery and general surgery, he will work with general surgeon Emran Imami, MD, and family physician Lauren Romeo, MD. The center specializes in treatment of surgical wounds, diabetic ulcers, bone infections, vascular ulcers, venous stasis insufficiency, and radiation wounds.

Spotlight On: Diabetes: Study Links Drug, Cancer Risk

  A study recently concluded by researchers in Canada has found an association between use of pioglitazone, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of bladder cancer. According to the findings, more than two years of daily exposure to pioglitazone doubles the risk of bladder cancer. The risks, however, are said to be low – up to 137 extra cases per 100,000 person years, according to researchers at the Lady Davis Institute at Jewish General Hospital, Montreal. No increased risk was seen with rosiglitazone, a similar drug within the thiazolidinediones class. Both drugs are reportedly known to increase the risk of heart failure.   Using a database from patients in the United Kingdom (UK), the study included 115,727 people newly treated with diabetes drugs from 1988-2009. Results showed 470 patients were diagnosed with bladder cancer during the average 4.6 years of follow-up (a rate of 89 per 100,000 person years), researchers said. The rate of bladder cancer in the general UK population is reportedly 73 per 100,000 person years for those ages 65 and older. Full results can be found online at www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3645.

Pennsylvania Hospitals Adding Wound Care Centers

  A new wound care center is currently under construction and is expected to open in August at Waynesboro (PA) Hospital, an affiliate of Summit Health, Chambersburg, PA. According to a report published by the Herald-Mail newspaper, the center will specialize in treating chronic wounds. The hospital employs approximately 550 people.   In Somerset, PA, an open house was recently held for the Advanced Wound Care Center, which is expected to open at Somerset Hospital in the next few weeks. Hospital administration is currently seeking a physician to run the facility, officials said. The center will be operated by Healogics, Jacksonville, FL, a wound care management company with more than 300 hospital partners.

New Wound Center Commemorates Opening

  A ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held for a new wound care center in Saranac Lake, NY. The Wound Care and Hyperbaric Treatment Center at Adirondack Medical Center, a $2.7 million facility, opened in late February. According to facility officials, patient visits are currently 25 percent higher than were expected at the time of the opening. N

Spotlight On: Diabetes: New Treatments From Sanofi

  A wider range of diabetes treatment options is soon expected to be available by pharmaceutical company Sanofi. According to a recent report by Reuters, these treatments could address the disease as well as its numerous complications such as diabetic retinopathy. The company, which reported sales of around $5 billion in 2011 for its insulin Lantus, recently launched an iPhone-compatible device related to blood glucose monitoring. According to the report, Sanofi is also one of several drugmakers interested in acquiring Amylin Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, a specialist in diabetic therapies that produces the drugs Byetta and Bydureon. Sanofi is also reportedly set to file for FDA approval of Lyxumia, a new experimental diabetes treatment, in the fourth quarter of 2012.

In The Know

  According to the Public Library of Science, the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes increases with waist size. Women with a large waist were almost 32 times more likely to develop the disease than those with a low-normal BMI and a smaller waist, while men with a large waist were 22 times more likely to develop the disease, a recent study shows.