est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Medical Corner

David
1 minute

image-thumb.pngWe have accepted the suggestion from a BU family member to facilitate discussion on medical matters which is a topic area that should interest us all. Based on exchanges with and between BU family members posted over time, many of you work in the medical field or possess information on various medical issues acquired based on personal circumstance or otherwise. Medical Corner seeks to encourage ANYONE to submit views on medical experiences, new developments in the industry or any related matter which readers feel can serve to educate the BU family.

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361 responses to “Medical Corner”

  1. ganong Avatar
    ganong

    What is the point of building a new hospital, when you cant get acutely ill persons there?

    If the GOB cant be faithful in small things how can they convince the people that they will be faithful in big things.

  2. ganong Avatar
    ganong

    Mottley: Clear the air on QEH
    Published on: 8/7/08.
    OPPOSITION LEADER MIA MOTTLEY is questioning whether Government is building a new hospital or refurbishing and expanding the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
    She said yesterday that she raised the matter in the face of two “obviously conflicting statements” in the space of just three days from the Democratic Labour Party on how it planned to go about tackling problems at the Martindales Road institution.
    Additionally, Mottley has questioned who in the David Thompson Administration is leading the programme to improve the delivery of health care, and who is in charge of the Cabinet of Barbados.
    “On Page 49 of his 2008 Budget, delivered almost a month ago on July 8,” Mottley said, “Prime Minister Thompson said ‘In the meantime the Cabinet has agreed to the expansion of the QEH on its present site, estimated to cost over $400 million and we have begun to identify funding for this upgrade and expansion’.
    “This was followed in today’s (Wednesday August 6, 2008) Barbados Advocate editorial with the following statement citing Prime Minister David Thompson in last Sunday’s radio broadcast:
    “The Ministry of Health was designing programmes to meet the hospital’s needs, a major component of which is expansion to the north of the present structure’.
    “On the same day, however, we have a statement in the MIDWEEK NATION, quoting Minister of Health Dr David Estwick, apparently speaking two days after the Prime Minister and dismissing what his leader had said, with these words: ‘The plan is for a new purpose-built facility that would give us state-of-the art health care for the next 30 or 40 years, with few or no problems’.”
    The Opposition Leader added: “But the Health Minister did not stop there. Here’s what the MIDWEEK NATION also reported, ‘But Cabinet is to decide “very, very, very soon” on where the new hospital was to be built.
    Unsuitable
    She stated that the former QEH board recommended building the new hospital on the north grounds of the QEH, but Estwick said structural engineers and climate experts told him that area was unsuitable.
    “Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health cannot be correct,” Mottley said. “Either they are expanding the hospital to the north of the existing plant, or they are looking elsewhere to build a new hospital.”
    Mottley added: “. . . But the Minister of Health did not stop there. He told the country why no hospital would be built where the Prime Minister said it would be built – because structural engineers and climate experts told him the area was unsuitable.”

  3. Dr POWA POWA Avatar
    Dr POWA POWA

    Now it is well known that Bajans evicted the BLP from power over seven months ago.

    What seems not to be as well known since then is that, The Minister of Health has demonstrated very little, if any ability in running the Ministry of Health, or in providing viable or valuable health solutions for our people.

    Whereas many people in our country believe that because of its recent misdeeds, that the BLP is not qualified to speak on behalf of Bajans, or criticize the GOB, the fact of the matter is that the BLP is the opposition. Consequently when they oppose or object, we ought to at least sift out what they are saying and not just discard their utterances as mere bovine excrement.

    For example, in a newspaper article in today’s Nation which reads Mottley: Clear the air on QEH, the opposition leader is questioning whether Government is building a new hospital or refurbishing and expanding the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. And he has every right to do so! Because the GOB is EITHER building a new hospital OR refurbishing and expanding the Queen Elizabeth Hospital according to utterances of two GOB officials who both ought to know what is going on.

    Whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, this is an issue about which the people of Barbados ought, and deserve to have a clear answer!

    Mottley has correctly asked, whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, who in the David Thompson Administration is leading the programme to improve the delivery of health care, because after seven months NO ONE in the GOB has clearly articulated any plan or vision or proposals on this matter.
    Mottley has correctly reasoned and pointed out, whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, that the DLP is either expanding the hospital to the north of the existing plant, or they are looking elsewhere to build a new hospital.”
    Whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, this is an issue about which the people of Barbados ought, and deserve to have a clear answer!

    Whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, Mottley has correctly asked who is in charge of the Cabinet of Barbados, because it is incomprehensible that there should be two “obviously conflicting statements” in the space of just three days from the Democratic Labour Party on how it planned to go about tackling problems at the QEH.
    The Nation was informed by Prime Minister Thompson in the 2008 Budget on July 8, that “Cabinet has agreed to the expansion of the QEH on its present site, estimated to cost over $400 million and we have begun to identify funding for this upgrade and expansion.”
    On Sunday last Prime Minister Thompson in a radio broadcast asserted that “The Ministry of Health was designing programmes to meet the hospital’s needs, a major component of which is expansion to the north of the present structure’.
    How is it then that the Minister of Health Dr David Estwick can be quoted in the MIDWEEK NATION by stating that ‘The plan is for a new purpose-built facility that would give us state-of-the art health care for the next 30 or 40 years, with few or no problems’.” …….and that ‘Cabinet is to decide “very, very, very soon” on where the new hospital was to be built……….since structural engineers and climate experts told him the area on the north grounds of the QEH, where former QEH board recommended building the new hospital was unsuitable.
    Whether you like Mottley or the BLP or not, there seems to be more in the mortar than the pessle.
    Did the people of Barbados not elect David Thompson to be the Prime Minister of Barbados? How is it then that the loud mouthed Minister of Health who is incompetent to do his job is making the PM look stupid in the public forum.
    It seems that it is time he be replaced!

  4. Dr POWA POWA Avatar
    Dr POWA POWA

    Extracted from today’s NATION.
    There are also plans to strengthen the Engineering Department, he reported.
    The QEH is still to name a Director of Medical Services, following Dr Brian Charles’ resignation, which came one month after the institution controversially extended his probation period.
    Recently, Minister of Health Dr David Estwick said the hospital would recruit a number of experts as it sought to deliver a better, more timely service.
    The plan was to pick ten medical specialists in areas including eye care, general medicine, kidney disease treatment and transplant, heart care, cancer treatment and radiology, he reported.
    “We recognise the shortage of clinicians in the hospital and what we have just asked the Ministry of the Civil Service to do is to provide us with nine new consultant posts and one registrar post in ophthalmology,” Estwick said.

    ===========================
    Are we to understand that the QEH has no medical experts, and that is why it does not give a better and more timely service?
    Why are there no medical experts at QEH?
    Why is their a shortage of clinicians in the hospital?
    When the nine new consultant posts are provided, where will the consultants come from?

    Estwick is not telling us a lot here?

  5. David Avatar
    David

    Here is a study which makes a link between low white blood count and Caribbean women of African decent. Hopefully our resident medical consultant 🙂 can elaborate for the BU family:

    Strong Association Found Between Prevalence Of Low White Blood Count And Women Of African Descent
    ScienceDaily (Sep. 19, 2008) — Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center, have found a strong association between women of African descent from the U.S. and Caribbean, who are otherwise healthy, and the prevalence of neutropenia, or low white blood count.

    Read full article:

  6. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David

    Since this seems to be virgin territory, at this time I can only conclude like the author ……………

    Unfortunately, we still know very little about the association of a low WBC (neutropenia) with genotype in the setting of cancer or any other disease, including sickle cell anemia.” “Further research may help to account for and prevent poor outcomes among persons of African ancestry and lead to interventions that may benefit them as well as all patients.”

    This is normal for blacks it seems. So don’t panic!

    This is my primary reading of the article.

    The researchers have found a strong association between women of African descent from the U.S. and Caribbean, who are otherwise healthy, and the prevalence of neutropenia, or low white blood count.

    Neutropenia, is associated with race and ethnicity, and is benign and so far unexplained except that it results from a mutation of a single nucleotide. This is perhaps advantageous to blacks in some way. ????Probably in control of sickle cell anaemia or /associated with glucose 6 phosphate deficiency disease.

    A certain genotype, common among women of African descent, is closely associated with low absolute neutrophil counts or low polymorphonuclear cells, the white blood cells that fight infection

    The fact that women from the Dominican Republic were found to have higher median WBC and ANC than the other blacks may be due to their having a different gene that codes for WBC.

