Daily Archives: November 5, 2009

Alternative medicine, Clinics, Consultations, Cosmetic Surgery, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Liposuction, Obesity, Surgeons, Surgery, Weight loss

Obesity and Society

Obese and overweight people are forecast to cost the nation £50 billion – half the NHS budget for a year – by 2050 if the trend continues unchecked, with diabetes the biggest draw on these figures.*

The NHS spends an estimated £600m a year on treating diabetes – the largest in primary care – and tackling obesity levels in Britain could save an estimate £950 per person each year. **

As well as drug spend, hospital admissions for Britans with problems caused by weight-related diabetes also doubled, from 7,000 in 2003-04 to 14,320 in 2007-08. **

In five years, the total numbers of people admitted to hospital as a direct result of obesity rose by 190 per cent, with 5,056 admissions in 2007-08. **

Leading dietitian and Head of Weight Management Services at The Hospital Group, Cirian Marie-Beddoes, said: “Barely a day passes without the cost of obesity on the NHS being mentioned. It’s a very real fact that as well needing to tackle obesity on a personal level, the nation’s obese must consider what a huge drain their weight-induced health problems are on the NHS.

“Having spent nine years working in obesity in the NHS, I feel that the only way to curb the epidemic is with the support of private healthcare, such as gastric band surgery at The Hospital Group.”

A report on the matter produced these key findings:

• Awareness of the problem is not low. †
• 49% of those questioned blamed their poor diet for their size. †
• 63% blamed a lack of exercise. †
• Stress was blamed by 20% of those questioned. †
• 14% blamed their genes and the same percentage said that they were too busy to do anything about their weight. †
• Giving up smoking, large breasts, beer and ‘emptiness’ were also accredited. †

A separate survey revealed that some overweight people believe their weight has affected their careers. The following are some interesting comments that came from this survey:

“I think it’s natural that people have less respect for you if you are overweight.”

“Some people look upon overweight people negatively in that they feel they cannot control how they eat, which may reflect in working life.”

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2056 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 5th-7th October 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

OnePoll questioned 4000 adults between 19-21 October 2009. The survey was carried out online and the panel used was aged 16+ and nationally representative.

∆You Gov
†One Poll
*Change4Life campaign
** Liberal Democrat figures

Via EPR Network
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Biotech, Business of Medicine, Healthcare, Healthcare Information, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals

Catalent Expands Capabilities In Testing For Melamine In Food And Medicinal Products

At a time when melamine-contamination has received global attention, Catalent Pharma Solutions continues its legacy of innovation by rapidly developing new FDA guidance-compliant tests for trace amounts of key contaminants in food and medicine. Incidents of melamine contamination in milk products, baby formula, dairy and non-dairy products manufactured in China have been widely reported, leading to product recalls and increased inspections by the FDA.

The current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations require that all components (i.e. ingredients or raw materials) be tested before they are released for use in the manufacture or preparation of drug products (21 CFR 211.84). It is critical that all manufacturers determine whether they are using an at risk component for melamine contamination to manufacture or prepare a drug product.

In response to the FDA’s new guidance titled “Pharmaceutical Components at Risk for Melamine Contamination,” Catalent has successfully qualified a method for determining if suspect excipients are contamination-free to within 2.5 parts per million. The method is based on that provided by the FDA (Laboratory Information Bulletin No. 4423 “GC-MS Screen for the Presence of Melamine, Ammeline, Ammelide, and Cyanuric Acid”).

Catalent is now able to provide its customers successfully qualified and validated limits tests for trace levels of melamine, ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid in lactose.

Melamine is a compound made of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen and is typically combined with formaldehyde to produce a durable and moldable plastic that is fire and heat resistant. Trace amounts of melamine have recently been discovered to be toxic to dogs, cats, pigs, and chickens by veterinary scientists after kidney or renal failure occurred due to their food being contaminated with the chemical.

“Catalent is proud to have satisfied the demanding regulatory standards the US FDA has provided for detecting melamine,” said Kent Payne, Vice President and General Manager of Catalent’s Respiratory, Analytical and Biotechnology Services business. “Detecting trace levels of melamine in food and medicinal products at these levels is a challenging process, but is key to help avoid future public health crises. In order to support this critical public health need, Catalent can expedite this testing and provide results within 48 hours from receipt of samples

Fore more information on the US FDA guidelines, please visit:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm176088.htm.

About Catalent
Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, Catalent is one of the leading providers of advanced dose form and packaging technologies, and development, manufacturing, packaging and printing services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and consumer healthcare companies in nearly 100 countries. Catalent applies its local market expertise and technical creativity to advance treatments, change markets and enhance patient outcomes. Catalent employs approximately 9,500 at 30 facilities worldwide and in fiscal 2009 generated more than $1.6 billion of annual revenue. For more information, visit www.catalent.com.

Via EPR Network
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