ATLANTA, May 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine, a US-based non-profit dedicated to funding research for the treatment of mitochondrial disease, has awarded a $10,000 grant to Dr. Robin Morris and his team of researchers at the Department of Psychology at Georgia State University for a joint research study at the Georgia State/Georgia Tech Joint Center for Advanced Brain Imaging. The research project will study brain function in 30 children with mitochondrial disease and in a control group of 30 children without mitochondrial disease using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and other technology.

The aim of the study is to determine if children with oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) defects in mitochondrial disease/dysfunction show indices of brain “fatigue” through testing by functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imagine (DTI) and neuropsychological testing. OXPHOS is a cellular metabolic process the body uses to turn oxidation of nutrients into energy.

The OXPHOS process uses approximately 95 percent of the oxygen delivered to tissues, and defects in this process can impact cellular energy functions throughout the body. While less than 2 percent of the adult human’s body weight, at rest the brain consumes about 20 percent of the oxygen, making the study of active brain function using techniques such as fMRI a useful approach for understanding the impact of OXPHOS defects.

The study is evaluating the concept of cognitive fatigue in these children, many of whom have difficulty maintaining the necessary mental focus and sustained attention over typical periods of activities and learning, which impacts their performance in school and other activities. The study is an essential step in being able to perform large-scale epidemiological studies of mitochondrial disease using more widely available measures, and ultimately being able to implement clinical trials for new pharmaceutical agents emerging for treatment of such defects.

There is already evidence that OXPHOS defects are associated with changes in the brain’s structure and function, and this study will integrate many types of information, including laboratory measures of OXPHOS defects, tests of neuropsychological functioning, measures of brain structure and function calibrated blood flow.

During the study, Dr. Morris and his team will conduct high-resolution anatomic brain scans to identify regions of interest for analyses of fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to identify possible differences in white matter connectivity between the two groups of children (with and without OXPHOS). They will assess each child using thinking tasks that vary in degree of verbal working memory and sustained attention while undergoing functional MRI scans to evaluate changes in brain function over time.

The ultimate objective is to establish whether, and how, OXPHOS defects relate to the neurologic features of some children, causing rapid “cognitive fatigue.” Currently, such studies are difficult because definitive diagnosis of OXPHOS defects requires muscle biopsy and complex, unique genetic analyses.

The funding by the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine will enable Dr. Morris and his fellow researchers to study at least 10 participants in depth. Dr. Morris is a developmental neuropsychologist on the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Georgia State University and a licensed psychologist in the state of Georgia. He has an extensive history of studying children with both developmental and acquired neurological disorders, including studies of children with mitochondrial disease and autism. His fellow researcher Dr. Diana Robins has an extensive history of studying autism spectrum disorders and conducting fMRI studies, and Dr. Tricia King has been conducting fMRI and DTI studies with children and adults with a variety of acquired neurological disorders for many years as well.

The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine’s mission is to support the development of the most promising research and treatments of the many forms of mitochondrial disease. In addition to the current grant, the Foundation is currently funding drug compound research by Dr. Jan Smeitink of Khondrion in the Netherlands, and has funded an FDA-approved drug trial in 2010. Mitochondrial disease is an energy production problem that occurs when the cell’s mitochondria, or “power plants,” don’t function properly and create an energy crisis. The disease primarily affects brain, heart and muscle cells in varying degrees. More than 1 in 2,500 are affected by mitochondrial disease, and the treatments and cures for mitochondrial disease can impact cures for related diseases like Autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and muscular dystrophy among others. For more information on the Foundation and information about funding of specific research projects, please visit www.mitochondrialdiseases.org.

