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

10 Tips on Dietary Fiber

10 Tips on Dietary Fiber

1. Keep in mind that a high-fiber diet may tend to improve:
• Chronic constipation
• Coronary heart disease
• Hemorrhoids
• Diabetes mellitus
• Diverticular disease
• Elevated cholesterol
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Colorectal cancer

2. Try to double your daily fiber intake.
• Average American intake: 10-15 grams per day
• Recommended intake: 20-35 grams per day

3. Understand what fiber is, where it comes from:
• Insoluble fiber
• Cereals
• Wheat/wheat bran
• Whole grains
• Soluble fiber
• Brans
• Fruit
• Oatmeal/oat bran
• Psyllium
• Vegetables

4. Substitute high-fiber foods for high-fat and low-fiber foods.

5. Keep your daily fiber intake stable. Consider a fiber supplement if you:
• Travel
• Eat away from home often
• Find it difficult to get enough fiber through food choices alone

6. Don't shock your system: Increase fiber levels in your diet gradually.

7. Always increase fluids (water, soup, broth, juices) when you increase fiber.

8. Add both soluble and insoluble fiber, from a variety of sources.

9. Compare fiber content of foods:

Grams of Fiber
1 cup of Rice Krispies® 1
1/3 cup of 100% Bran® 9
1 slice of white bread 0.5
1 slice of whole wheat bread 1.4
1/2 cup white rice 0.5
1/2cup brown rice 1.5
Bowl of chicken broth 0
Bowl of thick vegetable (minestrone) soup 1

1. Choose foods high in fiber content.
Fruits and Vegetables
Highest in Fiber Per Serving
Fruits
Artichokes
Apples, pears (with skin)
Berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Dates
Figs
Prunes Vegetables
Beans (baked, black, lima, pinto)
Broccoli
Chick-peas
Lentils
Parsnips Peas
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Squash (winter)
Other Good Fiber Choices
Barley
Bread, Muffins (whole wheat, bran)
Cereals (branflakes, bran, oatmeal, shredded wheat)
Coconut
Crackers (rye, whole wheat)
Nuts (almonds, Brazil, peanuts, pecans, walnuts)
Rice (brown)
Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

Eating high-fiber foods is a healthy choice for most people. If you have ever received medical treatment for a digestive problem, however, it is very important that you check with your doctor to find out if a high-fiber diet is the right choice for you.

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

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

Cigarettes "widely contaminated" with hundreds of bacteria

"DNA examination of four cigarette brands shows, for the first time, that cigarettes are 'widely contaminated' with hundreds of different types of bacteria. In fact, there appears to be as many bacteria in cigarettes as there are chemicals." According to the University of Maryland study in Environmental Health Perspectives, the bacteria "are linked to lung, blood, and food-borne-related infections." For example, investigators found "acinetobacter -- associated with certain blood and lung infections" -- and "bacillus -- some types are associated with anthrax and food poisoning." And, if those "organisms can survive the smoking process," the study authors said, "they could possibly go on to contribute to both infectious and chronic illnesses in both smokers and individuals who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke."

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

Sharing hospital room may increase infection risk during stay

Sharing a hospital room increases your risk of picking up an infection during your stay, a new study shows." The work, by researchers from Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., "found that each new roommate raised a patient's risk of picking up an infection in hospital by about 10 percent." The study's senior author, Dr. Dick Zoutman, said in a statement, "That's a substantial risk, particularly for longer hospital stays when you can expect to have many different roommates."

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

A BETTER ANSWER FOR DOCTORS WORRIED ABOUT HIGH MALPRACTICE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ?

Tom Baker, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, is the author of “The Medical Malpractice Myth. Says that our medical liability system needs reform. But anyone who thinks that limiting liability would reduce health care costs is fooling himself. Preventable medical injuries, not patient compensation, are what ring up extra costs for additional treatment. This means taxpayers, employers and everyone else who buys health insurance — all of us — have a big stake in patient safety.

