The tests detect DNA that tumors shed into the blood
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/liquid-biopsies-cancer-screening-blood-tests/
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
During Eclipse, 'Your Eye Can Scorch'
The Aug. 21 eclipse will be visible across most of North America. Learn here how to watch it safely.
From: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20170809/during-eclipse-your-eye-can-scorch?src=RSS_PUBLIC
18 SWAT officers possibly exposed to fentanyl during drug raid
The U.S. Attorney's Office says SWAT team members were possibly exposed to fentanyl while conducting a drug raid in the West End
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/swat-officers-hospitalized-possible-exposure-fentanyl-raid/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/swat-officers-hospitalized-possible-exposure-fentanyl-raid/
CDC Warns of Uptick in Cyclospora Infections
The CDC is warning of an increase in infections from Cyclospora, a parasite that causes watery diarrhea and other symptoms.
From: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20170809/cdc-warns-of-uptick-in-cyclospora-infections?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Timothy J. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D.: Internist - Mayo Clinic
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poM8VQrkujI
Gregory Gores, M.D.: Internist - Mayo Clinic
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEE-34w-hrw
Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B.: Internist - Mayo Clinic
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C78QdzrpJXs
Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips to prevent golf injuries
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ggzUqVk50
Racial Gap Narrows For Cardiac Arrest Patients
Difference stems from resuscitation, researchers report
From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170809/racial-gap-narrows-for-cardiac-arrest-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Dr. Joseph Murray discusses human gut microbe to treat MS
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnKoccJ4low
Is it safe to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of exercise?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
Not long ago, I took ibuprofen after a dental procedure and was amazed at how well it worked. Millions of people have had similar experiences with ibuprofen and related medications (called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs) when used for a number of conditions, including arthritis, back pain, and headache. That’s why NSAIDs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide.
More than a dozen different NSAIDs are available, including naproxen (as in Naprosyn or Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren) and indomethacin (Indocin). Aspirin is also an NSAID, though it is usually taken in small doses for its blood thinning effects (to prevent heart attack or stroke) rather than for pain.
NSAIDs are fairly safe, but not risk free
The safety profile of NSAIDs is generally quite good, especially when taken in small doses for short periods of time. That’s why several of them, including ibuprofen and naproxen, are available in low doses over the counter in this country and elsewhere.
However, as is true for any drug, NSAIDs can cause trouble. Upset stomach, intestinal bleeding, and cardiovascular problems are among the most important and widely recognized side effects. But, the list is longer than that. The risk of heart attack may be increased among users of NSAIDs, especially among those at increased risk (such as those who have had a previous heart attack). Another important item on that longer list is kidney injury. Most of the time, NSAID-related kidney problems develop in people who already have kidney disease or who take other medications that can affect kidney function. High doses and prolonged use are also risk factors.
A new study of NSAID use during exercise
NSAID use is common among people who deal with aches and pain during and after exercise. In fact, many marathoners and other endurance athletes take NSAIDs preventively to reduce pain and possibly improve performance. However, these same athletes are at particular risk for kidney injury. Dehydration and muscle damage are common among endurance athletes and can also contribute to kidney injury. If NSAIDs are added to the mix, might these athletes be at even higher risk for kidney damage? Should they avoid using NSAIDs? That’s the subject of a new study published in the July 2017 edition of Emergency Medicine Journal.
Researchers divided 89 ultramarathoners participating in one of several seven-day, 155-mile races into two groups: one group took 400 mg of ibuprofen (equivalent to two over-the-counter Advil) every four hours for three or four doses toward the end of the race. The other group took a placebo.
What they found was concerning:
- Kidney injury was quite common. About 44% of these ultramarathoners experienced significantly reduced kidney function by the end of the race.
- Kidney injury was more common among those taking ibuprofen. Just over half of the NSAID-takers had reduced kidney function, while about one-third of those in the placebo group did. Despite these findings, the differences in rates of kidney injury were not statistically significant.
- The severity of kidney injury was greater in the ibuprofen group.
- A faster finish and greater weight loss during the race (likely due to greater dehydration) increased the likelihood of kidney injury.
So what?
Most of us will never attempt to run 155 miles in one week, so the results of this study may not apply to a more typically exercising adult. In addition, the study was quite small, which limits its ability to detect significant differences between the two groups. Had the same differences in the rates of kidney disease been observed in a much larger study, the findings would likely have been statistically significant. And, this study did not examine the long-term effects of ibuprofen on kidney function. It’s possible (or perhaps likely) that with rest, hydration, and time, the kidney function of athletes with kidney injury in this study returned to normal with no permanent detrimental effects. Finally, higher or lower doses of ibuprofen may have produced different results.
Still, this study raises some serious concerns about the wisdom of taking ibuprofen during exercise, at least among endurance athletes. The authors of this study suggest acetaminophen (as in Tylenol and other products) as an alternative, but we’ll need more research to know whether other alternatives are truly safer.
The bottom line
If you are taking an NSAID regularly, you should be having regular blood monitoring, including measures of kidney function. And if you have significant kidney disease, you should probably avoid non-aspirin NSAIDs altogether. Ask your doctor whether you are a good candidate for NSAID use. They can be quite helpful, and many of their side effects can be avoided with proper precautions.
The post Is it safe to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of exercise? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-it-safe-to-take-ibuprofen-for-the-aches-and-pains-of-exercise-2017080912185
Essential Oils: Natural Doesn’t Mean Risk-Free
Essential oils are increasingly popular, but using them incorrectly, or overdoing it, can be dangerous.
From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20170809/essential-oils-natural-doesnt-mean-risk-free?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Christopher J. McLeod, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D.
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CST_HAv5otQ
Is it safe to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of exercise?
