Blood That Has Sat For Two Weeks Is Problematic
Boston- Many times patients that undergo routine heart surgery receive blood that has been stored or refrigerated for two weeks or longer. In a new study that is being released today, blood that has sat for 14 days or longer is being linked to risks of kidney failure, increased infection, and in some cases even death.
The New England Journal of Medicine is reporting that the critical factor in many surgeries appears to be the age of the donated blood. This single factor may be more critical than anyone had realized previously.
“It appears to have a limited shelf life, similar to meat or produce,” said Dr. Colleen Gorman Koch. Dr. Koch was the director of the research conducted at the Cleveland Clinic.
The findings of this study shows the need to boost the blood stockpile, and to minimize transfusions, and to work to keep the blood supply as fresh and new as possible. Federal rules currently in place say that blood can be stored for as many as six weeks before it must be discarded. (more…)
Merck Announces It Is Seeking Approval For Expansion
New York- The makers of Gardasil, a medication which is approved to fight human papillomavirus is seeking to have its usage expanded.
Merck and Company is saying that the Food and Drug Administration will render a verdict in the next six months regarding its request to expand the use of its mainstay medication. Gardasil is currently approved for young women aged 9 years of age to 26 years of age.
It is one of the top products for Merck and Co, and its sales topped $1.5 billion dollars last year.
Human Papillomavirus, or HPV is a disease that has been found to cause cervical cancer later on in life. It is successfully fought by using Gardasil. Merck is seeking permission to use Gardasil in women older then 26 years of age. (more…)
Los Angeles - The American Idol results show on Wednesday night named the final 10 contestants who will be going on the Idol tour, while sending one home. It also featured a performance from Kellie Pickler.
Former Idol contestant and country music star Kellie Picker arrived on the scene Wednesday night to perform “Red High Heels” on the show.
They also spoke about Idol Gives Back, stating that the money helped over 8 million people. Eliot Yamin and Fantasia were shown helping out. (more…)
Kingston - The McGuinty government is hoping to save lives and reduce green-house gas emissions with a plan to limit the speed of large trucks.
The transportation minister has introduced legislation that will make speed limiting systems mandatory in large commercial vehicles. If passed, the legislation will require that all large trucks have a built-in electronic device that would limit its speed to 105 kilometres per hour.
“The vast majority of large trucks built within the last decade are already equipped with this technology. This legislation would require that these devices be activated on Ontario’s roads,” said Tranportation minister Jim Bradley.
Bradley says speed is a factor in almost 23 percent of truck crashes, he feels speed limiters will help reduce that number and severity of collisions. It will also lead to reduced fuel consumption and reduced green house gas emissions.
Los Angeles - “Sex and the City” star Kristin Davis is rumored to have a sex tape. And everyone loves a good sex tape, right?
A picture from the Kristin Davis sex tape is circulating, but honestly, can you be sure it’s her?
Of course, it’s hard to imagine sweet little Charlotte York from “Sex and the City” in a sex tape but stanger things have happened.
Of course, Kristin is not the first celebrity wrapped up in a sex tape scandal. (more…)
Los Angeles - Just fresh out of prison, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis initially wanted to pay Ashley Alexandra Dupre $1 million to host his 2008 Girls Gone Wild Spring Break Tour and pose for his new GGW magazine.
But Joe Francis wisely withdrew that costly offer when someone tipped him off to the fact Ashley Alexandra Dupre appeared in a 2003 “Girls Gone Wild” Spring Break production aboard the “GGW” bus during an entire week in Miami celebrating her 18th birthday. (more…)
Los Angeles - 2001 Oscar best-actress Halle Berry gave birth to a 7-pound, 4-ounces baby girl last Sunday morning in Los Angeles. Their little baby girl was named Nahla Ariela Aubry which is an Arabic-based name that means, “drink of water.” The name was apparently a last-minute decision for the happy parents, who met in November 2005 while shooting a Versace ad together.
“We didn’t have a name picked out until just before we left the hospital,” the actress reveals to “Access Hollywood.” “For us, it was hard to name the most important person in our life until we met her.” she added.
This is Halle Berry’s at the age of 41, first baby. The father is 32-year-old model Gabriel Aubry, whom she met two years ago while shooting a Versace ad in Los Angeles. (more…)
Federal Government Assesses Blame
Edmonton- The Federal Government has taken a fair amount of time in its investigation of the Wabamun Lake Oil spill and disaster, and received a lot of criticism for its delay. But now the Federal government has decided on three charges against rail company CN, after a long investigation.
In August of 2005 there was a train derailment at Wabamum Lake that resulted in thousands of litres of oil being spilled out. The actual amount of oil was somewhere in the hundreds of thousands of litres. (more…)
Mexican Official Says Original Arrest Was Invalid
Edmonton- The woman that has been held in Mexico for over 24 months was not arrested legally, and her detention could have been voided within 72 hours. This was the word from a Mexican Senior Federal Justice Official.
According to the Mexican Senior Official, there were a number of blunders, both on the part of the Mexican authorities, and the Canadian Consulate. The Canadian Consulate did not represent Brenda Martin in the proper way, and the actions of the Mexican Attorney General’s Department were also inept and wrong.
What has resulted is a mess that is very tangled and confusing, and the only apparent swift way out of prison for Brenda Martin may be from a pardon from the President of Mexico.
“I think that no one wants to find her guilty, but there have been so many screw ups that the case is very fouled up,” said the Senior Mexican Federal Official, speaking through an interpreter. The official spoke without giving his name for fear of reprisal.
Brenda Martin has been in jail since February of 2006, and is charged with criminal conspiracy and money laundering. She was employed in the town of Puerto Vallarta as a cook for a Canadian man, Alyn Waage. Mr. Waage posed as a rich investor and ran a large Internet fraud, bilking as much as $60 million dollars from investors.
Waage is currently serving a 10-year sentence in a North Carolina prison. Martin does not appear to have any connection to Waage, but despite this she was arrested in 2006, nearly five years after she had stopped working for Waage.
New York – Sometimes Doctors are baffled when young, otherwise healthy students present with reports of chest pain. There appears to be no reason for their pain, and they seem to be in otherwise excellent health. Well, in a report issued on Monday from the American Heart Association, sometimes the culprit can be simple: Drug Use — in particular, Cocaine.
Many doctors see a young healthy vibrant patient and no other evidence of drug use and they automatically discount the possibility of any illicit drug use. But the truth maybe more complicated, according to the AHA. (more…)