Causal Link Between Higher BMI and Gallstones
Elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of gallstone disease. Whether this reflects a causal association is unknown, according to the study’s abstract.Contributor: Debbie NicholsonPublished: Jul 16, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - July 17, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Is bear bile good for skin?
According to this study, it turns out that this ingredient is good for skin conditions like psoriasis (at least when taken orally.) In this day and age of animal-rights it would be crazy to think that any company would use bear bile as an ingredient, but one never knows.
In fact perhaps we should launch an investigation into the ingredients used in the Bare Escentuals line!
Image credit: http://pixabay.com (Source: thebeautybrains.com)
Source: thebeautybrains.com - June 1, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: thebeautybrains Tags: Questions Source Type: blogs
Self-Managing Cholesterol
By David Spero
As a recent study indicates, reducing LDL (“bad" cholesterol) can help prevent complications in most people with diabetes. Why is LDL cholesterol a bad thing, and how do you get to a healthy level?
First, what is cholesterol? Discovered in 1769 by analyzing gallstones, cholesterol is a fat-like organic chemical that is an essential part of animal cell membranes. Without it, cells won't function properly.
Cholesterol is made into bile, which is needed for digesting fats. It is also helps produce the body's natural steroids, including our sex hormones and the vital stress hormone cortisol. Cholesterol ...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - May 15, 2013 Category: Diabetes Authors: David Spero Source Type: blogs
MRCP: Stop Already.
Conclusions
MRCP has a high rate of false normal results compared with IOC and is not as accurate as more invasive techniques. There is no need for preoperative MRCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis caused by stones.
MRCP (magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a costly imaging modality (although one would have no idea how much it costs due to pricing opacity and lack of published data---I spent 30 minutes googling "how much does an MRCP cost" without finding a reliable estimate, try it yourself). I have found it to be one of the most overused studies in modern American medicine. T...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - March 23, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD Source Type: blogs
MRCP: Stop Already.
ConclusionsMRCP has a high rate of false normal results compared with IOC and is not as accurate as more invasive techniques. There is no need for preoperative MRCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis caused by stones.MRCP (magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a costly imaging modality (although one would have no idea how much it costs due to pricing opacity and lack of published data---I spent 30 minutes googling "how much does an MRCP cost" without finding a reliable estimate, try it yourself). I have found it to be one of the most overused studies in modern American medicine. Typica...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - March 22, 2013 Category: Surgery Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD FACS Source Type: blogs
Pancreatitis Risks And A Pair Of Diabetes Drug
Yet another potentially worrisome sign for a pair of widely used diabetes drugs. A new study indicates that Merck’ Januvia and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s as Byetta can double the risk of developing pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas that is linked to cancer and kidney failure. This is the same issue that has plagued both drugs over the past few years.
The study, which examined insurance records for more than 2,500 diabetics between February 2005 and December 2008, found that patients hospitalized with pancreatitis were twice as likely to be taking either of the drugs than a control group of Type...
Source: Pharmalot - February 26, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Ed Silverman Tags: Uncategorized Bristol Myers Squibb Byetta Diabetes Eli Lilly Januvia Merck Novo Nordisk Victoza Source Type: blogs
How To Dispose of Medical Waste? Take It Home and Frame It! (Picture)
I'm not sure what to think of this. A reader sent me a picture of their professionally framed gallbladder they saved after having it surgically removed for cholelithiasis. As far as I'm concerned, it's medical waste. Heck, it's wrapped in plastic and even has a biohazard danger sticker attached to it! We can't eat or drink at the nurses station, but patients can take their formaldehyde infested cancer causing medical waste home with their discharge papers? It says, "CAUTION, CONTAINS FORMALDEHYDE". That looks like a warning to me! I'm just waiting for the day a hospital gets ...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - February 20, 2013 Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Tamer Mahrous Source Type: blogs
Survivor: Hospital Edition
You knew it was coming. Reality TV has come to health care.
WDEY network began filming a new reality show last month; it’s called Medicine Unlocked (1). It follows real patients navigating the health care system in search of treatment for their ailments. Each two-hour episode focuses on four patients who share a specific preliminary diagnosis; one week it’s back pain, another it may be gall bladder problems or men with suggested prostate cancer. Each patient-contestant receives a pre-loaded health savings account and debit card and earns “keys” that allow passage through a series of decision “gates.” Gate 1 is ...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - January 23, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Consumer Health Care Cost Patients Quality safety Source Type: blogs
My Unusual Gallstone Symptoms
Gallstones are common in American women, but not every women will have the classic symptoms listed for gallstones.Contributor: Isabel DeFeoPublished: Jan 17, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - January 17, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Minimal Reporting Guidelines for the Treatment of Cancer Patients
Minimal Reporting Guidelines for the Treatment of Cancer Patients As laboratory physicians, our contribution to patient care is knowledge: this is the starting point from which all informed therapeutic intervention proceeds. How that knowledge is obtained and communicated is the art and science of our profession. These minimal diagnostic guidelines are designed to be used as an aid, not a constraint, in that process. The guidelines are presented in a specific format out of necessity, but any format that effectively communicates the necessary information in a given patho...
Source: Oncopathology - September 5, 2011 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: blogs
