 |
| Hepatitis B |
Showing posts with label Health News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health News. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Hepatitis B
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Hepatitis B
HEPATITIS B is a deadly disease with a high prevalence rate in the Philippines. Studies show that in the Philippines there is a hepatitis B carrier rate of 9%. This means that out of 10 Filipinos at least 1 is a carrier of the hepatitis B virus. It is estimated that more than 7.7 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B, of whom between 1.1 and 1.9 million are expected to die prematurely of cirrhosis or liver cancer. This makes chronic hepatitis B one of the most challenging infectious diseases to manage.
There are several reasons for the high burden of hepatitis B in the country. The two main reasons are lack of awareness of the disease coupled with inability to afford the expensive treatment.
Pharmaceutical company Roche sets to help address the problem. In line with the government’s thrust to provide easier access to medications, Roche recently launched the Pegassist Easy Access Plan for patients with hepatitis B.
Through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, patients with hepatitis B can have access to the peg-interferon alfa-2a hepatitis treatment medication with discounts up to as much as 50%. "The Pegassist Easy Access Plan socializes the medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the medication will get a higher discount accordingly," said Dr. Dennis Dioko, Roche specialty business unit director.
"For patients who are interested to see if they can qualify for discounts through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, there are several ways to find out. First, if they are seeing a gastroenterologist, their doctor can refer them to the Hepatitis Hotline (718-7620). If they are not currently seeing a doctor, they can call the hotline directly and the hotline can refer them to a gastroenterologist nearest to them for consultation."
According to Dr. Dioko, "After hepatitis B patients call the hotline – manned by the Hepatitis Hotline nurse – and have already been prescribed Peg interferon alfa-2a by their doctors, they will be referred to a financial assessment agency. The financial assessment agency will then conduct an evaluation of the patient to determine the discount rate applicable to the patient. Once the financial assessment has been completed, the agency will decide how much of a discount the patient is eligible to receive. Patients can receive as much as 50% off of the medication."
The Hepatitis Hotline nurse will then inform the patient of their qualified discount rate. At this point, the nurse will also explain to the patients the details on how they can purchase their medication at the discounted rate through the plan’s official distributor.
"In addition to providing discounts on the medication, hepatitis B patients will also be provided with free selected hepatitis B laboratory tests that would have otherwise been very expensive. Tests such as HBV DNA Testing and S-quantification are samples of laboratory tests patients can have access to through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan. The hotline can guide them accordingly on how to avail of these discounted labs," added Dr. Dioko.
The program hopes to be able to make treatment and care available to a wider range of hepatitis B patients and give them the opportunity to get the medication they need. In addition to discounted medication and discounted laboratory tests, the hotline will also provide a nurse assistance program that will continue follow-ups on patients throughout the course of treatment. And for patients who wish to pay through credit card, they can opt to pay via staggered payments to make the payments even easier on their budgets.
There are several reasons for the high burden of hepatitis B in the country. The two main reasons are lack of awareness of the disease coupled with inability to afford the expensive treatment.
Pharmaceutical company Roche sets to help address the problem. In line with the government’s thrust to provide easier access to medications, Roche recently launched the Pegassist Easy Access Plan for patients with hepatitis B.
Through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan, patients with hepatitis B can have access to the peg-interferon alfa-2a hepatitis treatment medication with discounts up to as much as 50%. "The Pegassist Easy Access Plan socializes the medication discount system. This means, patients who truly cannot afford the medication will get a higher discount accordingly," said Dr. Dennis Dioko, Roche specialty business unit director.
According to Dr. Dioko, "After hepatitis B patients call the hotline – manned by the Hepatitis Hotline nurse – and have already been prescribed Peg interferon alfa-2a by their doctors, they will be referred to a financial assessment agency. The financial assessment agency will then conduct an evaluation of the patient to determine the discount rate applicable to the patient. Once the financial assessment has been completed, the agency will decide how much of a discount the patient is eligible to receive. Patients can receive as much as 50% off of the medication."
The Hepatitis Hotline nurse will then inform the patient of their qualified discount rate. At this point, the nurse will also explain to the patients the details on how they can purchase their medication at the discounted rate through the plan’s official distributor.
"In addition to providing discounts on the medication, hepatitis B patients will also be provided with free selected hepatitis B laboratory tests that would have otherwise been very expensive. Tests such as HBV DNA Testing and S-quantification are samples of laboratory tests patients can have access to through the Pegassist Easy Access Plan. The hotline can guide them accordingly on how to avail of these discounted labs," added Dr. Dioko.
The program hopes to be able to make treatment and care available to a wider range of hepatitis B patients and give them the opportunity to get the medication they need. In addition to discounted medication and discounted laboratory tests, the hotline will also provide a nurse assistance program that will continue follow-ups on patients throughout the course of treatment. And for patients who wish to pay through credit card, they can opt to pay via staggered payments to make the payments even easier on their budgets.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Dukan Diet
Dreading the moment you hit the beach this summer? Does even packing your swimming costume fill you with terror?
The new Dukan Holiday Diet, starting exclusively in today’s Mail and continuing all next week, could be the answer to your prayers.
It’s the protein-packed weight-loss plan that’s swept Britain and now it’s been adapted by Dr Pierre Dukan himself to get you ready for the beach.
Of course, it’s only a few months since Carole Middleton used the Dukan Diet to get ready for a certain wedding. Kate’s mother revealed the secret of her quest to slim down for the big day in an interview. ‘I’ve been doing it for four days and I’ve lost 4lb,’ the 56-year-old revealed.
Speculation soon followed over whether her willowy daughters might have been adopting the principles of the diet plan, too.
Certainly the Dukan diet has been the most high-profile and universally popular weight loss regime since the Mail announced its arrival in Britain in April 2010.
Since then, this high-protein, low-fat eating plan has been credited with swift weight loss among those for whom dieting is a struggle and also the glitterati.
Jennifer Lopez credits Dukan for the toning of her famous curves, actress Penelope Cruz says Dukan snapped her back into red carpet shape after the birth of her daughter, and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins swears by its simple methods to keep her looking great for the cameras.
The diet plan was devised by French doctor Pierre Dukan to provide his obese patients with a weight-loss solution that didn’t sacrifice the great Gallic love for food. After 20 years of research Dr Dukan published his findings in 2000 in his book I Don’t Know How To Get Slimmer, which became a bestseller.
Central to the plan is that it acknowledges the pleasure to be had from eating and promises efficient weight loss while enjoying unlimited quantities of real food.
It is these principles — and this speedy weight loss — that make Dukan such a perfect way to get in shape for your summer holiday, and why Dr Dukan himself has developed a special plan for the Mail to get you ready for the beach.
Starting today, and continuing next week, the Mail will show you how to use this new Dukan Holiday Diet to lose weight fast — and then keep it off during your holiday and stay trim when you return.
Follow Dr Dukan’s plan from Monday, and by next weekend you could lose as much as 7lb!
Over five days, we will show you how to adapt the diet to suit the amount of weight you want to lose, and how to eat when you go on holiday. And, don’t worry, you can still have a great time enjoying delicious food and a glass of wine each day.
To help you, on Monday and every day next week, the Mail is giving away a glossy Dukan recipe card to help you lose weight. You can pick up yours from Tesco or WHSmith. The cards will suggest what to have for dinner during the first five days of the Dukan Holiday Diet — including dessert.
Then, inside the paper every day, you’ll get a daily meal planner with delicious options for breakfast, lunch and snacks.
‘It is very important that on holiday, you feel special and not deprived,’ Dr Dukan says.
‘A holiday is not a punishment, even if you’re on a diet. You don’t have to suffer, and there’s absolutely no reason why you should automatically gain any weight at all.’
Independent registered dietician Dr Sarah Schenker agrees.
‘Huge quantities of carbohydrates, particularly refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta and rice) are just not good for your health, so the Dukan low-carb, protein-rich system strikes a mid-balance closer to a healthy way of eating than many of us realise,’ she says.
‘Even people who do not have a weight problem could learn a lesson from the Dukan system, by switching to a couple of carb-lite days after a carb-heavy weekend.’
HOW DUKAN WORKSThe Dukan Diet is not one, but four interconnecting diets designed to work against the body’s natural reluctance to let go of excess weight, and to ensure the pounds that are lost don’t come back.
It starts with a short, sharp Attack phase where you eat nothing but protein — just meat, fish, eggs and (unlike Atkins) no-fat or very low fat dairy products. This is the kick-start that gives you the initial, rapid weight loss, and sets the tone for the other stages of the Dukan plan.
Dr Dukan says this first stage of the diet produces obvious and immediate results — many people can expect to lose as much as 7lb in just five days.
‘There’s nothing wrong with spending one to five days in the protein-only Attack phase of the diet if you are otherwise healthy,’ says Dr Schenker.
‘It is an effective way to kick-start a diet. Even though much of the initial weight lost will be water, the speed of weight loss can be encouraging, and there’s a lot to be said for the motivational benefit of seeing your weight tumbling down.
‘As avocados, nuts and seeds are banned in the early stages of the diet, you should try to include oily fish in your protein selection (up to two portions a week for women of childbearing age, and up to four portions a week for men and post-menopausal women) to ensure you have a good intake of essential fats and fat soluble vitamins.’
You stay on the Attack phase from one to ten days depending on how much weight you have to lose, before moving on to the Cruise phase. This is the workhorse stage of the diet where you alternate the pure protein days of Attack with days when you add a delicious array of unlimited salads and vegetables to your wide selection of meat, fish and no-fat dairy products.
On Cruise, you can start a meal with a salad or soup, then follow it with meat or fish and vegetables. Most dieters lose a 2lbs a week during the Cruise phase, and stay on it until they reach their target weight.
The majority of diets would only take you this far, but Dr Dukan noticed how often his patients’ weight would begin to creep back up again once they reached their target weight and resumed their old eating habits.