Eighty percent of malpractice claims involve significant disability or death, a 2006 analysis of medical malpractice claims conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health shows, and the amount of compensation patients receive strongly depends on the merits of their claims. Most people injured by medical malpractice do not bring legal claims, earlier studies by the same researchers have found.
On the other hand, risk managers, for example, and spurring anesthesiologists to improve their safety standards and practices. Even medical societies’ efforts to attack the liability system have helped, by inspiring the research that has documented the surprising extent of preventable injuries in hospitals. That research helped start the patient safety movement. When it comes to rising medical costs, liability is a symptom, not the disease. Getting rid of liability might save money for hospitals and some high-risk specialists, but it would cost society more by taking away one of the few hard-wired patient safety incentives.
Besides, there’s a better answer for doctors worried about high malpractice insurance premiums.

Critics point to defensive medicine as the hidden burden that liability imposes on health care. Yet research shows that while the fear of liability changes doctors’ behavior, that isn’t necessarily a burden. Some defensive medicine is, like defensive driving, good practice. Too often, we can’t distinguish between treatments that are necessary and those that are wasteful. Better research on what works and what doesn’t — evidence-based medicine — will help. And it will address the more general challenge of avoiding costly but unnecessary care.
Just as we need evidence-based medicine, we also need evidence-based medical liability reform. The research shows, overwhelmingly, that the real problem is too much malpractice, not too many malpractice lawsuits. So medical providers should be required to disclose injuries, provide quicker compensation to deserving patients and — here’s the answer for doctors worried about their premiums — shift the responsibility for buying malpractice insurance to hospitals and other large medical institutions. Evidence-based liability reform would give these institutions the incentive they need to cut back on the most wasteful aspect of American health care: preventable medical injuries.

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

USE CELL PHONES TO PROTECT FROM ALZHEIMERS?

If you’re a mouse using a cell phone you’ve got it made. In mice prone to an animal form of Alzheimer's disease, long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiation typical of cell phones slowed and reversed the course of the illness. Cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer's symptoms. And the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer's mice. A similar exposure in normal mice -- for two hours a day over seven to nine months -- improved their cognitive abilities compared with controls reports the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, which is the research journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Rreactions to the study ranged from "interesting" to "nonsense” because it's too early to say whether the findings have any relevance to humans. Even science published in reputable journals can turn out to be wrong, adding "extreme caution is necessary until this outcome has been confirmed independently in other laboratories. And even if the science is correct, "humans are not just big mice, and we must always be cautious in extrapolating results from mice to man."

The report comes almost exactly two years after researchers at the University of Sunderland, in England, said they had shown that infrared light could improve cognition in mice.That report led to the development of the so-called "Alzheimer's helmet," aimed at slowing or reversing the disease in humans. Whether that works has not been shown yet.