    Note that whereas the researcher ponders whether a lower WBC in black women contributes to their increased likelihood of missing cycles of chemotherapy and a poorer survival than white women with cancer, they did not prove that this was so.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Healthy New Year

    Submitted by by Courtney After visiting this blog on several occasions, I’ve been very impressed.  The contributions of the participants seem to make it the up and coming blog to visit.  Many of the blogs are of substance with serious issues and concerns and not primarily focusing on gossip.  Due to the quality shown, I’ve decided to contribute, especially since I’ve been extremely close to someone with kidney disease.  After reading research published on the subject, it is obvious that many people are not taking care of themselves nutritionally.  A number of people might be at-risk of ailments but do not know it.  In addition, from reading our obits the younger generation is passing on too quickly. It appears that many of the medical staff is more about collecting $$ than the well being of the patient.  I hope that I can stimulate discussion about the many concerns this group of people and many others face daily that are not currently addressed by our medical professionals, with the hope that our discussion will produce positive action. 

    The New Year is a good time to make sure our health is in order. Although our doctors, as noted in an early article on the blog titled “doctors can do more to help people,” we need to help ourselves.  Start with the checklist below, which can be taken to the doctor to review overall well-being.  I read a Healthy New Year’s checked list that list suggestions made by a medical doctor who has been practicing in the areas of critical care, and kidney disease over the past 18 years.  Six important items that we should pay extra attention to when talking with our doctor: Good health checklist: Blood and urine lab work Medicine and supplement review Exercise review Nutrition review Dialysis modality review if you’re on dialysis Emotional health review Check in with your feelings Stay active by working or volunteering Keep moving and doing things that interest you Diabetes check: Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (http://www.davita.com/diabetes/the-basics/a/365) If you have diabetes, and if you are on insulin, visits should occur at least four times. See an endocrinologist (a doctor who is more specialized in treating diabetes) if you aren’t working with your primary care or kidney doctor to manage your diabetes. Along with checking your glucose (blood sugar) level, blood pressure and weight, your doctor should take blood to check cholesterol, blood fat and glycated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A1c). The haemoglobin A1c test will give a measure of your blood glucose level over the past two to three months.  A urine sample should also be taken to look for protein. Protein in the urine occurs when the kidneys are damaged. For people with diabetes, it is a sign that kidney function has declined, which could lead to kidney failure. Medicine check: Review what medications you are taking, how you are feeling and how your body is responding to the medicines based on your lab results. Help your doctor determine if you’re taking the right medicines, or if there are medicines you no longer need to take. Activity level check: Talk to your doctor about what kind of physical activity will be good for you. If you are on dialysis, you should stay active. Exercise can provide a health benefit. Most people on dialysis can do some form of physical activity. A study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation showed that people who exercise while on dialysis might have treatments that are more effective because exercise can reduce urea (a toxin that accumulates between dialysis sessions) by 20%.  Physical activity can help you feel better, stronger and more in control of your health no matter when you do it. Depression check: Doctors have pointed out that, “everybody is so busy dealing with the physical issues that they forget about the emotional strain,” that it’s a good idea to take the time to check in with your feelings and emotions.  Depression is an illness that should be treated by a professional in the same way you would treat diabetes or high blood pressure. The feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with depression can take away from one’s quality of life. Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health. Make this year the best it can be by taking caring of your physical and emotional needs. I hope you would use this checklist, engage your doctor in conversation about your health, follow the doctor’s advice to help you have a Healthy and Happy New Year. Questions that a patient should ask his or her doctor about but not aware of is:  Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) – It is considered by medical professionals to be the best measure of kidney function. Knowing someone’s GFR lets the person figure out his or her stage of kidney disease.  Doctors use this information to plan the patient’s treatment.  Unfortunately, the other important item listed below is currently not offered in Barbados.  This is another discussion in itself. Transplant check: If you’ve had a transplant, you should make sure that your doctor pays special attention to the status of your new kidney. When going in for follow-up checkups, carry the list of medicines you are taking. You should also tell your doctor how your home monitoring has been going. This monitoring should include regular, self-administered checks on weight, temperature and blood pressure. If you notice a dramatic weight gain, you could be retaining fluids. Temperature change can indicate infection. If there is a noticeable change in blood pressure, you should visit your doctor as soon as you can. Note of caution:  With childhood obesity and diabetes complications increasing, the number of people in need of dialysis could rise steadily over the next few years.

  8. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Heart Failure: Belly Fat Bad, Exercise Good
    New Heart Failure Studies Show Increased Risk With Belly Fat
    By Miranda Hitti
    WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACCApril 7, 2009 — Belly fat may make heart failure more likely, and exercise may help heart failure patients.

    That’s the bottom line from three new studies on heart failure. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped working; it means the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.

    The belly fat study is based on data from Sweden, where researchers followed more than 80,000 men and women for up to seven years to see who developed heart failure.

    Participants reported their height, weight, and waist circumference at the study’s start.

    People with extra weight, especially around the waist, were more likely to develop heart failure during the study.

    Bigger waistlines were linked to greater risk of heart failure for women, regardless of whether their BMI ( body mass index) was normal, overweight, or obese. BMI and waist circumference both predicted heart failure risk in men.

    The belly fat findings appear in the advance online edition of Circulation: Heart Failure.

    Meanwhile, other researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that exercise can be safe and effective for heart failure patients.

    Their evidence comes from the largest study to date of exercise for heart failure patients.

    Exercise and Heart Failure Study
    More than 2,300 heart failure patients in the U.S., Canada, and France took part. They were screened to make sure they were healthy enough to exercise, and said they were willing to work out.

    The researchers divided the patients into two groups.

    All of the patients got standard medical care for their heart failure. In addition, one group of patients was assigned to get regular aerobic exercise.

    Their workouts involved walking or using a treadmill or stationary bike three times per week, starting with 15- 30 minutes per session and boosting their workouts’ length and intensity as the months passed.

    Their first 36 workouts were supervised. After that, they were supposed to exercise at home using the heart monitors and stationary bikes or treadmills that the researchers supplied.

    For comparison, patients in the other group weren’t assigned to exercise.

    Those patients could work out if they wanted to, but they didn’t get any exercise training as part of the study. Many of those patients — 55% — weren’t thrilled to be in the no-exercise group, and 8% reported exercising regularly throughout the study.

    Overall, exercise was “well-tolerated and safe,” write the researchers, who included Christopher O’Connor, MD, of the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, N.C.

    Exercise also had a “modest” effect on lowering the likelihood of death or hospitalization.

    After screening out certain high-risk patients, exercisers were 11% less likely to die of any cause or be hospitalized for any cause during the study and 13% less likely to die of cardiovascular causes or be hospitalized because of heart failure, heart transplantation, or needing a heart pump implanted.

    Quality of life was higher and disability was lower for the exercisers, according to surveys they completed.

  9. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Xylitol

    Xylitol is an all natural sweetener that looks and taste like sugar. Xylitol occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Once extracted and processed it yields a white crystalline granule that can be used in any recipe that calls for sugar. It is good for the teeth, stabilizes insulin and hormone levels, promotes good health and has none of the negative side effects of white sugar or artificial sweeteners. It contains only 2.4 calories per gram and is slowly absorbed as a complex carbohydrate.

    Xylitol is a natural insulin stabilizer, therefore it does not cause a spike in blood sugar and actually reduce sugar and carbohydrate cravings. There is a growing consensus among anti –aging research that maintaining low insulin levels is one of the keys to a successful anti aging program.

    Xylitol has no known toxic levels, though excessive use might cause a mild laxative effect which resolves as the body’s enzymatic activity adjusts. A large percentage passes through the body before the carbohydrates are absorbed, thereby making it safe for diabetics or anyone pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

    Xylitol was approved by the FDA in 1963 as a food additive and diabetics have been using it for years. Xylitol has a glycemic index of seven compared to that of 68 for sugar.

    Since xylitol can be extracted from bagasse, on wonders if we can not increase the yield of natural sugars from our sugar cane production. The process of extracting xylitol from its source eliminates the possibility of allergic reactions from plant materials.

    When you see the GOB talking about xylitol in Barbados soon, remember that you read about it first on BU!

  10. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    Georgie Boy:

    You gone quiet?

    Just at the time we need some answers from an expert.

    What’s the story behind this avian, swine, Spanish flu combination virus.

    Is it a load of crap that it was cultured from human kidneys to ensure specificity, or that the Pasteur labs in France used squaline to produce their own “effective”vaccine.

    Let us all be informed before making the decision on mass vaccination.

  11. David Avatar
    David

    @ST

    You need to cite your source.

