Health and Medicine Information

Distal biceps tendon tear more than likely leads to surgery

2009-11-15T06:31:00.000-08:00

As if the Colts secondary has not been tormented by enough injuries this season, we recently learned that safety Bob Sanders will be out with a distal biceps tendon rupture at the elbow which will require season-ending surgery. The surgery was performed by the renowned orthopaedist Dr. James Andrews earlier this week.

The biceps muscle is an important muscle in the upper arm. The distal tendon of the biceps muscle transmits all of the forces of the muscle to the forearm at its insertion (radial or bicipital tuberosity), thereby contributing to an athlete's ability to forcefully flex the elbow as well as rotate their forearm in turning the palm upward (supination).

The distal biceps tendon can tear, preventing the transmission of forces from the muscle to the forearm bones. While it can happen from repetitive injury in athletes, it more commonly results from a single traumatic event in which the flexed elbow is resisted or even traumatically extended as in Sander's case. The event is usually accompanied by a "popping sensation" and sense of sharp tearing around the elbow crease.

Once a distal biceps tendon is ruptured, it unfortunately will not heal on its own. Rather, the tendon will continue to retract away from the bone and slide up the arm as the muscle contracts without resistance. Over time, the tendon will be come stiff and scarred as well. This loss of biceps muscle function results in a loss of elbow flexion (bending the elbow) and forearm rotation strength.

Usually the presentation of a distal biceps tendon is not subtle in the athlete. When compared to the normal arm, the tendon can no longer be palpated at the elbow flexion crease. Frequently, there is swelling and bruising around the elbow flexion crease.

The diagnosis can be made by taking a history from the patient and performing a physical exam. An MRI often can confirm a complete tear of the tendon as well as to assess any potential retraction of the tendon. Over the past few years, surgical techniques and implants have improved, which, when combined with people trying to stay more active, has led to an increasing number of distal bicep tendon repairs being performed.

In the past, 2 incisions were typically needed to repair the tendon whereas now 1 is often used. Patients are protected in a brace for the first 6 weeks after surgery after which they progressively work on strengthening exercises before returning to sports. The best results are achieved when surgery is done within three weeks of the initial injury.

H1N1 fears cause boom in natural medicine

2009-11-04T04:40:00.000-08:00

New Brunswick's natural medicine industry is seeing a boost in popularity as people look for alternative ways to ward off the swine flu virus.

With more H1N1 vaccine clinics being cancelled and those clinics that are running facing queues that stretch for hours, people like Pam Temple are offering natural ways to stay healthy.

Temple, the owner of Healthy Start in Rothesay, said she has a steady stream of new customers coming through her doors. Almost all of those customers are looking for alternative ways to fight the swine flu.

"We have parents that are looking for immune boosters for their children that are under two years old up to senior citizens," Temple said.

"Everyone is concerned about getting their immunity built up."
Naturopath fielding more calls

Blossom Bitting, a naturopath in Dieppe, said she is swamped with calls about H1N1.

However, Bitting said she doesn't have all the answers people want to hear about natural ways to prevent the contraction of the H1N1 virus.

"Because the H1N1 virus is so new, we don't know of anything in the natural realm that is specific against it," Bitting said.

Bitting said there are many supplements that can help fight influenza generally, such as ginger tea, garlic, multivitamins and extra vitamin C.

Bitting said alternative medicines are best used in combination with conventional medicine to stay healthy this flu season.

"I think the combination is going to be stronger than one on its own," she said.

Antipsychotic Drugs in Kids Linked to Weight Gain

2009-10-28T02:02:00.000-07:00

Children and teens who took antipsychotic medicines in a study gained weight and developed increased blood-fat levels, possibly harming their future health, researchers in New York State said.

The subjects, taking the antipsychotic drugs for the first time, gained from 9.7 to 18.7 pounds (4.4 to 8.5 kilograms) after about 11 weeks of treatment, depending on which medicine they were given, the scientists said today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Fifteen patients who didn’t stick with drugs or who declined to participate in the research gained less than half a pound on average.

The study was the largest to show how antipsychotic medicines affect the bodies of children taking the drugs for the first time, the researchers wrote. Many past studies of the drugs involved patients who had also used other treatments -- methodology that may have masked the extent of weight gain, according to an editorial published with the study.

“We were able to show all of these agents can cause quite a bit of body weight changes and body composition changes that are not beneficial to the health,” said Christoph Correll, the study’s lead author, in a telephone interview on Oct. 23.

“What we need to figure out is what are the long-term consequences in the lives of children,” Correll, who is a medical director at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York City’s Queens borough and an associate professor of psychiatry at Yeshiva University’s Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.

Metabolic Syndrome

Gaining weight and changes in blood sugars and fats can be precursors to metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes, according to the research article. Weight gain, obesity and increases in cholesterol in children are linked to their adult risk of cardiovascular problems and cancer.

Patients in the study had been diagnosed with mood disorders, schizophrenia and disruptive or aggressive behavior. Their doctors had prescribed Abilify, made by New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.; Zyprexa, made by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly & Co.; Seroquel, made by London-based AstraZeneca Plc, or Risperdal made by New Brunswick, New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson.

Risperdal and Abilify are the only two antipsychotics approved for pediatric use. A panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended in June that Seroquel, Zyprexa and New York-based Pfizer Inc.’s Geodon be cleared for pediatric use.

Impact in Children

The medicines, so-called atypical antipsychotics, were introduced for adults in the mid-1990s and marketed as having fewer neurological side effects than older drugs. The FDA has grappled with pediatric use for years because of concerns that weight gain, sleepiness and movement disorders reported as side effects in adults may be more pronounced in children.

U.S. sales of antipsychotic drugs reached $14.6 billion last year, the most for any class of medicines, according to IMS Health Inc. in Norwalk, Connecticut. Use of antipsychotic medicines by people younger than 20 years old has more than doubled since 2001, according to data compiled by Medco Health Solutions Inc. of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

The study reported today was conducted to determine if weight gain and other changes to the body were related to the start of a psychiatric illness or hospital admission, or to the medicines.

Prescribed for Behavior

Researchers at Zucker Hillside, and at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, studied 272 people ages 4 to 19 who were prescribed the antipsychotic medicines for behavioral, mood or psychosis-related problems. The patients were followed for the first 12 weeks.

At about 11 weeks, those taking Zyprexa gained 18.7 pounds on average, compared with 13.4 for Seroquel, 11.7 for Risperdal and 9.7 for Abilify, the study showed.

“The extent and the rate of weight gain is remarkable,” said Christopher Varley, a professor in the psychiatry and behavioral sciences department at the University of Washington in Seattle, in a telephone interview on Oct. 23. “Realistically the kids were exposed to 11 or 12 weeks of medication. Some of them gained over 20 pounds.” Varley co-wrote the editorial in the journal that was published with the study.

Ten percent to 36 percent of the patients in the study became overweight or obese within 11 weeks of starting the medicine, the researchers said.

Cholesterol Increases

Those on Zyprexa had larger increases in cholesterol and blood sugars, according to the study. Those on Risperdal had rises in their levels of triglyceride, a type of fat found in the blood, without affecting their blood sugar, the researchers wrote. Those on Seroquel also had an increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides, and patients on Abilify didn’t have any significant worsening in their blood fats or blood sugars, according to the scientists.

Correll recommended that parents monitor their children’s weight and make sure the kids are eating healthy food and exercising.

Doctors in some cases should consider counseling and behavior therapy, as well as parental training, before prescribing the drugs, Correll said. Once the medicines are given to children and adolescents, doctors need to frequently monitor the weight gain and the patients’ blood sugars and blood fats, he said.

In the editorial accompanying the study, Varley wrote, “Given the risk for weight gain and long-term risk for cardiovascular and metabolic problems, the widespread and increasing use of atypical antipsychotic medications in children and adolescents should be reconsidered.”

The study was funded partly by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, based in Bethesda, Maryland.

U.S. drug labels omit vital data

2009-10-23T03:44:00.000-07:00

In a shocking revelation, two prominent doctors have revealed that most of the times key information telling about the extent of side-effects or the effectiveness of the medicines is excluded from the drug labels in the country.

Because of the omission of important information, the drug ultimately is presented in a way that makes it seem safer and more effective than it actually is. This was written by the doctors in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Drs. Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in Hanover, New Hampshire, wrote, “Much critical information that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has at the time of approval may fail to make its way into the drug label and relevant journal articles.”

The labels on various medicines are actually written by the manufacturers and the FDA finally gives a stamp of approval after discussing the wording.

However, some relevant information might be missing, said Woloshin. He questioned, “How can I decide if the potential harms of this drug are worth the risk if I don’t know how well the drug works, and vice versa?”

Examples of drug labels where key information was missing
Citing one of the numerous examples, the doctors quoted the case of Sepracor’s four-year-old sleep drug Lunesta that was promoted with an advertising campaign that cost a whopping $750,000 per day in 2007.

The company benefited very much and generated sales of $600 million last year. It even became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co Tuesday.

The label on the drug only said that Lunesta was superior to a placebo and nothing else was specified.

However, when the tests were conducted and the results were given to the FDA, it came to light that “Lunesta patients still met criteria for insomnia and reported no clinically meaningful improvements in next-day alertness or functioning,” wrote Schwartz and Woloshin.

Another such case in point is that of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co’s insomnia drug Rozerem. The label on the drug did not mention that laboratory statistics have revealed that it still took 31 minutes for adults above 64 years of age, and 24 minutes for younger adults to fall asleep once they consumed the drug.

Not only this, when clinical trials were conducted, the volunteers reported “no subjective improvements in total sleep time, sleep quality, or the time it took to fall asleep.” But all this information was not mentioned on the drug label, the researchers said.

Schwartz and Woloshin stressed in their commentary, “Sometimes what gets lost is data on harms.”

New system to make drug labels clearer in content
Woloshin believes that he and his colleagues have found a better system that can help in clarifying the extent of the dangers and benefits of the drugs to the consumers.

The FDA’s Risk Advisory Committee is also in favor of the new system and the matter will be further discussed next month.

As genetic medicine races ahead, docs are left behind

2009-10-23T03:38:00.000-07:00

Genetic tests that can help predict and refine a patient's response to drug therapy may be the first big thing in personalized medicine. But the vast majority of physicians don't know how to use them, a new survey finds.

Individual genetic variations can affect how a patient will respond to many antidepressants, pain medications, cardiovascular medicines and certain drugs that treat cancers and gastrointestinal ailments. In all, roughly one in four American patients take medications whose effectiveness could be tweaked or predicted by a pharmacogenetic test. And purveyors of genomic testing services and devices are rushing to provide tests for them all.

A survey of more than 10,000 U.S. physicians undertaken by the American Medical Assn. and the pharmacy benefits manager Medco Healthcare Solutions Inc. found that just more than one in four had had any type of education in the use of genetic testing to guide medication decisions. And only 1 in 10 felt he or she had the necessary training and knowledge to put pharmacogenetic testing to good use in treating patients. Some 13% had ordered or recommended a genetic test for a patient in the last six months. But twice that many said they would do so in the next six months.

Genes that regulate liver enzymes can have a particularly powerful influence on a patient's response to a medication. Scientists believe that one such enzyme may be responsible for governing the way patients respond to some 30% of all drugs used today. In oncology, a test can help predict if breast cancer patients will respond to the drug tamoxifen. And cancer drugs in the development pipeline are expected overwhelmingly to be administered with the guidance of genetic tests. Genetic tests also can help reduce unwanted side effects; the blood thinner warfarin, for instance, can cause blood clots or serious bleeds in some patients with an identified genetic variance, and physicians are increasingly testing those on a blood-thinning regimen in an effort reduce such risks.

"It's clear there's wide acceptance" on physicians' part for the role that genetic testing can play in guiding medication decisions, said Dr. Robert Epstein, Medco's chief medical officer, who briefed physicians and researchers on the survey at the annual meeting of the American Society for Human Genetics on Thursday. But the AMA and other groups must step up efforts to educate physicians in the use of these tests, added Epstein. "With the number of new drugs coming to market with a companion diagnostic, it's paramount that this education takes place."

Promising Pre-Med Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine

2009-10-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Nobel Prize Committee announced today that it is awarding the Prize in Medicine to Jimmy Duncan, a senior at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York, for getting a 97 on his bio-chem final.

“The Committee felt that Master Duncan has shown great promise with his outstanding grades,” said Dr. Leif Quisling, chairperson of the Nobel Prize Committee. “It is our fervent hope that this award encourages him to do great things in the future, such as find a cure for cancer.”

The committee was first alerted to Jimmy Duncan when they came across a YouTube clip of Duncan’s class presentation on his career goals.

“We were particularly struck by his unbridled optimism,” said Dr. Quisling. “Duncan closed his passionate talk with these inspiring words: ’And we can end cancer in our lifetimes if we all work together really, really hard!’ It is exactly those kind of empty platitudes that impress this committee. Far more so than anything so gauche as actual achievement.”

Mr. Duncan was somewhat blase’ about the news. “I was lying in bed playing a little X-Box before heading off to school when my mom yelled, ‘Jimmy, you’ve got a phone call from Stockholm!’ It was pretty cool, yeah.”

Dr. Quisling acknowledged that the committee was inspired to award prizes prematurely after giving President Barack Obama a Nobel Peace Prize the year before, despite the fact that nominations had been closed only 11 days after he entered office.

“In Barack Obama’s case, we figured that if the American people were willing to hand over the U.S. presidency to someone who hasn’t accomplished much, why not give him the Nobel Peace Prize before he’s done anything, either?” Dr. Quisling said.

As for Jimmy Duncan, 17, he says he’s “psyched” about the Nobel Prize. “I should be a shoo-in now to get into Harvard,” he said.

“By the way, I’m not going pre-med anymore,” Duncan volunteered. ”Now that I’ve got the Nobel in Medicine, why bother? I’ll just invest my prize money in a diversified fund and I never have to work another day in my life. In fact, I may just skip Harvard and go to a party school. Arizona State, here I come!”

We contacted Dr. Quisling’s office for a comment on Duncan’s change in plans. Nobody returned our calls by press time.

Babies Born to Childhood Cancer Survivors Do Well

2009-10-08T05:05:00.000-07:00

Cancer treatments can compromise fertility, but new research suggests that when survivors of childhood cancer are able to have children, their babies do not face an increased risk of birth defects.

Women who survived childhood cancer were more likely to have premature or low birth weight babies compared with women who had never had cancer, one study found. But the survivors’ newborns were no more likely to have malformations or die, nor were the mothers at greater risk for pregnancy complications over all.

A companion study of men who had survived childhood cancer found that their offspring were slightly more likely to be of low birth weight (less than five and a half pounds), but they were not at greater risk for birth defects or prematurity than children born to men who had not had cancer.

The two studies, done by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, were published in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

The researchers used national cancer registry data from 1973 to 2000 in four regions — Seattle, Detroit, Salt Lake City and Atlanta — to identify boys and girls who had cancer before age 20. They then linked the data to birth records to identify the first children born to cancer survivors after their diagnosis.

They were able to compare the outcomes of babies born to 1,898 female cancer survivors with 14,278 controls, also identified from birth records, and to compare the outcomes of 470 babies of male survivors with 4,150 controls.

“The main take-home message is that most kids born to childhood cancer survivors did very well,” said Dr. Eric J. Chow, an author on both papers and a research associate at the cancer center.

The study was limited because it was only able to count birth defects that were obvious upon delivery, he said. Still, he added, “Most people can feel reassured.”

IBM using nanotech to read DNA

2009-10-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

Scientists at IBM are using a combination of nanotechnology and microchips to map out personal genetic code -- a development that could significantly improve the process of diagnosing and treating diseases.

Merging biology with computer technology, researchers at IBM are working on a project that aims to make it easier to decode human DNA, and thus help scientists discover and test new medicines and medical techniques. And, IBM says, a faster and less expensive way to obtain genetic information would help doctors better understand their patients' predisposition to diseases.

The ultimate goal of IBM's project is to create process that could read, or sequence, a person's genome at a cost of $100 to $1,000. In comparison, the first sequencing ever done by the Human Genome Project cost $3 billion, according to IBM.

"The technologies that make reading DNA fast, cheap and widely available have the potential to revolutionize bio-medical research and herald an era of personalized medicine," said IBM research scientist Gustavo Stolovitzky, in a statement today. "Ultimately, it could improve the quality of medical care by identifying patients who will gain the greatest benefit from a particular medicine and those who are most at risk of adverse reaction."

IBM reported today that its researchers have drilled nano-sized holes, or nanopores, into microchips. When DNA strands are passed through the holes, the chips can sequence the genes.

Researchers said one of their challenges has been to figure out how to control the speed of the DNA strand's movement through the tiny nanopore. It needs to move slowly through the hole in order for sensors in the chip to be able to read the sequencing.

IBM reported that its scientists used a multi-layer nanostructure to surround the nanopore. The structure creates an electrical field inside the nanopore, which traps the DNA strand and should allow scientists to have minute control over the speed at which the strand moves through the hole.

Combining DNA with nanotechnology is an idea that's been getting some traction.

Just two months ago, IBM announced that it was using a combination of DNA molecules and nanotechnology to create tiny circuits that could form the basis of smaller, more powerful and energy-efficient computer chips that also are easier and cheaper to manufacture.

The DNA molecules would serve as scaffolding on which carbon nanotubes could assemble themselves into precise patterns. IBM said the process could help chip manufacturers move from 45-nanometer processor technology to 22nm or smaller.

And last winter, researchers at MIT found a way to use a combination of nanotechnology and DNA to fight cancerous tumors. The university announced that a group of scientists there had developed sensors made out of carbon nanotubes that were wrapped in DNA. The sensors then were placed inside living cells to determine whether chemotherapy drugs were reaching their targets or attacking healthy cells.

Alternative Medicine Use For Patients Suffering With Chronic Rhinosinusitis

2009-10-06T05:48:00.000-07:00

A new study suggests that a growing segment of patients are turning to complementary and alternative medical therapies to help treat the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

In a paper presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO in San Diego, researchers sought to explore the pattern of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in patients with a prior diagnosis of CRS at a rhinology outpatient clinic in Aberdeen, Scotland.

CRS is defined as a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses of at least 12 weeks duration. The group of CRS disorders annually accounts for as many as 22 million office visits and more than 500,000 emergency department visits in the U.S., according to some estimates.

Questionnaires were provided to 75 patients over a two-month period. The questionnaire consisted of demographic information and whether they had ever used CAM from a list of 49 herbal and non-herbal alternative therapies (such as acupuncture, massage, aloe vera, and cod liver oil). Subjects were also asked why they used CAM, where they learned of CAM, whether they found it efficacious, and whether their general practitioner was aware they were using it.

Sixty-five percent of patients had used CAM. Thirty percent of patients used it for chronic rhinosinusitis. Women were significantly more likely to use CAM than men, according to the statistics. Patients who were employed, married, and had university degrees were also more likely to use CAM. Only 43 percent of CAM users had informed their doctor about the use of the therapy.

Researchers noted that patients were reticent about telling their physician about usage of CAM. Clinicians should enquire as to all the medications being taken by patients, and the dangers of non- compliance with conventional medications should be emphasized to CAM users by their treating physician.

Can Chinese herbal medicine combat endometriosis?

2009-10-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

It may, according to a new review published by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international nonprofit that analyzes health care information.

The review, which looked at results of two randomized studies of Chinese herbal medicine involving 158 women, suggested that Chinese herbs may provide better relief of pelvic pain and other symptoms than one of the prescription drugs normally used in the West, Danazol.

Endometriosis occurs when tissue from inside the uterus escapes to other parts of the body. Outside the uterus, this tissue is seen as “foreign’’ by the immune system, which means that the body mounts an inflammatory response that can cause pain and scarring.

In the review, researchers at the University of Southampton in England found that Chinese herbs - which were not specified and which typically vary from patient to patient in Chinese medicine - were better at relieving menstrual pain than Danazol, a testosterone-derived drug, and were also better at shrinking endometrial masses. They did not prove better for other types of endometrial discomfort, such as rectal pain.

Dr. Aaron Styer, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center, noted that in the West, the first line of treatment for endometriosis is birth control and other hormonal drugs, which suppress secretion of estrogen by the ovaries. Although the Chinese herbal study is not conclusive, he said, “if a patient has not done well with traditional therapy or doesn’t want to proceed with it, she should investigate these approaches more completely, as long as there’s no potential health risk of taking these herbs.’’

Dr. Hope Riccotti, clinical director of obstetrics and gynecology at the Dimock Community Health Center, cautioned that “herbs are drugs and drug interactions can be dangerous,’’ which makes it important for women to tell their health care providers if they are taking these herbs.

Making full use of dad's knowledge of traditional medicine

2009-09-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

ALTHOUGH Tan Leok Kwee has little memory of his late father, he could relate every detail about his old man. From small, Tan loves listening to stories about his father especially on how he saved lives using traditional medicine.