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

Only 24% of Doctors Report Medical Errors Committed On Their Patients

Under the American Medical Association Code of Ethics, physicians have an ethical obligation to advise a patient when they commit consequential acts of medical malpractice where "a patient suffers significant medical complications that may have resulted from the physician’s mistake or judgment." Am. Med. Ass’n Code of Medical Ethics A-02 Edition, E-8.12 Patient Information, 77. Similarly, the American College of Physicians Ethics Manual mandates disclosure of errors if disclosure of this information is "material to the patient’s well-being." Lois Snyder & Cathy Leffler, Ethics Manual, Fifth Edition, 142 Ann Intern Med 560, 563. Finally, the Joint Commission requires that patients be informed of unanticipated results that differ from the expected outcome in a significant way when a medical error occurs at a hospital. Joint Comm’n on Accreditation of Health Care Orgs., Revisions to Joint Commission Standards in Support of Patient Safety and Medical/Health Care Error Reduction 12 (2001).
Disclosure of medical errors is not only ethically mandated, it is consistent with the fiduciary nature of the physician-patient relationship, since in most instances, disclosure of errors will be help the patient to understand why unexpected problems have developed. Some commentators have suggested that since patients need information about errors to make decisions about their medical care, disclosure of malpractice is part of a physician’s duty to provide a patient with informed consent. Thomas H. Gallagher, Wendy Levinson, Disclosing Medical Errors to Patients: a Status Report in 2007,177(3) Can Med Assn J 265 (2007).
In theory, physicians agree that they have an ethical obligation to disclose medical errors. One study suggests that between 70% and 90% of the physician population believes that doctors should disclose errors to patients. Kathleen M. Mazor et al., Communicating with Patients about Medical Errors, 164 Arch Intern Med 1690, 1692 (2004). In another study, 97% of the faculty and resident population surveyed indicated that they would disclose medical errors that caused minor harm, and 93% indicated that they would disclose an error causing major harm. Lauris Kaldjian, et al., Disclosing Medical Errors to Patients: Attitudes and Practices of Physicians and Trainees, 22(7) J Gen Intern Med 988-96 (2007). This being the case, one would expect physicians, nearly universally, to report medical errors to their patients. However, research does not bear this theory out. For example, one study revealed that only 24% of residents surveyed reported the medical errors they committed to their patients. Albert Wu, et al., Do House Officers Learn from Their Mistakes? 12 Quality & Safety Health Care 221, 224 (2003). Another study estimated that, nationwide, physicians are only disclosing errors to patients about 1/3 of the time. Robert J. Blendon et al., Views of Practicing Physicians and the Public on Medical Errors, 347 New. Eng. J. Med. 1933, 1935 (2002).


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.

*Tune in later for COLONOSCOPY IS RISKIER IN OLDER AGE.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

What is the Best Treatment for Patients with BOTH Heart Disease and Diabetes?

For patients with both coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes, outcomes are similar regardless of whether revascularization or medical therapy is used — and whether insulin sensitization or insulin provision is used — reports an industry-supported study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers randomized some 2400 patients to either prompt revascularization or medical treatment, and to either insulin-sensitization or insulin-provision therapy. At 5 years, all-cause mortality did not differ between the revascularization and medical-therapy groups or between the insulin-sensitization and insulin-provision groups. Similarly, major cardiovascular events did not differ between groups.

Patients were stratified before randomization according to type of revascularization, and patients in the CABG (but not PCI) group had fewer major cardiovascular events with revascularization but a similar mortality rate.

Asked to comment, Journal Watch Cardiology Editor-in-Chief Dr. Harlan Krumholz said that the failure of the study to show clear superiority of revascularization and insulin sensitization "reinforces the need to incorporate the patient's preferences, values, and goals — and costs — into decisions about which strategy to pursue."


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.

*Tune in later for CDI is one Infection you Don’t Want to Get IN the Hospital-Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDI) Are Difficult To Treat.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

7 REASONS WHY MEDICAL ERRORS OCCUR

Approximately 100,000 people per year die from medical errors caused by doctors alone. According to Dr. RJ Roberts of the University of Wisconsin Medical School there are 7 reasons why medical errors occur:

1. Failure to Obtain Informed Consent: This allegation stems from the failure of the physician to ensure the patient is fully informed of expected outcomes, potential risks and reasonable alternatives to the recommended course of action advised by the doctor resulting in damages to the patient.

2. Cancer Misdiagnosis or Failure to Diagnose or a Delay in Diagnosis: This is especially true of breast cancer patients. Doctors who rely on false negative mammogram studies rather than on patient complaints and following up appropriately may cause harm to the patient and be liable for medical malpractice. Approximately 29 percent of screening mammograms return false negative results.

3. Physician Malpractice Resulting From Negligent Procedures or Surgical Errors: Physicians do not necessarily have to be performing unfamiliar procedures for such a medical malpractice suit to ensue. Many physicians are sued because they performed procedures they are trained for when the doctor was not alert due to physical exhaustion or mental distraction. In these circumstances, sleep deprivation or mental stress may cause a deficiently performed procedure leading to patient complications.

