Immunotherapy: What you need to know
Not all that long ago, chemotherapy was the only option to treat most advanced (metastatic) cancers. Because these drugs work by destroying rapidly dividing cells, they harm some healthy cells — such as hair follicles — as well as cancer cells. In the past two decades, cancer treatment has been transformed by targeted drugs and the emergence of chemotherapy. Targeted drugs are designed to home in on specific genes or proteins that are altered or overexpressed on cancer cells. Immunotherapy has been very successful for certain types of advanced cancers, such as lung, bladder, and skin cancers.
One form of immunotherapy ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 22, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Guru P. Sonpavde, MD Tags: Cancer Immunotherapy Managing your health care Source Type: blogs
Wheat Belly and Autoimmune Diseases
The Wheat Belly lifestyle begins with elimination of the worst and most dominant of all grains in the diet, semi-dwarf wheat products, followed by elimination of its closely-related brethren in other grains. This alone is a powerful start in reversing the 200-some diseases of autoimmunity.
We now know that the gliadin protein of wheat and related proteins in other grains trigger increased intestinal permeability that initiates the process, as highly inflammatory compounds, such as lipopolysaccharide from bacterial cell walls, are permitted entry into the body. We also know that gliadin itself gains entry into the bloodstr...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - January 11, 2019 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates autoimmune Gliadin gluten-free grain-free grains Inflammation wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Patients and physicians need to talk more and tweet less
Long ago, and far away, I encountered a patient that changed the way I practice. I was with a medical student while examining a middle-aged woman who presented with a dramatic eruption that was probably DRESS syndrome (DRESS syndrome was not yet described). I prescribed prednisone and asked her to come in a few days […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 8, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/warren-r-heymann" rel="tag" > Warren R. Heymann, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician Dermatology Twitter Source Type: blogs
Acute Angle Closure: Mastering Tonometry
Identifying and managing disease often requires the delicate and skillful use of temperamental emergency department machinery. The ability to apply these may appropriately help determine a difficult diagnosis.Glaucoma, we all know, can cause blindness, and acute narrow angle glaucoma refers to the angles within the eye that are not as wide and open as normal. People with acute angle glaucoma have abnormal anatomy within the eye where the angle changes as the eye is dilated. This can cause blockages of fluid drainage from the anterior to posterior changes resulting in increased intraocular pressure. It ca lead to acute a...
Source: The Procedural Pause - November 9, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Live the Wheat Belly lifestyle, get off prescription medications
Take a look at the list of medications people have been able to stop by following the Wheat Belly lifestyle.
These represent medications prescribed by doctors to, in effect, “treat” the consequences of consuming wheat and grains. They prescribe drugs to treat inflammation, swelling, skin rashes, gastrointestinal irritation, high blood sugars, airway allergy, joint pain, high blood pressure, leg edema and other abnormal effects caused by wheat and grains.
The list includes anti-inflammatory and pain medication, acid reflux drugs, injectable and oral drugs for diabetes, numerous anti-hypertensive agents, asthma i...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - October 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: News & Updates autoimmune blood sugar bowel flora cholesterol Gliadin gluten-free grain-free grains Inflammation undoctored Weight Loss wheat belly Source Type: blogs
The suffering man resolved
This article Polymyalgia rheumatica vs late-onset rheumatoid arthritis adds some confusion to my previous conclusions.
This abstract continues my confusion – Presenting features of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and rheumatoid arthritis with PMR-like onset: a prospective study
So I am not sure about the final diagnosis because he definitely had characteristics of both. The good news is that both respond to low dose prednisone.
(Source: DB's Medical Rants)
Source: DB's Medical Rants - September 27, 2018 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: rcentor Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs
Two cortisone stories involving Peekaboo and yours truly …
First, the news about Peekaboo. When I met with the vet a few days ago, he repeated that we wouldn’t be able to give her the current anti-inflammatory drug forever. Too bad, since she eagerly takes it in her wet food in the morning, and it seems to have no side effects. Oh well.
He suggested I substitute it with a drug called Contramal, which is basically Tramadol, and with another one that contains quercetin (I checked it out, it’s okay, so she’s on that now).
Tramadol is a different story. That’s the drug that Piccolo was on for some time last summer, and I am CONVINCED (although I have no proof, ...