The father had helped to treat the sick villagers at his hometown in Kluang, Johor, with his knowledge in traditional medicine.

“When my mother told me about it, I was amused because my father was not a doctor and due to this, I had always wanted to find out more,’’ he said, adding his father died when he was only six.

Upon completing his secondary education, Tan joined Hai-O Enterprise, a company dealing with traditional medicine and herb-based products. He also took up courses on Chinese traditional medicine and acupuncture.

Today, the 40-year-old Tan has become a certified practitioner in Chinese traditional medicine.

He has also been promoted to become the product development manager by his company due to his hardwork over the years and wide knowledge in the field.

“But this is not enough. I want to see people leading a healthy life. To achieve this, we must live and eat healthy because prevention is better than cure,’’ he said.

Tan was among the first batch of 21 people who completed a four-month certificate course on Chinese medicine nutritional treatments conducted by Hai-O recently.

In conjunction with the graduation, a book containing recipes on healthy dishes using traditional herbs and medicated food was launched.

It is free for Hai-O customers with purchase of RM150 and above, while stock last.

UAE firm gets nod for swine flu medicine production

2009-09-28T00:42:00.000-07:00

Abu Dhabi-based drug manufacturer Neopharma today said it has received clearance from the UAE Ministry of Health for the production of an antiviral medication Oseltamivir BR Flu.

The approval comes at a time when the entire region is stepping up efforts to tackle the swine flu pandemic, and it is being considered as a potential choice to prevent and treat the disease.

Neopharma, Vice-Chairman, Abdulla Humaid Al Mazroei and Managing Director and CEO, Dr BR Shetty thanked the Health Ministry on behalf of the Board of Directors of the company.

"As a leading manufacturer of life-saving drugs, we believe it is our responsibility to play a vital role in helping the community at this critical juncture. We are confident the approval for Oseltamivir will significantly facilitate medical professionals and the wider community to effectively combat the lethal H1N1 virus in the region," Dr Shetty said.

The Alternative Medicine Cabinet

2009-09-21T04:37:00.000-07:00

More than a third of American adults use some form of complementary or alternative medicine, according to a recent government report. Natural remedies have an obvious appeal, but how do you know which ones to choose and whether the claims are backed by science? Today, New York Times “Really?” columnist Anahad O’Connor begins a weekly series exploring the claims and the science behind alternative remedies that you may want to consider for your family medicine cabinet.

The Remedy: Arnica

The Claim: It relieves pain.

The Science: Arnica Montana, a plant native to mountainous areas of Europe and North America, has been used for centuries to treat a variety of pain. Athletes rub it on muscles to soothe soreness and strains, and arthritis sufferers rub it on joints to reduce pain and swelling. It’s believed that the plant contains derivatives of thymol, which seems to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Either way, scientists have found good evidence that it works. One randomized study published in 2007 looked at 204 people with osteoarthritis in their hands and found that an arnica gel preparation worked just as well as daily ibuprofen, and with minimal side effects. Another study of 79 people with arthritis of the knee found that when patients used arnica gel twice daily for three to six weeks, they experienced significant reductions in pain and stiffness and had improved function. Only one person experienced an allergic reaction.

The Risks: Arnica gels or creams can cause allergic reactions in some people, but it is generally safe when used topically. However, it should never be rubbed on broken or damaged skin, and it should only be ingested when in a heavily diluted, homeopathic form.

OhioHealth buys Max Sports Medicine

2009-09-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

OhioHealth Corp. is growing its sports medicine program with the acquisition of an 11-physician Columbus practice.

Central Ohio’s largest hospital system said Tuesday that it has acquired Columbus-based Max Sports Medicine. In addition to its 11 physicians, the practice has 33 staff members at four locations in the area. The practice is headquartered at OhioHealth’s McConnell Heart and Health Campus near Riverside Methodist Hospital.

Christina Fitzer, a spokeswoman at Riverside, said the company isn’t disclosing financial terms of the deal. The acquisition retains all employees, branches and Max’s name.

Max is now part of the more than 200-doctor OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation, which added its first member a year ago with the acquisition of MidOhio Cardiology & Vascular Consultants. That was the largest such transaction on the region’s health-care landscape since Mount Carmel Health System bought the New Albany Surgical Hospital in December 2006. OhioHealth two months ago added Columbus-based Millhon Clinic Inc., a practice with 12 physicians and 44 staffers.

Max Sports offers primary care and sports medicine for school-age, college and professional patients and active adults. They’re also team physicians for Otterbein College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Denison University and a number of area high schools.

“The sheer breadth of sports medicine expertise and experience of the physicians and staff at Max Sports Medicine is impressive,” Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer for OhioHealth, said in a release. “To bring that experience and successful practice model into the OhioHealth Medical Specialty Foundation will benefit our patients and provide a deeper knowledge base as we continue to expand and enhance our sports medicine expertise.”

MOH commended for introducing book on herbal medicines

2009-09-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

A traditional herbalist at the Ajumako Liberty Herbal clinic has commended government, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ghana Food and Drugs Board for introducing a book on herbal medicines, essential for health services.

The book titled “Recommended list of Herbal Medicines essential for Health Service” produced by the MOH and dated November, 2008, spells out various medicines for the treatment of Anaemia, Diabetes, Hypertension, Malaria, Arthritis, Typhoid, Peptic Ulcer, skin diseases and others.

Mr Adu Mohamed, speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Ajumako, said the move was laudable and a step in the right direction because it would help weed out quacks in the herbal medicine practice.

He appealed to the MOH and the government to make available logistics and machinery to herbal medicine practitioners to enable them to produce in large quantities for both export and local use.

This, he said would relieve the nation of its over dependence of foreign drugs and also save money, which would have been used in the importation of such drugs and at the same time help to create employment in the country.

Prevent Periodontitis To Reduce The Risk Of Head And Neck Cancer

2009-09-08T00:35:00.000-07:00

Chronic periodontitis, a form of gum disease, is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This suggests the need for increased efforts to prevent and treat periodontitis as a possible means to reduce the risk of this form of cancer.

"Prevent periodontitis; if you have it already, get treatment and maintain good oral hygiene," said Mine Tezal, D.D.S., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, and NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences at the University of Buffalo. She is also a research scientist in the Department of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Prosthetics at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, which is where the study was conducted.

Results of this study are published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Chronic periodontitis is characterized by progressive loss of the bone and soft tissue attachment that surround the teeth. The researchers assessed the role of chronic periodontitis on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the individual roles on three subsites: oral cavity, oropharyngeal and laryngeal. They used radiographic measurement of bone loss to measure periodontitis among 463 patients; 207 of whom were controls.

Findings showed that chronic periodontitis might represent a clinical high-risk profile for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The strength of the association was greatest in the oral cavity, followed by the oropharynx and larynx, according to Tezal.

When they stratified the relationship by tobacco use, they found that the association persisted in those patients who never used tobacco. The researchers did not expect the periodontitis-head and neck squamous cell carcinoma association to be weaker in current smokers compared to former and never smokers, according to Tezal. However, this interaction, although statistically significant, was not very strong.

"Confirmatory studies with more comprehensive assessment of smoking, such as duration, quantity and patterns of use, as well as smokeless tobacco history are needed," she said.

"Our study also suggests that chronic periodontitis may be associated with poorly differentiated tumor status in the oral cavity. Continuous stimulation of cellular proliferation by chronic inflammation may be responsible for this histological type. However, grading is subjective and we only observed this association in the oral cavity. Therefore, this association may be due to chance and needs further exploration," Tezal added.

Andrew Olshan, Ph.D., said these results lend further support to the potential importance of poor oral health in this form of cancer. Olshan is professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, and professor in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

"The study of poor oral health including the possible carcinogenic role of microorganisms is part of a rapidly growing interest in how a community of microbes that live in the various environments of the human body can affect health," Olshan said. "Although the study is comparatively small, the researchers were able to also see an association between bone loss and the risk of head and neck cancer."

Food is your best medicine

2009-09-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Fresh fruits are packed with vitamins & minerals. Because fruits can be eaten raw, they are extremely beneficial for the enzymes they offer. Enzymes are important to proper digestive function. Here are some benefits of five of this season’s best local fruits:

Blackberries Contain vitamins A, C and B-complex along with calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and niacin. All berries are high in fiber.

They are good for the colon. Since blackberries contain natural sugar they are good for energy. They are also used as a blood cleanser. They have an alkaline affect in the body and make a good tonic.

While blackberries are best if they are eaten uncooked, they also make good cobblers, jams and pies.

Blueberries are high in manganese and vitamin A and C and some B-complex. They also contain calcium, potassium, silicon, phosphorus, iron, silicon. They are an excellent source of fiber and are a good antiseptic and blood purifier. They are also good for the skin, hypoglycemia, and the blue pigment may be a powerful in protecting the liver.

Eaten in their fresh, natural state, they are very nourishing. They can also be added to muffins, pancakes, cereals and salads. They make an excellent addition to a chicken salad too!

Cantaloupes are abundant in vitamin A and C. They are also a rich source of potassium.

Melons are best eaten alone or with other melons rather than mixed with other fruits. Their high water content can interfere with digestion since water dilutes the digestive juices. Melons in general are a cleansing food. They are good for bladder and kidney problems.

Grapes contain some vitamin A and C, phosphorus and calcium. They are also a good source of B complex which is essential for a healthy nervous system. Grapes are considered the “queen” of fruits. They help to purify the blood, are a good source of energy and contain cleansing properties. They help stimulate the liver and are effective in helping constipation, edema, reducing fever, and preventing cancer. Grape juice is excellent to help recover from illness.

Peaches are high in vitamin A, B complex, protein, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and fiber. They are valuable for those suffering from anemia, asthma, bronchitis, cancer, constipation, heart disease and skin disease. They are excellent to include in a diet for the elderly.

The best pick are ones that smell peachy and look creamy yellow and red in color. They are great when eaten fresh or made into jelly or jams, used for cobblers and can be used in fruit salads with apricots, apples, bananas, pineapple and pears. Ripe peaches should be stored in the refrigerator.

Alternative medicine, acupuncture to be discussed at AARP meeting

2009-09-04T00:35:00.000-07:00

Dr. William Boggs, board certified in internal medicine, will be speaking at the High Springs Area AARP meeting on Sept. 10.

He will discuss treating illnesses with alternative medicine and acupuncture and without totally relying on drugs or surgery for relief. A question and answer session will follow the talk.

In addition, registered nurse Tammy James will be returning to the AARP meetings to do blood pressure screenings.

The meeting is open to anyone over 50 years old and is held at the First Presbyterian Church, 205 N. Main Street in High Springs and begins at 10:30 a.m. Guests planning to attend are asked to bring a covered dish for the luncheon following the meeting.

Health-care reform isn't socialized medicine

2009-09-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

People against health-care reform don't know the facts or are being fooled by other special interests, such as big health-care insurance companies and the rich that have money invested, and their only interest is big profits.

Health-care reform isn't socialized medicine. If I like my actual insurance, I'll still be able to keep it, but if I can't afford it, I will have another affordable choice.

We can't afford not to change. If we do nothing, the cost of health care will increase to a point that only the very rich are going to be able to afford it.

Health-care reform will strengthen Medicare, ensure we can choose our doctor, and cut the cost of medicine.

Jose Nunes

New Bedford

Solutions to child obesity

2009-09-01T00:28:00.000-07:00

To make it easier for children to eat healthfully and move more, local governments in towns and cities across the country need to help create a better environment, a new report says.

Children and their families should have access to grocery stores that offer plenty of healthful food such as fruits and vegetables, and schools shouldn't be surrounded by fast-food restaurants. Children should be able to ride their bikes or walk safely to school, and they should have safe places to play afterward, says the report out today from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council.

The healthy choice should be the easy choice, says family physician Eduardo Sanchez, chairman of the expert committee that prepared the report and vice president and chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.

"That statement captures the essence of this particular challenge. Too often the easiest thing to do is the least healthy, and that goes for kids."

The environment influences the decisions people make, and local regulations can make a difference in the fight against childhood obesity, he says.

About a third of the nation's children ages 2 to 19 — or about 23 million kids — are overweight or obese. That puts them at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and other health problems.

Some cities and towns in the USA already have made changes that make living healthfully easier. Other community officials need to figure out their areas' biggest problems and work on those first, the report's authors say.

Among their suggestions are several dealing with access to healthful food in underserved areas. They urge communities to offer financial incentives to the owners of corner markets and convenience stores in poor areas so they can carry more affordable healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables, and fat-free and low-fat dairy.

They also suggest offering tax credits, grants, loans and other economic incentives to attract new, bigger supermarkets and grocery stores to underserved communities to increase their access to healthful foods.

Several studies show that some people, especially in poorer communities, don't have easy access to a major grocery store, so they have to rely on small stores, convenience markets and hybrid gas stations where there is a smaller selection of healthful food items at higher prices.

"I believe (benefits from) the relative costs involved far outweigh the cost of doing nothing," Sanchez says. "Obesity in children leads to some diseases, and the cost of their medical care will go up fairly quickly."

Many of the strategies have other benefits. For instance, the report urges better community policing, which may increase safety, and better grocery stores could create more jobs, he says. "These are worthwhile investments because the gain is more than the upfront expense."

Similar ideas for changing the environment were discussed this summer at the Weight of the Nation meeting in Washington, D.C., which was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others.

Cost of defensive medicine is indeed significant

2009-08-31T00:43:00.000-07:00

Jay Hancock in his article regarding health care malpractice costs ("Health care myths obscure the much tougher decisions," Aug. 6) cites information from the Congressional Budget Office that "malpractice costs make up only 2 percent of health care spending" and WellPoint Insurance, which says litigation and defensive medicine "are not considered a significant recent significant factor in the overall growth of health care spending."

Well, I guess it depends on who you talk to.

In a Massachusetts Medical Society survey of 900 doctors published last November, 83 percent of Bay State physicians cited the fear of being sued in their decisions to practice defensive medicine. According to the doctors anonymously surveyed, on average, 18 percent to 28 percent of tests, procedures, referrals and consultations and 13 percent of hospitalizations were ordered to avoid lawsuits. All of this adds at least $1.4 billion to annual health care costs in Massachusetts alone, and national estimates range as high as $200 billion.

A 2006 Harvard School of Public Health study found that four out of every 10 medical malpractice lawsuits filed in America each year were "without merit." Nonetheless, defending against such lawsuits imposes costs on doctors, hospitals and insurers that invariably are passed on to health care consumers. Beyond the obvious costs of litigation, more subtle costs related to the practice of "defensive medicine" are contributing to runaway health care inflation.

Texas has joined 24 other states in enacting reforms that include a reasonable limit on noneconomic damages for pain and suffering of up to $750,000 per incident. This reform does not limit compensatory awards for calculable lost wages and medical expenses, but it does balance the interests of patients and care providers while helping to ensure access to necessary care. Now, according to Gov. Rick Perry, doctors' insurance rates have declined by an average of 27 percent while the "number of doctors applying to practice medicine in Texas has skyrocketed by 57 percent. In ... just the first five years after reforms passed, 14,498 doctors either returned to practice in Texas or began practicing here for the first time."

Major Genetic Determinant Of Psoriasis

2009-08-27T22:51:00.000-07:00

A specific genetic region that has been increasingly identified as the strongest genetic link to psoriasis has an even more significant role in the chronic skin disease than has been suspected, University of Utah medical researchers show in a new study.

n the Aug. 13 issue of PLoS Genetics, researchers in the U School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology confirm that the presence of HLA-Cw*0602, a gene variation or allele on chromosome 6 found to be associated with psoriasis by numerous investigators, is the "major genetic determinant" of psoriasis, but that other nearby genetic variations also play an independent role in contributing to the disease

"The HLA-Cw*0602 gene variation stands alone as a high risk for psoriasis," said Gerald G. Krueger, M.D., professor of dermatology, Benning Presidential Endowed Chair holder, and a co-author on the study. "A major question has been: are there other genetic variations in this region that associate with psoriasis?"

The study reported in PLoS Genetics identifies two other genetic variations on chromosome 6 that also have significant association with psoriasis. People who have all three genetic variations are nearly nine times more at risk for psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that causes red scaly patches on the skin and affects up to 7.5 million people in the United States. About 25 percent of subjects with the disease also develop a painful inflammation of the joints called psoriatic arthritis.

University researchers, led by first author Bing-Jian Feng, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, and senior author David E. Goldgar, Ph.D., research professor of dermatology in the U of U School of Medicine, reached their conclusion after an expanded analysis of data from a study published earlier this year by investigators at Utah in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Michigan and Washington University.

That study (Nature Genetics, Jan. 25) used new technology to scan nearly 500,000 genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) in 1,359 people with psoriasis and 1,400 without to find those with the strongest relationship with psoriasis. After identifying 18 SNPs with the highest associations with psoriasis, the researchers expanded the study to include 5,048 people with psoriasis and 5,051 without the disease. From that, they identified four new genetic "hotspots" for psoriasis and confirmed two others that Krueger and colleagues identified in previous studies.

Using the data from the Nature Genetics study, Feng, Goldgar, and colleagues employed two statistical methods, imputation and logistic regression analysis, to determine with a much greater degree of accuracy those genes that have the highest association with psoriasis. Using imputation they were able to reliably predict the *0602 status of all subjects in the recent Nature Genetics study. This did two things; first, it increased the confidence that *0602 is the major genetic variation on this chromosome and, second, it permitted them to determine if there was any other associated genetic variation in this region.

Removing the strong effect of *0602 resulted in the identification of two other loci (fixed position on a chromosome) that are independently associated with psoriasis (MICA/HLA-B and c6orf10). These two loci increased the risk for the disease by 1.23 and 1.6 times, respectively. However, when all three genetic variations that Feng, Goldgar, and colleagues report are present, the risk for psoriasis is 8.9 times higher than when none of these is present.

To confirm the results, the researchers examined an independent patient population in China, which corroborated their conclusions.

While *0602 and the associated, but independent, genetic variations reported have a major genetic contribution to psoriasis, many other genes undoubtedly play a role, according to Krueger. The number of DNA sites discovered to have strong associations with psoriasis has more than doubled in the past two years.

Prepares for swine flu season

2009-08-27T02:04:00.000-07:00

With an expected increase in the number of H1N1 virus cases as the school year kicks off, Texas Tech has ordered extra flu vaccines as well as updated a Web site designed to help students protect themselves against the flu.

According to a report released by the White House earlier this week, the H1N1 virus will kill between 30,000 and 90,000 Americans in 2009 with the season peaking mid-October.

In preparation, Dr. Kelly Bennett of the Family Medicine department said Tech has ordered 500 additional doses of the regular flu vaccine.

She said no Tech students were infected with H1N1 last year, but the university has been preparing for an outbreak projected to be more severe than last year.

According to Tech's flu Web site, students with the flu or flu-like symptoms are not to attend class or work for at least 24 hours after fever returns to normal and to consider vaccinations as they become available.

This follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention swine flu response guidelines for higher education released Aug. 20, which recommends students and faculty infected with H1N1 be isolated as much as possible.

"Texas Tech has been designated a point of dispensing, by the CDC," said Managing Director of Family Medicine Evelyn McPherson. "This should give students and faculty easy access to the vaccine."

The H1N1 vaccine, which must be taken as two separate doses, should be available to students in late September, Bennett said, and does not replace the regular flu vaccine.

"The CDC is setting up a provider registry of doctors and health departments to receive vaccines for H1N1," said Lubbock Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Sandy Fortenberry. "Of the 45 million expected vaccines, about 4 million will be allocated to Texas which will then go to registered providers."

In addition to getting the H1N1 vaccine, she said, students must take responsibility for their own health so they do not become infected.

"Students should do the same as they would with seasonal flu by practicing good hygiene, staying healthy and getting their seasonal flu shot," Fortenberry said.

The CDC also urges balance, and according to CDC H1N1 response guidelines, strategies employed by organizations should reduce the number of people who become ill or die from the flu while minimizing disruption.

"We are working to follow CDC guidelines which sometimes change from one day to the next depending on the severity of outbreak," McPherson said.

Incorporate traditional medicine into primary healthcare

2009-08-27T01:58:00.000-07:00

Incorporating traditional medicine into primary healthcare system will improve the management of public health diseases, practitioners and experts agreed in Lagos on Wednesday. At a ceremony commemorating the African Traditional Medicine Day, marked every August 31, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, said that without traditional medicine, the realization of the millennium development goals will be a mirage.

"Traditional medicine which has been long neglected is the corner stone of an integrated healthcare system. We have yielded to the WHO's call as it is now part of our primary healthcare system in Lagos because we know that 80 per cent of the population patronize it. For about 33 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) had passed resolutions calling on member nations to give recognition to traditional medicine, but up till the moment, Nigeria has not passed the Bill on Traditional Medicine which will give it formal recognition in hospitals and regulation of the practice."

