UCI study shows drug could help...

UCI study shows drug could help preemies

A popular pain-relief drug may prevent lung and eye disorders

common in premature infants, a UC Irvine College of Medicine study

has found.

The study indicates that the drug, which goes by the trade name

Celebrex, may improve on current treatments to preserve the growth of

tiny lungs and eyes in premature babies. The study will be presented

at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics in

Boston, Mass.

Typically, premature infants do not have fully developed lungs.

That can cause bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic inflammation of

the airways and the lung tissue. About 5,000 to 10,000 new cases of

this disease are reported each year, according to the National Heart,

Lung and Blood Institute.

Dr. Houchang Modanlou, professor of pediatrics at UCI and a

premature birth specialist at UCI Medical Center, and his colleagues

at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center found by testing rabbits that

the drugs promoted elevated levels of crucial growth-inducing

chemicals that help lungs and tissues grow.

These increases occurred despite the fact that, at the same time,

the newborns were given oxygen to assist breathing. Oxygen typically

decreases levels of these important chemicals.

Modanlou and his colleagues are continuing to search for other

methods that to help premature infants grow and for ways to reduce

the complications of premature birth.

Modanlou’s colleagues in the study include doctors Francis

Tambunting and Arwin Valecia of UCI and Kay Beharry and Aamir Akmal

of Long Beach Memorial.

Friends of shelter to hold holiday brunch

Friends of the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter will hold its

annual holiday brunch 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Big Canyon

home of Bill and Carolyn Klein in Newport Beach.

The brunch will help raise funds and gather gifts to brighten the

lives of the children spending the holidays at the shelter.

Last year, the shelter provided counseling, a roof and more than

87,000 meals to more than 2,300 people through its temporary and

emergency programs. Every day, the shelter houses 50 to 60 adults and

40 to 50 children.

It is tradition that guests attending the $40 per person event

bring an unwrapped gift of warm clothing or toys for a shelter child,

teen or adult. Ornaments created by the children will be sold for $5

each and be will placed on a tree that will be delivered to the

shelter. All funds raised will benefit shelter families.

Information: Ann Moskowitz, (949) 673-6502.