Open heart surgery is not for the faint of heart. Even among surgeons, it is a field reserved for only some of the most skilled doctors. The only choices available at present are either to stop the heart completely during surgery or to operate on it while it is beating.

If the heart is stopped during surgery, as is the case in the majority of cases, a mechanical pump takes over the job of keeping the blood circulating until the heart is restarted. This can be an extremely traumatic experience for any patient and especially for those who already have serious cardiovascular problems. (more…)

Although it is often difficult to measure the actual effect of TV ads on consumers, a recent survey suggests that anti-smoking commercials played a significant role in helping successful former smokers quit the potentially deadly habit.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, show that a group of former smokers from Massachusetts said television advertisements helped them significantly in making it past the first 6 months of their struggle. (more…)

While there are many health-related dangers associated with smoking, it appears that many smokers are not getting the message when it comes to the increased risk of developing or aggravating cardiovascular problems.

Whether ignorance of the risk or denial of the consequences is responsible, the study published in BMC Public Health found 52% of people with a history of one or more cardiovascular disorders (heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or PVD [peripheral vascular disease]) continued to smoke. (more…)

A new study from Sweden found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, with the most severe form of the disease, are some 70 times (7000%) more likely to develop lymphoma than patients with a mild form of the disease.

The data from this study offer strong evidence that the elevated lymphoma risk among RA patients is linked to the disease rather than to the medications used to treat it. (more…)

Reuters Health is reporting that according to researchers, a “newly identified virus, tentatively called XMRV, seems to be associated with the development of prostate cancer in genetically susceptible men.”

The findings were presented Friday morning in San Francisco at the 2006 Prostate Cancer Symposium. (more…)

By Steven DiJoseph

Although the American Academy of Dermatology and other critics of the iPledge registry (designed to prevent pregnant women from using the acne drug Accutane) mounted a last-minute campaign to further postpone the system from going into effect, the FDA has decided to adhere to the March 1 starting date.

After only a few months of trial use of the registry system, the nation’s leading dermatology association told an FDA advisory panel that the program was a “disaster.” The program was originally scheduled to begin on November 1, 2005.

According to Academy member Dr. Diane M. Thiboutot: “Pharmacies, prescribers and patients are confused and frustrated.” There have been hundreds of complaints from dermatologists prompting the association to request that the FDA delay the system’s mandatory starting date of March 1 by at least two months. (more…)

By Steven DiJoseph

Up until now, Mirapex has been the medication most often associated with the mounting medical evidence linking certain drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD) to the development of compulsive behavior, including pathological gambling.

Now, however, a second drug has been thrust into the same spotlight with the filing of a $14 million lawsuit by a retired doctor who claims that Requip, a drug very similar to Mirapex, turned him into a compulsive gambler.

Dr. Max Wells alleges in the action commenced in U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas, that his addiction made him a habitual high roller at Las Vegas casinos where he lost $7 million by late 2005 and another $7 million by January of this year. (more…)

By Steven DiJoseph

While the Chicago Tribune (2/25/06) is reporting that “accidental overdoses of prescription cold medicines are suspected in the deaths of two Kane County infants in a 24-hour period this winter,” it appears that the problem is anything but isolated.

The coroner for Kane County requested that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) join the investigation because there appears to be a “trend” developing in the form of a dramatic increase in the number of “troubling” deaths in which accidental overdosing may have been involved.

An FDA spokesperson acknowledged that it is aware of the cases and that the agency is actively participating in the investigation. (more…)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Barbeques Galore Inc., of Lake Forest, California, have announced the voluntary recall of some 1,800 Turbo Sport Portable Infrared LP Gas Grills made in Taiwan that pose a risk of gas leaks and fires. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.

The grills have faulty regulators that can release too much gas to the burner causing an excessive burner flame. This also poses a risk of gas leaks, fires, and explosions if an ignition source is present.

There have been 18 reports of excessive flame or the regulator shutting off. No injuries have been reported. (more…)

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Victoria’s Secret Direct, of Columbus, Ohio, have announced the voluntary recall of some 500 Silk Kimono Tops manufactured in the United States by Single of Los Angeles, California. Consumers should stop using the product immediately.

Of the 500 units manufactured by Single, 57 were sold to consumers by Victoria’s Secret Direct. No incidents have been reported to date.

The kimono tops are made of fabric that fails to meet mandatory standards of fabric flammability in violation of the federal Flammable Fabrics Act. The sheer outer shell fabric of the kimono top can readily ignite and present a risk of burn injuries. (more…)