"There are challenges in making traditional medicine recognized in Nigeria," said Bunmi Omoseyindemi, the chairman of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board. "Insufficient evidence regarding safety and efficiency, inadequate coordination of existing practice and practitioners, lack of coordination among stakeholder and so on," Dr. Omoseyindemi added.

In a bid to effect these, the Lagos State passed the Health Sector Reform Law 2006, but many states are yet to incorporate it into their health system, and experts clamour for a national bill.According to the director general of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Tamuno Okujagu, the Bill was last heard in the National Assembly five years ago and nothing is being done up till now."Yet the WHO has reported that at least 80 per cent of the population patronize one form of Traditional Medicine or the other."

The head of sellers of herbs for women and children, Ashabi Olomowewe told NEXT that she inherited the practice for over 40 years from her for parents and it has never failed her."I trained all my children with herbs, today they are grown up alive and well." Mrs Olomowewe who is in her mid sixties said that her experience has saved many pregnant women from going for caesarean operation."The doctors will say that the baby has crossed (breach birth), but there are certain herbs that if given the women, the baby will take the normal position and the woman give birth normally not needing an operation.

Attesting to the power of the practice also is the chairman of the Nigerian Traditional Medical Association, W. Oshodi; "The practice of using herbs is a blessing from God. There are many diseases that doctors cannot cure, but herbs can cure, so we call on the government to give it more recognition and to stop the orthodox doctors from looking down on us."

Citing India and China as examples of countries that have taken advantage of traditional medicine, Mr. Okujagu added: "If we can give traditional medicine its due recognition, it will not only help our health care, it has the potential of yielding billions of naira yearly export."

UPDATE 1-Dainippon schizophrenia drug meets trial goals

2009-08-26T04:46:00.000-07:00

apan's Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co Ltd (4506.T) said its experimental schizophrenia drug, lurasidone, was significantly better than placebo in a pivotal late-stage clinical trial, according to data released on Wednesday.

The company said it plans to submit its application seeking U.S. approval to sell the medicine early next year.

Dainippon Sumitomo will decide by autumn whether it will market the new drug, if approved, via its own sales network or a co-promotion deal with another firm or if it will acquire a U.S. company, a spokesman for the mid-sized drugmaker said.

Patients with acute schizophrenia in the 478-subject, six-week, Phase III trial received either 40 milligrams or 120 milligrams of lurasidone daily or a placebo.

Both doses of the drug proved to be statistically significantly better than placebo in the primary goal of the study, which was 30 percent or better improvement in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the company said.

Fifty-three percent of patients who received 40 mg of lurasidone and 47 percent of those on the 120 mg dose achieved the primary goal compared with 38 percent on placebo.

Both doses of lurasidone were also significantly more effective than placebo on a secondary measure used to test antipsychotic drugs called the Clinical Global Impressions Severity scale, the company said.

In previous trials, lurasidone was also tested at 80 mg and Dainippon Sumitomo said it would submit all three doses for FDA approval.

Lurasidone belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics and works by blocking serotonin receptors in the brain. If approved, it would join an already crowded field of such treatments.

"We're still searching for the right drug for many of these patients. There's no one size fits all," Dr Herbert Meltzer, one of the study's lead investigators and professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said in a telephone interview.

Patients in the trial had been diagnosed with schizophrenia on average for more than 13 years and most had been previously hospitalized prior to entering the study.

"If you look at the weight gain, the lipid changes, it's among the most benign of any antipsychotic drugs, clearly better than olanzapine, clozapine and Seroquel," Meltzer said.

Olanzapine is the chemical name for Eli Lilly and Co's (LLY.N) widely-used Zyprexa; clozapine in sold by Novartis AG (NOVN.VX) under the brand name Clozaril; and Seroquel is sold by AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L).

Zyprexa and similar drugs can cause significant weight gain and have been linked to increased risk of diabetes.

But "this class of drugs as a whole is so superior to the first generation drugs," said Meltzer, who plans to present the data from the lurasidone trial at a major medical meeting in December.

Lurasidone was well tolerated with a discontinuation rate nearly identical to placebo -- 40 percent versus 39 percent -- and the adverse events were generally mild, such as restlessness and sleepiness.

"From the point of view of efficacy and side effect profile, once a day administration, the fact that the lower dose works as well as the higher dose, I think this is going to have a very good chance of major acceptance among my colleagues," Meltzer added. (Additional reporting by Yumiko Nishitani in Tokyo; Editing by Andre Grenon and Edwina Gibbs)

Use traditional medicine to fight flu

2009-08-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

The head of a Manitoba First Nations organization is calling on his fellow chiefs to look to traditional aboriginal medicine to help fight the next wave of swine flu, also called H1N1.

Acting grand chief Norman Bone of the Southern Chiefs' Organization said he wants to drive home the fact that First Nations have access to traditional remedies to improve their health and treat the flu on their own, rather than waiting for funding announcements.

"It's more taking a step, doing what we can for ourselves," he said, adding that SCO would also welcome federal or provincial funding for traditional treatment, if an arrangement could be made.

Bone declined to say what types of roots, herbs or other remedies would be used to treat or prevent H1N1, based on the advice of elders. He said he's not suggesting people avoid vaccines in favour of traditional medicine.

"What I'm also promoting is the use of both methods," he said.

Residents of the northern Manitoba First Nations communities of St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill were the worst affected by the H1N1 flu so far, with hundreds of patients sick and dozens flown to Winnipeg for treatment.

Aboriginals make up less than four per cent of Canada's population but have accounted for 11.1 per cent of the total number of reported H1N1 cases, 15.6 per cent of the hospitalized cases, 15 per cent of the patients admitted to intensive care with it, and 12.3 per cent of the deaths.

In Manitoba more than one in four of the 886 individuals diagnosed with H1N1 are First Nations.

SCO health director Shirli Ewanchuk said the organization has been working with communities on pandemic planning since 2007, and is working to ensure there's a stockpile of traditional medicine for communities, including urban First Nations people.

Bone said he was pleased by last week's announcement that the province would spend $1.5 million to provide 15,000 medical kits including masks, tissue, hand sanitizer, rubber gloves and other supplies to First Nations.

Ewanchuk said with the kits paid for, the SCO can focus on making sure health centres in southern First Nations have the proper protective equipment and training, and lining up training for chiefs to deal with a flu pandemic, among other priorities.

Asthma sufferer fined $300 for ganja 'medicine'

2009-08-25T02:44:00.000-07:00

SAN JUAN resident Lester Faustin was fined $300 yesterday for possession of 20 grammes of what he described as his "asthma medicine".

In this case, the "medicine" turned out to be the illegal drug marijuana.

Faustin who was arrested last Saturday after a warrant was executed at his girlfriend's Bourg Mulatrasse home, told Magistrate Andrew Stroude that he bought the "herbs" on the advice from an old lady named "Dolly", who prescribed the medication, minus the dosage.

Faustin added that "Dolly does sell bush", but quickly pointed out that it was not the kind of "bush" that he was arrested for.

"Since I start drinking the tea I breathing normal," said the 33-year-old shopkeeper.

He added that he was diagnosed with asthma since his birth but the problem got worse about four years ago when he "got a cut" on his chest.

Faustin was accompanied by his father who told Stroude that he tried speaking to his son about the illegal habit, without a favourable response.

Faustin said that he had trouble breathing at nights before he took the "medicine".

He told Stroude that the marijuana he was arrested for was "shake off", which was useless for smokers.

Faustin, who confessed to smoking marijuana in the past, added that he would "draw it and drink it in the morning".

Faustin then apologised for his actions and promised never to do it again, after which Stroude told him to "put aside his tea" and to seek medical attention for his bronchial problem before sentencing him.

Foreclosures Make for Subprime Mental Health

2009-08-25T02:41:00.000-07:00

t's official: The economy is bad for your health.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine questioned 250 homeowners going through foreclosure in Philadelphia and found that 47 percent showed symptoms of depression, with 37 percent exhibiting signs of major depression. The rate was especially high considering previous research showed that only about 12.8 percent of people living in poverty were depressed, the study found.

"Although the health status of homeowners has traditionally tended to be better than that of renters, the financial and emotional stress of foreclosure may undermine the potential benefits of homeownership," said the study, which will appear in the October edition of the American Journal of Public Health.

The researchers found deep attachment to homes. "There is a sense of hope when people buy their homes," said Craig Evan Pollack, an internist who recently completed a fellowship at Penn's medical school and is now an associate scientist at Rand Corp. "The difference between those dreams and hopes and [the] reality that people are finding themselves in may be part of the stress that people are feeling, and a sense of sadness as well."

Borrowers facing foreclosure were more likely to forgo filling prescriptions, and nearly 60 percent reported that they had skipped or delayed meals, according to the study. "We've barely begun to think about the health consequences of the foreclosure crisis," Pollack said.

And it's likely to get worse. Nearly 2 million homeowners are expected to lose their homes to foreclosure this year, according to some economists.

"It's surprising to me that the rates of depression aren't even higher," said John Taylor, president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, a nonprofit group. "All aspects of their life are just disrupted. They lose their center."

What killed Mozart?

2009-08-20T02:28:00.000-07:00

For more than two centuries, the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has endured — as has the speculation about what led to his sudden death at age 35 on Dec. 5, 1791.

Was the wunderkind composer poisoned by a jealous rival? Did he have an intestinal parasite from an undercooked pork chop? Could he have accidentally poisoned himself with mercury used to treat a bout of syphilis?

A report in Tuesday's Annals of Internal Medicine suggests the exalted Austrian composer might have succumbed to something far more commonplace: a streptococcal infection — possibly strep throat — that led to kidney failure.

The researchers looked at death records in Vienna during the months surrounding Mozart's death — November and December 1791 and January 1792, and compared causes of death with the previous and following years.

"We saw that at the time of Mozart's death there was a minor epidemic in deaths involving edema (swelling), which also happened to be the hallmark of Mozart's final disease," said Dr. Richard Zegers of the University of Amsterdam, one of the study's authors.

There was a spike in swelling-related deaths among younger men in Vienna at the time of Mozart's death compared to the other years studied, suggesting a minor epidemic of streptococcal disease, Zegers said.

The cause of death recorded in Vienna's official death register was "fever and rash," though even in Mozart's time those were recognized to be merely symptoms and not an actual disease.

His surviving letters and creative output suggest that he was feeling well in the months before his death and was not suffering from any chronic ailment. Many accounts note that he fell ill not long before he died — suffering from swelling so severe, his sister-in-law recalled three decades later, that the composer was unable to turn in bed.

Others who reported to have been witnesses to Mozart's final days also described swelling, as well as back pain, malaise and rash — all symptoms that indicate Mozart may have died of kidney disease brought on by a strep infection.

"It's not definitive, but it's certainly food for thought," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who was not involved in the study.

He said it was not unreasonable to presume that Mozart died from strep complications, based on the information presented, but he pointed out that the authors had scant data to go on.

"Serious streptococcal infections were much more common than they are now and, indeed, they had very serious complications," he said. "This is sure to set off many discussions going forward."

US warns businesses to brace for H1N1

2009-08-20T02:21:00.000-07:00

The federal government is urging employers to offer flexible sick leave policies as the nation braces for a second wave of the H1N1 influenza pandemic.

Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano offered guidance to businesses on how to prevent the spread of H1N1, also known as swine flu, and to prepare for a major outbreak. They stressed allowing employees who exhibit flu symptoms to go home and to stay home until at least 24 hours have passed since their fevers subsided. They also said businesses should consider eliminating policies that require a doctor’s note or other proof to justify a sick day and that employers should be prepared to operate with fewer people.

“It’s more than just a significant health issue. It has the potential to affect every aspect of our lives,’’ Locke said. “It will take Americans from every walk of life pulling together and doing our part to mount an effective response.’’

As the first pandemic in more than 40 years, it has the potential to cause massive disruptions for businesses, schools, and governments. The United States and other northern nations have been scrambling to prepare for a resurgence of the virus by stockpiling flu treatments and vaccines.

US officials said yesterday that data from tests on adults show it is safe to start trying out the new vaccine in children. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said it would soon start two trials of a Sanofi-Aventis vaccine in children ages 6 months to 17 years. US health officials said 45 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine will be on hand in mid-October, when mass vaccinations are to begin.

Induced Labor May Prevent Need for Cesarean Section

2009-08-19T04:49:00.001-07:00

Inducing labor doesn't necessarily increase the risk of Cesarean section delivery, according to a study that challenges the widely held opinion.

Researchers reviewed available data on elective induction, in which women choose to have labor induced rather than requiring it for medical reasons. Most of the studies included women who were about one week past their due date.

The review results suggest that, compared with waiting, elective induction of labor at or after 41 weeks' gestation lowered Cesarean delivery risk by 22 percent. In addition, women whose labor was electively induced were half as likely to have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, which is a sign of fetal intrauterine stress.

The findings suggest that elective induction of labor may be safer than continuing pregnancy past 41 weeks, according to the researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Their study appears in the Aug. 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"It appears there is misunderstanding regarding the association of increased Cesarean deliveries with elective induction of labor, a procedure which has been rising in frequency," review lead author Dr. Aaron Caughey, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at UCSF, said in a Stanford University news release. "However, our findings need to be tempered with women's and physicians' expectations of choosing to induce labor."

The message for pregnant women is that labor induction can be done without increasing Cesarean risk if doctors give induction sufficient time to work, said co-author Dr. Douglas Owens, director of the Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center.

"Women should talk with their physician about how they would handle induction and what their approach to the procedure would be," Owens said in the news release.

Induced Labor May Prevent Need for Cesarean Section

2009-08-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

Gut Checks Carry More Weight

2009-08-18T00:41:00.000-07:00

When big-bellied patients come through the door of George Griffing's medical office in Brentwood, Mo., he pulls out a measuring stick.

Griffing, a professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, has those patients lie flat on their backs on an exam table. Then he measures the height of their bulging midsection from table top to tummy top.

"I'd like to use a ruler, but with a lot of patients I have to use a yardstick," he says. "What we're really looking for is how much fat is in the abdomen and the liver. It's simple and accurate and reveals a lot of information."

Medical experts have long suspected that people with excess deep-belly fat are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, and ongoing research bolsters that belief.

Griffing believes that measuring abdominal height is more efficient and accurate at predicting the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease than more commonly used methods such as calculating body mass indexes or waist-to-hip ratios, or measuring the circumferences of patients' waists. Those all factor in subcutaneous fat on arms, legs and hips, which is not as bad for you as fat in the gut, Griffing says. Griffing says most studies have found that abdominal heights that measure more than 10 inches in women and more than 12 inches in men triple the chance of cardiovascular disease.

The American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association endorse using the midsection measuring technique. On its Web site, the American Diabetes Association calls it a simple, cheap and noninvasive tool but added that more research is needed.

Ibuprofen is best for kids with broken arms

2009-08-18T00:37:00.000-07:00

Kids with a broken arm do better on a simple over-the-counter painkiller than on a more powerful prescription combination that includes a narcotic, a surprising study finds.

It tested ibuprofen, sold as Advil, Motrin and other brands, against acetaminophen plus codeine — a combo called Tylenol No. 3 that is also sold in generic form.

The children on ibuprofen did better, said the study leader, Dr. Amy Drendel of the Medical College of Wisconsin in suburban Milwaukee.

"They were more likely to play, they ate better and they had fewer adverse effects," she said.

Results were published online Tuesday by the Annals of Emergency Medicine. Experts praised the study as one of the few to compare medicines that have been long used in children based on how they work in adults.

"We want to start with what's effective and less likely to cause problems," and in this case, it turned out to be a cheap, over-the-counter drug, said Dr. Knox Todd, an emergency medicine pain researcher at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York and a member of the American Pain Society's board of directors.

The results do not mean that ibuprofen beats acetaminophen for everyday pain relief in children or anyone else, though. The study tested a specific use — pain in the first three days after a broken arm — and the acetaminophen was combined with the narcotic codeine, not tested alone.

Still, it shows the best way to treat a very common problem: As many as one out of five kids will break a bone before age 10 — often, an arm.

Researchers randomly assigned 336 children ages 4 to 18 to go home with liquid versions of either ibuprofen or the acetaminophen-codeine combo after being treated for a broken arm at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. Neither the children, parents nor the doctors knew who received what treatment until the study ended.

Full results were available on 244 children. The portion who failed to get relief from their assigned medicine was roughly the same.

However, half of those on the combo medicine reported side effects — mostly nausea and drowsiness that can occur with narcotics like codeine — versus 30 percent of those given ibuprofen.

The ibuprofen users also had fewer problems eating, playing, going to school or sleeping. They and their parents reported more satisfaction with the treatment.

"A lot of emergency medicine physicians are afraid to give kids narcotics and a lot of parents are uncomfortable with narcotic medicine," so finding an effective alternative is good news, Drendel said.

The hospital and medical school paid for the study, and a hospital-related charity paid for $10 Toys R Us gift certificates for each participant.

The study has nothing to do with limits on Tylenol for adults that were recently proposed by an advisory panel to the federal Food and Drug Administration, said Todd, who is a member of that panel.

"Acetaminophen when taken as directed is a very safe drug. The problem is people taking too much," or its inclusion in drugs that people might not be aware of, he explained.

News Government considers herbal medicine ban

2009-08-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

The government is considering measures that would effectively outlaw herbal medicine.

Such a move is likely to be welcomed by groups who campaign for evidence-based medicine. But others warned that prohibition could make it harder to regulate herbalists, by driving them underground.

The proposal came in a DoH consultation on plans to subject alternative medicine to professional regulation. Experts argue that this would offer cheaper and more effective protection of public safety than attempting to regulate individual remedies.

The consultation was expected to consider how to implement regulation. But instead it re-opens the question of whether statutory regulation is the best way to ensure public safety.

It offers alternatives including abolishing section 12 (1) of the 1968 Medicines Act, which allows herbalists to practice.

NHS Alliance chairman Dr Michael Dixon said that any move to regulate alternative medicines should be ‘totally pragmatic'. ‘The public are already seeing these practitioners,' he said. ‘We need to be assured that they are safe and know what they are doing within the modality of those treatments.'

Some health professionals want a tougher stance on herbal medicines, however.

Professor David Colquhoun, professor of pharmacology at University College London said: ‘Every other form of drug is tested for safety and efficacy. These guys have a complete loophole.'

He warned that many herbal medicines came in un-standardised doses, and statutory regulation would offer patients false reassurance that treatments were safe or effective and urged GPs to oppose it in the consultation, which runs until 2 November.

Get your omega-3s – carefully

2009-08-16T00:44:00.000-07:00

I am really confused about what fish to eat. I hear that fish is good for my health but that some types are healthier and others should be avoided because of contamination. Could you please clarify what fish I should and should not eat?

Fish is a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are thought to have numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation and the risk of heart disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids may also reduce arthritis, decrease triglycerides, reduce blood clotting and reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Since fish can be good for your health, it is recommended that a person eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish. But which fish should you eat?

To make it easy for you, here are some quick and easy "healthy fish basics":

1. Choose fish that is high in the omega-3s, or the "good fats." Fatty fish from the sea, including salmon, herring, and to a lesser extent tuna, are high in omega-3s. Most freshwater fish have less omega-3 fatty acid than do fatty fish from the ocean.

2. Eat less of the fish that are high in omega-6 fatty acids. Some fish, especially farmed fish like tilapia and catfish, contain more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids. This is because farmed fish are often raised on corn-based diets, leading to higher levels of omega-6 and arachidonic acid in their tissues. Arachidonic acid in particular can contribute to inflammation and plaque buildup in your arteries.

3. Avoid contaminated fish: Five primary contaminants are mercury, PCBs, chlordane, dioxin and DDT. Contamination levels increase as they move up the food chain, so remember that the top predators in a food chain – such as largemouth bass or walleye – may have very high levels of chemical contamination. Pregnant and nursing women, as well as children, should especially avoid highly contaminated fish.

Some of the most commonly consumed fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon and pollock. Conversely, the Food and Drug Administration cautions against eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

4. Think sustainable.

For a complete listing, go to www.montereybay aquarium.org.

And finally, if you are a vegetarian, non-fish food options that contain omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, flaxseed oil, walnuts, canola oil, soybeans and soybean oil.

Brazil bans flu medicine ads

2009-08-15T03:28:00.000-07:00

Brazil on Friday imposed a temporary ban on all flu medicine advertisements in an effort to reduce self-medication that may disguise A/H1N1 symptoms.

The ban applies to advertisements for aspirin-based medicine and over-the-counter remedies for flu symptoms on all mass media, including the Internet, said the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).

The measure aims at reducing the self-medication, which may cause errors in the diagnosis of the A/H1N1 flu, leading to more severe cases of the disease, the Anvisa said.

The Brazilian health ministry said that 77 percent of flu cases in the country were A/H1N1 and the number was rising sharply.

Brazil has registered 277 deaths from the disease, the third largest number of A/H1N1 deaths after the United States and Argentina.

