Healthy InSite

Alzheimer's Disease - New Findings Hold Promise

2011-08-31T14:21:00.000-07:00

PET scan of a human brain with Alzheimer's disease. By US National Institute on Aging, Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center, via Wikimedia Commons.

As the world's elderly population grows, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is expected to skyrocket. The recent admission by 59-year-old University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt that she has early onset dementia has no doubt got many people in her age group worried.

Fortunately, there have been some new findings that are pointing to possible causes of and detection strategies for the disease. Things are very preliminary at this point, so scientists are cautioning people not to get their hopes up yet, but some of the research looks promising.

* Researchers in San Francisco have identified and ranked seven risk factors that can be linked to at least half of all cases of Alzheimer's disease. Worldwide, lack of education is the main cause; in the U.S., leading a sedentary lifestyle leads the way. See this L.A. Times story for more details.

In the U.S., the study says, lack of exercise was the main risk factor, accounting for 21% of risk. Depression was the next highest factor (15%), followed by smoking (11%), hypertension (8%), obesity (7%), low education (7%), and diabetes (3%).

* It may be possible to detect some signs of Alzheimer's disease as long as 20 years before the onset of symptoms by examining a person's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), say new findings from the Washington University College of Medicine in St. Louis. The research concerns a specific type of the disease called dominantly inherited Alzheimer's, which passes from one generation to the next.

This form of Alzheimer's is rare (only about 1% of all cases of the disease), but researchers hope that some of the information they gain from these findings will be applicable to the broader population of patients.

* Can a simple smell test detect Alzheimer's? A team of Australian researchers is working on a test based on the fact that "people who have memory loss and other signs of mental decline that can lead to Alzheimer's may have trouble discriminating between smells."

In the test, a person is asked to sniff three sticks, two of which contain the same odor. If the person identifies the wrong stick, the test is repeated with sticks featuring a higher concentration of the odor. The test showed that people in the study who had trouble telling the smells apart at the start of the study "were more likely to shows signs of mental decline."

* In addition, simple eye tests may be able to detect the presence of Alzheimer's disease before symptoms develop. One looks for changes in the retina, another looks for the presence of amyloid-beta, a protein found in Alzheimer's plaque, in the lens of the eye.

These are all early findings, but they may represent advances that may lead to simple and affordable detection methods.

Geraldine Ferraro Dies of Multiple Myeloma - What is This Blood Cancer?

2011-03-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

CT scan of the head of a man with multiple myeloma. There is a lesion in the left temporal bone (red arrows) consistent with multiple myeloma. Green arrows show a normal facial nerve canal. Photo: radpod.org

Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to be U.S. vice presidential candidate for a major party, died March 27th of complications from multiple myeloma, a type of incurable blood cancer. If you haven't heard of multiple myeloma, you're not alone: many news reports have simply said that Ferraro died of blood cancer without specifying the specific disorder. If she had died of leukemia, the most common cancer of the blood, they certainly would have mentioned it because that's a disease most people are familiar with.

Although multiple myeloma is not as well known as leukemia, it starts in the same place: plasma cells, which become white blood cells. In multiple myeloma abnormal plasma cells form and multiply, accumulating in the bone marrow and crowding out normal cells. The myeloma may collect in the marrow of a number of different bones, which is what the "multiple" part of the disease's name means. In addition, myeloma cells may collect in organs of the body.

Geraldine Ferraro, who was 75, died at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was receiving treatment. She was Walter Mondale's vice presidential nominee in 1984, and had suffered from multiple myeloma for 12 years. She was involved in campaigning for greater funding and new treatments for the disease, and was an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). Before being named VP candidate, Ferraro had been a member of the U.S. Congress from New York City and had served as a criminal prosecutor in Queens.

Find out more about multiple myeloma at the Medicine.net article here or at MayoClinic.org (both written for the lay reader).

H.S. Basketball Player Wes Leonard is Latest Young Athlete to Die of Cardiomyopathy

2011-03-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Above: Gross pathology of the heart showing idiopathic cardiomyopathy, which is similar to dilated cardiomyopathy. The opened left ventricle of heart shows a thickened, dilated left ventricle with subendocardial fibrosis manifested as increased whiteness of endocardium.

Sixteen-year-old basketball player Wes Leonard died of cardiac arrest caused by dilated cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), according to a Michigan medical examiner. Leonard collapsed during the post-game celebration for his Fennville High School team the other after scoring the winning basket near the end of the overtime game.