4. Wrong Diagnosis and Negligent Misdiagnosis of Fracture or Trauma: This medical malpractice claim occurs when a doctor assumes that a fracture is merely a sprain or other minor injury without follow through investigation with x-rays or other proper diagnostic tests. Dependent on the location of the fracture, this can have severe consequences, including loss of a limb.

5. Delay in Diagnosis or Failure to Consult in a Timely Manner: A doctor who is sued for failure to consult in a timely manner has hesitated too long before making a referral and the patient has suffered adverse repercussions as a result. Within a reasonable amount of visits to the family doctor, the patient should be referred to a specialist if the family doctor is having difficulty pronouncing a diagnosis or symptoms are not improving or worsening despite treatment.

6. Medication Errors or Medication Malpractice Resulting From Negligent Drug Treatment: This is the third leading cause of death. Medical error or negligence in prescribing medications may be the cause of 225,000 deaths per year. Lack of patient education about the medications prescribed is a component of negligent drug treatment. Prescription drug malpractice claims can also result from a doctor's poor handwriting on the prescription order and misinterpretation by a pharmacist.

7. Birth Injury Malpractice or Negligent Maternity Care Practice: The two most common birth defect or birth injury medical malpractice claims arise from excessive use of oxytocin, specifically if the baby is experiencing distress, and the doctor's failure to ensure their patient is covered by another physician informed about the patient's clinical history should the primary doctor be unavailable.

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.

*Tune in later for THE BEST TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES.

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 SIX QUESTIONS:
A GUIDE TO JUDGING FAVORABLY

As Jews approach the High Holy days it is useful to remember that the Torah teaches that, whenever we experience or hear about the negative behavior of another person, we must "judge favorably." In simple terms, that means giving the benefit of the doubt. But how can one follow that advice when it seems that the facts clearly point to someone's guilt?

Sometimes we jump to the wrong conclusion because the facts are different from what we perceive them to be. Even if our facts are accurate, we often misinterpret the intent behind them. When we drop the assumption that there was a negative intention behind someone's actions towards us, we automatically deflate much of the anger and hurt that we feel.

Here are six possible ways to analyze a situation and jump to a good conclusion:
1. Are you sure it happened at all? Sometimes our perceptions of what we see and hear are mistaken.

2. Are you sure the details are correct? One small detail can completely alter the scenario. Something may have been exaggerated or omitted that would make a big difference.

3. Do you know if the other person intended harm? Often the consequences are unforeseen.

4. Do you know the assumptions the other person was operating under? Maybe the other person was operating under a misconception that would explain their behavior.

5. Could the other person's act have been the result of an innocent, human error? Everyone has limitations. Perhaps this person lacked experience, was forgetful, distracted or simply didn't think carefully enough before acting.

6. Do you know what events preceded the negative action? The other person may be enduring a great deal of pain, frustration or stress. This might be a response to a specific situation, like an illness or financial loss. Or it could be a deeper, more pervasive problem that effects the person's entire life.

Although the Torah requires us to judge others with favor and compassion, we are not required to accept abusive behavior from others. Physical, verbal or emotional abuse must be addressed and corrected.

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.

*Tune in later for THE SEVEN REASONS WHY MEDICAL ERRORS OCCUR.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

Cellphone Shields and Brain Cancer

Cellphones release microwave radiation when they're in use, a fact that inevitably leads to fears of brain cancer.

