2/27/24 Health News: THEORIES PILE UP ON RANCHO BEEF INVESTIGATION - 18 Exposed to Incurable Disease - Poor Nations Seek Hepatitis C Drug - Medical Errors

THEORIES PILE UP AS RANCHO BEEF INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

So many people are wondering why 8.7 million pounds of meat processed by Rancho Feeding Corporation in Petaluma, CA were recalled and the slaughterhouse subsequently closed. Could it be an inspector shortage? An inspector-veterinarian dispute? Cancerous cow eyes and circumvented inspection requirements? Theories abound and we’re keeping count. The union representing U.S. Department of Agriculture... Continue Reading

18 May Have Been Exposed to Incurable Disease

Doctors and hospital officials from Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, are notifying 18 neurosurgery patients that they might have been exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a serious and incurable neurological disorder. "It is important to note that there are multiple variations of CJD and this case is not related to mad cow disease," Novant Health said in a statement. The hospital confirmed that on January 18, an operation was performed on a patient with CJD symptoms who later tested positive for the illness.

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Poor Nations Seek New Hepatitis C Drug

Now that wealthy nations have a simple pill regimen that can cure hepatitis C, calls are mounting from representatives of poor nations for the same drugs. In December, the Food and Drug Administration approved sofosbuvir, from Gilead Sciences. Under the brand name Sovaldi in the United States, it is expected to cost $84,000 per treatment. Four other companies are developing similar pills expected to reach the market in the next three years, with similarly high price tags. Worldwide, at least 150 million people — nearly five times the number with H.I.V. — are believed to have hepatitis C, which can cause liver damage and cancer. Continue Reading

Medical Errors That Shook Greece

From incorrect medical assessments and contaminated blood transfusions, to errors that left patients paralyzed or with serious disabilities, physicians in Greece have also had their share of failures over the past years and were involved in medical errors. On the occasion of the Papageorgiou Hospital in northern Greece which is planning to introduce a mobile phone signal jammer for its operating rooms so that physicians won’t be able to use their cell phones while operating..Continue Reading

2/16/14 health News: Raw Milk~ Risky - Listeria Risk in Leafy Greens - Medical Errors on the Rise - Adults Missing Key Vaccines - Breath Test For Cancer

RAW MILK, A RISKY ELIXIR

There seems to be no middle ground in the debate over raw milk. On the one side, you have farmers happy to sell a product for $10 to $18 a gallon, and consumers who believe that they are purchasing a product that is not only more healthful but will also cure everything from allergies to... Continue Reading

FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES INCREASE E. COLI, LISTERIA RISK IN LEAFY GREENS

A new study has found that fluctuations in temperature during transportation and retail sale of leafy greens negatively impacts both the product’s quality and microbial safety. In a study published in the February issue of Journal of Food Protection, researchers looked at the growth of E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in commercially-bagged salad greens.... Continue Reading

Medical Errors on the Rise

The Kingdom is looking to develop a system of accountability for medical errors in the wake of an alarming increase in the number of such cases across the country. Many practitioners in the Kingdom get away with their mistakes simply because there is no mechanism in place for monitoring incidents of medical malpractice. Continue Reading

Many U.S. Adults Not Getting Key Vaccines: CDC

Many U.S. adults are skipping recommended vaccinations that could protect them from serious or life-threatening diseases, according to figures released by federal health officials. Modest increases were seen for Tdap vaccinations, which prevent whooping cough, from 2011 to 2012, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More seniors also got vaccinated against shingles, while HPV vaccinations picked up slightly among young women hoping to avoid cervical cancer. However, Americans aren't taking full advantage of other routinely recommended vaccines, including those for pneumonia and hepatitis, Continue Reading

Breath Test May Detect Lung Cancer

Lung cancer can be a silent killer, often showing no symptoms until it's too late. But University of Louisville scientists have discovered a simple test that may someday help diagnose the deadly disease earlier — by analyzing exhaled breath. The researchers made their findings while examining patients with suspicious lung lesions and testing their breath using a specially designed microchip. The probability of cancer was 95% for patients with elevated levels of three or four specific compounds. The chip captures specific compounds in the breath, which are then analyzed with a mass spectrometer, an instrument that measures the mass of a given molecule. Researchers matched their findings with pathology and clinical results from each patient. Two of the four compounds they found in lung-cancer patients were previously known to be associated with the disease, but Fu discovered .Continue Reading