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes enlarged or thickened and weakened, making it unable to pump blood effectively. The heart, like any other muscle, increases in mass when it is exercised, and it is not unusual for athletes such as basketball players and distance runners to have enlarged hearts, or even cardiomyopathy. But to some people, cardiomyopathy can be harmful or even deadly.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is the most common form of cardiomyopathy according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It can be caused by a genetic disorder or by a variety of other problems including heart rhythm disturbances, infection, drug or alcohol abuse, medications, or even high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, Wes Leonard is only the latest high-profile athlete to die because of cardiomyopathy, which often causes no symptoms. In many cases, the person doesn't know anything is wrong until he or she collapses during or after a practice or game. The lucky ones survive the first incident and get treatment to prevent reoccurrence.

American distance runner Ryan Shay died suddenly in 2007 while running the U.S. Olympic half marathon trials in New York City. His father said that Shay had an enlarged heart that was first diagnosed when the runner was 14. Shay's death was attributed to "cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac hypertrophy with patchy fibrosis." Hypertrophy is a thickening of the heart muscle.

After Shay's death, a number of medical experts said that an enlarged heart was "the biggest cause of sudden death among young athletes."

Athletes and former athletes who have died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy include Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics, Loyola Marymount University basketball player Hank Gathers, and Maggie Dixon, coach of the Army women's basketball team, who was a former college player. All were under the age of 30 when they died.

After Dixon's death, the Maggie Dixon Foundation was set up to raise awareness of and screening for heart arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death in young people. Each December the Maggie Dixon Classic features four of the nation's top women's college basketball team playing a doubleheader in New York's Madison Square Garden to promote the cause and screen attendees for heart problems.

It's hoped that the death of Wes Leonard will bring more attention to cardiomyopathy and other heart conditions in young people, and make athletes, coaches, and parents more aware of the problem.

Fisher-Price Recall Affects Over 10 Million Trikes, Other Products

2010-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

More than 10 millions toys and other children's products from Fisher-Price have been recalled in an announcement made Sept. 30th. Two of the products, the Fisher-Price Trike and Tough Trike, have caused injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission. The tricycles account for seven million of the items in the Fisher-Price recall.

You can find full list of Fisher-Price recall items at the recall section of the website of Mattel Inc., which makes Fisher-Price products. This list includes product numbers and instructions on how to find out if a product you have it affected by the recall.

The recalls issued today involve products sold in the U.S. and Canada. The products announced in the Fisher-Price recall (with links to the appropriate pages at the Mattel service website) include tricycles, rampway toy cars, and inflatable balls.

For more information, see the Consumer Product Safety Commission page on the Fisher-Price recall.

Cargill Ground Beef Recall - Products Sold at BJ's Warehouse Stores

2010-08-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

A recall has been issued for Cargill ground beef products sold at BJ's Wholesale Club in eight eastern U.S. states.

Three people in New York and Maine have been sickened since early August from tainted ground beef products from Cargill. All of the products were distributed to BJ's Wholesale Club stores. The eight states that have received recalled product are: New York, Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maryland.

See this article on the Cargill ground beef recall for details on the specific BJ's stores that received the tainted ground beef products involved in the recall.

Tommy John Surgery: What It Is, How It Works

2010-08-27T10:31:00.000-07:00

With the news that rookie baseball pitcher Stephen Strasburg may have to have Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged arm, this article gives a good, illustrated look at what this procedure is.

Medically known as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (UCLR), the procedure was a major advance in sports medicine in the 1970s, and got its nickname because Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John was the first baseball player to undergo the new procedure, pioneered by Dr. Frank Jobe. (The operation was a success, and John was able to resume his career.)

Tommy John surgery has a success rate of around 85%, and is considered to be one of the most important advances in sports medicine in the last quarter-century, if not the most important. After undergoing the operation, the patient must undergo rehab for a year, and a pitcher may have to work another year pitching to get back to the form he had before the surgery. But that's much better than the alternative.

Tommy John surgery involves reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), also called the medial collateral ligament, one of the ligaments connecting the upper arm bone (humerus) to the main forearm bone (ulna). The UCL can be damaged by repetitive stress, such as the throwing motion baseball players use.

