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 'endocrinology'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:58:39 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159025&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FZJvdhQKUL2c%2Fdiabetes-pandemic-1-in-4-us-adults-now.html The number of adults with diabetes has doubled within the past 30 years. 70% of the increase is attributed to population growth and ageing. However, the number also reflects the unfortunate global shift towards a western lifestyle of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, with obesity as the outcome. Between 1980 and 2008, the global body-mass index (BMI) increased by 0·4—0·5 kg/m2 per decade. In the USA, 10% of infants and toddlers already carry excess weight. More than 20% of children between the ages of 2 years and 5 years are overweight or obese. By 2030, the number of individuals with diabetes worldwide is expected to rise to half a billion (470 million) - almost 80% of whom will be in low-income and middle-income countries. In these regions, diabetes drugs and insulin are ... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159025 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:05:33 +0100 5159025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159107&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Finhaled-corticosteroids-raise-risk-of.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159107 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:28:00 +0100 5159107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139833&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fadh-and-pain.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139833 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:53:00 +0100 5139833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130759&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FaJYe34_mwn8%2Fporphyrias.html From a Lancet review: Hereditary porphyrias represent a group of 8 metabolic disorders of the haem biosynthesis. They are characterised by acute neurovisceral symptoms, skin lesions, or both. Every porphyria is caused by abnormal function of a separate enzymatic step, resulting in a specific accumulation of haem precursors: - 7 porphyrias are the result of a partial enzyme deficiency- a gain of function mechanism is present in one new porphyria Acute porphyrias present with acute attacks - severe abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, confusion, and seizure - and can be life-threatening. Cutaneous porphyrias present with painful photosensitivity, skin fragility and blisters. Porphyrias are still underdiagnosed. Screening of families to identify presymptomatic carriers and avoidance... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130759 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:34:00 +0100 5130759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984453&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-diabetes-requires-mad-scientist-experimentation-to-get-blood-sugars-in-target-range%2F2011.06.29 I do not enjoy basal testing.  Even though I sometimes go six hour clips without having a snack (thanks, Birdy and your busy ways), something about knowing I can’t eat or exercise makes me want to do a 5K while simultaneously chomping down on some soft serve. But when I noticed that I was going to bed at a completely normal blood sugar, but waking up in the 180 – 220 mg/dl range for three days in a row, I knew I needed to do some basal tweaking. Making adjustments to my overnight basal rates always skeeves me out.  I’m a very deep sleeper (as evidenced by the fact that Siah prowling around on the bed all night doesn’t wake me in the slightest, but makes Chris say “We’re sleeping with the door SHUT tonight,” in the morning), and I have a very heal... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984453 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:03 +0100 4984453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934240&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fconfusing-cookie-cutter-medicine-with.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934240 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:12:00 +0100 4934240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921469&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fbilateral-adrenal-hemorrhage.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921469 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:31:00 +0100 4921469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911483&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fegg-freezing-%25e2%2580%2593-not-as-successful-as-you-might-think%2F2011.06.08 NPR is running a typical media hype story on oocyte preservation (egg freezing), featuring the standard happy family photo with their “miracle” baby born after thawing and fertilizing a cryopreserved egg. It’s a heartwarming story and a pretty photo, but far from a complete picture of what women need to know about this still experimental fertility preserving procedure. Nowhere does the article tell women the actual success rates of occyte cryo-preservation. So before you run out to freeze your eggs, know this – the chance of having a pregnancy after egg freezing is less than a 50/50 shot – at most about 39%, according to the latest data.  That’s about the same odds you’d have if you just wait till 40 to try to get pregnant on your own. In addition, while somewhere between 1... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911483 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:00:53 +0100 4911483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893502&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnew-guidelines-for-glycemic-control-in.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893502 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:42:00 +0100 4893502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841475&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-to-hide-an-insulin-pump-under-a-wedding-dress%2F2011.05.19 Yesterday I wrote about my wedding, focusing on the parts that meant the most to me:  the man I love, our families and friends, the church service, saying “I do,” and dancing ourselves silly at the reception. But diabetes was a part of my wedding day.  We did our best to keep it quiet and unnoticed, though, using several tricky methods.  I’m like a diabetes wedding magician … sort of. First things first:  the dress.  Wearing an insulin pump is the easiest and least intrusive way for me to take my insulin, and I wasn’t about to go off the pump just for the sake of fashion.  My solution?  Design a pocket to hold my insulin pump, hidden in my wedding dress.  I spoke with the seamstress at Ye Olde Bridal Shoppe and she and I designed something that left th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841475 Thu, 19 May 2011 19:00:02 +0100 4841475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803134&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Felectronic-pancreas-may-keep-glucose-in-safe-range-overnight%2F2011.05.10 A team led by researchers from University of Cambridge showed that closed loop insulin delivery was effective in controlling overnight blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. The system took readings every fifteen minutes and automatically titrated a proper amount of insulin. University of Cambridge researcher Dr Roman Hovorka led two studies to evaluate the performance of the artificial pancreas in 10 men and 14 women, aged 18 to 65, who had used an insulin pump for at least three months. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803134 Tue, 10 May 2011 14:05:52 +0100 4803134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762770&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshould-the-u-s-limit-the-number-of-embryos-transfered%2F2011.04.28 Everyone knows about “Octomom” and her octuplets born after in-vitro fertilization (IVF).  That was an extreme case, but multiple births resulting from unregulated artificial reproductive technologies have skyrocketed over the last decade.  The increased rate of twins, triplets and even higher multiples are due to in-vitro treatments and those women and infants are at much higher risk of pregnancy complications, premature birth and long term health problems. New research,  published in theJournal of Pediatrics, looked at admissions at just one hospital in Montreal, Quebec and found multiple embryo transfers was responsible for a significant proportion of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).  These infants were born severely preterm.  Six babies died and 5... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762770 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0100 4762770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684786&cid=t_91924_175_f&fid=39258&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FInsidePaTraining%2F%7E3%2FOVYxMEaOhm0%2Ftodays-lectures-endocrinology Today’s Lectures: EndocrinologyI figured it was time for a quick update on our current activities in the program.  This week, we returned to class after two weeks “off,” during which we prepared for our EKG exam number 1. This block, we’re learning endocrinology, which is complicated, but fascinating. We took the EKG exam 1 on Tuesday, our [...]Visit us at Inside PA Training - Becoming A Physician Assistant (Source: Inside PA Training) Inside PA Training blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684786 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:26:15 +0100 4684786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676791&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcoffee-talk-and-type-1-diabetes%2F2011.04.03 It’s been well-documented that my coffee addiction is … substantial.  Briefly on hiatus during my pregnancy, I was reunited with my beloved beverage after the baby was born, and now I’m back in the habit. Since I work from our home office and I’m also the primary caregiver for BSparl, sleep is a hot commodity.  Actually, I don’t get to sleep much, so the coffee is very much my friend these days.  Work hard, play hard, drink much of the coffee. The other day, I was out with the baby, running a few errands.  I had to visit the post office, the grocery store, CVS … and Dunkin Donuts.  