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 'blood'. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:30:05 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3358965&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D435 BPA, or Bisphenol-A, is an industrial chemical  used to manufacture a range of plastic products, including water bottles and the lining of food and beverage cans and, yes, sippy cups. The chemical is now also found in an overwhelming majority of Americans, and a recent study found traces of it in 90 percent of infant cord blood. BPA exposure has been linkedto disruptions in the endocrine system, an issue that can cause reproductive, neurological, and behavioral problems. But he federal government has yet to make a final decision on whether low level exposure to the chemical is a threat to public health. The government is plannig to spend $30 million to investigate the risks associated to exposure to BPA, but since the feds are taking so long to rule its safety, states such as Wisconsin an... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3358965 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:54:21 +0100 3358965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3359049&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F12%2Fmaintain-your-memory-as-you-age%2F You can’t stop it — the natural aging process that ages not only our bodies, but our brains too. Normal aging doesn’t significantly impact our thinking, however. Most people do not suffer from significant memory problems, deficits in problem-solving, or issues with thinking through activities that require analysis and reasoning. Still, things that may have come to us quickly when we were younger may take a little bit more time as we get older. And these slow-downs come not only in memory, but in something that psychologists call executive function, too. According to information provided by The Harvard Health Letter, “Executive function is an umbrella term for the complex thinking required to make choices, plan, initiate action, and inhibit impulses. Executive funct... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3359049 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:55:15 +0100 3359049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354261&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2010%2F03%2F11%2Fandy-whitfield-diagnosed-with-non-hodgkins-lymphoma%2F Filed under: Celebrity cancer diagnosisAndy Whitfield, who plays the lead on the Starz drama "Spartacus: Blood and Sand," has been diagnosed with a treatable form of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, according to PopEater. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which is more common than Hodgkin's lymphoma, is cancer of the cells of the lymphatic system. When one has NHL, then cells in the lymphatic system grow without order or control or old cells do not die normally. NHL is a far-reaching disease and can occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes or an organ. It can also spread quickly to almost any part of the body. Whitfield, 35, doesn't seem distressed. "I'm receiving excellent care, and am feeling strong, positive and determined with an army of support behind me," the star told EW.com. Sympt... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354261 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3354261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350482&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fwinning-with-type-1-diabetes-bike-racing-with-a-bang.html Following my series of interviews with Kris Freeman, I got a note from competitive cyclist Phil Southerland, founder of Team Type 1.  He wanted to let me know how well his group of athletes with type 1 diabetes have been performing so far this year. Phil was concerned that the mainstream media coverage of Freeman’s challenges [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350482 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:51 +0100 3350482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3350606&cid=t_98736_155_f&fid=38412&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpathlabmed.typepad.com%2Fsurgical_pathology_and_la%2F2010%2F03%2Fdose-of-platelets-in-prophylactic-transfusions-for-severe-thrombocytopenia.html Slichter and colleagues published a multi-institutional randomized trial in the February 18 issue of New England Journal of Medicine (article abstract) that evaluates the effect of platelet dose on various transfusion and clinical outcomes in patients receiving prophylactic transfusions for severe hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia.The study included 1272 hospitalized patients who underwent allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or chemotherapy for hematologic or solid malignancies who were expected to have platelet counts of 10,000/mm3 or less for 5 or more days and received at least 1 plt transfusion--and excluded patients with active bleeding grade 2 or higher and those refractory to platelet transfusions (amongst other things).  Patients were randomly ... The Daily Sign-Out blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3350606 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:18:15 +0100 3350606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346449&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D432 You gotta see this.  It’s charming and compelling.  It’s great when celebs chime in to encourage us to do the right thing. We wrote about BeTheMatch.org a few weeks back.  It’s a drive to get people to register to donate their bone marrow if they are a match with an ill person.  There’s a big campaign going on in the New York area to drive donors. Shaq’s YouTube clip spreads the word! See it here: http://www.tonic.com/article/shaquille-oneal-be-the-match-bone-marrow-donor-campaign/ (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346449 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:45:42 +0100 3346449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346744&cid=t_98736_155_f&fid=34629&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsoftnews.typepad.com%2Flab_soft_news%2F2010%2F03%2Fplatelets-can-reproducein-the-bllood-steam-despite-absense-of-nuclei.html Among the many ideas that were drummed into my head during my early training years was that platelets could not reproduce in the blood stream. This stands to reason in that they are anucleate, having budded off from the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes in the marrow. It now turns out that this idea may not be correct (see: Understanding Of Blood Cell Development Challenged By Discovery That Platelets Can Reproduce In Circulation). Below is an excerpt from an article from the web:University of Utah researchers led an international team of scientists that is the first to report on the previously undescribed ability of platelets to reproduce themselves in the circulation....Platelets develop from precursor cells found in the bone marrow, a process that is called thrombopoiesis. During the final st... Lab Soft News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346744 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:26:19 +0100 3346744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331261&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8363 MKA writes in: Hello, I was wondering about the matter not so long time ago, about 1 year time. I just came back from a medical school in Ireland, currently continuing my last 2 years in northern Malaysia. I went to blood bank to donate blood, then I saw in the from, anyone who have been to UK, Eire and some other european countries around 1986 and after, are not allowed to donate blood. I was wondering about any update or revision done on the regulation. As we all known, yes there was some studies suggesting a long incubation period about the virus. But is there any ‘active’ revision or studies about the chance of spreading it when you consume/ingest meats over there 2-3 times 5-6 years ago, asymptomatic, came back, donate blood. Cant there be any screening done on the donate... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331261 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3331261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322348&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D426 I read a blog today – wow, what a mouthful!  It’s written by a popular blogger in Singapore but it has just about every argument known to mankind about banking cord blood.  I almost believed she worked for one of the banks but I couldnt find any link or advertising. Here’s the blog entry on cord blood banking. http://mathialee.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/cord-blood-banks-scam-science-or-matter-of-faith/#comment-2548 In it, there was reference to slick and sleazy cord blood banks and how “buyer beware” is the name of the game. She writes from Singapore so I don’t know what the regulations are in that market.  I posted this response about the US : “In the US, the cord blood banking processing and storage requirements are regulated, so any bank that�... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322348 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:20:15 +0100 3322348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3327306&cid=t_98736_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fhepatitis-c-does-sexual-transmission-occur%2F Jaundice Although there is some uncertainty about hepatitis C (also called hep C) being transmitted sexually, it’s not classified as an STI (sexually transmissible infection). General scientific knowledge supports this position. Some people, unable to identify any other risk factors, believe they may have contracted hep C sexually. Additionally, some research suggests that a small percentage of people do contract hep C through sexual contact. Thus, transmission of hep C during sex is seen as possible but is believed to be rare. General transmission of HCV Hep C is most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, ie. when the blood of someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of someone else. This can occur through: sharing needles or syringes or any other drug injecting equi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3327306 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:54:39 +0100 3327306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322325&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F03%2F02%2Finsulin-pump-or-injections%2F Filed under: Drugs, CareUsually used to treat type 1 diabetes, insulin pumps can be key to one's care. An insulin pump is an option for those who cannot adjust to insulin injections. The light-weight pump has several pieces including a pager-sized, insulin-containing device that is usually clipped to your belt or waist. It pumps insulin into a very thin, soft tube called a catheter that carries the insulin from the pump to a "connector" on the skin of your abdomen. This connector is made of an adhesive pad that sticks to the your skin like a bandage. A spring-loaded needle punctures your skin each time you attach the connector to your body. After the connector is attached, the needle is removed. For most pumps, the connector must be changed every three days, which is a simple, painless... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322325 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3322325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322440&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FkdspckZVYNg%2F Everyone who has walked into a doctor’s office or hospital has had their blood pressure taken at least once. The cuff that wraps around your arm is inflated to the point that it stops the superficial circulation to the arm, which then returns gradually as the cuff slowly deflates. These blood pressure cuffs (sphygnomanometers) have been used for other things as well. In an emergency, a cuff can be pumped up around a unit of blood to push it into the patient’s vein more quickly. A cuff can be used around an arm (or leg) if you’ve been bitten by a poisonous creature, slowing down the flow of blood back to the heart. And now, a blood pressure cuff may be another way to save your life, or at least limit the amount of damage that can occur, from a heart attack. A study publish... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322440 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:23:53 +0100 3322440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3318612&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2Fyfd2Pw6L868%2Fgame-over.php I don't know what to be more surprised over - the A1c result I received yesterday or that my endocrinologist mailed the results in advance of my appointment in a couple weeks.  Last week, I decided to just go ahead and have my blood work done, no use delaying the inevitable news that some control had been lost.Only it hasn't.  5.8%, down from 6.0% in November.  I had to look at it several times, certain it was actually reading 6.8%.  It just goes to show how much is missed when I'm not testing my blood sugar, though.  I usually test anywhere from one to five times a day.  What is really happening in between those tests?  Perhaps things are going smoother than originally thought - or they could be rougher.  And what about the accuracy of test str... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3318612 Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:13:07 +0100 3318612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3314689&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FLVj4qPgkhOo%2F OneTouch SureStep Test Strips (LifeScan): Recall PRESS RELEASE [Posted 02/26/2010] LifeScan and FDA notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary recall of eight lots of OneTouch SureStep Test Strips, used by people with diabetes to measure their blood glucose levels at home. The test strips are being recalled because they may provide falsely low glucose results when the glucose level is higher than 400 mg/dL. If patients use the falsely low test results to determine their insulin dose, they may give themselves too little insulin, which could result in poor blood glucose control. High blood glucose must be recognized and treated promptly to avoid serious complications, such as coma and death. The eight lots of consumer OneTouch SureStep Test Strips being recalled are identified in the... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3314689 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:03:15 +0100 3314689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311662&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D423 As you know, it’s sometimes hard to separate real journalism from hype when it comes to the web. Today we came upon a blog posting on Newsweek.com by Mary Carmichael in an e-column called “The human condition.” The blogger tells of her decision not to bank her baby’s cord blood, and goes on to support her decision with input from highly regarded resources like the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University in California. She also suggests criticism from important medical groups such as the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  The blog articulates the possible pressure experienced by parents-to-be through the marketing practices of private banks. I’m sure we’ve ... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311662 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:00:56 +0100 3311662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3287725&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D410 Recently we saw a story, a heartbreaker, really, about a boy with Sickle Cell Anemia, a serious disease in which the body makes misshapen red blood cells who had a bone marrow transplant. To have the transplant, the child had to go through chemotherapy to kill his immune system – a standard protocol for the transplant. According to the article, the the source of the transplant was donated umbilical cord blood.  The sad result is that the transplant did not work. The family uncovered some research that has yet to be analyzed fully and released for public consumption, and the study shows that unmatched stem cells do not help a sickle cell patient. The poor parents only found this out by word of mouth (the article doesn’t cite the research so we can’t provide that to you) a... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3287725 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:33:13 +0100 3287725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275787&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D402 The State of Arizona has a nice brochure available as a pdf file that you can print or just read.  