Brazil are taking other measures to contain the spread of the A/H1N1virus, such as postponing poliomyelitis immunizations scheduled for Aug. 22 to avoid crowding in hospitals that could lead to more infections.

Classes remain suspended in many schools and universities in the country. Students will have to miss nearly a month of school before most schools resume classes in late August or early September.

Latest data released by the health ministry this week said that there are 3,642 confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu in Brazil.

However, the ministry noted that the number may grow bigger, as more tests for the disease are underway.

What is alternative medicine?

2009-08-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

Acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, homeopathy, diet and supplements all come to mind when you think of alternative medicine.

But, alternative medicine is more than the sum of all the non-medical treatments out there. It is a completely different attitude about health care. Instead of looking for what's wrong, alternative medicine looks for what's right. The focus is on health rather than disease.

When you go to a medical doctor, you may be tested for several possible diseases depending upon your symptoms. An MD is trained to diagnose, before he or she can treat you.

Go to an alternative doctor, and diagnosis is secondary. In fact, alternative practitioners can usually treat without a diagnosis. Unlike surgery and medication, alternative treatments are generally healthful and without risk to the patient.

If this sounds like snake oil to you, you might want to read Never Be Sick Again by San Rafael author Raymond Francis.

A chemist and a graduate of MIT, Raymond Francis was not motivated to take control of his health until he became seriously ill, and near death, at age 48.

Never Be Sick Again is a great introduction to the non-medical approach to health. Francis describes his own transformational journey, and invites the rest of us to follow.

So, curl up with this good book, and discover the world of alternative medicine. And never be sick again.

6 hours of sleep? It's not enough

2009-08-14T03:15:00.000-07:00

Scientists have good and bad news for hard-driving people who boast they need only six hours of sleep a night.

The good news is a few may be right: Researchers at the University of California-San Francisco have identified a family with a genetic mutation that causes members to require only six hours sleep a night. The bad news? The gene is vanishingly rare in humans, found in less than 3% of people.

So almost everyone who says he needs only six hours' sleep is kidding himself. And the consequences of chronic sleep deprivation are serious, says Clete Kushida, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and director of Stanford University's Sleep Medicine Center. Sleep deprivation has been linked to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, deficiencies in short-term memory, focus and attention. It's also tied to depressed mood and a decrease in the ability to control appetite.

The family members — a mother and daughter with the gene mutation — were discovered by researchers at UCSF studying circadian rhythms, the waxing and waning biochemical cycles that govern sleep, hunger and activity. Neither woman needed more than six to 6½ hours of sleep a night, and yet both were well-rested, healthy and energetic.

"One of them is over 70, always traveling internationally and extremely active. She dances three or four nights a week," says Ying-Hui Fu, a professor of neurology at UCSF.

When scientists examined the pair's DNA, they found a mutation in a gene called DEC2, which governs cell production and circadian rhythm.

The mutation seems to result in people who need much less than the normal eight to 8½ hours that most humans require for well-rested functioning, according to the paper, which is published in today's edition of the journal Science. The research by Fu and her colleagues determined that humans and mice that carry the mutation get more intense sleep, as measured by slow-wave electrical activity in the brain, and so they need less of it.

But Fu estimates that only about 3% of the population is likely to have this gene and cautions that most people who habitually get less than eight hours sleep a night are only building up a large, and dangerous, sleep debt.

Fu says her lab is investigating whether it might be possible to mimic the effects of the gene with therapeutic compounds, but she cautions the research is only at the very beginning. For now, the only real answer to true productivity is to sleep as much as your body needs, she says.

Can regenerative medicine defeat aging?

2009-08-14T03:13:00.000-07:00

The relevance of nearly all biogerontology research to combating aging is restricted to the potential for slowing down the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage that eventually leads to age-related ill-health. Meanwhile, regenerative medicine has been progressing rapidly and is nearing clinical applicability to a wide range of specific conditions. My view is that we are approaching the point where regenerative medicine can be used against aging. This would entail not retarding but actually reversing the accumulation of damage. If successful, this would obviously be a far more valuable technology than mere slowing of aging. However, in order to be successful it must be comprehensive, and some aspects of aging may seem impossible to address in this way. In fact, however, it seems that all types of molecular and cellular damage which contribute to age-related ill-health are realistic targets of regenerative interventions.

The human body is, ultimately, a machine - an astronomically complex machine, of whose workings we remain pitifully ignorant - but still a machine. Like any machine, it accumulates ‘damage’ as a side-effect of its normal operation: molecular and cellular changes that occur throughout life are initially harmless, but eventually (when too abundant) increasingly impede the normal operation of the machine and eventually cause it to fail altogether. Conceptually, there are three strategies to postpone a machine’s demise beyond its ‘warranty period’. First, we can treat it really well throughout its life, thereby slowing down the accumulation of damage: but that can never stop the accumulation altogether, because to do so would require not operating the machine at all, and anyway it cannot address damage that has already occurred. Alternatively, we can combat the late-life symptoms, the dysfunction that eventually emerges: but that too is only a short-term approach, because the underlying damage that causes the dysfunction is still accumulating and making the dysfunction harder and harder to address. This is why the way in which machines that people love are in fact kept in good shape is the third strategy: repair and maintenance, in which we let the damage be created, but repair it before it becomes so severe as to cause dysfunction. In the case of the human body, this means using regenerative medicine against aging.

So… can it work? Are all the types of damage that contributed to age-related ill-health amenable to repair?

People go in for traditional medicines

2009-08-14T03:07:00.000-07:00

With no preventive medicines available for swine flu in modern medicine, people are increasingly turning towards the traditional systems of medicines like Ayurveda and homeopathy.

The homeopathic medicine Influnzenium 200 is in great demand these days. A repesentative of Dr Reckweg Clinic in the city said “the medicine has become the most sought after these days after the swine flu menace spread. Earlier, nobody asked for it even once in a day.” Stocks are fast selling out and we have ordered fresh stocks, said a homeopathic medicine shop owner.

Homeopath Tareshwar Jain says swine flu is an influenza-like illness where primary symptoms are very much similar to those of influenza. Thus, one can take Influnzenium 200 as a preventive medicine. However, consulting a doctor will be advisable before self-medication.

Dr Mahesh Sharma, director of the National Institute of Ayurveda, says there is both preventive and curative medicines in traditional medicine. He says as a preventive measure care has to be taken on maintaining cleanliness and proper diet.

He said an OPD will soon start functioning at the institute from next Monday offering free medicines and guidance. “We can treat people with initial symptoms. However, in advanced and complicated cases with symptoms of diarrhoea and bleeding, it is advisable to approach a specialised hospital, “he added.

He says application of either mustard or sesame oil in the nostrils to get relief from cold, besides swallowing two to three tulsi leaves (with out chewing), also help to increase immunity against the virus.

Dr Sharma suggests taking a dose of the boiled water of a teaspoon of turmeric (haldi) black pepper, tulsi leaves, and jeera could be of great help in curing the the respiratory system and immune system from all kinds viral infections and cure for the common cough and cold.

However he suggests “it is better to avoid butter milk (chach) and curd (dahi) during this period. People are advised to take proper diet and those who suffer from constipation should take some remedy as it increases the chances of infection.”

New diabetes-related medicines being tested on patients

2009-08-12T23:57:00.001-07:00

Four novel approaches to treat type 2 diabetes were discussed at the recent 69th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

All are in stage 3 clinical research trials right now. In other words, real patients are using these new treatments and their progress is being recorded and analyzed.

One treatment of great interest to anyone with diabetes is the possibility of taking insulin by mouth. New approaches have been developed to make this a reality. Until now, any insulin swallowed is damaged by the stomach acids. New discoveries allow the tissues inside the cheek to absorb insulin.

Another new category of anti-diabetic medicines called SGLT-2 inhibitors have been found to reduce blood sugars without the use of insulin. These drugs make the kidneys spill sugar into the urine. This has two potentially beneficial effects. First, it lowers blood sugar levels by helping the body eliminate high sugars faster. Second, the extra calories the sugar represents are lost. This helps the diabetic lose weight. Side effects seem to be minimal. Studies are under way to prove their value and effectiveness.

There is good evidence that the insulin-producing cells of the body are damaged and destroyed by inflammation in type 2 diabetics. That puts it in a similar category with other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. One new agent being investigated is called interleukin-2 (IL-2) beta receptor antagonist. Studies have shown the receptor plays a significant role in the death of the insulin producing cells. If this killer agent could be blocked, then insulin production would be preserved. Diabetes would be slowed or maybe even stopped.

Another anti-inflammatory agent being studied is Salsalate. Not only might this medication, which is chemically similar to aspirin, be helpful in preventing type 2 diabetes, but it also could protect against the damage to blood vessels so commonly seen in all diabetics. Salsalate is known to slow down overactive inflammatory pathways in type 2 diabetics. There is now good evidence that inflammation of blood vessels is closely associated with insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion.

None of these medicines will be on shelves anytime soon. It’s important to study new medications for side effects and prove their value. Next, the FDA would need to evaluate these drugs and that process can take time before formal approval. Finally, like any other new medicines, don’t expect them to be inexpensive or covered by your health insurance.

As exciting as any new medicine may seem, the best management for any type of diabetes is carefully balancing food eaten, regular activity, and medications (only if needed). The Diabetes Prevention Program proved more than a decade ago that regular daily exercise combined with improved eating habits aimed at lowering weight by just 7 percent prevents diabetes better than any known medicine.

Obesity medicine becomes a specialty

2009-08-12T23:44:00.000-07:00

It’s a disturbing sign of the times that doctors soon will be able to earn certification in obesity management.

USA Today reports that the Obesity Society, the American Diabetes Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups are combining to create the certification. Doctors will be required to pass tests relating to nutrition, exercise and psychology. In announcing the partnership and certification development, the society cited the 66 percent of adults and 32 percent of youth who are overweight or obese.

Some will no doubt criticize the move as a way for doctors to get more money out of consumers and insurance companies. And yet there’s no way to avoid the reality that the growing obesity epidemic among adults and children contributes to rising health care costs. The severely overweight and obese are susceptible to and suffer from more ailments. Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s a case study.

A recent national report found that Oklahoma has the sixth-highest rate of obese adults. The news wasn’t quite so bad for the 10- to 17-year-old group, which ranked 33rd. State health officials have warned that those statistics are partly why the state has such a high incidence of diabetes and heart disease.

Some patients may indeed benefit from the advice and expertise of an obesity specialist. Others would do well to follow the age-old advice of eating better and exercising more.

Alternative medicines can cure swine flu

2009-08-11T02:59:00.000-07:00

At a time when swine flu is taking lives across the globe with India being no exception to it, very few know that its sure shot treatment
is hidden in the country itself. The oldest mode of medicine -- Ayurveda has a cure for the much talked about swine flu. While there is panic among people when it comes to the tests and medication of the H1N1 virus, the Ayurveda and Homeopathy experts claim to know methods of prevention and cure of the disease.

In contrast to Allopathy medication being preferred by the apprehensive patients, there are few takers of the ayurveda and the homeopathy medicines even if it claims to provide hundred per cent treatment. Dr Bhagwan Singh, principal and superintendent of State Ayurvedic College, Lucknow, says, "The disease (swine flu) and its treatment is already mentioned in our old books of medicines by sages. On the basis of the symptoms of swine flu, it has been given the name `vatashlesmic' fever in the ayurvedic medicine books."

He further added, "Whenever there is a change in the environment due to spurt in growth of any kind of virus, human beings are the first one to be affected by it. For treating a patient infected with H1N1 virus, ayurvedic medicines like Sanjawini Vati and Tribhuvan Kriti Ras can be given. These medicines are prepared by mixing 12-14 ayurvedic ingredients selected on the basis of the symptoms of the viral disease."

However, it is not only Ayurveda that has a cure for the flu. Homeopathy also claims to have medication for H1N1 treatment. No matter that homeopathic treatment involves a slow process of curing any disease, its practitioners still consider it to be effective in treating swine flu. Dr B N Singh, director of Homeopathy, UP says, "Swine flu is an influenza like illness, where primary symptoms are very much similar to those of influenza. Thus one can take Influnzenium 200 as a preventive medicine. Three doses each after 10 minutes within 24 hours can develop an immunity against H1N1 virus."

"Moreover a combination of 6-7 homeopathic medicines should be given according to the symptoms of the patients. These include Aconite Nap 30, Belladona 30, Bryonia Alb, Mercuris Vibre, Gelsinium 30 and Eupaporium Purf. These medicines should be taken after consulting a homeopathic doctor as they are advised only after examining the patients and his/her symptoms," he added.

He also informed, "Along with the homeopathic medicines one can also take supplements of biochemic medicines like Ferrom Phos 3x and Kali Mure 3x, 2-4 tablets three times a day to prevent getting infected from H1N1 virus.

Immune system cancer found in young 9/11 officers

2009-08-10T05:58:00.000-07:00

Researchers say a small number of young law enforcement officers who participated in the World Trade Center rescue and cleanup operation have developed an immune system cancer.

The numbers are tiny, and experts don't know whether there is any link between the illnesses and toxins released during the disaster.

But doctors who coordinated the study, published Monday in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, said people who worked at the site should continue to have their health monitored.

"What we are trying to get out there is: Be alert," said Dr. Jacqueline M. Moline, director of the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The researchers looked at 28,252 emergency responders who spent time amid ground zero dust and found eight cases of multiple myeloma.

Those findings were no surprise. Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological cancer in the U.S. after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Normally, researchers would expect to find about seven cases in a group as large as the one examined in the study.

However, four of the people who fell ill were under age 45, and multiple myeloma is thought to be more rare among people of that age. Under normal circumstances, researchers would have expected to find only one case of the disease in that age group.

Those four young multiple myeloma patients included one officer who was caught in the dust cloud on 9/11 and then spent months working long hours at the site. Another spent 111 days at the Staten Island landfill where the rubble was sifted. Two others had less exposure, working 12 and 14 days each in the pit and rubble pile.

The study said it is possible the monitoring program was simply more effective at finding the illness among people who wouldn't ordinarily be subjected to intense medical tracking.

Nevertheless, Moline said, "You shouldn't be seeing so many cases of myeloma in younger folks." The median age of diagnosis for that cancer in the general public is 71.

Several groups are studying New Yorkers exposed to toxic dust when the skyscrapers collapsed.

To date, no study, including the one published Monday, has established a link between that dust and cancer, said Lorna Thorpe, a deputy commissioner and epidemiologist at New York City's health department.

The timing of the four cases examined by the team at Mount Sinai also raised questions about whether they are related to their work at ground zero, she said.

Most research on multiple myeloma indicates that it usually takes 10 to 20 years for someone to develop that cancer after an environmental exposure to a carcinogen.

In these cases, the cancers were diagnosed in as little as three to four years after the attacks, suggesting that something else caused the disease.

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

2009-08-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects’ design of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine’s new campus applies an ancient aesthetic philosophy, feng shui, to a nearly 100-year-old building in Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood.

OCOM, founded in Portland in 1983, is one of the first Oriental medicine colleges in the country to offer master’s and doctoral programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

The college will move from its Southeast Portland location into the former Globe Hotel at Northwest Couch Street and First Avenue. The building, constructed in 1911, is four stories tall and contains 35,160 square feet of space. It will be seismically upgraded and fully restored with a 4,330-square-foot rooftop addition.

Ankrom Moisan’s design was adjusted by a feng shui specialist to ensure the college receives positive qi, a Chinese word that describes the active energy forming part of any living thing.

“The director of OCOM hired a man from New York who reviewed the design documents,” Ankrom Moisan principal-in-charge Jeff Hamilton said. “He looked at things like proximity to the river, bridges and parks, and he wrote up a report. We met with the college and our design team, and made changes to the drawing to make the design work better according to principles of feng shui.”

The goal is for the renovation to be certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold. The rooftop addition will include decks, a green roof and an herb garden. The college facility will include classrooms and administrative offices, as well as an Oriental medical clinic on its fourth floor that will be open to the public six days a week. Active-use and retail spaces on the college’s ground floor will create more viable retail space in the neighborhood. That was important to the Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood Association, Hamilton said.

“The neighborhood association was interested in the streetscape,” he said. “They wanted retail and restaurants, and were interested in who would work on the ground floor of the building, as well as how the building would fit with the University of Oregon building and light-rail line.”

General contractor SD Deacon is expected to begin construction on the renovation at the end of September.

Other project partners include Beam Development, structural engineering firm DCI Engineers and mechanical and electrical engineering company Interface Engineering.

Herbal medicine

2009-08-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Interested in herbal medicine-making? Here are some excellent books as well as local resources to help you.

The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: a home manual by James Green is an excellent book for the layperson. It has detailed instructions on making a variety of things: from infusions to decoctions, hydrosols to flower essences, ointments to salves and lotions to creams, this book has it all. There are step-by-step instructions, including a list of needed equipment. With definitions of botanical terms and historical highlights, this is a must-have for anyone interested in making their own herbal and skin care products.

Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth by Sharol Tilgner is another good book on medicine-making. While it assumes the reader has some knowledge of herbs, this is more a matter of vocabulary than anything else. Botanical terms occur in abundance; readers without prior herbal education may wish to read with dictionary in hand. Readers with prior herbal education may be frustrated that common names of herbs are the default terms, though the genus species names are included. Whatever the reader's background, the book is helpful and informative.

For those embarking on medicine-making for the first time, hands-on instruction is invaluable. Julie Mitchell, herbalist, is hosting a class at 9:00 AM on August 30th at Eos Botanicals in Monkton. The program will focus on the timely topic of herbal medicines for influenza. There is a small fee for supplies, click the link above for contact information. Purple Shutter Herbs in Winooski also offers classes on medicine-making throughout the year.

If there are things you don't understand, ask clarification from your local herbalist or herb shop. Follow directions, be safe, and enjoy your herbal medicine-making adventures!

Administration weighs flu vaccine options

2009-08-07T06:56:00.000-07:00

The Obama administration is considering an unprecedented fall vaccination campaign that could entail giving Americans three flu shots – one to combat annual seasonal influenza and two targeted at the new swine flu virus spreading across the globe.

If enacted, the multibillion-dollar effort would represent the first time Americans have been asked to get more than one flu vaccine in a year, raising serious challenges concerning production, distribution and the ability to track potentially severe side effects.

Another option, said Dale Morse of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is adding an ingredient to target the new virus into the seasonal flu shot.

Experts inside and outside the administration are evaluating a raft of complicated issues, including who should receive an inoculation against the swine flu and whether private vaccine makers can simultaneously manufacture the standard 180 million doses as well as up to 600 million rounds of a new vaccine.

"We are moving forward with making a vaccine," said Robin Robinson, a director with the Department of Health and Human Services who oversees pandemic response programs. Nothing that a formal decision about the swine flu vaccine has not been made, Robinson said that the government would probably produce two doses per person if the decision is made to go ahead. If the threat diminishes, he said, health officials could decide to produce doses for only a portion of the population.

Vaccine and pandemic experts are working with the administration to determine how to produce, test, track and educate the public about two different influenza vaccines in the same flu season.

"They have never tried this before, and there is going to be a great deal of confusion," said William Schaffner, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Memories of the nation's earlier experience with a swine flu vaccine present another challenge.

In 1976, hundreds of Americans developed neurological disorders after they were vaccinated for a swine flu strain. The public was asked to receive one of two vaccines developed to combat the strain.

Officials have asked manufacturers to speed production of the seasonal vaccine scheduled for this fall to make way for the possible mass production of a swine flu vaccine.

A decision on whether to produce such a vaccine will have to be made soon, because it typically takes five months to produce a new vaccine and authorities would want it available for the next flu season.

A record-keeping system would also be needed to track which doses patients have received, health experts said.

Alzheimer's: Where Art Thou?

2009-08-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

Placing some sort of GPS tracking device on patients has proven incredibly useful for knowing the whereabouts of patients who are likely to go missing, escape, or wander off and not receive the care they require for their condition. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that in 2009:

* As many as 5.3 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s.
* Alzheimer's and dementia triple healthcare costs for Americans age 65 and older.
* Every 70 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.
* Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death.
* The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer's and other dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.

There are many GPS devices marketed to both care givers and medical professionals. A higher degree of sophistication has led to more thoughtful ergonomic designs and a wider range of tracking and reporting capabilities. Both RFID and GPS have provided solutions, with GPS having a definite advantage in its ability to locate without regard to specialized receivers found in RFID systems.

Current emphasis on designs are for bracelet and belt devices, special placement in clothing, and newly introduced GPS-equipped shoes. The challenge for this disease is securing the device to be nonobtrusive and affixed to a patient without his or her ability to remove it. Digital Angel was an early pioneer in this space, with the more recent Columbia medical bracelet becoming available in the U.S. The Columba is monitored via Assisted GPS and has a GSM/GPRS transmitter/receiver with a SIM card for voice and data.

Finding “Ground Zero” of Asthma Causes

2009-08-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

Asthma Researcher leader David van Sickle, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholar and a former disease detective in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, leads the drive to map asthma sources.

