Almost one percent of American children had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large CDC surveillance study whose lead author called the condition a "significant public health issue."
Across 11 sites in the U.S., ASD prevalence in 2006 ranged from about one out of 80 children to one out of every 240 children, with an overall prevalence of one in 111 youngsters, according to a report by investigators from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
Among 10 ADDM sites that reported data in both 2002 and 2006, there was an average 57% increase in ASD prevalence. No single factor could explain the rise, researchers said. Overall ASD prevalence was 4.5 times higher in boys than in girls: about one in every 70 boys and one in every 315 girls.
From 2002 to 2006, prevalence increased 60% in boys and 48% in girls (P<0.001 for both).
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children be screened for autism when they are 18 and 24 months old which is especially important, as early recognition and treatment improves outcomes.
ASD diagnosis was made at a slightly younger age in 2006 than in 2002, but it was still delayed to an average age of 53 months. That was so despite the fact that anywhere from 70% to 95% of children had developmental concerns noted in their records before age 3. Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Showing posts with label health insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health insurance. Show all posts
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Autism increases in the US
Almost one percent of American children had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large CDC surveillance study whose lead author called the condition a "significant public health issue."
Across 11 sites in the U.S., ASD prevalence in 2006 ranged from about one out of 80 children to one out of every 240 children, with an overall prevalence of one in 111 youngsters, according to a report by investigators from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
Among 10 ADDM sites that reported data in both 2002 and 2006, there was an average 57% increase in ASD prevalence. No single factor could explain the rise, researchers said. Overall ASD prevalence was 4.5 times higher in boys than in girls: about one in every 70 boys and one in every 315 girls.
From 2002 to 2006, prevalence increased 60% in boys and 48% in girls (P<0.001 for both).
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children be screened for autism when they are 18 and 24 months old which is especially important, as early recognition and treatment improves outcomes.
ASD diagnosis was made at a slightly younger age in 2006 than in 2002, but it was still delayed to an average age of 53 months. That was so despite the fact that anywhere from 70% to 95% of children had developmental concerns noted in their records before age 3.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Across 11 sites in the U.S., ASD prevalence in 2006 ranged from about one out of 80 children to one out of every 240 children, with an overall prevalence of one in 111 youngsters, according to a report by investigators from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring (ADDM) Network.
Among 10 ADDM sites that reported data in both 2002 and 2006, there was an average 57% increase in ASD prevalence. No single factor could explain the rise, researchers said. Overall ASD prevalence was 4.5 times higher in boys than in girls: about one in every 70 boys and one in every 315 girls.
From 2002 to 2006, prevalence increased 60% in boys and 48% in girls (P<0.001 for both).
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children be screened for autism when they are 18 and 24 months old which is especially important, as early recognition and treatment improves outcomes.
ASD diagnosis was made at a slightly younger age in 2006 than in 2002, but it was still delayed to an average age of 53 months. That was so despite the fact that anywhere from 70% to 95% of children had developmental concerns noted in their records before age 3.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, August 8, 2011
Cluster Headaches
Concerned about recent overdoses of radiation in CT perfusion scans, an FDA official urged imaging practitioners to go "back to basics" when they're performing the scans.
The advice comes after more than 250 patients in two states were exposed to excess radiation during CT perfusion brain scans.
"Until we get through whether we're dealing with errors that people are making (or) whether these are problems with the CT scanners themselves, we're saying go back to basics," said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Shuren and colleagues released a set of interim recommendations while the agency continues to investigate cases of overexposure reported in California and Alabama.
They include:
• Imaging facilities should review their radiation dosing protocols for all CT perfusion studies to ensure that dosing is correct for each study.
• They should implement quality control procedures to ensure that protocols are followed and correct radiation is used.
• For each patient, technologists should check the CT scanner displays to make sure the radiation to be delivered is appropriate.
• If more than one study is performed during one session, practitioners should adjust the radiation dose so it is appropriate for each study.
The agency also urged imaging facilities to check whether any patients who underwent CT perfusion scans have received excess radiation.
