http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/ en Copyright 2009 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:54:57 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The IOM has just published a monograph on “Comparative Effectiveness Research”.  There are many competing treatments for the major conditions that affect us. There are few studies showing which if any are more effective, other than personal opinions, which doctors and patients can use to choose between them.  This monograph speaks to the need to evaluate the various options to improve the rate of recovery and control for  various disease.  It is worth reading by everyone in public health.

]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/07/comparative-effectiveness.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/07/comparative-effectiveness.html Community Health policy Technology Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:54:57 -0500 Mesothelioma.  Based on a rigorous re-evaluation of the situation on the ground, The EPA will move aggressively on the cleanup efforts and protect the health of the people.  $130 million will be spent by the government on asbestos cleanup efforts and also to improve the community health care system for those with asbestos-related illnesses. Approximately $125 million will come from the EPA over the next five years to clean up both Libby and Troy. An extra $6 million will be spent by the Health and Human Services Department (HSS) on medical assistance.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/epa-declares-public-health-emergency-in-montana-mining-town.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/epa-declares-public-health-emergency-in-montana-mining-town.html Environment Prevention Surveillance epidemiology Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:51:23 -0500 The AP reports, "The world's 65-and-older population will triple by mid-century to 1 in 6 people, leaving the US and other nations struggling to support the elderly." In fact, the "number of senior citizens has already jumped 23 percent since 2000 to 516 million, according to census estimates released on Tuesday. That's more than double the growth rate for the general population." Currently, seniors "comprise just under 8 percent of the world's 6.8 billion people. But, demographers warn the biggest shift is yet to come. They cite a coming wave of retirements from baby boomers and China's Red Guard generation that will shrink pensions, and add to rising healthcare costs." Data show that, in the US for instance, "residents who are 65 and older currently make up 13 percent of the population, but that will double to 88.5 million by mid-century. In two years, the oldest of the baby boomers will start turning 65. The baby boomer bulge will continue padding the senior population year after year, growing to 1 in 5 US residents by 2030."]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/number-of-people-aged-65-and-o.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/number-of-people-aged-65-and-o.html Economics Surveillance geriatrics policy Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:48:18 -0500 New York Times reports, "Contrary to the popular assumption that the new swine flu pandemic arose on factory farms in Mexico, federal agriculture officials now believe that it most likely emerged in pigs in Asia, but then traveled to North America in a human." However, "they emphasized that there was no way to prove their theory and only sketchy data underpinning it." Officials note the lack of evidence that the virus "has ever circulated in North American pigs, while there is tantalizing evidence that a closely related 'sister virus' has circulated in Asia." Dr. Amy L. Vincent, a swine flu specialist at the Department of Agriculture, said, "The most likely scenario is that it came over in the mammalian species that moves most freely around the world," people.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/us-officials-suggest-swine-flu.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/us-officials-suggest-swine-flu.html Surveillance epidemiology infectious diseases Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:45:31 -0500 New research shows that physicians failed to report clinically significant abnormal test results to patients -- or to document that they had informed them -- in one out of every 14 cases of abnormal results. In some medical groups, the failure rate is close to zero; in others it is as high as one in four abnormal results. The study suggests that five simple, common-sense processes are useful for dealing with test results: 1. All test results are routed to the responsible physician 2. The physician signs off on all results; 3. The practice informs patients of all results, normal and abnormal, at least in general terms; 4. The practice documents that the patient has been informed; and 5. Patients are told to call after a certain time interval if they have not been notified.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/physicians-frequently-fail-to.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/physicians-frequently-fail-to.html Prevention Technology policy Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:42:24 -0500 a new study has found substantial reductions in binge drinking since the national drinking age was set at 21 two decades ago, with one exception: college students. The rates of binge drinking in male collegians remain unchanged, but the rates in female collegians have increased dramatically.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/higher-drinking-age-linked-to.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/higher-drinking-age-linked-to.html Chronic Disease Prevention behavioral change Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:39:21 -0500 Comment: However being able to measure a compound at parts per billion or less tell us nothing about possible causes/effects. It become one more tool for the EPA to use to get more funds because of potential peril.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/many-floors-in-us-homes-have-m.