Massage Tool Poses Risks

US health regulators have cautioned the public that massages delivered by the ShoulderFlex Massager device could be fatal.

The agency urges people who own the device to “dispose of the device components separately so that the massager cannot be reassembled and used”.
The company plans to recall the device, said the FDA

Federal regulators are warning that problems with ShoulderFlex Massagers have been linked to reports of strangulations and at least one death.

The FDA issued a safety communication on August 25, indicating that the design of King International’s ShoulderFlex Massager could cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.

The ShoulderFlex Massager is a deep tissue personal massage device designed to massage the shoulder, neck and back. The FDA is asking any consumers who experience an adverse event while using a Shoulder Flex to report those problems to MedWatch, the FDA’s adverse event reporting program.

The FDA has issued a safety communication for the ShoulderFlex Massager because of a risk of strangulation, or other serious injury, with the device. The fatality and near fatality occurred when clothing or jewelry became caught in the device's rotating component. The FDA cautioned that consumers and healthcare professionals should not use the device or advise patients to use it. King International has sold the device online and in retail stores since Oct. 18, 2003. Nearly 12,000 ShoulderFlex Massagers have been distributed, according to the FDA statement.

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aspirin effect on cancer.

Many Americans take aspirin to lower their risk of heart disease, but a new study suggests a remarkable added benefit, reporting that patients who took aspirin regularly for a period of several years were 21 percent less likely decades later to die of solid tumor cancers, including cancers of the stomach, esophagus and lung.

The risk of lung cancer death was 30 percent lower, the risk of colorectal cancer death was 40 percent lower and the risk of esophageal cancer death was 60 percent lower, the study reported.
“Many people may wonder if they should start taking daily aspirin, but it would be premature to recommend people starting taking aspirin specifically to prevent cancer,” said Eric J. Jacobs, an epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society.

Observational studies have reported that people who took aspirin were at lower risk for colorectal cancer recurrences, while other studies have pointed to similar reductions in cancers of the lung, stomach and esophagus.

“Randomized controlled trials carry more weight.”
The strong results “add to the accumulating evidence that aspirin may be protective against various cancers,” Dr. Arslan said.

There are several ways in which aspirin may work to slow the development of cancers, experts say. Aspirin may also induce the death of early cancer cells before they become aggressive, Dr. Arslan suggested.

Aspirin is already known to be beneficial for those at high risk of heart disease. "Previous guidelines have rightly cautioned that in healthy middle aged people the small risk of bleeding on aspirin partly offsets the benefit from prevention of strokes and heart attacks, but the reductions in deaths due to several common cancers will now alter this balance for many people."
The results, published in the Lancet, showed that aspirin reduced death due to any cancer by around 20% during the trials. After 5 years of taking aspirin, the data from patients in the trials showed that death rates were 34% less for all cancers and as much as 54% less for gastrointestinal cancers, such as oesophagus, stomach, bowel, pancreas and liver cancers.

It took about 5 years to see a benefit in taking aspirin for oesophagus, pancreatic, brain, and lung cancer; about 10 years for stomach and bowel cancer; and about 15 years for prostate cancer. The 20-year risk of death was reduced by about 10% for prostate cancer, 30% for lung cancer, 40% for bowel cancer and 60% for oesophagus cancer.

Professor Rothwell estimates that in terms of cost-effectiveness, taking low-dose aspirin daily is likely to be much more cost-effective than those interventions already used for preventing cancer, such as screening for breast or prostate cancer.
He does note that more research is necessary to understand more about the effect aspirin has on cancer.
While this study looked at how aspirin affected deaths from cancer, Professor Rothwell and colleagues now aim to look at any protective effect of aspirin on the incidence or progression of cancer. The researchers also point out that more trial data are needed on breast cancer and other cancers that particularly affect women.
Taking a daily aspirin may do more than lower your heart disease risk -- it could lower your risk of death from cancer as well.
Researchers found that after five years, cancer death rates were 21 percent lower in patients assigned to take an aspirin a day -- a reduction in cancer risk that persisted for 20 years -- according to pooled data on a total of 25,570 individuals participating in eight randomized studies.
The researchers called the results "the first reliable evidence that aspirin prevents non-colorectal cancer in humans" -- a possibility to which earlier studies had pointed -- though the preventive effect was evident mainly in deaths from gastrointestinal cancers.
Rothwell and colleagues also cautioned, however, that the findings by themselves do not prove that aspirin prevents cancer or even cancer death.

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vitamin D recommended

Last week, it was vitamin D's turn to fall from grace.

