"This blog was developed to provide medical updates that are important and have my perspective as additional insight."
Very little influenza in Arizona this past week: only 8 cases. Upper respiratory virus is waning as well and there is virtually no GI virus in town. A healthy week and we expect similar for the coming next few weeks, so feel free to get out there, be active, and be with people
In a new study from the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine), women over 65 with normal bones on DEXA (bone mineral scanning), or those with only mild bone loss, can take up to 15 years to get their 2nd bone scan. Great news! We have been doing scanning at 2 year intervals and although …
Occasionally I’ll hear a news report of a participant in a marathon having a sudden cardiac arrest. Rare but dramatic, a recent study looked at the frequency of this event and predisposing factors. Nearly all of the cardiac arrests were in men, so women need not really be concerned about this issue. The risk is …
Read More “MARATHON RUNNERS (MEN ONLY) SHOULD HAVE A ROUTINE HEART CHECK”
A recent study of nicotine use in tobacco cessation has questioned it’s effectiveness, and even implies that it is counterproductive in people with the greatest nicotine dependence. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/health/study-finds-nicotine-gum-and-patches-dont-help-smokers-quit.html?hp Although originally improved as an adjunct for smoking cessation, nicotine is used ‘willy nilly’ by patients in an effort to reduce their smoke exposure and to potentially …
What with elevated PSA’s that do not show prostate cancer, the increased risk of infection from the prostate biopsies, and the question of ‘overdiagnosis’ of mild disease that does not require treatment…the entire PSA issue has become increasingly unclear. Into that mix, steps the latest study from the NCI (National Cancer Institute). This study of …
A new study in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) found that people who take in their extra calories as protein (meat, eggs, nuts) gain as much weight as those who take in those calories as starches, but they gain less body fat. This supports the idea that more starches and sugars (soda, potatos, …
Read More “LOW PROTEIN DIET IS BETTER…EVEN IF IT CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN”
Sexually transmitted Herpes 2 is a common infection. It can be treated and suppressed with medication, but an effective vaccine would be a boon. A recent vaccine study looked at vaccination in preventing HSV-1 “oral” herpes, and HSV 2 “sexual” herpes (although either can be oral or sexual, we tend to refer to them in …
This week’s Lancet Journal (from England) has an important study supporting the use of aspirin in preventing colon cancer. Aspirin at 600mg daily (equivalent of 2 full dose pills) yielded a significant reduction in colon cancers in patients with Lynch Syndrome (a genetic predisposition to colon cancer). Although not clearly applicable to other patients with …
Read More “MORE POSITIVE DATA IN FAVOR OF ASPIRIN FOR COLON CANCER”
New metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-ceramic hip joints have been criticized of late, particularly with the meta-on-metal hips causing metal to leak into surrounding tissues and the bloodstream, resulting in pain and questionable metal toxicity. Revisions are needed in some cases and this has been an unanticipated consequence of this new technology, as report in the New …
Read More “NEW JOINTS NO BETTER (AND PERHAPS WORSE) THAN OLD JOINTS”
With increasing concerns about the costs of medical care and the desire to lower costs, look for less and less coverage of physical therapy treatment regimens. The latest study from the Annals of Internal Medicine compared: Chiropractic care, medication regimens, and home exercise regimens for treatment of acute musculoskeletal neck pain. In this study…..Chiropractic care …
Read More “HOME EXERCISE TREATMENT…COMING TO AN INSURANCE PLAN NEAR YOU!”
Although we’ve not seen this in Arizona, the FDA has listed Adderall and Ritalin as medications in ‘short supply’. Widely prescribed to enhance focus and concentration, these medications are running afoul of FDA efforts to prevent abuse of these medications. I’ve not seen anyone have a problem getting their prescriptions filled, but we will see …
Compliance is the term doctor’s use to mean ‘adherence’ to a medication regimen. Compliance is critical to gaining the benefits from medication because clearly, you can only benefit from a medication if you take it. An interesting study of Compliance with breast cancer prevention medications called Aromatase Inhibitors (Aromasin/Arimidex), only 80% of patients took their …
Read More “COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICATIONS REMAINS CRITICAL…EVEN FOR CANCER PATIENTS”
Colorado is showing regional outbreaks of Influenza. This is the most in the nation currently and is the level just below ‘widespread’…the most that we register as regards flu outbreak. Do look for more cases in the near future given it’s proximity to AZ.
NASH,NonAlcoholic SteatoHepatitis, is a condition also called ‘fatty liver’, in which the liver shows excess fat within the cells. This abnormal situation is generally the result of being overweight, obese, or a defect in the person’s metabolism (Syndrome X, etc..) That NASH is abnormal, is definitely true, that NASH might be harmful, is completely uncertain. …
Statin medications, like Lipitor, Zocor, and Crestor, have been shown in some studies to prevent infection or death from serious infection. This has been one of the ‘added’ benefits I’ve touted for people who were ‘on the fence’ about trying these medications to treat their cholesterol. Unfortunately, in this large study reviewing the history of …