Calcium Supplements Reportedly Raise Risk for Myocardial Infarction

Patients on calcium supplements show a modest increase in risk for myocardial infarction, according to a BMJ meta-analysis.

Investigators gathered data on some 12,000 participants in randomized controlled trials using calcium supplements without vitamin D. Subjects on calcium showed a roughly 30% increase in risk for MI and nonsignificant increases for stroke, death, and the composite outcome of MI, stroke, or sudden death.

The authors propose that one mechanism for the effect could be the danger of increased vessel calcification. They estimate that although treating 1000 people for 5 years would prevent 26 fractures, it would also lead to 14 MIs, 10 strokes, and 13 deaths.

An editorial concludes: "Patients with osteoporosis should generally not be treated with calcium supplements, either alone or combined with vitamin D, unless they are also receiving an effective treatment for osteoporosis."

link here

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iggy's Doggone Week!

Multiply looks kinda quiet around here so me give an Iggy Update.

It's been a loooong week for us...

The week started when the home alarm system went off...we weren't home so cops drove up within minutes (Police Station within walking distance to our home). Cops had guns pulled out (according to our neighbors) looking potential burglars around the house.

No burglars, No break-ins...except Sushi and Brownie had a chance to escape from our back yard when the cops came in!

Well....Sushi and Brownie running around the neighborhood unsupervised... Somebody called Animal Control who came and Picked them both up!

The Animal Control Lady called me...they got Sushi and Brownie...and won't release them - we owe Fines for not having the dogs "Licensed" with the City. I didn't know Pets had to be Licensed! Then...they can't get released until they are both "De-matted" (Hair Cuts) - now I know their hair is a little long, but don't Shih tzus have furry hair anyways? In addition - they both need to get Spayed before they are released! By the way - Animal Control Gave both Sushi and Brownie ALL THEIR VACCINATIONS (and put the bill on us) without our knowledge or consent - we just had them fully vaccinated Last Year already! They were both examined by the Animal Control Vetenarian - billed to us.

Well - today was Spayed day but only Sushi was Spayed - Brownie had some labs done by the Vet and she is diagnosed with "pancreatitis" based on the Lab work....Nevermind that Brownie is a dog that behaves normallly with no evidence of "pancreatitis". So....Brownie will be "admitted" to PET HOSPITAL for the next 3 days for IV fluids before she can be released to us: Hospital Stay Billed to us.

So far...the running total from Animal Control Billed to me just to get my dogs back:

Add a few more hundred bucks to this after Brownie's Hospitalization...

Well...we got Sushi back at least...with a hair cut and Spayed...

The Little Cone thing is so she doesn't lick or bite her sutures from being spayed (hysterectomy).

Needless to say, Sushi and Brownie are too pricey for Thanksgiving now

Iggy's Construction Lesson: How To Cut a Tree Branch in the Trash Can

Iggy's Construction Lesson: How To Cut a Hose

Iggy's Construction Lesson: How To Cut a Ping Pong Table

Meditation Appears to Boost Attention Span

Ability to make fine visual distinctions, sustain focus improved in study participants.

WEDNESDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) -- In research inspired by Buddhist monks, a new study has found that meditation can seemingly help increase a person's attention span.

The study included 60 people who had previously attended meditation retreats and were familiar with the practice. The researchers assigned half of the participants to study Buddhist meditation for three months at a retreat in Colorado, while the other half waited their turn and acted as a control group.

At three points during the retreat, participants took a computer test designed to measure their ability to make fine visual distinctions and sustain visual attention. As the meditation retreat progressed, the participants showed improvements in their ability to sustain visual attention. This improvement continued for five months after the retreat had ended, especially among those who continued to meditate every day, the study authors found.

"People may think meditation is something that makes you feel good, and going on a meditation retreat is like going on vacation, and you get to be at peace with yourself. That's what people think until they try it. Then you realize how challenging it is to just sit and observe something without being distracted," study author Katherine MacLean said in an Association for Psychological Science news release.