To counter this, he created a third Consolidation phase for when you reach your ideal weight. In this stage, in addition to unlimited protein and salads/vegetables, you put fruit (one piece a day), bread (two slices), cheese and starchy foods like pasta (in moderation) back on the menu.
You are even encouraged to have two totally unrestrained ‘celebration meals’ a week — with alcohol, butter, bread, chocolate . . . or any other foods you truly love, but usually feel guilty about.
This is an important part of the diet’s acknowledgement that food, in all its variety, must be relished and enjoyed if you are going to stay at your target weight for ever.
Dr Dukan’s research shows that sticking to the Consolidation stage for five days for every 1lb you lose, allows the body to permanently establish its new equilibrium.
The fourth and final stage, Stabilisation, allows you to eat and drink whatever you like without guilt or restriction, with one caveat: only protein on Thursdays. For ever.
The new Dukan Holiday Diet, starting exclusively in today’s Mail and continuing all next week, could be the answer to your prayers.
It’s the protein-packed weight-loss plan that’s swept Britain and now it’s been adapted by Dr Pierre Dukan himself to get you ready for the beach.
Of course, it’s only a few months since Carole Middleton used the Dukan Diet to get ready for a certain wedding. Kate’s mother revealed the secret of her quest to slim down for the big day in an interview. ‘I’ve been doing it for four days and I’ve lost 4lb,’ the 56-year-old revealed.
Speculation soon followed over whether her willowy daughters might have been adopting the principles of the diet plan, too.
Certainly the Dukan diet has been the most high-profile and universally popular weight loss regime since the Mail announced its arrival in Britain in April 2010.
Since then, this high-protein, low-fat eating plan has been credited with swift weight loss among those for whom dieting is a struggle and also the glitterati.
Jennifer Lopez credits Dukan for the toning of her famous curves, actress Penelope Cruz says Dukan snapped her back into red carpet shape after the birth of her daughter, and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins swears by its simple methods to keep her looking great for the cameras.
The diet plan was devised by French doctor Pierre Dukan to provide his obese patients with a weight-loss solution that didn’t sacrifice the great Gallic love for food. After 20 years of research Dr Dukan published his findings in 2000 in his book I Don’t Know How To Get Slimmer, which became a bestseller.
Central to the plan is that it acknowledges the pleasure to be had from eating and promises efficient weight loss while enjoying unlimited quantities of real food.
It is these principles — and this speedy weight loss — that make Dukan such a perfect way to get in shape for your summer holiday, and why Dr Dukan himself has developed a special plan for the Mail to get you ready for the beach.
Starting today, and continuing next week, the Mail will show you how to use this new Dukan Holiday Diet to lose weight fast — and then keep it off during your holiday and stay trim when you return.
Follow Dr Dukan’s plan from Monday, and by next weekend you could lose as much as 7lb!
Over five days, we will show you how to adapt the diet to suit the amount of weight you want to lose, and how to eat when you go on holiday. And, don’t worry, you can still have a great time enjoying delicious food and a glass of wine each day.
To help you, on Monday and every day next week, the Mail is giving away a glossy Dukan recipe card to help you lose weight. You can pick up yours from Tesco or WHSmith. The cards will suggest what to have for dinner during the first five days of the Dukan Holiday Diet — including dessert.
Then, inside the paper every day, you’ll get a daily meal planner with delicious options for breakfast, lunch and snacks.
‘It is very important that on holiday, you feel special and not deprived,’ Dr Dukan says.
‘A holiday is not a punishment, even if you’re on a diet. You don’t have to suffer, and there’s absolutely no reason why you should automatically gain any weight at all.’
Independent registered dietician Dr Sarah Schenker agrees.
‘Even people who do not have a weight problem could learn a lesson from the Dukan system, by switching to a couple of carb-lite days after a carb-heavy weekend.’
HOW DUKAN WORKSThe Dukan Diet is not one, but four interconnecting diets designed to work against the body’s natural reluctance to let go of excess weight, and to ensure the pounds that are lost don’t come back.
It starts with a short, sharp Attack phase where you eat nothing but protein — just meat, fish, eggs and (unlike Atkins) no-fat or very low fat dairy products. This is the kick-start that gives you the initial, rapid weight loss, and sets the tone for the other stages of the Dukan plan.
Dr Dukan says this first stage of the diet produces obvious and immediate results — many people can expect to lose as much as 7lb in just five days.
‘There’s nothing wrong with spending one to five days in the protein-only Attack phase of the diet if you are otherwise healthy,’ says Dr Schenker.
‘It is an effective way to kick-start a diet. Even though much of the initial weight lost will be water, the speed of weight loss can be encouraging, and there’s a lot to be said for the motivational benefit of seeing your weight tumbling down.
‘As avocados, nuts and seeds are banned in the early stages of the diet, you should try to include oily fish in your protein selection (up to two portions a week for women of childbearing age, and up to four portions a week for men and post-menopausal women) to ensure you have a good intake of essential fats and fat soluble vitamins.’
You stay on the Attack phase from one to ten days depending on how much weight you have to lose, before moving on to the Cruise phase. This is the workhorse stage of the diet where you alternate the pure protein days of Attack with days when you add a delicious array of unlimited salads and vegetables to your wide selection of meat, fish and no-fat dairy products.
On Cruise, you can start a meal with a salad or soup, then follow it with meat or fish and vegetables. Most dieters lose a 2lbs a week during the Cruise phase, and stay on it until they reach their target weight.
The majority of diets would only take you this far, but Dr Dukan noticed how often his patients’ weight would begin to creep back up again once they reached their target weight and resumed their old eating habits.
To counter this, he created a third Consolidation phase for when you reach your ideal weight. In this stage, in addition to unlimited protein and salads/vegetables, you put fruit (one piece a day), bread (two slices), cheese and starchy foods like pasta (in moderation) back on the menu.
You are even encouraged to have two totally unrestrained ‘celebration meals’ a week — with alcohol, butter, bread, chocolate . . . or any other foods you truly love, but usually feel guilty about.
This is an important part of the diet’s acknowledgement that food, in all its variety, must be relished and enjoyed if you are going to stay at your target weight for ever.
Dr Dukan’s research shows that sticking to the Consolidation stage for five days for every 1lb you lose, allows the body to permanently establish its new equilibrium.
The fourth and final stage, Stabilisation, allows you to eat and drink whatever you like without guilt or restriction, with one caveat: only protein on Thursdays. For ever.
Hepatitis B
The ministry of health has sent a team of medical experts to launch a fight against hepatitis B that has been reported in Kasese district, western Uganda.
Dr. Kenya Mugisha, the officer in charge of general duties at the Ministry of Health says that the district of Kasese has registered over 86 cases of hepatitis B in the last 11 months.
Mugisha says the ministry is going on immunizing the people of Kasese and the nearby districts. He says the main source of hepatitis B is poor hygiene.
Hepatitis B is a viral disease which attacks the liver reducing its function ability, causing loss of appetite and general body weakness.
Other symptoms of the disease are nausea abdominal pain, yellow skin and eyes and releasing dark urine.
Dr. Kenya Mugisha, the officer in charge of general duties at the Ministry of Health says that the district of Kasese has registered over 86 cases of hepatitis B in the last 11 months.
Hepatitis B is a viral disease which attacks the liver reducing its function ability, causing loss of appetite and general body weakness.
Other symptoms of the disease are nausea abdominal pain, yellow skin and eyes and releasing dark urine.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Geylang Checker
THESE days, when she opens her e-mail account, she psychs herself for death threats and warnings of rape and other forms of assault from anonymous senders.
"I will kill you when I hunt you down," one e-mail reads. Another says: "I will rape you ladies when I get hold of you."
Yet another adds: "Geylang syndicate is not good to be trifled with."
But these ominous e-mail messages have not deterred the woman, who prefers to be known as Angie, from running Geylang Checker, a website she set up last July to monitor "cheating men in Geylang".
In an e-mail interview with my paper, she revealed that she has put together a team of more than 50 so-called "checkers", mostly women and a few men, who conduct "hourly patrols of Geylang streets" every day.
They snap photographs of boyfriends, husbands, male relatives and colleagues who solicit the services of prostitutes, she said.
The checkers receive assignments and tip-offs from women who seek their help in finding out if their men have been to the red-light district.
Angie is in her early 30s and works in "one of the five big auditing firms" here. She confessed that she feared for her life and those of her volunteers "many times".
"Safety is a concern, but helping Singaporean women takes a higher priority," she said. Her family is unaware of her activities. She started the website because she did not want other women to go through what she had experienced.
In May last year, she caught her then boyfriend stepping out of a brothel in Geylang and saw him kiss a woman on his way out.
"I didn't believe it when my friend told me, so I took a cab down and waited outside," she recalled. Angie immediately broke off their relationship.
"We had been together for six years. I deleted his contact numbers and warned him not to look for me any more," she said.
To date, there have been 43 postings on the website, featuring photographs of men and women, and recruitment ads for more volunteers.
She and her volunteers have received 30 requests so far and exposed 15 cases of cheating, she said. The website was initially a one-woman operation but Angie roped in two friends whose boyfriends had cheated on them to take photos surreptitiously in the Geylang area.
She said she did not have any long-term plan at first.
She wants website to deter cheating by men
She conjectured that the initial trio were able to take photos without any fuss as they were "dressed formally" and people thought they were tourists.
She said that, while they are not trained professionally or skilled in martial arts, they have "the guts and strategy", although their "cameras are not well-furnished".
The site has a donation link but funding is limited as people think it is a scam, she said. Still, the team grew bigger when people heard of the site by word of mouth and through their call to arms on the site.
The volunteers come from all walks of life. They include lawyers, doctors, junior-college and university students, office workers and housewives.
