Sound waves could significantly improve sexual activity in men whose severe erectile dysfunction has not responded well to drug treatments, a new study has found.
Researchers employed a technique similar to that used to break up kidney stones to shock the penis into life with low-intensity waves.
So-called 'extracorporeal shock wave therapy' has been found to improve blood flow to the heart by inducing blood vessel growth, so experts speculated that such waves might also improve circulation to the penis.
An earlier study showed shock wave therapy benefited men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).
But the new study's findings suggest the therapy could also be used to treat ED patients who don't respond well to conventional treatment.
However, the study was small, involving only 29 men, and the results may have been due to a placebo effect, so more work is needed to validate the findings, the researchers said.
Participants filled out a questionnaire to assess their sexual function.
Scores ranged from six to 30 - with ratings lower than 10 indicating severe ED and those from 26 to 30 indicating normal erectile function.
The men, whose average age was 61, were given 300 shocks over a period of three minutes on five points along the shaft of the penis during each session.
There were two sessions per week for three weeks, then three weeks off, and then another three-week treatment period. No men reported pain or adverse side-effects during treatment.
Participants began taking ED drugs one month after the last treatment.
The average score at the beginning of the study was 8.8. Two months after the treatment stopped, the average increased 10 points.
For many men, this means the difference between being able and being unable to have sex said study researcher Ilan Gruenwald, associate director of the neuro-urology unit at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel.
Eight men achieved normal sexual function.
On average, men started to see a benefit three weeks after treatment.
Dr Andrew Kramer, a urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who was not involved in the study, said the results were counter-intuitive given that sound waves used in kidney stone treatments are designed to be destructive.
'It's like saying, take your penis and hit it with a hammer a couple of times,' Kramer said.
The researchers acknowledged their work is preliminary, but, given their results, they said they hope others in their field remain open-minded about the therapy.
The study was published online October 18 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
2011年10月31日星期一
2011年10月30日星期日
`Shock therapy may improve erectile dysfunction`
Good news for those suffering from sever sexual impotence -- scientists have developed a new shock wave therapy which they say could significantly benefit
people who don`t respond well to conventional therapies.
A team at Rambam Healthcare Campus in Haifa who carried out the "extracorporeal shock wave therapy" on 29 men with sever erectile dysfunction (ED) found that the technique significantly improved their sexual function.
The patients in the study continued to see improvements two months after the treatment had stopped, and close to 30 per cent of them achieved normal sexual function and no longer required medications, LiveScience reported.
Extracorporeal shock waves have been used to break up kidney stones, but the sound waves used in the study to treat ED were much less intense and no men reported pain or adverse events during the treatment, the researchers said.
The results, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggest that sound wave therapy may used to treat ED patients who don`t respond well to conventional therapies, they said.
However, the researchers said, the study was small and the results could have been a placebo effect, so more work is needed to validate the findings.
In the study, the participants, aged over 60, underwent 12 shock treatments over nine weeks. One month after the last treatment, participants began taking ED drugs.
Two months after the treatments concluded, the ED scores improved in 75 per cent of the men in the study. Eight men, nearly 30 per cent, had erections in the normal range when
they used an ED pill. Blood flow improved in all the men.
"For many men, this means the difference between being able and being unable to achieve vaginal penetration," said study researcher Ilan Gruenwald, an associate director of the neuro-urology unit at the Medical Center.
However, other experts have expressed doubts over the success of the the therapy.
The results of the study are somewhat counterintuitive, considering that sound waves used in kidney stone treatments are designed to be destructive, said Dr Andrew Kramer, a
urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who was not involved in the study.
"It`s like saying, take your penis and hit it with a hammer a couple of times," Kramer said.
Even if the benefits of extracorporeal shock wave therapy are confirmed by future research, the therapy may never be mainstream, Kramer said. For one reason, it requires a special machine.
The researchers acknowledged their work is preliminary, but, given their results, they said they hope others in their field remain open-minded about the therapy.
people who don`t respond well to conventional therapies.
A team at Rambam Healthcare Campus in Haifa who carried out the "extracorporeal shock wave therapy" on 29 men with sever erectile dysfunction (ED) found that the technique significantly improved their sexual function.
The patients in the study continued to see improvements two months after the treatment had stopped, and close to 30 per cent of them achieved normal sexual function and no longer required medications, LiveScience reported.
Extracorporeal shock waves have been used to break up kidney stones, but the sound waves used in the study to treat ED were much less intense and no men reported pain or adverse events during the treatment, the researchers said.
The results, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, suggest that sound wave therapy may used to treat ED patients who don`t respond well to conventional therapies, they said.
However, the researchers said, the study was small and the results could have been a placebo effect, so more work is needed to validate the findings.
In the study, the participants, aged over 60, underwent 12 shock treatments over nine weeks. One month after the last treatment, participants began taking ED drugs.
Two months after the treatments concluded, the ED scores improved in 75 per cent of the men in the study. Eight men, nearly 30 per cent, had erections in the normal range when
they used an ED pill. Blood flow improved in all the men.
"For many men, this means the difference between being able and being unable to achieve vaginal penetration," said study researcher Ilan Gruenwald, an associate director of the neuro-urology unit at the Medical Center.
However, other experts have expressed doubts over the success of the the therapy.
The results of the study are somewhat counterintuitive, considering that sound waves used in kidney stone treatments are designed to be destructive, said Dr Andrew Kramer, a
urologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who was not involved in the study.
"It`s like saying, take your penis and hit it with a hammer a couple of times," Kramer said.
Even if the benefits of extracorporeal shock wave therapy are confirmed by future research, the therapy may never be mainstream, Kramer said. For one reason, it requires a special machine.
The researchers acknowledged their work is preliminary, but, given their results, they said they hope others in their field remain open-minded about the therapy.
2011年10月27日星期四
Donor dads are meeting in Toronto
Two fathers who live worlds apart — one in the West Bank, the other in California — are meeting in Toronto for the first time this weekend.
The lives of Ismael Khatib, 45, a mechanic, and Reg Green, 82, a journalist, couldn’t be more different. And yet they are bound by a life-altering experience. They both lost their young sons to a gunman’s bullets. And they both allowed their dying children’s organs and tissue to be harvested for transplants.
As a result of two violent deaths — and the generosity of two grieving families — 11 lives were saved. Another two people regained their sight.
Khatib and Green are coming here for a 10-day mission to encourage Canadians to sign donor cards. At a more personal level, they are making the long trek to Canada to honour Ahmed, who was 11 when he died in 2005, and Nicholas, who was 7 when his life ended in 1994.
Their schedule will include a visit to Toronto General Hospital, walks in memory of the boys and organ and tissue donation drives in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7. The donor dads may take in a Maple Leaf game.
On Monday, with the support of MPPs from all parties, Conservative Frank Klees will introduce a bill to create an alert system, much like the Amber Alert, for children under 18 in urgent need of an organ or tissue transplant.
In a recent telephone interview with the Star, Green spoke enthusiastically about his meeting with Khatib. “There is a common thread of giving across a barrier in both his case and ours,” says Green.
The two men have conversed on Skype. Khatib, in a telephone interview from the West Bank, said the face-to-face meeting will bring a measure of good out of tragedy. “Meeting him will increase my conviction that what I did was right,” Khatib said through an interpreter.
Canada is the venue for Green and Kahtib’s first meeting because of the efforts of George Marcello, 56, who received liver transplants in 1995 and 2005. His health challenges have led him to devote himself full-time to fundraising and public-awareness campaigns.
It is Marcello who felt that bringing Green and Khatib to Canada would highlight the role that donors can play and go a long way to improving the dismal sign-up rate in Ontario. A former fitness trainer, he has organized walks through Ontario and across Canada through Step by Step, the charity he runs from his modest home in Little Italy that his parents left him and his siblings. His Torch of Life was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 2001 and has now been carried by children in rallies throughout Canada, the U.S. and Italy.
The visits of the two men are being made possible with help from the National Congress of Italian Canadians, the Canadian Peres Centre for Peace, Step by Step, Iman Ali Roukieh of the Muslim Girls School and several others, including Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian doctor whose three daughters and a niece were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli shelling.
Here are the stories of Nicholas and Ahmed.
Nicholas Green died on Oct. 1, 1994. Seven-year-old Nicholas, his parents, Reg and Maggie, and his sister, Eleanor, 4, were on a European holiday that had started in Switzerland a week before.
Late one night, as they drove down the highway from Naples to Sicily, a car raced up beside them. The two occupants shouted and gestured for Green to pull over. Sensing danger, he accelerated.
“The two cars raced beside each other,” Green said in a recent conversation from his home in La Canada, California. “Then there was a tremendous explosion and the window behind the driver’s window, where the two kids were sleeping, was blown in. A moment later the driver’s window was blown in.”
The car dropped back and disappeared.
Reg and Maggie, in the front seat, were frantic. Maggie looked back; both children seemed to be asleep. Reg sped down the road hoping to get help. About 15 kilometres along they came upon police and ambulances at another accident scene. Reg pulled over, and the extent of Nicholas’s injury became evident.
“When I opened the car door, the interior light came on and Nicholas didn’t move.” He looked closer and saw that the boy’s tongue was sticking out unnaturally. “I had been a journalist long enough to know that was a very bad sign.”
He had been shot in the base of the brain.
Two days later, the doctors told Reg and Maggie that they couldn’t save Nicholas. He was brain dead.
It was Maggie who asked doctors whether organs and tissue from their “magical little child” could be used for transplant.
Reg recreates that terrible moment: “I remember thinking, ‘How are we going to get through the rest of our lives without him?’ But then suddenly there was this possibility that somebody could benefit from this. There was that sense that, although he didn’t need that body any more there were a lot of people out there who desperately needed what that body could give.”
The lives of Ismael Khatib, 45, a mechanic, and Reg Green, 82, a journalist, couldn’t be more different. And yet they are bound by a life-altering experience. They both lost their young sons to a gunman’s bullets. And they both allowed their dying children’s organs and tissue to be harvested for transplants.
As a result of two violent deaths — and the generosity of two grieving families — 11 lives were saved. Another two people regained their sight.
Khatib and Green are coming here for a 10-day mission to encourage Canadians to sign donor cards. At a more personal level, they are making the long trek to Canada to honour Ahmed, who was 11 when he died in 2005, and Nicholas, who was 7 when his life ended in 1994.
