Articles filed under 'General'
The FDA is re-evaluating its position as to the safety and effectiveness of LASIK surgery. Millions of Americans have had successful outcomes from LASIK, in which a laser reshapes the eye’s cornea and reduces or eliminates dependence on glasses or contact lenses. However, members of the U.S. regulatory agency on healthcare issues are currently considering the testimony of 140 patients who are complaining of serious side effects. These individuals had LASIK procedures performed between 1998 and 2006.
Approximately 700,000 Americans elect to undergo laser surgery for vision correction each year. The majority who are selected as appropriate candidates can see with 20-20 vision or better after vision correction surgery. Unfortunately, about 25 percent of those who consult LASIK surgeons for the procedure are not appropriate patients. Those persons should clearly understand the risks they are taking if they decide to proceed with LASIK, which generally costs about $2,000 per eye.
With the LASIK procedure, doctors cut a flap in the cornea, the eye’s clear covering, and aim a laser underneath it. The laser quickly and painlessly zaps and reshapes the cornea to achieve sharper vision. Cutting the corneal flap severs the nerves responsible for tear production. If these nerves heal well, dry eye is only temporary. Some individuals endure long-lasting dry eye and intense pain which can sometimes be improved by additional surgery to help the eyes retain moisture.
Those with overly large pupils, thin corneas, severe nearsightedness, or who have difficulty with dry eyes should not be considered good candidates for LASIK. Some surgeons can be faulted for not giving adequate information on potential problems and for not ruling out those who do not meet appropriate criteria for the surgery.
About 95 percent of patients who undergo LASIK are satisfied with their outcome. In the 5 percent or less who have poorer outcomes, it is unknown how many suffer with troublesome daily side effects. It is estimated that less than 1 percent have severe complications that leave them with poor vision.
Among the complaints aired at the hearings are reports of unremitting eye pain, blurred or double vision, painful dry eyes, and poor vision even using glasses. For others, their problems leave them unable to drive at night due to glare or fuzzy vision. Headlights from approaching cars may look like huge “starbursts” of light. In extreme cases, an individual may become despondent and resort to suicide. In one testimony, a father told of his son’s suicide note in which he described his deep depression over his reduced vision and years of intolerable side effects.
Among the suggestions the FDA is hearing: (1) use photographs to illustrate the effects of poor outcomes; (2) explain how often patients suffer from side effects such as dry eyes (almost half experience this condition even months after LASIK); (3) communicate clearly the conditions that should disqualify someone from having the eye surgery; (4) explain to young persons with extreme nearsightedness that they would be guaranteed to need reading glasses in middle age if they have the eye surgery. Without LASIK, they might avoid the need for glasses in later life, as eyes become more far-sighted with age.
Although the FDA agrees with eye surgeons’ studies indicating that only about 5 percent of patients are dissatisfied, they do not yet know how many individuals suffer lasting severe problems and how many simply didn’t have the degree of vision correction they expected.
Sources: San Francisco Chronicle, AP reporter Lauran Neergaard, 4/26/08;
Yahoo News, 4/25/08; Susan Heavey,
New York Times
April 27th, 2008
For those who have experienced chemotherapy, or watched their loved ones go through it, the idea of an effective cancer treatment with NO side effects seems like a dream come true. Dreams can be a long time in coming, however. The brain child of American inventor John Kanzius may one day be the answer to the prayers of cancer patients. First, his Kanzius Machine must be rigorously tested in laboratory animals before clinical trials are approved for cancer patients. Preliminary lab testing has shown great promise.
The potential new treatment that Kanzius envisioned was featured on CBS’ “Sixty Minutes” (April 13, 2008). In theory, it involves gold or carbon nanoparticles injected into the bloodstream or into a cancerous tumor. These metallic-laced nanoparticles, already FDA-approved, attract radio waves. Once the diseased cells are properly targeted, radio waves would heat them to an optimal temperature to eradicate them. The idea is to destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells undamaged. Nanoparticles are so tiny that trillions of them can be contained in a test tube. The chief problem is finding a delivery system in which the nanoparticles would bind only to cancer cells.