Men have stepped forward as well. She calls them "our secret weapon" and revealed that one of them works in the army and provides them with "expertise in guerilla warfare".
She said the army expert has taught the volunteers to work in two teams. One works as a decoy, while the other snaps photos.
Angie said: "We have also planned our escape route. We know which hotels we can hide in if we're being chased."
However, there have been some close shaves with the men they were tracking. She recalled that a female volunteer was once caught taking photos and was chased by two men.
They cornered her and smashed her camera on the ground. Before they could "make advances on her", the police arrived and the men fled, she said.
Security experts my paper spoke to said that while they commend the intentions of the volunteers, they may not achieve the best results.
Mr James Loh, 39, who owns SG Investigators, said that the cheating spouse may not stop his errant ways even after being confronted.
In fact, he said that the group's photo-taking "will jeopardise the collection of evidence that can be used by the court". Such evidence is required for settling divorce claims.
Only evidence collected by a professional and licensed source may be used, said the investigator of more than eight years.
Nevertheless, Angie said she does not intend to stop the website any time soon.
She said she wants the site to become a "whistle-blower" and her master plan is to create a site that is "a complete deterrent to cheating among Singaporean men".
She is single and has not dated anyone since her break-up last year. But she is still keen to pursue a relationship.
She said: "Yes, trust (in men) has been lost, but I want to see how my future partner can help me regain this trust so that Geylang Checker may be passed on to the next hurting woman."
"I will kill you when I hunt you down," one e-mail reads. Another says: "I will rape you ladies when I get hold of you."
Yet another adds: "Geylang syndicate is not good to be trifled with."
But these ominous e-mail messages have not deterred the woman, who prefers to be known as Angie, from running Geylang Checker, a website she set up last July to monitor "cheating men in Geylang".
In an e-mail interview with my paper, she revealed that she has put together a team of more than 50 so-called "checkers", mostly women and a few men, who conduct "hourly patrols of Geylang streets" every day.
They snap photographs of boyfriends, husbands, male relatives and colleagues who solicit the services of prostitutes, she said.
The checkers receive assignments and tip-offs from women who seek their help in finding out if their men have been to the red-light district.
Angie is in her early 30s and works in "one of the five big auditing firms" here. She confessed that she feared for her life and those of her volunteers "many times".
"Safety is a concern, but helping Singaporean women takes a higher priority," she said. Her family is unaware of her activities. She started the website because she did not want other women to go through what she had experienced.
In May last year, she caught her then boyfriend stepping out of a brothel in Geylang and saw him kiss a woman on his way out.
"I didn't believe it when my friend told me, so I took a cab down and waited outside," she recalled. Angie immediately broke off their relationship.
"We had been together for six years. I deleted his contact numbers and warned him not to look for me any more," she said.
To date, there have been 43 postings on the website, featuring photographs of men and women, and recruitment ads for more volunteers.
She and her volunteers have received 30 requests so far and exposed 15 cases of cheating, she said. The website was initially a one-woman operation but Angie roped in two friends whose boyfriends had cheated on them to take photos surreptitiously in the Geylang area.
She said she did not have any long-term plan at first.
She wants website to deter cheating by men
She conjectured that the initial trio were able to take photos without any fuss as they were "dressed formally" and people thought they were tourists.
She said that, while they are not trained professionally or skilled in martial arts, they have "the guts and strategy", although their "cameras are not well-furnished".
The site has a donation link but funding is limited as people think it is a scam, she said. Still, the team grew bigger when people heard of the site by word of mouth and through their call to arms on the site.
Men have stepped forward as well. She calls them "our secret weapon" and revealed that one of them works in the army and provides them with "expertise in guerilla warfare".
She said the army expert has taught the volunteers to work in two teams. One works as a decoy, while the other snaps photos.
Angie said: "We have also planned our escape route. We know which hotels we can hide in if we're being chased."
However, there have been some close shaves with the men they were tracking. She recalled that a female volunteer was once caught taking photos and was chased by two men.
They cornered her and smashed her camera on the ground. Before they could "make advances on her", the police arrived and the men fled, she said.
Security experts my paper spoke to said that while they commend the intentions of the volunteers, they may not achieve the best results.
Mr James Loh, 39, who owns SG Investigators, said that the cheating spouse may not stop his errant ways even after being confronted.
In fact, he said that the group's photo-taking "will jeopardise the collection of evidence that can be used by the court". Such evidence is required for settling divorce claims.
Only evidence collected by a professional and licensed source may be used, said the investigator of more than eight years.
Nevertheless, Angie said she does not intend to stop the website any time soon.
She said she wants the site to become a "whistle-blower" and her master plan is to create a site that is "a complete deterrent to cheating among Singaporean men".
She is single and has not dated anyone since her break-up last year. But she is still keen to pursue a relationship.
She said: "Yes, trust (in men) has been lost, but I want to see how my future partner can help me regain this trust so that Geylang Checker may be passed on to the next hurting woman."
Monday, June 27, 2011
Lyme Disease Symptoms
You know the trademark Lyme disease symptomsto watch for in your kids: The red, ring-shaped rash, fatigue, achy joints. But now that the tick-borne infection's prime season (summer) is in full swing, you might want to know about a few less-common symptoms to look out for. I speak from experience: Luckily, neither of my kids has contracted Lyme (so far), even though we live in Connecticut, the birth state of the disease, but I've had it twice myself, and the first time I was a kid.
I like to think of myself as a sort of trailblazer: I was 12, it was 1988, and barely anyone had heard of Lyme disease. Even the medical community was still largely in the dark. For example, the testing process had a few kinks that needed to be ironed out, hence the false-negative result of the blood test I was given the day after I woke up with a big, swollen tickattached to my chest.
Figuring I was in the clear, the doctor sent me off to resume my typical adolescent summer vacation activities. I never developed the "bull's-eye" rash; if I felt tired or sore, I chalked it up to spending too many hours swimming or staying up late with my friends watching MTV.
Then, one morning about a month after the tick-finding, I walked into the kitchen for breakfast and my mother's jaw dropped. "What happened to your face?" she screamed. Huh? I ran to the mirror. What happened was that half of my face had become paralyzed overnight. When I smiled or blinked or talked, only one side of my face went with the program; the other side just sort of ... hung there, as if I were a stroke patient.
Back to the doctor we went. To make this already long-ish story shorter, I did indeed have Lyme disease, despite the fact that I skipped over the typical symptoms and went straight to Bell's palsy, full body rash, and, eventually, convulsions. It took a two-week course of IV tetracycline to get rid of the Lyme, and I still had to spend the rest of that year fighting off a host of other infections with my now-compromised immune system.
The moral of my story? Don't assume your kid doesn't have Lyme because she doesn't exhibit "flu-like" symptoms or get a red circular rash. My advice would be to play it safe and get your kid tested every time she gets a tick (the blood tests are way more accurate now than they were 20 years ago). It might seem like an inconvenience, but believe me, dragging back and forth to the doc is better than dealing with the effects of late-stage Lyme disease (everything from arthritis to heart problems).
I like to think of myself as a sort of trailblazer: I was 12, it was 1988, and barely anyone had heard of Lyme disease. Even the medical community was still largely in the dark. For example, the testing process had a few kinks that needed to be ironed out, hence the false-negative result of the blood test I was given the day after I woke up with a big, swollen tickattached to my chest.
Figuring I was in the clear, the doctor sent me off to resume my typical adolescent summer vacation activities. I never developed the "bull's-eye" rash; if I felt tired or sore, I chalked it up to spending too many hours swimming or staying up late with my friends watching MTV.
Back to the doctor we went. To make this already long-ish story shorter, I did indeed have Lyme disease, despite the fact that I skipped over the typical symptoms and went straight to Bell's palsy, full body rash, and, eventually, convulsions. It took a two-week course of IV tetracycline to get rid of the Lyme, and I still had to spend the rest of that year fighting off a host of other infections with my now-compromised immune system.
The moral of my story? Don't assume your kid doesn't have Lyme because she doesn't exhibit "flu-like" symptoms or get a red circular rash. My advice would be to play it safe and get your kid tested every time she gets a tick (the blood tests are way more accurate now than they were 20 years ago). It might seem like an inconvenience, but believe me, dragging back and forth to the doc is better than dealing with the effects of late-stage Lyme disease (everything from arthritis to heart problems).
Pulmonologist
 |
| Pulmonologist |
Trillo’s practice will be located at 7 Hospital Park.
Trillo received his medical degree from Saint Mary’s Catholic University in Arequipa, Peru, and completed a three-year residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Medical Center in Miami, Fla., a two-year fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and a two-year fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Trillo is the recipient of the Meritorious Research Award in Critical Care from the Mayo Clinic.
He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is also board certified by the ABIM in critical care medicine and is board eligible in pulmonology.
Trillo is married to Martha Millan, M.D., who is a psychiatrist.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Lyme Disease
I never found the tick bite. There was no bulls-eye, no rash (at first) and no sign of a blood bloated arachnid sticking to me just waiting to send its poison into my blood stream.
It was a few days after July 4 of 2010 when I began to feel sick. I thought I had a sinus cold or the flue. The afternoon headaches were annoying, as were the sore knee joints that followed a few days later.
When I eventually came down with a fever and cold chills, I took some cold medicine and actually began to feel better after a couple of days. The fever, chills, sweats and body aches broke, but the daily pounding headaches remained, especially during the afternoon.
The following week I noticed some red blotches on my legs. They were more pinkish actually, were about the size of my fist, warm to the touch and were all over my body. That's when I suspected I had Lyme disease as those rash-like blotches are known as erythema migrans, an early symptom of the disease. Then it was off to the doctor's office.
I was prescribed an antibiotic called Doxycycline and was scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist. Meanwhile the medicine was working. The rash cleared up and I felt better overall, although a bit tired at times and still experiencing afternoon headaches.