"We're reminding (practitioners) of good practices that they should be employing routinely," said Charles Finder, MD, also of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The issue arose when the FDA was told of more than 200 cases of excess radiation delivered during CT perfusion brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. (See CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident)
Since then, the agency has received reports of 14 cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, also in Los Angeles, as well as an undetermined number of cases at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to Simon Choi, PhD, also of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Choi said the the agency is investigating reports in Alabama, too, but he did not give numbers or the name of the facility involved.
The agency said scanners made by two manufacturers, GE and Toshiba, are involved in the incidents.
Affected patients had redness of the skin and some hair loss, but potential long-term consequences include an increased risk of cancer and cataracts, Finder said.
The standard radiation dose for a CT perfusion scan is between 0.5 and 1.0 Gray, but it was reported that some patients at Cedars-Sinai got as much as 3.0 or 4.0 Gray.
According to a statement from the hospital, "there was a misunderstanding about an embedded default setting applied by the machine."
The recommendations apply to all CT perfusion imaging, since the methods involved are the same as for brain perfusion scans, the FDA said.
While the agency is probing cases in the two states, Shuren said, "we would not be surprised to find there are similar occurrences in other states."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The advice comes after more than 250 patients in two states were exposed to excess radiation during CT perfusion brain scans.
"Until we get through whether we're dealing with errors that people are making (or) whether these are problems with the CT scanners themselves, we're saying go back to basics," said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Shuren and colleagues released a set of interim recommendations while the agency continues to investigate cases of overexposure reported in California and Alabama.
They include:
• Imaging facilities should review their radiation dosing protocols for all CT perfusion studies to ensure that dosing is correct for each study.
• They should implement quality control procedures to ensure that protocols are followed and correct radiation is used.
• For each patient, technologists should check the CT scanner displays to make sure the radiation to be delivered is appropriate.
• If more than one study is performed during one session, practitioners should adjust the radiation dose so it is appropriate for each study.
The agency also urged imaging facilities to check whether any patients who underwent CT perfusion scans have received excess radiation.
"We're reminding (practitioners) of good practices that they should be employing routinely," said Charles Finder, MD, also of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The issue arose when the FDA was told of more than 200 cases of excess radiation delivered during CT perfusion brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. (See CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident)
Since then, the agency has received reports of 14 cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, also in Los Angeles, as well as an undetermined number of cases at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to Simon Choi, PhD, also of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Choi said the the agency is investigating reports in Alabama, too, but he did not give numbers or the name of the facility involved.
The agency said scanners made by two manufacturers, GE and Toshiba, are involved in the incidents.
Affected patients had redness of the skin and some hair loss, but potential long-term consequences include an increased risk of cancer and cataracts, Finder said.
The standard radiation dose for a CT perfusion scan is between 0.5 and 1.0 Gray, but it was reported that some patients at Cedars-Sinai got as much as 3.0 or 4.0 Gray.
According to a statement from the hospital, "there was a misunderstanding about an embedded default setting applied by the machine."
The recommendations apply to all CT perfusion imaging, since the methods involved are the same as for brain perfusion scans, the FDA said.
While the agency is probing cases in the two states, Shuren said, "we would not be surprised to find there are similar occurrences in other states."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OF OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS
The FDA sent out a nationwide announcement about "the potential side effects of osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax [alendronate]." the agency "said in their announcement...physicians need to watch for the possibility of possible risk of femur fractures. And this didn't just apply to Fosamax, this applied to all four drugs that are in this group Fosamax, Actonel [risedronate], Boniva [ibandronate], and Reclast [zoledronic acid]."
Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."
The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."
The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Medical Malpractice Is Frequent On TV
According to the American Academy of Neurology Television dramas are potentially a powerful method of educating the public so it is a concern to find that TV shows inaccurate showed seizure management which would qualify for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is rife on the television medical shows with specifically nearly half of TV doctors and nurses committing seizure management errors. Researchers screened the popular medical dramas Grey's Anatomy, House, Private Practice and ER to see if TV medical dramas were helping to educate the public about first aid and seizures. The study found inappropriate practices occurred in 25 cases, or nearly 46 per cent of the incidents.