MacLean conducted the study while a graduate student at the University of California, Davis.

The study findings were published in the June issue of the journal Psychological Science.

Iggy's Construction Lesson: How to Cut a Door

No Increase in Seizures Seen After DTaP Vaccination

The diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) does not appear to increase a child's risk for seizures, according to a retrospective analysis from the CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink project.

The analysis, published online in Pediatrics, included more than 430,000 children aged 6 weeks to 23 months who received approximately 1.3 million doses of DTaP over a 10-year period. Overall, there were about 7200 seizures requiring emergency department or hospital care. In adjusted analyses, the seizure incidence was no higher within 4 days after vaccination than during other times.

The authors point out that the previously used, whole-cell pertussis vaccine (DTP) had been associated with an increase in febrile seizures. Accordingly, they conclude that their findings for the currently used DTaP vaccine "provide reassuring evidence that [it] is not associated with acute seizure events and is safe for routine immunization in early childhood."

Click here for article

Insurers Push Plans That Limit Choice of Doctor

As the Obama administration begins to enact the new national health care law, the country’s biggest insurers are promoting affordable plans with reduced premiums that require participants to use a narrower selection of doctors or hospitals.


The plans, being tested in places like San Diego, New York and Chicago, are likely to appeal especially to small businesses that already provide insurance to their employees, but are concerned about the ever-spiraling cost of coverage.


But large employers, as well, are starting to show some interest, and insurers and consultants expect that, over time, businesses of all sizes will gravitate toward these plans in an effort to cut costs.


The tradeoff, they say, is that more Americans will be asked to pay higher prices for the privilege of choosing or keeping their own doctors if they are outside the new networks. That could come as a surprise to many who remember the repeated assurances from President Obama and other officials that consumers would retain a variety of health-care choices.


Click Here for Full Story

Igette's Gymnastic Camp

Igette has been spending the last few days training with the UCLA Gymnastic Team. She was excited to meet Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in Gymnastics. This is her first time not sleeping in our bed since she was extracted from the uterine cavity 9 years ago...

I don't know where she got her gymnastic talents from, but I think it has something to do with me being able to almost do a split position when I was a kid.

Well...we just paid the $700 "Assessment" Fee for her to start gymnastic competitions coming this Fall. Then there is a Fee to enter each competition. This is in addition to her monthly gymnastic work out Fee. Couldn't she just bounce around at home?

This will be Igette's first series of competitions and it seems like there are some traveling we will have to do. Stay tuned for Youtube gymnastic videos...

http://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/36453/voteable_entries/5597265?order=recency&view_entries=1&ref=mf

I am trying to win a Tramp-oline for Igette on a Facebook Contest...can u go vote for me PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. To vote, Click on link below and click on "Vote".

How to Cook a BBQ

Step One: Go Buy the Food

Step Two:  Set the Food Out

Step 3: Organize the Food

Step 4: Cut the Onions and Tomatoes

Step 5: Prepare the BBQ Grill

Step 6: Put the Dogs On

Step 7:  Put the Canopy Up

Step 8:  Eat the Hot Dogs

Step 9: Smile Because It Taste Nice

Iggy's Guide to Gardening

It was a nice day today...so I decided to cut a tree

Lack of Physical Activity and All-cause Mortality Rate

Non-vigorous physical activity and all-cause mortality: systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies
International Journal of Epidemiology, 07/16/2010  Evidence Based Medicine

Woodcock J et al. – The authors found that 2.5 h/week (equivalent to 30 min daily of moderate intensity activity on 5 days a week) compared with no activity was associated with a reduction in mortality risk of 19%, while 7 h/week of moderate activity compared with no activity reduced the mortality risk by 24%. 

The authors found a smaller effect in studies that looked at walking alone. Being physically active reduces the risk of all–cause mortality. The largest benefit was found from moving from no activity to low levels of activity, but even at high levels of activity benefits accrue from additional activity.