My blood work confirmed an A-positive diagnosis. I had Lyme disease. By the time I saw the specialist I was just about done with the medicine and was feeling much better. He told me the medicine kills the bacteria but, like chicken pox, it will remain in my body and I will test positive in the future. He also said I would continue to experience some of the symptoms for weeks, maybe months, to come, but in shorter and less severe cycles. He was right about that.
I was lucky in that I had caught the disease early enough and that my symptoms were minor compared to what others have experienced, including heart issues. I was very interested in backtracking to try to determine when I was bit by a Lyme-agent-carrying deer tick.
Two weeks prior to July 4 weekend I had been camping in Raquette Lake where we got into the black flies pretty heavy. In the weeks that followed leading up to the holiday weekend I spent some considerable time in my garden, working on my lawn, washing our vehicles and swatting insects. The only thing I can pin-point is a bleeding bug bite near my scalp which I blamed on the black flies and/or mosquitoes. I could've been bit just days before the symptoms showed up.
Deer ticks can be small and as I found out, they commonly go undetected in the nymph stage. Even by someone as picky as myself about looking for them and even treating some of my outdoor cloths with tick killing repellent. But then again, I spent some time working on my lawn and garden while wearing shorts and crocks. That's where I believed I picked up the hitchhiker, but in all honesty, I really don't know.
Contracting Lyme disease once makes any future diagnosis of the disease confusing. I may have flu symptoms and think that I've been bit again, or I may have Lyme disease and think it's the flu. This is the challenge I'm faced with entering the heart of summer. On one hand I hate to let tick-phobia interrupt my routine. But on the other I don't want to deal with Lyme disease again on short term and, especially, a long-term basis.
The tick season remains upon us and tick infestation continues to move north. I've already had two ticks crawling on me this year. Although I spend my share of time in tick-infested areas, unless you stay indoors, you can get Lyme disease just as easily as I did. You can pick up a tick on your own lawn, walking the dog or going on a hike. So, keep an eye out for these pesky arachnids.
It was a few days after July 4 of 2010 when I began to feel sick. I thought I had a sinus cold or the flue. The afternoon headaches were annoying, as were the sore knee joints that followed a few days later.
When I eventually came down with a fever and cold chills, I took some cold medicine and actually began to feel better after a couple of days. The fever, chills, sweats and body aches broke, but the daily pounding headaches remained, especially during the afternoon.
The following week I noticed some red blotches on my legs. They were more pinkish actually, were about the size of my fist, warm to the touch and were all over my body. That's when I suspected I had Lyme disease as those rash-like blotches are known as erythema migrans, an early symptom of the disease. Then it was off to the doctor's office.
I was prescribed an antibiotic called Doxycycline and was scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist. Meanwhile the medicine was working. The rash cleared up and I felt better overall, although a bit tired at times and still experiencing afternoon headaches.
My blood work confirmed an A-positive diagnosis. I had Lyme disease. By the time I saw the specialist I was just about done with the medicine and was feeling much better. He told me the medicine kills the bacteria but, like chicken pox, it will remain in my body and I will test positive in the future. He also said I would continue to experience some of the symptoms for weeks, maybe months, to come, but in shorter and less severe cycles. He was right about that.
I was lucky in that I had caught the disease early enough and that my symptoms were minor compared to what others have experienced, including heart issues. I was very interested in backtracking to try to determine when I was bit by a Lyme-agent-carrying deer tick.
Deer ticks can be small and as I found out, they commonly go undetected in the nymph stage. Even by someone as picky as myself about looking for them and even treating some of my outdoor cloths with tick killing repellent. But then again, I spent some time working on my lawn and garden while wearing shorts and crocks. That's where I believed I picked up the hitchhiker, but in all honesty, I really don't know.
Contracting Lyme disease once makes any future diagnosis of the disease confusing. I may have flu symptoms and think that I've been bit again, or I may have Lyme disease and think it's the flu. This is the challenge I'm faced with entering the heart of summer. On one hand I hate to let tick-phobia interrupt my routine. But on the other I don't want to deal with Lyme disease again on short term and, especially, a long-term basis.
The tick season remains upon us and tick infestation continues to move north. I've already had two ticks crawling on me this year. Although I spend my share of time in tick-infested areas, unless you stay indoors, you can get Lyme disease just as easily as I did. You can pick up a tick on your own lawn, walking the dog or going on a hike. So, keep an eye out for these pesky arachnids.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Graves Disease
Graves Disease is a disease that does not neatly fit into any one particular category. It is an autoimmune disorder, and an autoimmune disorder is one that causes the body’s immune system to attack itself. If a person has Graves Disease, its antibodies (white blood cells) don’t recognize its own cells. In other words, the immune system sees normal, healthy cells as “enemies.” Graves Disease is the most frequent reason that young children and teenagers have hyperthyroidism. A person with Graves Disease typically has a thyroid that is overly active, and the symptoms of the disease are dependent upon whether the hyperthyroidism that has been created is mild or aggressive/severe.
What is Graves Disease
After people are diagnosed with the illness, they invariably ask, “What is Graves Disease?” It tends to be something that most people have never heard of. As expressed previously, Graves Disease is an autoimmune disorder, but it can look like a lot of other health challenges. The entertainer Missy Elliot had an enlarged goiter (neck) and it seemed her neck was always swollen. The disease can cause mood swings, emotional imbalances, night sweats, memory loss, and severe fatigue coupled with alternating over-activity. According to the American Medical Association, sufferers can report everything from fast heartbeat to swollen necks/enlarged goiters, intolerance to heat, over activity and severe fatigue. Each single symptom can be treated, but it is rare that people combine all the symptoms to recognize that there is one underlying cause. So, what is Graves Disease? It is hereditary. It is complex. Graves Disease, unless caught, can impair peoples’ entire lives.
How do you Get Graves Disease
“How do you get Graves Disease?” is often the next question. Many think this is a disease that can be caught, but the truth is that it is hereditary. The following is symptoms should be watched in case one thinks they may suffer from it. Pay careful attention to the first five (5) symptoms and seek medical attention: protruding eyes, enlarged neck/goiter, frequency of defecation/diarrhea, cardiac problems, muscle weakness, hot and moist skin, nervousness or anxiety, excessive sweating at any time and especially at night, sleep problems, unexplained weight loss. While there is no cure for Graves Disease it can be treated with medication. Missy Elliot suffered with hair loss, fatigue, and nerve-related problems.
About Graves Disease
Graves Disease is one of those diseases with so many different symptoms that it may often for people who suffer from it to recognize that they have it. They may think that they have an irregular heartbeat, night sweats, hyperthyroidism or a lot of fatigue for reasons they cannot understand. The underlying issue could be Graves Disease, which frequently goes undiagnosed because each of the symptoms it causes can actually be seen as single health events. For more information about Graves Disease, ask your local health provider.
What is Graves Disease
After people are diagnosed with the illness, they invariably ask, “What is Graves Disease?” It tends to be something that most people have never heard of. As expressed previously, Graves Disease is an autoimmune disorder, but it can look like a lot of other health challenges. The entertainer Missy Elliot had an enlarged goiter (neck) and it seemed her neck was always swollen. The disease can cause mood swings, emotional imbalances, night sweats, memory loss, and severe fatigue coupled with alternating over-activity. According to the American Medical Association, sufferers can report everything from fast heartbeat to swollen necks/enlarged goiters, intolerance to heat, over activity and severe fatigue. Each single symptom can be treated, but it is rare that people combine all the symptoms to recognize that there is one underlying cause. So, what is Graves Disease? It is hereditary. It is complex. Graves Disease, unless caught, can impair peoples’ entire lives.
“How do you get Graves Disease?” is often the next question. Many think this is a disease that can be caught, but the truth is that it is hereditary. The following is symptoms should be watched in case one thinks they may suffer from it. Pay careful attention to the first five (5) symptoms and seek medical attention: protruding eyes, enlarged neck/goiter, frequency of defecation/diarrhea, cardiac problems, muscle weakness, hot and moist skin, nervousness or anxiety, excessive sweating at any time and especially at night, sleep problems, unexplained weight loss. While there is no cure for Graves Disease it can be treated with medication. Missy Elliot suffered with hair loss, fatigue, and nerve-related problems.
About Graves Disease
Graves Disease is one of those diseases with so many different symptoms that it may often for people who suffer from it to recognize that they have it. They may think that they have an irregular heartbeat, night sweats, hyperthyroidism or a lot of fatigue for reasons they cannot understand. The underlying issue could be Graves Disease, which frequently goes undiagnosed because each of the symptoms it causes can actually be seen as single health events. For more information about Graves Disease, ask your local health provider.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
HPV
It's not everyday that researchers create a vaccine that can wipe out cancer. But according to doctors, we have one.
They say if every boy and girl in our country got the HPV vaccine before they became sexually active, we could virtually wipe out cervical cancer.
Local 6 talked with an area doctor and a young woman with cervical cancer about why this vaccine is so important.
We see the commercials for Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, all the time but just how many young girls are actually getting the vaccine? Local OB-GYN Susan Mueller said not enough.
"We're actually seeing very little utilization of the vaccination," she said. "In fact, new starts for young adolescents, we can only get 30 percent, or one in three."
Part of the problem is cost, about $125 per shot and it takes three, but there's also reluctance because HPV, the human papilloma virus, is transmitted sexually.
"Some parents think if you have the conversation with 11 or 12 year olds, we're promoting sex," Mueller said.
That's disheartening to Angela Birney, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer earlier this year.
"The only reason I have cervical cancer is cause I have HPV," she said. "98 percent of cervical cancer is HPV."
The hpv vaccine wasn't available to Birney when she was growing up, so she was never vaccinated. But because her doctor tested her for HPV every time she came for her yearly physical, it may have saved her life.