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/many-floors-in-us-homes-have-m.html Environment Surveillance Technology Toxicology research Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:36:06 -0500 U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers to stop using three products marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia). Anosmia may be long-lasting or permanent. The products are: --Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel --Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs --Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product) The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of these three Zicam products. In these reports, many people who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses of the products. "Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason." Comment: One more OTC product found sufficiently harmful to withdraw from stores. It is one more example of a highly advertised product that not only does not perform as touted but is in fact dangerous.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/intranasal-zinc-product-linked.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/intranasal-zinc-product-linked.html Prevention Surveillance complementary substances policy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:49:09 -0500 Comment: one more piece of false advertising, usually from Dannon for their Yogurt, who are currently being investigated by the European Union for false statements.. There are a number of beliefs among credible clinicians, for specific purposes but few if any clinical studies that support these beliefs.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/scientists-say-probiotic-label.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/scientists-say-probiotic-label.html Prevention complementary substances policy Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:48:11 -0500 Comment: One more study contradicting a long held belief by many behaviorists.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/iupui-study-finds-fast-food-no.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/iupui-study-finds-fast-food-no.html Chronic Disease Prevention Surveillance epidemiology Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:44:06 -0500 University of Louisville neurologist Robert P. Friedland, M.D., questions the safety of eating farmed fish in today's Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, adding a new worry to concerns about the nation's food supply. Friedland and his co-authors suggest farmed fish could transmit Creutzfeldt Jakob disease--commonly known as mad cow disease--if they are fed byproducts rendered from cows. The scientists urge government regulators to ban feeding cow meat or bone meal to fish until the safety of this common practice can be confirmed. Comment: This position is unsupported by any studies and seems to be published only to gain notoriety]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/farmed-fish-may-pose-risk-for.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/farmed-fish-may-pose-risk-for.html Food Safety Prevention infectious diseases Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:41:06 -0500 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is enforcing the laws that protect consumers from illegal products marketed through the Internet that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. On May 1, 2009, the FDA warned consumers regarding products related to the 2009 H1N1 flu virus offered on the Internet. The products involved are those that are promoted and marketed to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus but are not approved, cleared, or authorized by the FDA. The agency advised operators of offending Web sites that they must take immediate action to ensure that they are not marketing products intended to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure the 2009 H1N1 flu virus that have not been cleared, approved, or authorized by the FDA. http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/fda-warns-web-sites-against-ma.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/fda-warns-web-sites-against-ma.html Prevention Surveillance policy Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:10:07 -0500 from Loyola University Health System almost everything impairs fertility in males, the latest being a laptop balanced on your knees! The list, in addition to the laptop includes avoiding: hot tubs Wearing boxers instead of briefs Refraining from ejaculating too frequently (the recommendation is to only engage in sexual intercourse every other day around ovulation) Exercising moderately (one hour, three to five times per week) Avoiding exercise that can generate heat or trauma to the genital area Eating well Taking a daily multivitamin Getting eight hours of sleep per night Staying hydrated and limiting caffeine to no more than two cups per day Refraining from smoking Avoiding drugs and excessive alcohol use Minimizing exposure to toxins Avoiding excessive weight gain or weight loss Practicing stress reduction techniques Comment: This behavioral list might be used to encourage these activities and see if we can reduce the population explosion.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/impaired-male-fertility.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/impaired-male-fertility.html Prevention behavioral change Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:05:05 -0500 Comment: despite backing from the AMA and APHA this is not a bill that supports the Public's health. Both these organizations are politically naïve except when it comes to their bottom line.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/new-congressional-bill-is-not.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/new-congressional-bill-is-not.html Chronic Disease Community Health Economics Prevention epidemiology policy Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:00:03 -0500 New research indicates that natural selection may shape the human genome much more slowly than previously thought. Other factors -- the movements of humans within and among continents, the expansions and contractions of populations, and the vagaries of genetic chance - have heavily influenced the distribution of genetic variations in populations around the world. Comment: Is there any chance that these studies can lead to a change in racial animositt? We are all mongrels.]]> http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/geography-and-history-shape-ge.html http://blog.vcu.edu/cbuttery/2009/06/geography-and-history-shape-ge.html geriatrics policy research Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:07:41 -0500