  12. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Straight Talk
    Perhaps this link will help you a bit.

    http://mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

  13. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    GP:

    Sorry I missed your reply, and your link takes me to a sign-in page.
    Is there another route?

    David:

    This guy may/may not be screwy. But he’s come up with an interesting timeline and from the mass of info given those I have checked up to now are verified.
    http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/609.html

  14. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    ST

    Sorry about that. I probably sent you to one of the professional sites to which I subscribe, as I was busy.

  15. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Hydroxycut Recall Due to Liver Injuries
    FDA Says People Should Stop Using the Diet Products Immediately
    By Kathleen Doheny
    WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDMay 1, 2009 — Fourteen Hydroxycut products, marketed as fat burners, low-cost diet aids, and energy enhancers, are being recalled voluntarily by the manufacturer after the FDA received 23 reports of serious liver injuries ranging from jaundice to death.

    The FDA announced the recall today at a news conference.

    The recalled products include:

    Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
    Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
    Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
    Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
    Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
    Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
    Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
    Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
    Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
    Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
    Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
    Hydroxycut 24
    Hydroxycut Carb Control
    Hydroxycut Natural

    Hydroxycut and Liver Problems
    At the news conference, Linda Katz, MD, interim chief medical officer of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said the agency urges consumers to discontinue use of the Hydroxycut products. Not affected by the recall are Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia products.

    The 23 reports of adverse effects include liver damage, elevated liver enzymes (which indicates potential liver damage) and liver damage requiring a transplant. A 19-year-old man died after using Hydroxycut. “The death occurred in 2007,” Katz says, “and was reported to the agency at the end of March 2009.”

    “Hydroxycut products contain a variety of ingredients and herbal extracts,” Katz said. The FDA has not yet determined which ingredients or doses are associated with the liver problems, according to Katz.

    Other reported health problems include cardiovascular problems, seizures, and serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) that can cause kidney failure.

    Hydroxycut Recall: Industry Response
    A message on the toll-free number of Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. lists the recalled products. Jamie Moss, a spokesperson for the company, says the company is issuing a statement.

    The statement also says that the company conducts internal analyses of individual ingredients and medical, scientific and toxicological literature reviews on the safety of product ingredients.

    On its web site, the company has posted a statement along with answers to common questions. In part, it says: “While this is a small number of reports relative to the many millions of people who have used Hydroxycut products over the years, out of an abundance of caution and because consumer safety is our top priority, we are voluntarily recalling these Hydroxycut-branded products.”

    The reports of liver problems and other ill effects associated with the product use don’t prove cause and effect, says John Hathcock, PhD, vice president of scientific and international affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association for the dietary supplement industry.

    “Right now it’s a simple association,” he tells WebMD. Only further investigation will determine if the association is a random occurrence or not, he says.

    Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com, an independent organization that evaluates dietary supplements, has been testing Hydroxycut products. He hasn’t issued a report on them yet.

    Cooperman agrees it’s difficult to pinpoint which ingredients are to blame. “The products contain many ingredients,” he says.

    The FDA advises consumers who have any of the products involved in the recall to discontinue use immediately and return them to the place of purchase. Though not all the recalled products have been linked with serious liver-related adverse reactions, the company agreed to recall the 14 products, according to the FDA.

  16. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    GP:

    I never mentioned Hydroxycut!

    Tell us what you know about the possibly tainted vaccines which we may be shortly asked to welcome.

    Basically, would you take Tamiflu?

    If not, why not?

    Is this the vaccine of choice for Barbados, and is it specific for this Mexican variant flu?

    I suspect not, but need reassurance from an independent source.

  17. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    ST :
    I never mentioned Hydroxycut!
    I KNOW YOU DID NOT BUT THAT IS MORE RELEVANT TO ME. LOL

    You are correct Tamiflu is NOT specific for this Mexican variant flu, but it is the drug of choice in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B..

    The antiviral drug Tamiflu (Oseltamivir phosphate) is a pro-drug of the active metabolite, oseltamivir carboxylate used in the treatment and prophylaxis of both influenza A and influenza B. It is hydrolysed hepatically to the active metabolite, the free carboxylate of oseltamivir and acts as a transition-state analogue inhibitor of influenza neuraminidase.

    It is a selective inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase enzymes, which are glycoproteins found on the virion surface. Viral neuraminidase is
    essential for the release of recently formed virus particles from infected cells and the further spread of infectious virus in the body. A study in cultured tracheobronchial epithelial cells and primary nasal epithelial cells has shown that oseltamivir may also
    suppress virus entry to cells.

    Patients should be instructed to begin treatment with TAMIFLU as soon as possible from the first appearance of flu symptoms. Similarly, prevention should begin as soon as possible after exposure, at the recommendation of a physician.

    Basically, would you take Tamiflu?

    If necessary, yes. It seems to be a fairly safe drug.

    The MOH & the GOB is on the ball in its efforts to avert any serious outcome from a possible epidemic on the island.

    There is no need to panic, as it seems the strain of the virus that is causing the trouble is not as virulent as previously thought.

  18. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    Thank the lord ( and all his servants) for that.

  19. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @GP

    • Basically, would you take Tamiflu?
    If necessary, yes. It seems to be a fairly safe drug
    *************************************
    Tamiflu is also the drug of choice in the treatment of the Avian Flu ( Bird flu). Is the efficacy the same for Bird Flu and “Swine Flu” (H1N1)?

  20. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Sargeant

    Tamiflu is a selective inhibitor of influenza virus neuraminidase enzymes, which are essential for the release of recently formed virus particles from infected cells and the further spread of infectious virus in the body.

    In other words it like more than anything else to block the release of just divided or reproducing viral particles from a host cell or infected cell into other cells; whether these are adjacent cells or the blood (which would carry the virus particles to other parts of the body).

    Some researchers suggest that the drug may also suppress virus entry to cells.

    This the mechanism of action of the drug.

    I would think that the efficacy of the drug would depend on the virulence of the infecting strains. But I cant say off hand if the the efficacy the same for Bird Flu and “Swine Flu” (H1N1).

    Bear in mind that efficacy means the ability to do the job for which it is made that is block spread of dividing virus particles from leaving the infected cells in which the virus was dividing. To the extent that the structure of the different viruses are the same, the drug should act with similar results. Hope this helps.

  21. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    I copied this most interesting article.

    Hope that you will find it interesting to read or even discuss
    ===========================

    It all comes down to greed.

    The food industry’s profits soar when we use more of its products. The problem is … they’re already producing enough food for every American to eat 3,900 calories a day – which is almost double what we need.

    So how do they get us to eat more calories?

    Simple. They load on the sweet stuff. Sugar and corn sweetener are cheap to produce and pack a big calorie punch without making us feel full. So you can easily slam down a 1,000 calorie Big Gulp and still have plenty of room left for dinner.

    That means you end up consuming more calories than your body needs, making it easy to gain weight and nearly impossible to lose it.

    Americans are eating the equivalent of about 31 teaspoons of added sugar a day. That adds up to 500 extra calories – 25% of the average person’s caloric intake – each and every day.

    The big question is … how does the food industry manage to trick millions of Americans into eating way more sugar than they should?

    They hide the sugar in plain sight …

    The U.S. government requires that the amount of sugar in a product be disclosed on the label.

    No problem. The food industry just needs to give sugar a different name. After all, you know to stay away from sugar. And you probably suspect that molasses and honey contain sugar. But what do you know about sorghum … corn syrup … high fructose corn syrup … turbinado … glucose … fructose … amazake … lactose … dextrose … sucrose … galactose … and maltose? Would you even associate those scientific-sounding names with sugar? Probably not. But that’s what they are.

    These sugar aliases allow a food manufacturer to list fructose, sucrose, dextrose and corn syrup all on the same label without you knowing that the main ingredient in the product is actually sugar.

    Now there’s something else you need to know about food labels. Food manufacturers list the information in grams, knowing that the average American is clueless about what a gram is.

    When you see that a 12-ounce can of soda contains 40 grams of sugar, you probably just shrug your shoulders and pop it open. But what would you do if you saw that a can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar? You might think twice before drinking it. After all, if you saw a person ladling 10 teaspoons of sugar into their morning coffee, you’d think they were nuts.

    One good thing to remember when checking labels: Four grams equals one teaspoon. All you have to do is divide the grams of sugar by four, and that’s how many teaspoons you’re consuming.

