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Many Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Carry a Viral Signature

Many Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Carry a Viral Signature

Patients may be asking about a widely reported study linking mouse retroviruses with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The paper appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers found gene sequences from murine leukemia virus-related viruses in 32 of 37 patients with CFS, but in only 3 of 44 normal controls. The authors say their findings do not establish a causative role for the viruses in CFS, but may simply reflect the susceptibility of CFS patients to such infections.

A PNAS commentary suggests that it may be appropriate to undertake interventional studies with antiretroviral drugs.

Link

Migraine with Aura Linked to Modest Increase in Mortality Risk

Migraine with Aura Linked to Modest Increase in Mortality Risk

Adults who suffer migraine with aura face a modestly increased risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, according to a BMJ study.

Researchers in Iceland assessed headache symptoms in nearly 19,000 adults (mean age, 53) and then followed them for roughly 26 years. Compared with subjects without headache, those experiencing migraine with aura at least monthly had a 21% higher risk for all-cause mortality and a 27% higher risk for cardiovascular mortality. Migraine without aura and nonmigraine headache did not pose increased risk.

The authors call the absolute increase in risk with migraine with aura "low," and conclude that "the focus should be on conventional risk factors ... for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of migraine status."

Link

Shades of Morning

On the way to the office this morning

The Time Has Arrived

5 Years Since Hurricane Katrina

It's been 5 years since Hurricane Katrina...

I took a team of nurses to the area and we flew there without much of a plan to do some medical volunteer stuff... all we did was collect a bunch of Medication Samples from Drug Companies and we bought the rest of items that was needed.

Here are some pics from my first trip there:

Biloxi November 2005

Slept on the floor at the YWCA - No chicken Feet Available.




We met a Priest at a Surviving Catholic Church and simply set up a makeshift clinic there.




FEMA was not as helpful as we had wished...so my friend Leslie went to take over the Manager's Seat



family with kids tenting out



We bought bags of "goodies" and went door to door to deliver

overnight marketing efforts - more successful than ours - interesting how they spell "doctor" in the South




A lutheran church donated some Supplies and gave us free food!

Medical Clinic at Vietnamese Church

Bags of Goodies fit in the trunk






Part of Iggy's Medical Team

I hope that boat had Hurricane Insurance

I went back 2 months later and we did another Medical Volunteer Excursion. The second trip we were a little better prepared.