Media contacts: Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine — Jennifer Grizzle, 770-409-1152, jennifer@theprstudio.com Georgia State University — Jeremy Craig, 404-413-1357, jcraig@gsu.edu Georgia Institute of Technology — Jason Maderer, 404.385.2966, maderer@gatech.edu

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Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine Awards Grant to Functional MRI Study of Children With Mitochondrial Disease

Public release date: 15-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Zina Poletz zpoletz@webershandwick.com 612-719-2024 Weber Shandwick Worldwide

FORT KNOX, Ky., May 15, 2012 The U.S. Army Medical Department announced today the election of two of its own to Mastership in the American College of Physicians (MACP). Only 43 medical leaders from around the world who have achieved eminence through their contributions to the field of internal medicine in at least one area, such as practice, teaching, research or volunteerism, were awarded a Mastership in 2012. One of the Masters, Col. Gregory J. Argyros, M.D., MACP, who is board-certified in critical care medicine, pulmonology and internal medicine, is director of education, training and research for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, and professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He previously served as chief of medicine and director of the internal medicine residency program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and as the ACP Army Chapter Governor from 2005-2009. In addition, Dr. Argyros has received numerous teaching awards over the years.

Recently retired as an Army colonel after a 27-year career, Alan J. Magill, M.D., MACP, was also honored as a Master by the College. Dr. Magill is currently a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he develops effective interventions in the event of an influenza epidemic. He previously served as director of the Division of Experimental Therapeutics at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and is an attending physician with the Infectious Disease Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He also teaches at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Magill has held leadership positions in infectious disease at the National Institute of Health, International Society of Travel Medicine, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and other organizations.

“That two Army physicians were inducted as Masters by the American College of Physicians speaks to the high quality of physicians who choose to make the Army their career and the extraordinary opportunities Army medicine offers them,” said Col. Jeanne Tofferi, M.D., MPH, FACP, internal medicine consultant to the Army Surgeon General. “Both of them have made tremendous contributions to our nation through teaching, medical practice and research.”

On April 19, during the ACP annual meeting in New Orleans, six Army internal medicine physicians and subspecialists joined their Army ACP Chapter Governor, Col. Lisa Zacher, M.D., FACP, for a convocation ceremony during which they were inducted as Fellows of the American College of Physicians (FACP). These physicians included: Lt. Col. Michael G. Rossman, M.D. (Rheumatology), Daniel W. Franks, D.O. (Internal Medicine), Maj. Kimberly C. Salazar (Allergy/Immunology), Maj. Paige E. Waterman, M.D. (Infectious Disease), Anne B. Rossignol, M.D. (Hospice Care & Palliative Medicine) and Mark Garfinkle, M.D. (Internal Medicine).

Criteria for Fellowship include board certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine, recognition by other internists for excellence and skill in medical practice, teaching or research, and commitment to continued education and advanced training. Fellows of ACP are recommended by their peers based on character, ethics and excellence in medical practice, and undergo the review by ACP’s Credentials Subcommittee.

“The Army makes board certification and continuing medical education a top priority,” said Col. Zacher, who is also the pulmonary consultant to the Army surgeon general and chief, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center. “The fact that so many Army physicians have become Fellows of the ACP speaks to their professional excellence in internal medicine and dedication to the highest quality of patient care.”

The following Army internists and subspecialists were elected as Fellows in 2012 (listed by Army medical center or affiliation):

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Washington, D.C.) Col. Ronald D. DeGuzman, M.D. (Allergy/Immunology); Maj. Fouad J. Moawad, M.D. (Gastroenterology); Maj. James E. Moon, M.D. (Internal Medicine); Maj. Kristopher M. Paolino, M.D. (Infectious Disease); Maj. Sheri K. Dennison, M.D. (Hematology/Oncology); Maj. Aaron B. Holley, M.D. (Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine); Maj. Jeffrey S. Kunz, M.D. (Cardiology); Maj. Kevin M. Woods, M.D. (Cardiology); Maj. Ganesh Veerappan, M.D. (Gastroenterology); Lt. Col. Paige E. Waterman, M.D. (Infectious Disease ); Maj. Jason A. Regules, M.D. (Infectious Disease)

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US Army internal medicine Masters, Fellows honored by American College of Physicians

Most medicine cabinets contain a jumble of over-the-counter health products, but knowing what to use, when, can be confusing. Just because a medication is sold without a prescription doesn’t mean it is harmless, and some old standbys can do more harm than good. Based on consultations with experts and reference materials, here is a deceptively easy quiz from The Wall Street Journal to test your home-remedy literacy.

