MedWorm Tags: agent

Could Your Swimming Pool Give You A Rash?

Better Health — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:00:39 +0100

Allergic to Swimming? We’re in the dog days of August and summer continues to hold on. What better way is there to relax than in your nice, cool pool? Unless you’re allergic to it, of course. I had a patient this summer who developed an itchy rash all over. He thought it might be due to his pool, but insisted that he kept it immaculately clean. Ironically, that might have been the trouble. Some people are allergic to (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Dermatology Blog* (Source: Better Health)

New Contrast Agent Provides Better In Vivo Imaging Of Bacteria

Better Health — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:00:13 +0100

A new contrast agent based on maltodextrin has been developed at Georgia Tech that can provide in vivo imaging of bacteria with a sensitivity two orders of magnitude greater than previously achieved. Unlike most previous methods, the new probes are able to enter bacterial cells by pretending to be food, while avoiding being ingested by the mammalian cells. From Georgia Tech: Maltodextrin-based imaging probes consist of a fluorescent dye linked to maltohexaose, which is a major source of glucose for bacteria. The probes deliver the contrast agent into bacteria through the organism’s maltodextrin transporter, which only exists in bacterial cells and not mammalian cells. In experiments using a rat model, the researchers found that (more…) *This blog post was originally publi...

7 Good Reasons to Cry: The Healing Property of Tears

World of Psychology — Sun, 29 May 2011 10:58:25 +0100

New York Times reporter Benedict Carey referred to tears in a piece as “emotional perspiration.” Given that I sweat a lot and hate deodorant, I suppose it makes sense that I weep often. But I’m not going to apologize for that, because after a good cry, I always feel cleansed, like my heart and mind just rubbed each other’s backs in a warm bath. In his intriguing article, “The Miracle of Tears”, from which I’ve borrowed some of the research for this post, author Jerry Bergman writes: “Tears are just one of many miracles which work so well that we taken them for granted every day.” Here, then, are seven ways tears and the phenomenon we call “crying” heal us physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually. 1. Tears help us ...

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Cato-at-liberty — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:41:19 +0100

By David RittgersThe Good: Congressional investigators are in Arizona to gather information on the ATF’s ill-conceived “Gunwalker” operation that supplied Mexican drug cartels with weapons. As I wrote at National Review, street agents objected from the beginning, but were told in no uncertain terms to pipe down: Agents raised warnings to their superiors about the quantity of sales and the rising violence across the border, but were told that the operation had been approved at ATF headquarters. They were also told that if they didn’t like it, they were welcome to seek employment at the Maricopa County jail as detention officers making $30,000 a year. I’d like to think that investigators will find that managerial incompetence was the culprit and not intentional facilitation of ...

‘Give Thanks for the TSA’?

Cato-at-liberty — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 13:06:53 +0100

By Gene HealyMy Washington Examiner column this week covers two developments last week that may make you somewhat less likely to “Give Thanks for the TSA” as former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen urged on National Review’s website. The first is the viral video of a TSA agent at New Orleans airport giving the “freedom fondle” to a six-year-old girl. The second is Friday’s revelation that among the “behavioral indicators” TSA uses to scope out travelers who deserve extra manhandling is the “arrogant” expression of “contempt against airport passenger procedures.” Because, clearly, making a scene on an airport security line is sound strategy for anyone trying to sneak a bomb onto a plane. Is it possible that anyone with an IQ above room temperature bu...

The Dirt on Common Cosmetic Ingredients

Skin MD — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:16:43 +0100

Have you given up trying to figure out what causes your skin allergies? Unbeknownst to many consumers, we could be spending good money on products that we think are good for our skin but are actually causing allergic reactions, dermatitis, premature aging, and worse. The following are the cosmetic industry’s dirtiest ingredients, rated according to Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics database Skin Deep, which references the American Cancer Society and other reliable organizations. Skin Deep rates specific ingredients on a hazard scale from 0 to 10, the latter being the most harmful. Petrochemicals Petroleum jelly, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethanol Found in skin astringents, perfumes Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) rates a low 2 on Skin Deep’s hazard scal...