    They sneak sugar into “non-sweet” products …

    If you’re trying to cut back on your sugar intake, just start reading labels. You’ll be surprised at how many “non-sweet” products contain sugar …

    Spaghetti sauce: A half cup of store-bought spaghetti sauce can contain as many as three teaspoons of sugar. You can find sauces without sugar, though, and they taste just as good – if not better – than the sugary ones. Just keep an eye on those labels and don’t be fooled by the sugar aliases they use.
    Ketchup: Shockingly, ketchup can be 20% sugar or more. So you need to watch labels and find no-sugar brands to use.
    Reduced or low-fat products: When manufacturers take the fat out of a product – like cookies or salad dressing – they replace it with sugar and/or extra salt. And surprisingly, the calories aren’t much less than the “fattier” versions of the product.
    Bread: Most processed breads that you find on your grocery store shelves contain large amounts of sugar or corn syrup. Sugar is what gives them that nice, golden brown crust. So always check your labels.
    Potato Chips: Yes, they’re salty – which can be another health hazard to watch out for – but they can also contain sugar. That could be why it’s so hard for you to eat just one.
    High protein energy bars: They sound healthy, but you might want to think twice before grabbing for one. High protein energy bars could contain up to 300 calories – and they’re loaded with sugar.
    They use your sugar addiction against you …

    A recent study at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology reported that sugar stimulates a reaction in the brain of lab rats similar to the reaction created by morphine, cocaine and nicotine.

    This may be the first scientific evidence of what dieticians have been suspecting for years – sugar is addictive.

    It makes perfect sense. When you eat sugar, it increases the serotonin levels in your brain. This in turn increases the production of endorphins and releases the sensation of happiness.

    But this artificial increase in serotonin levels does something else as well – it causes the body to lower its natural production of serotonin. This starts the cycle of addiction.

    Since serotonin is responsible for controlling your mood and appetite, you feel depressed when it gets low and crave more sugar. Before you know it, you’re dependent on sugar to make you feel happy.

    The food industry is well aware of the addictive nature of sugar, so it’s no small wonder that they put it in as many products as they can – to get you to eat more and more. After all, the more of their products you buy, the richer they get.

    How to break the sugar habit …

    Eating too much sugar isn’t only going to make you overweight. It also wreaks havoc on your insulin levels, which could lead to diabetes.

    Just one can of soda per day increases your risk of diabetes by a whopping 85%, which can cut 11 to 20 years off your life!

    If you want to lose weight and improve your health, it’s time to break your sugar addiction once and for all.

    Here are some tips that could help:

    Keep your blood sugar stable: By including protein with every meal and snack and eating at regular intervals, you can help stabilize your blood sugar. That will keep your moods and energy at an even keel, so you don’t crave sugar as much.
    Use fruit as a substitute for sugar: Fruit will help dampen those sugar cravings. And, after you get used to eating it instead of a sugar-filled dessert, it will more than fulfill your need for sweets.
    Ban sugar from your house: If you don’t have sugar and sweets in your home, you won’t eat them. It’s as simple as that.
    Try these two supplements: The herb Gymnema and the amino acid L-glutamine have helped some people beat their sugar cravings.
    Take a good multivitamin: This will help you to restore your energy and feelings of well-being naturally.
    Give up fake sugars: If you’re substituting aspartame, Nutrasweet, or Splenda for sugar in your diet, you may be doing yourself more harm than good. These products don’t eliminate sugar cravings – they increase them. A study at the University of Texas Health Center in San Antonio found that a person’s risk for obesity went up 41% for each daily can of diet soda.
    I’m not going to tell you it’s easy to give up sugar. Due to its addictive nature, it’s actually quite difficult. But you can do it if you take it ONE DAY AT A TIME.

    If you need to eat a little sugar every day until you eventually decrease it significantly, that’s fine. The important thing is that you keep moving toward your goal of lowering your sugar intake.

    When you see the weight loss and improved health that come as you break free from your sugar addiction, it’ll all be worth it.

  22. David Avatar
    David

    This is an interesting article. It makes one wonder what are the health and consumer watch bodies doing in the USA. Thought you market was a consumer activist one.

  23. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    David this is something that ought to be explored with respect to Barbados.

    How can we reduce our intake of simple sugars in Barbados in light of the high cost of fruit and vegetables?

    Xylitol (the alcohol of xylose) is a good natural sugar to use, but we dont make it. we have thrown a way the cane peeling from which it may be extracted for ages!

    Health and consumer watch bodies produced this aryicle sort of.

    We think that the Americans are so savy, but actually these jokers for the large part follow the herd and what ever is advertised in the media. So the work of most Health and consumer watch bodies goes to waste.

    My interests however, is how can be reduce the sugar intake in our people. I dont particulary care about the USA. I am here for a reason.

  24. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    GP

    We were weaned on sugar from condensed milk in tea to sugar cake, “Frutee & Ju-C, have you ever tasted any of the “juices” produced by Pine Hill? Only last year at Xmas people were pushing and shoving trying to ensure that they get a cake from the Supermarket. Getting Bajans to give up sugar is like trying to take away a lion’s kill.

  25. Mash up &buy back Avatar
    Mash up &buy back

    Georgie

    Xylitol is sold here as Xylo Sweet in most of the leading supermarkets.

  26. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Asthma Drugs Get New Precaution
    FDA Asks Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR to Note Precaution About Reports of Behavior, Mood Changes
    By Miranda Hitti

    WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJune 12, 2009 — The FDA today asked makers of Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR to include a precaution on those drugs’ labels about reports of behavior and mood changes.

    Singulair is used to treat asthma and symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR are used to treat asthma.

    All four drugs are leukotriene inhibitors, which affect the leukotriene pathway, which is involved in the body’s response to inflammatory stimuli (such as breathing in an allergen).

    The FDA notes that some patients using those drugs have reported neuropsychiatric events (behavior or mood changes) including agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

    The FDA has already reviewed data from clinical trials about suicide risk in patients taking leukotriene inhibitors.

    In that review, which the FDA released in January 2009, the FDA said it found no sign of a link between Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo, or Zyflo CR and suicide risk. At the time, the FDA said it was still reviewing clinical data on other behavioral and mood events.

    FDA’s Advice
    On its web site, the FDA has posted the following advice about leukotriene inhibitors for patients and health care providers:

    Patients and health care professionals should be aware of the potential for neuropsyschiatric events with these medications.

    Patients should talk with their health care provider if these events occur.

    Health care professionals should consider discontinuing these medications if patients develop neuropsychiatric symptoms.

    Singulair is made by the drug company Merck. In a statement posted on its web site, Merck says that it has updated Singulair’s prescribing information about adverse events reported after the drug went on the market, including the types of neuropsychiatric events mentioned today by the FDA.

    “Merck will continue to work with the FDA to revise the prescribing information for Singulair in the United States to include a precaution related to those events,” states Merck, adding that it is “confident in the safety and efficacy of Singulair, a medicine that has been prescribed to tens of millions of patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis since its approval more than 11 years ago.”

    Accolate is made by AstraZeneca. Zyflo and Zyflo CR are made by Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals. Those drug companies were not immediately available for comment on the FDA’s label change request.