The researchers found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors.
"People with epilepsy should lobby the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures," the study’s lead author said.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The researchers found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors.
"People with epilepsy should lobby the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures," the study’s lead author said.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
RISKY HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE USE
H.G.H. is among the drugs prescribed some doctors to athletes.
The United States, however, determined that potential harm from H.G.H. is so great that federal law puts it in an unusual category of drugs that doctors cannot prescribe for unapproved, or off-label, uses. (No such ban exists in Canada.)
Its approved uses are not conditions common among professional athletes: it can be used in children with severe growth problems, H.I.V. patients may receive it if they have muscle wasting, and it can be prescribed to offset exceptional weight loss in people who have had much of their small intestine surgically removed.
Physicians and medical researchers who have studied people with medical conditions that lead to growth hormone overproduction said that available evidence suggested that athletes who cheat by using costly" human growth hormone (HGH) as a performance-enhancing drug may "simply wind up" exposing themselves to "cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon polyps, skin growths, excessive sweating," and "serious headaches," as well as "abnormal bone growth in the face, head, hands, and feet," and possibly even cancer.
Growth hormone does not act directly. Instead it prompts the body to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, or I.G.F.-1, which then triggers growth. The overwhelming majority of I.G.F.-1 is produced by the liver and delivered through the blood stream. Evidence shows, however, that growth hormone can prompt local I.G.F.-1 production in other cells of the body
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The United States, however, determined that potential harm from H.G.H. is so great that federal law puts it in an unusual category of drugs that doctors cannot prescribe for unapproved, or off-label, uses. (No such ban exists in Canada.)
Its approved uses are not conditions common among professional athletes: it can be used in children with severe growth problems, H.I.V. patients may receive it if they have muscle wasting, and it can be prescribed to offset exceptional weight loss in people who have had much of their small intestine surgically removed.
Physicians and medical researchers who have studied people with medical conditions that lead to growth hormone overproduction said that available evidence suggested that athletes who cheat by using costly" human growth hormone (HGH) as a performance-enhancing drug may "simply wind up" exposing themselves to "cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon polyps, skin growths, excessive sweating," and "serious headaches," as well as "abnormal bone growth in the face, head, hands, and feet," and possibly even cancer.
Growth hormone does not act directly. Instead it prompts the body to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, or I.G.F.-1, which then triggers growth. The overwhelming majority of I.G.F.-1 is produced by the liver and delivered through the blood stream. Evidence shows, however, that growth hormone can prompt local I.G.F.-1 production in other cells of the body
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Stuttering may have "strong" genetic component
While environmental factors and stress can play roles in stuttering, new research provides further evidence of a strong genetic component." Led by geneticist Dennis Drayna, PhD, at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers "have discovered the first genes linked to stuttering -- a complex of three mutated genes that may be responsible for one in every 11 stuttering cases, especially in people of Asian descent." "The takeaway message of this is stuttering is not a social or emotional disorder. ... It is not the fault of a bad parent, or unwilling child. It is a serious disorder and worthy of treatment."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hospitals Continue To Leave Foreign Objects Inside Patients
"Utah hospitals continue to mistakenly leave equipment such as sponges inside patients -- many of them women undergoing obstetrical or gynecological surgeries," according to data "on 'sentinel events'" released by the Utah state health department and the state hospital association. Notably, "out of 101 sentinel events reported in 2009 -- up from 80 reported in 2008 -- 58 were related to surgery," which "could include performing the wrong surgery on the wrong patient, death during surgery, and retention of foreign objects." Sponges -- large pieces of gauze used to stop or absorb bleeding -- are the most common items left inside patients because they can be hard to spot after surgery."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Gastric distress-related ED visits may increase during the holidays
At hospitals, gastric distress is a part of the holiday tradition." Indeed, "in the early hours of Thanksgiving...emergency rooms are typically empty," but certain turkey-cooking practices "can easily strike a blow" to diners. Typically, a frozen turkey is left on a countertop for 12 hours, while a roasted bird may sit "for two or three hours before" reaching the table. "During that time, a virus or bacterium can land on the food and start growing," causing gastroenteritis. "Although bacteria will die" once the bird is reheated, "the toxins made by the bacteria that cause illness can survive even in a hot oven." Bones have also been known to trigger "trips to the hospital," and those "with heart conditions should avoid too much salt, which can trigger an accumulation of fluid in the lungs."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Small study indicates paroxetine may damage men's sperm, impair their fertility
Add anti-depressants to the list of substances that can damage men’s sperm and potentially impair their fertility.
