Enhanced Support Capability via the Internet

It is now possible for us to view your system using the internet for support purposes. This helps greatly with the diagnosis of your problem and it is relatively easy to set up. 

So before you need to make your next support call, why not put this in place now? If you want to do this please let us know.

Less than Three Weeks to go to the 2006 User Group! 

Hopefully you all received the July 2006 special edition of the Dawn AC newsletter through the post, as this outlined the agenda for the User Group talks. For those of you who have seen it will notice that there are some great talks lined up, and a Steamer boat ride to start the two days off, which will give those of you who have not yet visited the Lake District a really beautiful insight to this area of England. 

There is still time to get your booking forms to us for those of you who can get the time off – just fax the form through on +44 15395 62475. 

To see the agenda please follow this hyperlink:

http://www.4s-dawn.com/dawnac/usergroup2006.htm

 Warfarin Increases the Risk of Bone Fracture

Elderly patients taking the commonly prescribed Warfarin experience an increased risk for osteoporosis-linked bone fractures. This is because vitamin K also interacts with osteocalcin and warfarin's antagonism of vitamin K has the potential to affect bone strength as well.

Long-term use of Warfarin led to a 25 percent increase in the incidence of fracture. 80 percent of those affected by osteoporosis are women but the women's risk of fracture did not increase by a statistically meaningful amount on long-term Warfarin therapy. However, men in the study who took warfarin for more than a year had a 63 percent higher incidence of fracture than men who did not take the blood thinner.

Source: Washington University School of Medicine, 2006
To read the full article, follow this hyperlink: http://www.xagena.it/news/medicinenews_net_news/c4a215133d24223a0bb308787ac7b7f5.html

 Study Finds Likelihood of Haemorrhage on Warfarin is Relatively Small 

Older patients with atrial fibrillation have higher rates of major hemorrhage in the brain whether or not they are using a common blood thinning therapy, according to a new study.

Prior studies have shown that anticoagulation medication, such as warfarin, substantially reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation-related stroke, but also increases the risk for hemorrhage.

The overall likelihood of hemorrhage on warfarin is relatively small, especially when one considers the benefits of stroke prevention,"

The rates of intracranial hemorrhage rose at age 80 and older, this link shows that regardless of therapy, physicians should be especially vigilant in monitoring patients over age 80 with atrial fibrillation."

To read the full article, follow this hyperlink:

 http://www.ucsf.eduhttp://www.news-medical.net/?id=19193  

The Ethnic Difference 

Patients need different dosages of the commonly-used anti-clotting drug - warfarin - to achieve the same effect, raising the possibility that medicine, in the future, could be prescribed based on ethnicity. For example, Indians need about 60 to 70% more warfarin than their Chinese and Malay counterparts. 

It has been discovered that a gene decides as it is responsible for recycling the body's Vitamin K, which is the target of warfarin in the anti-clotting process.

 The study found that there are variations in the makeup of the gene in

different races. This means that Indians need 6mg a day of warfarin, compared to 3.5mg a day for the Chinese.  

To read the full article, follow this hyperlink:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/227200/1/.html

Less Expensive Anti-clotting Medication Appears as Safe and Effective as More Expensive Treatment

Subcutaneous injection of the original and less expensive form of the anticoagulant medication heparin is as effective and safe as subcutaneous administration of the newer and more expensive low-molecular-weight heparin for treatment of venous thromboembolism. Find out more at (JAMA. 2006;296:991-993.)

To read the full article, follow this hyperlink:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=50303