Health, Science, News – Opinion, Fact, Myth, Mystical, Magical, Technical, Reality, Probability, Possibility – MAT OPIOD OPIATE TREATMENT ADDICTION
castMD.com will continue to decipher the elusive probability from the oh so common possibility in the world of risk on the blogosphere…
Traditional paradigms in health care continue to treat the disease after it is diagnosed. Many times preventative models are refused payments by health insurance companies. Meanwhile, the life insurance companies understand the decreased "risk" of preventative modalities, such as reduced smoking, reduced sugar intake, reduced weight, increased exercise, and other health producing activities. Our system still continues to focus on reacting to the disease, rather than preventing the disease. Some major players have made a dent, such as Andrew Weil at the University of Arizona. In other words, should everyone have a full-body CT and 4 body-area ultrasound for screening.
bumpily Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, taught that the highest priority of treating a patient's disease is to "do no harm." By not having the disease in the first place, little or no harm can be done…and it is cheaper.
The costs of treating disease is much greater than the cost of preventing it. Think how much cheaper it is to keep from having a heart problem than from paying the costs of coronary care.
where can i buy Pregabalin online Soluble fiber can help prevention models. Proven benefits of increasing fiber in your diet follows:
Lipid control and improvement
Diabetes control
Weight management
Hypertension control
Coronary heart disease improvement
Cancer prevention assistance
Gastrointestinal and motility improvements.
Fiber can assist in reducing constipation with better bowel regularity. Hiatal hernia, food intolerances, and hemorrhoids can also benefit from high soluble fiber supplementation.
Limited but more so, almost no probability of risk exists with soluble fiber. There are no blood tests to do. No significant toxicity or bad reactions have been reported with fiber supplements when used properly. No drug-drug interactions occur with soluble fiber. However, delay of absorption can occur with fiber if take at the same time as your regular medications. (Talk with your own doctor always before starting any herbal, supplement, new otc medicine or dietary plan.) No significant side effects exist with fiber consumption. No legal considerations are linked to fiber use. Fiber complements alternative therapies to treating disease.
Fiber, especially soluble fiber, promises a preventative health care approach, shifting the traditional paradigm to proactive from reactive. This shift is from treating disease to preventing disease – from illness to wellness.
In summary:
Traditional health care treats the disease after it shows up.
Changing treatment of disease to the prevention of disease is a paradigm shift in health care.
Dietary fiber supports the prevention of disease, paradigm shift from traditional health care.
How much soluble fiber and the co-existence of major diseases will be discussed in upcoming www.castMD.com blogcasts.
Now, go and spread the fiber word….
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared that the field burning practice since 1993 has been illegal. The unanimous decision by the Court forces a reconsideration of events that allowed the practice to continue despite widespread opposition. The EPA federal laws overpower the lobbyist-generated state laws. An environmental plea must go out to the owners of the lands where field burning is conducted. www.castMD.com has been writing about this issue for months – where has the EPA been? Where have the protectors of the land, water, and air been? To lease or rent, knowingly for the practice, is like knowlingly leasing a house for meth making or meth distribution. All the parties know that this practice pollutes. All the parties know that this practice is unsafe for patients. All the parties know this is harmful to the people of the earth. Isn't it time for leadership by the elders, officials, elected few, and, as "Country Attorney" Jerry Spence would say: "Faceless corporations?" Which leaders will be strong, bold, and sincere to tell the truth AND do the right thing? It is time to "walk the environmental talk."
SEE PREVIOUS ENTRIES:
Fire victims, EMS providers, methlab remediation teams, and firefighters will be greatly served by this medical advancement in the United States. This cyanide antidote replaces the "lilly kit" that had been used for years, which used early, was lifesaving but medically cumbersome at best. Three medicines quickly had to be given to these severely critical patients – and the antidote itself had poisoning problems itself. This new antidote uses an extremely novel idea. Vitamin B12, hydroxycobalamin, likes cyanide. With a little molecular twist, the new antidote drug, hydroxocobalamin, simply exchanges a part of the drug and binds the cyanide with impressive results. Dr. Steve Borron, well know to some of us, and definitely an international leader in this arena, has done significant and life changing research on this new antidote to get the approval through the FDA. This antidote has been used in Europe for over a decade with great success. Others like Dr. Hall in Denver has done work on the FDA project years ago. Many have contributed to this landmark success of getting this drug in a workable form into the United States. Congrats to all of them!