Their schedule will include a visit to Toronto General Hospital, walks in memory of the boys and organ and tissue donation drives in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal from Oct. 29 to Nov. 7. The donor dads may take in a Maple Leaf game.
On Monday, with the support of MPPs from all parties, Conservative Frank Klees will introduce a bill to create an alert system, much like the Amber Alert, for children under 18 in urgent need of an organ or tissue transplant.
In a recent telephone interview with the Star, Green spoke enthusiastically about his meeting with Khatib. “There is a common thread of giving across a barrier in both his case and ours,” says Green.
The two men have conversed on Skype. Khatib, in a telephone interview from the West Bank, said the face-to-face meeting will bring a measure of good out of tragedy. “Meeting him will increase my conviction that what I did was right,” Khatib said through an interpreter.
Canada is the venue for Green and Kahtib’s first meeting because of the efforts of George Marcello, 56, who received liver transplants in 1995 and 2005. His health challenges have led him to devote himself full-time to fundraising and public-awareness campaigns.
It is Marcello who felt that bringing Green and Khatib to Canada would highlight the role that donors can play and go a long way to improving the dismal sign-up rate in Ontario. A former fitness trainer, he has organized walks through Ontario and across Canada through Step by Step, the charity he runs from his modest home in Little Italy that his parents left him and his siblings. His Torch of Life was blessed by Pope John Paul II in 2001 and has now been carried by children in rallies throughout Canada, the U.S. and Italy.
The visits of the two men are being made possible with help from the National Congress of Italian Canadians, the Canadian Peres Centre for Peace, Step by Step, Iman Ali Roukieh of the Muslim Girls School and several others, including Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian doctor whose three daughters and a niece were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli shelling.
Here are the stories of Nicholas and Ahmed.
Nicholas Green died on Oct. 1, 1994. Seven-year-old Nicholas, his parents, Reg and Maggie, and his sister, Eleanor, 4, were on a European holiday that had started in Switzerland a week before.
Late one night, as they drove down the highway from Naples to Sicily, a car raced up beside them. The two occupants shouted and gestured for Green to pull over. Sensing danger, he accelerated.
“The two cars raced beside each other,” Green said in a recent conversation from his home in La Canada, California. “Then there was a tremendous explosion and the window behind the driver’s window, where the two kids were sleeping, was blown in. A moment later the driver’s window was blown in.”
The car dropped back and disappeared.
Reg and Maggie, in the front seat, were frantic. Maggie looked back; both children seemed to be asleep. Reg sped down the road hoping to get help. About 15 kilometres along they came upon police and ambulances at another accident scene. Reg pulled over, and the extent of Nicholas’s injury became evident.
“When I opened the car door, the interior light came on and Nicholas didn’t move.” He looked closer and saw that the boy’s tongue was sticking out unnaturally. “I had been a journalist long enough to know that was a very bad sign.”
He had been shot in the base of the brain.
Two days later, the doctors told Reg and Maggie that they couldn’t save Nicholas. He was brain dead.
It was Maggie who asked doctors whether organs and tissue from their “magical little child” could be used for transplant.
Reg recreates that terrible moment: “I remember thinking, ‘How are we going to get through the rest of our lives without him?’ But then suddenly there was this possibility that somebody could benefit from this. There was that sense that, although he didn’t need that body any more there were a lot of people out there who desperately needed what that body could give.”
2011年10月26日星期三
Energy Drinks Give You Wings...and Kidney Stones
In these current times, energy drinks are very common among people of all ages, especially teenagers. We have personal experience with drinking energy drinks, Red Bull specifically, and we know that there can be serious side effects of drinking a lot of such drinks. Lately, there have been more and more problems with the consumption of energy drinks; people passing out or committing crimes when exceeding the recommended amount of these drinks. For example, read the back of any Monster Energy Drink can, and you will find the warning statement cautioning you to not exceed three cans a day. Yet people ignore these warnings, and drink whatever they want, and however much they want of it.
Sarah Gurley, a phlebotomist at Mee Memorial Hospital, has had experience with teenagers coming into the hospital from consuming too many energy drinks. Gurley says, “I’ve seen an increase in young kids with cases of kidney stones related to energy drinks as the main problem.” Not only can you get painful kidney stones (which are like sharp grains of sand traveling through your body) as a side effect, but energy drinks also cause liver problems that are similar to those of alcoholics.
We drink Red Bull constantly, almost on a daily basis. It tastes amazing, makes us feel better, and it even claims to “give you wings.” But both of us have had issues with drinking too much of it and having too much caffeine in our bodies to be healthy. But now we’re smarter about drinking Red Bull; yes, we still drink it a lot, probably too much, but we know if we need to stop because we are informed of the consequences. So next time you drink Red Bull, or Rockstar or Monster, ask yourself this: do you know how much is too
Sarah Gurley, a phlebotomist at Mee Memorial Hospital, has had experience with teenagers coming into the hospital from consuming too many energy drinks. Gurley says, “I’ve seen an increase in young kids with cases of kidney stones related to energy drinks as the main problem.” Not only can you get painful kidney stones (which are like sharp grains of sand traveling through your body) as a side effect, but energy drinks also cause liver problems that are similar to those of alcoholics.
We drink Red Bull constantly, almost on a daily basis. It tastes amazing, makes us feel better, and it even claims to “give you wings.” But both of us have had issues with drinking too much of it and having too much caffeine in our bodies to be healthy. But now we’re smarter about drinking Red Bull; yes, we still drink it a lot, probably too much, but we know if we need to stop because we are informed of the consequences. So next time you drink Red Bull, or Rockstar or Monster, ask yourself this: do you know how much is too
2011年10月25日星期二
Kidney Pain!
Kidney stones are well-known to be one of the most painful experiences that we experience. For those who’ve been through it, it is compared to the pain of child birth. This short article will cover some kidney stone pain symptoms and what to look out for.Kidney stones pain signs and symptoms, in the more mild cases, could be inconvenient. In the much more serious cases, they can require surgery to remove, with enough pain to induce nausea or vomiting.
Initially, kidney stones had been known as the “silent stones”, because they don’t produce symptoms in the onset of forming. However, as the stones grow in size, they can trigger pain simply because they become much more difficult to pass. When the pain shows a pattern, and all other causes are ruled out, the remedy for kidney stones can start. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms can consist of pain in the side, groin or lower back. Once the pain is not started by the position the person is sitting in, or by the position the individual moves to, as he or she looks for relief, this pain can be a symptom of kidney stones. The level of pain from these signs and symptoms can grow and recede in intensity.
Other kidney stone pain signs and symptoms which may be present can include painful urination, traces of blood in the urine, or an urgent feeling to go when it is not necessary. For men, there can also be testicular pain and penile pain. In the event the individual has developed an infection within the urinary tract, with the kidney stone, there might be chills or fever that accompany the pain. The good news is that most people have the ability to pass a kidney stone in 24-48 hours, with a large consumption of fluid.
Also, you will find remedies for your pain, as the stone is being passed. These treatments can include over-the-counter medicines. In the event the kidney stone pain signs and symptoms aren’t handled with the over-the-counter medicines, patients can ask their doctors for doctor prescribed narcotics or intravenous prescription medicines, if the person is nauseated or is prone to vomiting. For all those that are having much more difficulty passing the stone or stones, you will find choices available for them. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms could be managed with prescription narcotics while other medicines are now being administered to help the stone or stones pass more rapidly.
For people that have kidney stones which will not pass on their very own, the procedure, lithotripsy is used. Lithotripsy is a process that utilizes shock waves to break up stones so that they can pass. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms should abate after this procedure, because it breaks down the stones that are causing the pain, to help them pass much more rapidly. For much more extreme cases, you will find a couple of surgical methods that may be used to get rid of the stones and the pain.Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms can be handled in a variety of ways which will help the patient manage the pain, or eliminate the cause.
With advances in technologies, these “silent stones” could be dealt with quickly to get rid of the pain they cause for good. Kidney stone pain symptoms no longer need to be endured for long periods of time. Everything can be done quickly and efficiently to end the suffering kidney stones can cause.
Initially, kidney stones had been known as the “silent stones”, because they don’t produce symptoms in the onset of forming. However, as the stones grow in size, they can trigger pain simply because they become much more difficult to pass. When the pain shows a pattern, and all other causes are ruled out, the remedy for kidney stones can start. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms can consist of pain in the side, groin or lower back. Once the pain is not started by the position the person is sitting in, or by the position the individual moves to, as he or she looks for relief, this pain can be a symptom of kidney stones. The level of pain from these signs and symptoms can grow and recede in intensity.
Other kidney stone pain signs and symptoms which may be present can include painful urination, traces of blood in the urine, or an urgent feeling to go when it is not necessary. For men, there can also be testicular pain and penile pain. In the event the individual has developed an infection within the urinary tract, with the kidney stone, there might be chills or fever that accompany the pain. The good news is that most people have the ability to pass a kidney stone in 24-48 hours, with a large consumption of fluid.
Also, you will find remedies for your pain, as the stone is being passed. These treatments can include over-the-counter medicines. In the event the kidney stone pain signs and symptoms aren’t handled with the over-the-counter medicines, patients can ask their doctors for doctor prescribed narcotics or intravenous prescription medicines, if the person is nauseated or is prone to vomiting. For all those that are having much more difficulty passing the stone or stones, you will find choices available for them. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms could be managed with prescription narcotics while other medicines are now being administered to help the stone or stones pass more rapidly.
For people that have kidney stones which will not pass on their very own, the procedure, lithotripsy is used. Lithotripsy is a process that utilizes shock waves to break up stones so that they can pass. Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms should abate after this procedure, because it breaks down the stones that are causing the pain, to help them pass much more rapidly. For much more extreme cases, you will find a couple of surgical methods that may be used to get rid of the stones and the pain.Kidney stone pain signs and symptoms can be handled in a variety of ways which will help the patient manage the pain, or eliminate the cause.
With advances in technologies, these “silent stones” could be dealt with quickly to get rid of the pain they cause for good. Kidney stone pain symptoms no longer need to be endured for long periods of time. Everything can be done quickly and efficiently to end the suffering kidney stones can cause.
2011年10月24日星期一
Is This the End of Popping Vitamins?