According to a study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility, antidepressants may "damage men's sperm and potentially impair their fertility." For the study, researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College "followed 35 healthy men who took paroxetine for five weeks." The investigators then performed tests "to examine DNA fragmentation, which occurs when sperm DNA is missing pieces of the genetic code. The results showed that 50 percent of men had signs of abnormal DNA fragmentation while taking the drug, compared with less than 10 percent at the start of the trial." Following discontinuation of the drug, "the men's sperm returned to normal." The authors theorized that the "antidepressant caused men's sperm to slow down as it makes its way through the male reproductive tract," thereby "allowing it to age and become damaged."
“It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
“Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. The amount, concentration and motility of sperm were not significantly changed by the medication.
Though men may not know it, sperm can be damaged by various substances, including smoking, alcohol, heat, anabolic steroids, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and some environmental exposures.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
According to a study published online in the journal Fertility & Sterility, antidepressants may "damage men's sperm and potentially impair their fertility." For the study, researchers from the Weill Cornell Medical College "followed 35 healthy men who took paroxetine for five weeks." The investigators then performed tests "to examine DNA fragmentation, which occurs when sperm DNA is missing pieces of the genetic code. The results showed that 50 percent of men had signs of abnormal DNA fragmentation while taking the drug, compared with less than 10 percent at the start of the trial." Following discontinuation of the drug, "the men's sperm returned to normal." The authors theorized that the "antidepressant caused men's sperm to slow down as it makes its way through the male reproductive tract," thereby "allowing it to age and become damaged."
“It’s fairly well known that SSRI anti-depressants negatively impact erectile function and ejaculation. This study goes on step further, demonstrating that they can cause a major increase in genetic damage to sperm,” said Dr. Peter Schlegel, the study’s senior author and professor of reproductive medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
“Although this study doesn’t look directly at fertility, we can infer that as many as half of men taking SSRIs have a reduced ability to conceive. The amount, concentration and motility of sperm were not significantly changed by the medication.
Though men may not know it, sperm can be damaged by various substances, including smoking, alcohol, heat, anabolic steroids, drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and some environmental exposures.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Study indicates top medical journals published significant number of ghostwritten articles
"Six of the top medical journals published a significant number of articles in 2008 that were written by ghostwriters financed by drug companies," according to a study in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The findings are of "concern" because "the work of industry-sponsored writers has the potential to introduce bias, affecting treatment decisions by doctors and, ultimately, patient care," the researchers said. The study included "authors of 630 articles who responded anonymously to an online questionnaire." Researchers found that "7.8 percent acknowledged contributions to their articles by people whose work should have qualified them to be named as authors on the papers but who were not listed."
The New England Journal of Medicine had "the highest rate of ghostwritten articles" at 10.9 percent, while "Nature Medicine had the lowest rate of unnamed writers, at two percent." Annette Flanagin, managing deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said that with ghostwriters, "you lose transparency and potential accountability." She added, "Why would they be ghosted if they didn't have an agenda?"
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The New England Journal of Medicine had "the highest rate of ghostwritten articles" at 10.9 percent, while "Nature Medicine had the lowest rate of unnamed writers, at two percent." Annette Flanagin, managing deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, said that with ghostwriters, "you lose transparency and potential accountability." She added, "Why would they be ghosted if they didn't have an agenda?"