In Tommy John surgery (which has been improved greatly since the 1970s), the damaged ligament is replaced with one harvested from another part of the patient's own body, such as the leg or forearm.
Read about Tommy John surgery at this article at E-Orthopod.com: what it is, how and why it's performed, what a patient can expect from it, and the complications that can occur.

Prader-Willi Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, & More

2010-07-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that can develop in infancy and eventually affect many body parts and systems by childhood. Infants with Prader-Willi syndrome may have poor muscle tone and difficulties in feeding. In childhood, individuals with the disorder will have have an overactive appetite and experience problems with chronic overeating, leading to quick weight gain and obesity.

Other symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome can include learning disabilities, underdeveloped genitals (in both male and female patients), and short stature. It is estimated that Prader-Willi syndrome affects one in every 15,000 children.

See the article at MedicineNet.com for more information on Prader-Willi syndrome causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, and treatment.

You can also find more details and Prader-Willi syndrome support at the website of the Prader-Willi Association (USA).

Neurofibromatosis: A Genetic Disorder of the Nervous System

2010-04-12T23:40:00.000-07:00

Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disease that mostly affects the development of nerve cells. Also called NF for short, neurofibromatosis has two forms, NF1 (more common) and NF 2 (less common). As a story from a Dallas TV station notes, neurofibromatosis is more common than you might think, affecting one in 3,000 people.

The U.S. government's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has a neurofibromatosis information page that explains the disease in plain English. According to this page, "These disorders cause tumors to grow on nerves and produce other abnormalities such as skin changes and bone deformities." NINDS also has a handy neurofibromatosis fact sheet. Symptoms of NF1 are often noticeable at birth or in infancy, usually in the appearance of the skin.

You can find information and support for neurofibromatosis at the Web site of the Neurofibromatosis, Inc. NINDS also has an article on the proceedings of a workshop on neurofibromatosis in children, addressing basic and clinical research, animal models, treatment, and more.

Rebecca Skloot and HeLa Book Head Straight to Top of the Charts

2010-03-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that a book about aggressive cancer cells and the woman they came from would hit the top of the bestseller charts? When I wrote about Rebecca Skloot's "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" the day before it came out, I noted the great pre-pub press it had gotten, but I had no idea that in its first week it would be as high as number 2 on the Amazon.com sales chart, or that it would reach a similar position on the New York Times bestseller list.

Of course, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" has a lot going for it. It's an engaging, well-written book that is both an intriguing medical drama and a fascinating personal story of Ms. Lacks and her descendants.

What's more, Ms. Skoot is not only an experienced and knowledgeable science writer but an enthusiastic spokeswoman who loves talking HeLa and is adept as using social media to promote her book.

She's also open to using regular media that one might not think of for promoting a general interest science book. Yes, she's made appearances on CBS Sunday Morning and ABC World News, but she also was a guest on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report (I was fortunate enough to be in the audience for that taping).

For anyone interested in learning about HeLa and the Henrietta Lacks story, I recommend reading the book of course, but also trying to see Rebecca Skloot on her extensive book tour, which she's calling The Immortal Book Tour.

Bill Clinton Hospitalized with Chest Discomfort; Stent Inserted in Coronary Arteries

2010-02-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton experienced chest discomfort on Thursday and checked himself into a hospital, where he had stents inserted into one of his coronary arteries. Clinton, who is 63, underwent a quadruple bypass surgery six years ago to fix blocked arteries.

His cardiologist said that one of the coronary grafts he had at that time had become completely blocked, which is not uncommon.

The former president was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, the same hospital that performed the bypass operation in 2004. The procedure was said to have gone smoothly, and Clinton is reportedly in good spirits and resting comfortably.

So what is coronary artery stenting? It's a relatively common procedure in which a tiny, uninflated balloon on the end of a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and snaked through to the site of a buildup of plaque. Once in place the balloon is inflated to press the plaque up against the artery wall and widen the opening (a procedure known as a balloon angioplasty). The same balloon is then used to put in place a stent, a type of metal mesh screen that holds the artery open.

Clinton's doctor explains the president's procedure and his health in this video.

Henrietta Lacks: Unsung Pioneer of Medicine Now in the Spotlight

2010-02-01T11:11:00.000-08:00

The name Henrietta Lacks may not be familiar to many laypeople (yet), but it's well known to scientists and doctors all over the world. The twist is that Lacks was not a researcher, but a patient.