A succession of large-scale human studies, including two published earlier this month in leading medical journals, suggests that multivitamins and many other dietary supplements often don't have health benefits—and in some cases may even cause harm.
The data have prompted some nutrition researchers to say taking vitamins is a waste of money for those without a specific nutrient deficiency or chronic illness. Such findings have also fueled a debate about whether the field should continue conducting expensive human trials to figure out whether particular supplements affect health.
"The better the quality of the research, the less benefit [supplements] showed," says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University. "It's fair to say from the research that supplements don't make healthy people healthier."
For instance, vitamins B-6 and B-12 are often touted as being good for the heart, but several studies have failed to find that they lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according the Office of Dietary Supplements, part of the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C hasn't been shown in many studies to lower a person's risk of getting a cold. Calcium, while important to bone health, doesn't lower risk of heart disease or cancer and may increase risk of kidney stones.
"We have an enormous body of data telling us that plant-rich diets are very healthy," says Josephine Briggs, head of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, another NIH center. "As soon as we take these various antioxidants[and other nutrients] out and put them in a pill, we're not consistently getting a benefit."
Researchers and nutritionists are still recommending dietary supplements for the malnourished or people with certain nutrient deficiencies or medical conditions. For instance folic acid—the supplement form of folate——reduces the likelihood of a common birth defect if taken by pregnant women.
Studying the effects of vitamins and supplements in the real world is difficult, since people eat foods with multiple nutrients that can interact with supplements and skew results. And observational trials can only show an association, not cause and effect.
That is one reason the Council on Responsible Nutrition, which represents the supplement industry, says it is too early to say supplements don't have health benefits. Duffy MacKay, the group's vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, says lengthier studies may be required to show the benefits of some supplements.
Micronutrients, which include antioxidants like vitamin C, hormones like vitamin D and metals like iron, are essential to the body in small amounts because they help facilitate important reactions in and between cells. Too much of them, however, can cause problems.
The effectiveness of many dietary supplements remains untested and makers aren't required to do tests before selling a product. Still, about half of Americans reported taking at least one supplement a month in 2006, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published in April of this year. The supplement industry brought in $28 billion in sales in 2010, up 4.4% from 2009, according to Nutrition Business Journal, an industry trade publication.
Vitamin users may derive a benefit from the placebo effect, experts say. And they often are convinced the supplements make them feel better, regardless of what studies show.
"The thing you do with [reports of studies] is just ride them out, and literally we see no impact on our business," said Joseph Fortunato, chief executive of supplement retailer GNC Corp., according to a transcript of the company's third-quarter conference call with analysts last week.
"Consumers believe in our products," a spokesman for GNC said. GNC's revenue grew 15.5% in the third quarter of this year compared to a year ago and the stock, which closed at $25.08, is up 0.5% year-to-date.
Of growing concern to many scientists are the increasing hints of harm from vitamins.
The first red flags started emerging nearly 20 years ago. Researchers thought from early work that extra beta-carotene could help prevent lung cancer, but two randomized trials published in 1994 and 1996 showed an increased rate of lung cancer among smokers who took beta-carotene supplements.
Oncologist Mark Heaney of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York showed in laboratory work in 2008 that vitamin C appeared to inhibit the effect of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment. Subsequent research has shown vitamin C may inadvertently protect cancer cells more than normal cells.
A study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, known as the SELECT trial, found that vitamin E—previously thought to lower risk of prostate cancer—actually increased the chance slightly. The risk could be mitigated by the simultaneous consumption of another micronutrient, selenium, the study says.
Multivitamins aren't faring much better. Results from the Iowa Women's Health Study, published earlier this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found in a sample of over 38,000 older women, multivitamin use over time was linked with a slight but statistically significant increased risk of earlier mortality.
A studyof 1,900 men and women in 15 cities across Europe published in 2008 in the European Journal of Nutrition followed healthy elderly individuals for 10 years. Among smokers in the study, those who took multivitamins were more likely to die younger than smokers who didn't.
Another large trial examining postmenopausal women in the NIH's Women's Health Initiative found no discernible impact from taking a multivitamin on preventing breast, lung or colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease or premature death, according to the 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Some experts warn against overemphasizing the potential harm of multivitamins because it isn't clear how that statistical uptick in risk of death would translate into actual increased risk in real life.
The consistent failure to show benefits has led researchers at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and elsewhere to call for more lab experiments and small-scale studies of how the nutrients work, after over a decade of pursuing large, clinical trials of particular supplements' effectiveness.
"We've missed a step," says Alan Kristal, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington who studies the links between diet and cancer. "We need to understand the mechanism by which these things are acting."
Roberta Anding, a nutritionist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, says some people need multivitamins and other supplements, but she is cautious about the risk from high doses of micronutrients. "It's no longer nutrition when the doses become high, it's pharmacology," she says.
The best way to get micronutrients is through a balanced diet, she says.
"If you're looking at this as, 'At least I'm [taking a multivitamin],' but you're not exercising or eating well, then it is a waste of money," says Ms. Anding, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, a research and advocacy group.
The data have prompted some nutrition researchers to say taking vitamins is a waste of money for those without a specific nutrient deficiency or chronic illness. Such findings have also fueled a debate about whether the field should continue conducting expensive human trials to figure out whether particular supplements affect health.
"The better the quality of the research, the less benefit [supplements] showed," says Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University. "It's fair to say from the research that supplements don't make healthy people healthier."
For instance, vitamins B-6 and B-12 are often touted as being good for the heart, but several studies have failed to find that they lower risk of cardiovascular disease, according the Office of Dietary Supplements, part of the National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C hasn't been shown in many studies to lower a person's risk of getting a cold. Calcium, while important to bone health, doesn't lower risk of heart disease or cancer and may increase risk of kidney stones.
"We have an enormous body of data telling us that plant-rich diets are very healthy," says Josephine Briggs, head of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, another NIH center. "As soon as we take these various antioxidants[and other nutrients] out and put them in a pill, we're not consistently getting a benefit."
Researchers and nutritionists are still recommending dietary supplements for the malnourished or people with certain nutrient deficiencies or medical conditions. For instance folic acid—the supplement form of folate——reduces the likelihood of a common birth defect if taken by pregnant women.
Studying the effects of vitamins and supplements in the real world is difficult, since people eat foods with multiple nutrients that can interact with supplements and skew results. And observational trials can only show an association, not cause and effect.
That is one reason the Council on Responsible Nutrition, which represents the supplement industry, says it is too early to say supplements don't have health benefits. Duffy MacKay, the group's vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs, says lengthier studies may be required to show the benefits of some supplements.
Micronutrients, which include antioxidants like vitamin C, hormones like vitamin D and metals like iron, are essential to the body in small amounts because they help facilitate important reactions in and between cells. Too much of them, however, can cause problems.
The effectiveness of many dietary supplements remains untested and makers aren't required to do tests before selling a product. Still, about half of Americans reported taking at least one supplement a month in 2006, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey published in April of this year. The supplement industry brought in $28 billion in sales in 2010, up 4.4% from 2009, according to Nutrition Business Journal, an industry trade publication.
Vitamin users may derive a benefit from the placebo effect, experts say. And they often are convinced the supplements make them feel better, regardless of what studies show.
"The thing you do with [reports of studies] is just ride them out, and literally we see no impact on our business," said Joseph Fortunato, chief executive of supplement retailer GNC Corp., according to a transcript of the company's third-quarter conference call with analysts last week.
"Consumers believe in our products," a spokesman for GNC said. GNC's revenue grew 15.5% in the third quarter of this year compared to a year ago and the stock, which closed at $25.08, is up 0.5% year-to-date.
Of growing concern to many scientists are the increasing hints of harm from vitamins.
The first red flags started emerging nearly 20 years ago. Researchers thought from early work that extra beta-carotene could help prevent lung cancer, but two randomized trials published in 1994 and 1996 showed an increased rate of lung cancer among smokers who took beta-carotene supplements.
Oncologist Mark Heaney of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York showed in laboratory work in 2008 that vitamin C appeared to inhibit the effect of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment. Subsequent research has shown vitamin C may inadvertently protect cancer cells more than normal cells.
A study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association, known as the SELECT trial, found that vitamin E—previously thought to lower risk of prostate cancer—actually increased the chance slightly. The risk could be mitigated by the simultaneous consumption of another micronutrient, selenium, the study says.
Multivitamins aren't faring much better. Results from the Iowa Women's Health Study, published earlier this month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found in a sample of over 38,000 older women, multivitamin use over time was linked with a slight but statistically significant increased risk of earlier mortality.
A studyof 1,900 men and women in 15 cities across Europe published in 2008 in the European Journal of Nutrition followed healthy elderly individuals for 10 years. Among smokers in the study, those who took multivitamins were more likely to die younger than smokers who didn't.
Another large trial examining postmenopausal women in the NIH's Women's Health Initiative found no discernible impact from taking a multivitamin on preventing breast, lung or colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease or premature death, according to the 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Some experts warn against overemphasizing the potential harm of multivitamins because it isn't clear how that statistical uptick in risk of death would translate into actual increased risk in real life.
The consistent failure to show benefits has led researchers at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and elsewhere to call for more lab experiments and small-scale studies of how the nutrients work, after over a decade of pursuing large, clinical trials of particular supplements' effectiveness.
"We've missed a step," says Alan Kristal, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington who studies the links between diet and cancer. "We need to understand the mechanism by which these things are acting."
Roberta Anding, a nutritionist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, says some people need multivitamins and other supplements, but she is cautious about the risk from high doses of micronutrients. "It's no longer nutrition when the doses become high, it's pharmacology," she says.
The best way to get micronutrients is through a balanced diet, she says.
"If you're looking at this as, 'At least I'm [taking a multivitamin],' but you're not exercising or eating well, then it is a waste of money," says Ms. Anding, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, a research and advocacy group.
2011年10月20日星期四
Abbott Northwestern patient left 'writhing in pain' sues
"Hi, love," Sarah May Casareto greeted Larry V. King as he lay on a gurney before surgery. As they wheeled down the hall, he recalled in court records, she told him that he'd have to "man up" because they couldn't give him a lot of medication.
The next 57 minutes of surgery were excruciating, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court that accuses the drug-addicted former nurse of skimming his narcotics, which left him "writhing in pain" during a medical procedure for kidney stones last year at a Minneapolis hospital.