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Survey suggests fatigued, stressed hospital residents report making more major medical errors.
"Internal medicine residents who report higher levels of fatigue, sleepiness, and distress are at greater risk for reporting major medical errors," according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers issued questionnaires to residents who had enrolled in a "Mayo Internal Medicine Well-being Study between July 2003 and February 2009."
Among the "356 participants, 139 (39 percent) reported making at least one major medical error." Of those who reported an error, "68.7 percent screened positive for depression at some point during the study." The researchers also found that "one-point increases on the fatigue and sleepiness scales were associated with 14-percent and 10-percent increased likelihoods of an error being reported during the subsequent three months."
Other factors associated with subsequent error were "burnout, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, lower personal accomplishment, a positive depression screen," and overall quality of life. The study authors concluded that "in addition to the national efforts to reduce fatigue and sleepiness, well-designed interventions to prevent, identify, and treat distress among physicians are needed." Still, they stressed that "additional research is necessary to determine the most effective strategies for accomplishing these goals."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Among the "356 participants, 139 (39 percent) reported making at least one major medical error." Of those who reported an error, "68.7 percent screened positive for depression at some point during the study." The researchers also found that "one-point increases on the fatigue and sleepiness scales were associated with 14-percent and 10-percent increased likelihoods of an error being reported during the subsequent three months."
Other factors associated with subsequent error were "burnout, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, lower personal accomplishment, a positive depression screen," and overall quality of life. The study authors concluded that "in addition to the national efforts to reduce fatigue and sleepiness, well-designed interventions to prevent, identify, and treat distress among physicians are needed." Still, they stressed that "additional research is necessary to determine the most effective strategies for accomplishing these goals."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Thursday, October 28, 2010
CT scans may diagnose heart attacks faster than standard tests.
A rapid CT scan of the heart may provide doctors with a more efficient way to diagnose blocked arteries in people complaining of chest pain," according to research reported at the American Heart Association meeting. In "a study of 701 patients," researchers found that CT angiography "cuts in half the time it usually takes for a doctor to detect a blockage in an artery supplying the heart."
The procedure also provides a "cheaper way to diagnose a heart attack when someone goes to the" emergency department (ED) with chest pains. The study showed that CT scan patients' testing cost "$2,137 on average versus $3,458 for standard screening."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
The procedure also provides a "cheaper way to diagnose a heart attack when someone goes to the" emergency department (ED) with chest pains. The study showed that CT scan patients' testing cost "$2,137 on average versus $3,458 for standard screening."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, October 15, 2010
Survey suggests more adults searching Internet for health information.
The number of adults who turn to the Internet for health information has nearly doubled in the past two years, from 31 percent to 60 percent," according to a study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Researchers surveyed "2,253 people by landline phone and 502 by cellphone." Ranking highest "as the source adults most often turn to for health information" was healthcare professionals at 86 percent, followed by "family and friends" at 68 percent. Notably, "about half of all online health searches are on behalf of someone else, and...59 percent of users who go to the Internet for health information have read blogs or online comments made by others." Yahoo's Web life editor, speculates that "many adults may turn to the Internet for health advice," because "unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible."
"Unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible in all of the spaces where we live and work," she says.
"People are becoming advocates for themselves as patients by researching illnesses and health care information through the vast resources of the Web."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
"Unlike the doctor's office, the Web is open 24/7, and it's increasingly accessible in all of the spaces where we live and work," she says.
"People are becoming advocates for themselves as patients by researching illnesses and health care information through the vast resources of the Web."
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
THE TWO OTHER INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES (IBD)
Most people know about the two most common idiopathic [cause not known] inflammatory bowel disorders—Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. There are also two other inflammatory bowel diseases that most people don’t know about.
That is collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy through a colonoscope. The treatment is a type of steroid called Budesonide.
Results of studies show that Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide. Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks.
Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again successfully with budesonide.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
That is collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. The diagnosis is made by biopsy through a colonoscope. The treatment is a type of steroid called Budesonide.
