Medical News

New clinical data showed an experimental drug called pertuzumab prolonged the survival time for women with recurrent ovary cancer, a University of Alabama at Birmingham doctor said recently. The data was presented Sept. 24 during a scientific session of the 14th European Cancer Conference held in Barcelona, Spain. The session’s main speaker was Sharmila Makhija, M.D., an associate professor in UAB’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology……..

Original post by Health news from medicineworld.org

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Scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have observed that more than 50 percent of the current asthma cases in the country can be attributed to allergies, with approximately 30 percent of those cases attributed to cat allergy. It has long been debated whether people who develop asthma have a genetic propensity to develop allergies, or atopy, said Darryl C. Zeldin, M.D., a senior investigator at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). This new research shows that 56.3 percent of asthma cases are attributed to atopy. Atopy is a condition that results from gene-environment interactions and can be measured by a positive skin test to allergens (or allergy causing substances in the environment)……..

Original post by Health news from medicineworld.org

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MINNEAPOLIS ? December 19, 2002 ? QRS Diagnostic, leader in innovative design and development of software-based medical devices contained entirely in computer cards, announces that Lakefront Center for Family Medicine, Sebring, Fla., has selected its SpirOxCard(R) and EKGCard(TM) devices for electrocardiography, pulse oximetry and pulmonary function testing. SpirOxCard is the only combination spirometer/pulse oximeter. It measures pulmonary function and monitors blood oxygenation with one computer card device. EKGCard turns off-the-shelf computers into 12-channel electrocardiograph heart monitors.

“To meet patient expectations and provide quality care, I want to utilize powerful diagnostic tools, like spirometry, that are appropriate today for primary care, but I must also control overhead costs,” says Nick Ausaf, D.O., Lakefront Center for Family Medicine. “I sought devices that provide precise output yet cost 20 to 35 percent less than comparable products. QRS offers the affordable, high-quality technology solution I envisioned for my new practice, and their PC Card devices have proven to be reliable and exceptionally easy to use.”

“Dr. Ausaf?s choice of QRS PC Cards demonstrates that we are meeting our goal of helping primary care physicians cost-effectively practice high-tech medicine,” says Spencer Lien, chief executive officer, QRS Diagnostic.

SpirOxCard and EKGCard are part of the complete line of QRS PC Card products based on its patented computer card technology platform. QRS PC Cards, with integrated sensors, slide into the PC Card drives of standard PCs, making them work as fully functioning medical devices.

About QRS Diagnostic

Founded in 1994, QRS Diagnostic, Plymouth, Minn., uses innovative software technology to design and develop FDA-approved medical devices that simplify and reduce the costs of diagnostic testing and patient monitoring. With our patented computer card technology platform, QRS turns standard desktop, laptop, notebook, and handheld PCs into modular, upgradeable medical devices and streamlines the collection and communication of precise physiological data. We enable primary care physicians to cost-effectively practice high-tech medicine while delivering the accuracy that specialists and hospitals demand. The affordability, durability and mobility of QRS devices also advance diagnostic testing and patient monitoring for disease management, home healthcare and personal health management. For more information on QRS, please visit www.QRSdiagnostic.com.

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July 13, 2004 — It?s no secret that Canadian prescription drugs are cheaper. A recent move by the Government in conjunction with the FDA made it illegal for Americans to choose were they buy prescription drugs preventing them from purchasing lower cost drugs from Canada. The reason given was that buying prescriptions from Canada might pose a health threat to US citizens. Canada?s health system has always been considered one of the finest in the world. And the FDA has no argument that all Canadian licensed pharmacies do in fact supply quality prescriptions supplied in the main by the same manufacturers who supply US pharmacists.

The problem is that there are a number of unscrupulous online pharmacy web sites that do not source their medications from regulated drug manufacturers.

So why prevent Americans from buying from reliable pharmacies who only source from reliable manufacturers?

In a recent CBS news article, Former Springfield Mayor Michael Albano is quoted as saying:
?The FDA has become a pawn of the pharmaceutical industry, protecting those high profit margins. If the FDA wanted to put a plan together similar to what we’re doing in Springfield, that would be good for all Americans, they can do it in 15 minutes, relative to safety,? says Albano.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan, who has always been apposed to allowing individuals to buy medications from Canada, was appointed in Feb 2004 as President Bush’s new head of Medicare and Medicaid.

And in the same article:
?Of course, the whole controversy over Canadian drugs would be moot if Republican Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana had his way. During the recent debate over the Medicare bill, he co-sponsored a provision that would have legalized bringing in Canadian drugs with safeguards.

But Burton says he ran into two brick walls: the drug industry and the U.S. government: ?This is a perfect example, in my opinion, of where a special interest, the pharmaceutical industry, has been able to manipulate the Congress and the government of the United States to their benefit, and to the detriment of the American taxpayer and the American people.?

Since 1999, the drug industry has given more than 45 million dollars in political contributions, and it’s spent hundreds of millions more on an army of more than 600 lobbyists to work its will on Capitol Hill.

Congressman Burton says the new Medicare act makes it clear the industry got its money’s worth. He says billions of dollars are in it for drug companies in this new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.

?In the new Medicare Act, the federal government is specifically prohibited from negotiating prices with drug companies,? says Safer.

?That is unconscionable. The government of the United States negotiates prices in the Defense Department, in every area of government,? says Burton. ?And here we are, going to spend billions and billions and billions and probably trillions of dollars on pharmaceutical products. And we cannot negotiate the prices with the pharmaceutical industry. That’s just not right.?

In December, surrounded by members of Congress, President Bush signed the new Medicare act. Since 1999, these legislators have accepted more than a million and a half dollars in campaign contributions from people working in the pharmaceutical industry. President Bush alone has received more than half a million dollars.

