MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'allergic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:05:39 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158996&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffab-antivenom-found-to-cause-fewer-allergic-reactions-than-previously-thought%2F2011.08.24 The current standard of care with regard to using antivenom for pit viper snakes (e.g., rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths) in North America is to use Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab antivenom (CroFab;FabAV). This antivenom is created using a process that obtains antibodies “raised” by immunizing sheep and then harvesting and purifying the product. One of the major benefits of using this product is to take advantage of a lesser incidence of allergic reactions (than have traditionally been observed with previous products). It appears that the situation regarding the incidence of allergic reactions may be better than previously thought. In the article, “Short Term Outcomes After Fab Antivenom Therapy for Severe Crotaline Snakebite,” Eric Lavonas, MD and colleagues (Ann Emerg Me... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158996 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0100 5158996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139739&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpreparation-for-surgical-patients-with-a-latex-allergy%2F2011.08.17 A couple of nice articles recently on latex allergy have crossed my path – one in a journal I subscribe to (Aesthetic Surgery Journal) and the other via twitter and @Allergy (Ves Dimov, M.D., blogs at Allergy Notes).  I’ve put both full references below. Latex allergy became widely recognized in the late 1980s and early 1990s.  The increase in latex allergies cases is felt to be associated with the increase use of latex gloves and implementation of universal precautions (now known as standard precautions) in the 1980s. Management of possible or confirmed latex allergic patients begin with history and suspicion: All patients who present for surgical procedures or exams which require latex gloves (pelvic exam, dental exams, etc) should be questioned about possible latex allergy. Patien... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139739 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0100 5139739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107519&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-to-soothe-that-itchy-sunburn%2F2011.08.08 Have you ever had a sunburn? First it hurts. Then it itches. And itches. And itches. Why is that? Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage to your skin. Too much UV damages your skin cell’s DNA, and your immune system responds by killing off the bad cells. Because UV radiation doesn’t penetrate (unlike X-rays for example), it damages only the surface layer of your skin. This outermost layer happens to be loaded with special nerve fibers called C-fibers which are responsible for itch. Itch is a mechanism to (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Dermatology Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107519 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:00:10 +0100 5107519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968490&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-allergies-treating-severe-allergic-reactions%2F2011.06.25 An allergic reaction in an outdoor setting can rapidly become a life-threatening emergency. While most of us think of food allergies as annoyances, they can be quite serious or even life threatening. Itchy skin rashes can progress to breathing difficulty, swollen soft tissues (e.g., lips, tongue, throat) that compromise the airway, and low blood pressure or even shock. Therefore, it’s important to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of severe allergy and to be prepared to respond rapidly in the event of an emergency. An EpiPen (an epinephrine auto-injector) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has released Food Allergy Guidelines for healthcare professionals to help guide the care of patients with life-threatening food allergies. The full guidelines can be found ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968490 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4968490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862741&cid=t_213205_123_f&fid=39041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrnabong.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fallergic-rhinitis.html Once the beautiful Palo Verde trees start to bloom with those pretty yellow flowers then you will start noticing that there would be a lot of individuals starting to sneeze, have sore throats, itchy eyes, nasal congestion and coughing. Fever is not usually a part of this syndrome. Usually when fever happens there is a secondary bacterial infection that happens. Ear infection, sinusitis. There can also be a secondary to viral infection, pharyngitis. You would notice that they would have dark circles under their eyes (allergic shiners) and there is a line across their nose(nasal crease). This happens when they try to wipe their noses using the palms of their hands in an upward motion called the allergic salute. They would also complain of itchy eyes resulting in redness but with a clear disc... Dr Nabong's Pediatric Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862741 Mon, 23 May 2011 22:19:00 +0100 4862741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489671&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbioadhesives-for-repair-of-childbirth-lacerations%2F2011.02.17 Bioadhesives are a reasonable alternative to sutures for repair of perineal lacerations sustained during childbirth, according to a poster presentation at last week’s annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Researchers at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem randomized women with first degree perineal tears to either 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (Dermabond) adhesive glue or suture for wound closure. While healing and incisional pain was similar, women who received the adhesive closure were more satisfied than those who were sutured. In Portugal, bioadhesives have been studied for closure of the top skin layer of an episiotomy repair, and found to shorten the duration of the procedure with similar outcomes to suture in terms of pain, healing, and infecti... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489671 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:00:52 +0100 4489671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281550&cid=t_213205_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOnFd13FQhGk%2F Catalent Pharma Solutions, which does manufacturing, packaging and other work for drugmakers (see here), was ordered to pay roughly $150,000 for exposing 10 employees to olanzpaine, who developed allergic contact dermaitis. Olazapine is the active ingredient in the Zyprexa antipsychotic. Two cases were between October 2007 and December 2007, but the UK’s Health and Safety Executive charges Catalent failed to carry out an immediate review and, instead, only began a probe in February 2008 after HSE made a visit. The company pleaded guilty to four charges under the UK’s Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act. Catalent “failed to address the inadequacies not only in its systems for working with hazardous substances, but al... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281550 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:18:36 +0100 4281550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942836&cid=t_213205_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F07%2Fwhat-not-to-say-to-someone-with-panic-disorder%2F Imagine this: you’re allergic to cats. You’ve just been exposed to cat dander and your eyes are a soggy, drippy red mess. You sneeze uncontrollably multiple times in a row. Your skin becomes itchy, red, and full of welts. You’re feeling pretty miserable. A friend walks up to you. “Hey, no worries,” he exclaims casually, “there’s nothing to be allergic to!” Uh, what? “Sure there is — I’m allergic to cats,” you’d probably say. “Nah,” says your friend, “just stop sneezing. You’ll be okay.” “What?! I can’t just STOP sneezing on a dime,” you retort. “Sure you can. There’s nothing wrong with you,” he insists. “Uhm, care to explain these welts, then? And the red eyes? And the sneezing?!” Sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? If you suffe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942836 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:46:49 +0100 3942836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3935797&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fare-your-allergies-acting-up-ragweed-pollen-season-is-here%2F2010.09.05 I don’t know about you, but my allergies have really been acting up lately. Well, maybe not this week since it’s been cooler. But last week my eyes were watering, my nose was running, and my lungs were wheezing (kind of). But for the first two weeks of August, a lot of my patients were complaining about their allergy symptoms getting worse. And for some people, their asthma was getting worse as well. The local TV station called me last week during the beginning of ragweed pollen season and asked me to talk about it: If you find this information helpful, I invite you to check out my other TV interviews about health-related issues. *This blog post was originally published at Doctor Anonymous* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3935797 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3935797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933090&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fitchy-bottom-pre-moistened-wipes-can-cause-a-rash%2F2010.09.03 Itchy behinds are part of my everyday. It shouldn’t be part of yours. Itching on your bottom is usually a minor annoyance, but it can be debilitating. A patient of mine was unable to work because his derrière itching was so intense. A common cause of itching bottom, called pruritus ani, is allergic contact dermatitis. Places where your skin transitions from outside to inside, such as the lips or the anus, are susceptible to dermatitis because your skin’s barrier is limited in these locations. Without a thick layer of keratin, irritants on the outside easily get into your skin. Moist toilet tissues, such as baby wipes or towelettes, might seem to get you cleaner than old-fashioned toilet paper, but chemicals in the wipes cause a rash in some people. (more…) *This blog po... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933090 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:00:30 +0100 3933090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3899396&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F5-things-you-should-know-about-organic-beauty-products%2F2010.08.24 “All natural. Certified organic. Made from natural ingredients. Pure botanicals. Chemical free.” You might guess I’m standing in the farmers market. Nope. I’m in the “Health and Beauty” aisle at Target. The ubiquitous all-things-natural trend has overtaken the cosmetic industry. How do you know what’s real and what’s marketing hype? Here are five things you should know about organic beauty product labels: 1. Labels that say “natural ingredients” or “botanicals” are not certified organic. These statements are not regulated. Most natural ingredients used in beauty products are actually modified in a lab. Truly botanical ingredients, like you’d pick in your garden, are usually unstable and would spoil like food. 2. Natural doesn’t always mean be... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3899396 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:00:49 +0100 3899396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865267&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsystemic-fibromyallergia%2F2010.08.13 Happy:  Ma’am, I noticed you have an allergy to prednisone listed.  Ma’am:  Oh, I can never take prednisone again. I’m allergic to it. Happy:  Really? Huh. What happened when you took prednisone? Ma’am:  It made my tongue swell up really bad. Happy:  Huh. What did they give you to reverse the allergic reaction? Ma’am:  Some sort of steroid through my IV. I’m thinking this qualifies as a raging case of systemic fibromyallergia. *This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865267 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3865267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767337&cid=t_213205_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F227%2Fhow-to-choose-safe-natural-skin-care-products%2F Choosing safe and natural skin care products can be very hard.   It isn’t that manufacturers don’t “claim” to provide them.  It’s just that their claims are not always completely honest. Safety is actually the big issue here.  If you are like most people, you would like naturally occurring ingredients, because you think they are safer than artificial ingredients. In many cases, you are right.   But, there are a few exceptions. Lead, mercury, cadmium and other heavy metals are found in nature.   They are probably not on the list of ingredients in your favourite cosmetics, they can be there as contaminants in natural plant extracts. Numerous contaminants are present in tap water, which is why water must be purified before it is used in skin care products. P... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767337 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:43:12 +0100 3767337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633446&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-allergy-or-not-new-test-in-the-works%2F2010.06.06 Current methods of testing people for food allergies aren’t particularly precise, leaving many people to falsely think that they have a condition that they really don’t. MIT chemical engineer Christopher Love is working on a new test based on cytokines that may prove to be substantially faster and more reliable. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633446 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:00:02 +0100 3633446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3592427&cid=t_213205_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F85%2Fadvances-in-dermatology-still-badly-needed%2F Scientists have been working to advance dermatology and make changes.  We need change, because the old “tried and true” approaches are ineffective and probably doing more harm to our skin than good. Sometimes it seems that for every scientific conclusion, there is a contradictory one.  An example is found in treating and identifying the causes of acne. Prior to the 1950s, dermatologists agreed that diet played a role in acne.  In particular, they blamed sugary snacks and junk food. Research conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s proclaimed that there was no connection between diet and acne.  Within the last couple of years, scientists have again demonstrated that there is a connection between the consumption of carbohydrates and the severity of acne.  They were also able to p... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3592427 Mon, 24 May 2010 00:12:50 +0100 3592427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2703868&cid=t_213205_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F9NMnRQm3hts%2F The story of 48-year old Andy Kessler really caught my attention this week. He died of an allergic reaction to an insect bite. Apparently “at least 40 people in the United States die each year as the result of insect stings,” and while that number may not sound huge right now, I can tell you that if it’s your loved one you would wonder why modern medicine can’t do something about a severe allergic reaction. Many people have the potential to have an allergic reaction but either avoid insects to the extend they can, or get lucky. Some don’t ever know they are allergic until it’s too late. People will generally have redness or shortness of breath when a reaction occurs. But I can already tell you from having an allergic reaction once myself, doctors DO NOT... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2703868 Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:54:36 +0100 2703868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414770&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fallergic-to-work%2F It’s a funny thing. Soon as I get to work, my nose seems to go into overdrive. The running and sneezing seem to increase. I’ve always jokingly said I must be allergic to work. But it turns out it might not be a joke - I, like thousands of others, could easily be allergic to work, or at least all the allergens that are floating around the workplace. What’s in your physical surroundings can easily act as an irritant that causes an allergic reaction.  Dust, of course, is probably one of the main suspects. And it’s not just in the office. There’s dust everywhere - in warehouses, at construction sites, in restaurant kitchens. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, exposure to dust, gases, or fumes in the workplace environment are responsible for 11 p... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414770 Fri, 15 May 2009 22:08:52 +0100 2414770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2201193&cid=t_213205_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fkelly-building-a-crohns-disease-community%2Fmy-experience-taking-biologics-for-crohns-disease%2F There has been a lot of progress in the area of anti-TNF drugs which are usually referred to as “biologics.” In this blog post I will give you all the information that I have on each of the drugs, as well as, my experiences with the ones that I have taken.  