  27. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Diabetes and Weight Loss: Finding the Right Path
    If you’ve got diabetes, losing weight can get you off insulin and other medications. Create a safe diabetes weight loss plan with the help of experts.
    By Jeanie Lerche Davis
    WebMD Feature
    Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
    There’s no question about it: If you’re overweight and have type 2 diabetes, dropping pounds lowers your blood sugar, improves your health, and helps you feel better
    But before you start a diabetes weight loss plan, it’s important to work closely with your doctor or diabetes educator – because while you’re dieting, your blood sugar, insulin, and medications need special attention.
    Make no mistake — you’re on the right path. “No matter how heavy you are, you will significantly lower your blood sugar if you lose some weight,” says Cathy Nonas, MS, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and a professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
    A National Institutes of Health study found that a combination of diet and exercise cuts the risk of developing diabetes by 58%. The study involved people who were overweight (average body mass index of 34) and who had high — but not yet diabetic — blood sugar levels.
    “We know it’s true — that if someone with diabetes loses 5% to 10% of their weight, they will significantly reduce their blood sugar,” Nonas tells WebMD.
    “We see it all the time: people can get off their insulin and their medication,” she says. “It’s wonderful. It shows you how interwoven obesity and diabetes are.”
    Even losing 10 or 15 pounds has health benefits, says the American Diabetes Association. It can:
    • Lower blood sugar
    • Reduce blood pressure
    • Improve cholesterol levels
    • Lighten the stress on hips, knees, ankles, and feet
    Plus, you’ll probably have more energy, get around easier, and breathe easier.
    On a Diabetes Weight Loss Plan, Watch for Changes in Blood Sugar
    Cutting back on just one meal can affect the delicate balance of blood sugar, insulin, and medication in your body. So it’s important to work with an expert when you diet.
    Check with your doctor before starting a diabetes weight loss plan, then consult with a diabetes educator or nutritionist, advises Larry C. Deeb, MD, a diabetes specialist in Tallahassee, Fla. and president-elect of the American Diabetes Association.
    “Don’t try to lose weight on your own,” says Deeb. “With a doctor and a good nutritionist, it’s very safe to do. This is very important if you’re taking insulin or medications.”
    Go for the Right Balance in a Diabetes Weight Loss Plan
    Christine Gerbstadt, MD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, warns: “You don’t want to run the risk of high or low blood sugar while you’re dieting,” she tells WebMD. “You want tight glucose control while you lose weight.”
    Gerbstadt suggests cutting 500 calories a day, “which is safe for someone with diabetes,” she says. “Cut calories across the board — from protein, carbohydrates, and fat — that’s the best way.” She recommends that people with diabetes maintain a healthy ratio of carbs, fat, and protein. The ideal:
    • 50% to 55% carbs
    • 30% fat
    • 10% to 15% protein
    Watch the Carbs in a Diabetes Weight Loss Plan
    For people with diabetes, a refresher course on carbs may also be in order, Gerbstadt says.
    That’s because carbs have the biggest effect on blood sugar, since they are broken down into sugar early in digestion. Eating complex carbs (whole-grain bread and vegetables, for example) is good because they are absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream, cutting the risk of blood sugar spikes, Gerbstadt explains.
    “Worst case scenario is sliced white bread,” she says. “Whole-wheat bread is an improvement. Adding a little peanut butter is even better.”
    Simply cutting lots of carbs — a common dieting strategy — can be dangerous, Gerbstadt says. When your body doesn’t have carbs to burn for fuel, your metabolism changes into what’s known as ketosis — and fat is burned instead. You’ll feel less hungry, and eat less than you usually do — but long-term ketosis can cause health problems.
    “Ketosis decreases oxygen delivery to the tissues, which puts stress on eyes, kidneys, heart, liver,” Gerbstadt says. “That’s why the low-carb, high-protein Atkins diet is not really safe for people with diabetes. Diabetics need to try to stick with a more balanced diet so your body can handle nutrients without going into ketosis.”
    Special Challenges when Following a Diabetes Weight Loss Plan
    “For anyone, losing weight is challenging enough,” Luigi Meneghini, MD, tells WebMD. Meneghini is director of the Kosnow Diabetes Treatment Center at the University of Miami School of Medicine. “For people who inject insulin, it’s even more difficult because they have to eat when they have low blood sugar. When you have to reduce calorie intake, prevent overmedication, and eat to correct your low blood sugar, it’s very challenging.”
    Indeed, both low and high blood sugar levels are the two big concerns for people with diabetes.
    Low Blood Sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs when the amount of insulin in the body is higher than your body needs. In its earliest stages, low blood sugar causes confusion, dizziness, and shakiness. In its later stages, it can be very dangerous — possibly causing fainting, even coma.
    Low blood sugar is common when people lose weight because cutting calories and weight loss itself affect blood sugar levels. If you don’t reduce your insulin dosage or pills to match new blood sugar levels, you’ll be risking high blood sugar.
    High Blood Sugar (hyperglycemia) can develop when your body’s insulin level is too low to control blood sugar. This happens when people on insulin or sugar-lowering medications don’t take the correct dose or follow their diet.
    The Effects of Exercise on Diabetes
    One of the benefits of exercise is that it helps keep your blood sugar in balance, so you won’t have to cut as many calories.
    “Walk an extra 20 minutes a day, and you can eat a little bit more,” Gerbstadt explains, and instead of cutting 500 calories, “you can cut back just 200 or 300 calories, and still get excellent results in weight loss. You’ll also control your blood sugar. And the weight will be more likely to stay off if you lose it slowly, safely.”
    Keep in mind: Each type of exercise affects blood sugar differently.
    Aerobic exercise — running or a treadmill workout — can lower your blood sugar immediately.
    Weight lifting or prolonged strenuous exercise may affect your blood sugar level many hours later. This can be a problem, especially when you’re driving a car. It is one of the many reasons that you should check your blood sugar before driving. It’s also a good idea to carry snacks such as fruit, crackers, juice, and soda in the car.
    “With physical activity, you burn blood sugar as well as sugar stored in muscle and in the liver,” explains Meneghini. “People using insulin or medications to simulate release of insulin should closely monitor blood sugar levels when they begin exercising more. Over time, as you exercise regularly, you can reduce doses of medications and insulin.”
    Getting Started on Your Diabetes Weight Loss Plan
    Losing weight is never easy. That’s where a diabetes educator or a nutritionist can help, advises Deeb A diabetes educator or nutritionist can develop a program that fits you and your lifestyle — a program with realistic goals, he says.
    “You will need a meal plan, one that you can follow every day. You’ll need to know how to alter your insulin and medication based on what you’re eating and whether you’re exercising more,” Deeb tells WebMD. “That’s the safest way to lose weight.”
    A consultation with a diabetes educator or dietitian/nutritionist can cost from $60-$70. Typically, insurance covers the first two visits, but may not cover additional visits, says Meneghini.
    Reasonably priced diabetes support groups and classes are available, frequently through hospitals. Ask your doctor or physician assistant for recommendations.
    There are also diabetes web sites with in-depth exercise and weight loss information, including:
    • American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org
    • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/
    “Information is power, and the better informed you are, the better decisions you can make,” says Meneghini.

  28. eddie Avatar
    eddie

    I have read with interest, the article on the low blood cell count because I too as a black woman was also given that diagnosis. Since 1982 a routine blood test showed the count and I must say that the doctor nearly kill me with his predictions as what might have been wrong with me. I had to console myself that if I was dying and didn’t know (because I was not even feeling sick) then I will continue to live until… I abandoned blood test for over twenty years until recently and sure enough, it was still low. Once again the doctor nearly kill me with the news but I shrug my shoulders and will continue until..

    As far as I know it has not affected me one bit but I do understand the danger of getting chemo etc since the count is low it would not take much to bring it lower still. However, there is much research still to be done and I hope the information reaches us soon.

  29. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    I saw a recent article on Cuban trained doctors practicing in Barbados in one of the newspapers. Unfortunately I didn’t read it but here is an article on how Cuban doctors fare in the USA after they immigrate there.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/health/04cuba.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

  30. us health care worker who love the caribbean Avatar
    us health care worker who love the caribbean

    tamiflu will not work against the h1n1 swine flu virus. the US is coming out with the swine flu vaccine and it is to be given to the most vulnerable persons first and healthcare workers (thank god!) our local flu shots to prevent the spread of our regular seasonal flu is hardly effective being that the flu virus mutates so quickly. if u ask me its all media hyper and hysteria! more people die from the regular version of the flu than swine flu every year. our US media LOVES

  31. us health care worker who love the caribbean Avatar
    us health care worker who love the caribbean

    (continued) to create *pandamonium*… as they get PAID to do so… ** FIGHT THE POWER 🙂 **

  32. us health care worker who love the caribbean Avatar
    us health care worker who love the caribbean

    Im interested in the quality of health care that is provided on the island for locals. What types of free clinics do they have to provide care for those who cant afford it? do u have national health care or is it private insurance as in the States? just wanted feedback from the locals. thanku

  33. Annonymous Avatar
    Annonymous

    Cancer Killer – The soursop
    Guyabano, The Soursop Fruit

    The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.
    Why are we not aware of this?

    Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by

    trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

    So, since you know it now you can help a friend in need by letting him know or just drink some sour sop juice yourself as prevention from time to time.

    The taste is not bad after all. It’s completely natural and definitely has no side effects.

    If you have the space, plant one in your garden.
    The other parts of the tree are also useful.

    The next time you have a fruit juice, ask for a sour sop.

    How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?

    Th is tree is low and is called graviola in Brazil , guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English.

    The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such.

    The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects.

    Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest.

    This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types.

    Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections,

    is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression,

    stress and nervous disorders.

    If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it’s the incredible story behind the Graviola tree.

    The truth is stunningly simple:

    Deep within the Amazon
    Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor,

    and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival.

    The future has never looked more promising.

    Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
    * Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
    * Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
    * Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
    * Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

    The source o f this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America ‘s largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970’s!

    What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing…

    Extracts from the tree were shown to:

    * Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon,

    breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer..
    * The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin,

    a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
    * What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts
    down and kills only cancer cells.