Results of studies show that Histologic remission was observed in 73% of patients given budesonide compared with 31% given placebo (P = .030). During a mean follow-up period of 14 months, 15 patients (44.1%) experienced a clinical relapse (after a mean of 2 months); 8 of the relapsing patients were retreated with and responded again to budesonide. Budesonide effectively induces clinical remission in patients with lymphocytic colitis and significantly improves histology results after 6 weeks.
Clinical relapses occur but can be treated again successfully with budesonide.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Monday, September 27, 2010
VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY DUE TO METFORMIN
Vitamin B12 deficiency due to metformin is a less common, but potentially severe complication that is often overlooked. Patients at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency include those taking more than 1,000 mg daily of metformin for three years or longer. Patients receiving metformin therapy should be monitored for signs and symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency such as megaloblastic anemia or peripheral neuropathies.
Also, advise patients on metformin to take a multivitamin with B12 and encourage them to get their recommended daily amount of calcium, although there's no proof this will prevent B12 deficiency.
While neuropathy can be related to hyperglycemia, vitamin B12 deficiency should be ruled out as a cause, especially in those patients with diabetes who are taking metformin.
In patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, supplemental oral vitamin B12 should be administered. Calcium supplementation to assure that the recommended daily allowance is being met can also be considered
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Also, advise patients on metformin to take a multivitamin with B12 and encourage them to get their recommended daily amount of calcium, although there's no proof this will prevent B12 deficiency.
While neuropathy can be related to hyperglycemia, vitamin B12 deficiency should be ruled out as a cause, especially in those patients with diabetes who are taking metformin.
In patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, supplemental oral vitamin B12 should be administered. Calcium supplementation to assure that the recommended daily allowance is being met can also be considered
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
10 Tips on Hemorrhoids
1.Hemorrhoids are masses of swollen veins in the lower rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or at the anus (external hemorrhoids).
2.Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:
Bright red rectal bleeding
Staining of undergarments with mucus
3.Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
Pain and itching when irritated by constipation or diarrhea
Difficulty with hygiene
4.Hemorrhoids are caused by:
Straining
Work strain (lifting, etc.)
Straining while defecating
Chronic constipation
Passing hard, dry, small stools
Laxative abuse
5.Do not assume rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids. See your doctor to rule out cancer or other disease.
6.To prevent or manage hemorrhoids, increase your fiber and fluid intake. Consider adding a fiber supplement.
7.Avoid straining at stool or sitting on the toilet for a long time.
8.Clean the external rectal area gently with soap and water following stool evacuation.
9.Try a topical cream or sitz baths to reduce inflammation.
10.See your doctor if you don't improve.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
2.Symptoms of internal hemorrhoids include:
Bright red rectal bleeding
Staining of undergarments with mucus
3.Symptoms of external hemorrhoids include:
Pain and itching when irritated by constipation or diarrhea
Difficulty with hygiene
4.Hemorrhoids are caused by:
Straining
Work strain (lifting, etc.)
Straining while defecating
Chronic constipation
Passing hard, dry, small stools
Laxative abuse
5.Do not assume rectal bleeding is from hemorrhoids. See your doctor to rule out cancer or other disease.
6.To prevent or manage hemorrhoids, increase your fiber and fluid intake. Consider adding a fiber supplement.
7.Avoid straining at stool or sitting on the toilet for a long time.
8.Clean the external rectal area gently with soap and water following stool evacuation.
9.Try a topical cream or sitz baths to reduce inflammation.
10.See your doctor if you don't improve.
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, July 16, 2010
6 Tips on Hepatitis
1.Five different hepatitis viruses have been identified: type A; type B; type C; type D, or delta virus; and type E. Type A is probably the most prevalent type of viral hepatitis worldwide, followed by types B, E, C, and D.
2.Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through fecally contaminated food or water. Other modes of transmission include needle sharing among intravenous drug abusers; sexual contact; maternal transmission; and transmission by blood transfusion.
3.A simple blood test is used to determine that a person has one or more of the different types of hepatitis.