How did a man without a medical degree or credentials as a lab scientist come up with a revolutionary idea to treat cancer? Diagnosed with liver cancer six years ago, John Kanzius had endured thirty-six rounds of chemotherapy. During his treatments at a renowned cancer center, he was touched by the faces of young cancer patients, children with teddy bears, fighting for their lives. It was then that he vowed to try to find a better way to fight cancer.
One sleepless night, the retired radio and TV executive envisioned using radio waves to treat cancer. In his childhood, he had built radio sets. He understood that radio waves could harmlessly pass through a living organism but were attracted by metal. Once his primitive tests showed promise, the senior citizen built radio-wave equipment and conducted experiments in his garage. He invested $200,000 of his own money to build prototypes of his radio frequency (RF) equipment. Support and funding for his efforts have since materialized from many sources. His Kanzius RF Machines are now selectively placed in laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh and at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
At MD Anderson, Dr. Steven Curley, a surgical oncologist, began to work closely with Kanzius on his invention. Dr. Curley believes the potential treatment to be the most exciting new development he has seen in twenty years of working in oncology. Like an “ultimate weed killer” able to kill weeds without harming grass, the treatment is designed to destroy only the cancer cells. The ability to eliminate solid tumors injected with gold nanoparticles has already been demonstrated in rats and rabbits. The ultimate goal is to be able to target microscopic cancer cells that have circulated throughout the body. Curing metastatic cancers would not be possible without such a selective delivery system. If a way is found to precisely target and destroy only cancer cells, then the potential to cure many types of cancers is tremendous – and with no pain and distress.
John Kanzius is working with the Lee Memorial Health System in southwest Florida to coordinate tentative clinical trials after approval is granted. He hopes to live to see his dream realized some three or four years down the road.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanzius machine; http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/159/the_kanzius_machine
April 17th, 2008
Ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult female cancers to find early. The symptoms are often vague, illusive, or nonexistent until the cancer has spread beyond the ovary and into the abdominal cavity. As a result, only 45% of all women with the disease survive at least five years after diagnosis.
When ovarian cancer is found early enough to be surgically removed before spreading, as in only 19% of cases, some 93% of patients are alive five years later. This year about 22,430 new cases are expected to be diagnosed and more than 15,000 women will die of the disease.
Recently, cancer experts identified a set of health problems that could be early symptoms of ovarian cancer. They urge women who have these symptoms consistently for more than a few weeks to see their doctors. Ovarian cancer grows so rapidly that even a few months’ delay can mean the difference in survival. Tumors can spread quickly to the intestines, liver, diaphragm, and other organs.
Potential warning symptoms are bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, and frequent urges to urinate. A woman experiencing any of those problems almost every day for three weeks is urged to see a gynecologist, especially if these symptoms are new or markedly different from the usual. We aren’t talking about transient bloating that often accompanies menstruation or a lifelong history of indigestion. A bladder infection that persists after treatment would be a cause for concern.
Too often, women with advanced ovarian cancer were originally given a wrong diagnosis, such as depression or irritable bowel syndrome. Some are told they are just growing old or going through the change of life. It is important to be persistent and seek out a specialist if your concerns are dismissed by your general practitioner.
Any woman with persistent symptoms as cited should see a gynecologist for a pelvic and rectal exam. A doctor can feel the ovaries through the rectum. A transvaginal ultrasound to check ovaries for abnormal growths, and a CA125 tumor marker blood test are also steps that can be taken to get an accurate diagnosis.
Anyone with suspicious findings on tests should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist, a surgeon who specializes in female reproductive system cancers. The woman may be monitored for a while or advised to undergo a CT scan or MRI. When cancer is strongly suspected, urgent surgery should be done. Needle biopsies cannot be done as in breast cancer, as any escaping cancer cells could spread the malignancy throughout the abdomen. The entire ovary or abnormal growth on it must be removed and the rest of the abdomen be examined for cancer.