The lawsuit filed by King, a Carver County sheriff's deputy, follows the same scenario laid out by prosecutors who charged Casareto, 34, in February with felony theft of a controlled substance for allegedly stealing the powerful painkiller.
Casareto, of Forest Lake, entered an Alford plea of guilty Sept. 1 to a fifth-degree controlled substance crime for possessing Fentanyl, a high-powered painkiller, and was sentenced to probation in connection with the Nov. 8 incident at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The plea enabled Casareto to maintain her innocence while acknowledging ample evidence to convict her.
The suit, which seeks at least $50,000 in damages, alleges that she was "negligent and careless" in her care for King, 57, of Bloomington. The suit also names Abbott as a defendant.
It contends that Abbott "knew or should have known [before the procedure] that Casareto was exhibiting drug-seeking behavior and that she had become dependent upon narcotic pain medications." It also notes that Abbott officials knew that she had failed "on at least six different occasions" to properly handle patients' pain medication obtained from the hospital pharmacy.
King's attorney, Tony Nemo, called the lawsuit reflective of "a growing problem" that should draw closer scrutiny to drug diversion, or the theft of medications intended for patients.
"One of the things I know Mr. King is hoping is that this case may cause Twin Cities hospitals to reveal procedures and protocols to, if not prevent, at least minimize this problem in the future," he said.
The Casareto case and others involving medical staffers have prompted Minnesota hospitals to join with the Drug Enforcement Administration, local police and health regulators in recent months to improve security measures. The new coalition hopes to recommend tougher controls early next year. State regulators say drug pilfering by doctors and nurses isn't new -- but the latest cases come with a disturbing wrinkle, leaving some patients in excruciating pain as they are robbed of needed medications. In the past year, seven nurses and aides have been caught stealing narcotics from hospitals and nursing homes across Minnesota to feed their own habits or to sell drugs on the street.
Casareto's attorney, Brian Toder, said Wednesday that he believes the lawsuit is no more valid than the criminal charges, which did not result in a conviction. Once Casareto's three years of probation is over, the case will be expunged from her record.
Hospital spokeswoman Gloria O'Connell declined to comment on the suit, saying, "We can't talk about pending litigation."
The suit did not name the surgeon, Dr. Subbarao Inampudi, as a defendant because he "began the procedure with the reasonable assumption that [Casareto] would follow his orders and administer" the painkiller as he directed, Nemo said Wednesday.
According to the lawsuit, King said that his doctor told him he would not likely feel pain during the procedure, and when King's pain was obvious, Inampudi repeatedly ordered Casareto, who struggled to stay awake and was rocking back and forth, to "get back to her patient and figure out why the pain medication was not working."
The next 57 minutes of surgery were excruciating, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court that accuses the drug-addicted former nurse of skimming his narcotics, which left him "writhing in pain" during a medical procedure for kidney stones last year at a Minneapolis hospital.
The lawsuit filed by King, a Carver County sheriff's deputy, follows the same scenario laid out by prosecutors who charged Casareto, 34, in February with felony theft of a controlled substance for allegedly stealing the powerful painkiller.
Casareto, of Forest Lake, entered an Alford plea of guilty Sept. 1 to a fifth-degree controlled substance crime for possessing Fentanyl, a high-powered painkiller, and was sentenced to probation in connection with the Nov. 8 incident at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The plea enabled Casareto to maintain her innocence while acknowledging ample evidence to convict her.
The suit, which seeks at least $50,000 in damages, alleges that she was "negligent and careless" in her care for King, 57, of Bloomington. The suit also names Abbott as a defendant.
It contends that Abbott "knew or should have known [before the procedure] that Casareto was exhibiting drug-seeking behavior and that she had become dependent upon narcotic pain medications." It also notes that Abbott officials knew that she had failed "on at least six different occasions" to properly handle patients' pain medication obtained from the hospital pharmacy.
King's attorney, Tony Nemo, called the lawsuit reflective of "a growing problem" that should draw closer scrutiny to drug diversion, or the theft of medications intended for patients.
"One of the things I know Mr. King is hoping is that this case may cause Twin Cities hospitals to reveal procedures and protocols to, if not prevent, at least minimize this problem in the future," he said.
The Casareto case and others involving medical staffers have prompted Minnesota hospitals to join with the Drug Enforcement Administration, local police and health regulators in recent months to improve security measures. The new coalition hopes to recommend tougher controls early next year. State regulators say drug pilfering by doctors and nurses isn't new -- but the latest cases come with a disturbing wrinkle, leaving some patients in excruciating pain as they are robbed of needed medications. In the past year, seven nurses and aides have been caught stealing narcotics from hospitals and nursing homes across Minnesota to feed their own habits or to sell drugs on the street.
Casareto's attorney, Brian Toder, said Wednesday that he believes the lawsuit is no more valid than the criminal charges, which did not result in a conviction. Once Casareto's three years of probation is over, the case will be expunged from her record.
Hospital spokeswoman Gloria O'Connell declined to comment on the suit, saying, "We can't talk about pending litigation."
The suit did not name the surgeon, Dr. Subbarao Inampudi, as a defendant because he "began the procedure with the reasonable assumption that [Casareto] would follow his orders and administer" the painkiller as he directed, Nemo said Wednesday.
According to the lawsuit, King said that his doctor told him he would not likely feel pain during the procedure, and when King's pain was obvious, Inampudi repeatedly ordered Casareto, who struggled to stay awake and was rocking back and forth, to "get back to her patient and figure out why the pain medication was not working."
2011年10月19日星期三
Patient Sues Hospital, Nurse in Painkiller Theft
Hearing Larry King describe his kidney stone surgery from last November can make anyone squirm.
“It felt to me like someone was taking needles and pushing them down through your back and into your kidney,” says King.
On Tuesday, King filed a lawsuit against Allina Health Systems, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and his former nurse, Sarah Casareto.
Earlier this year, Hennepin County prosecutors accused Casareto of stealing King’s pain medication during surgery. Through a plea deal, the charge was dismissed. As long as Casareto does not violate her three year probation, she will avoid jail time, fines, and her record will remain clean.
“I think that was one of the deciding factors with going forward with the civil case. Justice was not served,” said King’s attorney, Tony Nemo from the Meshbesher and Spence law firm. “Michael Vick was mean to some dogs. He got 23 months. This woman was mean to a patient and walked. She's not going to walk in this case."
King says everything started off normal at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Nov. 8, 2010. But when his nurse started wheeling him toward radiology, things started to get weird.
“It was at that point she said to m, 'You are going to have to man up here and take some pain because you are going into surgery and we can't give you that much medication,'” said King. "That made me nervous because my radiologist said it would be fine and, ''You won't feel any significant pain.'”
King said he felt extraordinary pain and heard conversations going on around him during surgery, but said Casareto was noticeably absent.
“At one point, I could hear him talk to the nurse again and say, 'Get over here.' I didn't know where she was, but at one point when I was locked up tight -- I don't know if I was panicking at that point, but I lifted myself up with my forearm and turned to look where she was. I couldn't see her. I didn't know where she was. Doctor took his forearm and just rested it on my back,” recalled King. “Finally, a tech reached over and said "breathe" and put me out. At that point, I don't remember anything more.”
That was about half way through the hour-long procedure.
“He was supposed to be given Fentanyl and Versed, which gives you sort of amnesia,” said Nemo. “So, the fact that he remembers anything is shocking.”
King’s attorney and Hennepin County prosecutors have said he was given about a third of the medication Casareto had signed out from the hospital. Coworkers told investigators she was acting bizarre, dropping syringes, staggered in the operating room and was later found with at least two unlabeled syringes in her pockets.
“Falling asleep, rocking back and forth, and talking about going to a happy place. This guy was having a procedure done without anesthetic. He wasn't in a happy place and she was not going to put him there,” said Nemo. “She was in such a state, I don't think she could add and subtract -- and she could have easily killed him by overdosing him.”
Casareto’s lawyer, Brian Toder, said statements from the same surgical staff contradict what King claims. After the criminal case was dismissed, Toder says he is surprised by the civil suit.
During the criminal proceedings earlier this year, Casareto missed some court appearances because she was in drug treatment. Toder says she is no longer in treatment and said she never lost nursing license.
“She simply agreed not to practice until after there was resolution to the criminal case, followed by an appearance before the Nursing Board," Toder said.
“It felt to me like someone was taking needles and pushing them down through your back and into your kidney,” says King.
On Tuesday, King filed a lawsuit against Allina Health Systems, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, and his former nurse, Sarah Casareto.
Earlier this year, Hennepin County prosecutors accused Casareto of stealing King’s pain medication during surgery. Through a plea deal, the charge was dismissed. As long as Casareto does not violate her three year probation, she will avoid jail time, fines, and her record will remain clean.
“I think that was one of the deciding factors with going forward with the civil case. Justice was not served,” said King’s attorney, Tony Nemo from the Meshbesher and Spence law firm. “Michael Vick was mean to some dogs. He got 23 months. This woman was mean to a patient and walked. She's not going to walk in this case."
King says everything started off normal at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Nov. 8, 2010. But when his nurse started wheeling him toward radiology, things started to get weird.
“It was at that point she said to m, 'You are going to have to man up here and take some pain because you are going into surgery and we can't give you that much medication,'” said King. "That made me nervous because my radiologist said it would be fine and, ''You won't feel any significant pain.'”
King said he felt extraordinary pain and heard conversations going on around him during surgery, but said Casareto was noticeably absent.
“At one point, I could hear him talk to the nurse again and say, 'Get over here.' I didn't know where she was, but at one point when I was locked up tight -- I don't know if I was panicking at that point, but I lifted myself up with my forearm and turned to look where she was. I couldn't see her. I didn't know where she was. Doctor took his forearm and just rested it on my back,” recalled King. “Finally, a tech reached over and said "breathe" and put me out. At that point, I don't remember anything more.”
That was about half way through the hour-long procedure.
“He was supposed to be given Fentanyl and Versed, which gives you sort of amnesia,” said Nemo. “So, the fact that he remembers anything is shocking.”
King’s attorney and Hennepin County prosecutors have said he was given about a third of the medication Casareto had signed out from the hospital. Coworkers told investigators she was acting bizarre, dropping syringes, staggered in the operating room and was later found with at least two unlabeled syringes in her pockets.