“For the millions of chronic asthma patients, knowing the ‘where’ indicates the ‘what,’ which provides important clues in individual and epidemic out breaks of asthma attacks. Sufferers are treated with a blanket of probable treatments with out indication of what exactly triggered the condition. Research is under way to develop a GPS inhaler that records the position or onslaught of an attack.” Van Sickle’s goal is to map where and when environmental exposures trigger asthma symptoms, prompting them to puff on their “rescue” inhalers, which deliver the medicine that keeps them breathing.

t’s easy to predict problems when an asthmatic visits a “cat lady” or runs through a field of ragweed. But van Sickle plans to use global positioning technology to find previously unknown causes of the lung disease and help doctors better monitor whether treatment is controlling symptoms and improving quality of life. A dramatic example includes an epidemic outbreak of asthma attacks in Barcelona that overwhelmed hospitals and emergency centers. “An epidemic of severe asthma struck Barcelona throughout the 1980s,” van Sickle said. “On more than 20 days, emergency rooms were overwhelmed with people having severe, and sometimes fatal, asthma attacks. Barcelona put together a group of scientists to look at the meteorology, climatology, and levels of standard air pollutants and pollens in the city, but there wasn’t anything exceptional about those days.”

Finally, they asked where the patients had been when they got sick: All reported that their symptoms started near the waterfront. Further investigation showed that the port had been unloading giant heaps of soybeans from container ships. “The victims were exposed to massive clouds of soybean dust because the appropriate filters weren’t installed in harbor silos,’’ he says. “It took the group nearly eight years to prove, but it was the first time soybean dust had been shown to be a potent allergen.”

Obama's secret plan to socialize medicine

2009-08-06T04:46:00.000-07:00

So now some folks aiming to kill the president's health care plan are trying out a new tactic. Let me state again: I am undecided on the health plan. I am leaning against it because I see no way to pay for the public option part of it, and it does nothing to control the costs of Medicare or Medicaid.

But I would rather see us debate those policy points than to create strawman arguments just to shoot them down. And that seems to be the new tactic on the right. I've heard this from readers, and this morning, I heard the same line of argument from Sen. Jim Demint on CNN. He even referenced the same YouTube video a reader sent me. Here's how the argument goes: Obama has admitted to wanting a single-payer system that would replace all private insurance -- that's his true goal!

Well, when cornered on this issue by Hillary Clinton, Obama did talk a lot on the campaign trail about universal health care. Remember the debate? Was his plan REALLY universal health care? No matter, in the current debate, there is no proposal that would create a single-payer system.

But here's the irony. The far left is saying much of the same thing. They are saying that Obama got elected as a proponent of a single-payer system. Obama's own doctor is in this camp. They argue he has a mandate for such drastic reform, and they don't understand why he is giving in so much to the moderate middle.

So the far left and the far right agree: We elected a man who, if he really got his way, would create a single-payer system. What's more, he vowed to make this a top priority.

Um, folks on the right -- is that really the point you want to make? Remember, his victory wasn't exactly a nail-biter.

Health Science Center’s nuclear medicine program earns accreditation

2009-08-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio says its program that trains resident physicians in nuclear medicine has accredited through 2014 by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Health Science Center officials say the program received an exemplary rating from the council, which oversees the accreditation of post-medical doctor training programs in the United States.

The Nuclear Medicine Residency Program is part of the Health Science Center’s Department of Radiology at its School of Medicine. Its training curriculum is integrated with the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, which trains military physicians in nuclear medicine.

Nuclear medicine refers to imaging and procedures, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and radiotherapy, that use radioactive material to diagnose and treat a host of diseases, including cancer.

The local residency program trains a maximum of four nuclear medicine residents. This rigorous three-year program is one of 57 ACGME-accredited residency programs that will train more than 700 residents nationwide this academic year.

Darlene Metter, professor and vice chair of clinical education in the Department of Radiology, directs the Nuclear Medicine Residency Program. Metter has been instrumental in the program’s design and implementation at participating sites including Brooke Army Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center, University Health System and the Texas Cancer Clinic.

The Health Science Center is the leading research institution for San Antonio and South Texas. It is one of the major health sciences universities in the world.

Using herbal medicine to treat illnesses

2009-08-05T01:24:00.001-07:00

Herbal medicine has been successful in treating illnesses in animals and people throughout the years and can be compared to folk medicine in many cultures. Wild animals are though to instinctively know the proper herbs when sick. A program called the Hoxsey Program was originated by a man who observed which herbs were eaten by animals under the conditions of certain diseases.

The scientific research on using herbs is about where vitamins were 10 years ago. Many companies don't want to invest in expensive research because most herbs lack the ability to be patented, nor are they under a FDA regulation as drugs and medications typically are.

Many modern pharmaceutical drugs are compounds considered to be active ingredients in herbs. Herbalists defend that the pharmaceutical ingredients and the whole plant are not the same due to unique and complex properties of the original substances.

It can be difficult to find fresh herbs that are pleasant tasting to dogs. Herb combinations have been developed for certain syndromes and made into pills or capsules. They can be obtained from many herbal companies and are generally classified as Western Herbs or Chinese Herbs. Chinese combinations have been around for centuries and have a long record.

As with any change in your dog's regimen, keep your vet informed regarding the medications, herbs, and supplements your pet may be taking. Some of these can interfere with the absorption or action of another. And remember if herbs are natural doesn't mean they can't cause adverse effects if used inappropriately.

New Strain of H.I.V.

2009-08-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

European scientists have discovered a new strain of the virus that causes AIDS and linked it to gorillas, creating a mystery about when and how the first patient found to have the strain became infected.

It is thought to be likely that this is the first time scientists have documented the jump of a simian immunodeficiency virus to humans from a gorilla. All three other known strains of the human immunodeficiency virus, H.I.V.-1, have been linked to chimpanzees. But genetic tests showed that the new virus was closely related to a recently recognized gorilla virus.

The most likely explanation for the new virus’s emergence is gorilla-to-human transmission, probably a result of humans slaughtering apes or handling or eating their meat.

But the scientists said they could not dismiss the possibility that the chimpanzee virus linked to H.I.V.-1 was transmitted to gorillas and then to humans, or was directly transmitted to humans and then to gorillas.

The new virus strain was isolated in 2004 from a 62-year-old woman upon her arrival in Paris from Cameroon in West Africa. She has not been treated for AIDS and has no signs of the syndrome, the scientists said.

The woman had lost weight in 2003 and had been ill with a fever a number of times, the scientists said in reporting the discovery, in the Aug. 2 issue of the journal Nature Medicine.

Her husband died in 1984 from complications of a stroke. It is not known if he was infected with H.I.V. The woman had six children, all born before 1980, a year before doctors first recognized AIDS; two of the children died of noninfectious causes, and none of the surviving children have H.I.V.

The authors of the report said they presumed that she had been infected through sex. The woman told her doctors that she had sexual partners in Cameroon after her husband’s death, but there was no information about whether any were infected — or, if they were, how they had contracted the virus.

The new virus may escape detection by standard blood and laboratory tests for H.I.V.-1. New testing methods developed in recent years have allowed scientists to detect subtypes of H.I.V.-1. The three others are known as H.I.V.-1 Groups M, N and O. Dr. Plantier’s team calls the new one H.I.V.-1 Group P.

Athletic Training and Sports Medicine

2009-08-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

The K-State Athletic Department places a top priority on helping its student-athletes to reach and maintain their best health and achieve their conditioning goals. Because of this, K-State has developed excellent training and conditioning programs to help prevent injuries and insure safe practice and competition habits. However, if injuries do occur, the department is prepared to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

At Kansas State, the Certified Athletic Trainers are highly educated and skilled professionals specializing in athletic health care. In cooperation with physicians and other allied health personnel, the athletic trainers function as integral members of the athletic health care team.

Education
Certified athletic trainers have, at minimum, a bachelor's degree, usually in athletic training, health, physical education or exercise science. In addition, athletic trainers study human anatomy, human physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, athletic training, nutrition and psychology/counseling. Certified athletic trainers also participate in extensive clinical affiliations with athletic teams under appropriate supervision.

In addition, Certified Athletic Trainers are required to obtain 75 hours worth of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within a three year period to remain in good standing. These CEUs, which are obtained from attending conferences, lectures, presentations, etc..., assist Certified Athletic Trainers in expanding their knowledge and training in the ever-changing world of medicine and rehabilitative therapy.

Certification
Certified athletic trainers have fulfilled the requirements for certification established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Board of Certification, Inc. (NATABOC). The certification examination administered by NATABOC consists of a written portion with multiple choice questions; a practical section that evaluates the skill components of the domains within athletic training; and a written simulation test, consisting of athletic training related situations designed to approximate real-life decision making. This last portion of the test evaluates athletic trainers' ability to resolve cases similar to those they might encounter in actual practice.

The examination covers a variety of topics within the six practice domains of athletic training: Prevention Recognition, Evaluation and Assessment Immediate Care Treatment, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning Organization and Administration Professional Development and Responsibility. Once athletic trainers pass the certification examination proving skills and knowledge within each of the six domains, they use the designation "ATC" or "CAT."

Female Athletic Trainers
Although athletic training was once considered a male-dominated profession, more than 50% of all members of the National Athletic Trainers' Association are women. As of January 1990, more than half of the athletic trainers certified by the NATABOC have been women.

National Athletic Trainers' Association
The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of athletes worldwide. The Association is committed to the advancement, encouragement and improvement of the athletic training profession. Founded in 1950 with a membership of 200 athletic trainers, the NATA today has more than 30,000 members worldwide. Approximately 92 percent of all certified athletic trainers in the country belong to the Association. In 1990, the American Medical Association recognized athletic training as an allied health profession. The Association sets the standards for athletic trainers through its education programs. Almost 100 universities and colleges offer NATA-approved curricula. Based in Dallas, Texas, the organization provides a variety of services to its membership including continuing education, governmental affairs, certification and public relations. The NATA also publishes the Journal of Athletic Training, a quarterly scientific journal; and NATA News, a monthly news magazine.

Beware of socialized medicine

2009-08-03T05:09:00.001-07:00

You baby boomers are too young to remember the problems the UK had with their socialized medicine. During World War II, I worked on a farm as an early teenager and then Winston Churchill, who brought England through the war, was tossed out of office like a broken piece of furniture. The Socialist Clement Atlee instituted socialized medicine.
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Britain gave up its empire and gave freedom to all of its former colonies to pay the huge bill for free medical care. The cost was so great that no new hospitals would be built for almost 20 years. People flocked to doctors' offices and then threw the prescriptions into a trash barrel outside the office if they didn't like what the doctor prescribed. Winston Churchill fell and broke his hip and had to wait six days before he could be taken to a bed in the hospital. Since the doctors were on a salary and worked only eight hours, they walked out of the operating room at the end of their shift and were replaced by the relief shift, much to the detriment of the patient. There was no choice of physicians and if you did not like the one you were assigned, it was against the law to pay another doctor to see you, if you were lucky enough to find one.

Other countries went the same direction in socialized medicine, and in Sweden, doctors were not allowed name tags on their coats because it discriminated against orderlies who demanded the same status. In other words, socialism put all participants on the same stage of importance. Having been awarded my medical degree in 1963, I have lived through the full spectrum of medical care and took care of welfare patients before Medicare and Medicaid were enacted in 1965 and put into action in 1966. From that point on, there has been a progressive erosion of the medical profession as government power brokers seek control of the healing arts.

All New Natural Medicine

2009-08-03T05:04:00.000-07:00

A Cure for the "Sorry State of American Health!" Radhia Gleis, CCN, President of Advanced Health Institute, Has Just Launched a Newly Redesigned and Re-Branded Interactive website for This Austin Based Company www.advancedhealthinstitute.com

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The title quoted above, from the cover story of the December 1, 2008 issue of Time, says it all, says Radhia: our nation's health care system is not meeting the needs of its citizens. Despite the trillion-dollar level of expenditures on conventional health care over the last century, the primary metrics which gauge U.S. health care system effectiveness show no progress in eliminating diet and lifestyle-related illnesses over the last century. While we have been somewhat successful in combating communicable diseases, it is clear that we have been singularly unsuccessful in effectively combating the rapid rise, persistence and proliferation of diet and lifestyle-related diseases as the leading causes of death over the same period. The phrase "health care system" is a misnomer. This is actually a "disease management system" and until we address the underlining causes of disease we will never find the cure to what ails us, no matter how much money we throw at it.

"We have to go back to the basics," says Radhia, "and our new website can assist the natural health care seeker in finding the answers to their individual wellness challenges."

"We are excited to be launching our new website and new brand. Our new look is amazing and designed to make your natural health care education and services easy to navigate, and interact. The rebrand is our launching pad into a new era of innovation, with many new education features and direct interaction with the nutritionist." The website design features short video formats, and online assessment tools which allow you to target your specific needs and interact with Radhia personally. Continual updates and ongoing educational videos and articles keep you informed as to the latest cutting edge technology in the field of natural health.

Red yeast targets cholesterol

2009-08-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

Millions in the United States take medications called statins to lower blood cholesterol. These meds, including Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor, have made a huge difference for people with high cholesterol levels, especially those with cardiovascular disease or who are at risk of heart attack and stroke.

However, side effects, such as muscle aches, are common (as high as 10 percent) with these drugs. Some alternative practitioners recommend using co-enzyme Q10 to prevent this type of muscle pain, but a recent review showed no clear benefit from this supplement.

One popular alternative medicine product for high cholesterol is red yeast rice, a dietary supplement that has been used in China for centuries. RYR contains a chemical, monacolin-K, that is identical to the active ingredient in the prescription statin Mevacor (lovastatin). And RYR does not seem to cause the side effects.

A new study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine has shown that RYR may be a safe alternative for people who have been intolerant of statins. In this study, 62 patients who had stopped taking at least one statin drug because of muscle pain were randomized to receive either red yeast rice or a placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients were encouraged to eat a healthy diet, exercise and reduce stress, all of which can also lower blood cholesterol. The patients receiving RYR got the equivalent of about 6 mg of lovastatin daily; by the end of the study, they had dropped their total cholesterol by about 15 percent and their LDL cholesterol by about 21 percent, compared with 5 percent to 9 percent in the placebo group. And muscle pain was uncommon in this study.

It is not known why RYR may be better tolerated than prescription meds. RYR contains a number of plant chemicals that may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol without causing side effects. Also, this study may not have been long enough to detect side effects of RYR.

Are there downsides to taking RYR? Yes. RYR can be contaminated with a kidney toxin known as citrinin. We recommend using only RYR products that have been evaluated by independent testing labs. RYR has also been reported to cause muscle pain and liver problems just like statin meds, though it seems that side effects from RYR are rare. Still, we recommend that you be monitored by your physician should you choose to take RYR.

And RYR has not been compared with a statin med in a medical study - this would give us a direct comparison. Until it is, we suggest lifestyle changes: a low-fat, high-fiber diet and exercise to reduce your cholesterol.

Plastic Surgery: Medicine or Marketing?

2009-08-01T02:33:00.000-07:00

Plastic surgery was once reserved for the wealthy elite, who were careful to keep their occasional nip tucks hush hush. Today, reality shows, celebrity exposés, and provocative websites have brought cosmetic surgery out into the open. Some say that all this media exposure raises consumer awareness, while others argue that objective information is drowned out by so much marketing hype.

A generation ago, plastic surgery was reserved for the uber-wealthy, who kept a low profile when they went under the knife. Hollywood starlets were closely guarded during surreptitious trips to the surgeon, and trophy wives disappeared for mysterious “spa treatments”, emerging weeks later looking far more than refreshed.

Today, plastic surgery is seemingly everywhere. From television reality shows, prime time dramas and medical before-and-after series to a barrage of websites that let consumers see themselves in 3-D, rate their surgeon, or pander for benefactors to pay for their breast implants, the media can’t get enough of cosmetic surgery.

In the latest episode of Plastic Surgery Talk, host Dr. William P. Adams, Jr., MD, talks with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brett Snyder, MD about the media’s obsession with plastic surgery. Is the media’s fixation merely a reflection of the industry growth, particularly among middle class Americans? Are consumers better informed because of the extensive coverage, or are they falling prey to the marketing hype? Dr. Snyder shares some surprising insights during the show.

Alabama sports medicine doctor Larry Lemak branching practice into Shelby County

2009-07-31T05:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Larry Lemak is expanding his sports medicine business into Shelby County with a new $1.5 million facility next to Shelby Baptist Medical Center.

Lemak Sports Medicine-Shelby, which will be built in a former SouthTrust Bank branch next to the Alabaster hospital, represents the first clinic the noted orthopedic surgeon has opened outside of his central practice at Brookwood Medical Center.

"We're happy to be in Shelby County and growing our practice to make care more accessible for our patients and the citizens of Shelby County," Lemak said in a statement about the project.

The building has been empty for more than four years. Lemak Sports Medicine aims to occupy the building by the end of this year after renovations are completed. The building will have 4,000 square feet of physician office space and 2,500 square feet for outpatient services.

The office will be led by Dr. Mike Patterson, a physician from Tuscaloosa. The practice will focus on sports medicine and outpatient physical therapy. Patterson, a former Florida State University defensive back, will also have access to Shelby Baptist Medical Center for other procedures.

Alabaster MB LLC, a partnership between Lemak and his son Matthew, owns the building. Matthew Lemak's company, the Lemak Group, is a development partner along with Jonathan Lindsey of Southpace Properties Inc., who also brokered the purchase of the building. Jim Strickland of RealtySouth represented the seller of the building.

Matthew Lemak said the practice not only looks to serve Shelby County, but also Chilton County. Patterson already has started lining up high schools to work with for the upcoming football season.

Lemak Sports Medicine provides medical assistance to many high schools and colleges around the state.

Matthew Lemak said the Shelby County practice may add another physician in a year or two if the market demands it.

Meanwhile, the Lemak Group is scouting other parts of the metro area to expand Lemak Sports Medicine. Matthew Lemak said the northern part of the metro area will likely be the next destination for the practice.

The new office comes a year after Dr. Lemak set up his own practice at Brookwood following a split from long-time partner Dr. Jim Andrews. The two men created the Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center that lasted more than two decades and built an international following.

Why Do We Spend $34 Billion in Alternative Medicine?

2009-07-31T05:19:00.000-07:00

Chances are that one out of every three people you see in the grocery store, on the street or at work have tried alternative medicine, and they're spending quite a bit for it.

he National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced Thursday that Americans spent $34 billion on complementary and alternative medicine in 2007. The study queried more than 70,000 people across the country about 36 various forms of alternative treatments.

But researchers say they still don't know exactly why people are turning to these therapies.

"Since this was a point of time survey, we weren't necessarily asking people about why or how they made their decision," said Richard Nahin, an author of the study released by the NIH and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).

The $34 billion spent on complementary and alternative medicine pales in comparison to the $2.2 trillion spent on health care annually, but alternative therapies accounted for up to 10 percent of out-of-pocket health costs.

Yet, at the same time as Americans are embracing alternative medicine, the American Medical Association's (AMA) policy on the matter far from endorses the treatments.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society Calls for Older People to Review Their Medicine With a Pharmacist

2009-07-29T04:31:00.001-07:00

New research released today by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) reveals how older people are taking a cocktail of medicine without fully understanding what they are or the side effects they are causing.

The RPSGB survey shows that nearly half (43%) of over 65's are currently taking over five medicines at any one time. However, one in five admits to not always taking the medicine as prescribed. Sixty per cent also believe that they either definitely or possibly have had a side effect from medicine - yet one if five said they did not get it checked out.

In response to these findings, the RPSGB is launching a campaign to urge older people to review the medicine they are taking by visiting their local pharmacist for a Medicine Use Review (MUR).

MURs are undertaken by local pharmacies to help patients manage their medicine more effectively and can be done on an annual basis. It involves a consultation with a pharmacist and can be offered to anyone on one or more medicines and/ or long term conditions.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society spokesman and pharmacist, Paul Johnson says; "It's not unusual for older people to get confused with the medicine they are taking, particularly when they are on numerous types of medication. As a result, they may also not realise the reactions they may be causing when they are not used properly.

"Pharmacists are easily accessible and are ideally placed to provide advice to a patient on their medicine which can really improve someone's health or even their quality of life. "

Other findings of the research revealed that almost one in 10 (9%) admit to not fully understanding what their medications do or how they treat their condition, and one in seven (14%) say they sometimes forget to take a pill at the recommended time.

Notes to Editor

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is the professional and regulatory body for pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales. It also regulates pharmacy technicians on a voluntary basis, which will become statutory from 1 July 2009. The primary objectives of the RPSGB are to lead, regulate, develop and represent the profession of pharmacy.

The RPSGB leads and supports the development of the profession within the context of the public benefit. This includes the advancement of science, practice, education and knowledge in pharmacy. In addition, it promotes the profession's policies and views to a range of external stakeholders in a number of different forums.

