The Medical Arts Health Research Group

New Rheumatoid Arthritis Study for the Powell River Site

Donna — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:33:56 +0000

Keep watching. The Powell River clinical research team, headed by Dr. Bradley Schweitzer will begin recruitment on a new R/A study over the next couple of weeks. Check out the current studies on our webpage for more information.

Does your Osteoarthritis pain in your knee have you missing this little moments?

Donna — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:30:39 +0000

If so, we are currently seeking individuals with Osteoarthritis to participate in a clinical research study of an investigational medication.

You must:

Be at least 40 years of age
Have a diagnosis of osteoarthritis of he knee for at least 6 months

Qualified participants will receive at no charge:

Study Related Tests
Study Related Investigational Medication

Participants may be complensated for their time and travel.

Contact the Penticton Site at 250-493-7286

Come visit our booth at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre

Donna — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:52:27 +0000

We will be at the South Okanagan Seniors Symposium October 19, 2011 9:00 – 4:00. Come by and visit our booth and speak with Laura and Stephanie from the Penticton site.

For more symposium details visit their website:

http://www.seniorswellnesssociety.com/37001.html

Dr. Jack Diamond of the Alzheimer’s Society interview with Samaritan mag.com

Donna — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:27:03 +0000

http://samaritanmag.com/859/alzheimers-cases-predicted-rise-1000-percent-whats-being-done-find-cure

submitted Oct12, 2011

If your blood pressure and sugar levels are not adequately controlled with medication

Donna — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:29:25 +0000

A new study at the Kelowna site for diabetes and hypertension. Check out the website or contact the Kelowna site at 250-763-1791

Are you one of the 5 million individuals living with lupus?

Donna — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:05:44 +0000

Dr. Tersia Lichtenstein of the Kelowna site of The Medical Arts Health Research Group just received the green light to start recruitment in a research program for lupus. For further information contact the site at 250-763-1791 or check out the study website: http://www.illuminatestudies.com/about_clinical_research.aspx.

Is it a cold or is it the flu?

Donna — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:29:59 +0000

Its flu season!

Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by viruses that affect birds and mammals. It is often confused with other illnesses, especially the common cold, however influenza is a more severe disease. If not carefully monitored, influenza can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal for children and the elderly. It is important to contact your doctor within the first 36 hours that symptoms arise, as there are many possible treatment options and new medications emerging for influenza.

The following table offers some clues that help you identify if you have the cold or the flu:

Symptoms	Cold	Flu (Influenza)
Nasal congestion	Mild to severe	Mild to severe
Fever	Rarely	A feeling of feverishness or a high fever – often over 100°F (38°C)
Headache	May accompany nasal congestion	Common, often severe
Aches & Pains	Slight	Usual, often severe
Weakness & Fatigue	Mild fatigue, although still able to function	Severe fatigue and weakness, often unable to get out of bed the first few days of illness
Cough	Produces mucus	Dry, does not produce mucus and can be associated with chest discomfort
Sore throat	Generally mild	Common, often severe with difficulty swallowing

MyNaramata.com feature

Donna — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 20:09:40 +0000

The Medical Arts Health Research Group and employees have recently been featured on local community news site MyNaramata.com

Check out two interesting new articles!

Donna Benson, Founder & CEO – http://www.mynaramata.com/cgi-bin/show_articles.cgi?ID=1450&TOPIC=0

Jayme Donohoe, Marketing – http://www.mynaramata.com/show1451a/First_Job_for_Marketing_Grad

Research News – Volume 1 Issue 1

navigator — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:33:08 +0000

In May 2009 the prestigious medical journal, presented the results of a Clinical Research Trial with connections right here in the Okanagan. Dr. Justin Naude, an orthopedic surgeon who has been working in Penticton for over 16 years, in collaboration with The Medical Arts Health Research Group, brought this new and innovative treatment to local patients. The new treatment, when compared to the current medication, was “significantly superior,” say the researchers.

Almost 900,000 people have knee or hip replacement surgeries in North America every year. Patients who have major orthopedic surgeries are at a high risk of developing serious blood clots in their veins, which can be life threatening – but are often preventable. The medications currently used to prevent dangerous blood clots are difficult to monitor and often have undesirable side effects which frequently require patients to have prolonged hospital stays following surgery. The medication being studied by Dr. Naude and colleagues is called rivaroxaban and it was used with patients who had undergone knee replacement surgery.

According to Dr. Naude, this new drug did not require any injections; was taken orally by the patient once daily; had fewer side effects and did not require the high degree of monitoring. This is very good news for both physicians and their patients.

Rivaroxaban was invented by Bayer Health Care (makers of Aspirin) laboratories in Germany. It is currently approved for mainstream use in Europe and is in the process of final approval in North America. This phase of the rivaroxaban trial was conducted in late 2007, with over 3000 patients participating.

Dr. Naude actively participates in research trials that he feels may be of potential benefit to his patients. He finds the process to be interesting and rewarding. “It is exciting to be part of something that will significantly impact patient care.” Clinical trials are thoroughly explained to patients and offered to those who meet the participation criteria. It is always the patient’s decision whether or not to take part. To learn more about current clinical trial opportunities in your area, go to www.healthresearch.ca.

Read more of this publication by downloading the pdf.

New Cancer Treatment Gets Green Light

navigator — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 17:23:27 +0000

Local clinical trial company Medical Arts Health Research Group was pleased to learn of go‐ahead on the second phase of cancer pain trials last week. After its scheduled interim analysis in September, WEX Pharmaceuticals announced plans for the continuation of clinical trials testing the efficacy of Tetrodotoxin (TTX), an extremely potent treatment for cancer pain extracted from puffer fish.

The Vancouver‐based WEX is focused on deriving innovative drugs from naturally occurring toxins and developing proprietary products for the global market. TTX, the drug being tested, is a highly selective sodium channel blocker that targets a subset of sodium channels found on nerves which conduct pain impulses. The TEC‐006 clinical trial, which began in April 2008, is a Phase III multicentre, randomized, double‐blind and placebo‐controlled trial comparing the efficacy and safety of TTX to placebo in patients with moderate to severe inadequately controlled cancer‐related pain.

The Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), a group of three independent experts appointed by WEX to review data from the clinical trial, has seen no safety concerns to stop or modify the trial. This review was based on the participation of 60 evaluable patients, however the DMC has advised that the sample size should be increased to 150 patients for the trial to demonstrate a difference in efficacy between the TTX drug and the placebo. Upon completion of the trial, all patients are given the opportunity to participate in an open‐label clinical trial (TEC‐006OL) where all patients are guaranteed to receive the TTX drug and not the placebo.

The Medical Arts Health Research Group clinics in Penticton, Kamloops and Kelowna are among the centers conducting the WEX Pharmaceutical’s TTX trials and will continue accepting eligible patients to participate in TEC‐006 over the next few months. If you qualify, you will receive all study‐related care and medication at no cost and will be compensated for your travel and other expenses. For more information or to inquire about the benefits of clinical trials, visit our website at healthresearch.ca or call 250‐763‐1791 (Kelowna) or 250‐493‐7286 (Penticton).