Science news with a spectral twist

Sciencebase Science Blog — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:00:58 +0100

, first 2011 issue of my spectroscopyNOW.com now live Fast-track walking pneumonia test – A new approach to testing for a common form of pneumonia using nanorod arrays to boost SERS signals can cut the time to diagnosis from several days to a mere ten minutes, according to research published in the journal Plos One. Conservation conversation – Improving storage and exposure conditions in conservation of artefacts is crucial to suppressing the fading and degradation of dyes and other components of paintings. Researchers have now used several analytical techniques, including attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and optical microscopy, to investigate different conditions on common ...

Got

Bah! to cancer — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 06:46:36 +0100

I haven’t posted about the Bah! book in a little while: not since I finished it, in August, in fact. If you cast your mind back a little further, you may also remember that I wrote about the Blake Friedmann auction, and how Oliver Munson was going to read and assess my chapters. Well, he did. And he asked to see the rest of the book. And then, about 6 weeks ago, he asked whether he could be my agent. (That was the gist, anyway. The way I wrote it there suggests that he went down on one knee, but actually he sent me an email saying lovely things about my writing and my book and saying he’d like to try to do something with it. Which is, I believe, agent speak for ‘can I be your agent’.) And then I did a little happy dance and said yes and then we arranged a meeting. Which was on Thur...

MRIs and Mutliple Myeloma and gadolinium, oh my!

beth's myeloma blog — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:19:51 +0100

Margaret’s blog has a few posts written about the use of gadolinium as a contrast agent. I think it’s important for MM patients to know about this. You can the read posts at her blog. These are all the posts containing the word, “gadolinium.” »The gadolinium used in MRIs makes myeloma cells proliferate In other news, there’s not much going on. Last week I got to participate in a local radio show with two of Moore County’s finest, Detective Sargent Donnie Shingleton and Sargent Tim Cameron, of the Moore County Sheriff’s Department. The topic was home security, which included discussions about fraud. My part was Internet fraud. My words didn’t really come out right! I start a creative non-fiction class tomorrow, thanks to my sist...

Publishers, Agents, Nonprofit Owners or Accountants

Suboxone Talk Zone — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:03:45 +0100

I am in need of some help from the people listed in the title– so if you have connections, help me out. I am adding this sentence to the front of this post after rambling too long, as I’m afraid that the person I need won’t get to the important part! If you work in the areas I mentioned or have connections to someone in those areas, please read on. I’ve talked about some of the goals I have had for this site over the past couple years… one of my ‘personal issues’ is that like most addicts, I like to take things on by myself and solve problems by myself. I remember, in fact, my first time in treatment in 1993– an outpatient, 21-session group therapy program– when one of my assignments was to ask another person for help at least o...

New Agent Orange Health Risks

A Hearty Life — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:56:46 +0100

The list of health risks Agent Orange may cause has potentially added two more: heart disease and Parkinson’s. The findings are early and more tests are needed to definitively say there is a link. It’s difficult to say exactly what types of problems agent orange caused, because those exposed to the toxin have reacted differently. (Different bodies, different reactions.) Other diseases linked to Agent Orange include leukemia, prostate cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and birth defects in the children of veterans who were exposed to the toxin. About 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were used between 1962 and 1971 during the Vietnam War. Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree New Agent Orange Health Risks (Source: A Hearty Life)

7 Good Reasons To Cry Your Eyes Out

World of Psychology — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:10:33 +0100

New York Times reporter Benedict Carey referred to tears in a recent piece as “emotional perspiration.” Given that I sweat a lot and hate deodorant, I suppose it makes sense that I weep often. But I’m not going to apologize for that, because after a good cry, I always feel cleansed, like my heart and mind just rubbed each other’s backs in a warm bath. In his intriguing article, “The Miracle of Tears” , from which I’ve lifted some of the research for this post, author Jerry Bergman writes: “Tears are just one of many miracles which work so well that we taken them for granted every day.” Here, then, are seven ways tears and the phenomenon we call “crying” heal us physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually. 1. Tears hel...

