The NIH (National Institutes of Health) Hospitals have reported the seventh case of a patient death from a superbug. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nih-superbug-claims-7th-victim/2012/09/14/09b3742e-fe9b-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html This infectious germ, a highly resistant form of Klebsiella pneumonia, has been an ongoing issue for the NIH hospitals for the past year or two, but they had thought they eradicated it. Now, another case …
Meta Analysis is a term that refers to a study that develops conclusions by combining the data and results from several studies. By employing statistical methods that are valid, the researchers essentially create new conclusions from a variety of data from different studies. The recent study of Omega-3 Fatty Acids is one such study. This …
A recent study of 6000 men with localized prostate cancer demonstrated a marked reduction in cancer recurrence with the use of aspirin. A 57% reduction in recurrence was noted. This simple measure is worth employing in anyone with a history of prostate cancer, so tell someone you know who has had either surgery or xray …
I was just watching a rerun of the new Start Trek movie and I noticed that the ‘new’ version of Mr. Spock, although thin, appears to be fatter than the original version of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). The reason I find this interesting as that the new Mr. Spock, taken on his own merits, does …
Type 2 diabetes is due to a relative lack of insulin effect, which is often connected to an individuals weight. We all know that being overweight is a risk for developing diabetes and that losing weight, therefore, should prevent the development of diabetes. In a large study from Sweden, recently published in the New England …
The CDC just released recommendations for Hepatitis C screening for people in the US born during the above years. There is a 3% risk of such ‘hidden’ infection in the US population, and identification and management of risk and treatment is now recommended, as a one time screening test offers the posibility of identifying such …
A new study of 100,000 patients shows a small, but significant reduction in cancer in patients who take daily aspirin. There was a 16% reduction in aspirin-takers…..mostly affecting colon and intestinal tract cancers, liver cancer, and bladder cancer. This benefit is statistically small, but fits in with the larger picture for aspirin as a beneficial …
This past week the FDA approved a lower-volume colonoscopy preparation called PREPOPIK (funny name.) The Baltimore Sun on-line reports: Prepopik is a combination of sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide and anhydrous citric acid with an orange flavoring. It is taken in two doses: either both doses the day before the colonoscopy or one dose the day …
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of childhood and adolesence, affecting children from 3 months to the teen years. It causes a severe cough and fever and can be very persistent and aggressive in the very young. In adults, it tends to cause milder infection with the hallmark of a persistent …
Calcium Citrate (Brand CITRICAL) is my choice for calcium supplementation in those who need additional calcium for their bones. The reasons I like this brand are: 1. The various forms that are available, from once-daily to smaller pills for those with difficulty swallowing 2. Calcium Citrate is better absorbed that Calcium Carbonate and is generally …
Dr. Eric Reiman is a noted researcher specializing in brain imaging. His pioneering studies at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute http://banneralz.org/ are providing insight into patients with the earliest stages of memory loss and Alzheimer’s. This is a great update on the latest information about Alzheimer’s Disease and what we can expect in the future. Sobering …
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 …
Coffee is one of those beverages that have detractors and supporters, but one issue has been put to rest….and that is the safety of coffee. A recent NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine) article demonstrated that people who ingested high levels of coffee (over 6 cups per day) had lower risk of dying that those …