1. You have a headache. Should you take: A) Advil (ibuprofen) B) Tylenol (acetaminophen) C) Aspirin

Answer: A, B or C

All of them will relieve a simple headache, but through different means and with different side effects.

Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen sodium) and aspirin all reduce pain by fighting inflammation, which also makes them particularly useful for combating arthritis, tooth pain, menstrual cramps and muscle sprains. But they can cause stomach bleeding, so people with peptic ulcers, liver, kidney or heart disease should talk to their doctors before taking them.

Aspirin has the added benefit of preventing blood clots, which is why taking one daily can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. But aspirin shouldn’t be used by people who have low blood pressure or open wounds, or by children who have the flu or chickenpox due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) works by calming pain signals in the brain. But it can cause liver damage if you regularly have three or more alcoholic drinks a day or take a higher dosage than recommended.

All in all, ibuprofen is arguably the strongest, but aspirin works faster, naproxen lasts longer and acetaminophen is safer if you have stomach problems (and aren’t a heavy drinker). A few brands contain both acetaminophen and aspirin, but don’t mix them on your own and don’t take any of them for more than five days straight, since they can cause “rebound” headaches, in which the body feels withdrawal when they wear off.

2. To clean a cut or scrape, it is best to use: A) Hydrogen peroxide B) Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol C) Neither D) Both

Answer: C

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The medicine cabinet quiz

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Well: Vital Signs: Using Probiotics to Help Medicine Go Down

Public release date: 14-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Angela Sharma asharma@aafp.org 913-269-2269 American Academy of Family Physicians

Reinvigorating the 1967 Folsom Report’s ‘Communities of Solution’ to Address Today’s Fragmented U.S. Health Care System

In the wake of federal efforts to reform the U.S. health care system, a group of rising family medicine leaders call for a reinvigoration of community-centered health systems, as originally outlined in the landmark 1967 Folsom Report. They contend the vision of the original Folsom commission could not be more pertinent to America’s current pressing needs. The group revitalizes and modernizes the Folsom Report’s blueprint, offering an updated series of 13 grand challenges to facilitate a vision for nationwide integrated patient-centered community health services. The renewal of the Report’s “Community of Solution” concept serves as the anchor point for improving overall health and decreasing health costs. Other key lessons drawn from the original report include the integration of public health and clinical care and the importance of local decision making. It is the group’s hope that these updated challenges might serve as a springboard for health care professionals, public health organizations, community groups and policy makers to take concrete steps to reengage at the community level.

Communities of Solution: The Folsom Report Revisited

By The Folsom Group

American Board of Family Medicine Young Leaders Advisory Group

Nasal Steroids Offer Small Therapeutic Benefit for Sinus Infection Sufferers

As evidence and clinical policy recommendations move away from antibiotic use for acute sinusitis, a systematic review and meta-analysis finds a therapeutic benefit from intranasal corticosteroidsbut the effect is small and not apparent until two to three weeks. Analyzing six studies with a total of 2,495 patients, researchers found intranasal corticosteroids resulted in a small increase in the resolution or improvement of symptoms at days 14 to 21, with the most consistently significant benefits being relief of face pain and congestion. The effect was most marked when patients were given longer durations of treatment (21 days) and higher doses of medication. In their analysis, the researchers found that whereas 66 percent of patients would experience improvement or resolution of symptoms at 14 to 21 days using a placebo, an additional 7 percent of patients would achieve this outcome with corticosteroids, equating to a number needed to treat of 13. This clinical benefit, the authors note, must be set against the potential harms of medication and cost implications. They call for additional research comparing intranasal corticosteroids with placebo in the absence of antibiotics to clarify the time-course of clinical benefit and the impact on work and quality of life.