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Media Inquiries: |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Cyanokit (containing the drug hydroxocobalamin, intravenous tubing and a sterile spike for reconstituting the drug product with saline) for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning. The approval, which is based on evidence of the drug's effectiveness when tested in animals, improves the nation's ability to respond to emergencies, including a potential attack by terrorists.
"Cyanide is a potent poison and one of the substances that could be used in a chemical attack," said Dr. Steven Galson, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Today's approval is yet another measure to counter the threat of terrorism, which is a critical component of FDA's public health mission."
Cyanokit received a priority review and was approved under the Animal Efficacy Rule, which allows use of animal data for evidence of a drug's effectiveness for certain conditions when the drug cannot be ethically or feasibly tested in humans.
In a controlled study in cyanide-poisoned adult dogs, the use of Cyanokit reduced whole blood cyanide concentration by approximately 55% by the end of the infusion, and significantly improved survival of the Cyanokit-treated dogs compared with dogs receiving placebo.
The safety, metabolism and excretion of Cyanokit were evaluated in 136 healthy adult humans. At the proposed starting dose of 5 grams, the drug was found to be generally well tolerated with side effects that were mild to moderate. The drug exits the body unchanged in the urine. In the presence of cyanide, Cyanokit's active drug takes up the cyanide and becomes a form of vitamin B12.
The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the trial were red urine, skin redness (both from the drug's coloration itself), a temporary increase in blood pressure, headache, nausea and injection site reactions. Allergic reactions were observed in a small number of individuals but were relatively mild and responded quickly to treatment.
Cyanokit is manufactured for EMD Pharmaceuticals, Inc by Merck Sante s.a.s. in Semoy, France and packaged by Dey Laboratories of Napa, California.
More information about FDA's efforts to counteract bioterrorism is available on FDA's website at http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bioterrorism.html.
(photos courtesy: google images)
Methlabs continue to plague society. Costs continue to rise. New laws embedded. New techniques on how to get the drugs to help make meth continue, for example:
Typical mechanisms that the non-cartel methlab cooks get pseudoephedrine are: smurfing and shelf sweeping. Individuals that “smurf” go to a large number of stores and buy amounts at each retailer of pseudoephedrine that are under the legal limit but in the aggregate are much more. A less sophisticated version of smurfing involves sending many individuals into the same store to buy amounts of pseudoephedrine just below the legal limit. “Shelf sweeping” occurs when an individual or a group goes into a store and remove all the pseudoephedrine on the shelf and then exit without paying.
Recently, radio listening to a report of the "significant" risks to persons entering into methlab areas that already have been cleaned up or decontaminated or remediated. The report left me believing that any site with any amount of meth activity is the same. Not true.
The report said after the cleanup process has occurred, the persons are still able to be "poisoned" and become "toxic" from being in the decontaminated room. Not probable either.
The epidemic of methlabs across the country have spawned the entire "cleanup industry" making many companies extremely wealthy in the "abatement industry." One operator told me, "If I just turn on the truck, the fee is $2500 dollars, then the bill goes up depending on what we do."
Most ingredients of methlabs are dangerous. Some can be flammable. Some have bombs or incindary devices. However, after the cleanup has occurred, risk is minimal, probably non-existent.
Do you clean out your garage or shed as a methlab decon project – the spaces that have been storage for such contaminants of lawn mower gasoline, oil, garden chemicals, camping or cooking supplies, glass cleaner, carburator fluids, drain cleaners, windshield washer fluids, antifreeze, and other highly toxic day to day chemicals of household use?
The risk of financial collapse for cleanup is hard hitting for any owner that needs to hire a "cleanup" company. It is estimated that a methlab cleanup can cost from $1000 to hundreds of thousands, depending on cartel activity or the mom-pop variety.
Google "methlab cleanup companies" (remediation) and nearly 60,000 hits arrive at the "deal or no deal" option.
