Belladonna derivative to replace Advaire, but will be just as expensive

Although the pharmceutical industries claim that their prices are high because of research and developement, it turns out that Serevent, the main ingredient in the Advaire inhaler, is probably inferior to a new product, Spirivia, that is discussed in the New England Journal of Medicine. The principle  ingredient is Tiotropium, a derivitave of Belladonna.

Although the drug was developed in Europe, it will be comparable in price to, the overly expensive, Advaire. The reason, my guess, is, as George Duhbya Bush used to say, that "oceans no longer divide us". Or to put it a little more simply, Boehringer Ingelheim has went into cahoots with Pfizer

Spiriva is an alternative for adult asthmatics, researchers say.
Though some doctors have already been prescribing the drug, meant to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for asthma, a new study confirms the benefit of such use.

September 19, 2010 Los Angeles Times

By Thomas H. Maugh II

Some physicians have already begun prescribing the drug for asthmatics because of the lack of suitable alternatives, but the new results from a major clinical trial provide a sound underpinning for such uses, experts said.

In particular, the drug is expected to provide an alternative to long-acting beta-agonists, such as Serevent, Advair and Symbicort, which have been shown occasionally to exacerbate asthma symptoms, leading to hospitalization and even death.
A particular strength of Spiriva, known generically as tiotropium bromide, is that its effects last for 24 hours or more, providing long-lasting relief for patients, said Dr. Michael D. Roth, a professor of pulmonary and critical care medicine at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research. "It provides daylong relief, so that patients don't have to think about getting in trouble part way through the day," he said.
"When we're desperate, we throw the kitchen sink at patients, and tiotropium does give them some relief," added Dr. Paryus Patel, a pulmonary specialist at Marina Del Rey Hospital who said he already prescribes the drug on occasion. The new study, published online in the New England Journal of Medicine and reported Sunday at a meeting in Barcelona, Spain, of the European Respiratory Society, means that "people who shied away from using this now have an alternative for symptom relief."

Read more at the LA Times

USDA sued for giving the nod to Monsanto's GM sugar beets

I love it, Julia was always my favorite cooking show. I'm sure she would appreciate this humor, even the use of an aluminum pot to add a little metal to the mix. We didn't talk about it much back than, but , chances are , that this is a genetically modified sugar beet grown with Monsanto herbicides and pesticides.

If she were still around I'm sure the she would enjoy Googling...

Non-Profits Sue the USDA Over Genetically Modified Sugar Beets

by Sarah Parsons September 10, 2010
Food Policy, Gene Modification

When even government agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) break the law, it's kind of easy to understand why Americans are generally distrusting of lawmakers. Luckily, watchdog groups like Earthjustice and the Center for Food Safety are here to keep USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and his underlings in line.

The two non-profits recently filed a lawsuit against the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the behalf of the Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, High Mowing Organic Seeds, and the Sierra Club. As I blogged earlier this week, the USDA recently announced that it would start issuing permits to plant Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE), Roundup Ready sugar beets. If that decision sets off alarm bells for you, here's why: Less than one month ago, a Federal District Court Judge ruled that the USDA could not legally approve GE sugar beets without first conducting an environmental impact statement (EIS), a process that typically takes about two years. The USDA disregarded the judge's ruling, jumped the gun, and now Earthjustice and Center for Food Safety lawyers are throwing the book at the agency. Bet those GE sugar beets don't taste so sweet now, huh, Vilsack?

Footnotes:

As you have probably guessed, sweetscam.com is in cahoots with Monsanto, and a part of the corporate structure that controls the White House through lobbyists and media control.

White sugar vs raw sugar

By Green Living Tips| Published 01/20/2007 | food

Sugar and the environment
What's the difference between white and raw sugar in terms of environmental impact? What about raw and brown sugar - are these the same product?  Read all about it..