In an accompanying editorial, a family physician argues nasal steroids are not the answer for most patients. Most patients, he asserts, want to get better in a few days, not three weeks. Furthermore, he argues, the symptom relief offered by nasal steroids is minimal, and the cost is high relative to other over-the-counter drugs, like pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen, that offer similar relief at a fraction of the cost. He concludes instead of writing a prescription, treatment should focus on symptom relief.

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May/June 2012 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

Published on May 14, 2012 at 8:26 AM

The European Society for Integrative Medicine (ESIM), with support from Heel, announces a new international research prize in integrative medicine: the “Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research Award.” Applicants are asked to submit papers by May 30, 2012.

“This international research prize recognizes innovative and outstanding scientific papers in the field of integrative medicine, thus fostering collaboration between conventional and complementary medicine,” emphasizes Dr. Ghassan Andraos, Head of Global Medicine at Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH.

The ESIM research prize is awarded in two categories: one for clinical investigations, the other for basic research. Each of the two winners will be awarded the sum of 10, 000 euros. Submissions must be based on a scientific manuscript that has either already been published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2011 or 2012 or has been accepted for publication. The jury, which is made up of a selection of international experts in integrative medicine, will rate the papers according to three criteria: innovation, level of relevance and scientific excellence.

The winners of the “Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research Awards” will be announced at the 5th annual European Conference on Integrative Medicine (ECIM) to be held in Florence, Italy from September 21 to 22.

Source: European Society for Integrative Medicine

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ESIM announces ‘Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research Awards’

BADEN-BADEN, Germany–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

The European Society for Integrative Medicine (ESIM), with support from Heel, announces a new international research prize in integrative medicine: the Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research Award. Applicants are asked to submit papers by May 30, 2012.

This international research prize recognizes innovative and outstanding scientific papers in the field of integrative medicine, thus fostering collaboration between conventional and complementary medicine, emphasizes Dr. Ghassan Andraos, Head of Global Medicine at Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH.

The ESIM research prize is awarded in two categories: one for clinical investigations, the other for basic research. Each of the two winners will be awarded the sum of 10, 000 euros. Submissions must be based on a scientific manuscript that has either already been published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2011 or 2012 or has been accepted for publication. The jury, which is made up of a selection of international experts in integrative medicine, will rate the papers according to three criteria: innovation, level of relevance and scientific excellence.

The winners of the Excellence in Integrative Medicine Research Awards will be announced at the 5th annual European Conference on Integrative Medicine (ECIM) to be held in Florence, Italy from September 21 to 22. For more information, visit: www.ecim-congress.org.

The mission of the European Society for Integrative Medicine is to promote science, research, education and further training, support for medical care and providing advice on policy in the realm of integrative medicine. For these purposes, the Society organizes scientific events and encourages dialog with health-care authorities and institutions.

Heel is a pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and distributes medicines based on natural substances. As the global leader in homeopathic combination preparations, the company is also a pioneer in the field of scientific research in natural healthcare. In cooperation with academic institutions, Heel actively fosters the concept of integrative medicine and is building the bridge between homeopathy and conventional medicine to improve patient care and health.

Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH, with corporate headquarters located in Baden-Baden/Germany and a staff of 1,300, achieved an annual turnover of 196 million euros in 2011 70 percent of it outside of Germany. Heel medicinesare available through subsidiaries and distribution partners in over 50 countries around the world. www.heel.com

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Heel Supports New International Research Prize in Integrative Medicine

A creek along Two Medicine Road on the east side of Glacier National Park. – Justin Franz/Flathead Beacon

Before the construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, many visitors of the park came to this oft-overlooked corner and used Two Medicine as the starting point for their trips. Visitors would arrive in East Glacier by train and then stay at the lodge there. The following day they would take horses to Two Medicine Lake and stay at one of the various rustic chalets or canvas tipis.

