"Alien" skeleton mystery finally solved

Puzzling mummified remains found in Chile 15 years ago spurred alien theories, but DNA testing revealed the truth

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alien-skeleton-chile-identified-human-with-bone-disorder/

Woman dies after "live bee acupuncture" session

The alternative medicine procedure involves injecting bee sting venom into the body, and doctors warn of serious risks

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-dies-after-live-bee-acupuncture-session/

Want to Live Longer? Eating Less Might Be the Key

People who reduced their caloric intake by just 15 percent over two years experienced a significant decrease in their metabolism, according to a small  clinical trial.

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20180322/want-to-live-longer-eating-less-might-be-the-key?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Make protecting yourself from injury child's play

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5bOr5AoXOE

AIDS Researcher Robert Redfield to Lead CDC

Redfield's appointment was announced Wednesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who said in a statement that Redfield's scientific and clinical background was "peerless."

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20180322/aids-researcher-robert-redfield-to-lead-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Anticoagulation Choice - Demo

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4LwzdCnV1U

Noisy Workplace May Wreak Havoc on Your Heart

Loud noise is one of the most common workplace hazards in the United States, with 1 in 4 Americans reporting a history of exposure to high levels of noise while at work, the researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20180322/noisy-workplace-may-wreak-havoc-on-your-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hurricane Harvey's toxic impact deeper than public told

More than 6 months after floodwaters swamped Houston, the extent of environmental damage is beginning to surface along with questions about long-term health impact

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-harveys-toxic-impact-deeper-than-public-told/

Promote health, keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable

A warm welcome to all meeting participants!

I sincerely regret not being able to join you this week to take part in your discussions. However, I know that several members of my senior leadership team will be joining some sessions. I have asked them to brief me on your deliberations and meeting outcomes.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2018/serve-vulnerable/en/index.html

NIH Investigating Alcohol Companies' Funding of Study

Five large beer and liquor makers promised to provide $67.7 million of the $100 million cost of the study, and their donations are being made through the Foundation for the NIH.

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20180321/nih-investigating-alcohol-companies-funding-of-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Recall: Kidde Smoke Alarms May Fail to Detect Fire

A yellow cap that can cover one of two smoke sensors was left on when the alarms were made. No injuries have been reported.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20180322/recall-kidde-smoke-alarms-may-fail-to-detect-fire?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Breast Tumor Size Shrank As Mammograms Increased

The average size of breast tumors at diagnosis fell 23 percent during that time -- from 26 millimeters to 20 millimeters (1.02 to 0.79 inches), the researchers found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20180322/breast-tumor-size-shrank-as-mammograms-increased?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tai Chi Beats Aerobics for Fibromyalgia Pain

Treatment for fibromyalgia typically includes aerobic exercise, but this can be challenging for many patients when their symptoms flare up, the researchers explained.

From: https://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20180322/tai-chi-beats-aerobics-for-fibromyalgia-pain?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Could a Pap Test Spot More Than Cervical Cancer?

The researchers behind the new study developed a testing regimen called PapSEEK to see if additional samples collected during a pelvic exam could be used to detect endometrial or ovarian cancer.

From: https://www.webmd.com/ovarian-cancer/news/20180321/could-a-pap-test-spot-more-than-cervical-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Millions Get Wrong Treatment for Back Pain: Study

Many patients are treated in emergency rooms, told to take time off from work and rest, referred for scans or surgery, and prescribed painkillers that include addictive opioids, the researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20180321/millions-get-wrong-treatment-for-back-pain-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Controversy trails AIDS researcher named as CDC director

Redfield was named to head the federal government's top public health agency, but the decision is not without controversy

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/aids-researcher-robert-r-redford-selected-as-cdc-director/

Opioids in the household: “Sharing” pain pills is too common

A few years ago, I saw a patient with shoulder pain.* She’d been walking her dog; the dog had lunged at a squirrel and yanked her arm. Being a busy person, she had delayed coming in to be seen. In the course of the interview, she described how sleeping was awful, because if she rolled over onto that side, the pain was so severe it woke her up. So at the suggestion of a family member, she had sampled the pain pills prescribed to her grandfather, who was in home hospice for advanced cancer. “But don’t worry,” she assured me. “He has plenty of pain pills, and he’s very comfortable. I only used a few.”

*I’ve changed the mechanism and details of the injury to protect patient privacy.

Many people “borrow” a family member’s pain medicine; they shouldn’t

Almost every primary care physician has seen some version of this scenario. Pill sharing among friends and family is a widespread practice. Pain-pill sharing, however, can lead to misuse, abuse, and addiction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number one source of abused prescription opioids is free pills from friends and family.

To study this, researchers at Johns Hopkins looked at insurance claims data from almost six million people who had received an opioid prescription, and their household members. As a comparison, they also looked at over three million people who had received an NSAID prescription (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or celecoxib), and their household members. Over the course of a year, the household members of people who had received an opioid prescription were slightly more likely to then receive an opioid prescription themselves, 11.8%, as opposed to 11.1% in the NSAID group.