“Falling asleep, rocking back and forth, and talking about going to a happy place. This guy was having a procedure done without anesthetic. He wasn't in a happy place and she was not going to put him there,” said Nemo. “She was in such a state, I don't think she could add and subtract -- and she could have easily killed him by overdosing him.”
Casareto’s lawyer, Brian Toder, said statements from the same surgical staff contradict what King claims. After the criminal case was dismissed, Toder says he is surprised by the civil suit.
During the criminal proceedings earlier this year, Casareto missed some court appearances because she was in drug treatment. Toder says she is no longer in treatment and said she never lost nursing license.
“She simply agreed not to practice until after there was resolution to the criminal case, followed by an appearance before the Nursing Board," Toder said.
2011年10月18日星期二
Gallstones and Kidney Stones Closely Related
A new study revealed that people with gallstones have heightened risk of developing kidney stone as well and vice versa. The researchers already know from the start that diabetes, unhealthy diet and obesity put people at higher risk of developing both kidney and gallbladder stones. But even though the identified factors were taken into account, the link between the two disorders remained.
It is not uncommon to see a patient with both the disorders, researchers said. Dr. Brian Matlaga, John Hopkins Univ. of Medicine urologist, said that the new study will help them understand the relationship between the two disorders. Matlaga, who wasn’t part of the team, was asked to further comment on the latest breakthrough but said he is still out of words to comment on the new study.
Many doctors were still unable to fully explain the relationship between the two disorders mainly because gallbladder stones are formed differently as compared to kidney stones. Kidney stones are formed due to excessive calcium while gallbladder stones are formed from excessive cholesterol.
Data used in the study came from 3 different long term medical and scientific studies conducted by doctors and nurses in a specific span of time. For about 14 to 24 years, more than 240,000 individuals were involved in the study. Over the span of time indicated, about 18,500 individuals were reported to have developed gallbladder stones while 5,100 were diagnosed with kidney stones. Currently, doctors advised the public to observe preventive measures in order to reduce the risk of developing both the disorders until the link between the two will be fully unlocked by scientists in the future.
It is not uncommon to see a patient with both the disorders, researchers said. Dr. Brian Matlaga, John Hopkins Univ. of Medicine urologist, said that the new study will help them understand the relationship between the two disorders. Matlaga, who wasn’t part of the team, was asked to further comment on the latest breakthrough but said he is still out of words to comment on the new study.
Many doctors were still unable to fully explain the relationship between the two disorders mainly because gallbladder stones are formed differently as compared to kidney stones. Kidney stones are formed due to excessive calcium while gallbladder stones are formed from excessive cholesterol.
Data used in the study came from 3 different long term medical and scientific studies conducted by doctors and nurses in a specific span of time. For about 14 to 24 years, more than 240,000 individuals were involved in the study. Over the span of time indicated, about 18,500 individuals were reported to have developed gallbladder stones while 5,100 were diagnosed with kidney stones. Currently, doctors advised the public to observe preventive measures in order to reduce the risk of developing both the disorders until the link between the two will be fully unlocked by scientists in the future.
2011年10月17日星期一
Your paper probably saved my life
By avidly reading the Grimsby Lincoln News an Orange County man not only has his life but a killer idea for a Halloween costume.
Jim Gauderman has been reading The News for the past five years after he became acquainted with someone from the area. Wanting to learn more about the area, he started subscribing to the paper and has been an avid reader ever since. After becoming ill after a hospital stay to treat a kidney stone, Gauderman was unable to grab the paper, which was piling up in his P.O. box. Having learned about Gauderman’s plight, a friend from Smithville (who Gauderman wanted to remain anonymous) sent him a story from The News on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at some of Niagara’s hospitals.
Gauderman received the e-mail while in his doctor’s office. He showed his doctor, demanded a stool sample be taken and awaited a diagnosis. Fifteen hours later, Gauderman was diagnosed with C. difficile.
“Your paper probably saved my life,” said Gauderman from California. “That article described exactly what I was experiencing — abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever. The bottom line is, if I hadn’t gotten that e-mail, and I had already lost 20 pounds by then, I was on my way out, I absolutely was. And to the person who sent it to me, by sending that they probably saved my life.”
C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and other serious intestinal conditions. It is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients in the industrialized world.
Gauderman first went to hospital July 26 to pass a kidney stone. He was there for four days and at some point came down with an infection. His time at home was spent dealing with extreme stomach pain, aches and diarrhea. Four days after he left hospital he was right back there, diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Doctors began pumping him full of antibiotics. The diarrhea was getting worse, up to 15 times a day, and he was getting weaker. The normally active 70-year-old Gauderman was rapidly losing weight.
Doctors tested him for diverticulitis, appendicitis and colon cancer all the while pumping his body with antibiotics. Finally, on Aug. 11, Gauderman was tested for C. difficile and the diagnosis came. An infectious disease doctor was called in and he ordered Gauderman taken off antibiotics immediately.
“They just kept giving me antibiotics, which is like throwing gasoline on a raging fire,” he said. “It’s the worse possible thing. I saw the infectious disease doctor yesterday and he told me from now on I can’t take any antibiotics without first talking to an infectious disease specialist or I will have this again.”
He was then given medication to treat the bacterial infection and after three days, things finally began to improve. He stayed on the medication for 10 days and all was well, for two weeks.
Then the symptoms started to return. He was on medication for another 10 days, only to have C. difficile return for a third time. Gauderman is now taking a double-dose of the medication, which costs $62.50 a pill which is luckily covered by insurance, for 14 days.
“It’s really bad when you have to get diagnosed from a newspaper article 3,000 miles away,” said Gauderman. “But the bottom line is, it’s what made the difference and thanks to you guys, I’m still alive.”
Gauderman also credits the newspaper with his Halloween costume for this year. He plans to dress up in Night of the Living Dead style with a T-shirt reading “Got C. diff?” and “The Diffinator” on the back.
“That story, and the person who sent it to me through your paper, probably saved my life,” he said. “And you know how serious it is, you’ve had death there.”
The Niagara Health System declared an outbreak of Clostridium difficile in May at its St. Catharines General site and in June at Greater Niagara General Hospital in Niagara Falls and its Welland Hospital site. In total, 36 people have died.
Jim Gauderman has been reading The News for the past five years after he became acquainted with someone from the area. Wanting to learn more about the area, he started subscribing to the paper and has been an avid reader ever since. After becoming ill after a hospital stay to treat a kidney stone, Gauderman was unable to grab the paper, which was piling up in his P.O. box. Having learned about Gauderman’s plight, a friend from Smithville (who Gauderman wanted to remain anonymous) sent him a story from The News on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at some of Niagara’s hospitals.
Gauderman received the e-mail while in his doctor’s office. He showed his doctor, demanded a stool sample be taken and awaited a diagnosis. Fifteen hours later, Gauderman was diagnosed with C. difficile.
“Your paper probably saved my life,” said Gauderman from California. “That article described exactly what I was experiencing — abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever. The bottom line is, if I hadn’t gotten that e-mail, and I had already lost 20 pounds by then, I was on my way out, I absolutely was. And to the person who sent it to me, by sending that they probably saved my life.”
C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and other serious intestinal conditions. It is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients in the industrialized world.
Gauderman first went to hospital July 26 to pass a kidney stone. He was there for four days and at some point came down with an infection. His time at home was spent dealing with extreme stomach pain, aches and diarrhea. Four days after he left hospital he was right back there, diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Doctors began pumping him full of antibiotics. The diarrhea was getting worse, up to 15 times a day, and he was getting weaker. The normally active 70-year-old Gauderman was rapidly losing weight.
Doctors tested him for diverticulitis, appendicitis and colon cancer all the while pumping his body with antibiotics. Finally, on Aug. 11, Gauderman was tested for C. difficile and the diagnosis came. An infectious disease doctor was called in and he ordered Gauderman taken off antibiotics immediately.
“They just kept giving me antibiotics, which is like throwing gasoline on a raging fire,” he said. “It’s the worse possible thing. I saw the infectious disease doctor yesterday and he told me from now on I can’t take any antibiotics without first talking to an infectious disease specialist or I will have this again.”
He was then given medication to treat the bacterial infection and after three days, things finally began to improve. He stayed on the medication for 10 days and all was well, for two weeks.
Then the symptoms started to return. He was on medication for another 10 days, only to have C. difficile return for a third time. Gauderman is now taking a double-dose of the medication, which costs $62.50 a pill which is luckily covered by insurance, for 14 days.
“It’s really bad when you have to get diagnosed from a newspaper article 3,000 miles away,” said Gauderman. “But the bottom line is, it’s what made the difference and thanks to you guys, I’m still alive.”
Gauderman also credits the newspaper with his Halloween costume for this year. He plans to dress up in Night of the Living Dead style with a T-shirt reading “Got C. diff?” and “The Diffinator” on the back.
“That story, and the person who sent it to me through your paper, probably saved my life,” he said. “And you know how serious it is, you’ve had death there.”
The Niagara Health System declared an outbreak of Clostridium difficile in May at its St. Catharines General site and in June at Greater Niagara General Hospital in Niagara Falls and its Welland Hospital site. In total, 36 people have died.
2011年10月16日星期日
Study links kidney stones and gallstones
People who have had a kidney stoneseem to have a heightened risk of gallstones -- and vice versa, according to a new study.
Researchers already know that obesity, diabetes and having a generally unhealthy diet put people at risk for both types of stones. But even when those common risks were taken into account, the link remained.
The report "raises our antenna to this shared relationship between these two disorders," said Dr. Brian Matlaga, a urologist at theJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
"From an anecdotal standpoint, certainly it's not an uncommon scenario that a patient would have had both," Matlaga, who wasn't involved in the new research, told Reuters Health. But, he continued, "I'm a little bit at a loss trying to define what that relationship would be."
That's because stones in the kidney and gallbladder form differently, he said, and are made of two different things -- kidney stones of calcium and gallstones of cholesterol, most of the time.
Data for the current analysis came from three different long-term studies of nurses and doctors who completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, then reported any new medical conditions every two years afterward. In total, more than 240,000 people were followed for between 14 and 24 years.
Over that time, there were about 5,100 new kidney stones diagnosed and close to 18,500 new cases of gallstones.