Keep in mind that I am a mechanical engineer and not a doctor.  I also want to emphasize that these are my personal experiences with these medications.  Every person reacts to medication differently and you should always be in constant contact with your doctor before, during and after taking biologics for Crohn’s disease. A brief background: The anti-TNF drugs target a substance in the blood called the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha which is a cytokine (specialized protein that promotes inflammation in the intest... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2201193 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:27:31 +0100 2201193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1862711&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2Fyoure-allergic-to-what-strange-but-true-allergic-reactions%2F If you think that allergic reactions are only to common place allergens such as peanuts, pollens, and latex, think again. You can be allergic to pretty much anything. Sometimes it’s easy to figure out the allergen. Other times, not so easy. For example, check out these 10 strange but true allergic reactions… Cell Phones - there has been increasing number of patients presenting with contact dermatitis because they are allergic to the nickel in their cell phones. Chairs, Flutes and Other Items With Nickel - children developing rashes on the back of their legs, a result of sitting on classroom chairs with nickel-plated studs. And for one child, playing a flute containing nickel resulted in severe dermatitis of the lips. Black Henna Tattoos - can result in severe swelling and skin ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862711 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:26:46 +0100 1862711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833272&cid=t_213205_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Froad-trip.html From a couple of balmy weeks agoGlorious Summer HolidaysIf I do not go to the shop today we shall all starve. But that’s the real trouble with holidays. If push comes to shove, and it might, I may be able to drag something out of the freezer, kicking and screaming. But if they won’t eat the defrosted victim, I shall be no further forwarder. What good are hot dogs without any buns? No. A trip to the shops is a must. A trip to the shops with all my lovely children, and Nonna will be a bust.There are the usual calculations to be made. Interesting shop where I might be able to contain them or boring shop where everyone will run away. A shop with electric doors will ensure that I’ll be able to find one escapee. A shop without strip lighting, as the flickers lead to fleeting. A shop with ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833272 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:59:00 +0100 1833272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811676&cid=t_213205_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2008%2F09%2F17%2Fmore-about-food-allergies%2F According to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, eight foods account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions. The eight foods most likely to cause a food allergic reaction: Milk Egg Peanut Tree nuts (walnut, cashew, etc.) Fish Shellfish Soy Wheat In adults, the foods that most often trigger allergic reactions include * Fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster and crab * Peanuts * Tree nuts, such as walnuts * Eggs Problem foods for children are eggs, milk (especially in infants and young children) and peanuts. Food Allergy Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by your body’s immune system. Allergic reactions to food can sometimes cause serious illness and death. Tree nuts and peanuts are the leading causes of deadly allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. ... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811676 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:04:41 +0100 1811676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1301914&cid=t_213205_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F251076162%2F An allergic reaction to the cancer drug cetuximab has been found. Sometimes the reaction includes anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition characterized by a drop in blood pressure, fainting, difficulty breathing, and wheezing. Now researchers funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have discovered that specific pre-existing antibodies cause the severe reaction to the drug. Cetuximab is an immune-based therapy commonly used to treat persons diagnosed with head and neck cancer, or colon cancer, marketed as the popular brand Erbitux — a product of ImClone Systems Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Find more details from NIAD/NIH. Tags: allergic reaction, cancer-drug, cetuximab, colorectal-cancer, Erbit... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1301914 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:19:39 +0100 1301914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1037732&cid=t_213205_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F11%2F20%2Fanaphylaxis-the-dread-attack.html  By Dov Michaeli MD, Ph.DHave you heard the one about the boy who ran through the kitchen into the backyard and dropped dead? No, this is not a bad joke. It is a real case report published in the 80’s. Imagine, if you will: a young boy with known allergy to fish running through the kitchen while his mother is boiling some fish stock. He inhales a few molecules of the fish protein that dissolved in the cooking vapor, and dies within minutes! To put things in perspective: we are not talking here about toxins, that can kill at microgram concentrations (millionth of a gram), and not even nanogram concentrations (billionth of a gram), but picograms (trillionth of a gram). This is probably as potent a killer as they come.Anaphylactic shockThe cause of this deadly attack is known ... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1037732 Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:38:22 +0100 1037732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=841674&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F05%2Fthe-insulin-evolution%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Drugs, Opinion, Allie Beatty, Retro Review, PersonalitiesHow did we allow insulin to evolve into a genetically modified hormone? It all boils down to propaganda. If you're confident your current insulin surpasses former natural insulin in: purity, availability, allergy response, similarity and safety - I encourage you to review the following facts that were conveniently neglected or not available, due to restraints of time travel. Purity: In the 1970s, a Genentech scientist stated that natural insulin was incredibly pure. In the 1980s, rDNA humulin insulins were less pure than the natural insulins of the 70s. The advertising campaign for rDNA insulin suggested otherwise. Here's a quote, as printed in the book, Invisible Frontiers: "They... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=841674 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 841674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510395&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F05%2Fthe-insulin-evolution%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Drugs, Opinion, Allie Beatty, Retro Review, PersonalitiesHow did we allow insulin to evolve into a genetically modified hormone? It all boils down to propaganda. If you're confident your current insulin surpasses former natural insulin in: purity, availability, allergy response, similarity and safety - I encourage you to review the following facts that were conveniently neglected or not available, due to restraints of time travel. Purity: In the 1970s, a Genentech scientist stated that natural insulin was incredibly pure. In the 1980s, rDNA humulin insulins were less pure than the natural insulins of the 70s. The advertising campaign for rDNA insulin suggested otherwise. Here's a quote, as printed in the book, Invisible Frontiers: "Th... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510395 Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:00:00 +0100 2510395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=814344&cid=t_213205_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F146563819%2F And no one knows why. The med - which is used to treat colon cancer and head and neck tumors - is being studied for treating ovarian, lung, breast and gastrointestinal tumors at various sites in the Southeast US. And that’s where researchers noticed an unusually high rate of allergic reaction in cancer patients, according to the Journal of Clinical Oncology (subscription required). When Erbitux was first approved, the first three patients treated as part of a study conducted at the University of North Carolina had severe reactions to the drug. Docs at two sites in Nashville also had more patients than expected react with a drop in blood pressure and shortness of breath or other hypersensitivity reactions within minutes of infusion, according to a UNC statement. The patients were clus... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=814344 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:08:27 +0100 814344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=721318&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fasthma-allergies-paediatrics-links-and.html Use children as medicine guinea pigs No, this is not yet another bizarre version of recent MMR-vaccine-autism reporting but a rather sensationalist take on a perfectly sensible call by Prof. John Warner for the inclusion of children in medical trials. Children are not small adults. This is one of the reasons that Clark Bartram initiated Paediatric Grand Rounds. This stark fact is a headache for pharmaceutical companies who are frequently criticised for their lack of drugs that are specifically formulated for children and tested on them. Understandably, however, it is difficult to obtain ethical approval for drug trials (or any therapeutic trials) that involve children. There has been a lot of adverse publicity about the effect of anti-depressants on children. There is increasing controvers... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=721318 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:19:00 +0100 721318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=688610&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fasthma-misunderstood-and-misdiagnosed.html An estimated 1 in 6 New Zealanders has a diagnosis of asthma. For some time there have been concerns that asthma is misdiagnosed and over-diagnosed: Asthma: A Multi-Headed Hydra or Misunderstood Genus. So, in research terms, it seemed sensible to use hospitals in New Zealand as a testing-ground for a study to evaluate new tests that promise a more accurate assessment of the patient than was previously practical. Investigators needed to explore how well patients tolerate the tests and whether or not the tests were both specific and sensitive enough to provide reliable information that would guide a clinician as to whether a diagnosis of asthma was appropriate or not; and whether they were under-treating or over-treating the patient. Initial results on the first 50 patients have been reporte... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=688610 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:04:00 +0100 688610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=650918&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fr4s-allergic-reactions-was-spotty-and.html And please let Shinga find some decent coverage of allergy issues before she explodes.A valued correspondent has been kind enough to send me a partial transcript of Radio 4's recently broadcast Allergic Reactions. The clinical experts were interesting but the reporter repeated the cliched investigations that do nothing to educate or to inform the debate: consequently, judging by the reactions and comments, he has achieved very little. Allergic Reactions was (sadly) spotty and irritating in parts - I could say that it probably seemed like a good wheeze at the time but that is probably going too far.Allergic Reactions (BBC Radio 4 Tues 22 May, 8pm, reporter Matthew Hill)Partial transcriptBeginning of broadcast: Prof. Gideon Lack and Dr. Pam Ewan provide an overview of the current inadequate ... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=650918 Thu, 31 May 2007 11:25:00 +0100 650918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612030&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Foil-seed-rape-fashionable-demon-or-time.html This reported attitude is rather more indicative of the pitchforks and torches approach than the scientific approach that one might expect from somebody representing "the leading medical charity for people with allergy". Oh misery me! mecum omnes plangite! (Source: Breath Spa for Kids) Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612030 Mon, 14 May 2007 13:18:00 +0100 612030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=602002&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Freducing-hayfever-symptoms-abusing-my.html It seems that Dr. Clark Bartram of Unintelligent Design has granted me a damehood. I have just learned of my enoblement to Dame Shinga Salisbury Shingashire. I shall follow in the fine tradition of people who abuse honours by recommending something for which I have absolutely no evidence-base although I feel its truthiness.Stephen Colbert's "truthiness"...describes things that a person claims to know, without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or actual facts.I realise that it would fully round out my abuse if I were to have a financial or other interest in my recommendation but, sadly, I don't, not even indirectly, no matter how upstream or downstream you look. Nonetheless, I hope that the lack of any conflict of interest doesn't detract from the magnitude of the complet... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=602002 Fri, 11 May 2007 16:59:00 +0100 602002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=569578&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fholford-recommends-nutritional-approach.html And please let Shinga read some decent research papers before she explodes.Several valued correspondents have brought Patrick Holford's nutritional recommendations for people with hayfever to my attention. Holford's PR people are to be congratulated because the same press release appears in many places in the form of articles about dealing with hayfever: one of the most recent of these is in the Manchester Evening News, Supplements to Solve Hayfever Sniffles. There is a more detailed account of Holford's claims regarding particular supplements and hayfever on his own site.I'm going to state right here that there is negligible evidence to support Holford's claim that:MSM has so many benefits for allergy sufferers that it’s hard to know where to start.I will enlarge upon why I reject this ... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=569578 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:18:00 +0100 569578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=567169&cid=t_213205_117_f&fid=34444&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.webmd.com%2Fallergies-and-asthma%2F2007%2F04%2Fallergies-dont-blame-fragrant-flowers.html Close to SpectacularIt's Springtime in the northern hemisphere, so many of us are sneezing again. Although the daffodils are blooming in Minnesota and the cherry blossom festival is underway in Washington DC, these beautiful flowers are not the cause of your hay fever acting up again. Plants and trees with flowers don't generate much airbourne pollen.It's the trees, grasses, and weeds without flowers which are tickling your nose, or congesting your sinuses. They are spreading billions of very small pollen granules into the wind. The trees and plants with flowers, on the other hand, are attracting insects as their method of cross-pollenation. Some people have associated flowers with allergic rhinitis, but their reactions were more likely due to the molds growing in the flower pots, in the w... Allergies and Asthma blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=567169 Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 567169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=554447&cid=t_213205_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Firregular-verb-theory-and-supportive.html I'm frequently reminded of the irregular verb theory. Val McDermid has a pithy example:I am diplomaticYou are tactfulHe/she is a liarI think that irregular noun counting is also becoming more common. For some time, it seems as if single studies are transformed into plurals and a handful of studies is inflated into "a plethora". (YorkTest make this charming transformation:There is now a plethora of data showing that people who have adapted their diet according to the YORKTEST results report an improvement in their symptoms. Some of these data have been independently reported [refs to 4 studies, one of which is unpublished, another of which is a poster at a conference and one other that is of dubious clinical relevance (like the unpublished, it is an audit of a customer satisfaction question... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=554447 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:06:00 +0100 554447