When more extensive cancer is found, the gynecologic oncologist removes as much cancerous tissue as possible while the patient is still on the operating table. When such “debulking” is done, followup chemotherapy works better and improves survival.
In the absence of a definitive screening tool or test to find ovarian cancer before it has symptoms, women need to be vigilant and see their doctors for any persistent symptoms identified recently as early signs of the disease.
Source: New York Times
June 13th, 2007
Individuals who are of average height appear to receive more protection from air bags than those who are especially short or tall. In a study of over 52,000 drivers and 14,000 drivers involved in crashes from 1995-2000, most weren’t seriously injured when air bags were involved. However, about 2.5% of drivers and 2.6% of passengers sustained serious injuries to any part of the body.
The physician in charge of the study at Oregon Health & Science University concluded that modest protection is provided for front-seat passengers between 5’3” and 5’11” tall. Air bags seem to increase the risk of injury for adults of large or small stature.
Drivers who measured 6’3” or taller had a 5% greater risk of serious injury, and those shorter than 4’ll” had a 4% higher risk of the same.
Distance from the air bag is considered to be the most important factor in preventing serious injury. No hard and fast guidelines may be used, however, as air bags differ greatly and deploy using various forces.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration advises taking these precautions:
• Wear your seatbelt
• Sit as far from the air bag as possible, allowing it to deploy properly
• Short drivers are cautioned to move the driver’s seat back and tilt the seat slightly backward to create more space between the driver’s chest and steering wheel.
• Drivers should not lean forward while driving.
• It is advisable for drivers to held steering wheels from the side when possible in order to not interfere with the air bag deploying.
Source: WebMD
May 16th, 2007
If you’ve ever experienced chronic pain (lasting more than six months), you were probably depressed. Pain and depression can form a vicious cycle, with one fueling the other. When your quality of life takes a big nosedive, you generally get depressed. If a significant disability is also involved, your chances of depression are even greater.
Most physicians who treat patients with chronic pain also treat the depression that usually accompanies it. Your internist may wish to give you a prescription or refer you to a psychiatrist. Sometimes you may be referred to a licensed “behavioral medicine” specialist. So-called “cognitive therapy” classes may be especially useful in helping you find new ways of thinking and thus reduce your pain levels.
Talk therapy usually takes a back seat to prescription antidepressants these days. In fact, sometimes talking about your pain can actually make it worse because you focus on it more. Antidepressant medications are often a primary treatment for depression, especially when chronic pain syndromes or nerve-related disorders are involved.
The earlier your depression is treated, the better the outcome can be. Early diagnosis and appropriate medications can reduce distress and even prevent suicide, in many cases. Those receiving treatment for depression that takes place while experiencing chronic pain often have an improvement in their overall medical condition.
Antidepressants work by altering certain chemical levels in the brain. It may take a while to find a particular antidepressant with minimal side-effects that works well for you. Every person experiences pain and reacts to medications differently. Among the antidepressants which are commonly prescribed today are the following:
• Celexa
• Prozac
• Zoloft
• Elavil
• Norpramin
• Effexor
• Serzone
• Wellbutrin
• Cymbalta
• Paxil
• Remeron
If you are depressed about a serious, life-changing event or due to severe, unremitting pain and disability, you should consult a physician about treating your depression.
Source: WebMD
March 11th, 2007
Over 500 new energy drinks, similar to industry-leader Red Bull, entered the worldwide market this year. In the U.S. alone, about 7.6 million teens – about one in three adolescents – admit to consuming energy drinks. Most brand names are advertised to attract males in their twenties.
Some young people report downing several cans in a row to get high. They run the risk of getting hooked on an unhealthy jolt-and-crash cycle. Numerous poison centers report getting calls from young people who became sick from too much caffeine. Undesirable side effects can include heart palpitations (rapid or irregular heartbeat), or numbness and tingling in hands and feet.
The most alarming new trend is mixing caffeine with alcohol in new “energy beers.” Some bartenders mix Red Bull and vodka for their customers who request a Friday Flattener. A high potential exists for accidents and alcohol poisoning from consuming these types of beverages. Studies of college students show that may not feel as drunk as they actually were.