    It does not harm healthy cells!

    The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–

    so why haven’t you heard anything about it?

    If Graviola extract is as half as promising as it appears to be–

    why doesn’t every single oncologist at every major hospital insist on using it on all his or her patients?

    The spine-chilling answer illustrates just how easily our health–

    and for many, our very lives(!)–are controlled by money and power.

    Graviola–the plant that worked too well

    One of America ‘s biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola,

    a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.

    Variou s parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds–have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indians in South America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis.

    Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties–and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.

    But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.

    The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree–it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it.

    It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to
    synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients.

    If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent,

    they’d be able to patent it and make their money back.

    Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated.

    There was no way the company could protect its profits–or even make back the millions it poured into research.

    As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt.

    Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

    Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team

    whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed.

    Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest

    and blew the whistle.

    Miracle unleashed
    When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola,

    they began tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree.

    Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola–and its shocking cover-up–came in fast and furious….

    ….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976.

    The results showed that Graviola’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…

    …Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests,

    yet no double-blind clinical trials–

    the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a
    treatment’s value- -were ever initiated..

    A study published in the Journal of Natural Products,

    following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to

    selectively kill colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin…”

    ….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that

    Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched.

    Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells),

    causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.

    …A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers…

    Seven years of silence broken–it’s finally here!

    A limited supply of Graviola extract, grown and harvested by indigenous people in Brazil , is finally available in America .

    The full Graviola Story–including where you can get it and how to use it–is included in Beyond Chemotherapy:

    New Cancer Killers, Safe as Mother’s Milk,

    a Health Sciences Institute FREE special bonus report on natural substances

    that will effectively revolutionize the fight against cancer.

    From breakthrough cancer and heart research and revolutionary Amazon Rainforest

    herbology to world-leading anti-aging research and nutritional medicine,

    every monthly Health Sciences Institute Member’s Alert puts in your hands today cures the rest of America –including your own doctor(!)–is likely to find out only ten years from now.

  34. Bajan Pharm Avatar
    Bajan Pharm

    All Statins vary in molecular structure some closer is shape than others. The differences in structure affect the efficacy in patients on an individual basis.
    I for one can’t take Lipitor or Vytorin but can take Crestor. The effectiveness of one over the other may vary, but the uniqueness of the patient is always a consideration.

  35. Bajan Pharm Avatar
    Bajan Pharm

    The Holistic view:

    The complementary view is a great option in my book. We must however be mindful
    that holistic aspect of treating patients should still be weighed against the severity of the condition of the patient. A treatment with bush tea may actually make things worse.
    When one looks at the Guyabano, The Soursop Fruit for example, we need to understand that western medicine has been ( refined) and for the most has been the #1 accepted. The idea of treatment with this plant is hard to believe for these specialized Drs.
    An option is an option, however be mindful –
    1) there is no standardized dosing
    2) what is the active ingredient
    3) what is the specific cancer cell being targeted.
    4) results in a test tube differ from those in the human body.
    If a Pt decides to go for the alternative therapy, it should be done complementary. As such both the Medical Practitioner and the Alternative practitioner should be working together for the benefit of the patient.The question is will this ever be done?

  36. Bajan Pharm Avatar
    Bajan Pharm

    Re: Im interested in the quality of health care that is provided on the island for locals. What types of free clinics do they have to provide care for those who cant afford it? do u have national health care or is it private insurance as in the States? just wanted feedback from the locals. thanku

    hi there us health care worker who love the caribbean,

    Barbados Government offers a fantastic free service to all Barbadians. This is achieved through the Barbados Drug Service and the many Government Polyclinics across the island.
    The availability of pharmaceuticals at the polyclinics are vast and for the most part are available. Should specialty care be needed, those Pts are referred to the QEH.( Queen Elizabeth Hospital – the only government hospital)
    Every social service has its problems.Ours is no different! Money Money Money -the shortage of it.
    Where the Public services lack, the private Pharmacies take up the slack. The private and also fill Public generated Rx’s.
    Private Docs are not partners in this system. If they offer a service it is to pay, unless they choose to wave their fees.
    There is lots lots more.
    The truth be told form my perspective is that services in any Government run system would be allot better if patients have to pay even a $1.oo
    B’dos. The machines could be fixed fasted the replenishment of required stock could be better. A whole array of areas could be improved.
    Barbados is quickly becoming a welfare state if we are not one already.The political drive is not helping the matter when it is preached
    ” you are entitled to Free”

  37. FYI Avatar
    FYI

    Having attended a Kidney Conference in Barbados, it was evident that doctors withhold what I consider pertinent information from their patients. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce all kidney patients to the following site. http://www.davita.com/forum/

    The site provides a myriad of information related to kidney disease including experiences that has been shared by patients and medical staff — from acute kidney failure through dialysis and transplantation.

    Patients, family, friends can ask any kidney related question that she or he may have concerns about.

  38. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    GP:

    With the recent Lancet report on the reliance on Tamiflu as an efficacious treatment for H1N1, are you still recommending this as the way to go as a precautionary measure.

    What are your thoughts on the rise of asthma, lupus and type 2 diabetes in Barbados, which some clinicians ascribe to the damaged auto=immune systems caused by mass vaccinations for polio etc. in earlier years.

  39. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Family Medicine News

    New H1N1 Vaccine Works Like Seasonal Flu Vaccine in Children
    Fran Lowry
    September 21, 2009 — A single, 15-μg dose of a nonadjuvanted 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine generated an immune response against the virus in a small group of children aged 10 to 17 years at 8 to 10 days after vaccination, according to early results from a trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
    These early results look promising, the NIAID said.
    “This is very encouraging news. As we had hoped, responses to the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine are very similar to what we see with routinely used seasonal influenza vaccines made in the same way,” Anthony S. Fauci, MD, director of NIAID, said in a statement. “It seems likely that the H1N1 flu vaccine will require just one 15-μg dose for children 10 to 17 years of age. The 2009 H1N1 influenza virus is causing widespread infections among children, so these are welcome results.”
    The trial, which is ongoing, is testing the safety and immune responses to 1 and 2 doses of either 15 or 30 μg of vaccine in 3 age groups: children aged 6 to 35 months, 3 to 9 years, and 10 to 17 years.
    The early results announced today were based on blood samples taken 8 to 10 days after the first vaccination. The strongest immune response was seen in the 10- to 17-year-old age group. Among the 25 children in this group, a strong immune response was seen in 19 children (76%) who received a single 15-μg dose. Among the 25 children in the 3- to 9-year-old age group, 9 children (36%) demonstrated a strong immune response, and in the 20 children aged 6 to 35 months, a single 15-μg dose of vaccine produced a strong immune response in 5 children (25%).
    “These results are not unexpected and are both similar to what is seen with seasonal influenza vaccines and consistent with what we and our colleagues at the Food and Drug Administration anticipated,” Dr. Fauci said.
    The study is continuing to assess immune response to the vaccine 3 weeks after both the first and second vaccinations. The NIAID anticipates that the immune response in children to the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine will be similar to that of seasonal influenza vaccination and will continue to increase for several weeks after vaccination.
    The vaccine being tested is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur.

  40. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    @ Straight talk // September 21, 2009 at 6:28 PM

    I am ignorant about the recent Lancet report on the reliance on Tamiflu of which you speak Sir.

    It is in my view unreasonable to ascribe the rise of asthma and type 2 diabetes in Barbados solely to polio vaccinations, especially when there are so many contributing factors in the society to promote the onset of these two conditions.

    Without mass vaccinations for polio etc. in earlier years, I shudder to think what the morbidity and mortality might have been.

  41. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Real men don’t eat soy. Not unless they want to grow fatty breasts… The reason? It turns out, soy protein contains genistein and daidzein, which are known phyto-estrogens (plant-produced estrogens). High levels of estrogen (the hormone that makes women look and act like women) in men causes reduced levels of testosterone, loss of muscle tissue, increase of body fat, and a decrease in libido and sexual function.
    .

  42. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    GP:
    I see the NIAID trial you quote used a single, 15-μg dose of a nonadjuvanted 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine.

    It is my understanding that the Tamiflu being rushed out by Pasteur Labs contains the adjuvant squalene, a petroleum product, thought to be responsible for the adverse reactions of US servicemen to their anthrax shots.

    Given that the pharma companies involved have been granted legal immunity re swine flu treatments, do you still believe there is no cause for concern?

  43. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    I cant say for sure Sir. There seems to be divergent views at the moment.

  44. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    Ukranian Professor of Pathology’s take on the local epidemic.