 View Article Here

FDA Investigating Potential Association Between Angiotensin-Receptor Blockers and Cancer

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARBs): Ongoing Safety Review for Cancer Risk

The FDA is reviewing the safety of angiotensin-receptor blockers after a recent meta-analysis suggested a small increase in new cancer diagnoses in patients using the drugs.

The agency will update the public with its conclusions as soon as the review is complete. In the meantime, it says the benefits of ARBs outweigh any potential risks, and it advises that the drugs continue to be used as recommended.

Clinicians should report any ARB-related adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

FDA MedWatch

New Drug Helps Patients Lose Weight and Maintain the Loss

Lorcaserin, a selective serotonin 2C receptor agonist, helps patients both lose weight and maintain their weight loss, according to a phase III study conducted by the drug's manufacturer and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some 3200 overweight or obese adults were randomized to take lorcaserin or placebo twice daily for a year, after which lorcaserin recipients continued the drug or switched to placebo for another year. All participants also received nutrition and exercise counseling.

At 1 year, more patients in the lorcaserin group than placebo group had lost at least 5% of their body weight (48% vs. 20% of patients; mean weight loss: 5.8 kg vs. 2.2 kg). In addition, lorcaserin patients who stayed on the drug for a second year were more likely to maintain their weight loss than those who switched to placebo.

Serious adverse events did not differ between lorcaserin and placebo recipients. Unlike some other serotonergic agents, lorcaserin did not increase risk for valvular heart disease.

Click Here for Abstract

FDA Adds Liver Warning to Leflunomide (Arava) Label

The FDA will require that the label for the rheumatoid arthritis drug leflunomide (Arava) carry an added warning for severe liver injury. The label already warns against the drug's use in pregnant women and those of childbearing potential.

The new warning comes after the FDA received 49 reports of severe liver injury, including 14 instances of fatal liver failure, from 2002 to 2009. Risk for liver injury was higher among patients using other drugs associated with liver injury and patients with liver disease.

Clinicians should monitor liver enzymes at least monthly for 3 months after beginning the drug. After that, enzymes should be monitored every quarter. Treatment should be halted if liver enzymes rise to two times the upper limit of normal.

 FDA MedWatch alert

Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Dementia and Parkinson Disease

Two studies seem to point to vitamin D deficiency as having a role in both cognitive decline and Parkinson disease, but commentators aren't certain about the clinical implications.

One study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, followed some 850 older adults for about 6 years. Low serum levels of vitamin D at the outset of the study were associated with substantial cognitive decline (as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination) by study's end. Editorialists caution that "low vitamin D levels may simply be a marker for lower health status than a cause of it." They write that "a rigorous evidence base ... does not currently exist" to favor using vitamin D supplementation to improve health outcomes.

The other study, published in the Archives of Neurology, found an association between low levels of vitamin D and the development of Parkinson disease by follow-up some 30 years later. An editorialist finds the results promising but preliminary.

Click here to view study

Coenzyme Q10: Therapy for Hypertension and statin-induced muscle pain?

Coenzyme Q10: A therapy for hypertension and statin-induced myalgia?

1. MARCIA WYMAN, PharmD

+ Author Affiliations

1. 
   
   Drug Information Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, Cleveland Clinic

1. ADDRESS: Marcia Wyman, PharmD, Drug Information Center, Department of Pharmacy, Hb-105, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail wymanm@ccf.org.

1. MANDY LEONARD, PharmD, BCPS*

+ Author Affiliations

1. 
   
   Assistant Director, Drug Information Services and Formulary Management, Department of Pharmacy, Cleveland Clinic

1. THOMAS MORLEDGE, MD

+ Author Affiliations

1. 
   