Searching and searching, little is found on "risk of after-cleanup toxicity." Colleagues in this area have been surveyed. An anwer is in waiting. Thus far, experience has not shown me one person ill, sick, contaminated, physically harmed, toxic from a space declared "clean."
During week 51, the following influenza activity was reported: • Widespread activity was reported by four states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi).
• Regional activity was reported by twelve states (Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas).
• Local activity was reported by the District of Columbia and five states (Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin).
• Sporadic activity was reported by New York City and 25 states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming).
• No influenza activity was reported by one state (Vermont).
• Three states did not report (Kentucky, Missouri, and New Mexico).
What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Every year in the United States, on average:
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of flu include:
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Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial since most influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years. Though it varies, flu season can last as late as May.
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:
(adapted from cdc website: anticipate update by cdc after new data emerges)
click on link – http://www.nimcc.com
WHAT TO DO:
BRING A LIST OF YOUR ALLERGIES, MEDICATIONS, PAST MEDICAL HISTORY, EKG IF YOU HAVE IT, AND NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF SIGNIFICANT OTHERS, AND INSURANCE INFO IF IN DATE
GO TO IMMEDIATE CARE IF UNSURE – IF NOT SEVERELY ILL OR INJURED
IF YOU MUST GO TO THE ER, GO IN THE MORNING…LESS BUSY USUALLY
WHEN IN DOUBT – IF ILLNESS OR INJURY IS SEVERE…CALL 911
TELL THE TRIAGE NURSE YOUR SYMPTOMS…ALL OF THEM
KNOW THE CREDENTIALS OF YOUR DOCTOR…EXPERIENCE
IS THE EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN RESIDENCY TRAINED IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE
IS THE EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BOARD-CERTIFIED IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE
BRING AN ADVOCATE TO WATCH, LISTEN, AND ASK QUESTIONS – ESPECIALLY IF VERY ILL
MANY IMMEDIATE CARE CLINICS CAN TAKE CARE OF MANY ILLNESSES AND MINOR EMERGENCIES – CALL IF UNSURE
MANY IMMEDIATE CARE CLINICS CAN STABILIZE AND TRANSFER TO THE HOSPITAL
MANY IMMEDIATE CARE CLINICS HAVE BOARD CERTIFIED ER DOCS AND ER EXPERIENCED DOCS
(fires photos from: nifc.gov)
(product photos from: web general sites)
(house photo from: kltv, texas)
Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement, garage, or camper – or even outside near an open window.
Every home should have at least one working carbon monoxide detector. The detector’s batteries should be checked twice annually, at the same time smoke detector batteries are checked.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death if inhaled.
When power outages occur during emergencies such as hurricanes or winter storms, the use of alternative sources of fuel or electricity for heating, cooling, or cooking can cause CO to build up in a home, garage, or camper and to poison the people and animals inside.
Every year, more than 500 people die in the U. S. from accidental CO poisoning.
CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by small gasoline engines, stoves, generators, lanterns, and gas ranges, or by burning charcoal and wood. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned and can die from breathing CO.
How to Recognize CO Poisoning
Exposure to CO can cause loss of consciousness and death. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.
Important CO Poisoning Prevention Tips
Educational materials
(adapted from CDC website) 
Indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a specialized medical treatment in which the patient breathes 100 per cent oxygen while inside a chamber at increased atmospheric pressure. HBO is used for specific medical conditions. HBO has long been (PHOTO: hcmc hbo ctr) recognized as vital in the resolution of critical medical conditions such as gas gangrene, carbon monoxide poisoning, air embolism due to diving, trauma, or surgical procedures, and decompression sickness. It is also an important adjunct for specific wound healing conditions.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Committee of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) lists the following indications: approved uses for Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy:
(adapted from: HCMC HBO Ctr)
Carbon monoxide poisoning: Reporting required
Due to the ongoing severe cold weather conditions and associated increase in carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning among King County (PHOTO: hcmc hbo ctr) residents, Public Health is making suspected CO poisoning immediately reportable to Public Health by hospitals and healthcare provi
ders for seven days from today, through Dec. 24, 2006. This period will be extended if necessary.