A poor black woman diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1951, Lacks was treated for the disease and her cancer cells were harvested without her knowledge or permission. It turns out these cells, nicknamed HeLa, were the first "immortal" cells: constantly reproducing from 1951 until today. And HeLa cells have been used by researchers over the last half-century to develop breakthroughs in polio, cancer, and many other diseases.

The amazing story of Henrietta Lacks is detail in the the acclaimed new book "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by award-winning science writer Rebecca Skloot. (In a series of remarkable coincidences, this book about the ever-reproducing HeLa cells will be published February 2nd - Groundhog Day - and Skloot begins her tour to promote the book, which she's dubbed "The Immortal Book Tour," today, February 1st: the start of Black History Month.)

The last point is important because Skloot's book isn't just a science story but a personal story of Lacks (who died in 1951) and her family, who for more than 20 years didn't know of Henrietta's role in medical advances. (To this day, the family that has given so much to science has never been paid a dime, even though HeLa cells are sold to scientists and researchers for hefty sums.)

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" has gained a lot of early praise from everyone from scientists and professors to book reviewers from the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, and other media to fellow nonfiction writers such as Susan Orlean.

Skloot was featured in a story on Henrietta Lacks on ABC's World News Sunday on January 31st.

More on the book:
You can find a selection of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" reviews here.

Wired magazine created a chart detailing the remarkable contributions Henrietta Lacks has made to science.

Oprah Winfrey's "O" magazine published a 5,000-word excerpt of Skloot's book; you can read it here.

"This Emotional Life" Starts Tonight on PBS

2010-01-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

Above: A man with Asperger's syndrome talks about the challenges of living with the disorder on "This Emotional Life."

PBS takes a look inside the brain and what research is telling us about how it handles emotions when its three-part series, "This Emotional Life," premieres Monday, January 4th (at 9 p.m. on WNET, Channel 13, in New York City). In the first episode, "Social Relationships," "social connections and relationships are analyzed and the neurological processes behind our daily interactions are revealed," according to PBS. The series seems to be generating a lot of interest, because its Web site has been down much of the early evening Monday (or maybe the site is just buggy).

The second part, "Negative Emotions," airs Tuesday night, and the final part, "Positive Emotions," premieres on Wednesday.

The host of "This Emotional Life"is Dan Gilbert, a professor in the department of psychology at Harvard and author of Stumbling On Happiness. The show includes segments with celebrities discussing their own emotional struggles, such as tennis great John McEnroe on his well-known problems with anger and Chevy Chase on depression.

The Seattle Times notes that the series was conceived and co-produced by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The paper explains that "This Emotional Life" "explores the cutting-edge science that unravels some of the mysteries of human emotion, such as how infants form early attachments that determine lifelong emotional health, and how therapists use eye movement to help people reprocess disturbing memories."

But it notes that "This Emotional Life"also reflects Allen's interest in connecting the research to the stories of real people and helping them cope with the problems discusses in the episodes. So, for example, it discusses post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and reveals how military families are getting help. And when explaining Asperger's syndrome it also profiles a 29-year-old man with the disorder (video clip above).

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Ranges from Mild to Deadly

2009-11-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is the name given to a group of hereditary disorders that all involve the weakening of connective tissues in the body. Among the most common symptoms seen in patients with EDS are skin that bruises and stretches easily, small and fragile blood vessels, loose joints, and weakness of body tissues.

Since connective tissue is found throughout the body and serves many important roles, such as supporting skin and bones and making up blood vessels, malfunctioning in this tissue can be a very serious problem. Joints can move beyond their normal range of motion, and this can lead to dislocation of the shoulder and other major joints.

There is no cure for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Treatment for these disorders focuses on managing symptoms.

For more information on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, see these articles from the Mayo Clinic, Medicine.net, and the U.S. government's National Library of Medicine. These articles explain the six different types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, their characteristics, and more

Crib Recall, November 2009 - CPSC Recalls 2.1 Million Cribs

2009-11-23T16:49:00.001-08:00

More than two million cribs made by Stork Craft are being recalled, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on its Web site Monday, November 23rd.

About 1.2 million of the drop-side cribs were sold in the U.S.; the remainder were sold in Canada, where Stork Craft is based. Some of the cribs were sold with the Fisher-Price label.

