"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
Steve Jacobs and his wife Marie are volunteers at our office. You may see them from time-to-time working in the file area. They are a wonderful addition to the staff. As well, Steve publishes a monthly newsletter that is lots of fun and filled with interesting facts. Take a look at it now, for a …
Enbrel has been a boon in the treatment of various inflammatory arthritis conditions. It is a medication from the class of ‘biological modifiers’….medications that alter the dynamics of inflammation through specific, scientifically determined immune pathways. Expensive (several thousands of dollars per year) and available only injection form, it has been highly successful in providing symptom …
Read More “ENBREL……GREAT MEDICATION FOR ARTHRITIS MAY BE AVAILABLE SOON IN AN ORAL FORM”
Sepsis is the medical term for overwhelming bloodstream infection. This is a dangerous condition that can occur in a variety of situations including pneumonia, kidney infections, gallbladder infection, and colon infection (among others). The bacterial germs that cause these infections are variable resulting in a ‘best guess’ approach by the treating physician. Usually, this selection …
Read More “RAPID DETECTION OF BLOODSTREAM INFECTION IS ON THE WAY”
Belviq is a new weight loss medication that works on the brains serotonin receptors, working much in the same way as Prozac works on the brain in depression. This medication results in statistically significant weight loss compared to placebo, but it is rather minimal in total, approximately 3.5% of your body weight (or 7 pounds …
West Nile Virus is an infection we seen now every summer her in Phoenix. It is an uncommon viral infection transmitted by misquitos and can cause meningitis and encephalitis (brain infection) Although only 60-70 cases are seen in Phoenix each year, there are many more cases that fortunately remain minimally symptomatic, and thus are not …
Diagnosing diseases in travelers can be difficult. The tests are often inconclusive or based on a series of blood tests done before and after the illness. The usefulness of accurate diagnosis ‘after the fact’ is of interest, but not particularly practical. That is why this new test, available in just another week, will allow be …
A series of patients on Benicar, a safe and effective blood pressure medication, have developed diarrhea due to small intestine irritation. The medication (Olmesartan) can cause a change in the small intestine similar to celiac disease. It resolves with stopping of the medication. This finding is of some interest as Benicar is a popular blood …
Read More “BENICAR BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH DIARRHEA”
Where did I contact that infection you may ask yourself? Well…..the answer is often fomites. You probably have not heard this term before, but fomites is just the technical term for objects that harbor infectious germs and when touched, transmit infection. Many infections do not come from shaking a persons hand or a quick peck …
Read More “FOMITES: A GREAT MEDICAL TERM YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD…..BUT STAY AWAY”
A recent study out of Italy suggests that regular aspirin use is not recommended for heart and stroke protection. In a review of nearly 200,000 adults in Italy, aspirin use was associated with increased risk for bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) and in the intestines, and that this risk was greater than the benefits …
The CDC issued it’s final analysis for the flu season in the past week and they confirmed the mildest flu season in recent history. This is based on very complete data that they have been collecting since 1997. Probably, this occurred as a result of the new strain of Influenza Virus (the swine flu or …
A new medication is under research that is having significant impact on a variety of cancers. This medication, still without a name, is in a group of medicines that block a protein called PD-1. In a recent study, early results have been encouraging in lung cancer, melanoma, and kidney cancer. Even at advanced stages, this …
We’ve heard that dark chocolate can be good for us and a recent article in the respected medical journal BMJ (British Medical Journal) concluded that chocolate with 60-70% cocoa, lowers blood pressure enough, and lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol enough that it would reduce the risk of heart attack by 1% and reduce the risk of …
This week’s Sunday New York Times Sunday Review Section had a front page article on the pro’s and con’s of getting a physical exam. The article correctly pointed out that there is little scientific evidence supporting the yearly physical exam and it went on to focus on the costliness of unnecessary testing that can result …
Good news for Arizonans who use lots of Advil, Aleve, or prescription anti-inflammatory medications. A recent study demonstrated reduced skin cancer risk in patients on these medications. Although anti-inflammatory medications have their negatives, there are also hidden ‘positives’ and it’s nice to hear the good news about medications that we have to take to help …
Read More “ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS REDUCE SKIN CANCER RISK”
Adderall is a medication in wide use for Attention Deficit Disorder and is also a medication that is abused as it is a potent stimulant. Due to a shortage in manufacturer, there are concerns about fake Adderall and it is important to be aware of the difference that can identify these ‘fakes’. This includes: 1. …