Today, Two Medicine is a great spot to take in the sights, have a picnic, start a hiking trip (although this early in the spring, some trails may still be snow covered) and, later this month, go camping.

On May 25, the Two Medicine Campground will open for the summer season and tent and RV sites are available on a first come, first serve basis. Bathrooms and running water are also available at the campground. Nearby is the old Two Medicine Chalet, which now serves as a gift shop and camp store.

How to get there: From Kalispell, take U.S. Highway 2, 87 miles east to East Glacier. There take Montana Route 49 north about 3.5 miles to where the Two Medicine Road splits off to the left. Two Medicine Lake is seven miles beyond this point.

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PLACES: Two Medicine Road

DETROIT –

Gather your girlfriends, get out and get healthy at the Ladies Night Out Health Crawl, set for 6 to 8 p.m. May 17 on the campus of Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit.

The School of Medicine and the Wayne State University Physician Group will host the event in celebration of National Women’s Health Week May 13-19, an annual project of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health.

The free event will take place at the School of Medicine’s Scott Hall, located at 540 E. Canfield St.

The event aims to empower women of all ages and backgrounds to make their health a top priority. Mothers, daughters, aunts, grandmothers and girlfriends can nosh on gourmet nibbles and sip wine while strolling through physician-led informational stations covering women’s health topics such as bone density; breast, colorectal and ovarian cancer; diabetes; heart health, reproductive and sexual health; nutrition and healthy eating. A local chef will demonstrate healthy recipes and share tips for healthy cooking.

Attendees may also enter to win an Amazon Kindle Fire, courtesy of the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Wayne State University Physician Group.

This is a free event, but ladies are encouraged to RSVP at http://events.wayne.edu/rsvp/lno/

Free parking will be available in Wayne State University parking lot No. 75, located on Canfield Street, between St. Antoine and Brush streets.

The hosts have pledged $1 for every “like” of WSU’s School of Medicine and University Physician Group on Facebook May 13-19, with proceeds benefitting the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and its affiliated shelters. WSU School of Medicine students provide free medical care to children and families at DRMM’s SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic in Detroit.

To like the Wayne State University School of Medicine on Facebook visit http://www.facebook.com/WayneStateMedSchool

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WSU School of Medicine hosts Ladies Night Out 'Health Crawl'

PHILADELPHIA One hundred and thirty-nine Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania students will take the Hippocratic Oath for the first time as new doctors this Sunday, May 13, 2012. Among the graduating seniors, several mothers will we also be celebrating Mother’s Day, and the amazing amount of commitment they have put into obtaining their medical degrees while raising a family. In addition to these multitasking medical student moms, 14 students have earned duel MD/PhD degrees, with 23 students completing additional masters’ degrees.

9:00 AM Processional

9:05 AM Opening remarks given by J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD

9:15 AM Commencement address given by Nobel Laureate Peter Agre, MD

9:45 AM Presentation of diplomas and hoods

10:45 AM Recitation of the Hippocratic Oath

11:00 AM Recessional

Nobel Laureate Peter Agre, MD, Professor and Director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health

NOTE: Reporters and photographers must sign in with Jessica Mikulski and pick up a ticket to gain admittance in the lobby of the Kimmel Center.

###

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Graduation and Mother's Day Combined: Perelman School of Medicine Students and Mothers Celebrate Major Milestones …

Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, Bioethicist to be Keynote Speaker

Newswise New York, NY (May 10, 2012) New York University School of Medicine will hold its 170th annual graduation at 10am, Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, Sidney D. Caplan Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine in Pennsylvania will deliver the keynote address entitled Physician Advocacy in a Changing Health Care Environment.

