"Health News - Medicine, Diet and Fitness"

LONDON, Oct. 3 — Five-year survival rates for liver transplant patients 60 and older matched rates for younger patients and the older patients had fewer rejection episodes, researchers here found. Action Points
Explain to interested patients that this study found that patients 60 and older when selected with limited comorbidities did just as well after liver transplant as younger patients and had fewer rejection episodes.

Point out that the excellent survival in the older patients could reflect a higher proportion of chronic biliary cirrhosis compared to younger patients, lower MELD score, and extensive cardiovascular screening prior to transplant.

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 3–Most Medicare patients will pay $2.90 more per month in Part B premiums next year — to $96.40.

Medicare officials also announced that deductibles for hospital admissions and doctors’ visits also will increase. (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/factsheet.asp)

A majority of patients could also face hikes of $5 to $10 in monthly premiums for Part D, the Medicare prescription drug program, unless they enroll in less expensive plans.

The Part B increase of 3.1% is the lowest since 1999-2000, but will provide only temporary relief for seniors. The smaller-than-usual hike is artificially low next year for two reasons.

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MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 3 — Influenza vaccination reduces older adults’ risk of hospitalization and mortality, researchers affirmed, despite lingering questions.Action Points
Explain to interested patients that the study supports at least a 33% reduction in death from any cause for older adults who receive flu shots.

Note that the CDC recommends annual influenza vaccination for all adults 65 and older.

Even in the most extreme sensitivity analysis, vaccination was associated with a statistically significant 7% decrease in risk of hospitalization and a 33% reduction in all-cause mortality risk, reported Kristin L. Nichol, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., of the VA Medical Center here, and colleagues, in the Oct. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 3 — Myocardial infarction, although rare, can occur in adolescents even in the absence of congenital heart defects or drug abuse.Action Points
Inform interested patients that heart attacks in children and adolescents are rare if the child has no heart defects and doesn’t abuse drugs.

Note, however, that MI is possible, so evaluation of chest pain in an adolescent if warranted.

Although MI may not usually come to mind for otherwise Men’s healthy teens, acute typical chest pain in the emergency department should not be dismissed as noncardiac, as illustrated by a small case series reported in the October issue of the journal Pediatrics.

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The NBC affiliate KSBW has a brief item on a medical marijuana lawsuit that is interesting just because of the legal angle that is being explored:

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The city and county of Santa Cruz, along with the Women’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana, are suing the federal government over the use of pot to help ease chronic pain.

The groups are asking the courts to reconsider an earlier decision denying their motion for a preliminary injunction, Action News reported.

They argue that the 10th Amendment protects a state’s right to govern itself.

The case is expected to be heard by the U.S. District Court as soon as next week.

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PITTSBURGH, October 02, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Mylan Inc. today announced the appointment of Rajiv Malik as Executive Vice President in charge of Global Technical Operations. Mr. Malik has served in a similar capacity for Mylan since the Company acquired a controlling stake in Matrix Laboratories Limited (Matrix), where he is Chief Executive Officer, in January 2007.

As Head of Global Technical Operations, Mr. Malik will oversee the Company’s global research and development (R&D) centers and manufacturing and distribution units, with responsibility for enhancing and rationalizing Mylan’s global supply chain and expanded product pipeline, as well as leveraging Matrix, one of the world’s largest suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients, across the enlarged company.

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STOCKHOLM, Oct. 2 — A Men’s healthy cognitive reserve, deposited over a lifetime of learning, appears to protect the better-educated patients from dementia, investigators here suggested. Action Points
Explain to patients that this and several other studies have suggested that keeping the mind active through education and other forms of stimulation appears to reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Among nearly 1,500 adults followed for more than 20 years, those who had at least six years of formal education had a significantly lower risk for any form of dementia and for Alzheimer’s disease than adults who had five years of schooling or less, reported Tiia Ngandu, M.D., Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institute, and colleagues.

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Jordan W. Smoller, M.D.
Mass. General Hospital

BOSTON, Oct. 2 — Panic attacks may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events in older women, researchers said.

Postmenopausal women who reported a panic attack were three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next five years, according to results of a cohort study reported in the October issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. They also had nearly twice the risk of all-cause mortality than other women. Action Points
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PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2 — Reliance on a focused history and physical and judicious use of diagnostic imaging are hallmarks of new guidelines for management of low back pain issued jointly by the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society. Action Points
Explain to patients that new guidelines for management of low back pain emphasize a conservative approach to diagnosis and treatment.

Note that routine use of imaging and testing is not recommended.

Note also that medications are recommended only when they have proven benefits.
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PITTSBURGH, October 02, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Mylan Inc. today announced the appointment of John Montgomery to the position of President, Asia Pacific following the completion of Mylan’s acquisition of Merck’s Generics Group today.

Mr. Montgomery has worked for over 30 years in the pharmaceuticals industry and has extensive experience in both patented and generics pharmaceutical products in the UK, U.S. and Asia Pacific regions. At Merck Generics, he served as Regional Director, Asia Pacific, and CEO of Alphapharm, Merck Generic’s business in Australia and the country’s leading pharmaceutical company as measured by prescriptions. Prior to joining Merck, he spent 18 years with Warner Lambert in the UK, U.S. and Australia in roles including Business Director, Europe; Vice President, Cardiovascular; Vice President of Portfolio Management for North America; and Regional President Australia/New Zealand. He served five years as Chairman of the Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) in Australia.

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