Other dangerous combinations are alertness pills such as NoDoz and energy drinks, sometimes mixed with alcohol or other drugs. A trip to the hospital emergency department may result.
Consumers need to remember that caffeine is a drug and should be used with caution. Although energy drinks are in smaller cans than Coke, they contain two to four times the amount of caffeine than the 12-ounce Coke. Even more dangerous, some energy drinks are now being produced in ever larger sizes – up to 24 ounces.
These energy drinks are the equivalent of Starbuck for kids. Loaded with caffeine, they give you essentially a legal form of speed – but not without health risks.
Source: CNN.com
November 5th, 2006
The Center for Disease Control voted in October to make vaccination with the FDA-approved Zostavax shingles vaccine routine for all Americans 60 and older.
The older generation did not have the benefit of the chicken pox vaccine, now available to children and teens or older persons who never had the viral disease. Chicken pox was once a common disease of childhood.
Shingles will afflict about 20% of people who had chicken pox. For those who live to be 85, their chance of getting shingles rises to 50%.
A major clinical trial indicated that Merck’s Zostavax vaccine is more than 60% effective in minimizing shingles symptoms. It reduces painful PHN by 60% or more.
Shingles is caused by a herpes-type virus that remains dormant in the nerves until the individual’s immune system is suppressed due to aging, disease or immunity-suppressing drugs. An outbreak appears as clusters of red blisters above an underlying nerve path. It can vary considerably in size, severity, and length of time before it heals.
In about 30% of cases, shingles turns into an excruciatingly painful disease called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). A smaller number get a painful disease called ophthalmic zoster which can cause blindness in one or both eyes. The worst part is not going blind, but the accompanying all-consuming pain experienced every moment without relief for years.
The patient’s and family’s lives are profoundly affected by this horrible affliction.
Severe cases of PHN pain can cause some to commit suicide to escape the unremitting pain.
Everyone 60 and over should welcome the opportunity to get the vaccination.
Medicare and Medicaid Part D are expected to cover the cost of the vaccination.
Source: WebMD
November 1st, 2006
A recent study shows why lung cancer patients who continue to smoke, use a nicotine patch or chew nicotine gum generally do not respond well to their cancer therapies. The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, tested three standard lung cancer drugs on cell lines taken from lung cancer tumors.
When a small amount of nicotine was added to the tumor cells, the cancer controlling genes stopped a process of apoptosis or “cell suicide.” Nicotine seemed to provide a protective environment for the cancer cells, and they continued to proliferate. The three lung cancer drugs tested in the lung tumor cultures were gemcitabine, cisplatin, and taxol.
These recent findings were in agreement with earlier clinical studies indicating that continuing smokers had worse survival rates than those who quit before treatment. Results of the recent cancer research were published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: ABC Online
April 10th, 2006
Declines in smoking, better tumor detection and more effective treatments are now helping more people survive cancer or live longer. It’s the first annual decrease in total cancer deaths since 1930. Although the numbers are small – dropping from 557,271 in 2002 to 556,902 in 2003 – they are significant because falling rates have surpassed the increasing size of the population.
American Cancer Society statistics show that death rates have declined for lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer – the most common cancers that account for 51 percent of all U.S. cancer deaths. Breast cancer death rates have dropped about 2 percent each year since 1990, while prostate cancer deaths have declined 4 percent annually after 1994.
Lung cancer deaths in men have been dropping since 1991, but they held steady in women, who tended to take up smoking later than men. Colon and rectum cancer death rates have shrunk by 2 percent a year since 1984, due to better screening.
It may be too early to rejoice over this good news. Cancer is most frequently found in older people, and aging Baby Boomers may push the statistics up in the next decade or two. However, research in genetics, advances in medical equipment and the latest drug therapies may yet show that a corner has been turned in the ongoing war on cancer.
San Francisco Chronicle, (2-9-06) (www.sfgate/chronicle.com)
March 19th, 2006