An increasing amount of evidence supports the use of antibiotics (Abx.) instead of surgical removal for treating patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis.
From Finland comes research showing that uncomplicated acute appendicitis confirmed by computed tomography (CT) can be treated without going under the knife (scalpel)!
The uncomplicated appendicitis patients were divided into 2 groups: those given Abx. vs. those that underwent surgery. Abx was initially intravenous – Invan® (ertapenem)(1 g/d) for 3 days – followed by 7 days of oral – levofloxacin-Levoquin ® (500 mg once daily) and metronidazole -Flagyl® (500 mg 3 times per day).
The primary endpoint for antibiotic-treated patients was discharge from the hospital without the need for surgery and no recurrent appendicitis during a 1-year follow-up period.
Prompt the surgeon if antibiotics could save you the scalpel!
This isn’t a blog on ‘tech wearables’ the likes of ‘Fitbit®’ but about life saving wear. I hope that you have pertinent medical information on your Smartphone either in an app or in the form of your I. C. E. contact. Many individuals should have more obvious displayed alerts. When time is critical and you are unable to speak, your medical ID(s) can speak volumes to the healthcare providers.
There are all types of jewelry, many of us choose as identifying piece(s). I suggest that there is one vital piece that you’ll want to wear if you have any type of medical issue(s).
Example
Reasonable priced (starting $19.99) an engraved band, charm, dog tag, necklace or bracelet can ID a medical condition(s), medication(s) and allergies.
Breast abnormalities can be benign (non-cancerous not life threatening), cancerous, or even precancerous. Each diagnostic test finds different information example mammogram, MRI, ultrasound each offers its view.
FACTS:
-70-90% of the 1.7 million breast biopsies done each year are benign (not cancer)
– Screening mammograms miss approx. 20% of all breast cancer (esp. those in young women or those with dense breasts)
– More than 50% of women who get annual mammograms will have a false positive result after 10 years of screening
A new blood test is claiming to be able to differentiate benign breast disease from breast cancer. The results are either in terms of a ‘low protein signature’ or a ‘high protein signature’ being found in the blood. Biochemical clues – ‘biomarkers’ – have been found in the blood of breast cancer patients hence it may be linked to those individuals developing breast cancer. Now a simple blood test –Klarifyi ®Breast to help guide the diagnosis and care of breast cancer.
Important: This test is recommended in conjunction with imaging tests.
If your recent mammogram showed a ‘suspicious’ or the finding are questionable perhaps your medical care provider will suggest a quick blood test (results within a week).
Mothers in utero may be ‘programming’ fetal stem cells to accumulate extra fat according to a recent study taking umbilical cord stem cells from of normal weight babies of obese mothers & non-obese mothers. In the lab, cells from the baby with obese mothers grew and had more fat accumulation which can effect insulin resistance in the future.
It has been known for over a decade that women who have or become Diabetic during pregnancy pass on that potential and other metabolic problems. Now it is would appear that obesity can also be passed on!
Texting can now help save lives! Sweden did a citywide study (published June 11, 2015 in New England Journal of Medicine) with volunteers (6,000 mobile users) responding via text for needed CPR (less 1/3 mile -500 meters away). Trained individuals made a difference in survival rate but not statistically significant due to the size of the study. It was noted by the same researchers (in another study) that ‘odds of survival to 30 days were 2.5-fold better’ with any CPR was preformed before paramedic arrived.
When a resident dials 112 (the equivalent of 911 in the US), a text message is sent to all CPR volunteers within less 1/3 mile of the person that is needing emergency care.
The Swedish EMS system is very organized and cell phones are already tracking movements – why not a use to help versus target ads or surveil.
There is already two Apps – ‘GoodSAM Responder’ & ‘GoodSAM Alerter’ for people to register to respond to cardiac arrests that empowers trained laypersons. Don’t miss out, you might need CPR someday!
Cynics out there note: no financial compensation and no major adverse events occurred
Now a rapid accurate test to diagnose IF Ebola virus (antigen) is in present.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded development of the ReEBOV® (Corgenix Medical) test. A drop of blood from a fingerstick, through a spring-loaded mechanism (prevents accidental exposure to blood) tests for Ebola virus. Think home pregnancy test – ReEBOV test works similarly: apply to a treated strip, and if the sample is positive for Ebola, a colored line appears on the strip
On the spot, points of contact easy quick test to find control this deadly disease.
Published in ‘The Lancet‘ by scientists at Harvard Medical School (HMS), Partners In Health with Boston Children’s Hospital, and now commercially available this rapid test was as accurate as the standard lab test used during the recent outbreak in Sierra Leone.
This test is the first ‘rapid diagnostic’ test for Ebola to get emergency use from both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the FDA.
NOTE: OraSure™ makers of rapid home HIV ($40 retail) & Hepatitis C tests was produced OraQuick Ebola Rapid Antigen Test®, the first test development to receive US DHS funding under Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
A study in health volunteers showed if you are sleep deprived you have a hard time ridding your mind of unpleasant memories. Fear, trauma recall is not extinguished. Previous studies on rodents had supported this theory. I could not have volunteered for this study! ‘Subjects’ were given low-level electric shock on their wrists -first they were trained to associate a blue circle with electric shock (on wrist) yellow no shock, then made to stay awake 36 hours, the next day they had electromyographic patterns in the eyelid (blink EMG) that are known to signal fear.
This was funded by US DOD where soldiers often do not sleep for over 24 hours.
Yes trauma to mind can lead to sleeplessness but sleep deprivation can lengthen fearful recall.
Source Reference: Straus L, et al “The effect of 36 hours of total sleep deprivation on extinction learning and recall” SLEEP 2015; Abstract 319
Irritable bowel syndrome versus Inflammatory bowel disease is not an easy diagnosis for doctors. Often time it becomes an ‘educated guess’. A submit this blog excited that a blood test may help all involved reach the correct diagnosis.
IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that patients must undergo tests for other conditions that match the symptomatology. In the case of IBD, that typically means repeated colonoscopies.
A blood test that would quickly rule out IBD would be a significant benefit to cost, inconvenience, and discomfort associated with colonoscopies. A Proposed test has a predicitve value over 95% however can not detect IBS from celiac disease.
Just a bit of news from the biotech front! Prompt your healthcare practicer.
A study of healthy adults is one of the first to show a correlation of sleep amount and time with the body’s metabolism. Researchers pointed out that going to bed too early may prove as problematic as going too late. Postulated is that a misalignment in everyday life may impact risk for obesity with sleep as a driver of the body’s metabolic activity. All agree that more study is needed. At this posting there is no bedtime practice to suggest.
Subjects kept food diaries, blood draws were taken to determine melatonin levels. FYI-people produce melatonin starting 2 hours before bedtime. Furthermore each subject was weighed each morning, their height was measured to determine BMI and body fat was measured using dual emission x-ray absorptiometry.
Other study results also suggest sleep timing is linked to obesity, diabetes, and the risk for metabolic syndrome.
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