It also references our favorite not-for-profit organization in the study and discussion of cord blood banking, http://parentsguidecordblood.org/ Here’s the link to the brochure if you think it might help someone learn more about cord blood banking: http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/pdf/cord/umbilical_crd_proof.pdf (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275787 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:52:13 +0100 3275787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3272867&cid=t_98736_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F02%2Flung-cancer%2F Pathophysiology Squamous cell – 1) arises in central part of lung 2) derives from repeatedly injured bronchial lining 3) ulcerates into lung parenchyma 4) most common subtype that forms Pancoast tumor in apex of lung 5) metastases go to hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, adrenals, and other sites Adenocarcinoma – 6) can arise anywhere but typically distal 7) most common tumor in nonsmokers Large cell – poorly differentiated and can occur anywhere in lung Small cell – 9) fast-growing with early metastases 10) presents usually as perihilar mass 11) most common subtype causing paraneoplastic syndromes Signs and Symptoms 1) dyspnea 2) cough 3) chest pain 4) hemoptysis 5) obstructive pneumonia 6) lobar collapse 7) pleural effusions weight loss Characteristic Test Find... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3272867 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:57:57 +0100 3272867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262696&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FWJD99zQCRy4%2F There have been studies, off and on, about possible connections between migraines and strokes, but newest research is showing that there is also a connection between migraines and heart attacks. It’s important to understand that migraines are not simply very bad headaches. Migraines are a condition on their own and are not restricted to pain in the head. They can cause, among other things: Visual disturbances Sensitivity to light, sound, touch Nausea Vomiting Balance problems And now, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University say that people with migraines have twice the risk of having a heart attack than people who don’t have migraines. They also found: that migraine sufferers also face increased risk for stroke and were more likely to have k... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262696 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:11:57 +0100 3262696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262597&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D397 We reported several days ago that the number of hospitals which will begin collecting umbilical cord blood donated by maternity patients to a public bank will increase.  We’re keeping track.  http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/82196397.html “The Texas Cord Blood Bank said it has started collecting umbilical cord blood from University Hospital in San Antonio.  University Hospital becomes the 13th hospital in Texas to join the cord-blood program. “Umbilical cord blood has the potential to save many lives and University Hospital is proud to be part of this program,” said George B. Hernández Jr., president and CEO of University Health System, in a statement. The Texas Cord Blood Bank, a division of the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, said umbilical cord blood is ... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262597 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:22:00 +0100 3262597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262577&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F02%2F11%2Feye-exams-early-warnings-of-undiagnosed-diabetes%2F Eye exams may warn doctors of undiagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes increases your risk for vision loss fourfold, and it's the leading cause of new cases of blindness in people ages 20-74. Retinopathy is a condition that affects the blood vessels in the retina. However, because of delayed diagnosis, about 10 -20 percent of people with type 2 diabetes already have some degree of eye disease when their diabetes is diagnosed. If ophthalmologists notice that a patient is exhibiting symptoms of retinopathy, they should recommend additional testing. After 20 years nearly all people with type 1 diabetes and 60% of those with type 2 diabetes have developed retinopathy. To cut back on the chances of developing retinopathy, people with type 1 diabetes s... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262577 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3262577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3251192&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D413 New Yorkers!  Rally behind Jennifer Jones Austin! The Brooklyn-based mother, lawyer and family advocate has been stricken with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and has become the face of a city-wide blood and bone marrow drive in conjunction with New York Blood Center (NYBC) and The City University of New York (CUNY). After feeling tired, believing it was just a virus, Jennifer was diagnosed.  Once she confirmed, unfortunately, that her siblings were not a match for a transplant, she turned to the “Be The Match” blood drive going on now at Borough of Manhattan Community College.  According to statistics, only 10% of the donors registered with the National Marrow Donor Program are African American, and the changes for a match improve greatly when race and ethnic synergies exist.  Th... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3251192 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:35:26 +0100 3251192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243965&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fsubtle-accusations.html Sometimes it’s the incessant sense of failure with diabetes that gets me down.  It’s not so much about strangers making stupid comments, or even me beating myself up for not doing a perfect job of managing my BG levels every day…  it’s more about the subtle accusations of people closer to me, those who I [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243965 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:00:08 +0100 3243965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243781&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D394 Researchers at the Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Tx http://www.bcm.edu/news/item.cfm?newsID=1674 received 12 individual grants totaling $11.5 million to be used for cancer prevention grants.  The grants went to a wide variety of research projects focused on various cancers, including the treatment of blood cancers in which there is currently aggressive, experimental use of cord blood stem cells. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243781 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:14:38 +0100 3243781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239762&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FhNYETT7DRPc%2Fwhere-the-hell-is-my-insulin.php I hate when I take some insulin to bring down a high, and when I check two or three hours later I am exactly where I was when I started.  It's like "what happened to that insulin I took?"I know that I must have been rising, and the insulin curbed the rise (or I went higher and came back down again).  But at first glance it just seems like that insulin I took disappeared.  This type of thing is really scary when the amount of insulin taken is a LOT (relative to my daily dose).  Or (has this ever happened to you?) I bolus for a snack, then something happens and I don't eat, but never go low?  What the heck?  Does that mean I would have been super high if I would have eaten that snack? Makes me scratch my noggin sometimes. (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239762 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:39:40 +0100 3239762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220516&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D386 Here’s the real shame:  a family decides to donate the cord blood stem cells at the birth of their child, however, the hospital at which she will deliver cannot accommodate the mom’s desire to donate that which will be discarded as trash. Many hospitals are set up to collect cord blood, but many are not.  The hope is that this will change in the future, but today, in the case of Natalie Salama-Levy, her baby’s cord blood will be taken out with the garbage while a child awaits a match to fight disease. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8459919.stm If you’re thinking of donating, please investigate hospitals in your area before commiting to a particular institution. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220516 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:14:36 +0100 3220516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208316&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2010%2F01%2F26%2Fdiabetes-symptoms-type-1-diabetes%2F Filed under: CareRecognizing the symptoms of diabetes can often help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment. There are currently 5.7 million people who have undiagnosed diabetes in the United States, according to the American Diabetes Association. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually come on quickly within days or weeks. The following can be signs of type 1 diabetes: Your appetite has increased, and you're still losing weight. You're fatigued or irritable. Your vision is blurry. You're dehydrated. Once diagnosed, you will still experience high and low blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels develop slowly. Low blood sugar levels can develop in minutes. Symptoms of low blood sugar include sweating, weakness and hunger. Symptoms of high blood sugar include increased... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208316 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3208316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3208698&cid=t_98736_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fwhat-are-phobias%2F Fear of Caves is one phobia Phobia’s A specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or place which is so severe that it affects your way of life. It is possible to develop a phobia for almost anything, but some of the most common phobias are fear of heights, fear of spiders or mice, fear of enclosed spaces (known as claustrophobia) and fear of blood or injections. Many of us feel some anxiety about these things, perhaps realistically since if we did not fear heights, for example, we might have more accidents! But there is a difference between this ordinary reaction and a phobia, which results in a person going to extreme lengths to avoid the object or situation they fear. For example, if you have a phobia for injections rather than just a natural dislike of them, you might be unable ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3208698 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:11:04 +0100 3208698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3205124&cid=t_98736_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FNYoCK4JetCs%2F Fear of Caves is one phobia Phobia’s A specific phobia is a fear of a particular object or place which is so severe that it affects your way of life. It is possible to develop a phobia for almost anything, but some of the most common phobias are fear of heights, fear of spiders or mice, fear of enclosed spaces (known as claustrophobia) and fear of blood or injections. Many of us feel some anxiety about these things, perhaps realistically since if we did not fear heights, for example, we might have more accidents! But there is a difference between this ordinary reaction and a phobia, which results in a person going to extreme lengths to avoid the object or situation they fear. For example, if you have a phobia for injections rather than just a natural dislike of them, you might be unable ... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3205124 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:11:04 +0100 3205124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204845&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D389 Today, blood cancers such as leukemia are treated with blood and bone marrow transplants which, as we know, are often difficult to match. Some readers may have heard that umbilical cord blood is being tested against these diseases  because young stem cells often do not generate a reaction from the immune system.   Evenwhen not matched, therefore, they may be accepted by a patient’s system. However, umbilical cord blood is ”far less rich in the stem cells needed to cure the cancer and so takes longer to establish itself in the patient – leaving the patient open to infection and death.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7010490/Blood-breakthrough-for-leukaemia-patients.html Now a team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle have come up ... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204845 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:32:09 +0100 3204845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200435&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D383 We are hearing more and more about the experimental uses of cord blood stem cells to treat kids who’ve suffered from neonatal stroke resulting in cerebral palsy.  In fact, our own Baby John met these circumstances at birth, and had a transfusion of his own cord blood through a program at Duke University.  We’re reading about more kids following this path (read about Max http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/health&id=7218964) with success. Now, there is news about the ongoing experiments that infuse cord blood stem cells to fight diseases like type-I diabetes.  According to a report on ABC, “…researchers believe stem cells in the blood slow the immune attack of diabetes so the pancreas destroys fewer insulin-producing cells. “  Any news is goo... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200435 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:10:36 +0100 3200435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3197831&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fstupid-diabetes-winners-announced.html I asked for some input on what a new diabetes web site could offer, and I got it – Thank You! Ahem… ask a silly question, get a silly answer, right? I mean it should have been obvious that the No. 1 thing that fits under the heading “StupidDiabetes.com” is humor! The general consensus seems [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3197831 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:00:58 +0100 3197831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193952&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2F10-d-things-to-do-this-year.html Over at HealthCentral Network, the theme for 2010 is “This Year, I Get My Condition Under Control.”  For January, the bloggers are focused on “Pairs of Tens for Your Condition,” as in 10 Things You Should Know, 10 Myths Busted, etc., etc. For my part, I’m taking on “10 Things I’ll Do This Year.”  To make [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193952 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:00:47 +0100 3193952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193959&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FDjoqOUzFcBY%2Fbehind-the-numbers.php The numbers on the meter and the results of our A1C tests should not define what kind of person with diabetes we are.  It is not a judgment of our control, it is not necessarily linked to our future destinies.  We can go into each day, each month, each year with the best of intentions, with all the effort we can muster, with the motivation to stave off complications.  Sometimes we win.  Sometimes we struggle, but we still win when we do the best we can.Sometimes the numbers go beyond diabetes, as I know quite well from my recent experience with a large abdominal abscess.  If you follow one train of thought on treating type 2 diabetes, you may look at my most recent A1C of 6.0% and think that I could do better, that I must not be treating myself well enough, that my... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193959 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:26:40 +0100 3193959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178747&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwhy-are-health-care-organizations.html In conclusion, I asked readers to think about whether their own health care organization had anything resembling such a policy.  I suspect few could identify such policies.  Health care professionals need to inquire why health care organizations, including drug, device, biotechnology and health care information technology companies,  health care insurers, to hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical schools, etc, almost never have real organizational ethics policies.  Of course, the suspicion is that lack of such policies makes it easier for insiders to direct the organization for their personal benefit.  At least if we could make such policies the norm, we could remind organizational leaders that they are supposed to be upholding the mission, not linin... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178747 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:22:00 +0100 3178747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176015&cid=t_98736_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Fjama-reports-prp-not-effective-a-poorly-designed-study%2F In conclusion, PRP is a highly effective medical treatment for ligament, tendon, muscle and other knee/shoulder injuries as well as lower back pain. Even patients with post-operative knee pain or shoulder pain can benefit from PRP therapy.  Outcomes are entirely dependent on the preparation and handling of the blood, equipment used and experience as well as skill of the treating physician. Additional information on PRP can be found at PRP Stops Pain. Excellent clinical study references can be found by clicking here. (Source: Sarasota Neurology) Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176015 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:20:35 +0100 3176015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3176071&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fflashback-friday-true-confessions-of-a-good-diabetic.html Due to recent exciting news events, I’ve moved my trip down memory lane to Friday this week… Another wonderful fellow D-blogger, Lee Ann Thill, recently posed a question on Facebook: “who exactly is responsible when people with diabetes aren’t ‘good’ diabetics?”  Over 30 replies ensued, as this perennial question brings up all sorts of fundamental issues [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3176071 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:00:25 +0100 3176071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172203&cid=t_98736_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F79WEYfGWBKA%2F Another day, another deadline. But this is a busy world, after all. And what better way to prepare than to keep up with events. So, as you gird for the challenges ahead, here are a few items to help you along. As for us, we will reach for our usual cup of stimulation. Have a good day, everyone… FDA Issues New Guidance To IRBs On Multi-Site Trials (OutsourcingPharma) US Pharmacopeia Recalls New Edition Of USP-NF (statement) Glaxo Forms Global Media Team (PR Week) Blood Pressure Drugs May Cut Dementia Risk (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Sees Little Generic Threat To Advair (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172203 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:01:24 +0100 3172203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172176&cid=t_98736_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2FeRIMicFz4UA%2Fpatients-for-a-moment-down-and-dirty Sifting through the emotional, administrative, and financial trauma of dealing with illness, being sick ultimately all comes back to the body.  So for this installment of Patients for A Moment, we asked that bloggers submit posts about the down and dirty physical world of their disease. Ever pulled a serious MacGyver providing your own home healthcare with saline solution and a turkey baster?  Duncan Cross has and writes about it in on the Duncan Cross post Duncan 1, Hospital 0. “I guess if I had a choice, I’d rather wake up next to some ugly guy that I don’t remember meeting – not that, that has ever happened to me before – because it’s really bad when the party you don’t want to wake up next to is yourself…”  Need I say more about Leslie Rott’s post The Ultimate Co... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172176 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:33:42 +0100 3172176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159932&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fthe-diabetic-partner-follies-act-22-what-does-it-take-to-be-a-caregiver.html Welcome, partners and loved ones of diabetics. It’s been a while since we’ve visited this series by and for you all, where you can share your perspective on what it means to live with diabetes “from the other side.” First off, I’d like to announce that fabulous fellow D-blogger and author Wil Dubois is working on [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159932 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:00:10 +0100 3159932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3156577&cid=t_98736_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fa-controversial-new-cure-for-multiple-sclerosis%2F By this time, you may be wondering if I’ve taken my finger off the pulse of MS research.  It’s been over two months since Canadian television broadcast a “breaking story” about Italian Dr. Paulo Zamboni and his vascular “cure” for multiple sclerosis.  Where have I been on the topic? This subject intrigues me greatly, I’ll admit.  It also frightens me more than minutely and I am still gathering information.  That said, I wanted to open up the lines of communication about the topic today. A brief history for those who may not have heard the news: In 2008, Dr. Zamboni and his research colleagues began publishing findings  referencing something called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI).   In other words, constriction of the blood vessels leaving the brain a... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3156577 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:34:11 +0100 3156577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153649&cid=t_98736_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FiLoNIU_9hRs%2F Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). People usually become infected after coming in contact with blood from an infected person. Sharing needles or other equipment for injecting drugs is the most common way of spreading HCV. The disease also can be spread by sexual contact. About 4 million people in the [...] (Source: Recovery Is Sexy.com) Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153649 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:20:57 +0100 3153649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115242&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwayback-wednesday-wheres-the-physical-activity.html Today, I’m revisiting a guest post from ‘legendary’ diabetes educator Gary Scheiner for two reasons: 1) this is the time of year when we most need this essential reminder about gettin’ our exercise, and 2) well, because I just love Gary (who’s also the author of the exceptional book Think Like a Pancreas, btw) and [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115242 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:33 +0100 3115242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115290&cid=t_98736_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F9A4CaEku_i4%2F Jaundice Although there is some uncertainty about hepatitis C (also called hep C) being transmitted sexually, it’s not classified as an STI (sexually transmissible infection). General scientific knowledge supports this position. Some people, unable to identify any other risk factors, believe they may have contracted hep C sexually. Additionally, some research suggests that a small percentage of people do contract hep C through sexual contact. Thus, transmission of hep C during sex is seen as possible but is believed to be rare. General transmission of HCV Hep C is most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, ie. when the blood of someone with the virus enters the bloodstream of someone else. This can occur through: sharing needles or syringes or any other drug injecting equi... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115290 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:46:24 +0100 3115290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111531&cid=t_98736_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2Fmedia%2FSarasota-Neurology-Podcast-PRP-20091221.mp3 In this episode of the Sarasota Neurology Podcast, Dr. Kassicieh discusses Platelet Rich Plasma  and Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative medicine is a new, exciting branch of medicine which deals with healing injured or damaged tissue with the body’s own natural healing mechanism. To do this, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is extracted from the patient’s own blood. Using blood from the patient eliminates the risk of transmission of blood born disease, viruses and other infectious agents. PRP is then injected into the area of the body that needs intensive healing and tissue regeneration. PRP therapy works especially well for injured tendons and ligaments, and is uniquely suited for those difficult knee and shoulder injuries. Even patients who have had knee or shoulder surgery but still ha... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111531 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:08:49 +0100 3111531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108510&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fannouncing-the-2009-holiday-survival-story-winners.html Happy Mid-Holiday Season, Dear Readers.  We had a modest turnout for the DiabetesMine Holiday Survival Stories Contest this year, which wasn’t such a bad thing, as it turns out; we judges still had a hard time choosing winners. In the end, we tried to focus on situations that “typify” what we PWDs tend to go through [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108510 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:00:18 +0100 3108510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3100852&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F18%2F7-ways-to-manage-your-diabetic-or-sugar-sensitive-waistline-during-the-holidays%2F This article isn’t just for diabetics. I found the tips by Frederic J.Vagnini, M.D., and Lawrence D. Chilnick, authors of “The Weight Loss Plan for Beating Diabetes” to be excellent guidelines for everyone who is sugar sensitive, and I’m putting most depressives into that camp (sorry about that). Here they are: During the holiday season many dedicated dieters or those who follow special diets for diabetes, heart disease or other conditions not only “fall off the wagon” but also leap into the deep end of the pool. Don’t feel guilty. This is a normal reaction to attending large family dinners where everyone makes food loaded with seductive carbohydrates. We also go to multiple parties — sometimes on the same day — where the hosts have hir... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3100852 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:24:43 +0100 3100852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3097009&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fdiabetes-part-of-loser-life-on-men-of-a-certain-age.html Well, Hollywood’s done it again, trying to incorporate a character with diabetes into their storyline. This time, the entertainment industry has bestowed diabetes on one of the main characters in TNT’s new hit TV show, Men of a Certain Age. While the show has been receiving rave media reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle to [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3097009 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:00:36 +0100 3097009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092872&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwayback-wednesday-diab-entity-crisis.html As a sort of addendum to this Monday’s post, I can’t believe I wrote the following testimonial four whole years ago. Ever more confirmation that the more things change, the more they stay the same: Diab-entity Crisis Sometime in the middle of last week, as I was gazing at my blog banner and mulling over my next [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092872 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:00:59 +0100 3092872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092880&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FIsJ3Xzrg_08%2Fwhats-that-thing-on-your-arm.php Yesterday I didn't get into the gym until around 8:30 PM.  I had been in the car all day.  As I was getting close to the gym I started really feeling excited about lifting weights (I know, weird, right?).  I felt strong, and I was probably just feeling pretty antsy from being cooped up in my car all day.  My blood sugar was in the low 200's, which is not where I wanted it.  I had some insulin working from a bit ago, and was a bit worried about dropping too much while exercising.  Well, sure enough, after warming up and doing about half of my workout, I was dropping fast.  I had my Navigator CGM with me and was watching the action on the screen.  Not too long after I hit 120 mg/dl with a straight down arrow, I knew I had to stop and get some glucose i... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092880 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:31:07 +0100 3092880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089552&cid=t_98736_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNmFBEb5a29E%2F The irony of a failed blood pressure drug is that it can raise the blood pressure of the folks who pushed for its development. And so the Gilead Sciences team is likely to feel a spike after saying their darusentan med failed a Phase III study and development is now discontinued (see here). The once-daily pill didn’t lower blood pressure compared with placebo in patients with resistant hypertension. The decision is a sobering reminder that acquiring another company can be risky. Three years ago, Gilead paid $2.6 billion for Myogen (see here), which boasted two lead candidates for treating high blood pressure, including - you guessed it - darusentan. Wall Street had actually already discounted the drug, but that was due to side effects, not efficacy. “This may disappoint some in... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089552 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:15:40 +0100 3089552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089363&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fssris_linked_to_upper_gastrointestinal_bleeding.htm (HealthDay News)by — Eric Metcalf MONDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) — Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are associated with an increased risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which warrants caution when prescribing these drugs in patients at elevated risk for this type of bleeding, according to research published in the December issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. More... Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089363 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 07:16:00 +0100 3089363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089275&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D373 New research has discovered that mesenchymal stem cells from cord blood might be beneficial for patients with severe eye and corneal disease.  The study transplanted the stem cells in an attempt to restore transparency to the cloudy corneas of laboratory mice. Corneal disease is currently treated through cornea transplants.  Unfortunately, there is only a limited supply, leaving many patients without options. The human stem cells were transplanted into the corneal stroma of the mouse eyes.  The cleared the cloudiness from the corneas of the mice.  In addition, these cells survived for more than 3 months without much sign of graft rejection.  With any type of transplantation, rejection is one of the biggest concerns.  The body tries to reject things that it finds foreign.  In fact, w... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089275 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:54:45 +0100 3089275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075489&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D362 An organization called the Environmental Working Group (EWG) commissioned a study to examine toxic chemicals that are found in the umbilical cord blood of babies.  The study found up to 232 different chemicals, including Bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to disruptions in the endocrine system which can cause reproductive, neurological, and behavioral problems. The EWG found BPA in 9 out of the 10 cord blood samples it tested from racial and ethnic minority groups.  It is the first time that BPA has been found in cord blood. While this will not impact cord blood collection and storage, it does demonstrate what children are being exposed to, even before they are born.  The EWG believes that any chemical that is found in cord blood should be given the highest pri... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075489 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:59:11 +0100 3075489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3071418&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwayback-wednesday-oh-glorious-middle.html Special for “hump day”: I’m revisiting this post from 2007, which I’ve referred to often whenever I second-guess myself about how to talk to my kids about living with diabetes: Oh, Glorious Middle! I’ve shared this tidbit with some of you already: whenever my girls and I are having a bit of relaxed fun, laughing and taking [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3071418 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:00:05 +0100 3071418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067255&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fthe-non-invasive-glucose-monitor-no-one-wanted.html Larry Ishler is an electrical engineer living in Erie, PA, whose son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in college about ten years ago. A few years later, the father had an idea for a non-invasive glucose monitor that would take readings through the skin on your ear (similar to the GlucoTrack from Integrity Applications [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067255 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:23:29 +0100 3067255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063249&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D366 The state of Oklahoma is looking at developing a public cord blood bank.  Unfortunately for residents of the state, there are not enough births in Oklahoma to justify a state public bank.  Right now, for Oklahoma and other smaller states, the only option for cord blood banking is going through a private bank.  While public banking is definitely a great option for some families, it isn’t widespread enough to make it a viable option for everyone.  This is another area where private banks come through for families. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063249 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:56:24 +0100 3063249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063299&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F06%2F10-reasons-i-quit-smoking%2F You’re almost there. You want to quit. In fact, 80 percent of your brain is sure you can. But 20 percent insists that you can’t. How do you make it over to the other side without falling SPLAT on your face? Do this. Make a list. Of ten reasons you should quit. Here’s mine. 1. Smoking Made Me Sick For real. Within a few minutes of inhaling a few cigarettes, my throat would start to tickle and my head would begin hurt. The day after a binge, I’d wake up with a nasty cold that kept me in bed when I had a million things to do. Smoking shrinks your blood vessels, clogs up your lungs, and wears down your immune system. Your body is less able to fight off bacteria and viruses, so, yes, you get sick. And there’s of course the lung cancer and increased chances of heart... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063299 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:30:28 +0100 3063299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059777&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FQceSw22bV-c%2F Blood clots that form most often in the leg are a concern after surgery. This is one reason why nurses try to get patients up and about as soon as is possible after surgery. For those who can’t, they usually have their legs exercised for them and they may have to wear special compression stockings.The biggest danger from these types of clots, called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is that they can break away from the vein wall and travel to the lungs, where they become pulmonary emboli. A pulmonary embolus can cause death if it’s not treated quickly.Researchers in the United Kingdom used records of 947,454 middle aged women from the Million Women Study to check for admissions for surgery, how many developed a DVT and/or a pulmonary embolus after surgery, and how many died as a resu... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059777 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:12:10 +0100 3059777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059755&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F04%2Fmood-swinger-magnet-special-offer-2009%2F Looking for a great holiday gift? Exclusively for the first 35 Psych Central members who want them, we’ve teamed up with Mood Swinger again this holiday season to offer a 50% discount for any Mood Swinger Magnet Set — OFFICE version, HOME version, EVERYDAY version, KIDS version, or ORIGINAL version. The 79-piece Original Mood Swinger Mood Magnet Set, for instance, is fun, functional, and gives you a creative way to express yourself in a humorous way. It’s a unique form of magnetic therapy that gives you the ability to display 72 different moods. I find them a great way to share my mood with others in the household, without having to say a word. Ironic? Perhaps, but it works! To get this special deal, visit the Mood Swinger website, add any set of magnets to your cart, and... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059755 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:45:55 +0100 3059755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048296&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwayback-wednesday-hypo-school.html I was chatting with diabetes investor / expert / friend Robert Oringer the other day, who has two teenage sons with Type 1 diabetes. “I’m obsessed with finding ways to prevent severe hypoglycemia,” he pronounced. I guess I knew this about him, but it reminded me of just how complex and scary blood sugar lows [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048296 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:58 +0100 3048296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039731&cid=t_98736_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F30%2Fa-plan-for-nhs-blood-and-transplant-and-hospitals-to-address-platelet-shortages%2F Title: A Plan for NHS Blood and Transplant and Hospitals to address Platelet Shortages, A Plan for NHS Blood and Transplant and Hospitals to address Red Cell Shortages Skinny: Updates the integrated plan for blood shortages released in 2004 and the NHSBT external document ESD/PCS/HL/001/012 released in January 2005.  This is contingency planning, and lists actions to be taken by both NHSBT, then the National Blood Service, and hospitals in the event of a potential or actual red cell shortage Publisher: DH Size of Publication: 9p,11p Published: 25/11/2009 Posted in Grey Literature, NHS Tagged: Blood Transfusion Services, Contingency Planning, Grey Literature, Strategic Planning (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039731 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:43:52 +0100 3039731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036938&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D344 The scientific journal Cell Transplantation has 2 studies that have explored umbilical cord blood stem cell treatments for lung and heart disorders.  Both studies were conducted using animals so they are very preliminary, but they offer great potential for future treatments. In one study, researchers investigated the therapeutic benefits of transplanting human umbilical cord blood (UCB) mensenchymal stem cells (MSC) into newborn laboratory rats with oxygen-deprived lung injury.  They found that the cells have a protective effect against hyperoxia-induced lung injury, likely due to anti-inflammatory effects.  These results might eventually lead to the discovery of treatments for hypertoxic neonatal lung disease, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature human infants. Another research t... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036938 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:57:18 +0100 3036938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3033643&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F_K_33PKyicQ%2F Herbal supplements seem like a safe bet to many people because they’re natural. While this may have some merit, many poisons are natural too – just think of what can happen if you eat the wrong type of mushroom. So, it’s important to know not only what herbal supplement you are taking, but what its effects are overall. You don’t want something that is supposed to help you end up causing more harm. To show you how this can be, a study out of Massachusetts, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found that some herbal supplements can raise the level of lead in women’s blood, sometimes to unsafe levels. The researchers studied 12,807 men and women who were at least 20 years old. What they found was that there was an average 10% increase in blood l... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3033643 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:47:36 +0100 3033643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3026667&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D347 M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories is on Facebook.  Stop by and visit our Facebook page and become a fan.  Our Facebook page is a great way to keep up with the latest about cord blood banking, what’s happening with M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood and what the scientific community is learning about cord blood stem cells. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3026667 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:19:36 +0100 3026667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3023207&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fl2Fbzvhw8-4%2F If this wasn’t such a serious topic, I’d say “what’s new?” but it is serious. Seniors who take sleeping pills and/or antidepressants are at a higher risk of falling and sustaining a serious injury than those who don’t take those drugs. Other medications that can increase the fall risk include blood pressure pills (they can make blood pressure go too low sometimes), so-called water pills (these diuretics can make so the senior rushes to the bathroom before having an accident and then falls or they have to get up in the middle of the night, which is a dangerous time for falls), and narcotics/opioids for pain. These falls are huge worry because complications from falls, specifically hip fractures, are the fifth leading cause of death among seniors, say rese... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3023207 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:38:09 +0100 3023207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019192&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2009%2F11%2Fdiabetes_torture_devices.html Last week, on Twitter, Elizabeth Arnold posted a link to a photo that made my whole body cringe and I instinctively said, "Oh crap, THAT thing?" (I'm stealing and reposting this photo here, but the original photo credit belongs to Cardinal Health.)  Behold - The Guillotine:This photo made me shudder because I remember this lancing device clearly.  It was the first one I ever used, outside of having my finger pricked by the nurses with the lancet alone, and I remember the shunk sound it made as it came careening towards my fingertip.  It wasn't the standard shunk we know now - this sucker would have to be cocked back like a rifle, and once it clicked loudly into place, you had to hit that button on the back to release the spring-loaded lancet.  And it wasn't ju... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019192 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:06:42 +0100 3019192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3019009&cid=t_98736_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fshocking-statement-in-medical.html "Treating patients to lower than standard BP targets, 140-160/90-100 mmHg, does not reduce mortality or morbidity." (So says this Cochrane Review.) (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger) Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3019009 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:00 +0100 3019009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3017084&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F22%2Ftalk-therapy-how-honest-are-you%2F I pay my therapist $120 every other week. I should, theoretically, feel like I can tell her anything. But I don’t. Because I want her to like me. It’s part of being a stage-four people-pleaser. I didn’t realize the extent to which I was holding back until, the other day, when I mentioned to my therapist something that I had told Dr. Smith–the psychiatrist that I see every four to six weeks–about positive thinking just not cutting it when you plummet to such a low depression. My therapist asked me to back up and tell her more about that. Because either I hadn’t said anything about that to her in the last month or so or else she had missed it. I stewed on that for a few days: Did I omit my frustration with self-help books and cognitive-behavioral techniq... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3017084 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:52:30 +0100 3017084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3017193&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FWZXVVB5q-Ok%2Fthe-last-hurrah-will-the-averages-lie-part-5.php So, here we go.  This coming Monday morning, I shall have my blood drawn for all sorts of diabetes, thyroid, and lipid panel goodness.  And the following Monday morning, I shall have the verdict as to whether the meter averages have lied to me.But unlike March, May, July, and September, the latest meter averages are disappointing.  111 before meals, 135 after meals, 123 overall.  At best, I could expect the same A1C result I received back in April when the streak of awesome averages was just beginning - 5.8%.  Still, it could be that the low battery signal I received this morning means that my meter has been off.I know better, though, because I don't feel my best.  I struggle to exercise enough each week.  Not only did I ignore my vow to keep carbohydrate... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3017193 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:11:40 +0100 3017193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012455&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FNkxtEUaQATk%2F Living with diabetes is more than taking insulin or medication. Those who have diabetes or know someone who does knows that living with diabetes is a lifestyle. Insulin or medications, like metformin or glucophage are not a cures for diabetes, although that is a common belief. Insulin and medications merely manage the disease, allowing the person with diabetes to continue living as normally as possible. Unfortunately, the disease still can cause significant damage to the body, as the sugar levels fluctuate. People with diabetes who manage to keep their blood glucose (sugar) under strict control have a better chance of avoiding complications. However, avoiding the development of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is even better. Type 1, what used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012455 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:33:39 +0100 3012455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008331&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fglucose-measurement-in-your-ear-for-real.html A gentleman cornered me at the Diabetes Technology Society meeting earlier this month, and said he wanted to talk non-invasive glucose monitoring.  How could I resist? He said his name was Avner Gal, from Israel. He pulled out a chunky little MP3-looking device, and plugged in a cord with a small clamp on the end. Then [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008331 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:23 +0100 3008331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003990&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fwayback-wednesday-what-makes-you-think-im-brave.html Courage and diabetes. This seemed an excellent topic to revisit on the second-to-last Wednesday of Diabetes Awareness Month. (Not to mention that I saw Wicked over the weekend with my oldest daughter ) Other than that I believe this post, from early 2007, needs no special intro: What Makes You Think I’m Brave? It’s happened many times [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003990 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:15 +0100 3003990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2999525&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D341 A recent study conducted at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota discovered that transplantation of 2 units of cord blood significantly reduces the likelihood of recurrence of leukemia. This finding may change treatment protocol for patients who are at high risk for recurrence of leukemia and other cancers of the blood and bone marrow. The study examined 177 patients who were treated with cord blood transplants.  The average patient age was 16.  Eighty-eight patients were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 89 were treated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The analysis demonstrated that that patients in first or second remission from leukemia had a significantly lower likelihood of recurrence if they were transplanted with 2 units of umbilical cord blood than... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2999525 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:00:32 +0100 2999525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2995702&cid=t_98736_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F16%2Fbritish-journal-of-hospital-medicine-2009-vol-70-no-11%2F Contents Page Fade Fave: Slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease Fade Skinny: Progression of chronic kidney disease can be slowed by careful management of risk factors. The article highlights the most important interventions that slow progression of chronic kidney disease, many of which will also reduce cardiovascular risk. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Posted in Journals Tagged: Blood Pressure, Health Behaviour, Kidney Diseases, Lifestyle, Patient Education, Renal Treatment, Risk Factors (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2995702 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:31:47 +0100 2995702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981066&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D339 Last year, we worked closely with a family that had banked their baby’s cord blood with M.A.Z.E.  The cord blood was needed for a transplant in a clinical trial to potentially treat cerebral palsy.  Read more about the family and the results of the transplant here. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981066 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:49:24 +0100 2981066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981217&cid=t_98736_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drneedles.comhttp%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fis-hini-virus-in-our-blood-supply.html Blood recipients and donors are asking if the HINI virus could be in our blood supply. This is causing a drop in our blood supply, and a government-funded study is testing samples of blood donors for viruses in the blood.As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Visit drneedles is blogging" at the end of each blog for a compl... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981217 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:14:00 +0100 2981217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958834&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D336 Choosing a cord blood bank is a difficult decision.  There are so many different cord blood banks and many of them make different claims.  How do you differentiate between those claims that are important for your cord blood processing and storage and those claims that sound good in marketing materials? While we, of course, believe that our claims are the valid ones, it would be helpful for expectant parents to have an unbiased source for this type of information.  I recently discovered a great chart that was put together by the Parents’ Guide to Cord Blood Foundation.  This chart is similar to our comparison chart, but even more comprehensive.  Check out the Parents’ Guide to Cord Blood Foundation to learn more about cord blood banking, your options and the different cord ... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958834 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0100 2958834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954457&cid=t_98736_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F03%2Fnew-england-journal-of-medicine-2009-vol-361-no-17%2F This article looks at the long-term renoprotective effect of intensified blood-pressure control among children who were receiving a fixed high dose of an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Posted in Journals Tagged: Blood Pressure, Children, Renal Diseases (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954457 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:50:53 +0100 2954457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954586&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FRLEWwhpJMrI%2F Yes, there is thimerosol in the H1N1 injectable vaccine. Yes, you are being encouraged to have the H1N1 vaccine to prevent the spread of influenza. Yes, there is a very tiny amount of mercury in thimerosol. NO, this does not cause autism. Several years ago, some doctors made a claim that the vaccines given to children caused autism. As some parents of children with autism wanted to be able to identify a specific cause for their children’s disability, they latched on to the theory that there was a connection between the vaccines and autism. The problem is, the very doctor who made this claim first has come out to say that he was wrong. That his research was wrong. Sadly, this is still a strong belief in some sectors and many people avoid vaccines for fear of exposing their children an... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954586 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:05:57 +0100 2954586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950938&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fcountdown-to-world-diabetes-day-get-ready-for-the-big-blue-test.html Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend. Somehow the conclusion of that sugar-fest seems a great segue into National Diabetes Awareness Month, no? And the countdown begins to World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14, 2009. Where to begin describing all the activities planned around the web and around the world to “bring diabetes [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950938 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:22:23 +0100 2950938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950949&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FJJ8STU6mLWg%2Fpractical-concerns.php Yesterday, I talked about how I'm not getting the H1N1 vaccine.  I've thought it over and I'm not taking the news reports of severe illness or deaths lightly.  However, I don't want to jump through hoops in order to receive vaccines when I'm relatively healthy.  It's a practical matter.  It's almost like stealing a H1N1 vaccine from a baby...except actually, it is.  Chronic illness is not an indicator in the Denver area for receiving it.  I'm not faking pregnancy in order to get it, like I've been hearing on the news in other areas of the country and in Canada.  Hello, I'm being practical here.Last week, Kerri posted about control solutions for glucose meters and test strips and how we should do it once a week.  Sorry, but I'm not wasting a test... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950949 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:36:02 +0100 2950949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943738&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fdo-you-drink-too-much-alcohol%2F It seems like a simple question. Do you drink too much alcohol? But one person’s social drinking may be someone else’s too much. So how can you tell if you’re drinking too much and what exactly is drinking too much? First, we need to decide on what is a drink – what drinks are equivalent to each other. Generally, in North America, a standard drink is one that has about 0.6 fluid ounces of pure alcohol. But how much that is in your drink depends on what it is you are drinking. Generally, standard drinks are: •   12 oz beer •    5 oz wine •    3-4 oz of fortified wine (such as port) •    2-3 oz liqueur or aperatif •    1.5 oz brandy or hard liquor Does any of that surprise you? If you drink mixed drinks and would like to figure out how much al... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943738 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:47:30 +0100 2943738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934767&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F28%2Ftop-ten-bipolar-blogs-2009%2F Every year the entrants for the Best of the Web awards multiply. In 2009, veterans stood tough as new kids dazzled. It was difficult to narrow the list to just ten (and some more faves we want to mention), but here are our picks for the top blogs written by people who have been diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. 1. The Secret Life of a Manic Depressive Do’s and Don’ts for the Mentally Interesting was a BBC Radio play based on Seaneen’s blog produced last May and just nominated for a Mind Mental Health Media Award. Always a compelling and honest read, it was no fluke or sympathy vote that caused us to place this blog near the top of our list last year - it deserves many accolades. Well done. 2. The Trouble With Spikol Another great year for Liz Spikol, a stellar writer an... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934767 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:58:05 +0100 2934767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930966&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D326 Banking your baby’s cord blood is a way to save it for your baby’s future.  Some people wonder if the cord blood will be available if it is needed.  If you bank it with a private bank, it will definitely be available.  A private cord blood bank stores the cord blood for you, and you pay for the right to own it and have it whenever and if ever you should need it. Since you don’t have the equipment, supplies, and expertise required to process and store your cord blood, a cord blood bank takes care of it, but it is always your cord blood. With a public bank, you are donating the cord blood so others can search for a match and, if yours matches, they will be able to use it.  While you no longer retain ownership of it, it is available if anyone needs it for treatment.  Wi... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930966 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:51:10 +0100 2930966 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927454&cid=t_98736_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F10%2F25%2Fregenerative-medicine-platelet-rich-plasma-provides-joint-pain-relief%2F As a neurologist who sees many patients with neck, back and various joint pains, I practice an area of medicine known as neuro-orthopedics. As such, I treat patients for their pain without surgical intervention. Many patients with neck, back and joint pain (knee pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, etc.) can be successfully treated without invasive surgery and the many risk that go along with this. With surgery there is also a prolonged recovery time and need for extensive rehabilitation. The area of medicine that applies to successfully treating patients without surgery or use of narcotic medications is known as regenerative medicine. In this field, platelet rich plasma is injected into the affected joint, tendon, ligament or soft tissue area that has pain and is failing to heal completely. T... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927454 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:00:24 +0100 2927454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2923414&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FDDmztZX1X84%2Fits-amazing-really.php I had a low blood sugar.  I'm recovering and am starting to feel better.  I exercised incredible restraint in how I treated it, but still managed to eat at least two full meals worth of stuff.While vacuuming down all of this food, I kept saying "Hang tight Scott, you don't need much".  That kept me from going ape shit and eating everything I wanted to, but it was a LOT of work.  How can a person feel so... hungry?  But "hungry" isn't really the right word for it, is it?  Because it is not a hunger that comes from your stomach.  It is coming from somewhere else, and it is powerful.  As I sit here typing this, my stomach is all bloated, and I feel pretty miserable.  Not to mention wiped out from the low (thankfully sleep is right around the corner... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2923414 Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:31:12 +0100 2923414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920173&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D317 Researchers at Duke University are looking at the possibility of treating children. using cord blood, before they are born.  The scientists are exploring the treatment of metabolic diseases including Krabbe disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), Pelizaeus-Maerzbacher Disease (PMD), Tay-Sachs disease, or Sandoff disease. The babies will be treated, while in utero, using stem cells from banked cord blood that have been treated to accelerate and and improve the process of engraftment.  The transplant is relatively simple.  The stem cells will be injected directly into the baby’s abdomen at 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. The babies will be tested after birth to determine if donor cells are present and if they are working to repair the malfunctioning genes.  If not, the baby may be e... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920173 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:32:26 +0100 2920173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920504&cid=t_98736_160_f&fid=36193&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aloha-dermatology.com%2Faloha-dermatology-blog%2Fmaui-county-36th-annual-senior-citizens-health-fair-maui-economic-opportunity-inc%2F Maui War Memorial Gymnasium Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon Please join us at the Maui County 36th Annual Senior Citizens Health Fair on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the Maui War Memorial Gymnasium from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Come, have fun, and visit the many booths that will have health-care related displays and other pertinent information. Blood pressure testing, blood sugar level checks and hearing aids will be available. Many agencies and businesses such as the Maui County Office of Aging, Aloha Dermatology and Laser Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital, Social Security Office, State Department of Consumer Affairs, State of Hawaii SAGE Plus Program, Organ Donors of Hawaii, County of Maui Recycle Dept., A&B Sugar Museum, Alzheimer’s Associa... aloha-dermatology.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920504 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:17:44 +0100 2920504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916382&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FsRApjVlbUq4%2Fexperiments-wake-up-bolus-breakfast-and-exercise.php I was really fighting the blues through the tail end of last week and through the weekend.  Really bad.  What really kicked it off for me was some job stuff that I thought was going well, but wasn't.  So once again I am looking for work.  Freelance, contract, full-time, part-time, a combination of all of the above - anything will help.  Since Cozmo closed down, this transition has been trying.  Most of all, it has been hard keeping depression at arms length.  With my current contracting gig crumbling away a little bit, I got pretty dang close and comfortable with depression again, and it sucks.  But depression is a weird monster, because as sucky as it is, there is a strange comfort in it.  Comfort is a bad word for it, because it is anything bu... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916382 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:32:38 +0100 2916382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912404&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F_Th9KWCBbFs%2F186-mgdl.php The number screams at me.  I feel a chill wash over me, then a shudder.  That number threatens to give me nightmares.  186 mg/dl.  The highest post-prandial I have seen in months, the highest reading on the meter in months.  And when I say months, I do not mean merely mean two or three...more like seven or eight.  The post-prandial readings that rang out under 140 mg/dl (if not 120 mg/dl) were what prompted me and my endocrinologist to consider going off metformin back in early April.  (And yet, I know my type 1 husband would kill for consistent post-prandials at 186 mg/dl.)Is this where things change?  Is this where I start to progress?  Is this where I have to reconsider metformin in spite of all the nasty side effects?  All thoughts... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912404 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:46:50 +0100 2912404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912405&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FDdWrs_Tj-dw%2F And they taste pretty good too! In an age of pharmaceuticals we tend to forget that there are things like herbal teas that can help improve our diabetes. Herbal teas are gaining popularity in the United States and this could be due to the infusion of Western and Eastern Medicine techniques being blended together more often. So what type of herbs are in herbal teas for diabetes control? There are a few but I’m going to give you the two most popularly utilized herbal teas for diabetes control. Bilberry Tea – Never heard of it? Well maybe you know the Bilberry by it’s more popular American name of the Huckleberry. Bilberry herbal tea is known as the most effective herbal tea in aiding diabetes for those who are not insulin dependent. So mainly we’re talking about thos... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912405 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:06:57 +0100 2912405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908584&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D312 Breaking news last week of federal stimulus funding allocated to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center had meaningful and exciting implications for future research regarding the transfusion of cord blood stem cells to treat blood tumors such as leukemia. The institution will receive more than $40 million across 60 research grants under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the Stimulus package. One grant totaling $1.74 million will be allocated to Dr. Colleen Delaney, a member of the Clinical Research Division at the Center to explore an innovative approach to increasing the number of neutrophil cells generated from a single unit of cord blood.  These cells are capable of rapid recovery from infection following cord blood transfusions, and the hope is th... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908584 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:04:34 +0100 2908584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902927&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2Fx0jo78-Hi9g%2Fa-check-list-of-newbie-mistakes.php If so, I think I’ve managed to cover most of them. E-2 – not enough blood on the strip. E-3 – not waiting until the meter was ready to put the sample in place. Dropping strips in water. Putting a strip in backwards. Needing to stick myself half a dozen times to get a decent draw. Not washing my hands enough to get strawberry juice off (now that fasting blood sugar reading just about gave me a heart attack). Leaving loose the lid on the strip pack. Leaving the A1c test in the car (not supposed to be over 78 degrees oops) But I’ve got the routine now, even when I’m sleepy. Note, when you only have one eye open, it is really easy to miss your finger. Glide the strip and machine along the other fingers to aim more accurately at your itty bitty fuzzy wiggly target. Machines reall... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902927 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2902927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901851&cid=t_98736_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F10%2F15-facts-about-copper-and-food-sources.html Copper isn't one of the necessary minerals that you hear about the most, but it's a trace mineral that plays important roles in the body, which include:1. Aiding the body in the production of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood2. Works with Vitamin C to aid in formation of collagen...the part of the cell membrane that supports muscles and tissues.3. It conducts electricity so aids the nervous system 4. Oysters and nuts contain copper5. It's in drinking water that comes through copper pipes6. The fact that zinc and copper compete with one another for absorption in the digestive system should be considered7. Our body stores about 100 mg of copper, mostly in our liver and brain, the muscles contain the rest8. There are some who are concerned that we are getting too much copp... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901851 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:46:00 +0100 2901851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899003&cid=t_98736_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F15%2Ftreating-depression-and-folate-deficiency-with-medical-foods%2F Midweek Mental Greening First and foremost, I should offer a disclaimer for this post: The scientific media briefing I watched this morning, “Feeding the Brain to Help Manage Depression: The Role of Medical Foods,” was presented by Rakesh Jain, M.D., M.P.H., the Director of Psychiatric Drug Research at R/D Clinical Research Center in Lake Jackson, TX and Teodoro Bottiglieri, Ph.D. of the Baylor Institute of Metabolic Disease, and sponsored by Pamlab, a pharmaceutical company specializing in prescription medical foods. Neither PsychCentral.com nor myself is affiliated with Pamlab or Deplin, the new medical food discussed during the briefing. Now that that’s out of the way, on to the more interesting stuff. “Can we feed the brain to regulate mood disorders?” If you had no exper... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899003 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:25:21 +0100 2899003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894496&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D306 I recently read an article discussing umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants used for the treatment of stroke.  Researchers at the Chi Mei Medical Center in Taiwan used mice to test the effectiveness of umbilical cord blood transplants in treating paralysis, a common, post-stroke problem.  The study discovered that the cord blood improved the animals’ condition. This is just one of hundreds of studies that are exploring alternative uses of cord blood stem cells.  The potential opportunities with cord blood are just amazing.  We will continue to educate our readers about the various studies that are taking place using cord blood.  With cord blood’s potential, there is no way to tell what it will be used to treat in 10, 20 or even 40 years. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894496 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:31:59 +0100 2894496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2886421&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D300 A colleague recently discovered an interesting blog. Natalie Curry was the first U.S. citizen to receive a cord blood stem cell transplant. Born in 1985, suffering from Fanconi Anemia, Natalie needed a stem cell transplant. Unable to fine an HLA match through bone marrow, her parents decided to conceive another child as a potential match. Natalie’s first sister was not a match, but her second sister was a perfect HLA match. Cord blood had not been approved yet in the US for treatment of Fanconi Anemia so Natalie’s family moved to France for a stem cell transplant. After 3 months, they returned to the U.S. with her stem cell tranplant a success. Check out Natalie’s blog to learn more about her journey. She also shares the latest news in the stem cell industry and some of h... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2886421 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:02:52 +0100 2886421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2886672&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FdzHCaHycbNk%2Fa-wake-up-bolus.php Is there something more than Dawn Phenomenon? The dawn phenomenon is typically described as the body releasing a handful of hormones overnight that cause some insulin resistance.  You see this as higher blood sugars in the morning, even though you went to bed with a great blood sugar.  I do experience the dawn phenomenon, and have been able to adjust my pump to deliver a bit more basal, or background, insulin during the early morning hours. But I've also got something else going on.  When I get up for the day, no matter what time it is, my blood sugar goes up.  If I wake up at 4:00 AM, it goes up.  If I wake up at noon, it goes up.  If I wake up anywhere in-between there, it goes up.  I've come to think that my body just hates waking up and squirts out so... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2886672 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:17:58 +0100 2886672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879396&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D296 M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories recently sponsored a giveaway for a $500 savings bond. We have a winner! The winner is Mia Fitzgerald of Orlando, FL. Mia is a student who entered the savings bond sweepstakes. We are thrilled that she will be able to use her savings bond when her own children need tuition for college. Congratulations, Mia! (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879396 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:51:27 +0100 2879396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876275&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fflashback-friday-pitching-yeast.html Mixing it up a little from my Wayback Wednesday series today… It was four whole years ago that I wrote this tongue-in-cheek post about diabetes and yeast infections. The guys aren’t brewing at our place so much anymore, but I’m finding that ladies with diabetes are still struggling for answers. Why don’t doctors proactively tell us this [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876275 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:49:38 +0100 2876275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876295&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2Fxs1a1rzLhyg%2F Whey protein is a natural product, produced as part of the cheese making process. It is probably most renowned for being a supplement used for bodybuilders and weight trainers as it is an excellent source of protein. Whey protein is not only of benefit to bodybuilders and weight trainers but also to sufferers of conditions such as cancer sufferers, people who are overweight and to Diabetic sufferers. How can it benefit Diabetic sufferers? As mentioned already, whey protein is the best natural source of protein. Protein can become an element lacking in some Diabetic’s diets, as a result of their dietary alterations. Whey protein also lowers levels of blood glucose and this is thought to happen because higher protein levels stimulate Insulin production from the Pancreas. This particular e... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876295 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:04:41 +0100 2876295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871395&cid=t_98736_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fsleep-apnea-children-hurting-heart.html A new study in the Oct. 1 issue of the journal Sleep examined how obstructive sleep apnea affects heart rate and blood pressure in children.The study involved 15 boys and 15 girls in Australia; they were between the ages of 7 and 12 years. Ten children had primary snoring; 10 had mild sleep apnea with an average of 2.5 breathing pauses per hour of sleep; and 10 had moderate to severe OSA with a mean of 15.2 breathing pauses per hour of sleep.The children were monitored during an overnight sleep study in a sleep lab. Heart rate and blood pressure were analyzed before, during and after obstructive breathing pauses.Results show that the children had significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure. From the last half of a breathing pause to the 15 seconds after a pause, blood pressure inc... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871395 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:16:00 +0100 2871395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871669&cid=t_98736_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fdoes-stress-cause-hypertension-view.html If you ask a doctor, they'll say that stress doesn't cause hypertension ~ or, at least, they will analyze "stress" in biomedical terms (catecholamines and what not). But every clinician has had the experience of patients who are sure that they know when they have high blood pressure: it's when they get stressed. In a thought-provoking talk at the International Conference of Communication in Healthcare (which I return from tonight), Barbara Bokhour (from Boston) et al. helped reframe my experience with their analyses of interviews done with patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Patients have their own models for hypertension (psychological stress playing an important role in these) and they take action to self-treat, by trying to reduce their stress. Among the researchers' interesting ... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871669 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:23:00 +0100 2871669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865651&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D294 Scientists at the Salk Institute have been able to reprogram cord blood stem cells to make them very similar to embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are very valuable because they can theoretically be turned into any type of cell. They are controversial because embryos must be destroyed to harvest them. Using reprogrammed adult stem cells is not ideal since many of these adult cells have undergone mutations. That is what makes this success so significant. Cord blood stem cells are primitive cells with no mutations. If they can be reprogrammed to become any type of cell, the possibilities are endless. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865651 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:56:16 +0100 2865651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865622&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7954 Finally it’s out in the Star and the reporter got it right by calling it a Bleeding Scam. Whether or not carried out by hoemopaths, naturopaths, sinsehs or real doctors, Live Blood Analysis is indeed junk science. Rather curious that “Up to press time, Health Ministry’s director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican had yet to respond to requests for comment on this practice.” I am sure the MOH is aware of this practice. Rather than let thousands and thousands of gullible Malaysians continue to be duped by this scam, shouldn’t the authorities do something? Related posts: Medical misinformation in Malaysiakini: the Live Blood Analysis hocus pocus Nutritional Live Blood Analysis Update 6/10/9 : The DG has made a statement in the press: No evidence to back LBA’s effect... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865622 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2865622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862627&cid=t_98736_122_f&fid=35055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsarasotaneurology.com%2F2009%2F10%2F04%2Fcaffeine-natures-own-wonder-drug%2F Much has been said and written about caffeine over the past half century. There have been over 20,000 studies conducted looking at the various effects and benefits of caffeine over this period of time. Numerous studies have demonstrated the tremendous health benefits that can be derived from regular daily consumption of caffeine, most commonly delivered through the consumption of coffee or energy drinks such as Red Bull or similar beveragage. All of these have a high caffeine content.  In almost any way that caffeine is consumed, there are certain health benefits that it delivers. Despite all the negative press that has been attributed to caffeine, there has never been a study that has shown that caffeine has long term negative health effects, quite the contrary. The vast majority ... Sarasota Neurology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862627 Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:36:58 +0100 2862627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857461&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FliwUHmPfIZ0%2F A three-year study of 170,024 patients has found that two low-cost medications – one for lowering cholesterol and one for lowering blood pressure – taken for two years reduced their risk of having a heart attack or stroke by more than 60% for the following year. The patients were divided into three groups at the start of the study. The high-exposure group was composed of 21,292 patients. They took both medications  (40 milligrams of lovastatin and 20 milligrams of lisinopril) more than half the time throughout the two years. The amount of time they took the medications was determined by a review of pharmacy records. The low-exposure group of 47,268 people took the two medications less than half the time, while 101,464 people did not take the medications and were considered to ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857461 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:59:24 +0100 2857461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855781&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fwhere-are-they-now-log-for-life-winners-of-the-diabetesmine-design-challenge.html Last year, the DiabetesMine Design Challenge was just getting off the ground but we had some amazing contributions! The winner of the Grand Prize was Ethan Mullis, a 25-year-old graphic and UI designer at Gnoso Inc. who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in eighth grade. His submission was Log for Life, “an online logbook [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855781 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:46 +0100 2855781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2852048&cid=t_98736_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FTBaltQIRkWA%2Fmicrosoft-releases-my-heatlh-info.