Mueller said women should know an HPV test is more accurate than a pap smear for detecting cancer. In fact, all of Birney's paps came back normal even though she had cervical cancer.
"Fortunately, for me it was caught early but if Dr. Mueller had not done the HPV test, it would have been at least a year before it was known I had cervical cancer," Birney said.
She did not have to have chemotherapy or radiation but will have to have a hysterectomy.
"Because it could come back," she said of the reason. "The cells are still abnormal."
That is why she said parents should listen to those public service announcements. HPV isn't just about life or death. It's about being able to have children.
"As a parent, if I had a daughter, she would absolutely have the shot," she said.
Birney has two little boys and was finished having children, so she said her hysterectomy isn't as heartbreaking as it could be for other young women.
If you're thinking about signing yourself or your teen up for the vaccine, here are some things the FDA says you should know.
Girls and women ages 9 through 27 should get the HPV vaccine.
The FDA also says boys should get the vaccine, because even though they don't get cervical cancer, they spread the disease around.
Women over 30 should be tested for the HPV virus in conjunction with their yearly visit to the gynecologist.
They say if every boy and girl in our country got the HPV vaccine before they became sexually active, we could virtually wipe out cervical cancer.
Local 6 talked with an area doctor and a young woman with cervical cancer about why this vaccine is so important.
We see the commercials for Gardasil, the HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, all the time but just how many young girls are actually getting the vaccine? Local OB-GYN Susan Mueller said not enough.
"We're actually seeing very little utilization of the vaccination," she said. "In fact, new starts for young adolescents, we can only get 30 percent, or one in three."
Part of the problem is cost, about $125 per shot and it takes three, but there's also reluctance because HPV, the human papilloma virus, is transmitted sexually.
"Some parents think if you have the conversation with 11 or 12 year olds, we're promoting sex," Mueller said.
That's disheartening to Angela Birney, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer earlier this year.
"The only reason I have cervical cancer is cause I have HPV," she said. "98 percent of cervical cancer is HPV."
The hpv vaccine wasn't available to Birney when she was growing up, so she was never vaccinated. But because her doctor tested her for HPV every time she came for her yearly physical, it may have saved her life.
Mueller said women should know an HPV test is more accurate than a pap smear for detecting cancer. In fact, all of Birney's paps came back normal even though she had cervical cancer.
"Fortunately, for me it was caught early but if Dr. Mueller had not done the HPV test, it would have been at least a year before it was known I had cervical cancer," Birney said.
She did not have to have chemotherapy or radiation but will have to have a hysterectomy.
"Because it could come back," she said of the reason. "The cells are still abnormal."
"As a parent, if I had a daughter, she would absolutely have the shot," she said.
Birney has two little boys and was finished having children, so she said her hysterectomy isn't as heartbreaking as it could be for other young women.
If you're thinking about signing yourself or your teen up for the vaccine, here are some things the FDA says you should know.
Girls and women ages 9 through 27 should get the HPV vaccine.
The FDA also says boys should get the vaccine, because even though they don't get cervical cancer, they spread the disease around.
Women over 30 should be tested for the HPV virus in conjunction with their yearly visit to the gynecologist.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Dentists
Amy O'Bryan woke up at 4a.m. yesterday to get to the office of Dr.Brian Kvitko early.
She badly needed a tooth extraction.
O'Bryan , a 35-year-old Columbus resident , hadn't visited a dentist in 20 years, and a wisdom tooth had been bothering her for 10 of them.
The corporate-cafeteria worker, lacking dental insurance , went without help until yesterday.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Clintonville neighborhood, several area dentists each volunteered a few hours to perform free cleanings, fillings and extractions for those in need as part of an event sponsored by Dr. Kvitko, Metnes & Associates.
The effort marks one of many throughout central Ohio aimed at providing access to dental care for the needy, said Denise Haring, the president of the Columbus Dental Society and a Reynoldsburg dentist.
O'Bryan, who took the day off from work for the procedure, feared that it would hurt but showed up anyway.
"I can tell the people here care, even though we don't know each other," she said. "I'm just glad someone cares enough to do this."
The event was affiliated with Dentistry From the Heart, a nonprofit group based in Florida that helps arrange similar efforts. Kvitko and his co-workers learned about the initiative at a November conference.
By 7:30 a.m. yesterday, about 150 people had signed up for services. (The organizers hoped to treat at least 526 people - to set a record among Dentistry From the Heart events.)
"Most people will tell you they don't like going to the dentist," said Kvitko, who donated dental work to Ted Williams, the one-time homeless man with the "golden voice" who drew international attention.
"But today is a day where everyone wants to be here and will even wait for a few hours."
Although volunteers didn't arrive until 6 a.m., a security guard began giving out wristbands at 3:30. The first person in line had shown up around midnight.
Connie Fix found 30 people ahead of her at 5:30. Not having seen a dentist in four years, the West Side resident, 44, needed a cleaning and some fillings.
At 8 a.m., with her teeth clean, she had to re-register and go to the back of the line for the fillings. She would have to wait a couple of hours, she was told, but she didn't mind.
"I brought a book," Fix said, "and I don't have to be at work until 4."
Many people sat outside in folding chairs or on a nearby curb awaiting a turn indoors. Music played from speakers in the parking lot, while volunteers sold food and coffee.
Representatives from the Ohio Benefit Bank were available to talk about opportunities for free or reduced-cost health care and other services. Next door, in a vacant lot, a blood drive was under way.
The Ohio State University Dental H.O.M.E. Coach, a full-service mobile office for children, was on-site to take care of youngsters.
Julie Hedrick, 33, of Westerville accompanied her two children.
With 3-year-old daughter Ava, who was having her first cleaning, she read a Dora the Explorer book about a dentist to prepare the girl for the visit.
"Getting the kids done today is such a great opportunity," Hedrick said. "We're self-employed, and I called a dentist's office the other day, and it would have cost $500 for both my kids to get cleanings."
The free services didn't stop with the dental work: Prescriptions for post-
procedure pain medications were filled free, and free repairs were made to dentures.
Such access to dental care, Kvitko said, is considered important, but a single cleaning or other procedure doesn't solve the larger problem: About 45million Americans have no dental insurance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kvitko plans to keep helping.
"We haven't committed to next year yet," he said, "but people are already asking me about it and have already offered to volunteer - so I can certainly see us doing it again."
She badly needed a tooth extraction.
O'Bryan , a 35-year-old Columbus resident , hadn't visited a dentist in 20 years, and a wisdom tooth had been bothering her for 10 of them.
The corporate-cafeteria worker, lacking dental insurance , went without help until yesterday.
From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Clintonville neighborhood, several area dentists each volunteered a few hours to perform free cleanings, fillings and extractions for those in need as part of an event sponsored by Dr. Kvitko, Metnes & Associates.
The effort marks one of many throughout central Ohio aimed at providing access to dental care for the needy, said Denise Haring, the president of the Columbus Dental Society and a Reynoldsburg dentist.
O'Bryan, who took the day off from work for the procedure, feared that it would hurt but showed up anyway.
"I can tell the people here care, even though we don't know each other," she said. "I'm just glad someone cares enough to do this."
The event was affiliated with Dentistry From the Heart, a nonprofit group based in Florida that helps arrange similar efforts. Kvitko and his co-workers learned about the initiative at a November conference.
By 7:30 a.m. yesterday, about 150 people had signed up for services. (The organizers hoped to treat at least 526 people - to set a record among Dentistry From the Heart events.)
"Most people will tell you they don't like going to the dentist," said Kvitko, who donated dental work to Ted Williams, the one-time homeless man with the "golden voice" who drew international attention.
"But today is a day where everyone wants to be here and will even wait for a few hours."
Although volunteers didn't arrive until 6 a.m., a security guard began giving out wristbands at 3:30. The first person in line had shown up around midnight.
At 8 a.m., with her teeth clean, she had to re-register and go to the back of the line for the fillings. She would have to wait a couple of hours, she was told, but she didn't mind.
"I brought a book," Fix said, "and I don't have to be at work until 4."
Many people sat outside in folding chairs or on a nearby curb awaiting a turn indoors. Music played from speakers in the parking lot, while volunteers sold food and coffee.
Representatives from the Ohio Benefit Bank were available to talk about opportunities for free or reduced-cost health care and other services. Next door, in a vacant lot, a blood drive was under way.
The Ohio State University Dental H.O.M.E. Coach, a full-service mobile office for children, was on-site to take care of youngsters.
Julie Hedrick, 33, of Westerville accompanied her two children.
With 3-year-old daughter Ava, who was having her first cleaning, she read a Dora the Explorer book about a dentist to prepare the girl for the visit.
"Getting the kids done today is such a great opportunity," Hedrick said. "We're self-employed, and I called a dentist's office the other day, and it would have cost $500 for both my kids to get cleanings."
The free services didn't stop with the dental work: Prescriptions for post-
procedure pain medications were filled free, and free repairs were made to dentures.
Such access to dental care, Kvitko said, is considered important, but a single cleaning or other procedure doesn't solve the larger problem: About 45million Americans have no dental insurance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kvitko plans to keep helping.
"We haven't committed to next year yet," he said, "but people are already asking me about it and have already offered to volunteer - so I can certainly see us doing it again."
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Aneurysm
SCIENTISTS have discovered that a new device that treats potentially fatal brain aneurysms could help prevent them coming back.
The Edinburgh University researchers have found that treating the aneurysms with specially coated platinum coils can reduce their recurrence.
Each year, around 5000 people in the UK suffer a burst brain aneurysm - a blister on the wall of an artery that can cause life-threatening haemorrhages.
The team studied the effect of coated coils in 500 patients from the UK, Europe, Australia, South America and the USA.
The findings showed that this new form of coil significantly reduced the recurrence of aneurysms after 18 months from 33 per cent to 24 per cent.
