In Depth Study Reveals Drug Increases Risk Of Death
Rockland, Maryland- The results are in and it doesn’t look good for the Anti Bleeding Drug Trasylol, which has now been linked with increased numbers of deaths for patients who had the drug during surgery.
In a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, the drug Trasylol was found to show that patients that received the medication during heart surgery were much more likely to suffer complications and even death than others who were not given Trasylol.
The maker of the drug, Bayer AG has not yet decided what to do about the drug, and wants to wait for the results and full details of the Canadian study, but it does not look good for the drug’s future. There are many lawsuits currently pending against Bayer that claim that Trasylol causes excessive death and that the Bayer company hid this from patients. (more…)
Effects Described In Detail For Panel Of Senators
Washington, D.C.- In a rare glimpse into the lives of some of the most mighty and the most humble, families of Alzheimer’s patients spoke before a panel of seven United States Senators, including some of the families of the Senator’s themselves.
One of the witnesses who came to address the panel was of the most august type, former Supreme Court Judge Sandra Day O’Connor came to speak eloquently about her own experiences with her husband John, who is suffering from advanced stage Alzheimer’s.
“He is not in good shape at the present time,” said Former Justice O’Connor, in regard to her husband. The Former Justice also spoke passionately about support for research and for families of people with Alzheimer’s. (more…)
Toronto Researchers Find Some Hard Pressed To Deny Sugar
Toronto- In one of the latest revelations in the fight against all things sweet researchers in Toronto have discovered the cause for sugar related cravings may be found in a persons individual DNA.
The variation of a particular gene sequence may be the culprit for how some people are able to sense certain sugars more adeptly than other people. For these people, sugar cravings are similar to having them hard-wired in their body.
Ongoing research suggests that this gene may be as common as one in every five people, but the new research indicates it is a fairly common variant. It may also control the person’s tendency to develop or have diabetes later in life.
“The function of the gene involved acts as a type of glucose sensor for the brain, and it affects the food intake and appetite,” said Dr. Ahmed El-Sohemy, the principal researcher and study author. (more…)
Hand Foot And Mouth Virus Persists In Claiming Additional Lives
Beijing, China- There are additional reported deaths coming in to Chinese authorities in Xinhua and Beijing from the outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth virus that is sweeping the Chinese countryside.
The virus has caused nearly 25 thousand children to become ill along the length of the Chinese mainland, and has resulted in 42 deaths so far. All of the patients who have perished from the disease have been children.
The virus is a variation of the enterovirus 71, one of the most common types of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Virus. (more…)
New York - Many radiologists encourage women to have ultrasound exams when their breasts are radiographically dense, or hard to examine on a mammogram.
A study in the current issue of JAMA reveals the pluses and minuses of that approach.
The investigators enrolled more than 2800 women, all of whom were at a somewhat increased risk of breast cancer and had dense areas in at least one breast.
The women then had mammograms and ultrasound exams.
Adding the ultrasound exam increased the number of breast cancer cases detected, and the researchers estimated that for every 1,000 women who had an ultrasound in these circumstances, another 1.1 to 7.2 cancer cases would be detected.
“Mammograms saw only half of the breast cancers that were present. If we added ultrasound to mammography, we saw 78 percent of the cancers,” said Dr. Wendie Berg of American Radiology Services at Johns Hopkins at Green Spring Station in Lutherville, Md., speaking to the New York Times.
On the down side, the number of false alarms–that is, the number of “things” that turned up on the screening exam, were biopsied, and found to be noncancerous–quadrupled.
Speaking to WebMD, Dr. Berg concluded: “The detection benefit of a single screening ultrasound in women at elevated risk of breast cancer is now well validated, but the high false positive rate and the lack of screening ultrasound for breast cancer will likely limit its role as a screening tool. There is a shortage of trained personnel, so if everybody decided tomorrow to use ultrasound to screen for breast cancer, that couldn’t happen.”
New Hearing In Federal Claims Court Regarding Vaccine Additive
Washington, D.C.- The claims that an additive in a childhood vaccine may have caused Autism was heard in the Federal Claims Court in Washington D.C. on Monday.
At issue is whether an additive to some childhood vaccines, Thimerosal, was responsible for nearly 4,800 cases of childhood Autism. Thimerosal contains mercury, and it is alleged to have damaged brains in many of the children who received vaccines containing Thimerosal.
Every medical and major scientific study on the subject has found no causal or conclusive link between the cases of Autism and anyone who had a childhood vaccine with Thimerosal, but many parents and caregivers of the 4,800 children believe it to be responsible for their children’s autism. (more…)
Deep Vein Thrombosis And Complications Increased By Dirty Air
Italy- In a cooperative study done between researchers in Italy and scientists from Harvard University evidence has been uncovered which gives support to a link between blood clots and air pollution.
The level of air pollution, even at levels deemed “acceptable,” by the EPA can increase the risk to patients of deep vein thrombosis, or clotting in the veins. (more…)
Manufacturers To Boost Production For 2009
Washington, D.C.- After a lot of different inefficiencies have come to light with production of influenza vaccine this year, the manufacturers of the five different influenza vaccines have announced plans to do better next year.
The top five makers have announced that they will make a new record amount of influenza vaccine for 2009, as much as 143 million doses.
That would entail manufacturing more then 3 million doses more than was produced for 2008. It is rather hard to explain, as the request for the number of flu vaccine doses may fall because the vaccine was only about 44 percent effective this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention out of Atlanta Georgia. (more…)
Government Says Use Lowers Self Esteem And Well Being Worsened
Washington, D. C.- The National Drug Control Policy Office housed in the White House sent out a message for anyone who is using marijuana, especially teenaged users: “ It’s a bad combination.”
John Walters, who is the Office of National Drug Control Policy Director spoke out on the issue at a meeting with the media, to illustrate the issues on teens and Marijuana usage.
“Our report shows that nearly a dozen medical studies about mental health and marijuana use show that teenagers who are depressed try to self medicate and take marijuana, and it makes the condition worse,” said Director Waters. (more…)
New Study Reveals More Than Half Endure Chronic Condition
Washington, D.C.- A little more than half of the 20.6 million people in the United States who have Diabetes in any form suffer from Arthritis.
A new report in the May 9th edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly reveals that if you are physically active you will be at a greater chance of controlling both diseases both because of the way that exercise helps reduce blood sugar and in reduction of joint pains.
The precise cause that links the two diseases together is not known, but one theory is that both conditions are affiliated with obesity, and that they may tie together that way. (more…)