Following the publication in 2007 of the Government White Paper Trust, Assurance and Safety - The Regulation of Health Professionals in the 21st Century, the RPSGB is working towards the demerger of its regulatory and professional roles. This will see the establishment of a new General Pharmaceutical Council and a new professional body for pharmacy in 2010.

The YouGov survey was undertaken by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society between July 20 and 22 and had a sample size of 2,145 Great Britain Adults.

U.S. Begins Human Testing of H1N1 Vaccines

2009-07-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

Early next month, the U.S. will begin its first human trials of new vaccines against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. In addition to evaluating safety and effectiveness, researchers are seeking to determine the proper dosage.

Dosage is a particular concern with H1N1 because the last major swine flu outbreak in the U.S. occurred in 1976 -- meaning an entire generation has grown up with no exposure to the disease.

"When a population has not seen a virus, the question becomes: If you give them a vaccine, is one dose enough?" said Sri Edupuganti, MD, an infectious disease physician with the Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Edupuganti serves on the staff of Emory's Hope Clinic, one of eight sites around the country selected to test H1N1 vaccines. She and other vaccination experts say it's likely Americans will require two separate shots to build up full immunity to the swine flu virus.

Because H1N1 differs from seasonal flu, medical experts say it's unlikely vaccines for each virus will offer any crossover protection. So, don't be surprised if you need three shots this fall.

Alternative medicine could be part of health care reform

2009-07-29T04:25:00.000-07:00

If Senator Tom Harkin (Dem-Iowa) has his way, the new health care reform bill will provide coverage for alternative medicine practices, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, yoga, naturopathy, and herbal remedies. The measure cosponsored by Harkin would prohibit health insurance companies from discriminating against health care providers who offer alternative medicine therapies.

Alternative medicine methods are popular in the United States. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which Senator Harkin was instrumental in creating, 38 percent of adults use at least one form of alternative medicine. Among children age 17 years and younger, usage is 12 percent.

The most commonly used alternative medicine practices used by adults in the United States include nonvitamin, nonmineral natural supplements (17.7%; most common include fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, Echinacea, flaxseed, ginseng); deep breathing exercises (12.7%), meditation (9.4%), chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6%), massage (8.3%), and yoga (6.1%). Note that supplements such as individual or multi-vitamin/minerals were not considered alternative medicine.

Many adults turn to alternative medicine for the treatment of painful conditions such as back and neck pain, joint pain or stiffness, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal problems. Other common uses include relief from colds and flu, gastrointestinal complaints, stress, and menstrual problems. Women use alternative medicine methods more than men (42.8% vs 33.5%, respectively).

Senator Harkin notes that alternative treatments are less costly than conventional approaches and can be pursued instead of drugs or medical interventions in some cases, especially the conditions for which many people already use complementary approaches. Alternative treatments have already been embraced by many top medical institutions and medical schools across the country, including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine/Center for Integrative Medicine, and the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at Columbia University. More than 75 percent of medical schools in the United States include coursework in alternative medicine.

The alternative medicine amendment cosponsored by Senator Harkin has been adopted by a Senate committee. It remains to be seen whether any or all of the language in the measure makes it to the health care reform bill.

Swine Flu / Europe: Race against the clock to have vaccines before winter

2009-07-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

European governments say that they are accelerating the process of approval of Swine Flu vaccine, what has experts somewhat worried.

The European Agency of Medicine, the principal regulatory organ in the European Union,took the fast track for the approval of the vaccine. Countries such as Great Britain, Greece, France and Sweden said that they will begin to apply it as soon as it is approved, possibly in some weeks.

In Europe, generally, vaccines are tested in hundreds of persons for weeks or months, to make sure that the immune system should generate the sufficient amount of antibodies to attack the infection.

But the determination for achieving a vaccine as soon as possible, the agency is allowing companies to jump the tests with big individuals quantities.
Doctor Keiji Fukuda, chief of the flu department of the World Health Organization, warned about potential dangers that vaccines represent when they are not tested in the laboratory, although he did not criticized the European position.

European officials do not know if the vaccine is going to have unexpected side effects until million persons have been vaccinated. Nevertheless, they think that the risk is worth while for the lives that will be saved.

The main difficulty is that, probably, without large-scale tests, will be the difficulty in getting a suitable dose, this can cause Europeans to obtain a very weak version of the vaccine.

It is slightly probable that the vaccine is dangerous, but nobody will have this certainty until many people prove it.
Neither the manufacturers the European agency wanted to give details on the basic safety experiments they run.

More Americans choosing complementary or alternative medicines

2009-07-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Complementary and alternative medicine - CAM - covers many different practices and products that fall into four main categories:

1) Alternative medical systems such as homeopathic medicine, naturopathic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

2) Mind-body interventions such as meditation, prayer, biofeedback and hypnosis.

3) Biologically based therapies such as herbs, supplements and aromatherapy.

4) Manipulative and body-based methods such as acupuncture and chiropractic care.

One of the best places to learn about the effectiveness and safety of CAM therapies and products is the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The site, part of the National Institutes of Health, contains a wealth of research-based information on everything from acupuncture, an ancient Chinese healing practice, to St. John's Wort, an herb used to treat depression and anxiety.

Kaufmann said there's a common misperception that all herbal medications are safe. "Herbs are quite often potent pharmaceuticals," she said. Many of them have side effects and risks just like prescription drugs. Peppermint oil, for example, is often taken to relieve abdominal cramps, she said. But a side effect of peppermint is acid reflux, she said.

"People should tell their physician and their pharmacist about any complementary treatments they are using," she said.

Interest is growing in CAM because many people have become disillusioned with the way traditional medicine is practiced, said Dr. Scott Treatman, director of employee health services at Crouse Hospital. He teaches mindful living and stress reduction through SUNY Upstate Medical University and provides acupuncture.

"There's been a bad taste in peoples' mouths when they saw Vioxx and other medications pulled off the market," Treatman said. "Acupuncture has been around 3,000 years and it hasn't been recalled."

Crouse is becoming a leader in what Treatman calls "integrative medicine." Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.

He said mainstream medicine has become much more accepting of alternative approaches, especially those aimed at reducing stress.

"When you think of all the common diseases we have like migraines, irritable bowel syndrome and high blood pressure, stress is what's making us sick," he said.

Kaufmann teaches mindfulness and meditation to help people with weight problems.

"I kept seeing patients whose major problem could not be helped with traditional medical treatment," she said. "Much disease is caused by behavioral problems like overeating."

Most people pay for CAM out of pocket because health insurance often does not cover these treatments and products. CAM therapies most likely to be covered by insurance include chiropractic, massage therapy and biofeedback.

BioScrip expansion to offer injectable medicine

2009-07-27T03:42:00.000-07:00

Despite a difficult economy, BioScrip, a Columbus-based pharmaceutical company, is continuing its expansion with the addition of an ambulatory infusion center.

The center, which will allow patients to receive injectable medications at the BioScrip facility rather than going to a hospital or clinic, is tentatively set to open in early 2010.

The company's growth mirrors the overall health-care industry, which has been able to avoid the worst effects of the downturn.

The expansion also includes a renovation of the company's specialty pharmacy operation, which mails out approximately 6,000 prescriptions daily nationwide. Both the center and pharmacy are in Hilliard.

The opening of the infusion center, however, also will signal BioScrip's switch to an open pharmacy, meaning patients will have the additional option of being able to go to the facility to pick up their medication.

"It helps to reduce the cost and adds convenience for patients," said Russ Corvese, executive vice president of mail operations. "Many of them need these medications on a frequent basis."

Dr. Erick Arce, a neurologist with Neurological Associations in Columbus, treats patients with multiple sclerosis and chronic headaches who use infusions. He said giving patients access to these medications outside a hospital can be convenient for those who live outside the city and have trouble getting around.

"They have the ability to be more flexible," Arce said. "But there are typically no physicians on-site, and if there are complications, the patient will probably end up at the emergency room when maybe they didn't need to be."

The mail-order operations remain BioScrip's main business. The company has grown from 40 employees to about 250 since it was created in 1994 in Rhode Island. Columbus became BioScrip's headquarters for mail-order prescriptions in 2000. It has relationships with companies whose insurance policies offer BioScrip's mail services as an option, or drug companies that make their medications available exclusively through BioScrip.

The infusion center will have specialized staff members to help with treatment and medications for diseases such as hemophilia, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. BioScrip employs nurses and special technicians to keep in contact with these patients and check up on how their treatment is going.

Many of the injectable medicines must be mixed just before they're dispensed, Corvese said, making the care of chronic diseases difficult and burdensome, not to mention expensive. The price of medications ranges from $2,000 to $5,000.

"Some of these medications don't actually make the patient feel better" but help to manage the disease, Corvese said "We have people on hand to do side-effect management as well." Some of the medications prevent flare-ups, or an escalation to a more severe stage, he added.

For rheumatoid arthritis, many of the most effective medications are either injections or infusions, said Nicholas Turkas, director of public health for the Arthritis Foundation's central Ohio chapter.

"These kinds of medications are a quantum leap forward as far as treatment goes," Turkas said. "Anything that can increase convenience for the patients is very important."

Iris QA Announces New Nuclear Medicine (NM) Tool Kit for Nuclear Medicine Imaging Systems

2009-07-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

IRIS QA, LLC, a leader in the development of software based analysis tools for the CT, MR and NM imaging systems, announces the launch of a new Nuclear Medicine (NM) Took Kit application which provides a simple windows based interface that supports DICOM 3.0 image data.

A single page report is generated for each analysis which contains information about the following: the site, imaging system, data acquisition parameters, test results along with a thumbnail image of the processed data.

The processing tools for the following NEMA tests are included: Intrinsic spatial resolution, Intrinsic spatial linearity, Multiple window spatial registration, System spatial resolution with scatter, System spatial resolution without scatter, SPECT reconstructed spatial resolution without scatter and SPECT reconstructed spatial resolution with scatter.

Additional SPECT analysis tools are available for the SpecphanTM QC phantom. This package can be used as a companion product with IRIS QA's CT AutoQA Lite package for providing a comprehensive analysis for CT and SPECT/CT imaging systems.

The initial release of the CT tool took place in the late 1980's as PC/AutoQA (The Iris, Inc.), which was the first automated QA program commercially available for CT.

IRIS QA'a research and development team of senior scientists are constantly working to stay at the forefront of QA/QC testing to provide medical facilities the best software and services available.

Services include Acceptance testing and annual systems testing to fulfill ACR accreditation requirement for CT, MR and NM imaging equipment as well as support to sites applying for ACR accreditation or re-accreditation by collecting the phantom data and completing the annual system report.

Thank God for "Socialized Medicine"

2009-07-26T01:04:00.000-07:00

I woke up at seven in the morning. I had this pain like I never had experienced before. I was away from my partner sitting, standing, and writhing in pain in Paris. I found my way to a friend, Pedro-Paolo, who managed an antiques store in the St. Germain des Pres. He directed me to Hotel-Dieu, a hospital and ER, adjacent to the Cathedral of Notre Dame.

I checked in, and, for two hours, groaned in pain on a dirty floor until I was unclothed and put on a stretcher, left unattended for two more hours next to a door (cold--it was January) where hospital staff would go out to have a smoke--tobacco or otherwise.

I was examined, reexamined, ultrasounded, CT-scanned, EKG'd, and, well, the list goes on. After eleven hours, I was told that I had a kidney stone most likely related to the fact that I had consumed "dirty" spinach and had not been adequately hydrated.

The care I received (after the first hour or so) was kind, compassionate, competent, and helpful. I recalled an ER experience at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago years before when I had a "stomach virus" and laid on a stretcher for twenty hours before I pulled out my IV to give a lecture as a visiting professor at Rush-Presbyterian Hospital.

In the Chicago experience, I received bills from countless entities totaling more than $4,000 for a stay where I was not diagnosed, left in pain and helpless, and literally left the ER with blood dripping from my arm.

"Au contraire" in Paris. I left with a clear idea what was happening, with prescriptions, with a follow-up appointment--and oh--with a bill--for 300 francs--forty-eight dollars.
Then, when I got back to our apartment and was still feeling ill, I called a friend's physician who came at 3:00 a.m. to help, comfort, and treat me. At no cost.

God bless socialized medicine. I have always said, as a physician, to the government, "Give me one billion dollars, and I will show you how to save ten trillion dollars." In my medical practice, I hired seven additional employees to help--not with our bills--but with the hundreds of other bills patients had which made sick people sicker trying to figure out how to deal with all the paperwork.

The time has come, let us have FAITH in a system where HEALING is dispensed rather than BILLS DISPERSED. This should be the SOLEMN VOW of any physician--and btw--I loved saying that to my husband when we were married one month ago in Connecticut. Some take those vows for granted; others crave to make them; don't anyone belittle those simple, solemn, and loving words.

Greenwich Sports Medicine surgeon named one of “America’s Top Doctors”

2009-07-26T01:01:00.000-07:00

Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon Jo A. Hannafin, M.D., Ph.D., of Greenwich, was named one of “America’s Top Doctors,” in the current edition of Castle Connolly’s directory of outstanding physicians in the United States. Dr. Hannafin practices at Hospital for Special Surgery’s Affiliate Physician Office located at 143 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, Conn.

Dr. Hannafin, formerly a three-time gold medalist at the U.S. National Rowing Championships and a respected team physician, brings the expertise of personal athletic excellence to her role as orthopedic director at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery. The center is the first of its kind in the United States.

Southern Connecticut residents benefit from the following areas of her expertise: female athletes, shoulder and knee instability, ligament reconstruction and arthroscopy, rotator cuff disease and adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

With the reputation of Hospital for Special Surgery combined with the convenience of a southern Connecticut location, the HSS Affiliated Physician Office provides a highly sophisticated range of services in Orthopedics, Physiatry and Sports Medicine. Specialties include foot and ankle, hand/upper extremity, hip and knee, spine, pediatric and adolescent sports medicine, sports medicine and shoulder surgery, trauma and joint replacement. (Telephone number: 203-409-3000.)

About Hospital for Special Surgery

Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 2 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology and No. 24 in neurology by U.S. News & World Report (2009), and has received Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In 2008 and 2007, HSS was a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. A member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Cornell Medical College. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

Heart doctor named president of cardiovascular society

2009-07-25T00:44:00.001-07:00

San Antonio cardiologist Steven R. Bailey has accepted a one-year term as president of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, the primary professional organization for more than 4,000 invasive and interventional cardiologists.

Dr. Bailey is chief of the Janey and Dolph Briscoe Division of Cardiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He is also a professor of medicine and radiology in the School of Medicine and sees patients at UT Medicine San Antonio.

Invasive and interventional cardiologists perform a range of heart procedures, including the placement of coronary artery stents, cardiac catheterization and diagnostic angiography. Bailey teaches students, residents and fellows and conducts research on a number of topics, including the development of next-generation stents. Stents are small wire-mesh tubes that hold arteries open.

The Health Science Center is South Texas’ leading health research institution. It has six campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg and trains physicians, dentists, nurses, scientists and allied health professionals.

UPDATE 1-Sanofi's Lantus drug no cause for concern -EU agency

2009-07-25T00:41:00.000-07:00

The European Union's drug watchdog cast further doubt on recent studies suggesting a possible cancer risk with Sanofi-Aventis's (SASY.PA) widely-used Lantus diabetes drug.

The European Medicines Agency said in a statement on Thursday its experts concluded that the available data does not provide a cause for concern and changes to how the drug should be prescribed were not necessary.

It also called on the French drugmaker to generate further research on the drug.

"Due to methodological limitations the studies were found to be inconclusive and did not allow a relationship between insulin glargine and cancer to be confirmed or excluded," the agency said in a statement, referring to the drug's generic name.

"In addition, the committee noted that the results of the studies were not consistent."

"This is important and reassuring information for patients receiving Lantus," said Jean-Pierre Lehner, the group's chief medical officer, adding the review confirmed Lantus use should continue unchanged.

Sanofi said it would take steps to develop further research in the area, in line with recommendations made recently by an independent panel.

The guidance came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month questioned four recently published studies over the cancer link, saying they did not track patients long enough to properly evaluate any such risk from the drug.

Sanofi has firmly stood behind its long-acting insulin medicine Lantus seen as a medicine able to offset a fall in sales of other products, such as Plavix and Lovenox, which could soon face generic competition.

Its stock dived last month when worries about a possible but uncertain link with cancer first surfaced.

he drugmaker said at the time the data was of "poor quality" and no firm conclusions could be drawn. A group of independent experts invited by Sanofi to review the studies later concluded the studies were flawed.

Lantus had sales of 2.45 billion euros ($3.5 billion) in 2008 and had been expected to continue to grow strongly, reflecting the growing incidence of diabetes worldwide.

The last big safety scare over a diabetes drug involved GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK.L) pill Avandia, linked to heart attack risk in a U.S. study in 2007. Glaxo contested those findings, but sales of the drug still halved.

Sanofi shares rose after the announcement and closed up 1.2 percent at 46.31 euros. (Reporting by Michael Kahn; Addition Reporting by Helen Massy-Beresford; Editing by David Cowell and Dan Lalor) ($1 = 0.7030 euro)

Socialized medicine  isn’t the answer

2009-07-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

For those of you who think a government-run, single-payer health care system is the answer, you’re obviously not informed about the programs in Canada and Great Britain. They involve government making the decisions and rationing, with long waits to get treatment. The incentive for the doctors to provide good care is gone since they’re government employees. The people who get good, immediate care are the ones who have money and come to the United States. Many others die before they get treated.

Also, their systems are strapped financially, as is our government-run Medicare system, and there’s no money for research.

When has the government handled anything better than the free enterprise system?

If you think your health insurance is expensive now, wait until you see what the proposed free government system will cost you. Also, it still leaves many people without coverage.

We have a great health care system, that can obviously be much improved upon without socialism. There are many viable ideas on the table that will help.

Protein Excreted In Urine May Be Help In Diagnosing Kidney Disease Caused By HIV

2009-07-24T05:11:00.001-07:00

New data collected at Columbia University Medical Center and by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine are helping researchers understand the extent to which a certain protein – NGAL – can play a significant role in marking chronic kidney disease resulting from HIV while at the same time distinguishing nephropathy from more common causes such as diabetes and hypertension.

It's well-known that Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is an important cause of kidney disease in HIV-infected patients. Antiretroviral therapy plays an important role in the treatment of HIVAN, yet despite advances in understanding HIVAN, current recommendations for treatment have largely been based on observational data and can only definitively made after a kidney biopsy.

The current study, spearheaded by Columbia University's Jonathan Barasch, M.D., Ph.D., along with Ali Gharavi M.D., Ph.D., Neal Paragas M.S., Thomas Nickolas M.D., M.S., and Vivette D'Agati M.D., together with Paul Klotman, M.D., Christina Wyatt M.D., and Susan Morgello M.D., of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Landino Allegri in Parma, Italy, and Prasad Devarajan in Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, represents the examination of data from human cohorts in New York and Parma, and from mouse models created by Dr. Klotman.

The team noted that NGAL, or Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin, a protein they previously discovered in damaged kidneys, was prominently expressed in kidney tissue and in the urine of humans and in mouse models of HIVAN. The high levels of the urine protein were out of proportion to the degree of chronic renal failure, for example that typifies patients with other types of chronic glomerular diseases of both mice and humans. Most strikingly, Paragas, Barasch, and Gharavi noticed that the rise in urinary NGAL levels was in conjunction with the development of a specific type of lesion, namely tubular cysts that typify HIVAN. The association with these cysts consequently may justify their biopsy or an aggressive treatment with antiretroviral drugs when high levels of urine NGAL are discovered.

"From what we can tell, NGAL is unexpectedly expressed in great abundance by kidney cysts allowing the clinician to potentially identify HIVAN among other types of chronic kidney diseases and hopefully to intervene to prevent a kidney from ultimately dying from what physicians refer to as ESRD, or 'end-stage renal disease,'" Dr. Barasch says.

Dr. Barasch cautions that studying a much larger human cohort would be needed in order to determine the precise relationship of NGAL to HIVAN and whether the protein is a good enough predictor of tubular cysts, but he finds the results of the study unexpected and intriguing.

The research appears in an upcoming Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and was funded in part by the Emerald Foundation, the March of Dimes, the National Institutes of Health and the Glomerular Center of Columbia University.

Not adequately diagnosing kidney problems can be life-threatening and NGAL expression which is induced in kidney disease and damage can help identify patients at risk of kidney failure even in those without HIV. Last year, Dr. Barasch and Nickolas found that approximately 65 percent of patients with NGAL protein in the urine upon presentation to the Emergency Department will require care by a nephrologist, another 32 percent will need dialysis, and 29 percent will require care in the intensive care unit, over the course of a week following the subsequent hospitalization. That study was published in the June 3, 2008, issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

We All Pay for Defensive Medicine

2009-07-24T05:02:00.000-07:00

I have witnessed the explosive growth of defensive medicine during my 34 years as a primary-care physician in private practice.

