The New York Times lead story today was on the nationwide shortage of primary care physicians, which imperils the ability of the Obama administration to successfully implement health care reform.
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A new flu epidemic, caused by an H1N1 virus that appears to be a relative of “swine flu,” has occurred in Mexico with numerous deaths, and with apparently much milder manifestations in the U.S. and elsewhere. How do we react?
Two large studies in the New England Journal of Medicine on prostate cancer PSA screening released yesterday provide data but not necessarily clarity.
If you require an MRI, you probably should remove any transdermal medication patches before you are scanned to avoid possible minor burns from possibly undisclosed metallic particle content in the patch.
Grapefruit juice impairs the breakdown of some important drugs, such as statins, but it is not an all or none issue. Small amounts may be reasonable.
Multivitamin use does not reduce the overall death rate nor the risk of cardiovascular disease nor most common cancers, according to recent results from the Women’s Health Initiative, which studies over 160,000 postmenopausal women.
A two-year study of over 800 overweight men and women concluded that high or low fat, protein or carbohydrate content made no difference in weight loss. Overall weight loss was modest, but not insignificant. But regular attendance at group or individual counseling sessions provided substantial benefit. NEJM 2.26.09
The OHC weight management group dined tonight at the Atlantic Sea Grill in Acton. Good food, well-focused and productive discussion.
Quest Laboratory vitamin D levels have apparently been unreliable for the past two years, according to the NY Times.
The flu virus for 2008-09 in the US appears to be unresponsive to Tamiflu (oseltamivir), but appears to remain responsive to Relenza (zanamivir) or amantadine. We have given most OHC patients flu shots.