Dr Phil White, consultant neuroradiologist and honorary reader at Edinburgh University, said: "Our study shows that the non-invasive techniques for treating brain aneurysms are getting better.
"Hydrogel coated coils offer an improved treatment for ruptured aneurysms and coiling has a faster recovery than having to have brain surgery and comes with less risk as well, which is great news."
The Edinburgh University researchers have found that treating the aneurysms with specially coated platinum coils can reduce their recurrence.
Each year, around 5000 people in the UK suffer a burst brain aneurysm - a blister on the wall of an artery that can cause life-threatening haemorrhages.
The findings showed that this new form of coil significantly reduced the recurrence of aneurysms after 18 months from 33 per cent to 24 per cent.
Dr Phil White, consultant neuroradiologist and honorary reader at Edinburgh University, said: "Our study shows that the non-invasive techniques for treating brain aneurysms are getting better.
"Hydrogel coated coils offer an improved treatment for ruptured aneurysms and coiling has a faster recovery than having to have brain surgery and comes with less risk as well, which is great news."
Monday, June 13, 2011
P90X
We live in a world of quick fixes when it comes to losing weight and looking good. With Americans spending $40 billion a year on everything from pills and shakes to pre-packaged meals and cellulite creams, we’re obsessed with buying almost anything to drop a few. Just don’t try to sell any of those products to Tony Horton.
If you don’t know who Tony Horton is, maybe you should. He is one of the hottest names in fitness as the creator of P90X, the at-home extreme fitness DVD program that has swept the nation and sold more than three million copies. He is also the author ofBring It—a lifestyle guide designed to whip you into shape. But what makes him different from almost any other exercise guru?
We asked him for his best advice on how to really “bring it.”
Exercise for the Right Reasons
First things first, you need to ask yourself if you are ready to make a change in your life and commit to it. Horton said hopping on the Stairmaster for 20 minutes three times a week is a start, and better than nothing, but is not going to give you the level of fitness essential for a healthy life.
Why are you making this change? Horton said if it is just to be thinner, you need to reevaluate yourself.
“Get away from the whole aesthetics factor. It shouldn’t be about eating foods that will help you be smaller later. It doesn’t matter how small you are—the fitness is what matters,” he said.
Instead, Horton said to concentrate on all the other benefits of exercise, and if you lose a few pounds in the process—that’s a bonus.
“If I exercise today and eat well, I turn back the clock. Cells will grow stronger, my immune system will function better and improve my quality of life. Memory will improve, I will have less stress and feel better,” he added.
Don’t Put Garbage in Your Mouth
Most people will tell you that healthy eating can be the most difficult part of getting into shape. Counting calories, weighing food and eating packaged diet foods don’t translate to a lifestyle most of us can stick to. Horton said he believes it’s as simple as this—“Don’t put garbage in your mouth.”
“Nine times out of 10, almost everyone knows the difference between healthy and not healthy food. We all know soda and doughnuts are not good, but we eat them anyway. We are unconscious eaters,” he said.
Horton’s program starts with a cleanse to get the body functioning efficiently by eating mainly fruits and vegetables, cutting out sugar and alcohol, and of course processed foods.
“Ultimately the most important thing is to put healthy whole foods in your mouth. I have never counted a calorie in my life. I just make sure there are fruits and veggies on my plate every time I eat,” he said.
Take It Easy on Yourself
Hearing that people shouldn’t beat themselves up may sound surprising coming from someone as dedicated to fitness as Horton. But he claims America’s obsession with perfection is what causes us to fail.
“If you feel like you can’t do this, it’s OK to hit the pause button. The reason why so many people struggle is we have too many perfectionists. Who cares if you had a chocolate chip cookie? As long as you are in the game and participated, don’t beat yourself up,” he said.
Taking it easy also includes physical rest.
“Stress and not enough sleep will eventually kill your mojo, and you are more likely to fail. But if you have restful sleep, you will be able to sustain and be less stressed out,” he said.
Stick With It
So you’ve decided to change your lifestyle—you’re exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep. But how can you keep it up? Horton said the main thing is to understand how important it is in your life. But he also said he has a fool-proof way to stick with your exercise regimen—get a calendar and hang it on the refrigerator. Write down at the beginning of each month exactly what time you are going to work out every day, and as the days go on, cross out each day with a red pen. Sound silly? There is a method behind the madness.
“If you have already scheduled it like other appointments in your life, it is on there and it is about guilting yourself into doing something for yourself. Then you cross it out. It really works. It’s the simple techniques you follow and are able to stick to,” he said.
Winging It
Call it being lazy, call it falling off the wagon, call it taking a break—whatever you call it, it means making excuses as to why you are not living the healthy lifestyle you have the potential to live. And Horton said “winging it” will get you nowhere.
“Eighty percent of the people who say they don’t have enough time are full of crap. What they are saying is they don’t like it, and they don’t want to—that is the thing that drives me the most crazy—what people are doing to themselves is slow motion suicide,” he said.
Surround Yourself With Like-Minded People
How many times have you been out for happy hour and tried your best to make healthy choices, only to get heckled by your friends who are trying to get you to dive into the beer and nachos? According to Horton, you might want to think about getting some new friends.
“If you spend time with super-fit people who are getting up the next morning to run a marathon, you aren’t going to have a doughnut and a glass of wine. But if you are surrounded by people who don’t care, then you’re not going to keep your act together,” he said.
Horton emphasized having a rock-solid plan to be prepared for others to try and make you eat, drink or not exercise to make themselves feel better.
“Misery loves company. You need something powerful in your life to combat the negative things that are surrounding you,” he said.
If you don’t know who Tony Horton is, maybe you should. He is one of the hottest names in fitness as the creator of P90X, the at-home extreme fitness DVD program that has swept the nation and sold more than three million copies. He is also the author ofBring It—a lifestyle guide designed to whip you into shape. But what makes him different from almost any other exercise guru?
We asked him for his best advice on how to really “bring it.”
Exercise for the Right Reasons
First things first, you need to ask yourself if you are ready to make a change in your life and commit to it. Horton said hopping on the Stairmaster for 20 minutes three times a week is a start, and better than nothing, but is not going to give you the level of fitness essential for a healthy life.
Why are you making this change? Horton said if it is just to be thinner, you need to reevaluate yourself.
“Get away from the whole aesthetics factor. It shouldn’t be about eating foods that will help you be smaller later. It doesn’t matter how small you are—the fitness is what matters,” he said.
Instead, Horton said to concentrate on all the other benefits of exercise, and if you lose a few pounds in the process—that’s a bonus.
“If I exercise today and eat well, I turn back the clock. Cells will grow stronger, my immune system will function better and improve my quality of life. Memory will improve, I will have less stress and feel better,” he added.
Don’t Put Garbage in Your Mouth
Most people will tell you that healthy eating can be the most difficult part of getting into shape. Counting calories, weighing food and eating packaged diet foods don’t translate to a lifestyle most of us can stick to. Horton said he believes it’s as simple as this—“Don’t put garbage in your mouth.”
Horton’s program starts with a cleanse to get the body functioning efficiently by eating mainly fruits and vegetables, cutting out sugar and alcohol, and of course processed foods.
“Ultimately the most important thing is to put healthy whole foods in your mouth. I have never counted a calorie in my life. I just make sure there are fruits and veggies on my plate every time I eat,” he said.
Take It Easy on Yourself
Hearing that people shouldn’t beat themselves up may sound surprising coming from someone as dedicated to fitness as Horton. But he claims America’s obsession with perfection is what causes us to fail.
“If you feel like you can’t do this, it’s OK to hit the pause button. The reason why so many people struggle is we have too many perfectionists. Who cares if you had a chocolate chip cookie? As long as you are in the game and participated, don’t beat yourself up,” he said.
Taking it easy also includes physical rest.
“Stress and not enough sleep will eventually kill your mojo, and you are more likely to fail. But if you have restful sleep, you will be able to sustain and be less stressed out,” he said.
Stick With It
So you’ve decided to change your lifestyle—you’re exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep. But how can you keep it up? Horton said the main thing is to understand how important it is in your life. But he also said he has a fool-proof way to stick with your exercise regimen—get a calendar and hang it on the refrigerator. Write down at the beginning of each month exactly what time you are going to work out every day, and as the days go on, cross out each day with a red pen. Sound silly? There is a method behind the madness.
“If you have already scheduled it like other appointments in your life, it is on there and it is about guilting yourself into doing something for yourself. Then you cross it out. It really works. It’s the simple techniques you follow and are able to stick to,” he said.
Winging It
Call it being lazy, call it falling off the wagon, call it taking a break—whatever you call it, it means making excuses as to why you are not living the healthy lifestyle you have the potential to live. And Horton said “winging it” will get you nowhere.
“Eighty percent of the people who say they don’t have enough time are full of crap. What they are saying is they don’t like it, and they don’t want to—that is the thing that drives me the most crazy—what people are doing to themselves is slow motion suicide,” he said.
Surround Yourself With Like-Minded People
How many times have you been out for happy hour and tried your best to make healthy choices, only to get heckled by your friends who are trying to get you to dive into the beer and nachos? According to Horton, you might want to think about getting some new friends.
“If you spend time with super-fit people who are getting up the next morning to run a marathon, you aren’t going to have a doughnut and a glass of wine. But if you are surrounded by people who don’t care, then you’re not going to keep your act together,” he said.
Horton emphasized having a rock-solid plan to be prepared for others to try and make you eat, drink or not exercise to make themselves feel better.
“Misery loves company. You need something powerful in your life to combat the negative things that are surrounding you,” he said.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Pancreatic Cancer
Brian Lenihan was one of 371 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Ireland each year.
The average age of diagnosis is 74, but the disease can hit younger people, particularly those with a family history of the disease. It is very much a silent cancer, with no early-warning signs.