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling
Not long ago, I took ibuprofen after a dental procedure and was amazed at how well it worked. Millions of people have had similar experiences with ibuprofen and related medications (called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs) when used for a number of conditions, including arthritis, back pain, and headache. That’s why NSAIDs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide.
More than a dozen different NSAIDs are available, including naproxen (as in Naprosyn or Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren) and indomethacin (Indocin). Aspirin is also an NSAID, though it is usually taken in small doses for its blood thinning effects (to prevent heart attack or stroke) rather than for pain.
NSAIDs are fairly safe, but not risk free
The safety profile of NSAIDs is generally quite good, especially when taken in small doses for short periods of time. That’s why several of them, including ibuprofen and naproxen, are available in low doses over the counter in this country and elsewhere.
However, as is true for any drug, NSAIDs can cause trouble. Upset stomach, intestinal bleeding, and cardiovascular problems are among the most important and widely recognized side effects. But, the list is longer than that; an important item on that longer list is kidney injury. Most of the time, NSAID-related kidney problems develop in people who already have kidney disease or who take other medications that can affect kidney function. High doses and prolonged use are also risk factors.
A new study of NSAID use during exercise
NSAID use is common among people who deal with aches and pain during and after exercise. In fact, many marathoners and other endurance athletes take NSAIDs preventively to reduce pain and possibly improve performance. However, these same athletes are at particular risk for kidney injury. Dehydration and muscle damage are common among endurance athletes and can also contribute to kidney injury. If NSAIDs are added to the mix, might these athletes be at even higher risk for kidney damage? Should they avoid using NSAIDs? That’s the subject of a new study published in the July 2017 edition of Emergency Medicine Journal.
Researchers divided 89 ultramarathoners participating in one of several seven-day, 155-mile races into two groups: one group took 400 mg of ibuprofen (equivalent to two over-the-counter Advil) every four hours for three or four doses toward the end of the race. The other group took a placebo.
What they found was concerning:
- Kidney injury was quite common. About 44% of these ultramarathoners experienced significantly reduced kidney function by the end of the race.
- Kidney injury was more common among those taking ibuprofen. Just over half of the NSAID-takers had reduced kidney function, while about one-third of those in the placebo group did. Despite these findings, the differences in rates of kidney injury were not statistically significant.
- The severity of kidney injury was greater in the ibuprofen group.
- A faster finish and greater weight loss during the race (likely due to greater dehydration) increased the likelihood of kidney injury.
So what?
Most of us will never attempt to run 155 miles in one week, so the results of this study may not apply to a more typically exercising adult. In addition, the study was quite small, which limits its ability to detect significant differences between the two groups. Had the same differences in the rates of kidney disease been observed in a much larger study, the findings would likely have been statistically significant. And, this study did not examine the long-term effects of ibuprofen on kidney function. It’s possible (or perhaps likely) that with rest, hydration, and time, the kidney function of athletes with kidney injury in this study returned to normal with no permanent detrimental effects. Finally, higher or lower doses of ibuprofen may have produced different results.
Still, this study raises some serious concerns about the wisdom of taking ibuprofen during exercise, at least among endurance athletes. The authors of this study suggest acetaminophen (as in Tylenol and other products) as an alternative, but we’ll need more research to know whether other alternatives are truly safer.
The bottom line
If you are taking an NSAID regularly, you should be having regular blood monitoring, including measures of kidney function. And if you have significant kidney disease, you should probably avoid non-aspirin NSAIDs altogether. Ask your doctor whether you are a good candidate for NSAID use. They can be quite helpful, and many of their side effects can be avoided with proper precautions.
The post Is it safe to take ibuprofen for the aches and pains of exercise? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-it-safe-to-take-ibuprofen-for-the-aches-and-pains-of-exercise-2017080912185
Yoga May Boost Aging Brains
Changes seen in areas involved with attention and memory, but it's not yet clear if yoga is the cause
From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20170809/yoga-may-boost-aging-brains?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Improving Reading Performance with Syntactic Formatting Technology
From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enk5obr-aIw
ADA member seeking bone marrow transplant starts treatment
An ADA member with a life-threatening disease that can likely be cured only with a stem cell transplant has started an alternate treatment in Seattle, his family said.
From: By Michelle Manchir http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/august/ada-member-seeking-bone-marrow-transplant-starts-treatment
From: By Michelle Manchir http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/august/ada-member-seeking-bone-marrow-transplant-starts-treatment
EpiPen alternatives help lower prices, but who pays?
There are now more choices for millions of people who relied on the EpiPen for life-threatening allergies, but there is still confusion over the treatments' costs. The Auvi-Q is an epinephrine auto-injector alternative that's listed as $4,500 for a two-pack. But most patients aren't paying a penny of that, leading to the question: who is? Anna Werner reports.
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/epipen-alternatives-help-lower-prices-but-who-pays/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/epipen-alternatives-help-lower-prices-but-who-pays/
Puzzling rise in colorectal cancer deaths among younger adults
A new study shows death rates for colorectal cancer in white men and women under the age of 55 climbed nearly 14 percent in a decade after years of overall decline. Over the same period, deadly cases involving African-Americans in the same age group went down. Gastroenterologist and CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the findings and how people can lower their risk.
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/puzzling-rise-in-colorectal-cancer-deaths-among-younger-adults/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/puzzling-rise-in-colorectal-cancer-deaths-among-younger-adults/
Alternatives emerge amid EpiPen price woes -- but at a questionable cost
We revisit the Henegar household, where two of their six children have severe allergies and rely on potentially lifesaving epinephrine auto-injectors
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/epipen-alternatives-generics-auvi-q-4500-dollars-list-price/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/epipen-alternatives-generics-auvi-q-4500-dollars-list-price/
OMS : Depresión – Hablemos
From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZW6m2jAHuw
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