I try to make my order sound fresh and new (versus something I say almost without thinking), and I leaned out the window to order into the drive through speaker.  (Instead o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676791 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:00:07 +0100 4676791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664176&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbureaucrats-propose-to-discontinue-home-glucose-monitoring-coverage%2F2011.04.01 The larger the bureaucracy the more inefficient a system becomes. Several things can happen in the decision making process. 1. The decision making process can become opaque rather than transparent. 2. Decisions are made by a committee by consensus. 3. Consensus committee decisions might not sharply define the original goals. 4. Blame for errors gets dissipated. 5. Decisions are only as good as the information that is gathered. 6. Changing a wrong decision can be difficult and costly. President Obama’s healthcare reform law is creating 256 new agencies to gather information and recommend decisions for other agencies to write regulations. The following decision is being made by an agency in Washington state. It is not only the wrong decision, but is a decision that will set back the care o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664176 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:24 +0100 4664176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4605855&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fatherogenic-lipid-phenotype-alp.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4605855 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:39:00 +0100 4605855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592392&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthyroid-cancer-a-hazard-from-radioactive-iodine-emitted-by-japan%25e2%2580%2599s-failing-nuclear-power-plants%2F2011.03.15 One of the most abundant substances in the cloud of radioactive steam released by a failing nuclear power plant is iodine-131 — a radioactive form of the element iodine that is found throughout nature. Iodine-131 poses a special health risk because of its cancer-causing effect on the thyroid gland. The small, butterfly-shaped thyroid sits just below the voice box. From this perch, it controls how fast every cell in the body changes food into energy. The gland’s main product, thyroid hormone, governs the function of the digestive tract, brain, heart, nerves, muscles, bones, skin, and more. Iodine is a key ingredient that goes into making thyroid hormone. We get this element from ocean-caught or ocean-farmed fish and shellfish, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, and fruits and vegetables gr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592392 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:00:43 +0100 4592392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580894&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-i-want-her-to-know-about-diabetes%2F2011.03.13 After a tough low this morning: I want her to know that she was wanted so much, well before she arrived, and that her parents went to great lengths to make sure her arrival was as safe as they could manage. I want her to know that those moments when she has to wait while I test, or while I bolus, or the times when I have to set her in her crib and gulp down grape juice while she stands there with her big, brown eyes staring at me while her mouth tugs into an impatient smile, that I love her and I just need to deal with diabetes for a few seconds so I can be the best mommy I can. I want her to know that if my eyes don’t get better, it’s not her fault. It’s not my fault, either. The fault lies with diabetes. I want her to know that the reason I’ll sometimes frown at... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580894 Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:00:34 +0100 4580894 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560271&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F10-ways-life-tries-to-mess-with-diabetes-control%2F2011.03.08 Life is trying to further mess with my diabetes control. (Or is diabetes trying to mess with life? Is a zebra white with black stripes, or a horse with black and white stripes?) I’m making efforts to get it together, but odd little things keep leaping in the way. Oh, efforts to thwart: Let me count the ways! 1. Recently, the jar of glucose tabs in my car was empty, so I was forced to stop at a random store and buy a regular Mountain Dew from the vending machine. But I had to open it and let it settle a little first before I could chug it, because draining a can of fizzy sugar would make me instantly ralph. 2. It snowed and/or was freezing on the days I went to the gym. But on the days I didn’t go? Sunshine and warm weather. Stupid weather wants me to be fat. 3. I lost ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560271 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:00:28 +0100 4560271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489685&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E5%2F_D8_34_YDQg%2FzBkoSjLrWd0 (video). Renée M. Ned, PhD, MMSc discusses the benefits of cascade screening to identify familial hypercholesterolemia, a common genetic disorder that causes high levels of low-density lipoprotein (or LDL) cholesterol. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489685 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:35:00 +0100 4489685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477782&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Fstatins-dont-change-small-dense-ldl.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477782 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4477782 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4438887&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmanaging-diabetes-in-real-time%2F2011.02.05 The cost of managing chronic diseases is the largest portion of healthcare expenditures in developed countries. For example, the prevalence of adult acquired diabetes has been rising in the United States, in concert with increasing rates obesity. The CDC has termed it an “epidemic,” especially in light of the massive costs incurred by the healthcare system due to diabetes. The deleterious health effects of many chronic conditions can be diminished by behavior modifications. While few would underestimate the difficulty of having patients lose weight or exercise more, good management of blood sugar in diabetes is both objectively measurable and strongly correlated with reduced end-organ damage. This is among the reasons why Research2Guidance has recently nominated diabetes as the conditi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4438887 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:00:52 +0100 4438887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436771&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F02%2Facute-exercise-has-immediate-effects-on.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436771 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:54:00 +0100 4436771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349531&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fpoor-r-wave-progression-in.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349531 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:49:00 +0100 4349531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337935&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-if-all-patients-were-this-engaged-in-their-health%2F2011.01.12 This video is an excellent testimony of what a truly engaged and knowledgable patient with diabetes looks and sounds like. Kudos to the Mayo Clinic for sharing this wonderful piece about shared decision making. Pay particular attention to the fact that the patient in the video was treated for diabetes by her primary care physician for eight years before being referred to a clearly “patient-centered” endocrinologist. Also note her belief that a patient-centered approach to chronic disease management probably results in shorter, more productive visits in the long run. *This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337935 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:00:14 +0100 4337935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314006&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhenrietta-lacks-and-her-immortal-cells%2F2011.01.05 If you like science, true history, and an engaging story, pick up the new book by journalist Rebecca Skloot, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and prepare for a great read. I knew nothing about the young black woman whose cells were taken back in 1951 by a scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital and how those cells have revolutionized modern cell biology and research. The HeLa (named after HEnrietta LAcks) cells were taken as she lay dying on the “colored” ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital of aggressive cervical cancer at age 30. Everyone who studies basic cell biology has heard of HeLa cells because they were the first human cell line to be successfully grown in culture and they are alive today. HeLa cells were sent to researchers all across the globe and have been... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314006 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4314006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314009&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fi-smell-health-trouble%2F2011.01.05 I was surfing around the Net one day and I found this article about scientists who are creating a machine that will detect acetone in someone’s breath. Acetone can be a sign that someone suffers from diabetes, so in theory this machine could use scent to diagnose this disease. That story brought to mind other stories I’ve heard about people using dogs to sniff out cancer in people. According to this article: “The results of the study showed that dogs can detect breast and lung cancer with sensitivity and specificity between 88% and 97%. The high accuracy persisted even after results were adjusted to take into account whether the lung cancer patients were currently smokers. Moreover, the study also confirmed that the trained dogs could even detect the early stages of lung ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314009 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4314009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281328&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fosteoporosis-review.