Mr Lenihan was suffering from stomach pains when he was referred to the Mater Private Clinic in December 2009 for tests by his own GP. It was after these exams he received the diagnosis.
Symptoms often do not appear until the tumour grows large enough to interfere with the function of the stomach, liver, and other nearby organs.
Surgery is the main treatment for pancreatic cancer. But surgery is only possible if the cancer is at an early stage. This involves the removal of all or part of the pancreas, which is buried deep in the abdomen. Chemotherapy can be given to shrink the tumour and Mr Lenihan underwent chemotherapy treatment while Minster for Finance in the last government.
His father Brian Lenihan Snr died from cancer in 1995 at the age of 64. He underwent a liver transplant in 1989 at the Mayo Clinic in Boston.
Pancreatic cancer has one of the highest fatality rates of all cancers, remission is rare, and the five year survival rate is less than 5%.
Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze lost his battle to the disease at 57 years old in 2009 and Michael Landon, star of Little House and the Prairie, died within nine months of diagnosis.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is currently being treated for pancreatic cancer. He had a liver transplant in 2009 and is currently attending the same clinic which treated Swayze in California.
The average age of diagnosis is 74, but the disease can hit younger people, particularly those with a family history of the disease. It is very much a silent cancer, with no early-warning signs.
Mr Lenihan was suffering from stomach pains when he was referred to the Mater Private Clinic in December 2009 for tests by his own GP. It was after these exams he received the diagnosis.
Symptoms often do not appear until the tumour grows large enough to interfere with the function of the stomach, liver, and other nearby organs.
Surgery is the main treatment for pancreatic cancer. But surgery is only possible if the cancer is at an early stage. This involves the removal of all or part of the pancreas, which is buried deep in the abdomen. Chemotherapy can be given to shrink the tumour and Mr Lenihan underwent chemotherapy treatment while Minster for Finance in the last government.
His father Brian Lenihan Snr died from cancer in 1995 at the age of 64. He underwent a liver transplant in 1989 at the Mayo Clinic in Boston.
Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze lost his battle to the disease at 57 years old in 2009 and Michael Landon, star of Little House and the Prairie, died within nine months of diagnosis.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs is currently being treated for pancreatic cancer. He had a liver transplant in 2009 and is currently attending the same clinic which treated Swayze in California.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Myasthenia Gravis
Improving the strength of patients with Myasthenia Gravis, a disease characterized by varying degrees of muscular weakness, is the goal of a new study being conducted at Baylor College of Medicine.
Volunteers are needed to test the effectiveness of an investigational drug that may partially improve muscle strength in patients with this disease, said Dr. Yadollah Harati, professor of neurology and lead investigator on the clinical trial.
Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. It occurs when normal communication between the nerve and muscle is interrupted at the neuromuscular junction, which is the place where nerve cells connect with the muscles they control.
Men and women between the ages of 18 and 80 who are diagnosed with generalized Myasthenia Gravis are eligible to sign up for the study. They must be experiencing limb muscle weakness and fatigue but have stable symptoms.
Volunteers are needed to test the effectiveness of an investigational drug that may partially improve muscle strength in patients with this disease, said Dr. Yadollah Harati, professor of neurology and lead investigator on the clinical trial.
Men and women between the ages of 18 and 80 who are diagnosed with generalized Myasthenia Gravis are eligible to sign up for the study. They must be experiencing limb muscle weakness and fatigue but have stable symptoms.
Green Tea
A recent study published in the journal Immunology Letters indicated a specific way in which a compound found in green tea provides health benefits, including protection against autoimmune diseases like cancer, juvenile diabetes and Lou Gehrig's disease.
The researchers explained that there are many different types of specialized cells that play a role in immunity. In people who have autoimmune disorders, some cells begin to attack others that are essential for good health, leaving harmful cells to replicate and distribute themselves throughout an individual's body.
However, regulatory T cells help prevent this from occurring and maintain a balance of the different cell varieties.
The study's results showed that the polyphenol EGCG found in green tea stimulates a higher production of regulatory T cells, thereby reducing the risk of autoimmune disorders.
The investigators noted that while there are drugs designed to provide this function, there have been concerns about the toxicity of these medications.
"This appears to be a natural, plant-derived compound that can affect the number of regulatory T cells, and in the process improve immune function," said lead researcher Emily Ho..
The researchers explained that there are many different types of specialized cells that play a role in immunity. In people who have autoimmune disorders, some cells begin to attack others that are essential for good health, leaving harmful cells to replicate and distribute themselves throughout an individual's body.
The study's results showed that the polyphenol EGCG found in green tea stimulates a higher production of regulatory T cells, thereby reducing the risk of autoimmune disorders.
The investigators noted that while there are drugs designed to provide this function, there have been concerns about the toxicity of these medications.
"This appears to be a natural, plant-derived compound that can affect the number of regulatory T cells, and in the process improve immune function," said lead researcher Emily Ho..
LA Fitness
 |
| LA Fitness |
A combination of cardiovascular exercise (e.g treadmill, crosstrainer etc) and resistance exercise (e.g swissball, weights machine, free weights) will achieve significantly better weight loss results then doing only cardiovascular exercise. For example, 3 cardio workouts, 1 swissball workout and 1 light handweight workout per week will achieve significantly better weight loss results then doing 5 cardio sessions per week. The naked trainer DVD 1 with its 30 minute swiss ball session and 30 minute hand weights session is a great way to add some resistance training to your weekly regime.
2. Goal Setting and Planning is ESSENTIAL
There is no point embarking on anything if you do not have a goal in mind, and if you fail to plan then you plan to fail. Sign up to www.thenakedtrainer.net (FREE), set your health goals, create a weekly exercise plan and guarantee success.
3. An Easy Program Adhered to Will Always Beat a Hard Program That’s Never Followed
When creating your exercise plan it must be achievable and enjoyable. Someone who plans to do three moderate intensity, 30min exercycle sessions per week, and sticks at it, will get far better weight loss results then someone who plans to do seven, 1hr, high intensity rower sessions, but only actually averages one a week because they rarely have an hour to spare and they don’t enjoy the work outs.
4. The Myth About Exercise Intensity For Weight Loss
Short, high intensity workouts (20-30 minutes) achieves as much, if not better weight loss results then the traditional longer, low intensity workouts (45min – 1hr). High intensity means HIGH INTENSITY though. The sweat should be pouring off you by the end of the 20-30 minutes.
5. Creating Exercise Variety to Achieve Better Results
Combining high intensity cardio exercise with resistance exercises is a great way to get maximum weight loss benefit from your workout and keep things interesting. For example, 5 minutes on a treadmill, 10 press ups, 10 sit ups, 10 lunges, 4 times through.
6. What is a Healthy Weight Loss
You should aim to lose no more then 1/2kg per week. Any more then this and there is a very high chance that you will simply put it all back on plus more.
7. Best Time of Day to Exercise to Lose Weight
Exercising in the morning burns more calories then exercising at night, however the difference is so small that if you are someone that prefers exercising at night then you are better off sticking with your preferred evening training.
8. The Most Effective Food Tip
The best thing you can do to improve your diet is to keep a food diary and nominate a friend or family member to show it to every week. This simple process will force you to think a lot more about what you put in your mouth. Small monthly changes to your diet achieve far better long term benefits then drastic crash diets.
9. The Little Things Really Do Count
Do not under estimate the benefit of adding small activities to your every day life. All those things like, ‘take the stairs’ and ‘get off the bus a block early’ make a huge difference if done regularly. Jump on www.thenakedtrainer.net and join the ‘Gimme20’ group to receive a 1 minute exercise order via email once every couple of days (completely FREE).
10. Keeping up Some Exercise with a Lower Limb Injury
If you have a minor lower limb injury (knee, hip, ankle) then the best cardio machine is a treadmill as it is very low impact due to the cushioning, but because it is still a weight bearing exercise it will help to strengthen and improve the injury. A crosstrainer is not a good exercise option if you have a lower limb injury due to the slight twisting movement associated with the exercise.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Mediterranean Diet
US News Media Group, publisher of usnews. com and the annual Best Hospitals rankings, questioned 22 renowned experts in heart disease, diabetes, diet and exercise to review 20 diet plans. The method of evaluating the diet plans included a rating scale measuring effectiveness, ease of compliance, nutritional completeness and health risks on a five-point scale.
The review of the diet plan did not include exercise and physical activity and the cost. The review ranked Ornish Diet first for heart health as it involves low-fat, high fiber, vegetarian food. It also rejuvenates mind and body with the help of exercise, yoga and meditation.
Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) Diet was ranked at second place whereas DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet was at third place. These two diet plans have originated from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and involves the application of scientific findings to improve heart and overall health.
The DASH Diet was ranked first in the category of best diabetes diet while, Mayo Clinic Diet, the Ornish Diet and the Vegan Diet shared the second ranking.
The review honored DASH Diet and the Mediterranean Diet with the prize for best overall diet, while TLC Diet and Weight Watchers were ranked second.
The review of the diet plan did not include exercise and physical activity and the cost. The review ranked Ornish Diet first for heart health as it involves low-fat, high fiber, vegetarian food. It also rejuvenates mind and body with the help of exercise, yoga and meditation.
The DASH Diet was ranked first in the category of best diabetes diet while, Mayo Clinic Diet, the Ornish Diet and the Vegan Diet shared the second ranking.
The review honored DASH Diet and the Mediterranean Diet with the prize for best overall diet, while TLC Diet and Weight Watchers were ranked second.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Dash Diet
 |
| Dash Diet |
Jonathan P. B. Berz, M.D., M.Sc., of Boston University Medical Center, and colleagues evaluated the effects of a DASH-style eating plan on BMI (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) in a racially diverse sample of adolescent girls. The authors examined data from 2,237 girls 9 years of age who participated in the National Growth and Health Study from 1987-1988 and were followed up for 10 years. Data were gathered annually and each participant was given a DASH food group score based on individual adherence to dietary requirements.
