This week in sickle cell news march 2nd to the 8th

By Sean Marshall

This week’s news started off with a bang. On the second of March 2015 a hematology medical journal called the journal blood published some interesting findings. The site Newswire and Duke Medicine the began the journal’s discoveries by outlining an investigative therapy that could stop many problems sickle cell anemia causes. It was explained that in a small study conducted by Marilyn J. Telen, M.D. at Duke University “patients who revived an investigative drug, for sickle cell disease, had quicker resolution to pain episodes.” It was hover mentioned that “although the difference compared to a controlled group did not rise to a statistical significance.”

It was noted that “patients who received the drug also used far less pain medication, which was self-administered. Those findings were statistically significant.”

Other information states that “the drug is designed to prevent cells from sticking together and thereby improve blood flow. For study participants who received the drug, the effects tended to begin within 24 hours, and their painful crisis passed sooner than those receiving only treatment for pain, but the statistical difference was not significant.”

If you would like to read the original article it can be found here: http://www.newswise.com/articles/investigational-therapy-could-attack-cause-of-sickle-cell-crises?ret=/articles/list&category=medicine&page=1&search[status]=3&search[sort]=date+desc&search[section]=10&search[has_multimedia]=

Protesting due to the treatment of sickle cell patients was also a big news event this week. On March 3rd the Leadership, one of Nigeria’s top newspapers, reported that sickle cell patients, their family members and friends “halted tragic at the Osadelbey Avenue leading to government house for severla hours with bonfires.” This was all done because because the state government is not giving permanent employment or even casual (part time) employment to staff at sickle cell centers.

It was explained that the protestors took to the streets to “protest to create awareness that the sickle Cell center was set up by law as a Health Center to cater for the treatment of sickle cell sufferers has been converted into the office of the state ministry of health”.

However to show both sides the National reported that according to the health commissioner of Nigeria “The Centre is set up mainly for research, education and advocacy into sickle cell but over the years, people have allowed some certain things to go wrong but I have pointed it out to them. Yes, there is laboratory to help in promoting access to healthcare delivery for sickle cell patients but at the same time, we have one doctor who is here to help in counselling and we help in handling minor ailment which we do but it was never set up with the aim of creating a hospital for treatment, particularly for the admission of patients.”

If you want to know more follow the link: http://leadership.ng/news/415035/protest-sickle-cell-patients-set-bonfire-over-alleged-forceful-relocation

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