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 'cdc:'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:54:44 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743505&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F11%2Fweekly-news-round-up-another-three-day-weekend-edition%2F I’m taking Monday off work. Because I have the terrific privilege of paid vacation days, and have enough of them that I’ve actually topped out and will not accrue more until I take some of them. First, a few of my recent posts at Our Bodies Our Blog that I’ve neglected to link up here: Quick Hit: Public Comment Open on Hospital Visitation Rule Change – public comments are being accepted until August 27 on a proposed rule change that would protect patients’ rights to choose and designate their own visitors during a hospital stay and make hospital visitation much easier for LGBTQI patients and their partners HealthCare.gov Provides Tools for Understanding Health Care Options – a bit about a new government website with information on the implementation of th... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743505 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:50:32 +0100 3743505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729876&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-study-shingles-vaccine-is-safe-and-effective%2F2010.07.06 Shingles (herpes zoster) is no fun. It usually begins with a couple of days of pain, then a painful rash breaks out and lasts a couple of weeks. The rash consists of blisters that eventually break open, crust over, and consolidate into an ugly plaque. It is localized to one side of the body and to a stripe of skin corresponding to the dermatomal distribution of a sensory nerve. Very rarely a shingles infection can lead to pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation (encephalitis) or death. More commonly, patients develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the area where the rash was. The overall incidence of PHN is 20%; after the age of 60 this rises to 40%, and after age 70 it rises to 50%. It can be excruciatingly painful, resistant to treatment, and can last for years or eve... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729876 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:00:19 +0100 3729876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714187&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpreventive-health-tip-get-vaccinated-for-whooping-cough%2F2010.06.30 California recently declared an epidemic of whooping cough (pertussis) which resulted in the death of five infants under the age of 3 months. The pertussis vaccine, which is already given routinely to infants, is first given at 2 months of age, then 4 months and 6 months of age, with an additional booster at 15 to 18 months of age, and then again at 4 to 6 years old. The vaccines for Bortella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough, does not confer lifelong immunity. In other words, fully-vaccinated children who then become teenagers and then adults lose immunity, can acquire the infection and then spread it. Should babies acquire pertussis, as the public has discovered, it can be deadly. The persistent cough tires the baby, causes difficulty breathing, and can make them turn blue ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714187 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3714187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671695&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwho-and-h1n1-conflict-of-interest%2F2010.06.17 On June 11, 2009, Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared that the H1N1 flu that was then spreading around the world was an official pandemic. This triggered a series of built-in responses in many countries, including stockpiling anti-viral medications and preparing for a mass H1N1 vaccination program. At the time the flu was still in its “first wave” and the fear was that subsequent waves, as the virus swept around the world, would become more virulent and/or contagious –- similar to what happened in the 1918 pandemic. This did not happen. At least our worst fears were not realized. The H1N1 pandemic, while serious, simmered through the winter of 2009-2010, producing a less than average flu season, although with some worrisome differe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671695 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:41 +0100 3671695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648495&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-return-of-mumps%2F2010.06.10 I write this post with a great deal of trepidation. The last time I perused the Medical Voices website I found nine questions that needed answering. So I answered them. One of the consequences of that blog entry was the promise that Medical Voices was poised to “tear my arguments to shreds.” Tear to shreds! Such a painful metaphor. They specified that the shred tearing would be accomplished during a live debate, rather than a written response. While Dr. Gorski gave excellent reasons why such a debate is counterproductive, I am disinclined for more practical reasons. I am a slow thinker and a lousy debater and have never, ever, won a debate at home. If I cannot win pitted against my wife, what chance would I have against the combined might of the doctors and scientists at Medical Voices... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648495 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:03 +0100 3648495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644692&cid=t_355764_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcdc-answers-health-questions-bp-oil-spill%2F The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted answers to FAQ about the possible health risks of the BP oil spill on its website. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644692 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:12:37 +0100 3644692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640936&cid=t_355764_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcdc-risk-oil-spill-humans-public-buying%2F The Centers for Disease Control has issued a statement that the risk of human exposure to the oil and tar balls washing up on Gulf beaches from the BP Oil spill is very low, if not harmless. Judging by comments on blogs, many citizens from the region are just not trusting the authorities. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640936 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:59:02 +0100 3640936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635688&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F06%2Fweekly-news-round-up-glad-its-finally-june-edition%2F Over at Our Bodies Our Blog recently, I’ve posted on the CDC’s new guide to contraceptive use safety (with relevant parts linked for easy access, as the guide itself is kind of difficult to navigate), the Defense authorization that would repeal both “don’t ask don’t tell” and prohibitions against abortions in Department of Defense medical facilities, debate about over-the-counter genetic testing, a CDC working group’s outline of a plan to address infertility, and the FDA’s transparency initiative. And, hey! this year’s 2010 Women’s Health Heroes were also announced! Big thanks to everybody who submitted nominations and/or voted – go check out the winners and inductees. Some other things that caught my eye: The Women Delive... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635688 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 15:47:54 +0100 3635688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633445&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprescription-drugs-and-high-school-students%2F2010.06.06 A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in five U.S. high school students have taken a prescription drug that they didn’t get from their doctor. According to the 2009 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that was released today from the CDC, the survey asked more than 16,000 high school students if they’ve ever taken a prescription drug such as Oxycontin, Percoset, Vicodin, Adderall, Ritalin and Xanax. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Health in 30* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633445 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:00:16 +0100 3633445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629802&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIH-n31J984c%2F How does your garden grow? Probably not green-ly enough. So check out our gallery of 10 things we found to help you cultivate your garden into a more eco-friendly oasis: Post from: BlissTree Eco-Friendly Living: 10 Things to Green Your Garden (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629802 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:24:40 +0100 3629802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629600&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-living-10-things-to-green-your-garden%2F How does your garden grow? Probably not green-ly enough. So check out our gallery of 10 things we found to help you cultivate your garden into a more eco-friendly oasis: Post from: BlissTree Eco-Friendly Living: 10 Things to Green Your Garden (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629600 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:24:40 +0100 3629600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573665&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F7lFO2ce__wI%2F Google Flu Trends has always emphasized its tracking of flu-like illness rather than cases of the virus confirmed by a lab. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573665 Mon, 17 May 2010 17:12:46 +0100 3573665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552490&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FNsWnOkj9jbE%2F Have you or someone you know been touched by breast cancer? If so, EBOOST and Blisstree understand the long journey and challenges ahead. That’s why for every box of pink lemonade that EBOOST sells, they will donate a full $10 of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Together, we can give hope to millions of women and their families – and help wipe out this dreadful disease once and for all. The EBOOST Healthy Energy Drink contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that activate the four vital elements of performance: ENERGY, IMMUNITY, RECOVERY, and FOCUS, delivering sustained energy that lasts. EBOOST has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise money for breast cancer awareness with an exclusive offer for Blisstree readers. A box of 20 EBOOST p... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552490 Mon, 10 May 2010 17:14:25 +0100 3552490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552210&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fjoin-eboost-and-susan-g-komen-for-the-cure-to-fight-breast-cancer-with-an-exclusive-offer%2F Have you or someone you know been touched by breast cancer? If so, EBOOST and Blisstree understand the long journey and challenges ahead. That’s why for every box of pink lemonade that EBOOST sells, they will donate a full $10 of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Together, we can give hope to millions of women and their families – and help wipe out this dreadful disease once and for all. The EBOOST Healthy Energy Drink contains a special blend of vitamins and minerals that activate the four vital elements of performance: ENERGY, IMMUNITY, RECOVERY, and FOCUS, delivering sustained energy that lasts. EBOOST has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to raise money for breast cancer awareness with an exclusive offer for Blisstree readers. A box of 20 EBOOST p... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552210 Mon, 10 May 2010 17:14:25 +0100 3552210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3545429&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Ft6is2nsrqYo%2F E. coli has sickened at least 19 people in 3 states, leading to a recall of shredded romaine lettuce. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3545429 Fri, 07 May 2010 20:56:51 +0100 3545429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529760&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FSfVeL2_4Li0%2F Rather than focusing on an individual prescription, the plan recommends changes for pretty much every aspect of our environment – building more parks and walking or bike lanes, boosting P.E. classes and promoting physical activity within the work force. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529760 Mon, 03 May 2010 19:15:24 +0100 3529760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3505134&cid=t_355764_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJYBY4SIvTJ4%2F Last December, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released a report showing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was having a hard time gathering sufficient financial disclosure info from so-called Special Government Employees, or SGEs, who serve on CDC advisory committees. The HHS OIG reviewed info provided to 17 committees that met in 2007 and also found that many SGEs served on committees, even though potential conflicts weren’t disclosed. And so Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee who has spent the last few years probing conflicts of interest among government agencies, academic researchers and the pharmaceutical industry, has written a letter to the CDC noting that 41 percent of SGEs didn’t receive eth... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3505134 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:20:12 +0100 3505134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3483074&cid=t_355764_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2010%2F04%2F19%2Fget-the-411-its-std-awareness-month%2F The following post was written by Katie Boos, MPH, Multimedia and Public Information Programs Manager at AIDS Action Committee. Katie oversees STD 411, Maria Talks, AIDS Action’s Hotlines, and other media-based prevention programs. April is STD awareness month, a time when public health practitioners like me gear up to spread the word about STD prevention, testing, and treatment. Sexually transmitted diseases (STD), or infections (STI) if you are using public health speak, have had a fascinating and disturbing social history, similar and yet different from HIV. And while we know more now about the science of STDs than ever before, discussions about them still contain judgmental and fear-based messages and are often wrapped up in morality wars around the topic of sex. So you can imag... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3483074 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:37:38 +0100 3483074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479692&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2F3im3eD9S8cE%2Ffood_that_makes_you_sick_not_m.php It would be surprising if failure to fund local public health and neutering regulation would result in a decrease in foodborne illness. Alas, there is nothing surprising about CDC's latest report on incidence of foodborne illness in the US. They put the best face on it they could, pointing to a decrease in E. coli O157H7 cases, but they've seen that kind of progress in E. coli before only to slip back. In reality we aren't sure how much food poisoning occurs each year. Most of it is self-limited and never comes to the attention of medical or public health authorities. It never gets counted. More serious cases may or not be recognized as foodborne. CDC has a Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) within its Emerging Infections Program which conducts active surveillance in... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479692 Sat, 17 Apr 2010 11:24:01 +0100 3479692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471983&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FL-bB6dd8JyE%2F In our fast food, TV-obsessed nation, childhood obesity is a huge problem. Poor diet and lack of exercise has led to an epidemic among children in which childhood obesity has increased by three times over the past 30 years. One in three children are overweight or obese, and the country spends $150 billion each year to treat conditions related to obesity. Let’s face it – our kids are fat! Overweight Kid Being overweight as a child can lead to the development of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, depression, and a number of other diseases and ailments. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama has been leading a nationwide campaign called “Let’s Move”... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471983 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:34:39 +0100 3471983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471962&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FL-bB6dd8JyE%2F In our fast food, TV-obsessed nation, childhood obesity is a huge problem. Poor diet and lack of exercise has led to an epidemic among children in which childhood obesity has increased by three times over the past 30 years. One in three children are overweight or obese, and the country spends $150 billion each year to treat conditions related to obesity. Let’s face it – our kids are fat! Overweight Kid Being overweight as a child can lead to the development of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, depression, and a number of other diseases and ailments. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama has been leading a nationwide campaign called “Let’s Move”... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471962 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:34:39 +0100 3471962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471755&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fchildhood-obesity-should-you-put-your-kid-on-a-diet%2F In our fast food, TV-obsessed nation, childhood obesity is a huge problem. Poor diet and lack of exercise has led to an epidemic among children in which childhood obesity has increased by three times over the past 30 years. One in three children are overweight or obese, and the country spends $150 billion each year to treat conditions related to obesity. Let’s face it – our kids are fat! Overweight Kid Being overweight as a child can lead to the development of high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, depression, and a number of other diseases and ailments. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama has been leading a nationwide campaign called “Let’s Move”... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471755 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:34:39 +0100 3471755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467730&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FjI-p5ykZPGM%2F UnitedHealth Group and Walgreens say they’re teaming up with the YMCA on a program that will reimburse pharmacists and lifestyle coaches to help insured patients prevent and control diabetes. The program, which will be announced Wednesday at the CDC Diabetes Conference in Kansas City, Mo., will have two parts, says Tom Beauregard, executive vice president of UnitedHealth and executive director of the UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform and Modernization. The prevention arm will use UnitedHealth claims data and other demographic information to flag people at risk of developing diabetes and invite them to a free, 16-session exercise and nutrition class at a local YMCA. They’ll have monthly follow-up after the class is over, and instructors will be paid bonuses if participants meet certai... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467730 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:03:24 +0100 3467730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460118&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F11%2Fsunday-news-round-up-back-online-edition%2F I’m finally back online at home! While I’ve been away, I’ve learned adult/child CPR/AED use and infant CPR, registered to be an organ donor, listened to a lot of classical music on the radio courtesy of the local public radio station, played a lot of Rummy and lost at Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit (as usual), had my first lunch at Swett’s, and read B is for Beer, Warbreaker, War Dances, The Lassa Ward and half of Middlemarch. Here are some things that transpired or were written with style in the interim. First, Our Bodies Ourselves is accepting nominations for the 2010 Women’s Health Heroes awards. Nominations are due by the end of this month, so make yours today! OBOS has also launched the Word by Word campaign, in which a donation to support the organi... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460118 Sun, 11 Apr 2010 17:02:34 +0100 3460118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457886&cid=t_355764_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fcdc-ups-ante-on-indoor-air-quality.html The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken a bold step when it comes to indoor air quality. Just recently, a new breakthrough policy was initiated that will be enforced at every CDC office throughout the United States, and I predict that this policy will be cited and referenced by others for years to come. Like a Supreme Court decision that informs future legal arguments---sometimes for generations---the CDC's courageous and long-overdue stance on indoor air quality may be a watershed moment for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Environmental Illness (EI). To read an excellent review of the policy and to access the CDC's pdf documents regarding the policy, please see this post on The Canary Report.The CDC's comprehensive policy bans all fragranced clean... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457886 Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:04:00 +0100 3457886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443671&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F4CthikFZjb8%2F A two-year climb in the rate for teenagers having babies ended in 2008, according to the latest government data that also confirmed the overall U.S. birth rate declined for the year. A report issued today by the CDC found the teen birth rate dropped 2% in 2008 and the rate for Hispanic teens hit a two-decade low. There had been declines in the birth rate for U.S. girls ages 15 to 19 between 1991 and 2005. Then increases in the birth rate among teens for the next two years had caused worry among public-health officials that the climb might be becoming permanent. “This is good news,” said Stephanie J. Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics, told the Washington Post regarding the latest teen data. “It might come as a surprise because people were concerned the t... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443671 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:57:00 +0100 3443671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429158&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FMTn04ez30vI%2F First the problem was getting enough vaccine to treat the first flu pandemic in decades. Now the problem is getting rid of millions of doses of the H1N1 vaccine before they go bad. An estimated 71.5 million of the 229 million doses of swine-flu vaccine bought by the U.S. have been put in vials and syringes and will have to be discarded if they aren’t used before their expiration date, the Washington Post reported this morning. That’s after 25 million doses bought by the U.S. are sent to poor countries, the paper said. Flu followers know that the latest pandemic hasn’t delivered the worst-case punch feared in the U.S. or in Europe, where governments also are trying to figure out how to unload unused vaccine supplies. Delivering the vaccine supplies was delayed by productio... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429158 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:32:37 +0100 3429158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420431&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FOKtZ53hbV7g%2F Despite mounting evidence of the health risks in unpasteurized milk, raw milk advocates continue to tout its alleged benefits, dismissing warnings about bacterial contaminants that can sicken or even kill adults and children, as I write in the Informed Patient column today. The situation bedevils public-health officials and food-safety experts. “We know raw milk is hazardous, but we don’t know what it is that drives people to consume it anyway,” says Jeffrey LeJeune, a microbiologist and researcher at the Food Animal Health Research Program at Ohio State University. Dr. LeJeune is conducting a study with funding from the USDA to learn more about how consumers make judgments about milk safety. “There are tacit webs of belief that drive behavior, and everyone acts in what they believe to... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420431 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 01:09:00 +0100 3420431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420432&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FpHJ3K4BlwmE%2F In the effort to try to delay and ultimately prevent Alzheimer’s disease, an important question needs to be answered: how to pay for the programs. Many strategies are now in the works. At CFIT, a nonprofit program, members pay $4,000 annually. Kenneth S. Kosik, the program’s founder, helped raise more than $1 million in private donations to defray costs and offer scholarships, according to an article in today’s WSJ. But other models are also being tried. The CDC and the Alzheimer’s Association, along with institutes that are part of the National Institutes of Health, created a public-health “road map’’ to cognitive health that would involve publicly funded programs. Read the report here. In another effort, a pilot program was launched in March by SCAN Health Plan Arizona and a ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420432 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:49:57 +0100 3420432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3403978&cid=t_355764_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fcms-cdc-call-icd-9-and-icd-10-code-freeze The epic healthcare bill passed by the House on Sunday might not make the ICD-10 conversion any easier, but a more simple suggestion by CMS could help. CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, along with CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, proposed that both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS code sets be frozen two years before the compliance deadline. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3403978 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:09:55 +0100 3403978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374153&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FQbE-Z4QumMA%2Fcdc_today.php When Thomas Frieden took over as CDC Director less than a year ago, I didn't know what to think. A smart, frenetic and intense former CDC epidemiologist who was most recently head of the New York City Health Department, he hadn't made his reputation as a "people person." He was reputed to being a quick study who sized up the science and once convinced, implemented science-based policy with a vengeance. His occasional appearances as the public face of CDC during the swine flu pandemic last fall were not auspicious. He appeared arrogant and blew off reporters' questions if he didn't know the answer (and like all people in that position, he got asked a lot of questions which no one knew the answers to). But his predecessor, Julie Gerberding, wasn't a hard act to follow. Widely disliked by CDC... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374153 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:22:58 +0100 3374153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322336&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F1Gy1esjrQls%2F Hundreds of thousands of Americans usually stay home at some point during the winter battling fever, aches and pains — all the result of a normal flu season. But this flu season is clearly marching to a different drummer. The H1N1 swine flu came and mostly went and seasonal flu has barely come at all in the U.S., the WSJ says in a survey of the flu front this morning. It’s a puzzle why there isn’t more swine flu around, given how many people haven’t been infected or vaccinated, according to the experts. That said, another H1N1 wave may be in the wings and could come soon. “We’ve had peaks [of flu] as late as May, so we’re not out of the woods yet,” a CDC influenza official told the WSJ. But future outbreaks aren’t likely to be as large... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322336 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:16:59 +0100 3322336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298287&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fbtokc1ha_bc%2F Sepsis and pneumonia, two infections that can often be prevented with tight infection control practices in hospitals, killed 48,000 patients and added $8.1 billion to heath care costs in 2006 alone, according to a study published today in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers analyzed 69 million discharge records from hospitals in 40 states between 1998 and 2006; the length of stay and mortality rates for the infections didn’t change substantially over time, the study found, and high infection rates persist. The news, principal investigator Ramanan Laxminarayan tells the Health Blog, is that the study for the first time links about half of all infection deaths directly to infections acquired in the hospital in the course of care. While the Centers for Disease Control and Preve... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298287 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:17:10 +0100 3298287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243802&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FFBF4ep1iHak%2Frandom_thoughts_on_cdcs_swine.php We still don't know if we are experiencing a lull in flu or the virus has burned itself out for the season, but it's as good a time as any to reflect a bit on where we've been and where we still need to go. Being otherwise occupied (I'm sure you are sick of hearing about my grant writing obsession but not half as sick as I am about having it!), I'll start with something relatively straightforward: how CDC did on the epidemiology and surveillance front. Historically this is the agency's strong suit and so it is expected they would have acquitted themselves well. And pretty much, they did. A lot of good epidemiology got done and the surveillance system more or less worked to provide important information. But this doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement. Read the rest of this post... |... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243802 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:06:16 +0100 3243802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3171872&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_kG7_ovj2bA%2F More than a third of U.S. adults are obese. But at least the climb in the country’s obesity rate seems to be slowing. Figures from the National Center for Health Statistics showed 34% of Americans age 20 and older were obese in 2007-08, according to a study of CDC data published in JAMA today. Add in people who are overweight and the total goes to 68%. Seventeen percent of children ages 2 through 19 were obese and 32% were overweight, another JAMA study said. Sounds grim. But CDC statisticians said the rapid obesity growth rates of the ‘80s and ‘90s were slowing for women and, more recently, for men as well. The obesity rate for men rose to 32% in 2007-08 from 27% in 1999-2000, but most of the increase was in the early years of that period. “I see this as relatively good news,&#... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3171872 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:45:53 +0100 3171872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3142507&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FST63RKILAaM%2F A bunch of European countries ordered too much swine flu vaccine, so after months of waiting around for the flu shots to show up, they now find themselves canceling orders. The French government had planned on using 94 million individual shots to give two doses of the swine-flu vaccine to most of the country’s 65 million people. But it said Monday that it was canceling 50 million orders as one shot has been found to be effective and swine-flu cases in France have been dropping sharply, according to Reuters and other news reports. France’s move follows similar steps this week by the Netherlands and last month by Germany, Spain and Switzerland, all of which could curb revenues for vaccine makers Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. The pharma companies face “signi... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3142507 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:16:21 +0100 3142507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126581&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQNYrJPqU9eI%2F After months of standing in line trying for adequate shipments of the H1N1 vaccine, pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers with in-store clinics now are trying to make the most of an influx of supply now becoming more widely available. “Right now there’s probably more supply than demand,” Troyen A. Brennan, chief medical officer at drugstore chain CVS Caremark, told the WSJ this morning. CVS is offering the swine-flu vaccinations in 23 states, while Rite-Aid has them in 30 states and Wal-Mart in 48 states. Walgreens, the No. 1 pharmacy chain by number of stores, will have them available in 49 states by year end, the WSJ says. Of course, this ramp-up is happening while flu activity continues to decline in the U.S., according to the CDC. But the government push for pe... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126581 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:09:29 +0100 3126581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3118891&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FF3_IqWRskrc%2Fcdcs_2009_flu_wrap_up_presser.php Yesterday CDC had its last press conference of this calendar year on the flu pandemic (.mp3 here). CDC's Anne Schuchat did her usual competent job and was generally upbeat while trying to maintain the need for urgency in the vaccination campaign. She cited numbers of over 100 million swine flu and 100 million seasonal flu doses having been produced for consumption in the US and this is a real accomplishment. She also noted that availability of swine flu vaccine was now much greater. Indeed my medical center notified us that it was generally available regardless of previous priorities. Hence I added swine flu vaccination to my previously obtained seasonal flu vaccination. I am now as immunologically defended by vaccines as I can be. With high flu activity still in about a fifth of the state... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3118891 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:28:25 +0100 3118891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115106&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FBXbtpOAYCV0%2Fformer_cdc_director_exits_via.php One of the most dismaying "features" (or is it a bug?) of the US government is the too cozy relationship of key agencies with industries they are either regulating, investigating or affecting in some ways. The revolving door syndrome perhaps reached its peak in the Bush II administration, but it's been a chronic problem going back decades or longer. Yesterday we learned of another example when Big Pharma giant Merck & Company issued a press release announcing it had hired Dr. Julie Gerberding (often referred to by CDC employees simply as "JLG"), the first female Director of CDC (hat tip Daniel Cressey, ScienceInsider). She served George W. Bush through a tumultuous and controversial tenure from 2002 to its last day, Jan 21, 2009. Talk about hanging on to the last minute. Her job? Head of t... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115106 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:35:56 +0100 3115106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3108398&cid=t_355764_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F12%2F20%2Fautism-rates-redux-autism-rates-better-than-in-october%2F Talk about déjà vu. It was just over two months ago we and other news agencies reported on a study published in the journal Pediatrics that found that autism was now in about 1 in 91 children. So I was scratching my head when I started seeing news reports late this past week stating that autism was in 1 out of every 110 children. After a little digging, I see it was spurred by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a press release on the findings of an analysis of actual 8-year-old child health records, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Pediatrics study was a structured phone survey of parents (not an analysis of actual child health records). While it’s great that we now have two datasets that are in basic agreement that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3108398 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:56:46 +0100 3108398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3089430&cid=t_355764_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fdental-news-mercury-in-americans-%25e2%2580%2593-is-it-a-that-bad%2F The Center for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that measurable levels of mercury existed in most participants of a recent study, “Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals.” Blood and urine samples provided a comprehensive result. These tests showed that in participants over six years old, mercury levels grew with age. However, the finding is in line with other developed nations. We have to balance this with the fact that mercury can be found in the earth’s elements – soil, water, and air – as well as household items like light bulbs and thermometers. In industry, mercury is released when burning fossil fuels. So while it is toxic in high levels, mercury is a fact of life. For more information, read this MedicalNewsToday article. As a dentist... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3089430 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:14:51 +0100 3089430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079526&cid=t_355764_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2009%2F12%2F10%2Fmedicare-will-now-cover-hiv-tests%2F Medicare, the government-run insurance program that covers some 44 million Americans, will now pay for beneficiaries’ HIV tests. Federal regulators made the announcement Tuesday, December 8. A federal law passed in 2008 gives the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services the authority to cover additional preventive services, so long as the coverage has a substantial impact on beneficiaries’ health. Early detection and treatment of HIV is critical to ensuring infected individuals’ wellbeing over time, justifying the Centers’ move. High risk beneficiaries, including pregnant women and gay men, will be covered, as well as any beneficiary who specifically requests the test. Medicare is now primarily accessed by people over the age of 65, but that may change with health care reform. Th... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079526 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:09:34 +0100 3079526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016916&cid=t_355764_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FKbH818sflWc%2F As week 46 of 2009 comes to a close, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that influenza has peaked in the US. That conclusion is based on the agency’s influenza surveillance program, summarized in this figure: Does this mean that pandemic influenza is over? Absolutely not. This is just the second wave, sparked when school began in the fall. Recall the the first wave of H1N1 infections that took place during the spring and summer: It’s interesting to note that seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 strains are nearly gone. Of the 10,803 specimens tested by the CDC during week 45, 3,106 were confirmed as novel H1N1, one was seasonal H1N1, and no H3N2 strain was detected. There will be more influenza to come in the winter. A catalyst might be increased travel as we come upon... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016916 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:01:14 +0100 3016916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015160&cid=t_355764_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virology.ws%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fsecond-h1n1-peak-in-us%2F As week 46 of 2009 comes to a close, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that influenza has peaked in the US. That conclusion is based on the agency’s influenza surveillance program, summarized in this figure: Does this mean that pandemic influenza is over? Absolutely not. This is just the second wave, sparked when school began in the fall. Recall the the first wave of H1N1 infections that took place during the spring and summer: It’s interesting to note that seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 strains are nearly gone. Of the 10,803 specimens tested by the CDC during week 45, 3,106 were confirmed as novel H1N1, one was seasonal H1N1, and no H3N2 strain was detected. There will be more influenza to come in the winter. A catalyst might be increased travel as we come upon... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015160 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:01:14 +0100 3015160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015268&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FjKqR1HuCIqI%2F Here are a few threads from around the world on what’s happening with the H1N1 swine-flu pandemic. Four patients in the past six weeks had Tamiflu-resistant flu at Duke University Hospital. In at least two of the cases, patients contracted the resistant bug before they had been treated with Tamiflu, a Duke infection-control doctor told the Health Blog. All of the patients were on a cancer ward, and had suppressed immune systems. Norway reported finding a mutated strain of H1N1 in three patients, two of whom had died from the disease. The mutation might make the more likely to move deep into the airways and cause more serious disease, but the mutation is unlikely to alter the effectiveness of drugs or vaccines. A CDC official said that the mutation has been seen in some cases elsewher... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015268 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:00:21 +0100 3015268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012339&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F11%2F20%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-cdc-reverses-hpv-vaccine-requirement-for-immigration%2F At Our Bodies Our Blog this week, I cover the CDC’s new vaccination criteria for U.S. immigration, which removed HPV and zoster (chicken pox) from the required vaccines. I also have a bit about why the HPV vaccine requirement was problematic, links to previous related posts, and links to organizations for women of color that issued a statement applauding the change. Meanwhile, C’s post on the new mammogram recommendations has useful explanation of the change and a lively comments section. Posted in Access, Rights, & Choice, Boobs, Cancer, Ethics, Global Issues, Government, HPV, Infectious Diseases (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012339 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:10:37 +0100 3012339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2992827&cid=t_355764_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FnilEuhunJaY%2Fh1n1-22-million-ill-3900-deaths.html In children under 18, we estimate 8 million children have been ill with influenza, 36,000 hospitalized, and 540 children have died from this pandemic influenza. From the Weekly CDC H1N1 Flu Media Briefing -- November 12, 2009 We estimate the 22 million people have become ill from pandemic influenza We estimate 98,000 people have been hospitalized so far through October 17 We estimate that 3,900 people have died so far in the first six months of the pandemic from this virus In children under 18, we estimate 8 million children have been ill with influenza, 36,000 hospitalized, and 540 children have died from this pandemic influenza In the first six months of the pandemic for adults 18 to 64 years of age, we estimate 12 million cases, 53,000 hospitalizations, and 2900 deaths For people 65 a... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2992827 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:39:21 +0100 2992827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2989127&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FJboZGRsWvq4%2F The CDC put out new estimates today on the first six months of the swine flu (H1N1) pandemic in the U.S. A few quick numbers: 22 million cases, 98,000 hospitalizations, 3,900 deaths. So what do those numbers mean? First of all, because so many cases of swine flu go unreported — patients often don’t go to the doctor, and when they do, doctors often don’t test for H1N1 — there’s a lot of uncertainty around the figures. The CDC actually presents a wide range of numbers around their estimates; the possible number of total cases, for example, ranges from 14 million to 34 million. Uncertainty aside, how do the estimates for H1N1 compare to seasonal flu? At first blush, it looks relatively minor. While 22 million sounds like a very large number (7% of the entire popu... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2989127 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:09:34 +0100 2989127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981053&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQ0fA2JPRnts%2F Researchers are studying whether swine flu can be transmitted in the blood, as part of an ongoing effort to keep the blood supply safe from infectious disease. That’s the subject of my latest column. There’s also another new effort underway to improve the safety of blood transfusions by monitoring adverse reactions and errors through a collaboration between the federal government and organizations involved in blood collection, transfusion, and tissue and organ transplantation. A pilot program launched last spring has so far gathered data for about 764 adverse reactions and incidents at seven hospitals. The system — which will be part of the a secure, voluntary, Internet-based surveillance system run by the CDC — will use the data to identify trends and recommend pr... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981053 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:53:36 +0100 2981053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2967266&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fl_s4L6I4x5I%2F Should companies be allowed to buy large quantities of medicine like Tamiflu to have on hand in case their employees develop the H1N1 flu virus? Not according to the law in South Korea, where it’s illegal for non-medical professionals to purchase big lots of drugs. Punishment is up to five years in prison. The law is at the center of a probe of Tamiflu maker Roche, which is being investigated by the Korean Food and Drug Adminstration for allegedly helping companies like HSBC and fellow drug maker Novartis get the stuff, according to Bloomberg. The Korean FDA launched the probe because it says that HSBC and Norvartis bought enough Tamiflu to treat 6,000 people. Roche says it is “cooperating fully with the authorities.” In the U.S., meanwhile, criticism has flared over how ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2967266 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +0100 2967266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2944063&cid=t_355764_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FzEfzKD78Kes%2Fh1n1-flu-virus-everything-you-need-to.html H1N1 Flu virus activity is now widespread in 46 states. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness are increasing sharply, and are now higher than what is usually seen at the peak of the flu seasons....... Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Reading Room Editor The 2009 H1N1 (Swine Flu) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway. Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2944063 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:34:23 +0100 2944063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2931130&cid=t_355764_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fdentist%25e2%2580%2599s-news-lots-of-info-on-swine-flu%2F As a doctor, your patients and employees trust you with their safety. The Swine Flu (H1N1) has everyone in a panic, and with good cause. Here’s a brief overview of the facts. The Facts about Swine Flu Swine Flu is common in pigs, and this is not the first outbreak in humans. In 1918, pigs and humans became ill at the same time, which created a question as to connection. In 1930, the flu was identified in pigs. Another outbreak occurred in 1976, and the nation experienced significant turmoil over deaths and a paralyzing disorder thought to be associated with the inoculations provided by the US government’s National Influenza Immunization Program. Until recently, most Swine Flu occurrences were of the H1N1 strain. However, in 1997, new variations were identified. Humans contract the dise... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2931130 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:31:55 +0100 2931130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927278&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FL6hKLAv8pUU%2F The H1N1 flu is now widespread in 46 states — it’s as if we’re at the peak of the flu season, as this flu tracker shows. Yet as of Friday, only about 16 million doses of swine flu vaccine had been shipped to U.S. warehouses; officials had previously estimated that there would be 40 million doses by the end of October. Some manufacturers, including Novartis and Sanofi-Aventis, initially saw a low yield from the seed strain of virus used to grow the vaccine, the WSJ notes. Another manufacturer, CSL, is based in Australia, and filled orders there before shipping to the U.S., the New York Times reports. The supply is likely to grow rapidly as manufacturers get the kinks worked out. But the key question is how the flu will spread between now and the time — probably a f... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927278 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:50:31 +0100 2927278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916078&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FWoKXPoQ5GnM%2F It’s fine if parents want their sons to get Gardasil, Merck’s vaccine against HPV. But it shouldn’t be added to the list of routine vaccinations recommended for all boys, a CDC advisory panel said today. Gardasil is on the routine list for girls, because it protects against some of the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer. For boys and young men, though, the vaccine has only been approved to protect against genital warts. Because HPV is sexually transmitted, there is an argument that vaccinating boys would reduce the risk of unvaccinated girls getting HPV. But Gardasil is a three-shot series that costs about $390, and a CDC economist who addressed the panel said that expanding vaccination to more girls was more cost-effective than adding routine vaccination for boys... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916078 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:49:34 +0100 2916078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2905088&cid=t_355764_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcnettv.cnet.com%2Fav%2Fvideo%2Fcbsnews%2Fatlantis2%2Fplayer-dest.swf The H1N1 flu virus numbers are remarkable: last year, in the second week of October, there were seven cases reported. The same week this year there were nearly 5,000. By this time last year there were 7 deaths; today there are 885. Subscribe to The Alzheimer's Reading Room--via Email 60 Minutes: Swine Flu is Spreading Fast Before the Start of Traditional Flu Season If you're confused about the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" virus, no wonder. There's a lot of conflicting information. The Centers for Disease Control tells us that the way this virus is spreading is unprecedented. The CDC opened its doors to give 60 Minutes and correspondent Scott Pelley a look at the extraordinary federal response. It turns out, in many respects, that the 2009 H1N1 virus is no worse than the everyday flu. Nine... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2905088 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:24:58 +0100 2905088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899089&cid=t_355764_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fmultiple-sclerosis-and-the-h1n1-swine-flu-vaccine%2F Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, I do not play one on television and though I own a lab coat, I don’t even look good in it.  This post was compiled after consultation with doctors, researchers and the National MS Society about MS and vaccines in general as well as influenza and the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccines.  As with any medical advice it is imperative that you speak to your doctor in reference to your particular situation. Flu season is upon us… There have been several questions raised in our blog over the past weeks about the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus and its new vaccination.  While I made every effort to get as many answers as I could, please know that this is a choice for you and your medical professionals to make. Each multiple sclerosis clinic will have its own standa... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899089 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:56:55 +0100 2899089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2865628&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FVw8f7haaFks%2F Americans started getting vaccinated against the swine flu yesterday. But millions of people may still have to wait weeks before there’s enough vaccine available for everyone in this country who wants it, the WSJ reports. At the same time, millions more who are at high risk for complications from the disease may choose to go without the vaccine. Thomas Frieden, the head of the CDC, talking to the press today about the H1N1 flu and the vaccine roll-out. Here’s what he’s saying. 