About Arthur L. Caplan, PhD Dr. Arthur L. Caplan is the incoming director of the new Division of Medical Ethics in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone Medical Center, effective July 1, 2012. He is the Sidney D. Caplan Professor of Bioethics at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, and also professor of medicine, philosophy, and psychiatry and a senior fellow at its Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. Dr. Caplan completed his undergraduate work at Brandeis University, and received his PhD in the history and philosophy of science from Columbia University. He is the author or editor of thirty books and over 550 papers in peer reviewed journals. He holds seven honorary degrees and is a fellow of the Hastings Center, the NY Academy of Medicine, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the American College of Legal Medicine and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Caplan is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the McGovern Medal of the American Medical Writers Association; the Franklin Award from the City of Philadelphia and the Patricia Price Browne Prize in Biomedical Ethics for 2011. He was a Person of the Year-2001 from USA Today and has been described as one of the ten most influential people in science by Discover magazine in 2008. He was honored as one of the fifty most influential people in American health care by Modern Health Care magazine, one of the ten most influential people in America in biotechnology by the National Journal, and one of the ten most influential people in the ethics of biotechnology by the editors of Nature Biotechnology.

The Ceremony Following the procession, class president Feres Samra, MD, will deliver the Valediction. Robert I. Grossman, MD, Saul J. Farber Dean and Chief Executive Officer of NYU Langone Medical Center will then address the men and women of the class of 2012 as they embark on what Dr. Grossman has referred to as an ancient and eternally noble calling.

The conferring of diplomas will take place directly after Dr. Caplans talk and Dr. Grossman will administer the Hippocratic Oath. A champagne brunch reception for the graduates, their families and faculty follows.

Anthony J. Grieco, MD, associate dean for Alumni Relations and Academic Events, Martin Lipton, Esq., NYU Board of Trustees, Kenneth G. Langone, chair, NYU Langone Medical Center Board of Trustees and Robert Berne, PhD, executive vice president for health, New York University will also offer greetings to the graduates.

About the Class of 2012 The Class of 2012 is comprised of 173 students, 89 men and 84 women all receiving Doctor of Medicine Degrees. In addition, 6 students will receive a dual Doctor of Medicine/Master of Science Degree, 8 students will awarded the Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees through the Medical Scientist Training Program and 8 degrees will be conferred with honors. The class includes 29 members of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor medical society, established in 1902.

About NYU School of Medicine NYU School of Medicine is one of the nations preeminent academic institutions dedicated to achieving world class medical educational excellence. For 170 years, NYU School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research and direct patient care. The School also maintains academic affiliations with area hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital Center, one of the nations finest municipal hospitals where its students, residents and faculty provide the clinical and emergency care to New York Citys diverse population, which enhances the scope and quality of their medical education and training. Additional information about the NYU School of Medicine is available at http://school.med.nyu.edu/.

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Nyu School of Medicine 170th Graduation Ceremony May 17th

Several business owners in Westlake and East Hollywood have been charged with practicing medicine without a license after two victims became sick and had to be hospitalized.

The Los Angeles city attorneys office began an undercover investigation of Excellent Nutrition, J&R Beauty Supply earlier this year soon after a woman and her son visited the business complaining of flu-like symptoms.

The woman was prescribed an injection made up of a mix of penicillin and eucalyptus extract by a man identified as Miguel Juarez. The mother immediately suffered an allergic reaction; she was trembling and had trouble breathing.

Rather than call an ambulance, a woman at the business identified as Rosaura Juarez rushed her to the hospital. A week later, the son was admitted after vomiting and suffering chronic stomach pain.

Nine people have been charged with illegally selling dangerous drugs and praticing medicine without a license. Each violation carries a maxium sentence of one year in jail and a fine of $5,000 to $10,000.

“The unlicensed practice of medicine and dispensing of medicines and illicit drugs poses a serious threat to our most vulnerable residents, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said in a statement. Especially the elderly and young children.

