Source:  BBC Health; Lancet

Okay, not nearly as catchy sounding as Jews for Jesus, but still.  Researchers in the US (because where else are you going to find enough overweight people to do a study?) following approximately 3,000 overweight individuals for 3 years have concluded that a healthy diet with moderate exercise can put off the risk of Type 2 diabetes by as much as 58%. Not as shocking as this, research results also suggests that the risk of developing diabetes can be put off for around 10 years!

Oh and by the way, a healthy diet (defined as aimed to achieve 7% weight loss) and one half hour of exercise 5 days a week were more determinative in reducing the risk than the group taking metaformin (a common diabetes drug).  Nature vs. nurture all over again.

~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

Source:  Cancer Research UK

The UK (that’s the United Kingdom or Great Britain for the slower ones) where, largely due to prior colonial influence, one can still get a really good curry take out has some interesting news.

An extract of tumeric (the yellow spice in curry) called curcumin has shown promise in killing of cancer cells. A research team from Cork (Google it) has found that within 24 hours curcumin began killing cells containing cancer.

This follows an earlier study (2006) by University of Arizona researchers which found that curcumin had an anti-inflammatory effect on osteoarthritis sufferers. Those researchers posited that tumeric compounds may have application to other inflammatory disorders including asthma, Multiple Sclerosis and in a moment of pure irony -IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

So can you get the same effect from your local curry house? Probably not at this point, but interesting stuff, notwithstanding, no?

~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

Source: Canadian Cardiovascular Conference

The latest research presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Conference (that odd area between the Continental US and Alaska) suggests that there are no gender differences in symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI or Heart Attack).

The classic signs, so called Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) are: chest pain; throat, jaw and neck pain; shortness of breath; nausea; sweating; and, a sense of dread or fear. An earlier US study in 2003 had offered that women may not experience chest pain or other “hallmarks” of impending heart attack.

The study, which was performed by inducing symptoms during angioplasty and recording patients symptoms (Yes, that does sound like an inherently bad idea) was performed on a population of 305 patients.  245 or (85%) of them experienced ischemia, a decrease in vascular blood flow in conjunction with the angioplasty procedure.

Women do tend to verbalize their pain more (shocking, I know) and described their symptoms differently from men.  However, end result, symptoms are the same regardless of gender.

~Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

Source: United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Update

The FDA is warning consumers of the potential H1N1 (Piggy Flu) scams and harms on…ready for this? The Internet.  Shocking, I know.  Long held as the repository of all things true and accurate, the internet has apparently been infiltrated by scam artists and snake oil salesmen. (Yes, that’s sarcasm).

So the FDA is “urging caution” regarding such products as: Shampoos that are said to protect against the H1N1 virus; a dietary supplement to protect children from the dreaded swine flu; an ionic silver “spray” to coat one’s hands with antiviral powers; and a machine which uses “photobiotic energy” and “deeply penetrating mega-frequency life-force energy waves” (No, I did NOT make that up) to strengthen the immune system against H1N1.

The FDA stresses that it has only approved two products, Tamiflu and Relenza, two antiviral drugs specifically designed to address the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Proving once again that despite Al Gore’s brilliant invention, the internet is not always all it’s cracked up to be.  Be careful out there kids.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire.

Source:  US Department of Justice Press Release

United States Federal Prosecutors have been directed to stop marijuana-related prosecutions in the current States (14 of them) in which the medical use of marijuana has been “legalized.”

The Federal Government has wisely (legally speaking anyway) decided that it is antithetical and a waste of funding to interfere with State Legislation on the issue.  Since most of you are dying to know, the States which currently permit medical usage of marijuana are: Alaska; California; Colorado; Hawaii; Maine; Michigan; Montana; Nevada; New Mexico; Oregon; Rhode Island; Vermont; and Washington.

Yes that’s 13. The 14th, Maryland, merely permits reduced possession penalties for those using the drug for a medical purpose.  In the words of Bob Marley, “Legalize it. No, don’t criticize it.”  And in the words of former President Bill Clinton, “Don’t inhale.”

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire.

Source:  Wall Street Journal Health Blog

Apart from the potential harm to patients, antibiotic resistant infections (MRSA and VRE are two big ones) cost hospitals money.  How much money? A lot apparently.

Research published in the journal Clinical Infectious Disease and a gathered from a Cook County, IL hospital suggests that antibiotic resistant infections cost an additional $18,588 to $29,069 per patient. This represents an average of 6 to 13 additional days in the hospital and carries a death rate 6.5% higher than for patients with infections responsive to antibiotic treatment.

The United States Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) continued its warnings that repeated and unnecessary use of antibiotics leads to increase in drug resistant organisms. A prime example of unnecessary use would be the pediatrician who frequently prescribes an antibiotic for your child who has a cold.*

*(Colds are caused by viral infections, not bacterial infections so the prescription would be useless, subject your child to the risks of medication needlessly and increase the likelihood that your child could become intolerant to that antibiotic in the future while assuring the mutation of bacteria to gain greater resistance).  Know you know.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

Source: US Food & Drug Safety Administration (FDA) and The Wall Street Journal

The FDA just announced a potential patient safety issue with perfusion CT imaging of the head.  The issue? overexposure to dangerous levels of radiation.  Where is this test most prominent?  For imaging to diagnose stroke and to determine treatment for stroke.

Over an 18 month period, 206 patients at an unidentified hospital received radiation doses 8x the level expected. The maximum recommended dosage for the head is 0.5 Gy.  Patients in the investigation received 3-4 Gy.  So what’s a little hair loss and erythema (redness of the skin), right?

Well the Wall Street Journal was kind enough to “out” the facility under investigation as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA.  According to a spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai, there was a “misunderstanding about an embedded default setting.” No sh*t, Sherlock.

The reason any of this matters to you? One, it proves that even we trial lawyers are correct about medical errors every once in a while. Two, the FDA has suggested that the incident, “May reflect more widespread problems with CT quality assurance programs and may not be isolated to this particular facility or this imaging procedure.” Government speak for, “OMG! WTF?!”

According to their official statement, the FDA is, “Working with the parties involved to gather more data about the situation and to understand its potential public health impact.”

Oh good. I feel safer already.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire

Source:  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; BBC Health

A study of more than 1,000 children in the UK, leads researchers to conclude that a fairly common genetic variant Arg16, alters the efficacy (the chance that it will work) of salbutamol, found in many rescue inhalers. 70% of children with the gene experienced asthma attacks unaided by their rescue inhaler vs. 45% of children without the gene.

Testing for the gene is easily performed using a simple mouthwash.

Parents of children with asthma who take medication are advised to monitor their child’s use of their rescue inhaler.  If there is an increase in frequency then perhaps testing is in order.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esquire