Perspective: Carotid Stenting and the History of Disruptive Technology in Vascular Surgery
Introduction A disruptive technology can be defined as one that displaces a standard old method for performing certain functions because the new one is so clearly better. Examples of disruptive technologies would be the electric light displacing candle light, steam power displacing sail power for ships, jet engines displacing piston engines for long distance aircraft, […]
Combination Low-Dose DFMO and Sulindac Reduce Recurrence of Colorectal Adenomas
Combining low-dose difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) sulindac lowers the risk for recurrent colorectal adenomas. The results of the phase 3 randomized trial, which were reported here at the American Association for Cancer Research 2008 Annual Meeting, showed that among patients who received the active drug combination, there was a 70% decrease […]
Fragmented Care Prolongs Hospital Stay
The number of physicians overseeing a patient's care has a significant effect on that individual's length of stay in the hospital, according to a study of more than 10,000 hospitalized patients. Much attention has been paid to the effect of hospital staffing problems on clinicians with respect to issues such as work–life balance, said lead […]
Heparin Contaminant Identified
The contaminant found in samples of heparin that had been linked to an increase in adverse reactions has now been identified as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate.
Review of Adverse Effect Profile, Safety, and Dosing of Antidepressants
Brooke Parish, MD University of New Mexico In 2002, 8.5% of the US population purchased at least one prescription antidepressant.1 Given this relatively high rate of antidepressant use, best practices should be followed in choosing the correct medication and dosing, to avoid adverse events or ineffective treatment.
Risks of Transfusion
Bruce D. Spiess, MD, FAHAIntroductionBlood transfusion has evolved into a mainstay medical therapy. It has never undergone efficacy and safety testing the way in which a drug would be tested for approval by the US Food and Drug Administration.[1,2] Today, some 107 years after Karl Landsteiner discovered the ABO histocompatibility antigens, we are still learning […]
Science and Sensibility: An Interview With Professor Rolf M. Zinkernagel
Science and Sensibility: An Interview With Professor Rolf M. Zinkernagel, Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine 1996 Interviewers: Hrishikesh Satish Kulkarni; Ajit H. Goenka, MBBSInterviewee: Rolf M. Zinkernagel, MD, PhDIntroduction Science is perceived to be the panacea to many of the world's problems. No wonder then that scores of brilliant minds are busy applying time-tested scientific […]
FDA MedWatch: Trasylol (aprotinin injection)
FDA MedWatch: Trasylol (aprotinin injection) – FDA requests marketing suspension and Bayer Pharmaceutical Corp. has agreed, pending a detailed review of preliminary results from a Canadian study that suggested an increased risk for death MedWatch – The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program FDA announced that, at the agency's request, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp. […]
Alternative Treatments for Wounds: Leeches, Maggots, and Bees
Karen M. Dente, MA, MDIntroduction The recalcitrant nature and complexity of chronic wounds continue to challenge health practitioners in the field, with many of the standard treatment options often failing to provide good outcomes. Chronic wounds are often infected with bacteria resistant to antibiotics, compounding the problem. Some alternative biologic forms of treatment have been […]
International Health Regulations enter into force
New opportunity to respond to international public health threats 14 JUNE 2007 | GENEVA — The revised International Health Regulations (IHR) enter into force on Friday, 15 June. The Regulations consist of a comprehensive and tested set of rules and procedures which will help to make the world more secure from threats to global health. […]