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2852048 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:53:00 +0100 2852048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842525&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D290 Some of you may have heard about a cord blood bank being shut down by the FDA because it did not “have adequate protections in place against the risks of communicable disease transmission.” We’re sure all our patients know this, but we want to reassure any of you who have questions: MAZE Cord Blood Labs are and always have been FDA approved. Our last audit was in July and our lab was approved without issue. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842525 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:03:02 +0100 2842525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842548&cid=t_98736_101_f&fid=38969&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheemtspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Ftulsa-ems-in-the-classrooms%2F Most of us have been there before. A puking, nearly unconscious teenager on our pram. All the predictable problems; airway issues, responsiveness issues, behavioral issues. When kids learn the hard lessons about alcohol and drugs we’re often the ones who get called in to clean up the mess. And, as tiring as the routine gets, we do what we can. We protect the airway, administer our oxygen, start the IV, monitor the capnography, pay attention to the heart rhythms, the whole kit-n-kaboodle. (You may use another term … that’s just me.) The subtleties of treatment change with level of certification and protocols, but the call runs remarkably the same. Some medics is Tulsa, OK decided that we run this call far to often and they got the bright idea to see if they could chang... The EMT Spot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842548 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:33 +0100 2842548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2839129&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fhow-to-be-a-good-endo-from-a-patient%25e2%2580%2599s-pov.html Scott Johnson is one of my favorite fellow diabetes bloggers. Always has been. This post will show you why.   A Guest Post by Scott K. Johnson, of Scott’s Diabetes Journal Amy’s guest post from Dr. Anne Peters last Thursday on “How to be a Good Diabetes Patient” sure ruffled some feathers.  I wanted to take [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2839129 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:25 +0100 2839129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2834307&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fns7Z1-MPA_c%2F Diabetes is a disease that can’t be cured yet; it can only be controlled. Part of the control is with your diet, and carbohydrate and caloric intake, so you need to be able to figure this out. If your diabetes is being controlled by insulin, it’s essential that you understand the numbers behind your blood glucose (sugar) levels and the amount of insulin you must take every day. Unfortunately, not everyone does well in arithmetic or math in school, or may  be educated. This can prove to be a significant stumbling block for proper control of diabetes. Interestingly, much has been said lately about health literacy, being able to read the instructions from a doctor or how to take medications,. Not as much information has been placed on health numeracy, which is the ability to work... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2834307 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:20:35 +0100 2834307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828190&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D286 Well, everyone’s entitled to his or her opinion… A study by the University of California, San Francisco, that will be published in October, uses a type of quantitative analysis called “decision analysis” to determine the effectiveness of private cord blood banking. The study determines that it is not. Hmmm. The technique used in the study only evaluates absolute cost and the probability of a family using the cord blood, based upon the currently available treatments, and crunches out a conclusion that, on average, if private cord blood banking costs $242, or if a family has a determined history of a treatable disease, then banking cord blood is “cost effective.” Hmmm. Of course, if private cord blood banks only charged $242 for processing and storage, they would not be i... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828190 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:58:45 +0100 2828190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828280&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FSXYuoWYDvYk%2F It’s a known fact that African Americans have a higher risk of some illnesses, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) but researchers have discovered that they are also at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in the deep veins, usually the legs. This also puts them at a higher risk of pulmonary embolism, which is the result of a clot breaking loose and going to the lungs. Dr. Garth Graham from the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, spoke about minorities and DVTs at the Venous Disease Coalition (VDC) Annual Meeting. The Venous Disease Coalition is a network of people who are working together to help raise awareness of venous disease. They offer this quick quiz so you may see if you are at an increased risk of... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828280 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:44:25 +0100 2828280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2820211&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D280 Cord blood banking has been in the news extensively in India.  Along with a number of cord blood banks starting to offer services in India, there have been some high profile treatments delivered, using the stem cells from cord blood.  A recent story involves an Indian family that delivered a second child to save the life of their firstborn. Their baby suffered from thalassemia, a disorder causing the production of abnormal hemoglobin.  Typically, treated with blood transfusions, thalassemia can be cured through the transplant of stem cells that can be found in bone marrow or cord blood.  Stem cell matches are even more difficult to find in India than in the United States so doctors suggested the family conceive another child to attempt to find a match for their sick child. The family c... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2820211 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:01:27 +0100 2820211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803902&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D270 Expectant parents often wonder when they need to decide if they are going to bank their baby’s cord blood and when they need to register with a cord blood bank.  While you can decide anytime during your pregnancy, we recommend beginning your research early in your second trimester.  You want to have time to examine your options and not feel rushed. You should be able to gather information packets, make any phone calls, check out some unbiased sources and maybe even talk to your pregnant friends and your health care provider. In addition, if you wait until the last minute to register, your cord blood bank may need to charge a rush fee to ensure that your cord blood collection kit makes it to you before the arrival of your baby.  Since even scheduled babies sometimes arrive early, y... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803902 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:01:08 +0100 2803902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803862&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7888 Many people are as it is afraid of needles and blood taking. Some have even been known to faint during or shortly after the process. Imagine if instead of a friendly human, you were to have this robot take your blood. Shades of terminator! I predict the Bloodbot won’t be very popular, especially if it’s only 78% accurate See Switched.com via a Tweet from Andrew Yee from the Malaysian Medical Resources Meet the Bloodbot (PIC) (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803862 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2803862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796706&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FgIBv8zek3-g%2Fbest-laid-plans.php This was going to be the week that I updated with a third follow-up to "Will the Averages Lie?", posted way back in March before my last endocrinologist appointment.  This was going to be the week that I would get poked and prodded at the lab for another round of diabetes, lipids, and thyroid tests.  Then life stepped in with plans for a quick trip to visit my family and meet my nieces at their upcoming baptism.  Since I'd already been spending a lot of time out of the office with other doctor appointments and long weekends out of town, I just didn't think I could sneak in my endocrinologist appointment, too.  And certainly not when others are taking on work in my absence in addition to their own extensive job duties.When I went to change my appointment, I was in for a ... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796706 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:30:00 +0100 2796706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793146&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D268 Choosing a cord blood bank to save your baby’s cord blood is a big decision.  Parents worry about making the right choice.  Will the cord blood be processed correctly?  Will the cord blood be safe? Every parent worries about these questions.  Now you can hear from parents who have banked their cord blood with M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories.  Click here to read comments from some of the parents who have banked their baby’s cord blood with M.A.Z.E. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793146 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:01:12 +0100 2793146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790386&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F5lCYw-9XONk%2Fspotting-trends-and-stopping-them.php Even though I've cut back on my blood glucose testing, the meter has proved useful in spotting a troubling trend.For about two weeks in late August, I noticed that my fasting blood sugar had increased.  Instead of seeing numbers under 110 mg/dl, the meter was showing me readings above 120 mg/dl.  I would have expected this while I was traveling earlier in the summer, but not while I was at home and keeping up with exercise and diet.  Then it hit me.  I'd been skipping my evening snacks worth 15-20 grams of carbohydrate in favor of going to bed early.  With the daylight hours slowly dwindling, I'd been getting sleepy earlier.  After a few evenings of propping my eyelids open past 9:00 pm to ensure a bedtime snack would be consumed, my morning blood sugar readin... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790386 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:17:17 +0100 2790386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2789060&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FrUQmgU86UQk%2F Pass the salt! Or rather, don’t. A new study says that if Americans were to simply cut their salt intake back they could “save billions of dollars in health care costs.” The recommended amount is supposed to be 2,300 mg per day, and Americans get 3,300 mg. The study suggests that if Americans consumed less sodium, eleven million people would not get high blood pressure – which would save on costs for medication, treatments for heart disease, fallout from stroke, and other related issues. Where does all the salt come from? Surprisingly, the largest amounts come not from our own salt shakes, but from packaged foods and from eating out. Fast food is a big culprit in this. The study advises us to read packages, avoid the higher salted foods when eating out, and of cou... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2789060 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:52:55 +0100 2789060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2786225&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Flife-by-the-numbers.html Browsing through the latest issue of Wired magazine (my favorite print pub!), I stumbled upon a “reader rant” that stopped me in my tracks. A guy named Edward Aboufadel from Ada, Michigan, was responding to a recent article titled Living by Numbers, about our new data-driven lifestyles. He writes: People who are really ‘living by [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2786225 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:56:51 +0100 2786225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785912&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D264 Expectant parents sometimes worry that their doctor may not be familiar with the cord blood collection process.  While cord blood collection is very common and many obstetricians have collected cord blood for previous patients, if yours hasn’t, don’t worry.  M.A.Z.E. provides extremely clear instructions for the cord blood collection process.  In addition, M.A.Z.E. has health care professionals on staff who can answer any questions your physician might have as well as talk your health care provider through the collection process if necessary.  Don’t worry about your doctor.  M.A.Z.E. makes the collection process as easy as possible.  We have never run into a doctor who complained about the collection process. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785912 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:16:22 +0100 2785912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782263&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2009%2F09%2Fpayoff.html I've worked very hard over the last few weeks.  There's no denying that.  I've logged blood sugar numbers on the Kevin spreadsheet and busted my butt to keep up with the maintenance of those logbooks.Chris and I have counted carb after carb, making sure that I'm dosing accordingly.I have changed some of my "bad habits" here and there in efforts to get crap under better control in pursuit of BabySparl.  (I even gave up coffee.  For anyone who knows me, THAT is a huge thing.  Huge-r than logging numbers.)And yesterday, after spending the entire day under the weather, my phone rang.  Dr. CT was calling with my A1C results."Kerri?  This is Dr. CT.  I have your blood work back."I was napping off my illness just before she called, ... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782263 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:01:58 +0100 2782263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785913&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D138 There are only 3 weeks left to register for the M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories savings bond giveaway.  M.A.Z.E. is offering one lucky winner a $500 savings bond.  No purchase is necessary to win.  All you need to do is give M.A.Z.E. your email and mailing addresses.  Click here to enter before it is too late. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785913 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:58:04 +0100 2785913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774616&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D138 There are only 3 weeks left to register for the M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories savings bond giveaway.  M.A.Z.E. is offering one lucky winner a $100 savings bond.  No purchase is necessary to win.  All you need to do is give M.A.Z.E. your email and mailing addresses.  Click here to enter before it is too late. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774616 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:58:04 +0100 2774616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774847&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fhome-a1c-testing-vs-the-lab.html So it was time again for my A1C and other blood tests last week. Over-time, in fact.  You know how I hate going in to the lab when I have to be fasting for lipid tests and can’t even have a latte on the way over in the morning. Ugh! And who ever said diabetics [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774847 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:35 +0100 2774847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774877&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F0Vfgytt5VsQ%2Feating-our-way-through-the-weekend.php This past weekend was a whirlwind!  My brother, P, got married to a wonderful girl (J) who we are so excited to have in our family!  It was a beautiful wedding, and P & J are on their way to Aruba for their honeymoon!My parents hosted the rehearsal dinner at their home and my Mom and I did the cooking for a crowd of close to 100.  A lot of the guests were vegetarians so we thought a lot about what we should make.  What we came up with was a variety of salads and grilled sausages on the side.  What fun!  My Dad bought around 25 lbs of gourmet, fresh sausage at the West Side Market here in Cleveland and every bite of it was gone.  