Generic Amaryl (Glimepiride) Information

Death and disease rates vary widely among distinct groups of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, but these groups can benefit from culturally appropriate prevention and care programs, new studies show.

Among the findings:
The breast cancer death rate among Asian-born women in the United States is up to four times higher than among U.S.-born Asian women.
While heart disease is the leading cause of death for most women in the United States, among Asian-American women cancer is the leading cause of death. Breast cancer has the highest incidence and is the second-leading cause of cancer death in these women.
Lung and bronchial cancer are leading causes of death among Asian-American men. But a culturally sensitive approach to community health led to large reductions in smoking among Vietnamese, Cambodian and men of several other Asian ethnicities in four U.S. communities.
Vietnamese Americans have lower rates of colorectal cancer screening than other Asian-Americans or whites. But the use of Vietnamese language public health education campaigns about colorectal cancer increased the screening rate.
Rates of liver and cervical cancer among the Hmong in California (refugees who came to the U.S. from Laos after the Vietnam War) are three to four times higher than those of other Asian-American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander groups.

The studies were published online March 18 in a special issue of the American Journal of Public Health devoted to Asian-American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.

“We are failing to adequately address cancer in our communities,” Marguerite Ro, deputy director of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, said in a news release. “Simple measures, such as cancer screening and immunization, along with the delivery of culturally appropriate care in languages understandable to the people who need care, would reduce costly, serious illnesses and lower death rates.”

SOURCE: Burness Communications, news release

The drug Carbaglu (carglumic acid) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare genetic disorder called N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS deficiency), which results in elevated blood levels of ammonia, the agency said Thursday.

The drug’s safety and effectiveness were evaluated in 23 people with NAGS. Carbaglu reduced blood ammonia within a day and lowered levels to a normal range within three days, the FDA said.

The most common side effects included vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, inflamed tonsils, anemia, ear infection, diarrhea, nasal and throat inflammation, and headache.

The drug should only be administered by a doctor with experience in treating metabolic problems, the agency said. The medication is manufactured by Orphan Europe.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Carbaglu (carglumic acid) Tablets to treat a condition that results in too much ammonia in the blood.

The condition, N-acetylglutamate synthase or NAGS deficiency, is an extremely rare, genetic disorder that can be present in babies soon after birth. NAGS deficiency and the resulting elevated levels of ammonia (hyperammonemia) can be fatal if it is not detected and treated rapidly. DNA testing can confirm the diagnosis of NAGS.

“We are very excited that more drugs are being developed to treat very rare but often devastating genetic disorders” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We hope to see continuing progress in this area.”

The safety and efficacy of Carbaglu was studied in 23 patients with NAGS who received the treatment for times ranging from six months to 21 years. In these patients, Carbaglu reduced blood ammonia levels within 24 hours and normalized ammonia levels within three days. The majority of those in the study appeared to maintain normal plasma ammonia levels with long-term Carbaglu treatment.

Side effects experienced by those using Carbaglu included vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, tonsillitis, anemia, ear infection, diarrhea, inflammation of the nose and throat, and headache. As with all FDA-approved products, the agency will continue to monitor Carbaglu as it is used to treat hyperammonemia.

Carbaglu should only be administered by a physician experienced in treating metabolic disorders. The recommended initial dose of Carbaglu is 100 to 250 mg/kg/day for treatment of acute hyperammonemia. Use of other ammonia-lowering therapies with Carbaglu during episodes of acute hyperammonemia is recommended. Dosing should be adjusted based on a patient’s ammonia levels and symptoms.