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."
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Calcium Supplements Reportedly Raise Risk for Myocardial Infarction
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
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
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Meditation Appears to Boost Attention Span
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.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
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."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Insurers Push Plans That Limit Choice of Doctor
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
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Igette's Gymnastic Camp
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".
Saturday, July 17, 2010
How to Cook a BBQ
Friday, July 16, 2010
Iggy's Guide to Gardening
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
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
Thursday, July 15, 2010
New Drug Helps Patients Lose Weight and Maintain the Loss
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
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
FDA Adds Liver Warning to Leflunomide (Arava) Label
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
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Vitamin D Deficiency Associated with Dementia and Parkinson Disease
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
Monday, July 12, 2010
Coenzyme Q10: Therapy for Hypertension and statin-induced muscle pain?
Coenzyme Q10: A therapy for hypertension and statin-induced myalgia?
- MARCIA WYMAN, PharmD
- 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.
- MANDY LEONARD, PharmD, BCPS*
- THOMAS MORLEDGE, MD
Abstract
KEY POINTS
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Brakes and Struts
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...
Why Do I feel I was just financially raped?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
What Do I Blog About?
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,
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