Chris Woolston writes, "cell phones release microwave radiation when they're in use, a fact that" has "inevitably led to fears of brain cancer." but, "worries about brain cancer spawned a market for products that supposedly protect cell phone users," such as "a thin polyester patch that contains a microchip that allegedly renders cell phones harmless." in an "unpublished scientific paper," investigators stated that the device "supposedly...can convert harmful delta brain waves to helpful alpha waves." A professor of physics , claims that "it's a scam," noting that "the claims they're making aren't very clear." he added that "claims of 'natural resonant frequencies' may seem impressive," but that "people have been talking about natural resonant frequencies for years." Furthermore, "the cheap devices are extremely unlikely to possess the type of technology it would take to really absorb, deflect, or modify radiation in a meaningful way."

One site selling the biopro cell chip site says its patented technology "has been proven in numerous scientific studies to neutralize the dangers of electromagnetic radiation from cellphones and other devices." the site goes on to explain that the device "superimposes a low-frequency 'noise field' on emr [electromagnetic radiation] that resembles the natural resonant frequencies of the body's living cells. This effectively renders emr harmless."

The site for the waveshield 2000 gold claims that the device can reduce radiation from the earpiece by "50-97%." the company used to claim that similar devices blocked up to 99% of radiation coming from the antenna -- the major source of cellphone radiation -- until the ftc filed suit for false advertising in 2002.

The bottom line: most [experts] think these devices are worthless.


Even Dr. Ronald Herberman, of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer institute and one of the leading voices calling for caution with cellphones, says he is "not aware of any evidence supporting the claims of cellphone guards" and doesn't recommend their use.

He and colleagues recently offered 10 tips for reducing radiation exposure from cellphones, including holding them as far away from the head as possible, using them for only a few minutes at a time and keeping them away from children. Cellphone shields didn't warrant a mention.

Shield or no shield, the hazards of cellphones are far from certain. Some believe that the microwaves released by cellphones don't have enough energy to break apart strands of dna, the type of damage that could possibly set the stage for cancer. Others agrees that cellphone radiation "cannot directly damage dna," but think that cellphone radiation could still indirectly scramble genetic material in ways that have yet to be explained.

Findings on safety so far have been mixed. Researchers at the University of Utah recently pooled together the results of nine studies that looked for a link between cellphone use and brain cancer. As reported in the journal of neuro-oncology in 2008, they found no sign that frequent cellphone users were more likely than anyone else to get brain cancer. A danish study of more than 420,000 people also found no connection between cellphones and cancer, even in people who had used the phones for more than 10 years.

However, Australian researchers who examined 11 previous studies comparing people with and without brain tumors concluded that using a cellphone for more than 10 years more than doubled the risk of developing a brain tumor on the side of the head where a person usually used the phone. (it's worth noting that some of the individual studies that they looked at concluded that cellphones didn't raise cancer risk.)

In the face of that uncertainty, Herberman urges caution. That's caution -- not cellphone shields.


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.

*Tune in tomorrow for MIRACLE CURES IN MEDICINE

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

PART III OF III -FDA ALERT ON DANGERS OF WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS

The agency advises consumers to discontinue use of these supplements and then to consult their healthcare provider.

Bumex carries a Boxed Warning because the drug may lead to serious and significant fluid and electrolyte loss. Another potential risk associated with the use of bumetanide is elevation in uric acid concentrations. Consumers should not take bumetanide if they are allergic to sulfonamides. Significant drug interactions, such as taking bumetanide with digoxin and lithium, may lead to an increased risk of toxicity. Consumers may also be at an increased risk of hypotension (low blood pressure), fainting, and resultant injury if they have normal blood pressure or are already taking an antihypertensive medication. The risk of toxic reactions to the drug may be greater in elderly consumers or consumers with impaired kidney function.