But now, the new Medicare prescription drug benefit is being billed as a big victory for America?s seniors.

?You gotta be kidding me,? says Burton. ?Seniors, when they find out what’s in that bill, are gonna be very angry. The problem is, they’re not gonna find out about it until after this next election.?
End CBS article quotes.

The pressure is no easier on the Canadian side of the boarder. Pfizer and Glaxo have cut off licensed pharmacies that sell prescriptions to the USA. What has that to do with patient safety says John McMaster marketing manager of http://www.rxma.com

Most Canadian pharmacies are so frightened of being cut off by the major pharmaceutical companies that they hide their US orders through third party companies.

Doctors are also being targeted and a B.C. Doctor was recently fined for signing US prescriptions. “Doctors have been signing prescriptions without seeing patients long before the internet” said a B.C. Doctor. “We trust are US counterparts to know their patients and we review every prescription ourselves to ensure that the medications prescribed are appropriate based on the patients given medical profile. Like having a second opinion, if you ask me it makes for better patient care not higher risk.

Rxma.com is a Canadian pharmacy group that will not reveal any information about its group pharmacy stores to protect them against blacklisting by the major pharmaceutical giants. Although it does have stringent rules for pharmacy stores to become members in order to maintain the highest quality of prescriptions shipped to the USA.

Patient safety is our first priority said McMaster. Our goal is to ensure that people buying prescriptions medications from Canada do so feeling confident that someone this side of the boarder is making sure they come from a ?licensed? pharmacy.

Although it is considered illegal to buy prescription medications from Canada neither the FDA nor the Government have taken legal action against anyone still buying prescriptions from Canada.

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Framingham, Mass Nov. 8 2003– Physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) today adopted several resolutions on significant public health and health policy issues at its 2003 Interim Meeting of its House of Delegates held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel.

The Interim Meeting of the Society brings together hundreds of Massachusetts physicians from across the state to examine and consider specific resolutions brought forth by members for consideration by the Society?s House of Delegates, its governing body. The two-day meeting concluded today [Saturday, Nov. 8.

Among some 35 administrative and policy issues addressed by delegates at the meeting were the subjects of pharmaceutical advertising, tobacco sales to minors, physician interaction with pharmaceutical and medical device industry representatives, and the health consequences of violent and sexually-oriented television programming.

Among the topics and resolutions adopted:
?Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising MMS physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society agreed to work with the American Medical Association, and appropriate agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration to require that direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription medications include at least one FDA-approved indication for the prescribed medication. While current Medical Society policy is opposed to all such DTC advertising of prescription medications, physicians are becoming alarmed that consumers are becoming more exposed to certain prescription medications without adequate knowledge of the drug, its intended uses, and possible side effects.

?Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industries The Medical Society agreed to develop a curriculum for medical students and health care professionals to emphasize the current ethical guidelines associated with gifts to physicians and to remind all physicians to maintain a heightened awareness of the implied and perceived obligations regarding all interactions with the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. In approving this measure, the Society expressed a desire to educate physicians and medical students about the ethics associated with gifts to physicians.

?Tobacco Abuse Among Youth The Medical Society resolved to advocate that the State Legislature increase the fines and penalties for the sale of tobacco products for minors to improve compliance with existing laws. The Medical Society has long advocated for tobacco control and strongly supports the recent statewide ban on tobacco use.

?Violent and Sexually-Explicit Television Programming MMS physicians voted to engage in efforts to inform the public of the potentially harmful health consequences from the prevalence of television programs concentrated on violence and pornography. While decrying society?s desensitization to media violence, physicians believed the profession has an obligation to speak out in opposition to violent programming, while not condoning censorship.

?Public Access Defibrillation Physicians urged the Medical Society to work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, communities and the American Heart Association in spreading information on public access defibrillation and establishing ?Heart Safe? communities. Automatic external defibrillators are valuable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use tools to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.

?Medical Home Concept for Children with Special Health Care Needs The Medical Society supports the concept of a ?medical home? for children with special health care needs that is accessible, comprehensive, continuous, and family-centered. This is a philosophy of care endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The Massachusetts Medical Society, with 18,000 physicians and student members, is dedicated to educating and advocating for the physicians and patients of Massachusetts. Founded in 1781, the MMS is the oldest continuously operating medical society in the country. The Society owns and publishes The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal Watch family of professional newsletters, AIDS Clinical Care, and produces HealthNews, a consumer health publication. For additional information, visit www.massmed.org.

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As the skin ages the face is March 21, 2004–furrowed with folds and lines due to natural loss of water content. HLA injectable implants are non-animal origin Hyaluronic acid hydrogel implants which do not contain any preservatives, non-allergenic and thus can be injected immediately without a skin test.performed by dr.satish bhatia,a leading cutaneous surgeon who has recently been awarded by his peers for his contribution in the field of dermatology and cutaneous surgery.3 months after the implants the HLA particles are filled by collagen of your your own skin thereby completing the natural filling process. Treatment takes about 10-15 minutes (e.g lunch time procedure) and the patient can resume work or normal duties immediately. Results last between 4 to 6 years!

Also botox injections used in combination with other facial enhancement procedures to improve the overall effect such as collagen or co2 laser resurfacing

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In a surprising finding, American researchers have observed that when battling oesophageal cancer, married patients don’t fare as well as their single counterparts in certain aspects of their quality of life. In the study, presented today (Wednesday) at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO 14) in Barcelona, 212 oesophageal cancer patients and 489 patients with Barrett’s oesophagus, a non-malignant condition associated with acid reflux, filled out two quality of life questionnaires a year apart. Changes in the scores between the two assessments were analysed as per marital status……..

Original post by Health news from medicineworld.org

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