We couldn't believe it!  Where were all these vegetarians we were expecting?We had tons of appetizers like gazpacho, hu... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774877 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100 2774877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2768676&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FqTGhkAI7k3U%2F Here’s an eerie medical phenomenon that seems like it should only occur in movies. A 15-year old boy from Tennessee is crying blood. Literally. Calvino Inman noticed his reflected after a shower a few months ago and saw that he had blood coming from his eyes. His condition, called “haemolacria” is sometimes seen in people who “have experienced extreme trauma or who have recently had a serious head injury.” The problem? Inman didn’t have these types of things happen to him. Doctors are running him through the usual battery of tests, but thus far nothing out of the ordinary has been found. The teen has several medical experts now working on his case. Image: sxc.hu. Post from: Blisstree Teen Who Cries Blood (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2768676 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:11:45 +0100 2768676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766006&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D255 A colleague recently found this great video that talks about cord blood and its possible use in future treatment. Watch and enjoy.  If you have any questions, you can contact a cord blood specialist through M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories at (914) 683-0000. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766006 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:02:42 +0100 2766006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2761960&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FSDMoKhzNNtE%2F Type 2 diabetes is on the rise. It’s one of the diseases afflicting humans that is often preventable. Preventable because lifestyle plays a large role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 – it’s caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin but either not enough or the body can’t properly use the insulin that’s being produced. It used to be that type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes and then the name changed to insulin-dependent diabetes. Originally, it was thought that only children developed type 1 diabetes but now we know that people as old as their late 20s can develop it. Then, it was insulin-dependent be... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2761960 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:47:59 +0100 2761960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758158&cid=t_98736_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fmineral-facts-chromium-glucose.html I start by saying I hope you are all having a wonderful summer, trying to keep up with my blogs and business adventures when the sun is shining so brightly is a challenge, but here I sit in our little log cabin on the lake with the large screen window behind me open to the fall-like cool air we're enjoying right now in the northeast. See? I'm so into the outdoors I'm not getting to the topic!Chromium, this is a wonderful trace mineral that has a reputation for helping to maintian blood sugar levels that are already at a normal range. It is believed to work by helping the glucose find it's way from the blood into the cells. It is needed so that the liver can manufacture fatty acids, lecithin, cholesterol, and lipoproteins.Foods that contain this trace mineral include:Brewer's YeastBlackstra... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758158 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:11:00 +0100 2758158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757741&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D253 Many midwives and home-birth advocates recommend delaying cutting the umbilical cord after the baby is born. These same midwives wonder if their patients will be able to collect their cord blood even if they choose to delay cutting the cord. The simple answer is yes, you can save the baby’s cord blood, it just might take a little more time to collect it. When collecting the cord blood, the healthcare provider may need to insert the needle into a couple of of different spots in the umbilical cord to ensure enough cord blood is collected.  This will in no way hurt since the umbilical cord is not connected to the baby or the mother at this time.  It may just take a couple of additional minutes on the part of the healthcare provider.  There is plenty of blood to allow for it to remain... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757741 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:53:19 +0100 2757741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2758032&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwayback-wednesday-crap-high-blood-sugar.html Four years ago, I got really upset when my blood sugar surged. If you asked me then, I’d have sworn that in four year’s time, I’d have it all figured out and these surges would be a thing of the past - hah!! Thus, I bring you, from October 2005, an all-time favorite [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2758032 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:00:53 +0100 2758032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752098&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FTc2D_FGr9Tw%2Fheadlights.php I am glad to say that I've found some work.  It is not diabetes related, but it seems to be paying a couple of the bills and gives me a lot of flexibility. This job involves a lot of driving.  4 hours into Wisconsin or Iowa (one way) a few times per month, minimum.  I've got a lot of time just staring through my windshield and watching bugs bounce off (or not... SPLAT!).  It gives me a lot of time to think about stuff, which is kind of nice.One of the things I was thinking about is how the tools we have to manage our diabetes are a lot like headlights.  Especially when you're driving down a dark country road in the middle of the night.  Your headlights are blazing beams of light ahead of you, but when you're driving 65mph, it doesn't seem like they reach quite... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752098 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0100 2752098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741337&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D248 I was surfing around YouTube and was amazed with the number of videos related to cord blood banking.  One that I found especially valuable was a YouTube video from Suze Orman’s show on CNBC.  She does a segment called “Can You Afford It.”  A viewer called in to see if she could afford cord blood banking. I am posting the video here.  Suze says it so much better than I ever could. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741337 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:48:44 +0100 2741337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741547&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FiTldgohj_TM%2F What is the leading cause of blindness in the United States of America? Diabetes. Researchers are now stating that diabetes related vision loss can be prevented if the disease is treated in time. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. has reported that only 50 to 60 percent of people with diabetes get the recommended yearly eye exam. The effective treatments, including a dilated eye test, can reduce severe vision loss up to 94 percent. A persons risk for diabetic retinopathy increases with the length of time that they have had diabetes. It was once thought that diabetic retinopathy only affected diabetics who have had the disease for a long length of time. We now know that that is not the case. For some diabetics, retinopathy is one of the first signs of the disease. Diabetic retinopathy happ... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741547 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:33:15 +0100 2741547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730312&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F08%2Ften-things-i-should-do-more-often.html Darn it, it’s tough returning from vacation. Somehow you feel like your life is all loose ends, and man, are you behind on tying things up!  Diabetes sort of makes you feel that way all the time though, doesn’t it?  As I attempt to “un-bury” and get back into my “more responsible” routine, it occurred [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730312 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:00:17 +0100 2730312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730157&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FpUO6ChSrAQc%2F If you’re middle-aged and have high blood pressure, anywhere from 140/90 or higher, you may have trouble with your memory as well. An interesting study, published in the most recent issue of the journal Neurology, found that people over the age of 45 years who had a high lower blood pressure number, the diastolic number had a higher chance of having memory or cognitive problems than those who are normotensive, or have normal diastolic blood pressure numbers. Researchers looked at almost 20,000 people who were over 45 years old. According to a press release from American Academy of Neurology, For every 10 point increase in the reading, the odds of a person having cognitive problems was seven percent higher. The results were valid after adjusting for other factors that could affect co... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730157 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:56:50 +0100 2730157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730039&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D239 The biggest stumbling block to cord blood banking is the expense.  While M.A.Z.E. is less expensive than other cord blood banks, it is a medical procedure so it is still expensive. M.A.Z.E. offers parents an opportunity to make cord blood more affordable.  Most expectant parents are familiar with baby gift registries.  They often register for gifts when expecting a baby.  Registries help parents to receive the gifts they need while offering ideas for well-meaning friends and relatives.  Did you know that M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories offers a gift registry.  That’s right, you can register for cord blood banking along with your onesies, crib sheets and bouncers. Registering for M.A.Z.E. Cord Blood Laboratories gift registry is easy.  Once you have registered to bank your cor... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730039 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:56:02 +0100 2730039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727370&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fblood-sugar-guidelines-in-the-crossfire.html Did any of you catch this excellent article in the New York Times last week: Diabetes Case Shows Pitfalls of Treatment Guidelines?  I was surprised to see very little blog chatter on it. It’s a fascinating summary of the recent controversy over national blood sugar guidelines, sparked primarily by the ACCORD study that scared everybody [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727370 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:00:17 +0100 2727370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724928&cid=t_98736_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FHAbBie6dkKU%2F West Virginia wins the titled of most medicated state in the U.S., according to one recent report. The state fills “17.7 prescriptions per capita compared to a national average of 11.5.” Why so much medicine? Experts believe it’s because of many chronic conditions and lack of exercise. The south in general has higher medication rates. “Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky and Missouri also have prescription drug-use rates well above the national average.” My first question when I heard this, was what type of medicine are they taking? The answer is lisinopril, a high-blood pressure drug. West Virginians, not surprisingly, have higher rates of heart disease the rest of the country as well. The majority of the population, some seve... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724928 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:59:04 +0100 2724928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725202&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2009%2F08%2Fstaying_accountable.html It's been three weeks since my Joslin appointment and in that time, the accountability train, and thankfully, it hasn't derailed.  Or smashed into me.  Yet.But also in that time, I traveled to Spain, had plenty of wonky lows while traveling, didn't have internet access, and battled the time-space continuum, in addition to working plenty of hours at dLife before the trip and upon my return.  Stress levels?  Not at their lowest.  Also, logging opportunities?  Minimal.But DUDE.  I'm still doing it.  Thanks to the power of the Kevin Spreadsheet and the fact that I sit on my rear end all day long, staring into the abyss of my work Mac, and also thanks to the jazzy little Ann Taylor flashdrive I picked up at BlogHer, I actually have logbooks that mean some... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725202 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:22:59 +0100 2725202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719669&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D235 A recent article from the National Post in Canada provides a great overview of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), stem cells that appear to provide extensive opportunity for healing.  Scientists are exploring the potential of MSCs, but have had difficulty with finding them since they were only available through bone marrow or fat from liposuction. The MSCs are very easy to work with and avoid many of the negatives associated with embryonic stem cells.  With the discovery of these cells’ availability in cord blood, scientists may be able to develop a nearly unlimited source for experimentation and eventually treatment of a variety of different diseases. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719669 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:25:36 +0100 2719669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712305&cid=t_98736_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FXvVkO3C58X4%2F Here’s a video about a woman who was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes after a routine physical with her Doctor. She goes on to describe how her doctor said that blood should be the consistancy of water but when she lanced her finger it was more like syrup sticking between her fingers. “It is a miracle you are still standing.” the Doctor told her. Related Posts Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes – What Do I Do Now? Type 2 Diabetes Raises the Risk of Parkinsons Disease (Source: Battle Diabetes Blog) Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712305 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:39:04 +0100 2712305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712331&cid=t_98736_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FDCwP7lo4PZY%2Fhigh-cholesterol-levels-in-your-40s.html I wrote about this issue for the first during April, 2008 --High cholesterol levels in your 40s may raise the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Last week, this study of more than 9,000 Californians came back into the news with a newer updated version in the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive DisordersIn the study, People underwent detailed health evaluations between 1964 and 1973 when they were ages 40 to 45, including blood cholesterol measurements. The researchers then looked at the cholesterol measurements of the 504 people in the study who developed Alzheimer's disease decades later.The researchers found that people with moderately elevated cholesterol in their 40s have twice the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in their 60s, 70s and 80s. These findings should serve... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712331 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:26 +0100 2712331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709106&cid=t_98736_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D227 Last month, MinnPost ran an opinion piece discussing cord blood donation and the difficulties with donating cord blood in different states. According to the article, there are only 22 states that offer public cord blood banking options. These options are only available through certain hospitals. This is why it is sometimes difficult to find a match in the public cord blood banks, especially for minority patients. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709106 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:44:12 +0100 2709106