A baby can become trapped between the side and the mattress, creating a suffocation hazard. In addition, broken or missing parts can cause a problem, and in some cases the side of the crib can be installed upside down, also causing a hazard.

The CPSC announcement says in part:

"CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side."

This is the biggest crib recall in history. There have been other crib recalls this year, including those made by Delta Enterprises and Simplicity, as well as Stork Craft. The earlier Stork Craft recall this year involved more than half a million cribs.

Check the CPSC crib recall announcement for descriptions of how the cribs can malfunction, manufacture dates, and retailers that sold the cribs.

Google Helps You Find Flu Shots & Tracks Flu Trends

2009-11-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

With the word out today that the swine flu has claimed nearly 4,000 lives in the U.S., the good news is that search giant Google is using its algorithms and technology to assist in the effort to combat the illness.

The company once again has put up its Google Flu Trends Web page to indicate where outbreaks of the flu may be occurring (this link is to the U.S. map, but you can choose other countries). To see how Google Flu Trends works, click on the FAQ or "How does this work?" links.

With shortages of both seasonal and swine flu vaccines around, Google is this year also trying to simplify finding a flu shot with its new Flu Shot Finder at www.google.com/flushot. A page on Google's blog explains how the Flu Shot Finder works.

You can also find the Flu Shot Finder at the U.S. government's flu information Web site, www.flu.gov.

Maclaren Recalls Child Strollers for Injury Risk

2009-11-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Although this isn't strictly a medical issue, I thought it important to post news of the Maclaren child stroller recall because of the possible safety risks. A Wall Street Journal article today notes that a side hinge had amputated the fingertips of 12 children.

Maclaren announced the recall in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission. The company is offering a free repair kit that includes pieces to cover the hinges that have been causing the problem.

Maclaren USA has posted a recall notice on its Web site, which reads in part:

"Consistent with our unwavering commitment to child safety we are providing U.S. consumers notice of a voluntary recall of all Maclaren umbrella strollers sold in the U.S. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, we are providing free of charge to all affected consumers and retailers a kit to cover the stroller's hinge mechanism, which poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. The affected models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller."

You can find out more information at the CPSC Maclaren recall page.

Alli and Xenical: Risk for Liver Damage?

2009-08-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

The FDA is investigating whether the weight-loss drug orlical may be causing liver damage. The only medication approved by the FDA for weight loss, orlical is sold as the over-the-counter drug Alli and as the prescription drug Xenical. An article from the Associated Press says that the agency announced yesterday that it had received 30 reports of patients with liver damage from taking Alli and Xenical.

According to an FDA statement (link below), "Between 1999 and October 2008, 32 reports of serious liver injury, including 6 cases of liver failure, in patients using orlistat were submitted to FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System. Thirty of the 32 reports occurred outside the United States. The most commonly reported adverse events described in the 32 reports of serious liver injury were jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), weakness, and abdominal pain. Hospitalization was reported in 27 of the 32 cases." It says that it is continuing to analyze the data.

The FDA has said that it hasn't found a definitive association between orlistat and liver injury, and recommends that users of the drug keep using it. The agency advises patients to consult their doctor if they experience any of the possible signs of liver injury or damage, such as:

weakness or fatigue
fever
jaundice
brown urine
nausea or vomiting
abdominal pain

You can read the FDA's statement about Xenical, Alli, and orlistat here. The FDA approved Xenical in 1999; Alli gained approval in 2007. Xenical contains 120mg of orlistat, while Alli has 60mg.

You can find out more about Xenical at the Drugs.com profile page or at the manufacturer's Web site, www.xenical.com.

Klinefelter Syndrome: Men with an Extra X Chromosome

2009-07-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

In normal male development, there is one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. But in the rare disorder called Klinefelter syndrome, patients have an extra X chromosome or part of one in most cells of the body (which is why the disorder is also called XXY condition).

Persons with Klinefelter syndrome produce less testosterone and may have more feminized physical features such as smaller testicles and less facial and body hair than other males, as well as breast enlargement. Persons may also suffer from infertility. (Ironically, though, some children and adults with the disorder may be taller than their counterparts of the same age, according to a Klinefelter syndrome article from the Genetics Home Reference.)

Unfortunately for Klinefelter sufferers, the disorder has more than just these physical symptoms. Boys with Klinefelter syndrome may also have problems with speech and language development, and may have learning disabilities.