Cetilistat is an experimental obesity drug and is currently the subject of clinical trials in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. Because cetilistat is in clinical trials, there is no safety or efficacy profile for this drug. Consumers in certain populations, however, could face serious health risks if taking cetilistat. For example, transplant patients taking anti-rejection drugs could suffer organ rejection. Cetilistat is also contraindicated with warfarin and levothyroxine as this could cause increased risk of bleeding and hypothyroidism. The majority of adverse events associated with ingestion of cetilistat are gastrointestinal in nature; e.g., fecal incontinence, rectal discharge, and defecation urgency. Because cetilistat decreases the absorption of fat, this may result in fatty or oily stool which could lead to malabsorption of nutrients and vitamin deficiency. Other adverse events include skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders. Cetilstat may reduce serum concentrations of vitamin E, vitamin D, and beta-carotene. Other safety concerns include the development of gallstones and kidney stones.

Fenproporex is a stimulant not approved for marketing in the United States. Fenproporex, an amphetamine derivative, is a schedule IV controlled substance and could show up positive for amphetamines in a urinalysis. Serious adverse effects of stimulants include headache, tachycardia, increased breathing rate, increased blood pressure, fever, sweating, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, impaired speech, dizziness, uncontrollable movements or shaking, insomnia, numbness, palpitations, arrhythmia and possible sudden death.

Fluoxetine is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Prozac, a prescription antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Prozac carries a Boxed Warning because it and other antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults. Additional potential risks from exposure to this drug include rashes, hives, and the potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome or Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, which is characterized by changes in mental status, pulse, blood pressure, body temperature, and muscle control. Fluoxetine is also associated with nausea, diarrhea, headache, insomnia and anxiety.

Furosemide is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Lasix, a potent diuretic which is available only through prescription for use in the treatment of congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, and edema. It can cause profound dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, with loss of potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Patients allergic to sulfonamides may also be allergic to furosemide. Serious adverse effects from overdose may lead to dehydration, seizures, GI problems, kidney damage, lethargy, collapse, and coma.

Phenolphthalein was an ingredient in some Over-the-Counter laxative products until 1999 when the FDA reclassified the drug as “not generally recognized as safe and effective” after studies indicated that phenolphthalein presented a potential carcinogenic risk. Phenolphthalein has also been found to be genotoxic in that it can damage or cause mutations to DNA.

Phenytoin is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Dilantin, an approved anti-seizure medication. Because there were trace amounts of this drug in some of these products, the risk was not assessed. However, these products could pose a risk to consumers who are allergic or hypersensitive to phenytoin.

Rimonabant is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Zimulti which has not been approved in the United States. In Europe the drug is known as Acomplia. In June 2007, the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously voted not to recommend approval of the drug because of increased risk of neurological and psychiatric side effects—seizures, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggressiveness, and suicidal thoughts among patients. In June of 2008, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency of the United Kingdom linked rimonabant to 5 deaths and 720 adverse reactions over the past two years.

In October, the European Medicines Agency recommended Sibutramine is a Schedule IV controlled substance and the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Meridia, an approved prescription drug to treat obesity.Some of the identified products recommend taking more than 3 times the recommended daily dosage of sibutramine. Because of this, even consumers without a history of health problems that take these high doses of sibutramine may suffer serious adverse effects if they take these products, such as increased blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, and seizure.

Populations who would be at increased risk of serious adverse health effects from consuming a standard dose of sibutramine include:
• Patients with a history of hypertension, especially those with uncontrolled or poorly controlled hypertension.
• Patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke.
• Patients with narrow angle glaucoma.
• Patients with a history of seizure.
• Patients predisposed to bleeding events and those taking concomitant medications known to affect hemostasis or platelet function.
• Patients with severe hepatic dysfunction.
• Patients concurrently taking the following medications:
o Sumatriptan
o Dihydroergotamine
o Dextromethorphan
o Meperidine,
o Pentazocine
o Fentanyl
o Lithium
o Tryptophan
o MAO inhibitors




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.

* Tune in tomorrow for WHY IS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AN ADVANTAGE IN LONGEVITY?

