The FDA recently released results of a review that found an increased risk of aortic ruptures or tears with the use of fluoroquinolones. As part of the safety warning, the FDA has recommendations for providers, including avoidance of fluoroquinolones in patients with a history of aortic aneurysm or those at risk for an aneurysm; to
Research recently published in the seminal journal Gastroenterology failed to find evidence of alterations in key markers of bone formation and metabolism in postmenopausal women on PPI’s. The study examined calcium absorption, serum or urine mineral levels, parathyroid hormone, Vitamin D status, or bone-mineral density with 6 months of PPI therapy. The prospective double-blind study
An online survey conducted in 2016 of a nationally representative group of 878 adults ages 65 and older found 59.4% did not want to talk about their life expectancy. Presented with a hypothetical situation that they were not immediately dying but had a shortened life expectancy, 59.9% indicated life expectancy discussions should not be initiated
William Chey, MD, FACG, of the University of Michigan Health System, conducted the survey of 800 patients and 200 gastroenterologists. Shire Pharmaceuticals sponsored the survey. One of the main highlights of the survey, according to Chey, was that more than half of the patients reported that they spent more than an hour a day on
The CMS said the average amount they pay for a colonoscopy at an ambulatory surgery center is $488, compared with $936 at a hospital outpatient center. This payment does not include the patient’s responsibilities, deductibles, copayments, and cost of uncovered services. Still, it underscores important differences in costs, overhead, net charges, and payments on your
The United States had more than double the rate of premature overdose deaths of at least 12 comparable countries in a recent study. The study compared the trends and patterns in premature mortality rates among people age 20 – 64 years due to drug overdose. The data was compiled from the 13 members of the Organisation
23andMe and GSK believe their partnership will accelerate the development of breakthroughs in medicine. Part of this is the concept of personalized medicine, where an individual’s genetic makeup is used to determine which drugs might work best for them. Another big part is the development of new drugs altogether. Patrons are asked if they want to
Each time a more powerful drug is developed, there are assurances, studies, and promises. Each sleep aid, narcotic, anxiolytic, and muscle relaxant has been released with “strict monitoring” and “no known adverse effects or dependency”. And each time the public is burned in the long run. This poo-pooing of risk, although it may sound far-fetched,
Bariatric surgery that brings about rapid weight loss also raises the risk of hospital admissions for pancreatitis, gallstones and other gallbladder conditions by 10 to 100 times, researchers reported at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting. The researchers said physicians may want to prescribe bile acid sequestrants to patients to reduce the risk of gallstones and
Yes, that title leads to all kinds of imagery! “Leaky gut syndrome” is a hypothetical condition that is believed to cause chronic inflammation throughout the body and may result in a wide range of conditions. Proposed sequelae include chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and autism. The proposed mechanism is that the intestinal