Nowadays the standard of care for a visit to a cardiologist is an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, a nuclear stress test and a 64-slice CT coronary angiogram, all done on the practice’s own equipment so that it can capture every possible cent of the revenue. Oh, did I mention, a cursory history and physical? Meanwhile, a visit to the emergency room for any complaint requires at least one CT scan of the affected part of the body.

Are the patient outcomes any better? Not really. Are the costs much higher? Of course, by an astronomical factor.

However, I am not blameless either. Since I was sued (unsuccessfully) in 1995, I have doubled and tripled the number of tests and consultations that I order, and I haven’t been sued since then. A scalded cat won’t sit on a cold stove either.

Dennis H. Murphree, M.D.

San Antonio

Extreme Glucose Levels In Diabetic Patients With Heart Failure Linked To Increase Risk Of Deaths

2009-07-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Compared with patients with moderately controlled glucose levels, diabetic patients who have heart failure and either too high or too low glucose levels may be at increased risk of death, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in a report published in the current issue of Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

To determine average glucose levels in the blood over a two to three month period, doctors measure glycosylated hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood that is bound to the sugar glucose). In general, higher levels have been associated with increased risk of heart disease, said Dr. David Aguilar, assistant professor of medicine – cardiology at BCM.

"Most doctors try to keep glucose levels of those with diabetes as low as they can to lower the risk of complications such as eye problems, kidney disease or the development of heart disease," said Aguilar, senior author of the study. "However, we found that in diabetic patients with heart failure, glucose levels slightly higher than what are normally recommended had the lowest risk of death."

Researchers at BCM and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston identified 5,815 veterans with heart failure and diabetes who were receiving treatment at VA medical centers across the nation. They followed the patients for two years, dividing them into five categories based on their glycosylated hemoglobin levels.

Most medical professionals recommend levels at 7 and below as the target for optimal health for diabetic patients. However, the results of the study of diabetic patients with heart failure showed that those with levels 7.1 to 7.8 had the lowest rate of death. Those patients at both ends of the spectrum had the higher death risks.

"This doesn't mean that diabetic patients with heart failure should change their target goal for glucose levels," Aguilar said. "The results could simply be telling us that the glycosylated hemoglobin levels are a marker for other risks that are contributing to increased risk of death, but not necessarily the cause of the problem."

Aguilar said the correlation needs to be further investigated to confirm the findings and see what other factors could be contributing to the mortality rate.

The research is supported by a V.A. Health Services Research and Development Service grants and a National Institutes of Health Mentored Career Development Award.

Other researchers who took part in this study include, Drs. Biykem Bozkurt, Kumudha Ramasubbu and Anita Deswal, all from the Winters Center for Heart Failure Research and Section of Cardiology, and the Department of Medicine at BCM. Deswal is also at the Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies at the Michael E. DeBakey V. A. Medical Center in Houston.

Atlanta Sports Medicine Doctor Spero Karas Wins 'Atlanta's Top Doctors' Honor Again

2009-07-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

Spero G. Karas M.D. has again been profiled in Atlanta Magazine's Top Doctors issue within the Orthopedic Surgery category. One of only five Orthopedic Surgeons listed in the July 2009 exclusive, Dr. Karas retains this distinction from the magazine's previous Top Doctors list compiled in July 2007.

Atlanta Magazine compiles its biennial list of "Atlanta's most trusted physicians" based on the results of the highly-regarded Castle Connolly Top Doctors survey. Castle Connolly's physician-led research team follows a rigorous screening process in which board-certified physicians and medical leaders identify particular doctors they feel best embody the ideal of excellence in patient care.

In essence, Dr. Karas and others selected for the Top Doctors list represent those to whom the nominating physicians would send their own families. It is important to note that doctors do not and cannot pay to be profiled as Castle Connolly Top Doctors. Selections are entirely peer-based and randomly sampled. Hence, the results of the vigorous screening process truly identify the most respected doctors in America, subdivided by fields of practice and geographical region.

Dr. Karas was specifically cited for his special expertise in elbow reconstruction, knee reconstruction, shoulder reconstruction, and sports medicine in the Atlanta metro area.

In addition to having been distinguished twice by Atlanta Magazine for being the city's "Most Trusted Sports Medicine Specialist," Dr. Karas was recently included in Castle Connolly's "Best Orthopedic Surgeons in America" list. He was featured last year in Women's Health Magazine's "America's Top Doctors for Women" and Men's Health Magazine's "Top Sports Medicine Specialists."

Dr. Karas specializes in providing comprehensive care to people of all ages with shoulder pain, knee pain, and upper extremity conditions related to traumatic, degenerative, sports and work-related injuries.

As Director of Emory University's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship Program, Dr. Karas is a recognized expert in the field of shoulder surgery, knee surgery, arthroscopy, and sports medicine. He has been inducted into the prestigious American Shoulder and Elbow Society, one of only five other physician members in the state of Georgia. In addition to Dr. Karas' role as director of Emory Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, he currently serves as a consulting team physician for Georgia Tech University, Emory University Athletics, and Lakeside High School.

For more information about Dr. Spero Karas or the Emory Sports Medicine Center, contact Dawn Ulloa or visit atlantashoulder.com.

About Emory Sports Medicine Center:
The Emory Sports Medicine Center is a global leader in providing advanced treatments for patients with sports and orthopaedic injuries. Patients treated there range from professional athletes and world leaders to those who enjoy active lifestyles and want to ensure the best possible recovery from injuries.

University of Maryland School of Medicine to study swine flu vaccine

2009-07-23T03:44:00.000-07:00

The University of Maryland School of Medicine will lead a research study on an experimental vaccine to prevent swine flu.

The school’s Center for Vaccine Development will participate in a nationwide network of vaccine evaluation teams funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Starting in August, the clinical trial will enroll as many as 1,000 adults and children at 10 centers to evaluate the safety of the vaccine and measure its ability to stimulate immune responses to the H1N1 influenza virus. The virus has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and has resulted in three deaths in Maryland.

The research is a first step toward the U.S. government’s goal of developing a vaccine before the flu season begins in the fall.

The University of Maryland’s partners on the effort include Baylor College of Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Emory University, Saint Louis University, Seattle Group Health Cooperative, the University of Iowa, and Vanderbilt University.

Meta-analysis: Can Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment Reduce the Risk for Gastric Cancer?

2009-07-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is associated withgastric cancer, but the effect of eradication treatment on gastriccancer risk is not well defined.

Purpose: To determine whether H. pylori eradication treatmentcan reduce the risk for gastric cancer.

Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar,and online clinical trial registers through 31 January 2009,without language restrictions.

Study Selection: Randomized trials that compared eradicationtreatment with no treatment in H. pylori–positive patientsand that assessed gastric cancer or progression of preneoplasticlesions during follow-up.

Data Extraction: Two authors independently reviewed articlesand extracted data.

Data Synthesis: Seven studies met inclusion criteria, 1 ofwhich was excluded from pooled analysis because of clinicaland methodological heterogeneity. All studies were performedin areas with high incidence of gastric cancer, mostly in Asia.Overall, 37 of 3388 (1.1%) treated patients developed gastriccancer compared with 56 of 3307 (1.7%) untreated (control) participants.In a pooled analysis of 6 studies with a total of 6695 participantsfollowed from 4 to 10 years, the relative risk for gastric cancerwas 0.65 (95% CI, 0.43 to 0.98).

Limitations: All studies but 1 were performed in Asia. Only2 assessed gastric cancer incidence, and only 2 were double-blinded.

Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment seemsto reduce gastric cancer risk.

Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Related with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Study of 1804 Men Aged 40 or Older in Madrid - Abstract

2009-07-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

Unidad de Apoyo a la Investigación, Servicio de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are present nowadays in approximately 20 to 30% of the Spanish male population from the age of 50 onwards. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with LUTS.

A cross-sectional study was performed, between 1999 and 2000, among 1,804 men aged 40 or older who were living in Madrid. Subjects were interviewed by telephone; socio-demographic information was requested and the presence of LUTS was assessed using the International Prostate Symptoms Score. Informed consent was requested, Association between qualitative variables was evaluated by chi2 or Fisher's test. A logistic regression model was performed to control confusion.

Prevalence of moderate/severe LUTS was 16.6% (95%CI: 14.8-18.3). Nearly 90% of the subjects consumed olive oil, 71.5% alcohol, 63.1% did not smoke and 96.9% did not consume drugs. A 27.7% of the subjects had hypertension and 8.8% referred diabetes. Men aged 70 or older had a threefold increased frequency of serious symptoms compared to younger men (OR: 3.31; 95%CI: 2.10-5.22). Low level of studies increased this frequency by a factor of 2.2 (95%CI: 1.42-3.46) and men who consumed only seed oil had twice more serious symptoms than those who consumed olive oil (OR: 1.86; 95%CI: 0.98-3.55).

Family history of urological diseases, age, low level of studies, hypertension, diabetes and seed oil consumption were independently associated with more serious symptoms, while medium alcohol consumption and mild smoking habit were associated with slighter symptoms.

New Molecular Pathway For Targeting Cancer, Disease Discovered

2009-07-21T04:37:00.001-07:00

A UCLA study has identified a way to turn off a key signaling pathway involved in physiological processes that can also stimulate the development of cancer and other diseases. The findings may lead to new treatments and targeted drugs using this approach.

In the study, which is currently available in the online edition of the journal Molecular Endocrinology, scientists found that by activating a receptor in cells called the liver X receptor (LXR), they were able to inhibit the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which is involved in the maintenance of tissue integrity and stem cell generation. When stimulated in an unregulated manner, however, the Hh pathway can also cause cancers of the brain, lung, blood, prostate, skin and other tissues.

Blocking such unregulated stimulation of the Hh pathway had previously been shown in animal studies to prevent cancers, according to the researchers. How LXR was able to inhibit tumor cell growth by impeding the Hh pathway was previously unknown.

"Our finding shows that activation of LXR signaling is a novel strategy for inhibiting Hh pathway activity and for targeting various cell types, including cancer cells, which may provide important clues as to how we might be able to intervene with tumor formation," said Farhad Parhami, a professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's principal investigator.

During the study, researchers performed various tests activating LXR receptors in cells and found that specific gene expression induced by the Hh pathway could be inhibited. This finding was also confirmed in mice.

"Since Hh signaling plays a major role in other physiological and pathological processes, we may be able to impact other diseases as well," Parhami said.

Dr. William Matsui of Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, an expert on Hh signaling in cancer development, noted the importance of the UCLA study and its significance for the next stages of research — finding a pharmaceutical drug or substance molecule to act as an agonist, which would stimulate LXR activity to inhibit aberrant Hh signaling.

"The hedgehog Hh signaling pathway is an important regulator of tumor formation, and these findings suggest that LXR agonists may be novel treatments for a wide variety of human cancers," Matsui said.

According to researchers, utilizing this new treatment pathway could have broad applications in the cancer field.

"This discovery identifies an entirely new and unexpected mechanism of hedgehog pathway modulation," said study author Dr. James A. Waschek, an expert on Hh signaling in brain tumor development and a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "This has great potential in offering other options, because current hedgehog pathway inhibitors have severe side effects which preclude their use in many cancer patients, especially children."

Waschek also noted that this discovery may reveal new details on how Hh signals within the cell, which is currently poorly understood.

The next stage of the research will focus on activating the LXR pathway using various pharmacological molecules to inhibit tumor formation. Matsui will be a collaborator in this follow-up research.

In addition, the team has started a medicinal chemistry program to design and test small molecules that activate the LXR pathway while avoiding the adverse effects that may be caused when LXR is activated in tissues such as the liver.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.

Other authors include Woo-Kyun Kim and Vicente Meliton from the UCLA Department of Medicine; Peter Tontonoz from the UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Kye Won Park from the department of food science and biotechnology at Korea's Sungkyunkwan University; Cynthia Hong from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Pawel Niewiadomski from the UCLA Department of Psychiatry; and Sotirios Tetradis from the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Earlier HIV Antiviral Treatment Can Be Cost Effective In Areas Of Limited Resources, South African Study Finds

2009-07-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

Early initiation of lifesaving antiretroviral therapies should be the standard of care for all HIV-infected patients, even those in countries with limited medical and financial resources, according to a study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

The team reports in the August 4 Annals of Internal Medicine that starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) when the level of CD4 T cells drops below a threshold of 350 per microliter of blood, compared with below 250, would prevent nearly 76,000 deaths and avert 66,000 opportunistic infections over the next five years at an estimated cost of $1,200 per year of life saved. The study's publication coincides with the International AIDS Society Conference meeting which started yesterday in Cape Town.

The study provides strong support for broadening the eligibility standards for ART in settings with sufficient access to drugs, the authors note. In the U.S. and other developed countries, ART is usually initiated when the CD4 count – a measure of immune system function – drops below 350. Recognizing that ART is both costly and can have significant side effects, the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) treatment guidelines suggest waiting until CD4 counts drop below 200 or until patients develop AIDS-related complications.

"While those standards accommodate the limited resources and short supply of medications in many settings, the greater prevalence of tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections in places like South Africa argue for earlier treatment initiation, even before the results of ongoing clinical trials are known." says Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, of the MGH Division of Infectious Disease, associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, who led the study.

Definitive clinical trial findings will not be available for several years. Yet in countries like South Africa, which currently has the world's highest burden of HIV infection, information is needed today to guide treatment policies and practices. To address this need, Walensky and colleagues developed a mathematical model to simulate HIV treatment and its associated health and economic outcomes. The model calculated the additional costs of earlier treatment, its potential toxicities and its benefits, including TB prevention. It also calculated how much delaying ART would shorten patients lives and then estimated the cost per extra year of life gained – a standard measure of cost-effectiveness – of earlier ART initiation.

"The time has come to act on the information we now have, nearly all of which supports starting treatment earlier. We can re-evaluate the situation after the trials, but until those results are available, the evidence points to saving lives with earlier treatment," says co-author, Robin Wood, FCP, MMed, DTM&H, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, a leading HIV clinical research group in South Africa

Additional co-authors of the Annals of Internal Medicine report are Lindsey Wolf, Mariam Fofana, and Kenneth Freedberg, MD, MSc, MGH; Elena Losina, PhD, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Neil Martinson, MBBCh, MPH, WITS Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa; A. David Paltiel, PhD, Yale University; Xavier Anglaret, MD, PhD, University of Bordeaux, France; and Milton Weinstein, PhD, Harvard School of Public Health. The study was supported by grants from the National Institute for Allergy and Infections Diseases and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

People that use food as medicine: using nutrition to find the causes behind the symptoms

2009-07-21T04:27:00.000-07:00

Food misinformation and lack of disclosure are the two hottest nutrition controvsery debates. The third is on how to prevent childhood type 2 diabetes. There are more people that make their living from the cancer industry, including the larger pharmaceutical companies making drugs to treat cancer, than there are patients that suffer from cancer, according to some media reports. The opposite side of the debate says drugs don't give people stronger immunity. Food does. World War One mustard gas technology derivatives are still being used to treat cancer in current times.

What does the average person do when a new study comes out saying that a food has specific health benefits, but then soon after, another study is released noting that the same food has negative health consequences? This type of debate has opened the field of nutrition to debate.

Nutrition debates include asking questions such as what health issues surround studies of soy products, homogenized milk, and margarine? Why are the ingredients in the nutritional supplement bottle different from what the label says? Why do media report so often that we're losing the war on cancer and degenerative diseases?

How does the average consumer with no science training make informed decisions about what foods are healthy for each person or for all individuals? Would the average consumer benefit by a costly test to determine whether one’s genetic signature is helped or harmed by ingestion of a specific food or medicine? Are those tests accurate? Such topics are ripe for debate.

The hottest controversies in nutrition appear daily in various popular media—newspapers, general consumer magazines, and the tabloid press. However, three equally important controversies in nutrition actually are science versus nature, childhood obesity, and the ever-increasing type 2 diabetes epidemic in children and adults. Consumers want to know whether what’s on the label is the same as what’s in the food or nutritional supplement.

According to the International Food Information Council (IFIC) nutrition/food safety staff, while there are nutrition controversies almost too numerous to mention, a couple stand out – food ‘myths’ (or misinformation) concerning the safety/health benefits of consuming fish and seafood, especially canned tuna; and continuing misinformation about the safety of low-calorie sweeteners, such as Aspartame.

UPDATE 1-Drug firms offer to lower prices in Philippines

2009-07-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

Big international pharmaceutical firms in the Philippines have offered to lower prices of dozens of best-selling drugs to stop the government imposing price controls, an industry spokesman said on Monday.

The government said it would still consider putting price ceilings on about six to seven products because the cut offered by drug companies was way below the 50 percent reduction mandated by law, Health Secretary Francisco Duque told reporters.

"We have to do what we need to do," Duque said after reviewing the proposals. "I think they have been selling medicines in this country for such a high price compared to the other countries. So, they've generated hefty profits from the Filipinos for the longest time."

He said the new prices for about 80 drug products would take effect on Aug. 15 after the president signs an executive order this week.

On Saturday, about 50 drug-makers led by the world's largest, Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) of the United States, voluntarily offered to lower prices by an average of 50 percent for about 80 drug products for illnesses such as hypertension, cancer and diabetes to beat a government deadline.

The industry's offer to cut prices could reduce sales by as much as 7-10 billion pesos ($146-208 million) a year, making it hard for smaller drug companies that produce and market three or four products to survive, said Reiner Gloor, head of the local pharmaceutical and healthcare industry group.

The Philippines passed a law in 2008 to lower medicine costs, mandating the president to impose price ceilings on commonly used drugs, which have sold for as much as 200 percent higher than in other Asian countries such as India and Thailand.

The industry opposed moves to introduce price controls, looking at the maximum retail price mechanism under the law as a form of regulation, said Gloor, adding some drugs could continue to be inaccessible to the poor unless the healthcare system was reformed.

"That sends a wrong signal for the country, which has followed free market policy," Gloor told Reuters in an interview. "We've given the president an option in making a decision on whether there should be price control or not.

"It's something the president would like to have, considering that this has become a popular issue in an interesting period we are entering in the country," Gloor said, referring to general elections in May 2010.

The Philippines imposed price controls on medicines during the 1970s when the country was under martial law before the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was toppled by a popular uprising in 1986. (Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Rosemarie Francisco)

U.S. already has socialized medicine

2009-07-20T05:01:00.000-07:00

We already have socialized medicine in the U.S. It’s called the VA. We already cover everyone over 65. It’s called Medicare. Most states have health care available for everyone under age 16. At the very least, why not extend to everyone the possibility of opting into a public plan?

The health insurance industry cries “foul!” But aren’t they the ones who’ve been denying coverage, rationing treatment and withholding payment to those who need it most? Why are they so afraid of competing with a public plan?

Bottom line: We need comprehensive health care for all, not some patchwork plan that doesn’t address the core issue.

Integrative Medicine: Red yeast rice targets cholesterol

2009-07-19T00:34:00.000-07:00

Millions in the United States take medications called statins to lower blood cholesterol. These meds, including Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor, have made a huge difference for people with high cholesterol levels, especially those with cardiovascular disease or who are at risk of heart attack and stroke.

However, side effects such as muscle aches are common (as high as 10 percent) with these drugs. Some alternative practitioners recommend using co-enzyme Q10 to prevent this type of muscle pain, but a recent review showed no clear benefit from this supplement.

One popular alternative medicine product for high cholesterol is red yeast rice, a dietary supplement that has been used in China for centuries. RYR contains a chemical, monacolin-K, that is identical to the active ingredient in the prescription statin Mevacor (lovastatin). And RYR does not seem to cause the side effects .

A new study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine has shown that RYR may be a safe alternative for people who have been intolerant of statins. In this study, 62 patients who had stopped taking at least one statin drug because of muscle pain were randomized to receive either red yeast rice or a placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients were encouraged to eat a healthy diet, exercise and reduce stress, all of which can also lower blood cholesterol. The patients receiving RYR got the equivalent of about 6 mg of lovastatin daily; by the end of the study, they had dropped their total cholesterol by about 15 percent and their LDL cholesterol by about 21 percent, compared with 5 percent to 9 percent in the placebo group. And muscle pain was uncommon in this study.

It is not known why RYR may be better tolerated than prescription meds. RYR contains a number of plant chemicals that may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol without causing side effects. Also, this study may not have been long enough to detect side effects of RYR.

Are there downsides to taking RYR? Yes. RYR can be contaminated with a kidney toxin known as citrinin. We recommend using only RYR products that have been evaluated by independent testing labs. RYR has also been reported to cause muscle pain and liver problems just like statin meds, though it seems that side effects from RYR are rare. Still, we recommend that you be monitored by your physician should you choose to take RYR.

And RYR has not been compared with a statin med in a medical study – this would give us a direct comparison. Until it is, we suggest lifestyle changes: a low-fat, high-fiber diet and exercise to reduce your cholesterol.