    “Based on autopsies, we have come to the conclusion: it’s not pneumonia, but cardiopulmonary insufficiency and cardiogenic shock… The virus enters directly into the lungs, there is bleeding… Antibiotics should not be used…

    Why do we have such a high mortality rate in the country?

    Because people are going to pharmacies to get medicine instead of going to their doctors to be treated… No it is not pneumonic plague. It’s all nonsense… antibiotics do not help… Those with strong immune systems will survive. People with weak immune systems will succumb to the illness… Face Masks provide 30% extra protection. Wearing glasses gives an additional 10% protection, that is 40%, because the virus penetrates the mucose membranes.

    The Head of the Chernivtsi regional forensic bureau, Professor Victor Bachinsky M.D. makes a strong statement: all the victims of the virus in Bukovina (22 persons aged 20 to 40 years) died not from bilateral (double) pneumonia, as previously thought, but as a result of viral distress syndrome, i.e. the total destruction of the lungs. We caught up with Professor Bachinsky, to find out how he came to this conclusion, and how people can protect themselves from this disease.

    Professor, you said earlier that the virus, from which many people have died – is a mixture of types of parainfluenza and influenza A/H1N1. How do you cure this disease?

    The question of how to treat this virus is not up to me. I am a pathologist. I just found out what it is and made an exact diagnosis. It is important to provide the correct treatment based on diagnosis.

    There are strict protocols and standards of treatment in medicine. If a doctor treats a patient who dies, their relatives can make a complaint that they were not treated properly (misdiagnosed). The Ministry of Health has set the protocols and standards of treatment for each diagnosis. If diagnosed correctly, the treatment should be correct…

    In the Chernivtsi region 18 people have died. We studied all the history and evidence from this disease, preclinical, clinical, resuscitation. When we perform an autopsy organs and tissues have histological studies (cell analysis) and we concluded that it was not pneumonia, and has no relation to pneumonia whatsoever.

    These results are the foundation to ensure that doctors who treat this disease all over Ukraine, change their tactics and standards of care.

    Can this new virus be cured?

    It depends on the immune system. If a person’s immune system is strong, they will overcome it. There are people who carry this strain of H1N1 and remain on their feet and don’t even realise they are sick.

    Antibiotics definitely should not be taken. Antibiotics are the reason we have such a high mortality and infection rate in this country, because people go to the pharmacy, describe their symptoms to the pharmacist and ask for drugs. They buy antibiotics, take them, this lowers their immune system and as a result they become sick. If prescriptions were required to buy these medications, like in other countries, this would not have happened. It is the ability to buy antibiotics over the counter without a prescription which has done so much harm to the State.

    During autopsies, what did the lungs look like? Were they really black, which gave rise to so much talk of pulmonary plague?

    No, they are not black… This is not pneumonic plague. It’s all nonsense. Pneumonic plague has a very different morphology. We have, for example, 60 thousand people who became sick and 23 have died. With pulmonary plague, we would now have a mortality rate of 59 thousand…

    This is a viral attack that destroys the lungs.

    It turns out that not only in Bukovina, but also throughout the Ukraine people did not die from pneumonia, but from this toxic strain?

    Yes, It’s not pneumonia! This destruction of the lungs. This strain is very toxic, and if the immune system is weak, there is bleeding in the lungs. In the lungs there is a tiny structure – acinus, which looks like a bunch of grapes. When you breathe, oxygen enters this tiny “bunch of grapes” ( pulmonary alveoli ). On the surface of the acinus are the capillaries, where red blood cells saturate with oxygen and give blood, which supplies all tissues and organs in the body.

    And once the virus enters the lungs – hemorrhaging begins immediately in the acinus. A continuous hemorrhage… It takes several hours. In the blood fibrin is formed, and from it – giolinovaya membrane, resembling a plastic bag. It envelops the acinus, and the person breathes in oxygen, but it is not transferred to the tissues. And people just gasp. There is a cardio-pulmonary insufficiency and cardiogenic shock. People die of cardiogenic shock. And there is no pneumonia. Pneumonia – an inflammation, which is treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics cannot help at any stage. There should be absolutely different treatment.

    And how about Tamiflu – does it help?

    This is not an antibiotic, it is an antiviral drug, which should be applied on the second or third day of the disease. But you can not use Tamiflu as a preventitive, because it is toxic.

    What are the best measures to resist the disease? Is it advisable to use a mask, garlic, vitamin C?

    The primary method of prevention is a face mask. This give 30% extra protection. If you wear glasses [goggles] – it is 40%, because the virus enters through the mucous membranes.

    It is necessary to improve the human immune system. Not only now, but in general. Garlic, onions, wild rose, viburnum (guelder rose), raspberries, citrus fruit, honey, and other fruits and vegetables – whatever you want. Those with a strong immune system will survive. Those with weaker immune systems will succumb to the disease.

    We have a lot of people in Ukraine who like shopping at the open markets. If we can avoid open markets, the less people will be in contact with each other and more lives will be saved.

    You have contacted the Health Ministry and advised them to review the standards for treatment of patients. What did they say?

    We sent them all our data, the necessary protocols and standards of treatment, our diagnosis. But it is clear that decisions cannot be instantaneous.

    And why until now has nobody else known about this disease? What were the leading specialists in the Ministry of Health doing all this time?

    Perhaps this is due to the fact that there are scientists who are working on a purely theoretical basis. And there are scientists who have seen the autopsy results. I practice as head of the regional forensic bureau and as a professor. The fact that we have established this diagnosis – it is not just to my credit, and this is not my personal opinion. This is the opinion of specialists, morphologists and doctors in Bukovina. There are five professors in our group – I just head the group.”

    ………………

    Has Baxter International released a biological weapon?
    David Rothscum Reports

    Evidence appears to suggest that Baxter International is responsible for a new deadly outbreak of viral pneumonia in Ukraine.

    In February of 2009 Bloomberg reported that Baxter “accidentally” send vaccine material containing both live Avian bird flu and seasonal influenza to multiple laboratories worldwide. A laboratory decided to test the vaccine on it’s ferrets, but the ferrets all unexpectedly died. It must be noted that Baxter has made a “mistake” like this before. Blood products produced by Baxter once containd HIV. Thousands of haemophiliacs died due to this, and many went on to infect their spouses.

    Later in the year, a bizarre story emerged on the internet. The Huffington Post reported on a a man named Joseph Moshe who was arrested after a hours long standoff with the police because he had supposedly made threats against the White House. The man was able to withstand multiple rounds of tear gas.

    However, the internet community was very skeptical of the true reasons behidn this man’s arrest. Comments on the Huffington Post website immediately began pouring in about an unreported side to this story, namely that Joseph Moshe was a Mossad Agent specialized in biological warfare who called into a radio show to warn people about a biological weapn that was being made by Baxter international that would be spread through vaccine and would cause a plague upon it’s release.

    Although anyone can make a doomsday claim and we should never believe anyone (and it must be said that the Truth movement handled this well, the message was spread without being proclaimed as gospel) the amazing part about Moshe’s claim was the location where Moshe said the biological weapon was being produced.

    Moshe claimed that Baxter’s laboratory in the Ukraine out of all places was creating this biological weapon. All of this came out in the beginning of August, which is more than 2 months before the situation that is currently unfolding. For Moshe to correctly name the country where a new epidemic would be unleashed, requires either inside information, or an incredible coincidence as anyone with a basic knowledge of statistics can confirm for himself.

    Let us assume for a moment that every person on our planet has an equal chance of giving rise to a new lethal epidemic due to a virus that mutates as it spreads through his body. The Ukraine has 46 million inhabitants. The current estimated global population is about 6.7 billion. This means that if a new epidemic were to arise, the chance of this epidemic starting in the Ukraine would be 0.69%. However, it appears that this virus is a form of flu. This makes the odds of being right when guessing that a deadly flu is going to break out in the Ukraine even smaller. The reason for this is that back in early August the vast majority of influenza infections were found in different countries than the Ukraine. In fact, on 30 Oktober, Earthtimes reported that Ukraine had officially reported only two cases of swine flu, and no deaths, until last Friday. This deadly epidemic appears to have arrived out of nowhere in the Ukraine.

    Moshe’s biomed profile appears to confirm his position as a microbiologist.
    Joseph Moshe can not be the same person as the plant-virologist, because Moshe’s age differs from Moshe Bar-Joseph’s.
    This page with Baxter’s contact information for it’s Ukraine office confirms that Baxter has a presence in the Ukraine.