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L.A. businesses accused of practicing medicine without a license

Can integrative medicine add value to standard western practices? Some would say absolutely not; others point to new scientific evidence that demonstrates the value of specific modalities in specific situations.

Health care is complex, expensive and often depersonalizing. It shouldnt be. At the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine, the staff focuses on evaluating and involving complementary medicine into traditional western or scientific medicine. Founded in 1991 by Brian Berman, M.D., a family medicine trained physician, he had learned the certain alternative approaches could complement the usual diagnostic and therapeutic methods that he had been taught in his medical school education and training. He found that his patients experiences were enriched by treating the whole person rather than depending on a technology-focused practice. A grateful and forward looking patient offered him a grant to begin the Center with the proviso that it embrace and study evidence-based science along with education and collaborative patient care to create a comprehensive humanistic approach to patient care.

Since its founding 20 years ago the Center has been awarded over $30 million in NIH grants and has been named as a center of excellence for research. From this work have come over 340 high quality peer-reviewed scientific articles published in the best medical journals. These have been in areas such as acupuncture, herbal remedies and mind-body therapies focusing on arthritis, pain depression, cancer, trauma and inflammation. The center employs a staff for clinical care that includes family medicine and other physician specialists along with licensed acupuncturists, massage therapists, nutritionists and many other disciplines.

As just one research example, acupuncture was studied in a double blind fashion to determine if the addition of acupuncture to best standard treatment improved the lot of those with knee osteoarthritis. Those who got acupuncture, when compared to those that got sham acupuncture, has less pain, used fewer pain medications and had greater range of motion.

At the Health and Wellness Conference a few weeks ago to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Center, Delia Chiaramonte, MD described what an integrative approach to a medical dilemma might look like. She described a medical student who had suffered from severe headaches for many years that were limiting his quality of life and his effectiveness as a student. His physician had identified them as cluster headaches and had tried various standard medications without success. A frustrating situation.

He was then evaluated differently using an integrative approach. It involved a lot of probing about his headaches, his lifestyle including diet and activity, his stresses and his school work. Like almost all medical students, he studied hard. He said he stayed up until about 3:00am, but in part this was because he couldnt fall asleep any earlier. His diet included a lot of doughnuts and a lot of other high carbohydrate items plus about 12 cups of caffeinated coffee each day. He had no time for exercise. He sat hunched over in front of his computer for many hours each day, and his posture showed it.

His headaches fit the description of cluster headaches, often with a sense of an ice pick sticking into his right eye near unbearable pain. The standard medical texts suggest use of ergotamine tartrate for cluster headaches and also note its potential side effects. There is no mention of other modalities or adjustments to lifestyle issues. But cluster headaches can be amplified by stress, worsened by sleep deprivation and the stabbing could well have been posture related.

So instead of recommending medications, his integrative medicine prescription included the following: he was to see a nutritionist to devise a more healthy diet. He was to work with a personal trainer to establish an exercise program one that could be done anywhere without impacting on his studies. He was to visit a chiropractor to release his sternocleidomastoid muscles and other neck muscles back to their normal length. In addition he was to have no caffeine after noon and he was to get to bed by 11:00pm each night.

Given the pain and debility of his headaches, he was more than willing to give this prescription a try. It worked. The headaches disappeared, he felt generally better, he was no longer drowsy in class and he began to truly enjoy medical school. And he was off all medications.

This is the power of integrative medicine. It used a holistic approach and brought to bear many different disciplines including nutritional medicine, exercise physiology, stress management, chiropractic and family medicine. I wrote about this extensively in The Future of Medicine Megatrends in Healthcare .

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Integrative Medicine – Part I

2012-05-07 20:45

Polokwane – The shortage of medicine in Limpopo clinics and hospitals is a result of poor planning, Health MEC Norman Mabasa said on Monday.