You can find more information on Klinefelter syndrome at the government's Medline online medical encyclopedia, which gives a good lay overview.

For details on clinical research being done on Klinefelter syndrome, the National Human Genome Research Institute has an overview with links to research studies and additional resources.

Michael Jackson Asked for Deprival, a Powerful Sedative, Nurse Says

2009-06-30T20:53:00.000-07:00

A nurse who treated Michael Jackson several months ago has said that the late singer's people contacted her less than a week before he died, and that Jackson had asked her to get him the powerful sedative Deprival.

Interviewed on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 Tuesday night, nutritionist and registered nurse Cherilyn Lee said that in April Jackson had said he was unable to sleep well and had asked her to get him Diprivan (generic name propofol), a drug usually used as an anesthetic during surgery. Lee said that she strongly recommended Jackson against Diprivan, explaining that "If you take this you might not wake up."

Jackson said he had taken Diprivan before, which is apparently why he asked for it again.

Lee said that one of Jackson's staff contacted her four days before he died on a different matter, saying that he was feeling hot on one side and cold on the other. She said that she told the staffer to take him to a hospital, thinking the problem might be some kind of cardiovascular or nervous system problem.

Diprivan is given intravenously and is usually administered to start or maintain anesthesia during surgery. The drug is also used on patients in intensive care units (ICUs). CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon, confirmed Lee's warning about the seriousness of taking Diprivan, and noted that he had never heard of it being administered outside of a hospital.

A fact sheet from Astra-Zeneca, the maker of Diprivan, describes the drug as "an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent for use in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia or sedation." It is a fast-acting drug: the fact sheet notes that it takes effect in about 40 seconds.

The product information from Astra-Zeneca also notes that for general anesthesia or sedation, Diprivan "should be administered only by persons trained in the administration of general anesthesia" and facilities for maintaining the patient's airway, as well as artificial ventilation, oxygen, and resuscitation, "must be immediately available."

The Web site RxList gives a detailed review of Diprivan effects, side effects, indication, warnings, and more.

CDC Provides Updates on Swine Flu Cases, Precautions, and More

2009-04-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Swine flu cases in the United States are limited in severity, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is still making sure that the public is informed with the latest information.

The CDC's Swine Flu Web site is updated frequently throughout the day, including information on:
* Key facts on swine flu
* Symptoms of swine flu
* Antiviral drugs and swine flu
* Number of swine flu cases in the U.S. currently known
* What you can do to stay healthy
* Travel notices related to swine flu
* Guidelines for health professional, reports and publications on swine flu, and press briefings

The CDC notes that the swine virus, influenza A (H1N1), is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir (brand name: Tamiflu) and zanamivir (brand name: Relenza).

The CDC is using social media to get the word out, and has an account on Twitter (@CDCemergency) that you can follow to get the latest information, including links to the latest bulletins.

The American public radio show The Takeaway has a handy swine flu Q&A, which also answers questions such as the difference between a pandemic vs. an epidemic, etc.

As of Monday, April 27th the U.S. Government is suggesting that Americans avoid travel to Mexico, where the swine flu has infected more people and has caused a number of deaths.

Cholera Still Killing People in the 21st Century

2009-04-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

In the developed world the deadly disease cholera is all but extinct, but it's still killing thousands of people in less developed areas. Cholera is an acute infectious disease of the intestine that at its worst can cause watery diarrhea and vomiting, and can result in death within hours of onset. Fortunately, only one in 20 people who contract cholera will have symptoms this severe, according to the CDC.

Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and is usually contracted by consuming contaminated drinking water (or food), which unfortunately is widespread in the developing world where clean drinking water is in short supply.

More than 4,000 people have died of cholera in Zimbabwe since August 2008, but newly drilled wells are helping to reduce the death toll there. Health officials are also trying to stop cholera outbreaks in war-torn Somalia, where civilians fleeing the turmoil has led to a humanitarian emergency, and in Kenya, where cholera has killed 47 people, believed to be caused by a drought has led people to drink contaminated water.

Cholera can be treated effectively with oral hydration therapy, which gives the sufferer fluids and electrolytes to replace that lots through diarrhea. In severe cases, intravenous fluid replacement may be needed.

Learn about about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of cholera in these articles from the MedLine Plus Encyclopedia, the Mayo Clinic, and MedicineNet.