1:30: Waiting for the call to start. 1:45: The call begins. 1:46: “As of today, influenza is widespread in most of the United States.” Increasing in some areas, decreasing in others. “It still remains overwhelmingly H1N1 pandemic influenza.” There has been a slight decrease n... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2865628 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:15:53 +0100 2865628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857422&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fwhats-real-deal-with-h1n1-vaccine.html Conspiracy theorizes can go on as long as they want but at the end of the day clinicians and researchers will only go by the recommendations of these institutes and organizations.WHO: World Health OrganizationFull coverage of H1n1 pandemichttp://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.htmlH1N1 Vaccincehttp://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/pandemic_influenza_vaccines_20090924/en/index.htmlCDC: Center of Disease ControlH1n1 full coveragehttp://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/H1n1 Vaccinehttp://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htmH1N1 Vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/gbs_qa.htmFDA: Food and Drug AdministrationH1N1 full coveragehttp://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/PublicHealthFocus/ucm150305.htmAMA: American Medical AssociationH1N... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857422 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:48:00 +0100 2857422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842492&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FfUNRoJqITKM%2F The swine flu vaccine will be available in this country in the next few weeks. Pregnant women, who are at higher risk of suffering serious complications from H1N1, will be given high priority. But will they get the vaccine? Pregnant women are also supposed to get the regular flu vaccine each year, but only about one in seven does so — in part because some health-care providers are reluctant to give vaccines to women during pregnancy, the Associated Press reports. “Maybe this year we can change that culture,” a top CDC doc tells the AP. “It’s not supposed to happen that you, when you are pregnant, are fighting for your life on a respirator” — as happens in some flu patients who suffer serious complications. That culture has deep roots, notes a New York T... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842492 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:38:59 +0100 2842492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828221&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FBuzSK0kBFJM%2Fbats_rabies_and_the_role_of_co.php Bats are no doubt fascinating animals. They also carry rabies. And I'll be honest with you. Rabies scares the crap out of me. Most people know that rabies is caused by a virus that is spread through the saliva of an infected animal. Because the virus attacks the nervous system, rabid animals often act aggressively and may bite, thus transmitting the disease. Fortunately vaccination against rabies is available and since the disease has a longish incubation period, there is usually ample time after being bitten by a known or suspected rabid animal to get a series of shots that will protect you (see a recent post here on a possible one-shot rabies vaccine). Thanks to veterinary vaccination, the US is free of rabid dogs, but there are rabid cats, cows and many rabid wildlife, primarily raccoon... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828221 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:22:26 +0100 2828221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803869&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F6TTcS7Sd-WA%2F Public-health officials are breathing a small sigh of relief that the H1N1 swine flu virus hasn’t mutated to become more deadly since emerging last spring. But what are the chances it will? To find out, scientists at the CDC recently launched experiments in the agency’s labs in which they infected ferrets with both the new H1N1 virus and the highly lethal H5N1 avian flu virus to see if they might “reassort” to create a new hybrid. The scientists want to know whether a combination of the H1N1 virus -– highly transmissible, but not terribly deadly -– and the H5N1 flu virus could create an easily transmissible, deadly scourge. The H5N1 virus has only sickened 440 people world-wide since 2003 and generally isn’t transmitted from one person to another. But it has killed 262, or about 60%... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803869 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:31:17 +0100 2803869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2804172&cid=t_355764_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2009%2F09%2F16%2Froutine-testing-town-halls-inform-aacs-ongoing-deliberations%2F This summer AAC’s Public Policy department held a series of town hall meetings in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Gloucester, and Brockton to discuss the feasibility of implementing routine testing for HIV in medical settings, such as a doctor’s office. The intent of the meetings was to solicit feedback from the HIV/AIDS community regarding recent changes to the Centers for Disease Control recommendations in favor of routine testing in these settings. According to the CDC, the changes in their recommendations, which are nonbinding, were made in an effort to decrease the number of people who do not know their HIV status by making HIV testing a routine part of doctor and hospital visits. We learned a great deal about what the community thinks about the CDC’s recommendations... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2804172 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:59:09 +0100 2804172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796789&cid=t_355764_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FgjE7_VBeEzU%2Fcdc-uses-social-media-to-distribute.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796789 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:40:00 +0100 2796789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778386&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FkSiJsp4A6Qs%2F In updated guidelines about the use of antiviral medication like Tamiflu for the H1N1 flu virus, the CDC now recommends that these medicines be used to treat only those people with risk conditions or severe forms of the illness. Earlier, the CDC urged that those who had some symptoms of flu take antiviral medicines as a preventive measure. It now advocates “watchful waiting” as an option. “The majority of adolescents and adults and most children won’t need antivirals,” said the CDC’s director of the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases, Anne Schuchat. Most people just need “mom’s chicken soup, rest and lots of fluids,” she said in a call with reporters. The agency has seen some evidence of resistance to the medi... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778386 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:39:11 +0100 2778386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2774742&cid=t_355764_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fthe-n95-respirator-dental-mask-of-the-future%2F On September 3, 2009, the Institute of Medicine issued recommendations that had been requested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the use loose paper masks are deemed inadequate because the H1N1 virus could pass through and put healthcare workers at risk. The recommendation for healthcare workers is to switch to the N95 respirator, which forms an airtight seal around the nose and mouth. The key issue with this switch will be the proper fitting and how the mask is worn. If properly used, the new mask filters out over 95% of the particulate matter (down to 0.3 micrometers – smaller than a virus). The Institute of Medicine provides independent, evidence-based advice to the healthcare industry, key leaders, health professionals, and the public. It remains to be seen wheth... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2774742 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:17:48 +0100 2774742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752080&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fnih-draft-consensus-statement-on-family.html The NIH conference on Family History came and went.What were we left with?A Consensus Statement. What is the crux of it?"The panel recognized that family history has an important role in the practice of medicine and may motivate positive lifestyle changes, enhance individual empowerment, and influence clinical interventions. The panel found that it is unclear how this information can be effectively gathered and used in the primary care setting for common diseases."Well ladies and gentlemen. I can give you all sorts of anecdotal evidence. That being said, we are evidence driven creatures, so I suggest you give me a call and we set up studies in Primary Care practices with different family history tools.Things such as the "SCREEN" screen versus a detailed 3 generation pedigree versus 1st gen... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752080 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:25:00 +0100 2752080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751903&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7807 I think there are mixed signals about testing coming out from the MOH especially when there were earlier media reports about the Health Minister encouraging doctors to use the “rapid test”. The Star reported As the death toll from Influenza A (H1N1) rose to 38, the Government green-lighted the use of rapid test kits for private clinics and hospitals to conduct flu checks on the public. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said private healthcare providers can use these kits to help cope with the large number of patients wanting to be checked, and for faster detection and containment of the pandemic. “Use of rapid test kits was discouraged in the private sector earlier when the H1N1 outbreak was still small and mostly imported. “Now that it has reached the community lev... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751903 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2751903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741362&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FwsvrxbPAPew%2F One of the unusual things about the swine flu is that it often strikes young, healthy people, while skipping over the elderly. The most recent evidence comes today from the Chicago Department of Public health, which reports that kids between 5 and 14 were 14 times more likely than the those over 60 to come down with with the H1N1 pandemic flu. The overall rate of kids with confirmed cases was quite low — 147 per 100,000 — but officials say that is likely an underestimate, because many people who got the flu were never tested and not included in confirmed case counts. The report, published today in the MMWR, summarized laboratory-confirmed cases of infection between April 24 — when it first began “enhanced surveillance” for the virus — and July 25, and pr... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741362 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:23:06 +0100 2741362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724819&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F8kBr824zTb8%2F Parasitic infections and other diseases more familiar to the developing world are increasingly afflicting poor and minority populations in the U.S., the WSJ reports this morning. Public-health experts say they still don’t have a handle on how best to respond. But the United States has a track record of successfully facing down public-health threats linked to poverty. In the early 20th century, when rural residents tended to use bushes as privies, hookworm infestations bedeviled many communities, especially in the South, where some counties reported infection rates of 75%. The larvae are shed in feces, thrive in moist soil and burrow into passing hosts through their bare feet. The parasites were known as “the germ of laziness” because they caused anemia and a profound lac... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724819 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:01:40 +0100 2724819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719896&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwhere-from-here.html This is the question I am asked so often.1. We have the steady progress towards cheap genomes. 2. We have the biggest supporter of personalized medicine running the NIH 3. We have "some" clinical awareness of personalized medicine 4. We have the government aware of the shenanigans of some unscrupulous DTC advertising, etc 5. We have several milemarkers under our belts with genome science..... We are moving in the "right" direction, but where do we go from here There are several areas we need to investigate. I would like to sum a few of them, both basic science and clinical. Basic Science first. 1. We need to understand precisely how gene regulation occurs in the face of certain common environmental exposures. Trans Fat, Tobacco Smoke, Alcohol, Stress. Is it RNA? Is it Methylation? What pr... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719896 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:26:00 +0100 2719896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2716137&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Ffamily-history-state-of-science.html The NIH/CDC is hosting a conference next week. I conference I wish I could go to, but alas, I will be DOING family histories on my patients that week.The conference will be held at the NIH in Bethesda. This is an NIH state of the science conference about Family History and its usefulness.I for one, am very glad that the government is trying to address this super important issue. It is beyond due for an evaluation. Why?With the cost of a genome going to drop to 5000 USD by the late fall (trust me), we will soon see another level of DTC and Clinical lab set offering the genome as a predictive tool.There are several reasons that Family History beats a Genome (For Now) 1. Phenotypic data of family history represents complex interplay of genes and environment There is no way that a simple genom... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2716137 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:50:00 +0100 2716137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699587&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwho-investigated-case-of-deadly.html A year and a half ago, we posted quite a bit about the case of the deadly contaminated heparin. In retrospect, what is most amazing is how quickly this case fell off the radar screen.Summary of the Case of the Deadly Contaminated HeparinHere is a summary:- We have posted several times, recently here and here, about the tragic case of suddenly allergenic heparin. Although heparin, an intravenous biologic anti-coagulant, has been in use for over 70 years, serious allergic reactions to it had heretofore been rare. Starting late last year, hundreds of such reactions, and now 21 deaths were reported in the US after intravenous heparin infusions.All the heparin related to these events in the US was made by Baxter International.- We then learned that although the heparin carried the Baxter label,... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699587 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:39:00 +0100 2699587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695357&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7652 There was a news report which stated that the Health Ministry is encouraging the public and private sectors to use rapid screening tests for those with flu-like symptoms. My concern is, if the current tests are too insensitive, averaging about 50-60%, this would mean it’s little better than tossing a coin to decide whether or not the patient has H1N1!! The CDC has published their Evaluation of Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests for Detection of Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus The Table shows that the overall sensitivity of the tests for novel influenza A ranged from 40% to 69%. If the specimens had high viral titers of novel influenza A, then the pick up was higher. The CDC concludes at the moment: Because of the limitations of RIDTs and until additional data are available, all results... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695357 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2695357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2685205&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FZh3p7QzRthU%2Fcdc_happenings.php Things have been quiet at CDC but apparently they have been changing. First, Dr. Richard Besser, who acquitted himself ably as Acting Director after January 20 until early June when Obama's new appointment, Dr. Thomas Frieden took over, has decided to leave CDC for television. Yes, television. Many at CDC will be sorry to see him leave. He was "the people's choice" for new Director, as one old CDC hand put it. I had heard that he had once had a TV show in California prior to his CDC days and he's obviously telegenic, articulate and knowledgeable. He will be joining ABC News as its senior health and medical editor. ABC says it is expanding its coverage, but realistically is probably looking to the day when its well respected Chief Medical Editor, Dr. Tim Johnson, retires. Johnson has not an... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2685205 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:16:29 +0100 2685205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681880&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FYxrubxHtkbw%2F Here’s a wrap-up of the latest on the flu pandemic: The CDC issued new guidelines this morning discouraging schools from closing unless the majority of their students have an active, underlying medical condition that makes them particularly vulnerable to swine (H1N1) flu. The CDC also said people who are sick shouldn’t return to school or work until 24 hours after their fever has subsided, instead of the previous guidance of seven days. Because the virus does not typically cause life-threatening illness, “there are relatively rare times when it makes time to close a school just because the virus is present,” CDC director Thomas Frieden said in a news conference. Instead, schools should weigh the “definite harm” of lost learning, lost wages if a parent h... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681880 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:07:11 +0100 2681880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2678608&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FyLVb9KYjQQE%2F Even if a rapid test says you don’t have swine flu, you might have swine flu. The CDC used the tests on 65 swabs from patients who had confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu. About half the time (between 40% and 69%, depending on the test), the results came up negative, CDC researchers report in today’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “These findings indicate that, although a positive [rapid detection test] result can be used in making treatment decisions, a negative result does not rule out infection with novel influenza A (H1N1) virus,” the authors wrote. The tests appear to be better at picking up seasonal strains of the flu compared to the new H1N1 pandemic flu virus. Other published studies have found even lower rates — between 10% and 40% — amon... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2678608 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:05:32 +0100 2678608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741082&cid=t_355764_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FLvYl3XSE39M%2F The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would like to know what the public feels about the impending H1N1 influenza vaccination program this fall. The agency plans to conduct ten meetings in different parts of the United States to learn if the public would like a massive vaccination campaign, or a reduced effort. The meetings will take place throughout August in Colorado, Nebraska, Alabama, California, Indiana, Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York. You must make an online reservation to attend one of these meetings. Do you think this is a good idea? Does the CDC care what the public thinks about what the size of the vaccine campaign should be, or is this a tactic to calm down a confused and concerned public? I’m interested in learning what the re... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741082 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:38:02 +0100 2741082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660866&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdoctors-are-ok-with-this.html Yesterday in "The Times" a nice article was posted about the revolutionary way in which doctors will receive education about CLINICAL genetics, this time it is from NonClinical Scientists......At the tune of 4.5 Million British Pounds!This may work with CGCs, oh wait, they don't do much of anything in the UK system.What about clinical geneticists?Who?Ok, scientists it is...... So I can just see it now. A busy NHS practice, patients out the door, flu shot here, flu shot there and in rolls the "Scientist" Clinician-"Oh hi, you must be the genetics guy sent from the government. Have a seat, I'll be right with you" 4 hours later Scientist-Sitting nicely, waiting Clinician-"Ok, lets chat over lunch" Scientist-"Glad to be here, Let's talk about what a chromosome is" Clinician-Scarfing down a san... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660866 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:35:00 +0100 2660866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660662&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F31%2Fswine-flu-vaccine-priorities-from-the-cdc%2F The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met this week to discuss which groups should receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccine when it becomes available if there is not enough for everyone. The groups prioritized to receive the vaccine first/if there is limited supply are: Pregnant women Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel All people from 6 months through 24 years of age Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza. The CDC’s website provides a rationale for each of these selections. The groups combined apparently total approximately 159 million people in the United States, according to this CDC ... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660662 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:50:51 +0100 2660662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645278&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FwFOP_QcvGK8%2F Borrowing a line from President Obama’s playbook, the Centers for Disease Control said today that community organizing for change is necessary — in this case to deal with the obesity crisis. Focusing on community-based changes, not individuals’ efforts to lose weight, is critical, William Dietz, the CDC’s director in the division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity, told reporters during the agency’s first conference on the obesity crisis. The estimated annual medical costs due to obesity nearly doubled to $147 billion in 2008 from $78.5 billion in 1998, as the obesity rate rose 37% during the period, according to an article published online today in the journal Health Affairs and highlighted during the conference. Normal weight individuals incurred an... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645278 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 18:26:24 +0100 2645278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637789&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FQolZBy3xv70%2F The fundamentals involving the H1N1 flu haven’t changed a lot since it was declared a pandemic a little over six weeks ago, but fresh elements about the outbreak keep rolling out. A sampling from today: As many as 40% of Americans could catch swine flu over the next two years and anywhere between 90,000 to several hundred thousand could die if U.S. vaccine efforts and other countermeasures don’t work, according to CDC estimates cited by the Associated Press. Those estimates mean about twice the number of people who usually get sick in a normal flu season would be struck by swine flu, but U.S. officials say those projections would drop if vaccine plans go as expected. Most people affected by the disease remain younger (12 to 17 years old), but the World Health Organization says the averag... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637789 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:13:45 +0100 2637789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621741&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.slidesharecdn.com%2Fswf%2Fssplayer2.swf%3Fdoc%3Dtheadvanceofmhealthslideshare-090416113113-phpapp01%26amp%3Bstripped_title%3Dthe-advance-of-mhealth-1300600 This article will aim to look at a specific area of the ‘citizen empowerment’ – the application of SMS (Short Messaging Service – or texting) and mobile phones in public health. With the onset of social tools such as social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace, etc.) and real time information hubs such as Twitter, we are exposed to numerous ways to stay connected to each other. Our mobile devices are equipped with applications that allow us to do a myriad of things – many of which focus on entertainment and productivity. Another very important part of our lives is maintaining good health and the mobile phone is making strides in that area. mHealth is the term that has been coined to describe the interaction of mobile technology with the improvement of health. mHealth is exploding ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621741 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:02:37 +0100 2621741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605964&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7455 A British GP has recently been reported to have died after catching H1N1 Dr Michael Day, from Bedfordshire, north of London, died on Saturday at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, local NHS officials said. Tests showed he had tested positive for the H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, although the exact cause of death was still unknown. While details are sketchy at this point in time, it is a warning to healthcare workers that they must be vigilant and continue to take protective measures. In the US, at least 81 healthcare workers have contracted H1N1 according to the CDC, about half most likely in a healthcare setting. In the MMWR reminds healthcare workers the importance to adhering to infection control guidelines: Routine infection-control recommendations to decrease the risk for transmission ... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605964 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2605964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602183&cid=t_355764_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2009%2F07%2F14%2Fwhy-is-hivaids-absent-from-the-cdcs-health-report-for-people-over-55-years-old%2F Last week, CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics issued a 32-page report entitled “Health Characteristics of Adults Aged 55 Years and Over: United States, 2004–2007.”The report summarizes overall health status, health care access and use, and a range of health behaviors among persons 55 years and older.  It also provides information about a number of specific health conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, hearing and vision impairment, loss of natural teeth, psychological stress, and difficulty maintaining physical of social function.  The CDC researchers found significant health disparities, particularly among older persons who live near or below the poverty line.  Sadly, the words ‘HIV’, ‘AIDS’, or ‘hepatitis’ are not mentioned ev... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602183 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:19:54 +0100 2602183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891012&cid=t_355764_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2Fgenital-warts%2Fhpv%2Fnew-york%2Flong-island%2Funcategorized%2Fcdcs-treatment-guidelines%2F Genital infection with low-risk types of HPV is associated with genital warts in men. Infection with high-risk types of HPV is associated with a proportion of preinvasive squamous lesions of the penis (penile intraepithelial neoplasia or PIN) and with penile cancer, as well as with preinvasive squamous lesions of the anus (anal intraepithelial neoplasia or AIN) and with anal cancer. Invasive penile cancer is quite uncommon, especially in circumcised men. In 2002, the age-adjusted incidence rate for penile cancer in the U.S. was 0.8 per 100,000 men (985 new cases). The age-adjusted incidence rate for anal cancer was 1.2 per 100,000 men (1,453 new cases). However, the risk of anal cancer for MSM is significantly higher. Because of the increased incidence of anal cancer in MSM, especially HIV... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891012 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:53:27 +0100 2891012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598530&cid=t_355764_160_f&fid=38218&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaronwarts.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fcdcs-treatment-guidelines%2F Genital infection with low-risk types of HPV is associated with genital warts in men. Infection with high-risk types of HPV is associated with a proportion of preinvasive squamous lesions of the penis (penile intraepithelial neoplasia or PIN) and with penile cancer, as well as with preinvasive squamous lesions of the anus (anal intraepithelial neoplasia or AIN) and with anal cancer. Invasive penile cancer is quite uncommon, especially in circumcised men. In 2002, the age-adjusted incidence rate for penile cancer in the U.S. was 0.8 per 100,000 men (985 new cases). The age-adjusted incidence rate for anal cancer was 1.2 per 100,000 men (1,453 new cases). However, the risk of anal cancer for MSM is significantly higher. Because of the increased incidence of anal cancer in MSM, especially HIV... War On Warts blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598530 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:53:27 +0100 2598530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2588439&cid=t_355764_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FoNfbl0thb-E%2Fcdc-creates-tool-to-track-chronic.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588439 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:26:00 +0100 2588439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584152&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fare-you-living-in-a-%25e2%2580%259cfat%25e2%2580%2599-state%2F Have you seen the new CDC report on the nation’s waistline? Apparently, it show that when it comes to weight, there is no shrinkage. Some state may be holding steady but the major seem to be growing. For the report,  400,000 American adults provided information about their height and weight which was used to calculate their body mass index (BMI). Weighing up all the information, the CDC has determined that ‘the proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007.’ According to the CDC press release  “In six states – Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia – adult obesity prevalence was 30 percent or more. Thirty-two states, including those six, had obesity prevalence of 25 percent or m... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584152 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:49:41 +0100 2584152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511649&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnestle-toll-house-cookie-recall-the-ecoli-mystery%2F Although Nestle has recalled some 300,000 cases of its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough from store shelves, as of June 22, 2009, none of their product had actually tested positive for the E. coli that’s caused illness in at least 70 people in 30 states. And since it’s highly unusual for E. coli, an intestinal bacterium of cattle (i.e., it’s in their feces) to be present in something like cookie dough, investigators are so far at a loss to explain exactly what is going on. But, since all of the people who became sick ate the same raw cookie dough product, it seems obvious that it’s the cookie dough that’s to blame. The question is, from where did the E. coli come? If it were inadequately cooked hamburgers that were responsible, it would be easy to link E. c... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511649 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:33:31 +0100 2511649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512313&cid=t_355764_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fcrazy-friday-awesome-call-tru-blocks.html I was amazed the first time I met Francis Collins, longtime a hero of mine, Francis was gracious and kind when I met him. I also share a common bond with him. Francis' Intern at UNC was a guy by the name of Jim Sabetta, one of my instructors.... That being said, before I started HH, I watched webcast after webcast of the SACGHS. This was 2005 and 2006 I'm talking about. I did it because it was research. But I saw a guy on there who inspired me, who had such a sense of reason that the whole group respected. His name is Muin Khoury.....and I just met him Friday!It turns out we also have people in common. But more importantly, we have a healthy respect for family history in common...... This guy and his team at the CDC have been researching Family History tools and the state of the science of... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512313 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:58:00 +0100 2512313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741114&cid=t_355764_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FPvONaT67lF0%2F A network of ~150 laboratories in the United States participate in virological surveillance for influenza. The results of these analyses are publicly available, and provide extremely interesting characterization of the pandemic spread of the new H1N1 strain. During week 22, 6,664 samples were submitted for testing, of which 2,681 were positive for influenza virus. Of these, 2,071 (89%) were identified as the new H1N1 strain. The previous seasonal influenza A (H1), A (H3), and B viruses continue to co-circulate. These observations are summarized on this graph: I have noted previously the unusual upsurge in influenza activity during weeks 17 and 18, which coincided with the emergence of the new H1N1 virus. The number of virus-positive specimens dropped during week 19, but has since risen. M... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741114 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:54:14 +0100 2741114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473220&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F8SABJnewDLQ%2F (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473220 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:47:19 +0100 2473220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452398&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F6RMsKL0Jiog%2F Three children in 1,000 have Tourette’s syndrome, a neurologic disorder characterized by motor and vocal “tics,” according to the first national estimate of the number of children who suffer from the condition from the Centers for Disease Control. That translates to about 148,000 children in the U.S. Tourette’s has a genetic component and often starts in childhood. The severity of the disorder tends to go down after adolescence, according to the CDC. Kids with Tourette’s frequently experience problems with their academic work and in relationships. Previous estimates had ranged from 0.1% to 3% of individuals, reflecting differences in sames and how numbers were collected. The new figures came from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, the nationw... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452398 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:59:35 +0100 2452398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441207&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36069&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrankiespeakingfrankly.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fswine-flu-better-to-live-in-uk-than-usa.html Once again the NHS is proving its worth in the UK. Swine flu cases have now reached 122 here in the UK, but the rate at which it is spreading I find somewhat reassuring. I live in the South West where 3 cases evolved weeks ago. A family returning from a holiday in Mexico brought it back with them. The girl's school was shut and all her class mates given Tamiflu. I anticipated as a result that spread in the South West was inevitable, but weeks later still no further cases have been reported.In the UK, I understand that people presenting with even mild symptoms of suspected swine flu are being tested and are prescribed with Tamiflu, and even close contacts who are not presenting with symptoms are offered Tamiflu as a precaution. Reason being, according to the NHS guidelines, 'Testing has sho... Frankie Speaking Frankly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441207 Sun, 24 May 2009 07:44:00 +0100 2441207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442054&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fdoes-obesity-increase-swine-flu-risk-and-age-decrease-it%2F You may have heard or read news reports, such as the one in the Washington Post, announcing the findings of a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) survey, which found that obesity “is as much of a risk factor for serious complications from the [swine] flu as diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy, all known to raise a person’s risk.” But I suggest you take the CDC report with a large grain of salt because the survey was based on a very small number of patients and was not designed to provide data from which such conclusions could be drawn. The survey looked at only 30 patients hospitalized with swine flu in California. Of those, only four were obese. So the conclusion that obesity might be an independent risk factor for severe swine flu was based on four patients! Not only that, but ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442054 Thu, 21 May 2009 19:58:13 +0100 2442054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424159&cid=t_355764_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2FufO8My3NoX0%2F There seam to be more swine flu apps in iTunes store than confirmed swine flu cases throughout the World :). As of today, there are 25 iPhone applications related to swine influenza available in iTunes store. Eleven of these apps are free, while the other 14 cost somewhere between $0.99 and $1.99. Most of these apps are either trackers, meaning that they show you maps of swine flu cases, or RSS aggregators, bringing you the latest swine influenza news. I tried all of the free apps, and can tell you that none of them really impressed me. Some are better designed than others, some offer more functions, but none are great. For example, Swine Flu Tracker Map looks great, but its map loads so painfully slow that you want to shoot yourself. On the other hand, The Swine Flu Tracker (notice how ... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424159 Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:55 +0100 2424159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414794&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fh1n1-flu-and-antiviral-drugs.html This podcast discusses the use of antiviral drugs for treating and preventing the H1N1 flu virus.Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414794 Sat, 16 May 2009 22:28:00 +0100 2414794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414836&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FCO9LbRL8u78%2Fnew_director_at_cdc.php The other shoe has dropped at CDC. Yesterday Obama named a new CDC Director, New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, an infectious disease specialist (drug resistant TB) who worked at CDC prior to going to New York in 2002. Frieden has long been rumored to be at the top of Obama's short list, so this wasn't a surprise, but the impressive performance on the swine flu outbreak of Richard Besser as Acting Director suggested to some he might get the job. Besser may be relieved he didn't: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414836 Sat, 16 May 2009 12:05:11 +0100 2414836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414756&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FZWVxJBuwois%2F Thomas Frieden, who set an aggressive public-health agenda during his seven years running the New York City health department, will be the next head of the CDC. To the extent New Yorkers know who Frieden is at all, they largely know him for his push to address lifestyle issues associated with disease. He helped implement the city’s smoking ban in bars and restaurants, and pushed to ban trans-fats in restaurants and require calorie-counts on menus. More recently, he’s been campaigning for restaurants and packaged-food makers to cut the level of sodium in their products. Supporters liked his innovative approach to move public health beyond its traditional boundaries; critics suggested it was the work of an overly intrusive nanny state. With the outbreak of H1N1 flu affecting New... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414756 Fri, 15 May 2009 13:24:36 +0100 2414756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389767&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fwhat-are-best-resources-for-swine-flu.html These are the best and most reliable resources for swine flu on the web:CDCWHOCIDRAPThanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389767 Wed, 06 May 2009 01:18:00 +0100 2389767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389685&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FtYs9YJ31DPg%2F Some 400 U.S. schools with sick students have closed in the past week or so, largely following government guidelines intended to slow the spread of the H1N1 flu. But today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (pictured with acting CDC Director Richard Besser) said the government was dropping that recommendation. Instead, U.S. students and staff with a flu-like illness — a fever with a sore throat or cough — should stay home for at least seven days even if symptoms clear up sooner while schools remain open, it said. See the full guidelines here. Sebelius explained that the original guidelines on school closings were issued last week when federal officials feared the H1N1 influenza virus could be severe in children, Dow Jones Newswires reports. “The end... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389685 Tue, 05 May 2009 22:29:35 +0100 2389685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389806&cid=t_355764_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Fpink-plague-creates-irrational-idiots%2F So, it’s been a while! Sorry about that. My last post of substance was on April 5th (where I gave up arguing with some crazy bitch and filled scripts early against my better judgment), and that was exactly one month ago. Oddly enough, my short post from April 21 has been one of my most commented on posts! Where have I been you ask? Well, I moved for one! Same town, different neighborhood. Got a great deal! In the move, however, I hurt my back and have been dealing with that — as well as the complete bitch that it is to move any damn way. [And I didn't have internet for almost 2 weeks because Charter continued to show their incompetence.] Things have started to settle back down, and I’m on the mend. If you have emailed me since early April, and your email is something wh... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389806 Tue, 05 May 2009 07:54:54 +0100 2389806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386835&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FBqqERmDQsxc%2F With regular tallying of new cases of A/H1N1 swine flu — as of yesterday it had sickened 898 people around the world — you might think it’s pretty easy to find out if whatever you’ve come down with really is that strain of the flu. Not necessarily. Just ask Joe Lauria (pictured), a correspondent who covers the United Nations for the WSJ. He had muscle aches, a cough, chills and a 102-degree fever two days after being stuck for hours in an airport. So he tried to find out where he could be tested for swine flu. He called the city’s 311 helpline, which told him to call the state health-department hotline, which told him to call his doctor, whose office was closed. Then he called an emergency room, which told him to call the city’s information line. You get... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386835 Mon, 04 May 2009 12:49:05 +0100 2386835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382266&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F8KNIlmCUG_k%2F This live blog will track developments Saturday related to the outbreak of the new H1N1 flu, from The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires and other news services. For more coverage of the flu, see the WSJ.com Flu Outbreak page and the WSJ.com Health Blog. As of 4:30 Saturday, the blog is now on hiatus until Monday. To see other daily editions of this live blog, please bookmark: this page LATEST UPDATES 4:30: Where things stand on swine flu outbreaks, according to CDC, World Health Organization, and government officials, tallied by the Associated Press: Deaths: 16 confirmed in Mexico and one confirmed in U.S., a 21-month-old boy from Mexico who died in Texas. Confirmed sickened worldwide, 751: 443 in Mexico; 179 in U.S.; 73 in Canada; 20 in Spain; 13 in Britain; six in Germany; four i... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382266 Sat, 02 May 2009 12:40:13 +0100 2382266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382285&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fguidance-on-swine-flu-and-breastfeeding%2F Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) have issued strong guidance on the importance of breastfeeding for protection against the H1N1 swine flu. The CDC states, “Infants who are not breastfeeding are particularly vulnerable to infection and hospitalization for severe respiratory illness.” Photo courtesy of Furya Thus, the CDC urges new mothers to initiate breastfeeding early and to feed frequently. Mothers already breastfeeding should continue to do so, even if they become ill. Formula feeding should be avoided or minimized and breastfeeding maximized. In the Health News Digest, USBC Chair Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC, recommends breastfeedng in emergency situations such as a swine flu o... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382285 Sat, 02 May 2009 05:55:40 +0100 2382285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382328&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fhow-to-use-disposable-respirators.html Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382328 Fri, 01 May 2009 14:53:00 +0100 2382328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2381287&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fsymptoms-of-swine-flu-video-from-cdc.html In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee, with CDC's Influenza Division, describes the symptoms of swine flu and warning signs to look for that indicate the need for urgent medical attention.Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2381287 Fri, 01 May 2009 00:37:00 +0100 2381287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380945&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fwho-warns-of-likely-pandemic%2F Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has elevated their swine flu pandemic alert to phase 5, the number of confirmed cases as of April 29, 2009 remains extremely low, with most cases mild and rarely fatal. In fact, although you may hear about some 2,500 cases in Mexico with 152 deaths, only 26 cases and 7 deaths have actually been confirmed as being due to swine flu. Around the world only 148 cases are confirmed. The one death of the 91 cases in the United States was in a Mexican child who contracted the illness in Mexico before visiting the U.S. The only thing newsworthy about these numbers is that they are so low and yet the reaction to them so high. It’s important also to remember that “pandemic” simply means worldwide spread. An epidemic is a localized outbrea... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380945 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:59:51 +0100 2380945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376400&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventing-the-swine-flu-to-mask-or-not-to-mask%2F The current swine flu outbreak has many people worrying, and even more wondering, about how to avoid getting sick. And because of all the media photos and videos of people in Mexico walking around wearing face masks, people in this country naturally want to know if these are an effective means of prevention? Unfortunately, however, as with many aspects of this unusual epidemic there aren’t adequate answers for all the questions. It turns out, that there just haven’t been enough studies to say whether or not wearing a face mask would help prevent infection. Some people will doubtless say that it’s obvious that wearing a mask would reduce the chance of your inhaling a respiratory virus that can be spread by coughing and sneezing. But it’s not nearly as obvious as they would have you ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376400 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:27:19 +0100 2376400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375995&cid=t_355764_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F04%2Finfluenza-pandemic-guidelines%2F Swine influenza is deservedly the hottest topic in health right now. Things could get hairy. Let’s us all prepare for the worst and hope for the best. The World Health Organization has declared the swine flu outbreak in North America a “public health emergency of international concern”. The decision means countries around the world will be asked to [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375995 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:13:52 +0100 2375995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376401&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fthe-swine-flu-can-the-flu-vaccine-protect-you%2F As I wrote earlier if you’re an average person living in the U.S. there’s absolutely no reason now to panic about the current swine flu situation in spite of the media hysteria. That may change as time passes, but it could just as easily go the other way and not become a full-blown pandemic. That’s what happened in 1976, when a swine flu scare led to emergency vaccination of some 40 million Americans in 10 weeks but the feared pandemic just never panned out. The Los Angeles Times has a nice piece on that story. But many people have questions about the flu vaccine right now. Does this year’s vaccine cover the current swine flu strain? Why doesn’t the flu vaccine cover all strains? Why do I need to get a new flu immunization every year when I don’t have to... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376401 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:55:17 +0100 2376401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2375937&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fkeeping-up-to-date-on-swine-flu%2F Unless you are living in the back of beyond, with no internet, television, or newspaper access, you would have heard about the recent outbreak of swine flu in Mexico. This morning, when I collected the newspaper from the gate, I discovered it’s even made it’s way to New Zealand (via airline passengers). So it’s best not to assume that because it seems to have originated in Mexico, it would stay only in Mexico. Everyone  needs to be aware of and prepared to deal with the possibility that it could arrive in their corner of the world. Here’s the best way to keep up to date of what’s happening… 1. Learn key facts about Swine Flu and what to do to protect yourself can be found at the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) website. Traveler’s s... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2375937 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:28:12 +0100 2375937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2368679&cid=t_355764_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F25%2Fwtf-they-give-up%2F Where’s my copy of “The Stand”…I know I left it around here somewhere…… Honestly, what kind of recombinant f.ery is this? Who sent in the “F-team?” Ummm no it’s not “too late” you asshats. Have no fear…they’re worried….and evidently have not been on the ball. Advice: Get your shit together yesterday disease cowboys and cowboy the f. up. Here’s some money, [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2368679 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 22:15:52 +0100 2368679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365046&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2Fi3PwgEH2UNg%2Flatest_on_swine_flu_from_cdc.php Two recent sources of information, a conference call for clinicians and a just concluded media conference call held by CDC Acting Director Richard Besser. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365046 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:01:07 +0100 2365046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365048&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FvOCZ5RZgko8%2Fis_mexico_a_part_of_the_swine.php Late yesterday we summarized a CDC media briefing about the developing investigation of cases of influenza in California and Texas with a previously unknown flu virus with genetic components from pigs ("swine flu", humans and birds). At the same time reports were surfacing of an especially virulent respiratory disease outbreak in central and southern Mexico that had resulted in 20 deaths and hospitalizations with acute respiratory failure. 