That 0.7% seems like a small difference until you consider how many people receive an opioid prescription here in the United States. Per the CDC, there were 70 opioid prescriptions written for every 100 people in the country in 2015. This means that when we include everyone who has received an opioid prescription, we’re talking about millions of people, and all of their household members. That 0.7% risk then potentially translates to tens of thousands of people.

This study alone identified almost six million people, and even this underestimates the problems because the study excluded patients with a cancer diagnosis or who were in hospice. Off the top of my head, I can think of multiple cases where I suspected or was told outright that others were using a hospice patient’s pain pills. I asked the study author, Marissa J. Seamans, PhD, about why they excluded these patients. “Because opioids are indicated for patients diagnosed with malignancy or in hospice care, we excluded them to more easily identify comparable NSAID patients,” she explained. While this made the comparison more reliable, it also left out a large source of “borrowed” pain medication.

Maureen Dryja, RN, is one of the nurses in my practice. She has had extensive experience in home hospice agencies. “Yes, diversion of pain medication is a significant issue in home hospice care. On admission to hospice it is very openly stated that having narcotics in the house is a really big deal.” The home hospice community has developed and implemented strategies around storage, monitoring, and disposal of opioid prescriptions. Despite this, Dryja described several situations where supplies of unused opioids disappeared.

Dr. Seamans points out that regardless of why a person is prescribed opioids, “patients need to be counseled on safe storage of opioids and how unused opioids should be disposed.” She outlines some possible methods: “Safe storage suggestions include locking or latching medications, but these suggestions have not been tested.” In addition, it’s not easy to find an appropriate place to dispose of unused pain medications. “Some pharmacies have provided kiosks for safe disposal; however, safe disposal sites may be lacking in some communities.” Many communities have “drug take back” days, but only a few times a year. The Drug Enforcement Agency has a helpful website for drug disposal.

Minor surgery and dental work: Common opportunities for opioid misuse

Patients who just had dental work or surgery may also come home with large numbers of pain pills, which should also be monitored, but there are few guidelines for this situation. Physicians are generally advised to “counsel patients regarding safe storage and disposal of medications,” which can mean many different things to different people. In my primary care practice, I do sometimes prescribe opioid medications, though usually only a small amount and for a short duration. Regardless, I will counsel patients not to tell anyone, anyone, that they have the prescription, and not to store it in an obvious place where it may be seen and stolen. Most patients take this advice to heart.

Opioids have specific and limited uses for pain control, but these are often outside of the hospital or doctor’s office. And for some people, it’s tempting to “borrow” one (or more) to treat pain. As Dr. Seamans concludes, we have a long way to go, not only in developing guidelines, but in finding ways to make it easier for patients and families to comply with safe use and disposal recommendations.

Home hospice strategies around opioid medications

As Dryja explains: “The spot where the meds are going to be kept is discussed and identified. The admission nurse will assess the home situation, and he/she may suggest a locked box with only the primary caregiver (plus the primary hospice nurse) having a key.” Part of the primary nurse’s role includes a narcotic count at each visit. The primary caregiver is taught how to document the time and dose of narcotics given. This also helps monitor how pain management is going, whether dose or duration may need changing, as well as a way to be sure that the amounts given square with amounts left.

Disposal of unused pain medications is also carefully documented: “We were very clear in our instructions not to throw narcotics away, as this was something that we needed to do together, and then sign a paper that we witnessed each other discard them.” Despite this, Dryja described several situations where supplies of unused opioids disappeared, apparently disposed of prior to her arrival.

The post Opioids in the household: “Sharing” pain pills is too common appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/opioids-household-sharing-pain-pills-common-2018032213269

Mumps vaccine may be wearing out for some age groups

New research could explain the growing number of mumps cases among young adults who thought childhood vaccines would last forever. Scientists warn the shots may be wearing off for some age groups. The answer could be a third mumps shot when someone turns 18. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss why vaccines need to be improved.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/mumps-vaccine-may-be-wearing-out-for-some-age-groups/

Well-Done Meat Not Good for Your Blood Pressure

People who like their steak well-done instead of rare might face a slightly increased risk of high blood pressure, a preliminary study suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20180321/well-done-meat-not-good-for-your-blood-pressure?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Sugary Sodas Linked Again to Increased Heart Risks

The researchers also looked at the effect of sugary foods on the risk of dying, but there didn't seem to be an impact on premature death risk.

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20180321/sugary-sodas-linked-again-to-increased-heart-risks?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Controversy over new, lightly pot-infused soda

Maker of California Dreamin' hoping for green, as in profits, from its offering but medical professionals see plenty of red flags

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/controversy-over-new-lightly-pot-infused-soda-california-dreamin/