Depending on the population -- male or female, older or younger -- people with a history of gallstones were between 26 and 32 percent more likely to get a kidneystone than people who hadn't ever had gallstones.
And the link also went in the opposite direction. A past history of kidney stones meant study participants were between 17 and 51 percent more likely to report a new gallstone.
That was after factoring in the impact of age, diabetes, high blood pressure, weight and certain aspects of diet on the risk of both kinds of stones.
Researchers led by Eric Taylor from the Maine Medical Center in Portland said it's possible that a shift in the type of bacteria in the intestines might somehow predispose people to both kidney stones and gallstones. But, Taylor said, "the fairest thing is that we just don't know" why the two would be linked.
In their report in the Journal of Urology the researchers echoed Matlaga's call for more detailed research into any explanations for a common cause -- which might help doctors prevent or treat both kidney stones and gallstones, they added.
"They are really two different kinds of stones, so the relationship is not going to be simple between the two conditions," Taylor told Reuters Health.
Matlaga said that for now, there are steps people can take to reduce their risk of both gallstones and kidney stones, even if they've already had one condition.
"You'd like to try to minimize those common risk factors and work on things like weight loss and cholesterol control," he said.
Taylor agreed that the findings "emphasize the importance of healthy diet and healthy weight."
Researchers already know that obesity, diabetes and having a generally unhealthy diet put people at risk for both types of stones. But even when those common risks were taken into account, the link remained.
The report "raises our antenna to this shared relationship between these two disorders," said Dr. Brian Matlaga, a urologist at theJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
"From an anecdotal standpoint, certainly it's not an uncommon scenario that a patient would have had both," Matlaga, who wasn't involved in the new research, told Reuters Health. But, he continued, "I'm a little bit at a loss trying to define what that relationship would be."
That's because stones in the kidney and gallbladder form differently, he said, and are made of two different things -- kidney stones of calcium and gallstones of cholesterol, most of the time.
Data for the current analysis came from three different long-term studies of nurses and doctors who completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire, then reported any new medical conditions every two years afterward. In total, more than 240,000 people were followed for between 14 and 24 years.
Over that time, there were about 5,100 new kidney stones diagnosed and close to 18,500 new cases of gallstones.
Depending on the population -- male or female, older or younger -- people with a history of gallstones were between 26 and 32 percent more likely to get a kidney
And the link also went in the opposite direction. A past history of kidney stones meant study participants were between 17 and 51 percent more likely to report a new gallstone.
That was after factoring in the impact of age, diabetes, high blood pressure, weight and certain aspects of diet on the risk of both kinds of stones.
Researchers led by Eric Taylor from the Maine Medical Center in Portland said it's possible that a shift in the type of bacteria in the intestines might somehow predispose people to both kidney stones and gallstones. But, Taylor said, "the fairest thing is that we just don't know" why the two would be linked.
In their report in the Journal of Urology the researchers echoed Matlaga's call for more detailed research into any explanations for a common cause -- which might help doctors prevent or treat both kidney stones and gallstones, they added.
"They are really two different kinds of stones, so the relationship is not going to be simple between the two conditions," Taylor told Reuters Health.
Matlaga said that for now, there are steps people can take to reduce their risk of both gallstones and kidney stones, even if they've already had one condition.
"You'd like to try to minimize those common risk factors and work on things like weight loss and cholesterol control," he said.
Taylor agreed that the findings "emphasize the importance of healthy diet and healthy weight."
2011年10月13日星期四
Cancelled op prolongs woman's pain
A GRIEVING widow was seconds away from being anaesthetised and wheeled into theatre when she was told her operation was cancelled.
Pauline Vuyk, of Van Diemans Road, Chelmsford, was looking forward to feeling like “a new person” before her operation to remove three kidney stones was called off at the last minute because of an equipment fault.
The 60-year-old petrol station worker, who has suffered with the painful stones on and off for six years, had been referred to a specialist at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, as an urgent case and was due to have an operation on Friday (OCT7).
“I was thinking today’s the day I’m going to be out of pain,” she said.
“I was in theatre laying on a trolley, they put me on a heart monitor and a needle was put in the back of my hand ready for the anaesthetic.
“A woman came out and I thought ‘this is it’ only to be told my operation was cancelled, it was like a smack in the face.”
The bad news was a double snub for Pauline, who is still coming to terms with the death of her husband two years ago, as she had an identical procedure cancelled in 2007.
She added: “I just sit and cry sometimes when I think what I’m going through yet again.
“It’s not acceptable, they can afford to have the hospital done up looking glamorous but can’t have equipment ready for an urgent case.”
Jo Triggs, spokeswoman for the Mid Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Broomfield, said: “The Trust would like to apologise to Mrs Vuyk for cancelling her procedure at short notice, but this was due to an unforeseeable problem with the laser machine.
“Stringent safety procedures are followed when using this machine so after the problem was discovered an immediate decision was taken not to use it until it was safe to do so. The problem has been rectified and all patient appointments are being rescheduled.”
Pauline Vuyk, of Van Diemans Road, Chelmsford, was looking forward to feeling like “a new person” before her operation to remove three kidney stones was called off at the last minute because of an equipment fault.
The 60-year-old petrol station worker, who has suffered with the painful stones on and off for six years, had been referred to a specialist at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, as an urgent case and was due to have an operation on Friday (OCT7).
“I was thinking today’s the day I’m going to be out of pain,” she said.
“I was in theatre laying on a trolley, they put me on a heart monitor and a needle was put in the back of my hand ready for the anaesthetic.
“A woman came out and I thought ‘this is it’ only to be told my operation was cancelled, it was like a smack in the face.”
The bad news was a double snub for Pauline, who is still coming to terms with the death of her husband two years ago, as she had an identical procedure cancelled in 2007.
She added: “I just sit and cry sometimes when I think what I’m going through yet again.
“It’s not acceptable, they can afford to have the hospital done up looking glamorous but can’t have equipment ready for an urgent case.”
Jo Triggs, spokeswoman for the Mid Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Broomfield, said: “The Trust would like to apologise to Mrs Vuyk for cancelling her procedure at short notice, but this was due to an unforeseeable problem with the laser machine.
“Stringent safety procedures are followed when using this machine so after the problem was discovered an immediate decision was taken not to use it until it was safe to do so. The problem has been rectified and all patient appointments are being rescheduled.”
2011年10月12日星期三
Harrison hopes to reverse fortunes vs. Tigers
Rangers manager Ron Washington says he isn't worried about what's happened in the past when big left-hander Matt Harrison pitched against the Tigers. And with good reason.
Harrison's history with Detroit isn't pretty -- a 1-4 record with a 6.89 ERA in seven games. But the worst of those losses, an 8-1 setback last June, comes with a fairly large asterisk.
Or at least a very small kidney stone.
Harrison, who will pitch Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday at 3:19 p.m. CT on FOX against the Tigers, said Tuesday he passed a stubborn kidney stone later that night in June after giving up eight hits and four runs (three earned) in a four-inning outing.
"I had the kidney stone like three days before," said Harrison, who was taken to a hospital in Cleveland to deal with the issue before his start against the Tigers. "I thought I passed it. But I ended up passing it after that game. So it definitely took a lot of energy out of me before that start."
Harrison wasn't making excuses, however, and only brought up the incident when asked on Tuesday.
"I still should have gone out there and made some better pitches and at least given us a chance to win," said the 26-year-old North Carolina native. "It was a little bit of a rough month right there. Luckily I was able to manage to get through it and keep going."
Harrison also got knocked out of a start in Minnesota by a line drive and battled a blister issue early in the season as well. But he's been a rock in the Rangers' rotation for the past month, going 5-0 with a 2.78 ERA in his past six starts. That includes a five-inning, two-run outing that earned him the win in last week's AL Division Series-clinching 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
"He found his legs in August," Washington said. "He's been strong since then."
Harrison's other start against Detroit this season was a 5-4 loss on Aug. 3, when he went six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits. He recalls that as a pretty solid outing, marred by a home run to Alex Avila in the sixth inning off a changeup.
"It was a bad pitch," he said. "Other than that, I thought I threw pretty good. They're a tough lineup. They have a lot of righties and it's especially tough against left-handers. The big thing is you have to keep them uncomfortable at the plate."
Harrison's own comfort level figures to have grown by leaps and bounds with his first playoff start now under his belt. The youngster was left off the playoff roster last season during the Rangers' run to the World Series and he's relishing his opportunity this time around.
"Once I got out there, after the first two batters my nerves were calm and it seemed like another game," he said of his ALDS win. "It's been a great experience so far and I'm looking forward to more [on Wednesday].
"After missing the playoffs last year, it meant a lot to me to be able to start in a playoff game and be in the game that we clinched to go on the ALCS."
Now Harrison has a chance to get the Rangers back on track after Detroit rallied for a 5-2 victory on Tuesday that cut Texas' series lead to 2-1. But he will have to deal better with a team that had his number even before the kidney stone. In his seven career games against the Tigers, they've hit .364 with a 1.045 OPS in 31 1/3 innings.
Harrison's history with Detroit isn't pretty -- a 1-4 record with a 6.89 ERA in seven games. But the worst of those losses, an 8-1 setback last June, comes with a fairly large asterisk.
Or at least a very small kidney stone.
Harrison, who will pitch Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday at 3:19 p.m. CT on FOX against the Tigers, said Tuesday he passed a stubborn kidney stone later that night in June after giving up eight hits and four runs (three earned) in a four-inning outing.
"I had the kidney stone like three days before," said Harrison, who was taken to a hospital in Cleveland to deal with the issue before his start against the Tigers. "I thought I passed it. But I ended up passing it after that game. So it definitely took a lot of energy out of me before that start."
Harrison wasn't making excuses, however, and only brought up the incident when asked on Tuesday.
"I still should have gone out there and made some better pitches and at least given us a chance to win," said the 26-year-old North Carolina native. "It was a little bit of a rough month right there. Luckily I was able to manage to get through it and keep going."
Harrison also got knocked out of a start in Minnesota by a line drive and battled a blister issue early in the season as well. But he's been a rock in the Rangers' rotation for the past month, going 5-0 with a 2.78 ERA in his past six starts. That includes a five-inning, two-run outing that earned him the win in last week's AL Division Series-clinching 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
"He found his legs in August," Washington said. "He's been strong since then."