137 cases have been reported, including health care workers. When asked yesterday, CDC said they were in close touch with their Mexican counterparts but at that point had no evidence of a connection. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365048 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:10:42 +0100 2365048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365050&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FGP3zBzWArbI%2Fthe_evolving_swine_flu_story.php This afternoon CDC held a "media availability" on the evolving swine flu cases. Evolving is an understatement. There are now more recognized cases, although not all cases are "new," with some cases retrospectively recognized now that more intense investigation is occurring. The total is now seven cases. Two occurred in San Antonio, Texas, two sixteen year old boys in the same school. Three more were found in California (in addition to the initial two cases), including a father - daughter pair. All California cases are in San Diego and neighboring Imperial counties, the location of the initial cases. Those counties are also where there has been the most intense looking. CDC expects more cases to be recognized with the ramped up index of suspicion. They promise to update the situation daily ... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365050 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:50:52 +0100 2365050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364944&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FRST6hsHzg5w%2F Seven cases of a weird new swine flu have been confirmed in people in Texas and California, CDC officials said this afternoon. Everybody has recovered, though one person was hospitalized. All of the cases have occurred in the past month or so. People do occasionally get infected with strains of flu that mainly infect pigs. But the strain in these cases appears to be spreading from person to person, which is the kind of thing that catches the attention of public-health officials. None of the people who were infected had contact with pigs, as far as officials know. And there are two pairs of cases where the human-to-human transmission seems clear: a father-daughter pair and two boys in Texas who attended the same school. The flu virus mutates promiscuously, and this strain is no exception: ... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364944 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:21:23 +0100 2364944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2341847&cid=t_355764_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2Fbs9PINkoCKQ%2Fnew-online-health-program-in-georgia.html American City & County recently wrote an article about how the CDC is using an online screening system with other items to help Georgia residents in eight counties to prevent heart disease. The CDC has posted a web page that allows users to identify current life habits that may be factors that could cause the disease. Along with that aspect, they're taking a holistic approach by combining onsite biomedical screenings and resources that are delivered to the work place with the online survey. (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2341847 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:55:00 +0100 2341847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348170&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FVq3_EjzfOI4%2Ffoodborne_illness_in_the_us_re.php The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) calls it a "reality check," meaning, in their terms, a check against the mistaken idea that there is more foodborne illness these days. That's one way to look at it. Another is a look that is reality based. The reality is that there is a tremendous health burden from tainted food that is unaddressed, at least going by the same CDC Morbidity and Mortality (MMWR) report the WSJ was citing. MMWR was reporting on 2008 data from FoodNet on the incidence of infection from enteric pathogens commonly transmitted via food: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348170 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:04:53 +0100 2348170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347686&cid=t_355764_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F12%2Fweekly-news-round-up-6%2F Don’t forget to nominate your Women’s Health Heroes! April 13 on Fresh Air - “Michelle Goldberg discusses the politics, ideology and history of reproductive rights around the world.” Lauredhel at Hoyden About town is asking for disability activism book recommendations, and received a number of suggestions in the comments. RH Reality Check is launching what seems to be a community blog-type feature. Lauren O at blogofchampions has some questions about that anti-gay marriage ad. The Southern Poverty Law Center has The Bandana Project, “part of a national initiative to end workplace sexual violence against farmworker women.” A number of folks on why date rape is not funny and why they will not be seeing movie Observe & Report. I usually dislike campai... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347686 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:01:40 +0100 2347686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290612&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnatasha-richardsons-tragic-death-teaches-us-about-head-injury%2F The news of Natasha Richardson’s tragic death after a skiing accident has shocked us all; especially because of the apparently minor nature of her injury and that she was quickly up and about and talking immediately afterwards. Unfortunately, however, Ms. Richardson suffered a near textbook case of what’s called epidural hematoma. I say near because she was 45 and epidural hematoma is more likely to happen in younger adults with the average age being 20-30 (it’s rare after 50). But the rest of the awful story is only too typical. The only positive thing about epidural hematoma is that it is a rare event. In fact, it only is found in about one to four percent of traumatic head injuries. It is also a cruel irony that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month (BIAM). And doubly so because, ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290612 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:18:03 +0100 2290612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256055&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftoday-is-national-women-and-girls-hivaids-awareness-day%2F Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDs Awareness Day, so why not join Healthbolt and The Red Pump Project and spread the word.  HIV/AIDS remains one of those subjects that not talked about so much over the dinner table or when out for coffee with the girls. But prehaps it should be because the numbers tell us it’s a disease that does not seem to be going away. In fact, according this Snapshot of the U.S. Epidemic provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation, it seems to be growing… • Number of new HIV infections, 2006: 56,300 • Number of people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.1 million, including more than 468,000 with AIDS • Number of AIDS deaths since beginning of epidemic: 583,298, including 14,561 in 2007 • Percent of people infected with HIV who don’t know it: 21% So ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256055 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:29:45 +0100 2256055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195224&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fplanning-a-pregnancy-read-this-first%2F Most women are aware of the need to follow certain nutrition and lifestyle guidelines after they become pregnant, but did you know that it’s actually important to begin these regimens well before you begin to start a family? Most likely you knew about recommendations to take pre-natal vitamins and not to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes during pregnancy, but it’s equally important to start these behaviors much earlier, before you plan to become pregnant, so that you’ll be “covered” from the moment pregnancy occurs. But recent research has found that few women follow pre-pregnancy recommendations. In fact, a study just published online in the British Medical Journal found that only three percent of women who became pregnant were taking the recommended vitamins... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195224 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:11:30 +0100 2195224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182513&cid=t_355764_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fdoes-emergency-preparedness-make-sense.html Yesterday, I spent eight hours with folks from the Centers for Disease Control, learning about how to communicate with the public and the media during public health emergencies. While this stuff can indeed be pretty dry, I must say I was quite impressed with the way the CDC puts these trainings together. The presenters kept it lively and interactive, and group exercises broke up the day nicely.Although these trainings do indeed seem to focus on potential scenarios involving anthrax or other terrorist activity (something which I see as highly unlikely), having public health officials who know how to communicate with the public doesn't seem like such a bad idea, really.While people don't generally want to think or talk about preparing for unknown dangers which may or may not happen some time... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182513 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:10:00 +0100 2182513 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195226&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fsalmonella-and-tainted-peanut-butter%2F A nationwide outbreak of Salmonella caused by tainted peanut butter has already resulted in the recall of hundreds of products with more being added to the list every day. Consumers are being advised not to consume any peanut butter containing products until more information becomes available on which brands may be affected and to destroy any that already have been identified. The majority of affected products are packaged prepared foods such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy and ice cream. To avoid consuming tainted foods you should take the following precautions: Go to your pantry or any other food storage areas and look carefully for packaged products that might contain peanut butter. Be sure to check the labels of any product with “nuts” in the name to see if the... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195226 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:04:41 +0100 2195226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160763&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FoPvn05eAPoU%2F For all of the discussion of fancy new technologies that pose problems in health care, it’s sometimes the simple things that create daily trouble. Like shots. Unsafe injection practices have contributed to outbreaks of hepatitis in the U.S. in recent years, and are a leading cause of infections in doctors’ offices, outpatient clinics and long-term care facilities, Laura Landro writes this morning. Also, take a look at our posts from last year about a Nevada outbreak of hepatitis C tied to unsafe use of syringes. Even if health-care workers replace needles each time, reusing a syringe can be enough to infect someone with HIV or hepatitis. Diseases can also be passed on if an unclean needle or syringe is used to draw more medication from a multiple-dose vial, contaminating the v... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160763 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:47:55 +0100 2160763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2149613&cid=t_355764_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fsalmonella-outbreak-widens-and.html As the nationwide salmonella outbreak related to peanut butter increases in its scope, the CDC, the FDA, and regional and local public health officials are doing their best to contain the epidemic and remove potentially tainted products from the shelf. As a public health nurse, I'm frequently updating a blog which I publish for local online consumption, and I'm sincerely surprised that I haven't received a single telephone call from worried citizens seeking more information. Either people aren't overly concerned, or the information being disseminated by the feds is assuaging people's fears. For the bloggers out there who would like to be more involved, the CDC and FDA are holding a webinar on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2:30-3:30 pm EST. To log in, call 1-800-857-9824 and dial pass code 1234, a... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2149613 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:28:00 +0100 2149613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2147525&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FZU-6F1A8StQ%2Fcdc_in_transition.php CIDRAP News carried a short piece about the new CDC Acting Director, Dr. Richard Besser. We don't learn a lot new beyond the official facts. The Bush CDC Director, Dr. Julie Gerberding, resigned as the Obama Presidency began. The CDC Director is a non-career appointment, which means that it is made by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. But there is as yet only a nominee for that post, Tom Daschle. The Besser appointment was thus made by the acting secretary of DHHS, Charles Johnson. Besser is a pediatrician and former Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer whose last position was dirctor of CDC's Coordinatng Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, a position he took over two hours before Hurricane Katrina struck. He seems to have done a number of things at C... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2147525 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:50:15 +0100 2147525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2131708&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F3pHol5DqQQk%2F When things get really, really bad is when we’ll need the CDC most. Sure, the agency’s national surveys and frequent analyses give us a useful big-picture understanding of the state of the nation’s health. But check out the dramatic possibilities of the strategic national stockpile, which CDC describes as: a national repository of antibiotics, antiviral drugs, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, vaccines, life-supporting medications, and medical supplies that can be used to supplement state and local resources during a large-scale public health emergency So there’s certain logic, in a post 9/11 world, to the announcement that Richard Besser — the CDC guy in charge of terrorism preparedness and emergency response (which includes the national stockpile) — ha... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2131708 Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:50:11 +0100 2131708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2129484&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%3A80%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F3pHol5DqQQk%2F When things get really, really bad is when we’ll need the CDC most. Sure, the agency’s national surveys and frequent analyses give us a useful big-picture understanding of the state of the nation’s health. But check out the dramatic possibilities of the strategic national stockpile, which CDC describes as: a national repository of antibiotics, antiviral drugs, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, vaccines, life-supporting medications, and medical supplies that can be used to supplement state and local resources during a large-scale public health emergency So there’s certain logic, in a post 9/11 world, to the announcement that Richard Besser — the CDC guy in charge of terrorism preparedness and emergency response (which includes the national stockpile) — ha... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2129484 Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:43:13 +0100 2129484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121673&cid=t_355764_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2009%2F01%2F21%2Fabc-news-takes-a-look-at-prep-trials-now-going-on%2F ABC News’ reporter Lauren Cox takes a look at the ongoing investigational trials for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PreP).  Behavior issues and cost issues are also discussed in the article.  The full text of the article is here. (Source: AIDS Action Committee's Blog) AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121673 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:37:19 +0100 2121673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098227&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fq7CpOJlYj0c%2F The new guy’s going run the FDA, at least for the time being. In this case that’s Frank Torti, an academic cancer researcher who joined the FDA just last year to take the newly created title of Chief Scientist (his title also included Principal Deputy Commissioner, which puts him second in line for the top job). He’ll take over as acting commissioner next week, when Obama’s sworn in and current commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach steps down, the WSJ reports. Last June, we noted that a sharp trade publication suggested Torti was on the road to be acting agency chief, and perhaps to become commissioner. It’s a tough, highly politicized job that requires balancing the demands of Congress, the drug industry, patient advocacy groups and consumer watchdogs. We&#8217... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098227 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:09:57 +0100 2098227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2095815&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2F508830463%2Fobama_dumps_cdc_director.php A genuine fear among many in the public health community was that Obama would not replace Dr. Julie Gerberding as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (aka, the CDC). I am relieved to report that she will be out in 9 days, although she isn't going willingly and will wring every last second of power and salary out of it: literally. Her requested resignation is effective at noon on January 20 just as Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2095815 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:45:23 +0100 2095815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890992&cid=t_355764_155_f&fid=39055&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjulesberman.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fis-incidence-of-sickle-cell-disease.html In 1949, Linus Pauling and coworkers showed that sickle cell anemia is a disease produced by an inherited alteration in hemoglobin, producing a molecule that is separable from normal hemoglobin, by electrophoris. Electrophoresis is still used to distinguish sickle hemoglobin from normal hemoglobin.In 1956, Vernon Ingram and J.A. Hunt sequenced the hemoglobin protein molecule (normal and sickle cell) and showed that the inherited alteration in sickle cell hemoglobin is due to a single amino acid substitution in the protein sequence. Because sickle cell hemoglobin can be detected by a simple blood test, it was assumed, back in the 1950s, that new cases of this disease would be prevented through testing, followed by genetic counseling. Today, there are a number of private and public organizat... Specified Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890992 Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:50:00 +0100 2890992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047801&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fhand-washing-and-hand-sanitizers-reduce-the-spread-of-germs%2F I’ve been so busy getting ready for the holidays that I missed National Hand Washing Awareness Week, which was December 7-13. No matter. Hand washing, as we say here in the Pacific Northwest, is an evergreen topic that doesn’t go out of season. And with cold and flu season hard upon us, reminders, and even extra reminders, on hand washing are especially appropriate. Hand washing is simple to do and is the best way to prevent infection and its spread because your hands are constantly coming into contact with germ-laden surfaces and transferring those germs to your eyes, nose and mouth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, here’s when to wash your hands: Before preparing or eating food After going to the bathroom After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who h... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047801 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:28:29 +0100 2047801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1961873&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fmedically-important-parasites-images.html Medical entomology deals with the study of arthropods which cause or transmit disease to man.We will focus on Family Culicidae here:Culicidae include:CulexAedesAnophelesMembers of this subfamily are characterized by:Long proboscisPresence of scales on bodyFemale feeds on blood while the male feeds on plant juices.AnophelesTransmits the following diseases:Human malaria (Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Each year, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people.)Wuchereria bancrofti (Wuchereria bancrofti is a parasitic filarial nematode worm spread by a mosquito vector. It is one of the three par... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1961873 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:20:00 +0100 1961873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955212&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F11%2F12%2Fgoogle-flu-trend-tool-a-public-health-service-or-an-invasion-of-privacy%2F Hands up anyone who, when they are feeling unwell or concerned about a health issue, does a google search? If you put your hand up, you are in the majority. Seems that these days, instead of heading to the doctor or the local pharmacist, we all head to the internet. It’s quick, convenient, helpful, and apparently, also trackable as a new google tracking tool proves. Google debuted the Google Flu Trend Tool on Tuesday. Working on the theory that it’s more likely to be a flu outbreak in places where flu-related search terms are currently popular, this tracking tool follows any increased flu-related search terms to determine where in the U.S. flu outbreaks may be occurring. This information is given to the federal government’s  CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Preven... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955212 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:37:25 +0100 1955212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1853855&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2Fzx0dFzjdBBQ%2F Over 2,000 mothers were studied from the third trimester of pregnancy through the first year of their infants’ lives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveyed the mothers about their infant feeding practices. Results from this Infant Feeding Practices Study II will be available publicly from the CDC at the end of 2008, but in the meantime the American Academy of Pediatrics reports: Among the study findings were that one-fourth of mothers do not place their child on their backs to sleep, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and 34 percent regularly co-slept with their infants. In addition, only 8 percent of mothers experienced six “baby-friendly” hospital practices that encourage ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1853855 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:02:27 +0100 1853855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1847987&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fl6p7i7M-uFI%2F As the October 1st issue of Scientific American Mind reminds us, words have power. I know this even more whenever I hear my son Charlie speak. He was very, very late to talk and he first didn’t talk at all, but used sign language. Today he speaks in short phrases and sentences, and almost-sentences. A lot of words get thrown around about autism on the Internet, on blogs and newspaper and media websites and who knows where else. Too often, even most often, it seems that the vast percentage of those words are in the realm of misinformation, as the numerous mentions of notions about what causes autism, from power plants in Texas to the quite infamous hypotheses about vaccines and/or mercury. As Dr. Paul Offit noted on his Science Blogs Book Club post today: A couple of bloggers praised ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1847987 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:29:28 +0100 1847987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811264&cid=t_355764_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2F398050244%2Fcdc_describes_its_no_fly_list.php Generals are often said to be fighting the last war and public health officials likewise are managing the last crisis. At the end of May 2007 we had the notorious flying lawyer with TB flap (see our multiple posts here), so in June 2007 CDC quietly instituted their public health version of the "No Fly" list. I guess because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) No Fly list has been so incompetently and dangerously implemented CDC didn't want to taint their version with the same name, so they are calling it the Do Not Board (ENB) list. The DHS list is pushing a million entries. Pretty soon the airlines won't have to worry about fuel costs because we will all be on the No Fly list (maybe just saying that is enough to get me on the list). The CDC DNB list is much smaller. Since its incept... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811264 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:30:54 +0100 1811264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809781&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4568 This report updates and expands previous CDC guidelines for HBsAg testing and includes new recommendations for public health evaluation and management for chronically infected persons and their contacts. Routine testing for HBsAg now is recommended for additional populations with HBsAg prevalence of >2%: persons born in geographic regions with HBsAg prevalence of >2%, men who have sex with men, and injection-drug users. Implementation of these recommendations will require expertise and resources to integrate HBsAg screening in prevention and care settings serving populations recommended for HBsAg testing. This report is intended to serve as a resource for public health officials, organizations, and health-care professionals involved in the development, delivery, and evaluation of preventio... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809781 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1809781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802964&cid=t_355764_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Freduce-your-exposure-to-bpa-bisphenol-a-now%2F While the FDA dithers and the chemical industry stalls, now’s the time for you to act by reducing your and your family’s exposure to the toxic chemical bisphenol A, commonly referred to as BPA. That’s because the results of the first major epidemiologic study looking at the potential health effects of BPA in humans, published in the September 17, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , found a significant relationship between the amount of BPA that people had in their body (as measured by its excretion in their urine) and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes (type 2 or what’s typically called adult onset diabetes) and abnormalities of liver enzymes (suggesting some type of liver damage). And while a study of this type can... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802964 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:47:20 +0100 1802964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770803&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F384245727%2F Just in time for football season, California’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against three artificial turf companies, alleging that the companies have failed to disclose that their turf contains lead. “The bottom line is this is 2008. Why are you making something with lead deliberately put into it?” Deputy AG Dennis A. Ragen, the state’s main attorney on the lawsuit, told the Los Angeles Times. “You need to find some substitute to make the color stable.” The suit accuses three companies — Beaulieu Group, AstroTurf and FieldTurf — of violating a state law that requires companies to disclose that their products contain lead. The question of whether the lead in artificial turf poses health risks — particularly for children, whose co... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770803 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:45:41 +0100 1770803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764404&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F382801315%2F More people have been becoming infected with measles lately, at the same time as more parents are refusing to vaccinate their kids. A concern among such parents is their belief that the vaccine is linked to autism. Researchers at Columbia University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sought to allay some of their fears today, releasing study results they said showed “no connection” between the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine and autism in kids. The researchers were dealing with a hypothesis out there that, as they explained it in a call with reporters, goes something like this: The measles virus from the vaccine could reproduce in the intestinal tract, leading to inflammation and bowel permeability. That leaky bowel could permit the release of chemicals th... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764404 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:20:28 +0100 1764404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1740472&cid=t_355764_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F28%2Fpresidential-proclamation-begins-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month-september-2008%2F “During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we remember those whose lives have been affected by this deadly disease, and we underscore our commitment to battling ovarian cancer for the sake of women around the world. …” “For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 26, 2008 National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 2008 A Proclamation by the President of the [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1740472 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:00:58 +0100 1740472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723508&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fai92Q4NHT7I%2F The prevalence rate for autism among children in the US is 1 in 150, according to the most recently released figured from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007. The 1 in 150 figure is based on data from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM); the figure represents an average of ASD prevalence among states participating in the project. On its website about ASD prevalence, the CDC states: In 2006, 224,594 children ages 6-21 and 35,111 children ages 3-5 were served under the “autism” classification for special education services[2]. Not all children with an ASD receive special education services under the classification of “autism,” so the education data underestimate the actual prevalence of ASDs [my emphasis]. For more inform... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723508 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:49:31 +0100 1723508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717243&cid=t_355764_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGj8BrmY3U8c%2F Darn, I thought it was my own state of New Jersey that does: According to the most recent figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007, about 1 in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States had an ASD, and New Jersey has the highest prevalence rate, 1 in 94. An article in the August 20th CityPages in Minnesota suggests that it’s rather the North Star state that has the highest rate, 1 in 81. The CityPages article mentions a 2001 CDC study but not the more recent one in 2007, though it does cite the 1 in 150 figure. For the 1 in 81 figure, the article relies on a chart made up from data from public school districts around the country. (You can see the chart here via a parent’s website.) The parent of an autistic child, Dan Hollen... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717243 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:30:15 +0100 1717243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1718047&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fmedically-important-parasites-free_19.html I am sorry for publishing all these bugs and parasites images all at once but I have a final exam in a couple of days and I could not resist sharing these excellent images with everyone.Dracunculus medinensis larvaeFemale Guinea worm, Dracunculus medinensis, being removed from a suffererAgain D. medinensis being removed from a patientWuchereria bancrofti microfilaria in a thick blood smearElephantiasis of leg due to filariasisHere we see jars of rain water containing larvae of Culex pipiens (the vector of this disease)Tin cans in open dumps containing water may also contain larvae of any of the three domestic species including Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex pipiens, and Aedes aegypti.-----------------------All images are in the public domain or licensed under a creative commons. Thanks to c... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1718047 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:45:00 +0100 1718047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711998&cid=t_355764_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fmedically-important-parasites-free.html Medically Important Parasites ( nematoda ) + good quality FREE ImagesAscaris lumbricoids eggAscaris lumbricoids adultTrichuris trichuri adult femaleTrichuri trichuri eggEnterobius vermicularis headEnterobius vermicularis eggAncylostoma caninum attached to intestinal mucosaAncylostoma duodenale hookworm's mouth partsAncylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus hookworm egg (both eggs are indistinguishable)Trichostrongylus colubribormis eggCapillaria species eggTrichinella spiralis cyst in muscle tissue----------------------------------------All images are in the public domain and thus are free of any copyright restrictions.All credit is to cdc.gov---------------------------------------Related posts:Medically Important Parasites (trematoda-flukes) + free good quality imagesMedically Important... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711998 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:16:00 +0100 1711998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709914&cid=t_355764_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F365115095%2F Nearly two years ago Health Blog Jr. was eligible to get a vaccine against diarrhea, but his pediatrician, otherwise a big supporter of immunizations, recommended against it. The doctor wanted to wait for more experience with the new vaccine before making it routine in her practice. The vaccine was Merck’s RotaTeq, a shield against infection by rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. The reason for the doctor’s caution was that a previous rotavirus vaccine, Wyeth’s RotaShield, was pulled from the market in 1999 after being linked to an increased risk of intussusception. That’s a long word for a potentially life-threatening condition in which one part of the intestine slides into another. Surgery is often required to correct the problem. The real-world experie... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709914 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:50:54 +0100 1709914