Mayo Clinic Health Letter - Tip of the Month - August

Tuesday, August 27, 2002

Under Study: Drugs Customized to You

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Some day, your doctor may be able to determine what drugs — and what doses — are most likely to work for you based on your genes, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Your genes affect the way your body responds to medications. A map of the human genetic structure called the Human Genome Project is helping researchers draw links between specific genes and their role in reactions to specific drugs. For example, some adverse reactions to many common drugs, including ibuprofen and warfarin, have already been found to have an underlying genetic cause.

Widespread genetic testing to customize medications isn't available yet due to the complexity and cost of genetic testing. But in the future, a single blood sample may provide your doctor with the ability to screen for variant genes that cause adverse reactions to many drugs. It's hoped that this process will make prescriptions safer and more effective, and medical care more focused and less expensive.

Once Eradicated, Be Aware of Smallpox Risk

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — No one knows the real risk of a smallpox outbreak, but by arming yourself with information and being aware of breaking news and recommendations from health experts, you can minimize your risk, according to the August issue of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Eradicated in the United States in 1949, smallpox is a disfiguring and sometimes deadly disease caused by the variola virus. Virus particles can be transmitted by direct contact or released into the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or simply talks. The first symptoms — fever, malaise, severe fatigue, headache and severe back pain — usually appear 12 to 14 days after infection. A few days later, a rash appears as flat, red spots, showing first on the face, hands and forearms. (In chickenpox, lesions occur primarily on the trunk of the body.) Within a day or two, these spots become filled with fluid and then pus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has a vaccination response plan in case of a smallpox outbreak. The vaccine can prevent or lessen the severity of the disease if given within four to seven days of becoming infected. Mayo Clinic researchers, in collaboration with researchers at the CDCP and the U.S. Army, have developed a new rapid laboratory test for smallpox detection that can deliver results within three hours.

Diet Supplement May Help Lower Elevated Cholesterol

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A relatively new dietary supplement called Basikol may lower total cholesterol by about 15 percent, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Available over the counter, Basikol consists of naturally occurring plant substances — known as plant sterols — derived from corn, soy and canola oil. Cholesterol-lowering food spreads Benecol and Take Control also use plant sterols and naturally occurring plant stanols. Studies of Basikol have been small and short term. It appears to be safe and well tolerated when taken as directed. If you take a prescription drug to help lower your cholesterol, talk with your doctor about the possible added benefits of supplementing your diet with plant stanols or sterols.

###

###

To obtain the latest news releases from Mayo Clinic, go to www.mayoclinic.org/news. MayoClinic.com is available as a resource for your health stories.