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

PART I OF III -FDA ALERT ON DANGERS OF TAINTED WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS

Nearly 30 weight loss products sold over the internet and in retail stores are tainted with undeclared, active pharmaceuticals or chemicals, the FDA warned. All consumers should be familiar with the following signs of health fraud:
• Promises of an "easy" fix for problems like excess weight, hair loss, or impotency.
• Claims such as "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret ingredient," and "ancient remedy."
• Impressive-sounding terms, such as "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis" for a weight loss product.
• Claims that the product is safe because it is "natural."
• Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results.
• Promises of no-risk, money-back guarantees.
An FDA analysis found the following undeclared ingredients:
• phenytoin;
• sibutramine, an antiobesity drug that can cause hypertension, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack, or stroke;
• rimonabant, an antiobesity drug not approved for use in the U.S.;
• phenolphthalein, a possible cancer-causing agent used in chemical experiments.

HOW IS THIS FRAUD BEING PEPERTRATED?
Regulatory requirements for dietary supplements differ from those covering "conventional" foods and drug products (prescription and Over-the-Counter). Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the dietary supplement manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe before they are marketed. Generally, manufacturers do not need to register their products with FDA nor get FDA approval before producing or selling dietary supplements. Manufacturers must make sure that product label information is truthful and not misleading.

The FDA has expanded its list of tainted weight loss products containing undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients. Herbal Xenicol (found to contain cetilistat, an obesity drug not approved in the U.S.) along with Slimbionic and Xsvelten (both containing sibutramine, a prescription-only weight loss drug) have been added to the list of tainted dietary supplements. There are now 72 products on the list.The FDA also identified the following undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients as appearing in some other products on the list:
• fenproporex, an amphetamine derivative that can cause arrhythmia;
• fluoxetine, an antidepressant;
• furosemide, a prescription-only diuretic.

The agency advises consumers to discontinue use of these supplements and then to consult their healthcare provider.
In part II we will discuss the FDA laboratory tests which have revealed the presence of sibutramine, fenproporex, fluoxetine, bumetanide, furosemide, phenytoin, rimonabant, cetilistat, and phenolphthalein in weight loss products being sold over-the-counter. We will list the tainted products in alphabetical order along with the undeclared drug and/or chemical ingredient Nd how they can make you sicker.


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.

* Tune in tomorrow for PART II OF III -FDA ALERT ON DANGERS OF TAINTED WEIGHT LOSS PRODUCTS.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

ABLATION FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: NOT RISK FREE

The risk for death after AF ablation is 1 in 1000 patients or 1 in 1385 procedures.

Catheter ablation is an accepted procedure for patients with atrial fibrillation in whom medical treatment is ineffective. Currently, the only indication for AF ablation is impaired quality of life (QOL); ablation is not recommended for patients without symptoms who merely wish to stop taking warfarin. Individuals with AF have an increased mortality risk, and no AF treatment, including ablation, has been shown to reduce that risk. The AF ablation procedure itself carries a variety of risks. However, the incidence of death from complications of AF ablation has not been determined, because the data are from single-center or small multicenter trials.

In this international survey of 162 centers, published in Journal Watch Cardiology May 27, 2009-32,569 patients underwent 45,115 AF ablation procedures. In all, 32 deaths occurred (0.98 per 1000 patients; 0.71 per 1000 procedures), including 7 from tamponade, 5 from atrioesophageal fistula, and 3 from stroke.

Comment by a cardiologist: These data provide useful guidance to physicians and patients regarding the risks of AF ablation. Whether a 1-in-1385 procedural mortality risk is justified by potentially improved QOL is an individual patient decision. However, to put this risk in perspective, it is roughly the equivalent of the risk of knee replacement
— another invasive QOL-improving procedure — and it is much lower than the risk of elective coronary percutaneous interventions, arguably also performed largely to improve QOL.

CITATION:
Cappato R et al. Prevalence and causes of fatal outcome in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 May 12; 53:1798.

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.

* Tune in tomorrow for A NEW NON INVASIVE TEST FOR ALZHEIMERS.

Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com