    It must also be noted that massive numbers of microbiologists have been dying bizarre deaths. This case of what appears to be a brave man who sacrificed it all to bring us this message may explain why so many microbiologists have been murdered. The fact that this man managed to predict an outbreak of highly lethal influenza in a place where we would least expect it, 2 months before it a actually occured, lends credence to his claim that Baxter International is responsible for the outbreak and shows that top microbiologists can pose a problem to the people responsible for this ongoing disaster.

  45. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Public Health/Being Skeptical

    Are Hand Sanitizers Worth the Money?

    All of us want to be as clean and bacterial safe as possi­ble. In fact, hand washing is one of the best ways to protect oneself and prevent the spread of disease-causing microbes. To that end, numerous commercial companies have provided us with many different types of antimicrobial cleaning and hygiene products. Perhaps one of the most pervasive is the antibacterial soaps, which usually contain about 0.2 percent triclosan.

    Washing hands with soap and water is a kev to preventing disease transmission.

    It is estimated that 75 percent of liquid and 30 per­cent of bar soaps on the market today are of the antibac­terial type. The question though is: Are these products any better than regular soaps? The short answer is—no.

    Numerous studies have shown these antibacterial soaps do little against foodborne pathogens such as Sal­monella and Escherichia coli. In addition, they do nothing to reduced the chances of picking up and car­rying infectious microbes.

    A 2005 study gathered together over 200 families with children. Each family was given cleaning and hygiene supplies, such as soaps, detergents, and household cleaners, to use for one year, tfalf of the families (controls) received regular products without added antibacterial chemicals while the other half used products with the antibacterial chemicals.

    When the families were surveyed after one year, those using the antibacterial products were just as likely to get sick as identified by symptoms such as coughs, fevers, sore throats, vomiting, and diarrhea.

    You may say that this is not surprising, as many of these symptoms are the result of a viral infection— and the antibacterial products are not effective on viruses. However, further analysis of the families indicatec there were just as many bacterial infections in the antibacterial group as there were in the control group.

    Antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers may be useful in a hospital environment, but they certainly are not worth the extra cost for home use.

    (copied article from Microbiology text) 718

  46. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Being Skeptical Antiseptics in Your Pantry?

    Today, we live in an age when alternative and herbal medicine claims are always in the news, and these reports have generated a whole industry of health products that make often-unbelievable claims. With regard to “natural products,” are there some that have genuine medicinal and antiseptic properties?
    Cinnamon
    Professor Daniel Y.C. Fung, Professor of Food Science and Food Microbiology at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, believes cinnamon might be an antiseptic that can control pathogens, at least in fruit beverages. Fung’s group added cinnamon to commer­cially pasteurized apple juice. They then added typical foodborne pathogens (Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Staphylococcus aureus) and viruses. After one week of monitoring the juice at refrigerated and room temperatures, the investigators discovered the pathogens were killed more readily in the cinnamon blend than in the cinnamon-free juice. In addition, more bacterial organisms and viruses were killed in the juice at room temperature than when refrigerated.
    Garlic
    In 1858, Louis Pasteur examined the properties of garlic as an antiseptic. During World War II, when pen-cillin and sulfa drugs were in short supply, garlic was used as an antiseptic to disinfect open wounds and prevent gangrene. Since then, numerous scientific studies have tried to discover garlic’s antiseptic powers Many research studies have identified a group of sulfur compounds as one key to garlic’s antiseptic prop­erties. When a raw garlic clove is crushed or chewed, the active antiseptic compound is produced. Studies using garlic, at least in the laboratory, suggest that this compound is responsible for combating the microbes causing the common cold, flu, sore throat, sinusitis, and bronchitis. The findings indicate that tre compound blocks key enzymes that bacterial cells and viruses need to invade and damage host cells.
    Honey
    For the past two decades, Professor Peter Molan, associate professor of biochemistry and director of the Waikato Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, has been studying the medicinal properties of and uses for honey. Its acidity, between 3.2 and 4.5, is low enough to inhibit many pathogens. Its low water content (15 to 21 percent by weight) means that it osmotically ties up free water and “drains water” from wounds, helping to deprive pathogens of an ideal environment in which to grow. In addition, when honey encounters fluid from a wound, it slowly releases small quantities of hydrogen peroxide that are not damaging to skin tissues. It also speeds wound healing.
    If that isn’t enough, there also is evidence that honey protects against tooth decay. Professor Molan’s group has shown that, in the lab, honey completely inhibits the growth of plaque-forming bacterial specie: including Streptococcus mitis, S. sobrinus, and Lactobadllus caseii. Honey cut acid production to almost zero and stopped the bacteria from producing dextran, which is a component of dental plaque. Like its use for wound infections, hydrogen peroxide probably is, in part, responsible for the antimicrobial activity.
    But beware! Not all honey is alike. The antibacterial properties of honey depend on the kind of nec­tar, or plant pollen, that bees use to make honey. At least manuka honey from New Zealand and honey dew from central Europe are thought to contain useful levels of antiseptic potency. Professor Molan is convinced that “honey belongs in the medicine cabinet as well as the pantry.”
    Wasabi
    The green, pungent, Japanese horseradish called wasabi may be more than a spicy condiment for sushi. -Professor Hedeki Masuda, director of the Material Research and Development Laboratories at Ogawa & Co. Ltd., in Tokyo, Oapan, and his colleagues have found that natural chemicals in wasabi, called isothiocyanates, inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans—one of the bacterial species causing tooth decay. Researchers tested wasabi’s tooth-decay fighting ability in test tubes and found the substance interferes with the way sugar affects teeth. At this point, these are only test-tube laboratory studies and the results will need to be proven in clinical trials.
    So, are there products having genuine antimicrobial properties? It appears so—and there are mere than can be described here.

    copied article from Microbiology text in the public interest

  47. Pat Avatar
    Pat

    @ Dr. Porgie

    Where is the promised information? Still waiting. Thanks, Pat.

  48. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Doctors and researchers have shown that eating worms (actually drinking worm eggs) can fight dis¬ease. What! Are you nuts? Drink worm eggs!

    Joel Weinstock, a gastroenterologist at the Uni¬versity of Iowa, discovered that as allergies and other diseases have increased in Western countries, infections by roundworm parasites have declined. This is not the case in other countries where aller¬gies are rare and worm infections are quite com¬mon. Weinstock wondered if there was a correlation between allergy increase and parasite decline.
    To test his hypothesis, Weinstock “brewed” a liq¬uid concoction consisting of thousands of pig whip-worm eggs (ova). The whipworms are called Trichuris suis, so his product with ova is called TSO. This roundworm was chosen because once the ova hatch, they will not survive long in the human digestive system and will be passed out in the feces.
    One woman in Iowa was suffering from incurable ulcerative colitis, which is caused by the immune system overreacting. Immune cells start attacking the person’s own gut lining, making it bleed. The symptoms are severe cramps and acute, intense, diarrhea. In a trial run, Weinstock gave the woman a small glass full of his TSO. Every three weeks she downed another glass. Guess what? Her ulcerative coli¬tis is in remission and she no longer suffers any disease symptoms.
    Further trials in 2004 involved 100 people suffering the same disease and a further 100 suffering Crohn disease, which is another type of inflammatory bowel disease related to immune function. In this study, 50 percent of the volunteers suffering ulcerative colitis and 70 percent of those suffering Crohn disease went into remission, as identified by no symptoms of abdominal pain, ulcerative bleed¬ing, and diarrhea.
    Weinstock believes some parasites are so intimately adapted with the human gut that if they are eradicated, bad things may happen, such as the bowel disorders mentioned. He says the immune system has become so involved with defending against parasites that if you take them away, the immune sys¬tem overreacts to other events.
    Is there something to this? Alan Brown, an academic researcher in the United Kingdom (UK) picked up a hookworm infection while on a field trip outside the UK. Being that he was a well-nourished West¬erner, the 300 hookworms in his gut caused no major problem. However—since being infected, his hayfever allergy has disappeared!
    The result: I need more evidence before I would drink worm eggs for a gastrointestinal disease.

    copied article

  49. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    RE Pat // December 16, 2009 at 4:25 PM

    @ Dr. Porgie

    Where is the promised information? Still waiting. Thanks, Pat.
    ===========================
    Double checked my deleted box and junk box and I see no email from you as requested with BU PAT in subject line.

  50. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I’d need more evidence too before I took retrovirals for HIV/Aids , seems to me a strong immune system and good nutrition will overcome most things, and if not, what the heck?

    Who wants to be a 6 stone bag of bones, poisoned up the ying yang, to postpone my glorious re-unification with my maker?

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