Harrison's other start against Detroit this season was a 5-4 loss on Aug. 3, when he went six innings and gave up four runs on nine hits. He recalls that as a pretty solid outing, marred by a home run to Alex Avila in the sixth inning off a changeup.
"It was a bad pitch," he said. "Other than that, I thought I threw pretty good. They're a tough lineup. They have a lot of righties and it's especially tough against left-handers. The big thing is you have to keep them uncomfortable at the plate."
Harrison's own comfort level figures to have grown by leaps and bounds with his first playoff start now under his belt. The youngster was left off the playoff roster last season during the Rangers' run to the World Series and he's relishing his opportunity this time around.
"Once I got out there, after the first two batters my nerves were calm and it seemed like another game," he said of his ALDS win. "It's been a great experience so far and I'm looking forward to more [on Wednesday].
"After missing the playoffs last year, it meant a lot to me to be able to start in a playoff game and be in the game that we clinched to go on the ALCS."
Now Harrison has a chance to get the Rangers back on track after Detroit rallied for a 5-2 victory on Tuesday that cut Texas' series lead to 2-1. But he will have to deal better with a team that had his number even before the kidney stone. In his seven career games against the Tigers, they've hit .364 with a 1.045 OPS in 31 1/3 innings.
2011年10月11日星期二
Seeds to enjoy all year 'round
When my children were small, I used to love when we’d carve out all those pumpkins during the upcoming weeks. I love the taste and smell of roasted pumpkin seeds. Up until the past five to ten years, you did not easily find pumpkin seeds on the shelves of your local store all year round, but fortunately thing have changed.
Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, offer nutritional benefits that should not be passed up. They have a delicately sweet and chewy texture. Although the shells are quite edible, some prefer the varieties without shells.
Native Americans were among the first to notice the health benefits of pumpkin seeds. They referred to them as cucurbita and used them to treat kidney problems and to eliminate parasites from the intestines.
For those concerned with urinary and prostate conditions, pumpkin seeds appear to improve bladder function and difficulty with urination. People who have suffered from kidney stones will be glad to hear that they prevent calcium oxalate stone formation, which is the most common form of kidney stone.
Depression? Pumpkin seeds contain L-tryptophan, which has been effective in treating depression. Because pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, they are a natural protector against osteoporosis and your immune system will benefit from this as well.
Some form of inflammation affects many individuals. Pumpkin seeds have a natural anti-inflammatory (omega-3) affect as well as containing magnesium. Just ? cup of pumpkin seeds contains 92% of your minimal daily need for magnesium. Most Americans are extremely deficient in magnesium as evidenced by symptoms of nighttime muscle cramping and constipation.
These nutritional wonders also contain phytosterols, which have been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol but only when eaten raw roasted. In addition, they may be effective in the prevention of many different forms of cancer.
As a colon therapist I am privileged to see intestinal parasites on a regular basis. I commonly recommend pumpkin seeds, as parasites hate them.
Mostly females will suffer from chronic anemia. Pumpkin seeds may help alleviate this condition as they contain iron. A half cup provided you with half your daily dose of iron and is much easier to tolerate that those pills.
Pumpkin seeds are a high-protein (10g in ? cup of raw), low calorie snack that also provides the body with manganese, phosphorus, calcium copper, some of the B vitamins and Vitamin K. They also contain the essential omega-3 fats. Many individuals pay to take these supplements in synthetic forms. Vitamins and minerals that have been created in a lab are far less efficient than getting them from food sources. Your body actually knows what to do with them when they come from foods, they are much more efficient and require less of a dose.
Pumpkin seeds can be added to salads, cereals or can just be eaten plain. Although many prefer to eat them roasted, the benefits of eating them raw are worthy to note. Eating them raw does not mean eating them wet — they are just dehydrated at temperatures no higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit in order to preserve the beneficial enzymes. Some individuals add tamari, some just add a small amount of hand harvested sea salt.
I hope you might now consider adding pumpkin seeds to you diet year round and just not this time of year. I hope some of you decide to carve out a few extra pumpkins this year in order to stock up!
Pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas, offer nutritional benefits that should not be passed up. They have a delicately sweet and chewy texture. Although the shells are quite edible, some prefer the varieties without shells.
Native Americans were among the first to notice the health benefits of pumpkin seeds. They referred to them as cucurbita and used them to treat kidney problems and to eliminate parasites from the intestines.
For those concerned with urinary and prostate conditions, pumpkin seeds appear to improve bladder function and difficulty with urination. People who have suffered from kidney stones will be glad to hear that they prevent calcium oxalate stone formation, which is the most common form of kidney stone.
Depression? Pumpkin seeds contain L-tryptophan, which has been effective in treating depression. Because pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, they are a natural protector against osteoporosis and your immune system will benefit from this as well.
Some form of inflammation affects many individuals. Pumpkin seeds have a natural anti-inflammatory (omega-3) affect as well as containing magnesium. Just ? cup of pumpkin seeds contains 92% of your minimal daily need for magnesium. Most Americans are extremely deficient in magnesium as evidenced by symptoms of nighttime muscle cramping and constipation.
These nutritional wonders also contain phytosterols, which have been shown to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol but only when eaten raw roasted. In addition, they may be effective in the prevention of many different forms of cancer.
As a colon therapist I am privileged to see intestinal parasites on a regular basis. I commonly recommend pumpkin seeds, as parasites hate them.
Mostly females will suffer from chronic anemia. Pumpkin seeds may help alleviate this condition as they contain iron. A half cup provided you with half your daily dose of iron and is much easier to tolerate that those pills.
Pumpkin seeds are a high-protein (10g in ? cup of raw), low calorie snack that also provides the body with manganese, phosphorus, calcium copper, some of the B vitamins and Vitamin K. They also contain the essential omega-3 fats. Many individuals pay to take these supplements in synthetic forms. Vitamins and minerals that have been created in a lab are far less efficient than getting them from food sources. Your body actually knows what to do with them when they come from foods, they are much more efficient and require less of a dose.
Pumpkin seeds can be added to salads, cereals or can just be eaten plain. Although many prefer to eat them roasted, the benefits of eating them raw are worthy to note. Eating them raw does not mean eating them wet — they are just dehydrated at temperatures no higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit in order to preserve the beneficial enzymes. Some individuals add tamari, some just add a small amount of hand harvested sea salt.
I hope you might now consider adding pumpkin seeds to you diet year round and just not this time of year. I hope some of you decide to carve out a few extra pumpkins this year in order to stock up!
2011年10月10日星期一
Taking Dietary Supplements? It May Be Too Much
People who take dietary supplements to boost their intake of minerals may actually be getting too much of a good thing -- and even risk serious problems.
According to astudy published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who take dietary supplements also tend to get more nutrients from their food than those who don't take supplements -- suggesting that vitamins may be taken by the people who need them least.
In some cases, supplement users may actually be overloading on minerals, such as iron, that can cause potentially serious health problems, researchers said.
"People need to choose supplements to help meet, but not exceed, the recommended daily intake levels," said Regan Bailey, a nutrition research at the National Institutes of Health, who led the study.
Bailey and her colleagues used dietary surveys to assess mineral intake among 8,860 men and women who participated in a major government health survey between 2003 and 2006.
Men and women who reported using dietary supplements containing eight important minerals -- calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, copper, potassium and selenium -- were much less likely to be getting inadequate amounts of those minerals from the foods they ate than were people who said they didn't take supplements, the study found.
The link was strongest for women, who are more likely than men to take supplements.
Supplement users, in turn, tended to eat better and live healthier lifestyles than non-users, Bailey noted.
The NIH team also found that calcium intake often fell below recommended levels, even among professed supplement users.
Roughly a quarter of supplement users, and 71 percent of nonusers, did not receive the recommended daily amount of calcium -- 800 to 1,000 milligrams a day for men over age 51 and 1,000 to 1,200 mg per day for women of the same age. Calcium is necessary for the healthy formation of bone.
Older people were much more likely to fall short of their daily calcium requirements -- but also to exceed them.
That's because people tend to use more supplements as they age, which helps explain why nearly 16 percent of women between the ages of 51 and 70 reported daily calcium intakes that exceeded the recommended upper limit. Too much supplemental calcium has been linked to kidney stones.
Supplement users were also more likely to boost their intake of magnesium and zinc above recommended upper limits, although the health consequences, if any, of consuming too much of those minerals are unknown.
"We always would hope that the people who are taking dietary supplements are the ones who need it the most, but it doesn't seem to be true," said Cheryl Rock, a nutrition researcher at the University of California, San Diego, adding that the results were not surprising.
When it comes to over consumption, Rock added: "We have been telling people clinically for years that the daily value cut point is not your minimum requirement. Having a dietary assessment is definitely a good idea."
According to astudy published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who take dietary supplements also tend to get more nutrients from their food than those who don't take supplements -- suggesting that vitamins may be taken by the people who need them least.
In some cases, supplement users may actually be overloading on minerals, such as iron, that can cause potentially serious health problems, researchers said.
"People need to choose supplements to help meet, but not exceed, the recommended daily intake levels," said Regan Bailey, a nutrition research at the National Institutes of Health, who led the study.
Bailey and her colleagues used dietary surveys to assess mineral intake among 8,860 men and women who participated in a major government health survey between 2003 and 2006.
Men and women who reported using dietary supplements containing eight important minerals -- calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, copper, potassium and selenium -- were much less likely to be getting inadequate amounts of those minerals from the foods they ate than were people who said they didn't take supplements, the study found.
The link was strongest for women, who are more likely than men to take supplements.
Supplement users, in turn, tended to eat better and live healthier lifestyles than non-users, Bailey noted.
The NIH team also found that calcium intake often fell below recommended levels, even among professed supplement users.
Roughly a quarter of supplement users, and 71 percent of nonusers, did not receive the recommended daily amount of calcium -- 800 to 1,000 milligrams a day for men over age 51 and 1,000 to 1,200 mg per day for women of the same age. Calcium is necessary for the healthy formation of bone.
Older people were much more likely to fall short of their daily calcium requirements -- but also to exceed them.
That's because people tend to use more supplements as they age, which helps explain why nearly 16 percent of women between the ages of 51 and 70 reported daily calcium intakes that exceeded the recommended upper limit. Too much supplemental calcium has been linked to kidney stones.