OraVerse Local Anesthesia Reversal Agent

dental blog for dentists about dentistry — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:02:54 +0100

DentalBlogs has covered OraVerse in the past, but now we bring you a visual explanation. We met Rick Orneals from Novalar Pharmaceuticals at Star of the South Meeting on April 18th. He’ll tell you just how amazing OraVerse is. Your patients will LOVE this product. < --> (Source: dental blog for dentists about dentistry)

Endocyte Begins Phase II Clinical Trial of EC145 for Treatment of Women with Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Libby's H*O*P*E* — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:35:15 +0100

“Endocyte Inc. has announced the initiation of a randomized Phase II clinical study of the company’s investigational drug EC145 in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The phase II trial, also called the “PRECEDENT study,” will evaluate the efficacy and safety of EC145 when administered in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). …The PRECEDENT study will [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*)

Brain Evolution and Why it is Meaningful Today to Improve Our Brain Health

SharpBrains — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:16:05 +0100

This article was written by Larry McCleary, M.D, for SharpBrains.com's Author Speaks Series. Dr. McCleary (blog) is a former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children's Hospital. He is trained and has practiced as a pediatric neurosurgeon and has completed post-graduate training in theoretical physics. His scientific publications span the fields of metabolic medicine, tumor immunology, biotechnology and neurological disease. He is the author of The Brain Trust Program: A Scientifically Based Three-Part Plan to Improve Memory, Elevate Mood, Enhance Attention, Alleviate Migraine and Menopausal Symptoms, and Boost Mental Energy (Perigee Trade, 2007). aging, Author Speaks Series, Best of the Brain, book, book agent, book publishing, boost mental energy, brain building diet, ...

Learning About Psychiatric Advance Directives

World of Psychology — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:42:06 +0100

Last week the topic of a psychiatric advance directive, or PAD, came up in the Wall Street Journal in an article entitled, Helping Mental Patients Gain Some Control Over Treatment. A psychiatric advance directive allows a person with a mental illness to state preferences for, or dislikes of, specific treatments, designate a proxy decision-maker or make other advance decisions about their mental health care and treatment. For instance, if you know you have a bad reaction to Haldol, but may not be believed when you’re in a manic or delusional state, a psychiatric advance directive helps communicate that vital information to a treatment team. Why wouldn’t a doc just consult your medical chart for such information? Well, largely because charts are still paper and institutional or ...

Help offered for diabetes brought on by Agent Orange

The Diabetes Blog — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Support, CareAgent Orange, the now infamous substance used to clear jungles and forests during the Vietnam War, has caused myriad health problems in veterans. Type 2 diabetes is recognized as one of them. And now the hunt is on for those who have developed it so that the government can help."A lot of people just say, I'm getting older, I have it anyway," said Cliff Riley, a veteran who has diabetes and was featured in a recent Cincinnati TV station report on the search. "If they do in fact have that condition and did in fact have their boots on the ground in Vietnam they will qualify for some sort of disability or compensation."More information is available from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or from your local Veterans Services Center.Read |...

New diabetes treatment safe for Nondiabetics

The Diabetes Blog — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Drugs, ResearchI know you've always wondered what a diabetes drug might do to a nondiabetic. Riddle solved for this drug- nothing. Dia-B Tech Limited, a Melbourne-based biotech, released results from a medical trial for a new treatment for type 2 diabetes that show it is safe for use in humans without diabetes. The drug makes a patient's own insulin work better. The insulin sensitizing factor known as compound ISF402 attaches itself to insulin and helps break it down to a more useable form This is a great concept - and one that is fashioned fully in a bitter melon. However, let's give the Aussie biotech the spotlight. Bitter melon is not for the faint of heart - it has teeth! The study included 24 healthy male volunteers given the treatment an...

Pesticides may up risk of diabetes in pregnancy

The Diabetes Blog — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, ResearchIn Diabetes Care this month, researchers report that exposure to agricultural pesticides in the first-trimester increases a woman's risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy. Researchers assessed the risk of developing gestational diabetes following pesticide exposures among over 11,200 wives of farmers enrolled in the Agricultural Health Study. Within 25 years of entering the study, 4.5% of women who became pregnant reported having gestational diabetes. Overall, 57% of women reported having mixed or applied pesticides at some time in their life, and the proportion was similar for those with and without gestational diabetes mellitus. Women who mixed or applied pesticides or repaired pesticide-related equipment durin...