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281328 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:12:00 +0100 4281328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281330&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Floop-diuretics-for-acute-management-of.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281330 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:08:00 +0100 4281330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258877&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FA2wYhSPTrwk%2Fcorrecting-vitamin-d-deficiency-may.html In a recent study, 9,400 patients had an average vitamin D level of 19.3 nanograms per milliliter - levels of 30 are generally considered "normal". At their next follow-up visit, 50% of patients had raised their vitamin D levels to above 30 nanograms per milliliter.Compared with patients whose vitamin D levels were still low, patients who raised their vitamin D levels were 33% less likely to have a heart attack, 20% less likely to develop heart failure, and 30% less likely to die between the two visits (source: WebMD)."While normal has generally been considered to be 30, some people have suggested 40 or 50 is better. People who increased their vitamin D blood level to 43 nanograms per milliliter had the lowest rates of heart disease and stroke. But increasing it beyond that, say to 60 or 7... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258877 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:43:00 +0100 4258877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253179&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fin-treatment-of-obesity-its-not-just.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253179 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:41:00 +0100 4253179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251107&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsantabetes-how-diabetes-is-like-santa-claus%2F2010.12.11 (Note:  This post contains spoilers.  If you are like my girl Brittany and you believe happily in the story of Santa, skip down to where it says “Diabetes is like Santa Claus.”) My husband and I share a philosophy on Santa Claus.   Santa gets too much credit.  Why should Santa get all the glory for the gifts that show up underneath the Christmas tree on Christmas morning?  Mom and Dad work their tails off to provide a fun and comfortable life for our child, and to have the fun thunder (funder?) stolen by Santa Claus is unfair.  “Thank you, Santa, for the Barbie and the Rockers van!”  I shouted as a kid, not realizing that Mom and Dad put in some extra hours (and spent half the night assembling the stupid thing) to get that Rocker Van under our Christmas tre... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251107 Sat, 11 Dec 2010 22:00:49 +0100 4251107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241727&cid=t_91924_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2F712wumls17c%2F A 6 year-old boy presents with 5 days of vomiting. He is drowsy, lethargic and is now too weak to walk. What's going on? (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241727 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:17 +0100 4241727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233208&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Ftzds-in-diabetes-risks-benefits.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233208 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:59:00 +0100 4233208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225346&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Femergency-uses-of-glucagon.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225346 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:15:00 +0100 4225346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225348&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fsafety-of-statin-drugs-in-patients-with.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225348 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:15:00 +0100 4225348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214113&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbend-the-healthcare-cost-curve-by-preventing-diabetes%2F2010.11.29 By 2020, an estimated 15 percent of adults will have diabetes and 37 percent will have prediabetes, a total of 39 million people, compared with rates of 12 percent and 28 percent today, respectively. Today, more than 90 percent of people with prediabetes, and about a quarter of people with diabetes, are unaware of it, according to a report from UnitedHealth Group, the provider of insurance and other health care services. The health savings alone of preventing diabetes would bend the cost curve of health care spending in the country. Health spending associated with diabetes and prediabetes is about $194 billion this year, or 7 percent of U.S. health spending, the report said. That cost is projected to rise to $500 billion by 2020, or a total of almost $3.4 trillion on diabetes-related... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214113 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:00:00 +0100 4214113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214156&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fmetformin-fifteen-years-later.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214156 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:24:00 +0100 4214156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172081&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fmanagement-of-dka-in-hemodialysis.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172081 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 11:35:00 +0100 4172081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4167990&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fcerebral-salt-wasting-versus-siadh.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4167990 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:46:00 +0100 4167990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155236&cid=t_91924_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2F4XPYG3zxKIE%2F Review of EBM for the assessment and management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the emergency department (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155236 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 02:00:41 +0100 4155236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133769&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fshould-we-be-recommending-vitamin-d.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133769 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:15:00 +0100 4133769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086272&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flearning-lessons-from-patients-attitude-is-everything%2F2010.10.19 When I was in the 8th grade and honored at the “A” team honor roll breakfast, the speech was one that I never forgot: “Attitude is Everything.” Essentially, having a good education and good grades give you the tools to be successful, but having a great attitude toward any challenges ASSURES that you will arrive at that success. Being a pediatrician AND an endocrinologist, I am blessed to work with many graceful children and their families who face medical endocrine challenges with great attitudes.  I can recall numerous examples but will share one of my favorites: A now 11-year-old vibrant female with hashimotos thyroiditis who was diagnosed at 5 years old. Initially, she required frequent lab checks for medication adjustment (~5-6) which then decreased to ~2-3 an... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086272 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:00:42 +0100 4086272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077246&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-you-have-low-t%2F2010.10.17 If you google “low testosterone” you’ll see lots of ads for testosterone replacement. Some are from pharmaceutical companies that sell testosterone, others from obvious snake-oil salesmen. Both types of ads list vague sets of symptoms, encourage you to believe that they are pathologic, and want to sell you something to make you better. For example, the pharmaceutical company Solvay gives you a handy guide for speaking to your doctor, and a quiz to see if you have “low T.” The quiz asks some questions that may be useful, but also asks very general questions about your sense of well being. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077246 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:00:01 +0100 4077246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065387&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fdont-forget-new-milk-alkali-syndrome.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065387 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:07:00 +0100 4065387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060590&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-is-healthcare-reform-so-complicated%2F2010.10.12 A common question that I get as a practicing physician with a public health background is: “Why is healthcare reform so complicated?” I feel that the question of who’s responsible for healthcare payment is not always an easy one to answer. An example from my most recent weekend on call covering an academic pediatric endocrinology practice demonstrates this point: “Bill” is a 16-year-old African American male on state Medicaid insurance with type 1 diabetes since the age of 10.  He is followed regularly every three months by another colleague in the endocrinology clinic. Review of his last several clinic notes on the electronic medical record reveal that he has been in moderate control of his diabetes on NPH/Novolog twice-daily insulin regimen. Approximately one... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060590 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:42:07 +0100 4060590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040588&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fwaist-circumference-is-associated-with.