Source: Margaret's Corner - September 7, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Margaret Tags: Blogroll cortisone Medrol Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 30-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 30-year-old woman is evaluated during a follow-up visit for systemic lupus erythematosus. She was diagnosed 3 months ago after presenting with pericarditis and arthritis. She was initially treated with prednisone, 40 mg/d, with improvement of her presenting symptoms. The prednisone has been tapered over 3 months to her current dose of 10 mg/d with no recurrence. She also takes vitamin D and a calcium supplement.
On physical examination, vital signs are normal. BMI is 25. Cardiac examination is normal. There is...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 23, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Rheumatology Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 58-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 58-year-old man is evaluated in follow-up for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which was diagnosed 2 years ago. He has cough and shortness of breath and now requires supplemental oxygen at rest. Previous evaluations have not identified any cause for his symptoms other than progressive IPF. He has participated in pulmonary rehabilitation and continues in a maintenance program. He is a lifelong nonsmoker. His medical history is otherwise unremarkable, and he takes no medications.
On physical examination, the...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 16, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Pulmonology Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 35-year-old woman is evaluated for intermittent fever
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 35-year-old woman is evaluated for intermittent fever, sweats, fatigue, and dull midchest pain of 2 weeks’ duration. Medical history is significant for liver transplantation 6 months ago for primary biliary cirrhosis; she was seronegative for cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, and her donor was positive for both. Results of pretransplant testing for tuberculosis were negative. She received valganciclovir prophylaxis for 3 months after transplantation. Medications are tacrolimus, prednisone, mycophen...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 12, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Allergies & Immunology Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 38-year-old man with ulcerative colitis
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 38-year-old man is evaluated in follow-up after a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Ten days ago he was started on prednisone, 60 mg/d, but his symptoms have not improved. He has six to nine bloody bowel movements per day and moderate abdominal pain. He has decreased his oral intake because eating exacerbates his pain and diarrhea.
On physical examination, temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F), blood pressure is 110/56 mm Hg, and pulse rate is 96/min. He is pale but in no distress. The abdomen is diffusely tender ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 5, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 82-year-old woman with left-sided headaches
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
An 82-year-old woman is evaluated for a 2-week history of left-sided headaches with pain on chewing, accompanied by achiness in the shoulders and hips. She has no other pertinent personal or family history. She takes no medications.
On physical examination, temperature is 38.1 °C (100.6 °F), blood pressure is 132/86 mm Hg, pulse rate is 88/min, and respiration rate is 18/min. BMI is 25. Eye examination is normal. There are tenderness and swelling over the left temporal area. Moderate to severe pain on range of...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 17, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Rheumatology Source Type: blogs
The Price of Progress
By ANISH KOKA, MD
No one knows who Bennie Solis is anymore.
He had the misfortune of being born in the early 1960s marked for death. He had a rare peculiar condition called biliary atresia – a disease defined by the absence of a conduit for bile to travel from his liver to his intestinal tract. Bile acid produced in the liver normally travels to the intestines much like water from a spring travels via ever larger channels to eventually empty into the ocean. Bile produced in the liver with no where to go dams up in the liver and starts to destroy it.
That the liver is a hardy organ was a fact known to the ancient Gree...
Source: The Health Care Blog - January 4, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: anish_koka Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 22-year-old woman is evaluated for a flare of Crohn disease
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 22-year-old woman is evaluated for a flare of Crohn disease. A colonoscopy performed 6 months ago showed moderate, patchy, left-sided colitis extending from the descending colon to the splenic flexure. She responded to therapy with prednisone but declined maintenance therapy in advance of conceiving. She is now 12 weeks pregnant and for the past 2 weeks has experienced bloody diarrhea and left-sided abdominal pain.
On physical examination, temperature is 37.2 °C (99.0 °F), blood pressure is 110/66 mm Hg, and...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 9, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Gastroenterology OB/GYN Source Type: blogs
What A Concept!
I met with a pharmacist yesterday or a pharmacologist. It was great. When I had my annual physical with my primary care doctor in September, she was concerned about my medications and interactions.The pharmacologist went through my entire list of medications - prescription and OTC - and asked why I was taking each one. Then she went through and looked up possible interactions with them. She gave me some advice which I found very helpful.Because I am on Prilosec for GERD from a sliding hiatal hernia, I need to take it in the morning, 30 minutes after my thyroid medication and then wait another 30 minutes before eating. I wa...
Source: Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog - November 21, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: doctors medical advice medications prescriptions Source Type: blogs