The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Inhalation of carbon monoxide gas typically leads to headache, dizziness, and confusion, which might progress to dyspnea, tachypnea, syncope, and metabolic acidosis. Laboratory criteria for diagnosis: A case in which carboxyhemoglobin concentration exists >5% in venous or arterial blood in nonsmokers and >10% in smokers, as determined by hospital or commercial laboratory tests. The typical range of carboxyhemoglobin concentrations in smokers is 6%-10%.
Advice regarding diagnosis and treatment management of CO intoxication is available 24/7 through Washington State Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.
This health order impacts primarily emergency departments (ED) and the information should be disseminated to all ED staff in King County hospitals immediately. A designated person on each shift should be identified to report cases of CO poisoning to Public Health.
(adapted from the Seattle/King County Public Health Announcement)
THE CONTROVERSY CONTINUES: DOES THE HYPERBARIC OXYGEN HELP?
Current assessment and treatment of CO poisoning in the
emergency department is grossly inadequate to prevent serious
neurologic complications. HBOT speeds removal of CO from
tissues and counters a number of its deleterious effects. Past studies
have demonstrated efficacy of HBOT for reducing the incidence of
neurologic sequelae, even though only three sessions of HBOT
were used. Clinical experience such as that reported here shows that
HBOTtreatment late in the course of established impairments from
CO can lead to clinical improvements. Improvement is documented
by evidence of increased brain metabolism on functional brain
imaging by SPECT after HBOT. Further study as well as wider
availability of HBOT, particularly for persons such as firefighters
who are at high occupational risk of CO poisoning, is warranted.
AND THESE TREATMENTS ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE IN MANY STUDIES THUS FAR…(editorial comment by castMD.com)
Richard A. Neubauer, M.D.
Virginia Neubauer
Alan Ko Chi Nu,
M.D. William S.
Maxfield, M.D., FACNM
, is Medical Director, Ocean Hyperbaric
Neurologic Center, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL. is
Research Director, Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Center.
, is a hyperbaric physician practicing in Taipei, Taiwan.
, is a radiologist and Chief of Nuclear Medicine at
Ocean Hyperbaric Neurologic Center.
(adapted from: Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 11 Number 2 Summer 2006)
MANY PERSONS AND STORIES OF PERSONS HAVE RELATED UNIQUE AND FUNNY STORIES OF THIS HOT
DEVICE IN THE NEXT NEO-GAMING LEVEL OF ENTHUSIASM. SOME ARE EMERGENT, SOME REQUIRE IMMEDIATE CARE, AND SOME ARE NON-EMERGENT. FUNNY, UNUSUAL, AND CHAOTIC !
WHAT IS YOUR STORY………CLICK ON COMMENTS BELOW AND WRITE TO THE BLOGOSPHERE !
UPDATE: After adding your emergency story or injury in comments below – go to www.wiihaveaproblem.com as it is hilarious!
WWW.CASTMD.COM HAS BEEN HOT 
TRACKING THIS ONGOING MASSIVE PATIENT BOMBARDMENT.
NOW YOU TOO CAN READ THE WARNING LETTERS FROM THE FDA SITE.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/warn/warn2006.htm
http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning.htm
LIKE PREVIOUS CASTMD.COM BLOGS, http://www.castmd.com/?p=86 THIS LEVEL OF MARKETING PLACES RISK ON PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS THROUGH THE USE OF THE OLD MARKETING PLOYS AND SILENT ADVERTISING – "SUBLIMINAL SUGGESTION." http://www.castmd.com/?p=79 
FDA officials are issuing fewer offense warnings to drug companies for false and misleading advertisements and are taking longer to do it, a congressional report says.
Annual spending on direct-to-consumer drug advertisements at $4.2 billion and growing, the government has limited ability to curb distribution of ads that violate federal rules, according to the report being released Thursday.
From 2002 through 2005, it took the FDA four months on average to draft, approve and send warning letters and other correspondence to companies that were in violation of the rules, government auditors said.
Between 1997 and 2001, before FDA lawyers began reviewing the letters as a matter of policy, it took just two weeks on average to issue the letters. The number of letters fell off by about half between the two time periods.
The GAO also said the FDA lacks an effective way to screen, review and track the more than 10,000 ads and Web sites brought to the agency's attention each year. The amount has doubled in just four years.
(adapted from fxnws/fda/gao)