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040588 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:17:00 +0100 4040588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031254&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FUDbObFMSGuM%2Fbeyond-statins-thyromimetic-eprotirome.html Dyslipidemia increases the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and is incompletely reversed by statin therapy alone in many patients. Thyroid hormones lower levels of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and has other potentially favorable actions on lipoprotein metabolism. Consequently, thyromimetic drugs hold promise as lipid-lowering agents if adverse effects can be avoided.In this 12-week trial, the thyroid hormone analogue eprotirome was associated with decreases in levels of atherogenic lipoproteins in patients receiving treatment with statins.Similar reductions were seen in levels of serum LDL, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, and Lp(a) lipoprotein. No change in levels of serum thyrotropin or triiodothyronine was detected, although the thyroxine level decreased... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031254 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:02:00 +0100 4031254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4027184&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fvitamin-d.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4027184 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:04:00 +0100 4027184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013219&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fsecondary-hypertension.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013219 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:13:00 +0100 4013219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001688&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdiabetes-criminals-and-diabetes-police%2F2010.09.25 At TCOYD [Taking Control Of Your Diabetes], one of the sessions I attended was about Diabetes Police (Healthcare Providers) and Diabetes Criminals (People With Diabetes). And I was a little taken aback by the title of the session, but we used it to our advantage when we walked into the session a few minutes after it had already started. “Okay, we see a few late stragglers in here. It’s not like they had to be on time or anything,” Dr. Edelman quipped from the front of the room, giving us a smirk.   “I’m sorry we’re late. But what do you expect? We’re the criminals, man!” I shot back at him. And the crew of us “criminals” took up the last few rows, our smartphones at the ready to Tweet out the best of the session. (We were... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001688 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:00:18 +0100 4001688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983412&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fgenetic-disorders-causing-hypertension.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983412 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:31:00 +0100 3983412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972933&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Felevated-hair-cortisol-levels-as.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972933 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:42:00 +0100 3972933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3969028&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fcauses-of-hypercalcemia.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3969028 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:39:00 +0100 3969028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3915040&cid=t_91924_105_f&fid=34896&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorrw.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fgoing-full-circle-in-hypertension.html (Source: Notes from Dr. RW) Notes from Dr. RW blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3915040 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:05:00 +0100 3915040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913120&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdiabetes-and-precision-carb-guessing%2F2010.08.28 I keep measuring cups in my purse so that I can measure out my dinners out to be exact. I keep a small food scale in the glove compartment of my car so I am never guessing how many ounces a certain item might be. And I have the Calorie King booklet in my pocket at all times, so that I’m never left guessing. I even sewed pockets into all my clothes, just to bring the booklet around. (The previous paragraph is filled with lies. Big, fat ones.) I wish I was a precision carb counter. I wish I had the patience for it, always either eating pre-packaged and factory-analyzed foods or spending my time carefully measuring and weighing any home cooked adventures. But I am not a precision carb counter. I’m a precision carb guesser. (more…) *This blog post was originally... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913120 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3913120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889083&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fkids-with-diabetes-can-count-carbs-with-lenny%2F2010.08.20 Medtronic MiniMed has recently released a new educational game for kids and young adults that takes them through an educational tour to learn how to deal with foods when you have diabetes. A rep for the company tells Medgadget: Called Carb Counting with Lenny, it’s offered for free download on the Apple iTunes App Store for the iPhone, iTouch and iPad. It’s great for parents (and even adults with diabetes have enjoyed it too), as the app features a guide presenting nutritious food choices with associated serving sizes and carbohydrate values. The other key components of the app are fun, interactive games that help reinforce carb counting skills and keep children engaged. And just in case you are not fully familiar with Lenny the Lion, he is a global ambassador for children&#821... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889083 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:00:22 +0100 3889083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816401&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fglucose-monitor-from-on-the-belt-to-in-the-belly%2F2010.08.03 Researchers led by bioengineering professor David Gough at the University of California-San Diego have reported, in a paper in Science Translational Medicine, that they implanted a wireless telemetry continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in two pigs (222 and 520 days, respectively) and the device was successfully reporting glucose levels to an external receiver. Following human testing and FDA approval, devices such as these could replace similar systems that are external to the body with a needle attachment that pierces the skin to take measures. Combined with potential transdermal or intranasal insulin administration, this technology could lead to less sticking and poking of people with diabetes. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Heal... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816401 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:00:56 +0100 3816401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3807394&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fon-the-battlefield-against-diabetes%2F2010.07.31 I have no idea how it happened, but yesterday was a crummy day, diabetes-wise. Somehow, early in the evening, I heard the Dexcom singing from the kitchen countertop, and BSparl and I went over to investigate. “High.” With a long line at the very top of the Dexcom screen. “Hi to you, jerkface,” I said, pulling out my meter to see just what the greeting was about. And I saw a sticky 451 mg/dl blinking back at me. “What the fern?” I couldn’t figure out how I ended up so high, especially since after lunch I was 174 mg/dl and flatlined on the Dex. And I was so angry. How does this happen? Did I eat the wrong thing? Take a shallow bolus? Is the pump ferning with me? Could the insulin have spoiled? Did I just lose track of everything and my numb... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3807394 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:00:17 +0100 3807394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786134&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-thought-of-your-child-having-diabetes%2F2010.07.24 It wasn’t until yesterday that I thought “The Thought” for the first time. She had a very wet diaper in the afternoon. And even though she had nursed for a long time and even though she seemed (and is) healthy and very strong, I still thought about taking out my meter and pricking her heel myself. Just thought it for a second. I didn’t follow through, though. I didn’t let “The Thought” stay for more than a flicker, as I immediately finished changing her diaper and started singing her a song about the power of tiny spoons. (Don’t ask — my songs never make any sense.) I shook “The Thought” off the same way I shake off the thought every time I wonder if my niece or nephew might have dipped into my autoimmune grab bag. I d... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786134 Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:56 +0100 3786134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742247&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fin-their-own-words-diabeticons-by-kids%2F2010.07.10 Some of the most inspiring moments from the “Friends for Life” International Children With Diabetes conference were found in the expo hall, where kids were creating their own diabeticons. These are two that I absolutely loved: “Let the sun rise on a cure, let the sun set on diabetes.” “Love your life with or without diabetes.” Now I need to figure out how to use that Bamboo so I can doctor up my own diabeticons at home. (Siah has asked for one that says “I love pump tubing!” Because oh, does she. She loves that chewy, Band-Aid taste.) [Animas disclosure] *This blog post was originally published at Six Until Me.* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742247 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:00:43 +0100 3742247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3701674&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffor-moms-and-moms-to-be-with-diabetes%2F2010.06.26 For anyone who has been reading my blog since my engagement three years ago, you know that motherhood has been on my radar for a long time. Longer than marriage. That quest for a decent A1C, that desire for a “normal” pregnancy, and that hope for a happy and healthy baby. Part of the reason I wanted to write about my pregnancy here on SUM is because there wasn’t a lot of information out there about pre-existing diabetes and pregnancy. There was a LOT of information on gestational diabetes (obviously), and type 2 diabetes got some good press, but type 1 diabetes was sort of swept under the rug. Thankfully, there were a few diabetes bloggers who had chronicled their journeys, and I wanted to add my voice to that hopeful chorus.    But also thankfully, Cheryl Alkon had... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3701674 Sat, 26 Jun 2010 18:00:49 +0100 3701674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678526&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffake-cures-for-diabetes%2F2010.06.19 KERRI walks to the center of the living room and sits down on the couch, across from SIAH, who is sitting in the corner, staring aimlessly at the wall. KERRI Oh Siah, I just received an email!  About a chocolate shake with glucose-reducing powers!  And how, if I purchase the family pack of chocolate powder mix, I’ll get a free personal blender and I will also be cured of my diabetes! SIAH (blinks)  Meow? KERRI I know!  Diabetes cures apparently are everywhere.  Even in my spice rack, because it seems that just a spoonful of cinnamon, added to every meal and smeared on my face like Noxema, will help me achieve good blood sugar control.  Man, if only I had known that these diabetes cures were there the whole time! (more…) *This blog post was originally published a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678526 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:00:09 +0100 3678526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648503&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FCh5qvNGlt6c%2F18-tax-on-pizza-and-soda-can-decrease.html From Reuters:With two-thirds of Americans either overweight or obese, policymakers are increasingly looking at taxing as a way to address obesity on a population level."Sadly, we are currently subsidizing the wrong things including the product of corn, which makes the corn syrup in sweetened beverages so inexpensive."Instead, the agricultural subsidies should be used to make healthful foods such as locally grown vegetables, fruits and whole grains less expensive.References:Tax soda, pizza to cut obesity, researchers say | Reuters.Image source: Soft drinks, Wikipedia, public domain. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648503 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:45:00 +0100 3648503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610327&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-diabetic-new-mommy%2F2010.05.29 You know you’re a diabetic mommy when… The bottle of glucose tabs is just as important as the bottle of breast milk in the diaper bag. You have already started wondering how you’re going to explain juice as “medicine” to the kiddo. When you wake up for 3am feedings and they double as a 3am blood sugar check. You start cooing sweetly at your meter when it gives you a result of 100 mg/dl. (”Oooh, what a good meter you are! Yes you are!”) Your baby ends up with a dot of blood on the back of her pajamas from your middle-of-the-night blood sugar check that didn’t stop bleeding right away. When you talk about “the pump,” you need to clarify “the insulin one, not the boob one.” Sometimes you have to draw numbers to see who... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610327 Sat, 29 May 2010 15:21:21 +0100 3610327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581617&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FpsDn1--LRJw%2Fosteoporosis-drug-lasofoxifene-may.html Lasofoxifene is a part of a class of drugs known as nonsteroidal selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs). It has already been shown to decrease the bone loss associated with osteoporosis, like other SERMs, including tamoxifen and raloxifene. But until now its effect on other health conditions commonly experienced by postmenopausal women was unknown.The women who took lasofoxifene had an 81% lower risk of estrogen-receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, a 32% lower risk of heart-related events like heart attack, and a 36% lower risk of stroke. "This is the first SERM that reduces the risk of all of these conditions at once."However, not all the results were positive. As with other SERMs, women taking lasofoxifene had double to nearly three times the risk of experiencing a serious blot ... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581617 Thu, 20 May 2010 13:47:00 +0100 3581617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573694&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FvL-OslPzqWM%2Fbeing-obese-at-age-40-reduces-life.html In Scotland 68.5% of men, 61.8% of women, 36.1% of boys, and 26.9% of girls are classified as overweight or obese.Being obese at age 40 reduces life expectancy by 7.1 years for women and 5.8 years for men.The article summarises the most recent recommendations from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) on the management of obesity.References:Management of obesity: summary of SIGN guideline. Logue et al. 340: c154. BMJ, 2010.Comments from Google Buzz:Luke Rosenberger - thanks! looks like original source of the life expectancy data (according to footnote) is actually a 2003 article from annals of internal medicine - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12513041Ves Dimov, M.D. - Looks correct. That's why I always say that we need a medical librarian on board... :)For Google Buzz... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573694 Tue, 18 May 2010 13:46:00 +0100 3573694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567897&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FVB__Zajng5E%2Fnytimes-skeptic-doubts-that-decreasing.html From NYtimes:"The harder the experts try to save Americans, the fatter we get. Officials responded by advising Americans to shun fat, which became the official villain of the national dietary guidelines during the 1980s and 1990s. The anti-fat campaign definitely made an impact on the marketing of food, but as we gobbled up all the new low-fat products, we kept getting fatter. Eventually, in 2000, the experts revised the dietary guidelines and conceded that their anti-fat advice may have contributed to diabetes and obesity by unintentionally encouraging Americans to eat more calories.“When you reduce salt, you reduce blood pressure, but there can also be other adverse and unintended consequences. As more data have accumulated, it’s less and less supportive of the case for salt reductio... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567897 Sun, 16 May 2010 13:44:00 +0100 3567897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3563971&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FBzlNeOah84I%2Fchildhood-diabetes-associated-with.html Childhood onset diabetes is associated with increasing birth weight, equivalent to a 7% increase in risk for every 1000 g in weight.Caesarean section increases the risk by around 20%.The risk of childhood onset diabetes increases with maternal age: 5% for each five years of age.References:Maternal age and diabetes in childhood. BMJ 2010;340:c623.Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License. Posted at Clinical Cases and Images. Stay updated and subscribe, follow us on Twitter and connect on Facebook. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3563971 Fri, 14 May 2010 13:37:00 +0100 3563971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556028&cid=t_91924_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F11%2Fwhat-one-short-nights-sleep-does-to-your-glucose-metabolism%2F As a blogger I regularly sleep 3-5 hours just to finish a post. I know that this has its effects on how I feel the next day. I also know short nights don’t promote my clear-headedness and I also recognize short-term effects on  memory, cognitive functions, reaction time and mood (irritability), as depicted in the [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556028 Tue, 11 May 2010 17:18:36 +0100 3556028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552244&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fan-artificial-pancreas-for-type-1-diabetes%2F2010.05.11 Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University have reported that an “artificial pancreas” has worked in 11 patients enrolled in a study sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). The device consists of insulin pumps, glucose sensors, and a laptop with regulatory software. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552244 Tue, 11 May 2010 12:00:01 +0100 3552244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3533848&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FG1ZCji2JOZE%2Fdiet-for-every-1-increase-in-omega-3.html HDL levels lower than 40 mg/dL are considered a risk factor for heart disease, while levels of 60 mg/dL or higher are thought to be optimal.Omega-3 fats, for instance, have been linked to lower risks of age-related vision loss and dementia among older adults.Fish Oil Comes from “The Most Important Fish in the Sea”: MenhadenNearly every fish a fish eater likes to eat eats menhaden (shown here). Bluefin tuna, striped bass, redfish and bluefish are just a few of the diners at the menhaden buffet. All of these fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids but are unable themselves to synthesize them. The omega-3s they have come from menhaden.References:Diet changes improve older adults' cholesterol too | Reuters.http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61I49N20100219Fish Oil Comes from “The Most Imp... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3533848 Wed, 05 May 2010 15:06:00 +0100 3533848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3504916&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FPVVHlSUOY4k%2F3-gram-reduction-in-daily-salt-intake.html The U.S. diet is high in salt, with the majority coming from processed foods. Reducing dietary salt is a potentially important target for the improvement of public health.Reducing dietary salt by 3 g per day (1200 mg of sodium per day) is projected to reduce the annual number of new cases of CHD by 60,000 to 120,000, stroke by 32,000 to 66,000, and myocardial infarction by 54,000 to 99,000 and to reduce the annual number of deaths from any cause by 44,000 to 92,000. Such an intervention would be more cost-effective than using medications to lower blood pressure in all persons with hypertension.The cardiovascular benefits of reduced salt intake are on par with the benefits of population-wide reductions in tobacco use, obesity, and cholesterol levels.References:Projected Effect of Dietary Sa... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3504916 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:33:00 +0100 3504916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471791&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FsbQhjmV5Ol0%2Fvitamin-d-deficiency-occurs-frequently.html Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels were measured in 414 (ex)-smokers older than 50 years and the link between vitamin D status and presence of COPD was assessed. The rs7041 and rs4588 variants in the vitamin D-binding gene (GC) were genotyped and their effects on 25-OHD levels were tested.In patients with COPD, 25-OHD levels correlated significantly with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1).Compared with 31% of the smokers with normal lung function, as many as 60% and 77% of patients with GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) stage 3 and 4 exhibited deficient 25-OHD levels lower than 20 ng/ml.25-OHD levels were reduced by 25% in homozygous carriers of the rs7041 at-risk allele. 76% and 100% of patients with GOLD stage 3 and 4 homozygous for the rs7041 allele exhibi... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471791 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:15:00 +0100 3471791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3436256&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E5%2FAv6Hwl4AuYo%2FGpNYoIrJwA4%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3B From WebMD:When investigators treated mice with an experimental drug that stopped the gut from synthesizing serotonin, they were able to reverse severe bone loss and essentially cure osteoporosis in the animals.Serotonin May Hold Key to Halting Osteoporosis. NatureVideoChannel — February 05, 2010 — A drug that reverses osteoporosis in mice looks like a promising candidate for treating the human version of the disease. Gerard Karsenty and his colleagues at Columbia University Medical Center have shown that blocking the neurotransmitter serotonin--secreted from the gut--promotes bone growth. The research appears on-line at www.nature.com/naturemedicine - Yadav et al. Nature Medicine, 7 February 2010. DOI: 10.1038/nm.2098.Most bone treatments work to block bone loss and make existing bone... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3436256 Sun, 04 Apr 2010 13:50:00 +0100 3436256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212600&cid=t_91924_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9IFhmov3U9k%2F Women who take several widely used antidepressants may experience delayed lactation after giving birth and may need additional support to achieve breastfeeding goals, according to a study to be published in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The drugs in question are SSRIs, such as Glaxo’s Paxil, Pfizer’s Zoloft and Eli Lilly’s Prozac. “The breasts are serotonin-regulated glands, meaning the breasts’ ability to secrete milk at the right time is closely related to the body’s production and regulation of the hormone serotonin,” the University of Cincinnati’s Nelson Horseman, a study co-author, says in a statement. The drugs “can affect mood, emotion and sleep they may also impact serotonin ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212600 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:34:08 +0100 3212600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667433&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FNt4JfD8HXug%2Fvitamin-d-deficiency-is-common-in-us.html Vitamin D deficiency is common in the US pediatric population and is associated with adverse cardiovascular risks http://bit.ly/17qzXE9% of children and young adults (age 1-21) are deficient in vitamin D, and another 61% have “insufficient” levels http://bit.ly/11SQus -- 7 out of 10 U.S. kids have too-low vitamin D levels, putting them at risk of heart disease, rickets, and weak bones http://bit.ly/3k4QlzResearchers: "high incidence of vitamin D deficiency was so surprising that "we sat on our data for 6 months." Children with the lowest vitamin D levels were more likely to have higher blood pressure, high blood sugar and low HDL http://bit.ly/1q4KwEmbedded video from CNN Video (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667433 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:49:00 +0100 2667433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626011&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E5%2FzepFn47aurA%2F1teEi1piQrM%26amp%3Bhl%3Den%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3B Video: How to use Short-Acting Insulin, University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine.John Brill, MD, director of the Primary Care Clerkship, details a handout he developed on how to use short-acting insulin after discussing a patient encounter. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626011 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:38:00 +0100 2626011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594404&cid=t_91924_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F13%2Fthe-lancet-2009-vol-373-no-9684%2F Contents Page Fade Fave: Hyperthyroidism Fade Skinny: Seminar on hyperparathyroidism. Primary hyperparathyroidism is the third most common endocrine disorder, with the highest incidence in postmenopausal women. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Posted in Current Awareness Tagged: Current Awareness, Endocrinology, Hyperparathyroidism, Journals (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594404 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:08:02 +0100 2594404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594437&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E5%2FvghGJvD-_4o%2FzbKRSYAuSNg%26amp%3Bhl%3Den%26amp%3Bfs%3D1%26amp%3B CBS: Bill Geist visits the Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Ariz., where you can almost feel your arteries clogging. (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594437 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:29:00 +0100 2594437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452619&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=38268&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.hippokranet.eu%2F%3Fp%3D247 In a new study, published by the European Journal of Endocrinology, Triebel et al report the detection of prolactin-related vasoinhibin in sera from patients with diabetic retinopathy. The authors conclude that decreased serum levels of prolactin-related vasoinhibin could, due to its anti-angiogenic properties, be responsible for the predisposition of patients with diabetes mellitus for neovascular complications. European Journal of Endocrinology (2009) In press Investigation of Prolactin-related Vasoinhibin in Sera from Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy DOI: 10.1530/EJE-09-0130 (Source: blog.hippokranet.eu) blog.hippokranet.eu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452619 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:29:15 +0100 2452619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2325107&cid=t_91924_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FXhOAWlYPWWs%2Fhow-to-grieve-with-diabetes.php My appointment with my endocrinologist went well, and I felt satisfied with the amount of time she spent with me (about ten minutes). She answered all of my questions and was positive despite a less than ideal status report. Frustrated, I listened as she reported that my A1C was 8.0. I was more than surprised. I was shocked. I thought for sure my A1C would be in the 6's, having... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2325107 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:06:59 +0100 2325107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207692&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=38268&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.hippokranet.eu%2F%3Fp%3D69 In a review article Mario Azevedo and Sridevi Alla from the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Jackson State University, Mississippi, USA, report on the current status of diabetes in sub-saharan Africa. Azevedo and Alla say that the potential severity of diabetes in Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia is so high that its economic impact and death toll could surpass the ravages of HIV and AIDS in the near future. An estimation states that, in most of Africa, more than half of those suffering from diabetes die within a short interval from presentation outside the major conurbations, implying a life expectancy similar to that in Europe or North America before the insulin era. Int J Diab Dev Ctries 2008;28:101-108. (Source: blog.hippokranet.eu) blog.hippokranet.eu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207692 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:35:54 +0100 2207692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207697&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=38268&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.hippokranet.eu%2F%3Fp%3D63 The Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI) has launched a review series about cytokines. Involved in almost all biological processes, cytokines are a familiy of more than 100 small proteins that function as short range mediators and play a role in many diseases. The review series surveys three chronic inflammatory disease areas and two forms of cancer and discusses the important role of cytokines and their receptors in these disease processes. JCI Review Series - Cytokines (Source: blog.hippokranet.eu) blog.hippokranet.eu blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207697 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:21:39 +0100 2207697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668512&cid=t_91924_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F350850178%2Fwisdom-teeth-and-patient-care.php I had a wonderful experience with my (new) dentist this morning. I didn’t even mind the early 8am appointment time. Why? Because my dentist is compassionate and friendly. He does an excellent job and is a consummate professional. He... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668512 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:15:34 +0100 1668512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1552548&cid=t_91924_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F320958144%2F Dear SugarStats family,  Thank you for welcoming me into your community! When I was first asked to contribute as a blogger on SugarStats.com I initially thought, “what could I possibly contribute to this community? “  Sure, I see patients with diabetes in my clinic and I specialize in diabetes care. But I do not have diabetes [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1552548 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:02:10 +0100 1552548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1436756&cid=t_91924_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F12%2Ffive-years-on-are-we-half-way-there%2F from Diabetes UK suggests that half way through the ten-year plan, the NHS’s progress in achieving person-centred, co-ordinated care that aims to ensure fewer people develop diabetes and better care for those who have the condition will fail to deliver on the standards it set itself five years ago if it doesn’t refocus NHS efforts. It finds that while some people with diabetes in some parts of the country receive excellent care, many are still not benefiting from the effective delivery of diabetes services that the NSF set out to achieve.  This puts almost 1.9 million people with diabetes in England at increased risk of serious complications including heart disease, stroke and blindness. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1436756 Mon, 12 May 2008 09:29:46 +0100 1436756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1263419&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=35762&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgrrlscientist%2F%7E3%2F242426339%2Fpolluted_prey_causes_wild_bird.php tags: bpr3.org/?p=52, endocrine disruptors, environmental pollutants, DDT metabolites, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, birdsong, physiology, behavior European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. Image: Gerd Rossen [larger view]. An elegant but disturbing paper was just published that documents that biologically relevant concentrations of endocrine disrupting pollutants are affecting the quality and quantity of song produced by male songbirds, which in turn, influences female mate choice. According to the research team, not only do these pollutants influence behavior, but they also affect the development of specific brain regions that support song behavior. More worrying, these pollutants are water-borne, so not only are animals, such as insects, fish and birds, being exposed to them, but... Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1263419 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:04:59 +0100 1263419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199992&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fimmunological-changes-in-fibromyalgia.html The newest issue of the medical journal Neuroimmunomodulation [2008 Feb 1;14(5):272-280] includes the results of a study conducted by Department of Anesthesiology of Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. The study address immunological changes in chronic pain patients, specifically complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia (FMS), both of which the researchers describe as "chronic pain syndromes occurring in highly stressed individuals."Despite the known connection between the nervous system and immune cells, information on distribution of lymphocyte subsets under stress and pain conditions is limited. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that play a critical role in the body's defenses. They include T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. They also modulate the acti... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199992 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:27:00 +0100 1199992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199993&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Feffects-of-drug-pyridostigmine-along.html A subset of fibromyalgia patients are known to have a dysfunctional hypothalamic-pituitary-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis, which is diagnosed by low blood serum levels of IGF-1 and a reduced growth hormone (GH) response to physiologic stimuli. There is evidence that the drug pyridostigmine (PYD) can improve the acute response of growth hormone to exercise in fibromyalgia patients. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR, conducted a 6-month randomized controlled trial of pyridostigmine in conjunction with exercise, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment on fibromyalgia treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of 6 months of PYD and group exercise on [fibromyalgia] symptoms. The researchers ran... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199993 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:13:00 +0100 1199993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131919&cid=t_91924_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F06%2Ftransgender-information%2F Transgender experiences – Information and support is a leaflet produced to help trans people and their families understand about the experiences of trans people, their rights and their choices. It also helps healthcare staff to understand about their role when caring for trans people. In addition A guide to hormone therapy for trans people gives trans men (female to male individuals) and trans women (male to female individuals) straightforward information about the benefits of hormone therapy and the risks and side effects. Every individual is different, and guidance about hormone therapy should always be used flexibly in response to individual needs. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131919 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:47:37 +0100 1131919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=815029&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fwsj-blog-how-i-treat-high-cholesterol.html Ben Brewer, a family doctor in rural Illinois, tries to get LDL to 100 or lower. For patients with heart disease or diabetes he tries to get it to 70.He uses generic statins like simvastatin which his patients can afford.More questions are answered in Dr. Brewer's forum at WSJ.com.References:A Family Doc Asks Three Questions About Cholesterol Drugs. Jacob Goldstein, WSJ Health Blog, 07/2007.Related:A 33-year-old man has a low HDL level. Should you treat him? Clinical Cases and Images.Pfizer Discontinues Drug Which Increases HDL Due to Higher Death Rate. CasesBlog, 12/03/2006.Image source: Cholesterol. Wikipedia (public domain). (Source: Clinical Cases and Images - Blog) Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=815029 Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:17:00 +0100 815029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=809622&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fresearchers-suggest-ndma-as-possible.html In N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor-Mediated Chronic Pain: New Approaches to Fibromyalgia Syndrome Etiology and Therapy, several researchers present their approach to the causation and therapy of fibromyalgia syndrome. Published in Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain (Vol 15, Issue 2, pp. 33 - 44), this article hypothesizes that FMS may be caused by "stress-induced disturbances of endocrine and neurological systems, involving the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate [NMDA] receptor." This receptor is implicated in other chronic pain conditions, as well. Their review aims to "provide evidence for targeting the NMDA receptor for FMS pharmacotherapy and discuss its significance to FMS pain."The researchers found that fibromyalgia pain is difficult to manage effectively due to their being no "discrete objectifiable ... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=809622 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:56:00 +0100 809622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=801380&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=34919&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.thelancet.com%2Farchive%2F2007%2F08%2F15%2Fheart-failure-warning-for-thiazolidinediones-in-usa The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Aug 14 that manufacturers of thiazolidinediones, commonly prescribed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, have agreed to add warnings to their prescribing instructions that the drugs could cause or worsen heart failure in some patients. The warnings will be set off in a box to highlight their importance. Such “boxed” warnings are the strongest the FDA requires. FDA has determined that the warnings are warranted for all drugs of this class including Avandia (rosiglitazone), Actos (pioglitazone), Avandaryl (rosiglitazone and glimepiride), Avandamet (rosiglitazone and metformin), and Duetact (pioglitazone and glimepride). For rosiglitazone, marketed in the USA under the brand names Avandia, Avandamet, and Avandaryl, the FDA Alert con... The Lancet Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=801380 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:38:51 +0100 801380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=770427&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fvitamin-d-elixir-of-life.html It could be, according the BMJ blog:"You are vitamin D deficient, very probably, and this is making your muscles ache, slowing you brain, thinning your bones and making you more likely to get cancer and heart disease. The secret of the Mediterranean is not its food but its sunshine. Or both. Go on, take your clothes off, get outside, and eat lots of oily fish, cheese, wild fungi and eggs. Abandon your miserable existence in the dark North and start living before it is too late. Alternatively, get a sunbed and take large daily supplements of vitamin D. It’s the elixir of life, according to this very thorough and plausible review."Relative vitamin D deficiency may also explain why anaphylaxis seems to be more prevalent in the Northern parts of the U.S.References:Vitamin D Deficiency. Micha... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=770427 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:31:00 +0100 770427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764112&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fdangers-of-intrabdominal-fat-on-youtube.html A video by the Portuguese Cardiology Foundation graphically conveys the danger of intrabadominal fat for "big belly people."According to Harvard Medical School, "it’s appropriate to think of fat as an endocrine organ or gland, producing hormones and other substances that can profoundly affect our health. Scientists are also learning that visceral fat pumps out immune system chemicals called cytokines — for example, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 — that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease."Calling patients (or anybody) fat or "big belly" is not advisable though. A New Hampshire doctor was recently reprimanded by the state medical board because he “told a fat woman she was obese.” Dr. Bennett says, “I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get o... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764112 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:40:00 +0100 764112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=762887&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fobesity-may-spread-across-social.html No matter what the latest newspaper headlines say, obesity is not a contagious disease although it does seem to spread across a social network according to this large NEJM study based on the Framingham cohort (free full text).Authors claim that a person's chances of becoming obese increased by 57% if he or she had a friend who became obese in a given interval. In family networks, if one sibling became obese, the chance that the other would become obese increased by 40% and if one spouse became obese, the likelihood that the other spouse would become obese increased by 37%.The most striking association was observed among adult males: "Among friends of the same sex, a man had a 100% increase in the chance of becoming obese if his male friend became obese, whereas the female-to-female spread ... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=762887 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:38:00 +0100 762887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=734920&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fcoolidge-effect.html While doing some background research for a thesis chapter yesterday, I was reminded of the Coolidge Effect, a cute little story about the 30th US President (1923-1929) that has been used to explain a fundamental tenet of sexual behavior.It goes something like this:President Coolidge and his wife were touring the Midwest and, upon arrival to a farm, were given separate tours around the grounds. When President Coolidge saw a sole rooster amongst a large flock of hens, he was amazed by the apparent sexual opportunity of the rooster and asked if the rooster mated with the same hen every time; the farmer replied that no, it was typically a different hen each time. To which the President replied, "Please relay that information to Mrs. Coolidge."The Coolidge Effect is thus named for a male's rene... The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=734920 Sat, 14 Jul 2007 18:14:00 +0100 734920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=628312&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Favandia-rosiglitazone-may-increase-risk.html According to a meta-analysis by Steven Nissen, the chief of cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic, published in NEJM:"Rosiglitazone was associated with a significant increase in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and with an increase in the risk of death from cardiovascular causes that had borderline significance. The study was limited by a lack of access to original source data, which would have enabled time-to-event analysis."Avandia seemed to increase the risk of MI by 43 percent and cardiovascular death by 64 percent. Despite the limitations of the study, the findings are significant and there seems to be little rationale for prescribing Avandia anymore.A video recap from the WSJ health blog summarizes today's events:Steven Nissen has a long track record as an early critic of the foll... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=628312 Tue, 22 May 2007 03:50:00 +0100 628312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651889&cid=t_91924_107_f&fid=35670&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanteriorcommissure.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fguppies-cheat-on-each-other-too.html Don't ask me how I found this paper, but it was obviously while researching the -endocrinology side of my work:Multiple mating and sequential mate choice in guppies: females trade upFrom the abstract:The trade-up hypothesis...proposes that females should be more willing to accept a mate when the new male encountered is a superior genetic source to previous mates...Virgin female guppies were presented sequentially with two males of varying attractiveness, and their responsiveness to each male was quantified. Male attractiveness (ornamentation) was scored as the amount of orange coloration on their body. Females were generally less responsive to second-encountered males, yet responsiveness to second males was an increasing function of male ornamentation. These attractive second males also si... The Anterior Commissure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651889 Wed, 02 May 2007 21:17:00 +0100 651889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=490867&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Flow-hypocretin-1-levels-in.html In Sleep Medicine (2007 Mar 16) researchers at the University of Minnesota's Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences evaluated the levels of the hypothalamic neuropeptide hypocretin (orexin) in the cerebrospinal fluid if fibromyalgia patients. Hypocretin (orexin) "modulates sleep-wake, feeding and endocrine functions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypocretin-1 (Hcrt-1) concentrations are low in patients with narcolepsy-cataplexy, a sleep disorder characterized by hypersomnolence and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormalities." They found that the base cerebrispinal fluid levels of hypocretin-1 in fibromyalgia patients did not differ from the levels of healthy controls, which suggests that abnormally low Hypocretin-1 levels is not a likely cause of fatigue in fibromyalgia. (Source: T... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=490867 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:16:00 +0100 490867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486794&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Ffibromyalgia-researcher-dr-mb-yunus-on.html According to Essential Science Indicators, Dr. Muhammad B. Yunus is one of the most widely published fibromyalgia researchers, with 16 papers cited a total of 422 times as of late 2006. Dr. Yunus is Professor of Medicine in the Section of Rheumatology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. In an interview with Dr. Yunus from September 2006, he discusses his background in fibromyalgia research and then envisions the future of fibromyalgia research:A greater number of studies involving a large array of neurotransmitters involved in the pain pathway may be most relevant in fibromyalgia research in the future. There will be more drug studies involving many neurotransmitters, their receptors and subtypes. Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, substance P, NMDA receptors and... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486794 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 21:49:00 +0100 486794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486813&cid=t_91924_87_f&fid=35062&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffibroresearch.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fgrowth-hormone-deficiency-in.html Many of fibromyalgia's symptom are similar to those of adult growth hormone deficiency syndrome. Studies have found that many fibromyalgia patients have low serum growth hormone levels, with a suspected cause being dysregulated growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor. Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, OR) executed a study aimed at assessing the growth hormone reserve in fibromyalgia patients with low serum insuline-like growth factor levels using the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)-arginine test (Growth Hormone IGF Research, 2007 Feb 5). They evaluated the test results of 77 fibromyalgia patients with low insulin-like growth factor levels.Of the 77 FM patients, 13 patients (17%) failed the GHRH-arginine test... In contrast, the remaining 64 patients (... The Fibromyalgia Research Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486813 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:57:00 +0100 486813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=396199&cid=t_91924_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcasesblog.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F11%2Fdpp-4-inhibitors-for-treatment-of.html Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a GI peptide that stimulates insulin secretion (similar to sulfonylureas). GLP-1 also inhibits glucagon release, gastric emptying and food absorption. GLP-1 and another similar peptide are called incretins. As noted above, incretins have a dual action which leads to lowering blood glucose:1. Stimulate insulin release2. Inhibit glucagon releaseFigure 1. Action of DPP-4 inhibitors. Note that DPP-4 normally inactivates GLP-1. DPP-4 inhibitors block DPP-4 which in turn leaves GLP-1 active.Click to enlarge the figure. Created with Gliffy.Exenatide (Byetta) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for adjunctive therapy for patients with DM 2 who are not well controlled on oral agents. It is available only as injections and has to be administered twice daily.Two ne... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=396199 Sun, 05 Nov 2006 23:12:00 +0100 396199