   Medical Director for Wellness Enterprise, Center for Integrative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic

Abstract

Some small clinical trials seem to show that coenzyme Q10 supplements can be used to lower blood pressure and to treat or prevent myalgia caused by hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). However, larger trials are needed to determine if they are truly effective for these purposes. The authors examine the evidence and also discuss issues such as bioavailability, elimination, safety, and cost.

KEY POINTS

In some clinical trials, coenzyme Q10 supplements significantly lowered diastolic and systolic blood pressure.

Statins may lower coenzyme Q10 serum levels, and some investigators have evaluated the relationship between coenzyme Q10 deficiency and statin-related myalgia, but more evidence is needed to support the use of coenzyme Q10 supplements to prevent or treat myalgia.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation appears to be relatively safe. Most clinical trials have not reported significant side effects that necessitated stopping therapy. Gastrointestinal effects include abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. Allergic rash and headache have also been reported.

Click here for Link to Article

Brakes and Struts

I like my car. It's 10 years old - Honda Civic Year 2000 - It's been my little baby - was given birth when I gave birth to the practice of medicine 10 years ago.

Yes, I could be driving some fancy Beamer or Mercedes...but having a fancy car doesn't go well with my sticker to express my love for cats...

Well...my car has close to 150,000 miles on it and has never broken down on me (can't say that for the fancy cars...) This past week though I noticed the brakes pedal was weak...I had to push down on the brakes - all the way down - for my car to slow down and stop. Not only that, the car was "slightly shaking" while in the stopping process...Worse yet, I don't recall the last time I had new brakes for this car...

I dread taking cars to the Dealership for Car Service...because they charge you an arm and a leg...even if you got only One leg they would still take the other one and place you in a permanent wheelchair...

So I took my car instead to GookYear Tires and Service...

Yeah they are not the dealer so I expected Cheaper Price Services...

Well...Here are the Services done:

And Here is the BILL I paid:

OK...$800 Bucks! Just for Brakes and some struts whatever that is...

I came home and looked up the Kelley Blue Book Value for my Car. My car is only in Gook Condition:

Why Do I feel I was just financially raped?

What Do I Blog About?

OK...So I created this blog site...kind of like moving out of a community housing center filled with family and friends (http://iggyigette.multiply.com/) and moving into a little apartment of my own (here at Blogger). No, I'll never leave my multiply blog home where there is comfort, support, and familiarity, but sometimes you get that urge to check out what else exist in the Blog world...so here I am...

Then there's this other lingering thought I have that this site is more of a "Public Site"... so contents need to be available for "Public Consumption"...so is Chicken Feet appropriate for Public Consumption? Is Posting Clinical Trial Results appropriate for Public Consumption - or for hungry Plaintiff's Attorney's looking for a Frivolous Lawsuit? Why do folks Blog anyways?

I suppose there is something in all of us we could share with others and experience a piece of life outside of our own from our collective experiences through the Blog.

Well...here's the first of a small bit of what is going on in Iggy's World...

With the Economic Recession Affecting us all one way or another,

Iggy have moved into Recession Mode Living:

To Save money from Groceries....we now have home grown Tomatoes:

To save money from using cell phone time, Iggy has stopped answering Voicemail Messages

To Save Money from Electricity, Iggy decided to watch a Smaller TV

To Save Money from Feeding Hermie, Iggy allowed Hermie to escape from his cage, roll into a ball...and die.

To Save Money from buying books, we go to Barnes and Nobles: Free Reading

To Save Money in Investments, Be Careful of which Investment "Guru" you listen to.

I particularly like the Motley Fool Hidden Gems (Small Cap Investments)

But a look at their Portfolio Returns (HG) isn't something to brag about

To not pay for shows and entertainment, we watch Igette practice for Free

And most importantly, in this economic recession, it's extremely important to look for Income...

By using Google Ads on this Blogsite...

In just ONE DAY...

I HAVE MADE....

ONE CENT!!!

Woohoo!!!!!

Well...this concludes my first Blog Post on this Blog Site