Higher DASH scores were associated with higher total energy intake, as well as higher average intake from each food group (whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, low-fat dairy and nuts/seeds/legumes). Girls in the highest quintile of DASH scores had the smallest gains in BMI during the study, and had the lowest BMIs at the end of follow-up. Conversely, at age 19 years, girls in the lowest DASH score quintile had an average BMI that was greater than the threshold for overweight as defined by the 85th percentile for age.
"In particular, higher consumption of fruits, whole grains and low-fat dairy products led to less weight gain," the authors noted. Participants who consumed two or more servings of fruit per day had the smallest gains in BMI during the study years and had the lowest BMI at the end of follow-up. Compared with participants consuming the least amount of whole grains, those who consumed the most had lower BMI scores over time and a lower BMI at the end of follow-up. The same results were seen for girls consuming higher amounts of low-fat dairy products.
"We found that higher adherence to a DASH-style diet resulted in a consistently lower BMI between the ages of 9 and 19 years," the authors conclude. "Such an eating pattern may help prevent excess weight gain during adolescence."
The DASH Diet Predicts Weight Gain
In an accompanying editorial, Robert C. Klesges, Ph.D. and Marion Hare, M.D., of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tenn., comment on the findings of this study. "As Berz et al point out, the DASH diet has been well validated in adults, and there is absolutely no reason for it to not work in children," they write. "The DASH diet is flexible and should meet the food preferences of most children. However, interventions for children need to be simplified; therefore, it make sense to specifically recommend increased consumption of fruits and low-fat dairy products."
"In summary, Berz et al add to a growing body of literature that will eventually help us to understand and hopefully treat pediatric obesity. A logical step in this literature is to test the DASH diet in children along with other efficacious adult obesity interventions."
This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Octomom
The state medical board has revoked the license of the fertility doctor who helped "Octomom" Nadya Suleman become the mother of 14 children through repeated in vitro treatments, according to a decision made public Wednesday.
The Medical Board of California said it was necessary to revoke Dr. Michael Kamrava's license to protect the public. The revocation takes effect July 1.
The Beverly Hills fertility doctor has acknowledged implanting 12 embryos into Suleman, then 33, prior to the pregnancy that produced her octuplets. It was six times the norm for a woman her age.
That was a mistake, according to the board, which rejected an earlier recommendation to give Kamrava five years of probation to dole out the harsher punishment.
"While the evidence did not establish (Kamrava) as a maverick or deviant physician, oblivious to standards of care in IVF practice, it certainly demonstrated that he did not exercise sound judgment in the transfer of twelve embryos to (Suleman)," the board said in its 45-page decision.
Kamrava's lawyer Henry Fenton did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Since Suleman's octuplets were born in January 2009, the medical community and public have puzzled over how a doctor could have implanted so many embryos into a patient and how the babies were carried to premature birth.
In practice, fertility doctors avoid mega-births, as high number multiple births are sometimes called, because the process can put the mother at risk for serious complications and death. Crowding in a mother's uterus could also result in premature birth, cerebral palsy, developmental delays or other health problems for the babies.
To date, Suleman's octuplets are the world's longest surviving set. When they were born, the unemployed single mother already had six children — also conceived through Kamrava's treatments — and was living with her mother in a small house that would soon be foreclosed on.
In early interviews, Suleman praised Kamrava's care and wrongly claimed that she had only been implanted with six embryos, with two of the embryos splitting to become twins.
With a tearful apology, Kamrava testified at his hearing last year that he implanted Suleman with 12 embryos because she insisted on it and she consented to undergoing fetal reduction if too many of the babies became viable.
The board responded to that defense, writing, "A fetal reduction procedure has risks, including the loss of all pregnancy, and to assign even a scintilla of responsibility to a patient who becomes pregnant and then elects not to follow through with a procedure that may jeopardize her (and possibly her family's) prized objective is troubling and telling."
In the hearing, Kamrava said before implanting 12 embryos, he "tried all sorts of conservative ways to help this young woman become pregnant and she wanted to have a large family."
"I'm sorry for what happened. When I look back, I wish I had never done it," said Kamrava at the Oct. 21 hearing, wiping at tears. "It's a very risky, unhealthy pregnancy. She's lucky she made it through, both for the babies and her."
Kamrava said that months passed after the treatment, and he never heard from her, despite efforts to contact her. He says he only heard from Suleman again after the babies were born.
The state also found that Kamrava was negligent in the care of two other patients — a major factor in the decision to revoke his license.
"This is not a one-patient case or a two-patient case; it is a three-patient case and the established causes of discipline include repeated negligent acts," the board decision reads.
Kamrava was found to have implanted seven embryos in a 48-year-old patient, resulting in quadruplets. One fetus died before birth.
Kamrava said at his hearing that he recommended four embryos be implanted, but he implanted seven because the patient insisted.
In another case, Kamrava went ahead with in vitro fertilization after tests detected atypical cells, which can indicate the presence of a tumor. The patient was later diagnosed with stage-three cancer and had to have her uterus and ovaries removed before undergoing chemotherapy.
Kamrava said he should have referred her to a gynecological oncologist but simultaneous to her treatment, news broke about Suleman's octuplets and he became too distracted to follow up the patient's care.
In February, a judge recommended the board put Kamrava on five years of probation, but the ultimate licensing decision belonged to the board. Citing negative publicity surrounding Suleman's case, the judge had said it was unlikely Kamrava would make similar mistakes again.
The board "adamantly" disagreed with that assessment, saying the doctor had already used bad press as an excuse for failing to care properly for the fertility patient who should have been referred to a cancer specialist.
"Accordingly, the board is not persuaded that relying on the public or the media to fulfill or supplement the board's public protection role is sound policy," the decision reads.
Medical board spokeswoman Jennifer Simoes said Kamrava could petition for the board to reconsider the revocation, but it's unlikely it would change the outcome since the board chose to make its own call on Kamrava's license rather than accepting a proposed decision.
By law, Kamrava can petition for reinstatement three years after revocation takes effect.
The Medical Board of California said it was necessary to revoke Dr. Michael Kamrava's license to protect the public. The revocation takes effect July 1.
The Beverly Hills fertility doctor has acknowledged implanting 12 embryos into Suleman, then 33, prior to the pregnancy that produced her octuplets. It was six times the norm for a woman her age.
That was a mistake, according to the board, which rejected an earlier recommendation to give Kamrava five years of probation to dole out the harsher punishment.
"While the evidence did not establish (Kamrava) as a maverick or deviant physician, oblivious to standards of care in IVF practice, it certainly demonstrated that he did not exercise sound judgment in the transfer of twelve embryos to (Suleman)," the board said in its 45-page decision.
Kamrava's lawyer Henry Fenton did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
Since Suleman's octuplets were born in January 2009, the medical community and public have puzzled over how a doctor could have implanted so many embryos into a patient and how the babies were carried to premature birth.
In practice, fertility doctors avoid mega-births, as high number multiple births are sometimes called, because the process can put the mother at risk for serious complications and death. Crowding in a mother's uterus could also result in premature birth, cerebral palsy, developmental delays or other health problems for the babies.
To date, Suleman's octuplets are the world's longest surviving set. When they were born, the unemployed single mother already had six children — also conceived through Kamrava's treatments — and was living with her mother in a small house that would soon be foreclosed on.
In early interviews, Suleman praised Kamrava's care and wrongly claimed that she had only been implanted with six embryos, with two of the embryos splitting to become twins.
With a tearful apology, Kamrava testified at his hearing last year that he implanted Suleman with 12 embryos because she insisted on it and she consented to undergoing fetal reduction if too many of the babies became viable.
In the hearing, Kamrava said before implanting 12 embryos, he "tried all sorts of conservative ways to help this young woman become pregnant and she wanted to have a large family."
"I'm sorry for what happened. When I look back, I wish I had never done it," said Kamrava at the Oct. 21 hearing, wiping at tears. "It's a very risky, unhealthy pregnancy. She's lucky she made it through, both for the babies and her."
Kamrava said that months passed after the treatment, and he never heard from her, despite efforts to contact her. He says he only heard from Suleman again after the babies were born.
The state also found that Kamrava was negligent in the care of two other patients — a major factor in the decision to revoke his license.
"This is not a one-patient case or a two-patient case; it is a three-patient case and the established causes of discipline include repeated negligent acts," the board decision reads.
Kamrava was found to have implanted seven embryos in a 48-year-old patient, resulting in quadruplets. One fetus died before birth.
Kamrava said at his hearing that he recommended four embryos be implanted, but he implanted seven because the patient insisted.
In another case, Kamrava went ahead with in vitro fertilization after tests detected atypical cells, which can indicate the presence of a tumor. The patient was later diagnosed with stage-three cancer and had to have her uterus and ovaries removed before undergoing chemotherapy.
Kamrava said he should have referred her to a gynecological oncologist but simultaneous to her treatment, news broke about Suleman's octuplets and he became too distracted to follow up the patient's care.
In February, a judge recommended the board put Kamrava on five years of probation, but the ultimate licensing decision belonged to the board. Citing negative publicity surrounding Suleman's case, the judge had said it was unlikely Kamrava would make similar mistakes again.
The board "adamantly" disagreed with that assessment, saying the doctor had already used bad press as an excuse for failing to care properly for the fertility patient who should have been referred to a cancer specialist.
"Accordingly, the board is not persuaded that relying on the public or the media to fulfill or supplement the board's public protection role is sound policy," the decision reads.
Medical board spokeswoman Jennifer Simoes said Kamrava could petition for the board to reconsider the revocation, but it's unlikely it would change the outcome since the board chose to make its own call on Kamrava's license rather than accepting a proposed decision.
By law, Kamrava can petition for reinstatement three years after revocation takes effect.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)