4.Acute hepatitis is typically characterized by flu-like symptoms (including fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting) and jaundice. Chronic hepatitis is often asymptomatic.
5.Vaccines are available to protect against hepatitis A and B. Additionally, immune globulin for hepatitis A or hepatitis B is recommended when someone has been exposed to an infected person.
6.Among the ways to care for your liver are: limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding liver- damaging drugs; practicing safe sex; avoiding use of illegal drugs; avoiding high doses of vitamins unless prescribed; avoiding tattoos and the sharing of razors; not eating raw shellfish from questionable sources; and carefully following directions for use of toxic substances (e.g., cleaning products).
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
2.Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through fecally contaminated food or water. Other modes of transmission include needle sharing among intravenous drug abusers; sexual contact; maternal transmission; and transmission by blood transfusion.
3.A simple blood test is used to determine that a person has one or more of the different types of hepatitis.
4.Acute hepatitis is typically characterized by flu-like symptoms (including fever, headaches, fatigue, nausea and vomiting) and jaundice. Chronic hepatitis is often asymptomatic.
5.Vaccines are available to protect against hepatitis A and B. Additionally, immune globulin for hepatitis A or hepatitis B is recommended when someone has been exposed to an infected person.
6.Among the ways to care for your liver are: limiting alcohol consumption; avoiding liver- damaging drugs; practicing safe sex; avoiding use of illegal drugs; avoiding high doses of vitamins unless prescribed; avoiding tattoos and the sharing of razors; not eating raw shellfish from questionable sources; and carefully following directions for use of toxic substances (e.g., cleaning products).
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, June 18, 2010
People who suffer chronic pain may be at higher risk for falls.
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "people who suffer chronic pain may be at higher risk for falls." Researchers "followed more than 700 people over age 70" in the Boston area. "After 18 months," the investigators "found that people who said they felt pain in two or more joints in one month were 50 percent more likely to fall in the following month than people who did not report joint pain."
"Severe pain and pain that affected participants' ability to do daily activities also made falls more likely, the researchers found." Moreover, "having pain in one month made falling in the next month likely. People who reported severe pain in one month had a 77 percent increased risk of falling the next month," but "even people reporting very mild pain were more likely to fall the following month, the group found."
"Pain contributes to functional decline and muscle weakness, the researchers said, and it has been associated with mobility limitations that could predispose patients to falls." The study authors suggested that "paying closer attention to pain and falls 'could result in better health and help people to continue living actively and independently in the community.'"
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
"Severe pain and pain that affected participants' ability to do daily activities also made falls more likely, the researchers found." Moreover, "having pain in one month made falling in the next month likely. People who reported severe pain in one month had a 77 percent increased risk of falling the next month," but "even people reporting very mild pain were more likely to fall the following month, the group found."
"Pain contributes to functional decline and muscle weakness, the researchers said, and it has been associated with mobility limitations that could predispose patients to falls." The study authors suggested that "paying closer attention to pain and falls 'could result in better health and help people to continue living actively and independently in the community.'"
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Friday, June 11, 2010
NHS decides not to make sorafenib, bevacizumab available
"In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) has decided not to make two more cancer drugs available because of cost." According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, [NICE] the use of "sorafenib (Nexavar) for liver cancer and...bevacizumab (Avastin) for metastatic colorectal cancer" is "not cost-effective." But, the decision on bevacizumab "is preliminary, and the manufacturer, Roche, has said that it will continue to work with NICE on making the drug available." The moves "have sparked headlines about cancer patients being denied life-prolonging drugs" as well as criticism from some oncologists. Karol Sikora, MD, medical director of Cancer Patterns UK, noted that "the British decision about sorafenib puts it 'hopelessly out of step with the rest of Europe,' because every other country within the European Union makes the drug available."
Commentary-Disseminate to those people who want us to emulate the British system of Healthcare-such as Roger Moore of “Sicko”
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Commentary-Disseminate to those people who want us to emulate the British system of Healthcare-such as Roger Moore of “Sicko”
Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.
Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