Supplement users were also more likely to boost their intake of magnesium and zinc above recommended upper limits, although the health consequences, if any, of consuming too much of those minerals are unknown.
"We always would hope that the people who are taking dietary supplements are the ones who need it the most, but it doesn't seem to be true," said Cheryl Rock, a nutrition researcher at the University of California, San Diego, adding that the results were not surprising.
When it comes to over consumption, Rock added: "We have been telling people clinically for years that the daily value cut point is not your minimum requirement. Having a dietary assessment is definitely a good idea."
2011年10月9日星期日
New definition of "birthstone"
I'm expecting.
Seriously. My doctor has confirmed it.
The only thing still uncertain is my due date, although the likelihood is sometime before Christmas.
At first, there was some uncertainty, so the doctor ordered a sonogram. After that, there was no doubt.
I know what you're thinking. How is this possible? You can't be expecting, you're too old.
This is the first thing you question? My age? You don't have a problem with my gender?
Well, you make a lot of sense. That's because statistics show men are more likely to yield such progeny.
Regardless, the x-rays don't lie. There it was on film. Proof positive that within my loins lies a hale and hearty, considerably sizeable if slightly pointy, kidney stone.
Even before the sonogram, I had a suspicion I might be with stone. It was about five or six months ago I was first woken with a terrible pain. They're just like labor pains I'm told. And here I am in the second trimester, and the agony is still present.
But the doctor's counsel is encouraging as he believes it won't be much longer. With any luck, I'll have a natural delivery. Failing that, he says, there is the possibility of surgery.
According to the sonogram, "the little guy," as I've come to call it, is 7.5 millimeters. It's nearly twice the size of a sister stone, one I delivered two years ago. The doctor informs me it's quite common to have more than a few, but to be honest, I would have been perfectly content with one.
But another one is coming, and this one, like the first, is unplanned.
I even have a rather noticeable "bump," although my wife suggests it's probably not as likely the result of a 7.5 millimeter stone as it might be from lasagna.
I'm not suggesting I'm the rare male to be expecting like this. My friend Jack has already had four. The oldest is 12. He had another one in 2006, and finally, last year, twins. A rough delivery I'm told.
The funny thing is none of them look alike. But there's no doubt they're all his. And if you visit Jack, he will proudly show them off to you. He even carries photos in his wallet.
It looks like it could still be weeks or even months before I deliver. In the meantime, in addition to the pain, I'm experiencing nausea and also occasional fatigue, but the doctor says that should be expected. He wants me to lay off alcohol and coffee, and suggests I limit physical activity.
In the meantime, I've been thinking about names. I've considered several, but I'm pretty certain I've settled on one:
Rocky.
Seriously. My doctor has confirmed it.
The only thing still uncertain is my due date, although the likelihood is sometime before Christmas.
At first, there was some uncertainty, so the doctor ordered a sonogram. After that, there was no doubt.
I know what you're thinking. How is this possible? You can't be expecting, you're too old.
This is the first thing you question? My age? You don't have a problem with my gender?
Well, you make a lot of sense. That's because statistics show men are more likely to yield such progeny.
Regardless, the x-rays don't lie. There it was on film. Proof positive that within my loins lies a hale and hearty, considerably sizeable if slightly pointy, kidney stone.
Even before the sonogram, I had a suspicion I might be with stone. It was about five or six months ago I was first woken with a terrible pain. They're just like labor pains I'm told. And here I am in the second trimester, and the agony is still present.
But the doctor's counsel is encouraging as he believes it won't be much longer. With any luck, I'll have a natural delivery. Failing that, he says, there is the possibility of surgery.
According to the sonogram, "the little guy," as I've come to call it, is 7.5 millimeters. It's nearly twice the size of a sister stone, one I delivered two years ago. The doctor informs me it's quite common to have more than a few, but to be honest, I would have been perfectly content with one.
But another one is coming, and this one, like the first, is unplanned.
I even have a rather noticeable "bump," although my wife suggests it's probably not as likely the result of a 7.5 millimeter stone as it might be from lasagna.
I'm not suggesting I'm the rare male to be expecting like this. My friend Jack has already had four. The oldest is 12. He had another one in 2006, and finally, last year, twins. A rough delivery I'm told.
The funny thing is none of them look alike. But there's no doubt they're all his. And if you visit Jack, he will proudly show them off to you. He even carries photos in his wallet.
It looks like it could still be weeks or even months before I deliver. In the meantime, in addition to the pain, I'm experiencing nausea and also occasional fatigue, but the doctor says that should be expected. He wants me to lay off alcohol and coffee, and suggests I limit physical activity.
In the meantime, I've been thinking about names. I've considered several, but I'm pretty certain I've settled on one:
Rocky.
2011年10月8日星期六
Dar Al Shifa Hospital's Urology Department hails success
Dr. Rani El- Akoum, a specialized doctor in Dar Al Shifa Hospital's Urology Department said: "Urology is a surgical specialty, covering the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate and reproductive organs. Amongst the diagnoses that our department conducts regularly, kidney stones, urinary incontinence in women as well as prostate cancer are associated amongst urological diseases."
"For example, prostate cancer develops in a gland of the male reproductive system. Although this type of cancer slowly grows, there are a number of reported aggressive cases. The cancer may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, and problems during sexual intercourse. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, but it is often diagnosed during the work up of an elevated PSA noticed during a routine checkup," added Dr. Akoum.
Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence. Some may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing and others feel a strong sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Women experience urinary incontinence twice as often as men. Pregnancy and child birth, menopause and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. There different types of urinary incontinence and these include, stress, urge, overactive bladder, functional incontinence, overflow, mixed and transient.
A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time. Kidney stones can form when urine contains too much of certain substances. These substances can create small crystals that become stones. The biggest risk factor for kidney stones is dehydration. Kidney stones may not produce symptoms until they begin to move down the tubes (ureters) through which urine empties into the bladder. When this happens, the stones can block the flow of urine out of the kidneys. This causes swelling of the kidney or kidneys, causing pain. The pain is usually severe.
Dar Al Shifa Hospital utilizes its state-of-the-art technology, and renowned leading doctors and consultants to deliver optimal levels of healthcare to its patients.
Dar Al Shifa Hospital was established in 1961, and has developed to become one of Kuwait's leading private healthcare providers. The hospital includes a wide range of departments that covers all specialties.
"For example, prostate cancer develops in a gland of the male reproductive system. Although this type of cancer slowly grows, there are a number of reported aggressive cases. The cancer may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, and problems during sexual intercourse. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, but it is often diagnosed during the work up of an elevated PSA noticed during a routine checkup," added Dr. Akoum.
Millions of women experience involuntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence. Some may lose a few drops of urine while running or coughing and others feel a strong sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine. Women experience urinary incontinence twice as often as men. Pregnancy and child birth, menopause and the structure of the female urinary tract account for this difference. There different types of urinary incontinence and these include, stress, urge, overactive bladder, functional incontinence, overflow, mixed and transient.
A kidney stone is a solid mass made up of tiny crystals. One or more stones can be in the kidney or ureter at the same time. Kidney stones can form when urine contains too much of certain substances. These substances can create small crystals that become stones. The biggest risk factor for kidney stones is dehydration. Kidney stones may not produce symptoms until they begin to move down the tubes (ureters) through which urine empties into the bladder. When this happens, the stones can block the flow of urine out of the kidneys. This causes swelling of the kidney or kidneys, causing pain. The pain is usually severe.
Dar Al Shifa Hospital utilizes its state-of-the-art technology, and renowned leading doctors and consultants to deliver optimal levels of healthcare to its patients.
Dar Al Shifa Hospital was established in 1961, and has developed to become one of Kuwait's leading private healthcare providers. The hospital includes a wide range of departments that covers all specialties.
2011年10月7日星期五
Mladic complains to court of ill health
Former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has told a judge he is suffering from a kidney stone and demanded to be examined by Serbian doctors.
Mladic, 69, told the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - where he faces genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges - that he had experienced ''strong pain''.
''I ask that Serbia enable the doctors who have examined me from 1996 to 1998 and knew my exact state at the time, could examine me,'' Mladic said.
During the hearing on Thursday Mladic looked tired and did not rise from his seat when Dutch judge Alphons Orie entered the courtroom.
Mladic was in court for a fourth time since his arrest and transfer to the UN's detention unit in The Hague in early June after being on the run for 16 years. Proceedings were delayed for 1¼ hours. ''I was informed you didn't feel well this morning and that you couldn't stand up. I hope you can stand up to leave the courtroom,'' Judge Orie said.
''Apologies for the delay, it was due to my health,'' answered Mladic. ''I have serious health problems, but I will fight to recover.''
Mladic, who faces 11 counts before the tribunal for his part in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, has complained about health issues since his first appearance on June 3.
Mladic is accused of masterminding the murder of about 8000 Muslim men and boys over a six-day period at Srebrenica in July 1995, in Europe's bloodiest episode since World War II.
Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's office in August filed a motion asking judges to divide the original indictment for Mladic into two separate trials.
Mladic, 69, told the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia - where he faces genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity charges - that he had experienced ''strong pain''.
''I ask that Serbia enable the doctors who have examined me from 1996 to 1998 and knew my exact state at the time, could examine me,'' Mladic said.
During the hearing on Thursday Mladic looked tired and did not rise from his seat when Dutch judge Alphons Orie entered the courtroom.
Mladic was in court for a fourth time since his arrest and transfer to the UN's detention unit in The Hague in early June after being on the run for 16 years. Proceedings were delayed for 1¼ hours. ''I was informed you didn't feel well this morning and that you couldn't stand up. I hope you can stand up to leave the courtroom,'' Judge Orie said.
''Apologies for the delay, it was due to my health,'' answered Mladic. ''I have serious health problems, but I will fight to recover.''
Mladic, who faces 11 counts before the tribunal for his part in the 1992-95 war in Bosnia, has complained about health issues since his first appearance on June 3.
Mladic is accused of masterminding the murder of about 8000 Muslim men and boys over a six-day period at Srebrenica in July 1995, in Europe's bloodiest episode since World War II.
Prosecutor Serge Brammertz's office in August filed a motion asking judges to divide the original indictment for Mladic into two separate trials.
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