Actress Natasha Richardson Has Died at Age 45

2009-03-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

A sad end to this story: Actress Natasha Richardson died today, her family announced in a statement. Richardson suffered head trauma Monday while skiing in Canada.

It sounds as if it was known when she was hospitalized in Canada that her situation was grave, and her family decided to bring her to New York to give her family a chance to say goodbye to her. The decision was made today to take her off life support. The New York Times has a brief obituary of Natasha Richardson tonight; they'll probably have a more complete one up by tomorrow.

Natasha Richardson's Head Injury: An FAQ from WebMD

2009-03-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

With questions swirling about the brain injury suffered by actress Natasha Richardson, WebMD has put up an informative article about Richardson's injury.

Among the questions addressed are how such a seemingly minor accident could have such a life-threatening impact; why she seemed fine at first, only to become gravely ill later; what are the symptoms of a brain injury; and what doctors can do about bleeding in the brain.

CNN Health published an article today that also sheds light on brain trauma, explaining why head injuries that seem minor may not be.

There has still been no word on Richardson's condition from her doctors or family, but gossip columnist Liz Smith has been reported as saying that the actress is brain dead and the family decided Wednesday afternoon to take her off life support.

Natasha Richardson's Ski Accident: Just How Bad is Her Head Injury?

2009-03-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Tony-winning actress Natasha Richardson suffered a head injury the other day while skiing in Canada, but it's unclear just how severe her condition is. Reports are that the 45-year-old actress fell down during a beginner's lesson and originally felt fine, but then started feeling ill an hour or so later and was taken to a nearby hospital.

It's suspected that she may have had internal bleeding in the head or neck, which can cause such symptoms. Some stories speculated that Richardson is brain dead or suffering what's been called "talk and die" syndrome (seeming fine at first, but then having a delayed reaction as blood builds up and puts pressure on the brain). One doctor at NYU Medical Center (who has not treated Richardson) says that Richardson's symptoms seem consistent with epidural hemorrhage, a buildup of blood between the skull and the brain. Other news sources have used terms such as epidural hematoma or subdural hematoma to describe Richardson's condition.

What is known is that Natasha Richardson is now at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital; her sister Joely Richardson and mother Vanessa Redgrave have been seen entering the Upper East Side hospital. Richardson's husband, fellow actor Liam Neeson, left a film shoot in Toronto to be with her and is now presumably in New York.

It seems strange that a person with a serious head injury would be moved such a distance... of course her family wants to be near her, but is it a good idea to transport someone in what may be critical condition? I'd guess Richardson is hooked up to all kinds of tubes and breathing equipment. And if she was able to be transported, does that mean that her condition is better or worse than has been reported?

We'll have to wait until her family decides to make a statement about her condition and prognosis. It may be that they are waiting to see what course the injury takes before saying anything. In some cases a person with a head injury can have dire symptoms, but those can decrease as swelling in the brain (if that's what Richardson has) decreases, either on its own or due to drainage and other medical interventions.

(On a related note, the New York Times notes today that Richardson's accident has put new life in the debate over whether skiiers should wear helmets (the actress was not wearing one at the time of her accident).

For those not familiar with Natasha Richardson, she has been in movies ranging from "Nell" (with Jodie Foster and Liam Neeson) to "The Parent Trap" (with Dennis Quaid and the young Lindsay Lohan), and has also acted on Broadway (winning a Tony award for "Cabaret.") Her mother is the actress Vanessa Redgrave, and her father is the late British director Tony Richardson, known for films including "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner."

Health News: Finding Good Health Care in Bad Times

2009-03-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Many Americans were having problems affording good health care even before the recent recession and wave of layoffs began. The economic downturn has only made things worse. The Wall Street Journal has two articles on finding good health care in hard times.

One story looks at how a family's health care support system unraveled in the recession. The family's children have a rare bone-marrow disorder and relied on donations to meet the costs insurance didn't cover. But the economic downturn has greatly reduced the donations; contributions to their former church's medical care fund are down, and a fundraiser held to gain contributions has yielded less money this year than last.

On a more positive note, there's an article explaining how some new online services have arisen to provide basic medical consults in an easy, low-cost manner. Patients can interact with doctors in a variety of ways (online video, text chat, or phone), and the fees can be as low as $10 for a 10-minute consult. Other services charge a monthly fee and then a per-consult fee. This article looks at some of the companies now offering these services, and notes their pluses and minuses.