He said the pharmaceutical depot management had failed to buy the medication which was most needed.

A weekend newspaper reported that clinics and hospitals were on the verge of collapse and that patients being turned away without medication.

Although there was a shortage, the depot still had a lot of stock of medications which were rarely prescribed to patients, Mabasa said.

The Limpopo Democratic Alliance blamed the irregular awarding of pharmaceutical contracts and mismanagement at the depot.

“There are serious allegations that there is a collusion between private pharmacists and the officials at this depot to exchange drugs that are about to expire with the correct date of use-by,” said DA Limpopo chairperson Desiree Van Der Walt.

“The MEC must urgently intervene to ensure that our province has adequate and uninterrupted supply of medicine. He must also launch a forensic investigation.”

Van Der Walt said the problem started 15 years ago when distribution of medicine was outsourced to a private service provider.

– SAPA

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Medicine shortage blamed on poor planning

STANFORD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–

Stanford University President John Hennessy today announced the launch of a campaign to transform health care at a local, national and global level. The $1 billion Campaign for Stanford Medicine will make investments in medical research and teaching, build a new Stanford hospital and accelerate the translation of new medical knowledge into leading-edge, coordinated patient care.

The medical center is already halfway to its goal, with $500 million in pledges and expectancies from individuals and corporate donors.

The Campaign for Stanford Medicine will help fund the construction of a new hospital on the current Palo Alto site, combining the most innovative technologies with amenities to create a healing environment. The new hospital, which will replace aging facilities and bring the medical center up to state seismic standards, will be designed around four patient care pavilions.

Among the early supporters, three fundamental partners made gifts of $50 million each to ensure the successful launch of the Campaign for Stanford Medicine and the construction of the new Stanford Hospital. These gifts are from Tashia and John Morgridge, Anne and Robert Bass, and the Redlich family. For their support, the Morgridges and the Redlich family will each name a patient care pavilion.

In addition, seven companies have committed $175 million for the project through the Stanford Hospital Corporate Partners initiative. These include founding members Apple, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Intuit and Oracle, as well as NVIDIA, which joined the group in April.

Providing the most advanced health care possible to people locally, nationally and globally will be one of the great challenges of this century, Hennessy said. The Campaign for Stanford Medicine draws upon our particular strengths the proximity of the university to its hospitals and clinics to focus on this issue and better serve the public. It will allow us to seek solutions to some of medicines most daunting problems, and it will begin in our own community with the new Stanford Hospital. With the early support of visionary and generous partners, and others who will join us in this venture, we will realize a new, transformative model of health care.

The new hospital, on which construction began in late 2011, will incorporate advanced technologies, such as state-of-the-art imaging equipment and new hybrid interventional platforms equipped for a variety of procedures, including surgeries and catheterizations. These flexible spaces will eliminate the need for separate patient prep and recovery areas for each type of procedure, and are expected to reduce infection risks and improve outcomes.

The hospital, a level-1 trauma center, also will increase its space for treating major traumatic injuries and offer greatly expanded emergency services for the community, with 59 treatment bays for patients. All patient rooms in the new hospital will be private and will be surrounded by gardens and views of the foothills. Designed by renowned architect Rafael Violy, the project encompasses 823,000 square feet of new construction and is scheduled to open in 2018.

The commitment from John and Tashia Morgridge emerged from the couples longstanding connections to Stanford. John Morgridge, former CEO of San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco Systems, received his MBA at the university and teaches at the Graduate School of Business. He has been a university trustee and is a member of the board of directors of Stanford Hospital. Tashia Morgridge, a retired special-education teacher, author and co-founder of the TOSA Foundation (a private foundation focusing on education), was a member of the board of directors of Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital and was a 2003 recipient of Stanfords Outstanding Achievement Award for her volunteer service to the community.

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Stanford Launches $1 Billion Campaign to Advance New Era in Medicine Locally, Nationally and Globally