Socialized medicine

2009-07-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

Ted Kennedy's socialized medicine bill includes provisions to exempt members of congress from socialized medicine. Our hero of the Chappaquiddick wasn't drunk again; he just knows the truth about socialized medicine.

Teddy may want access to new drugs. In socialist England, government cut costs by limiting access to new prescription drugs. Many drugs widely available here are unavailable in socialist Europe.

Teddy doesn't want to wait to see a doctor. In England the average wait is 8.6 months. You can die waiting your turn. Breast and prostate cancer have a 10-34 percent higher survival rate in the United States than in Europe. Waiting lines may be a factor.

Teddy wants a clean hospital. In England, they have an increased rate of antibiotic-resistant staph infections because government cut costs in the area of sanitization.

We can visit our crumbling, outdated and poorly staffed VA hospitals to see why congress doesn't want to participate in socialized medicine. According to an American Legion survey, vets waited an average of seven months for a first appointment at a VA hospital. ABC News reported allegations of patients having to beg for food, amputations because of poor care, and doctors repeatedly losing test results.

Congress also doesn't want its "employer paid" benefit replaced with an additional tax of 10-20 percent (or more) of their earnings. This would be enough to put the American Dream out of reach for most Americans.

Socialized medicine won't be optional for you. Most employers will unload their health insurance expenses on the government. The rest (except Congress) will join once the government bankrupts the health insurance industry. Under "Hillary Care" you would have faced criminal charges for taking your own money and seeking medical care outside of the system, even to save your life.

Weight gain during menopause tied to brain changes

2009-07-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Healthy women who put on weight between the premenopausal and postmenopausal years risk losing nerve cells in the brain, research suggests.

Gaining weight is a "highly modifiable" risk factor that may be targeted to prevent or slow the progression of potentially harmful age-related changes in the brain, the University of Pittsburgh-based study team suggests in the June issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Dr. Isabella Soreca and colleagues analyzed brain imaging data obtained from 48 healthy older women who were tracked over a 20-year period as part of the longitudinal epidemiological Pittsburgh Healthy Women Study.

They report in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine that an increase in body weight during the transition to menopause and beyond was "uniquely associated" with a lower volume of gray matter (the portion of the brain containing nerve cell bodies).

Soreca and colleagues say this finding is "particularly noteworthy" given that these were healthy older women who entered menopause naturally and had no history of cardiovascular disease or psychiatric disease and none were obese in mid-life or later on.

"Women may be particularly motivated to maintain a healthy weight in the postmenopausal years, should it be confirmed that weight gain causes alteration in brain function that is important to quality of life," Soreca and colleagues conclude.

Patients to Pay for Swine Flu Medicine

2009-07-18T05:26:00.000-07:00

Finland intends to remove the H1N1 swine flu virus from the list of common dangerous infectious diseases this month. Patients not belonging to risk groups will also have to pay for medicines.

Health officials say the disease has proven to be less serious than anticipated and will be classified in the same way as other seasonal influenza viruses.

Those contracting the virus will be treated by the country's basic healthcare system and antiviral medicine will be prescribed only if necessary. The move follows a situation report issued on Thursday by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

A government decision to remove H1N1 from the list of dangerous diseases is expected later this month.

Swine flu medicine available via GPs

2009-07-17T04:33:00.000-07:00

AN ANTI-VIRAL medicine used to treat the symptoms of swine flu should be available in pharmacies around the country from today – but only on prescription.

Dr Pat Doorley, the national director of population health with the Health Service Executive (HSE), said Tamiflu had been delivered to community pharmacies and GPs in recent days. Dr Doorley confirmed at a briefing on the virus in Government Buildings last evening that Tamiflu would only be available with a prescription.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday the pandemic was the fastest-moving ever and that it was now pointless to count every case. It revised its requirements so that national health authorities need only report clusters of severe cases or deaths caused by the virus.

The WHO said past pandemics had needed more than six months to spread as widely as the new virus had in six weeks.

Earlier this week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan predicted swine flu could infect one million people in the State as it spreads later in the year. Dr Holohan said 146 cases of swine flu had been confirmed here as of yesterday.

He said the vast majority of people who contracted swine flu would recover from the virus without taking Tamiflu and stocks of the anti-viral would be reserved for treating severe infections.

Dr Doorley said the HSE had access to anti-virals to treat more than half the population and he was confident this was enough to treat a more serious scenario than that currently facing the HSE.

“We do not want over-use. We do not want resistance developing to these drugs. We are not concerned that we do not have enough Tamiflu. We should have enough and we can order more.”

The strategy of the Department of Health and the HSE officially changed yesterday because they believe preventing the virus’s spread is no longer an option.

Ponton Establishes South Carolina Oriental Medicine Association

2009-07-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Marina Ponton, owner of Greenville Natural Health Center, has established the South Carolina Oriental Medicine Association, a professional organization affiliated with the American Oriental Medicine Association. The new statewide association is dedicated to the integrity, safety, excellence, and advancement of Traditional Chinese Medicine by adhering to the highest standards of the profession.
An acupuncture physician specializing in women's health, Ponton recently returned from the
Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China where she participated in the three-week study program on integrating Chinese herbal formulas into Western treatments for endocrine disorders. Ponton was selected as the only member of her 2010 doctorate class at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in Portland to attend the women's health initiative.
Ponton opened Greenville Natural Health Center in 2007, specializing in women's health and wellness. The Center integrates biomedicine (Western medicine) with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), utilizing a holistic (mind-body) approach to issues such as chronic fatigue, menopause and infertility. Ponton was featured in the February 2009 issue of Alive magazine, Canada's leading publication in the field of health and wellness, about her success in treating infertility with acupuncture. Her studies include the American University of Paris, FAMU University in Prague, The University of Miami, and The Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine.

Basketball the right medicine for Mark Pope

2009-07-16T04:02:00.001-07:00

When Mark Pope was admitted into medical school at Columbia University in New York City, he wasn't certain what specialty he would eventually pursue. He knew only that he wanted to help people and that practicing medicine would be a noble way to do it.
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So for three years Pope studied, often as many as 16 hours a day. For the last five months he worked shifts at New York Presbyterian Hospital. He connected with patients, people he believed he helped.

"I loved being with patients," he said. "Absolutely loved it."

Pope did not love the 16-hour study sessions, not with a wife (Lee Anne) and four daughters 8 and under. He did not love being separated from basketball. After playing center for the University of Kentucky's 1996 NCAA championship team, he bounced through the NBA for parts of six seasons. According to basketball-reference.com, he earned more than $4million in the NBA, and he also played in Europe.

In 2008, after his second year at Columbia, Pope called University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino, his former coach at UK, and told him he was considering leaving med school.

"Mark said he wanted to coach at the college level but that he didn't want to start at the bottom," Pitino said. "I told him, 'I'd like to be president, too, but that's not how it works.' I told him he really needed to be sure that coaching was his passion."

Pope, 36, stayed for a third year at Columbia, an Ivy League school that admitted less than 6percent of its male applicants in the Class of 2012. Then this past spring he made a second call to Pitino.

"I had this offer from the University of Georgia, and I told Coach I thought I was going to do it," Pope said.

"I told him if coaching was truly in his heart, that he should do it," Pitino said.

Pope did it. On July 6 he worked his final shift at New York Presbyterian, withdrew from Columbia and accepted an offer from new Georgia coach Mark Fox to become basketball operations coordinator. That has been his job for the last week, helping Fox build a program to compete in the Southeastern Conference. Pope had played two seasons for Fox at the University of Washington before he transferred to UK for his final two years.

UnitedHealth and Cisco push online medicine

2009-07-16T03:56:00.000-07:00

Unitedhealth, one of the nation's largest health insurers, said Wednesday it will partner with computer networking firm Cisco Systems Inc. to create an electronic network linking patients with doctors across the country.

The cooperative project, dubbed Connected Care, will place video terminals in office buildings, malls and other locations to help patients reach health care providers at remote locations.

The effort comes as President Obama and congressional Democrats promote technology as part of a sweeping effort to make health care more efficient and affordable.

"Both the White House and Congress see this as one of the enabling technologies in the modernization of health care," said UnitedHealth Group Inc. Executive Vice President Steve Rodgers.

The combination of video conferencing and medical care also represents a significant financial opportunity for the companies. The so-called telemedicine market is expected to mushroom in coming years, as the U.S. government has already invested $2.5 billion in the technology.

Driving the demand for high-tech medical consultation is a growing shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in poor and rural areas of the country. Earlier this year the Association of American Medical Colleges said that by 2025 the U.S. will have 159,000 fewer doctors than it needs.

While some diseases will always require an in-person meeting, UnitedHealth executives say doctors can diagnose and treat a variety of ailments electronically.

"The vast majority of time doctors spend with their patients is spent talking and listening, and that can be done remotely," said Dr. Jim Woodburn, UnitedHealth's vice president and medical director.

Besides diagnosing the common cold, Woodburn said doctors can use the technology to monitor patients' weight, calorie intake and blood sugar levels.

UnitedHealth of Minnetonka, Minn., did not provide an exact price tag for the project but said it has already invested "tens of millions" of dollars in the project. Eventually executives hope to make Cisco's telemedicine technology available almost everywhere: from the home to the work place to retail centers.

"It's all about moving the center of care from the fixed brick and mortar building of the doctor's office to anywhere the patient is," said Rodgers.

Promising Alzheimer's drug boosts toxic protein

2009-07-15T04:46:00.000-07:00

Dimebon, Medivation Inc's (MDVN.O) promising experimental Alzheimer's drug, significantly raised levels of a toxic protein in the brains of mice, yet has been shown to delay thinking problems in human dementia patients, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

"This is an unexpected result," said Dr. Samuel Gandy, a researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, whose findings were presented at an Alzheimer's meeting in Vienna.

The study raises new questions about how the drug works and new worries about drugs meant to remove telltale clumps of a protein called beta amyloid from the brain as a way to reverse Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers are not sure whether amyloid is a cause or a symptom of Alzheimer's but, either way, getting rid of it had appeared to be a good thing.

"We think we want amyloid levels to go down," Gandy said in a telephone interview. "Here is this compound that is looking very promising clinically that is making amyloid levels go up."

Dimebon, first sold in Russia as an antihistamine, is being developed jointly with Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), maker of the Alzheimer's drug Aricept.

Researchers see Dimebon as the best hope for a new treatment for the incurable, mind-robbing disease that affects 26 million people globally.

Now in late-stage testing, Dimebon seems to delay thinking problems in people but it is not clear how.

"We wanted to know what Dimebon was doing to amyloid," Gandy said.

His team tested mice genetically engineered to have a human form of Alzheimer's. The drug increased amyloid outside nerve cells.

Sports medicine specialist to address young athletes in Norton

2009-07-15T04:40:00.000-07:00

Joseph Congeni, MD, director of Sports Medicine at Akron Children’s Hospital, will give a talk from 7 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Norton Community Center on weight training for middle and high school athletes and the use of steroids and supplements in youth athletics.

Dr. Congeni’s talk, sponsored by the Player’s Choice Athletics, is targeted to youth sports teams and all young athletes are invited to attend. Dr. Congeni will also take questions from the audience.

Students are free and adults are $5.

Dr. Congeni is board certified in pediatrics with an added qualification in sports medicine. He has served on the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, and developed the primary care pediatrics sports medicine fellowship at Akron Children’s, the first of its kind at a pediatric hospital in the United States.

He is a professor of pediatrics at the Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine and in 2008 was named the Ohio Outstanding Team Physician by the Ohio State Medical Association and the Team Physician of the Year by the Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association. He is a team physician for the University of Akron and Archbishop Hoban High School and discusses current issues in sports medicine in a weekly radio segment on WAKR AM.

Dr. Congeni has published many papers with special interest in lumbar spondylolysis, youth baseball injuries and brain injuries in young athletes.

Who really profits from digital medical records?

2009-07-14T04:12:00.000-07:00

An unprecedented effort to computerize the nation's hospitals and physician offices could be the key to reducing crippling health care costs – or a giveaway to technology vendors whose sales will be subsidized by taxpayers.

Computerizing the paper-based world of medicine was a significant component of this year's $787 billion stimulus package, which reserved $45 billion for hospitals and physicians to adopt electronic health records.

The Obama administration argues that electronic records will allow doctors to coordinate care for the sickest patients, eliminate errors such as adverse drug reactions and avoid duplicate lab and imaging tests. Medical errors alone cost the country $37.6 billion each year, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Despite years of technology development, most hospitals and physician offices, including those in North Texas, can't electronically share information or even record patient data.

Data sharing confronts age-old assumptions that providers, not patients, own health records, which are valuable assets that can be used to obtain grants and market hospitals. It requires the government to decide what kinds of systems will improve care and how providers should use the systems to achieve that.

Special Journal Issue Focuses on Family Medicine Obstetrics

2009-07-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Family Medicine Obstetrics is the featured topic of the current special issue of the American Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Daniel M. Avery, MD, FACOG, FACS, is the author of several articles in the issue including The History of Board Certification of Family Medicine Obstetricians. Dr. Avery, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Of Alabama School Of Medicine, is Chair of the recently formed American Board of Family Medicine Obstetrics (ABFMO).

“Attempts to recognize and certify Family Medicine Obstetricians have been a long term task, dating back to the 1980s,” said Dr. Avery. “ABFMO will provide certification in support of family physicians that have completed advanced training in maternity care, including operative obstetrics.”

Other Special Issue Highlights Include:
• Four Part Series on Maternal Health
• Founder of Obstetrics Fellowships in the United States
• Postpartum Depression
• Prenatal Patients Not Delivered
• Obstetric Emergencies
• The Need for Rural Family Physicians Who Can Perform Cesareans
• Medical Ethics Without the Rhetoric
• Minilaparotomy Technique for Ectopic Pregnancy

To view the special Family Medicine Obstetrics issue online go to http://www.aapsus.org/ajcm/2009/spring/. The American Journal of Clinical Medicine is the official, peer-reviewed journal of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. (AAPS). The Journal is dedicated to improving the practice of clinical medicine by providing up-to-date information for today’s practitioners.

AAPS is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit organization providing a providing a clinically recognized mechanism for specialty certification for physicians who had obtained advanced training in various medical specialties. The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is the certifying arm of the AAPS, certifying and recertifying thousands of allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) physicians from all 50 states and Canada in 16 medical specialties.

New Alzheimer's Disease Treatment Promising

2009-07-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that a compound called NIC5-15, might be a safe and effective treatment to stabilize cognitive performance in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The two investigators, Giulio Maria Pasinetti, M.D., Ph.D. , and Hillel Grossman, M.D., presented Phase IIA preliminary clinical findings at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD) in Vienna on July 12.
NIC5-15's potential to preserve cognitive performance will be further evaluated in a Phase IIB clinical trial. Early evidence suggests that NIC5-15 is a safe and tolerable natural compound that may reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease-related dementia by preventing the formation of beta-amyloid plaque, a waxy substance that accumulates between brain cells and impacts cognitive function
"With Alzheimer's disease affecting 5.2 million Americans, another 5 million with early-state disease, and nearly a half million new cases reported annually, treatments like NIC5-15 would make a significant difference in the lives of many Alzheimer's patients," said Dr. Pasinetti, Professor of Psychiatry, Professor of Neuroscience and Professor of Geriatrics and Adult Development, in the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. "We are hopeful that the follow up clinical study will support this preliminary evidence."
"There are no FDA-approved Alzheimer's disease modifying drugs available today," said Dr. Hillel Grossman, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Co-Director of the Clinical Research Core of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, and Clinical Director of the Mount Sinai Memory and Aging Center. "Current drugs approved for use help maintain cognitive function, but only for a limited time. NIC5-15 is part of a new class of natural compound we found to have the potential of precluding the generation of β-amyloid and, eventually, attenuating cognitive deterioration in preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease."
The study was conducted at the Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC). ADCR is a comprehensive research facility and clinical program dedicated to the study and treatment of both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. The Center is supported by the National Institute on Aging, a branch of the National Institutes of Health. Humanetics Corporation, manufacturers of NIC5-15, sponsored the study. Phase IIB clinical trials on NIC5-15 are expected to begin later this year.
Disclosure: Dr. Pasinetti has a patent pending for the use of NIC5-15 in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The patent application was filed on his behalf by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Pasinetti and the School of Medicine could benefit financially from the results of this trial.

Breakthroughs in DNA medicine to revolutionise doctors’ training

2009-07-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

Doctors are to be given more specialised training in genetics to prepare the NHS for a revolution in DNA-based medicine, The Times has learnt.
A review of medical education in genetics is to examine what doctors need to know about the influence of DNA on common diseases and patients’ response to drugs, so they can exploit science’s growing understanding of the human genome in clinical practice.
In an interview with The Times, Professor Peter Farndon, director of the National Genetics Education and Development Centre, said recent advances in genetic science made it essential for doctors to have more access to information.
Though the last genetics syllabus for medical students and junior doctors was introduced in 2006, so much has changed since then that the centre was already working to update it, he said. It was also developing guidelines for professional education in the field.
Over the past three years, costs of reading DNA have fallen so sharply that many scientists predict that it will be possible to sequence any individual’s entire genetic code for less than £1,000 within a year or two. Research has also revealed hundreds of genetic variations that affect an individual’s risk of disease or response to medicines.
Companies such as 23andMe and deCODEme have started to sell genome scans directly to consumers, assessing their genetic risks of developing a range of diseases for between £300 and £600.
Last week a report from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee said that these developments required urgent reforms to medical training and NHS infrastructure so they could be translated into benefits for patients. The importance of genetic tests was “placing strain on the expertise of doctors, nurses and healthcare scientists, who at present are poorly equipped to use genomic tests effectively and to interpret them accurately, indicating the urgent need for much wider education of healthcare professionals and the public in genomic medicine”, the report said.
While doctors learn about genetics in undergraduate and postgraduate training, the focus is on rare disorders caused by mutations in single genes, such as Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis.
More recent genetic research has identified hundreds of DNA variants with more complex and subtle effects on a wide range of much more common conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Each raises or lowers a patient’s predisposition to disease only slightly, but can combine to create a significantly raised risk, and their influence can be difficult to interpret.
Family doctors, in particular, need an understanding of this area so that they can give appropriate advice to patients, Professor Farndon said.
Scientists have also started to discover genetic variants that affect whether drugs are likely to be effective, or the safe dose that a patient can take. This practice, known as pharmacogenomics, is forecast to become increasingly important to more personalised medicine, but currently it is not highlighted as an important teaching subject.
“It definitely needs to go into the main syllabus now, absolutely,” Professor Farndon said. “Suppose there’s a set of eight DNA variants that predispose a woman to a high risk of breast cancer. Even though she has no family history, you might target her for screening much sooner than the current recommended age.”

'Jackson died of lethal levels of potent medicines, drugs'

2009-07-11T08:23:00.001-07:00

The leaked toxicology report of Michael Jackson claims that the pop star had lethal levels of potent painkillers and drugs in his body at the time of his death, triggering suspicion that it may be a case of homicide.
Jackson was on a diet of deadly cocktail potent enough to have killed a normal person instantly but his body had developed a tolerance due to the longtime use of huge doses, the British newspaper Sun claimed quoting the findings of his preliminary toxicology reports.
Apart from high levels of Demerol, a strong painkiller and heroin substitute Methadone, Jackson's blood tests found high doses of antianxiety drug Xanax, according to the leaked toxicology report submitted to the Los Angeles county coroner's office, the paper said.
Lower levels of powerful anaesthetic drug Propofol was also present in Jackson's body. The medicine is used for surgical operations but according to Jackson's close aides, the pop star, who suffered from insomnia, used the medicine as a sleeping pill.
Another medicine, Dilaudid, which is normally used to numb post-surgery pain was also found in Jackson's body.
Jackson died after collapsing on June 25 just weeks before making his comeback in London and reports have linked his sudden death to the long abuse of prescription drugs.
Coroner's office is yet to release the toxicology report, which will determine the cause of death.
But daily claiming to have access to the report said besides Demerol and Methadone, 50-year old Jackson had taken four more painkillers and anaesthetics plus anti-anxiety pills.
"This is sure to increase pressure on police to establish exactly how one man obtained so many prescription medications — and which doctors were responsible."
"There is increasing talk of manslaughter charges if it can be shown he was given drugs without proper regard for his safety," the daily said claiming to quote a source close to the case.
Police Chief William Bratton added he was waiting for the final toxicology reports to move further in the investigation.
"Based on those, we will have an idea what we are dealing with. Are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with accidental overdose?" he said.
"Michael Jackson was a walking drug store when he died — he never stood a chance," the daily added.
"The body can build up extreme tolerances to huge doses of drugs but eventually it overloads and just shuts down. That is what happened to Michael," it said.
In addition to these medicines, there were "therapeutic" levels of Fentanyl, another post-operation painkiller 100 times more potent than morphine, plus prescription painkiller Vicodin, anti-anxiety pills Valium and the sleeping drug Ambien.

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