The panel's exhaustive report concluded that levels of vitamin D are — thank you very much — just fine in virtually all healthy North Americans.

That was surprising to the legions of people who believed that high doses of the vitamin could prevent a laundry list of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, certain cancers, preeclampsia and low birth weight. To do that job, virtually all healthy people need only 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D a day — and those older than 70, 800 IUs.

How much vitamin D did the experts say is necessary?

For most children, teens and adults, a daily dose of 400 international units (IUs) of the vitamin is sufficient, and 600 IUs recommended. Seniors older than 70 should ideally receive 800 IUs of vitamin D a day, the panel determined. For babies less than 1 year old, the panel considered 400 IUs of vitamin D enough.

Those levels are somewhat higher than the ones set in 1997, the last time a government panel examined vitamin D intake. A slew of recent studies have linked low levels of vitamin D to an increased incidence of these health problems. Maintaining a healthy level of vitamin D through diet alone has become much easier since manufacturers began fortifying foods with the nutrient.
A report released on November 30 has called for tripling the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D for people aged 9 to 70 from 200 to 600 international units (IU) a day.
Children under nine, including infants, need 400 IU a day.
Despite recent studies suggesting that the vitamin D has benefits going far beyond bone health, the panel restricted its benefits to just that. "Overall, the committee concludes that the majority of Americans and Canadians are receiving adequate amounts of both calcium and vitamin D."

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armenian medicare fraud - Gang busted healthcare fraud

Federal prosecutors in New York and elsewhere charged 73 people. The scheme's scope and sophistication "puts the traditional Mafia to shame," US attorney Preet Bharara said at a Manhattan news conference. The reputed boss, Armen Kazarian, was in custody in Los Angeles.

Kazarian, 46, of California, and two alleged ringleaders - Davit Mirzoyan, 34, also of California, and Robert Terdjanian, 35, of New York - were named in an indictment in Manhattan charging conspiracy, bank fraud, money laundering and identity theft.

Authorities began the investigation after personal information on 2,900 Medicare patients in New York state was reported stolen.

The defendants allegedly are members or associates of an Armenian "organized crime enterprise" known as Mirzoyan-Terdjanian, according to federal law enforcement officials. They allegedly stole doctors' identities and used the information to enroll the phantom physicians as providers in Medicare, authorities alleged.

Nationwide, the ring operated at least 118 phony clinics in 25 states and billed Medicare for some $163 million, officials said.
"Healthcare fraud that targets the Medicare program makes victims of all Americans," Steven Martinez, who heads the FBI office in Los Angeles, said in a prepared statement. The investigation, officials said, was aimed at "top tier" medical fraud operators across the country and resulted in the indictments of 73 people in California, Georgia, New Mexico, New York and Ohio.

According to federal law enforcement officials, the alleged criminal enterprise is named for principal leaders Davit Mirzoyan and Robert Terdjanian, who are both charged in the indictment. Kazarian, based in Glendale, is the first alleged "Vor" ever charged with a racketeering offense, officials said. The last time a "Vor" was arrested on any federal charge was in 1996, officials added.
An Armenian-led ring of criminals has used non-existent clinics and identity theft to file fraudulent claims, bilking the US government medical insurance programme Medicare out of $163m, US authorities say.

The network's operations represent the largest single Medicare fraud by one criminal enterprise in the programme's history.
Armenian 'godfather' arrested

The gang operated under the protection of an Armenian crime boss, known in the former Soviet Union as a "vor", prosecutors said. Armen Kazarian, the ring's reputed boss, was in custody in Los Angeles.

Kazarian, 46, of California, and two other alleged leaders - Davit Mirzoyan, 34, also of California, and Robert Terdjanian, 35, of Brooklyn - were named in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan.
Most of the defendants were to appear in court later Wednesday on charges including racketeering conspiracy, bank fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
Also stolen were the identities of doctors. Shoddy fraud

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Huntington's Disease Treated to a Shopping Spree‎

Seven year old Kathleen Williams has been the target of some very frightening bullies. Her neighbors, married couple Scott and Jennifer Petkov.

Williams is suffering from Huntington’s disease, a fatal disorder that claimed the life of her 24 year old mother just last year. Since then, the Petkovs have been tormenting Kathleen with taunts of her early death.

Kathleen’s father has filed for a protection order for his family.

A Detroit girl afflicted with "Huntington’s Disease", Kathleen Edward rolled out of a white limousine and into a toy store for a special treat at the Tree Town Toys where she was treated with a shopping spree for herself and for other children at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan.

Edward from Trenton is battling the final stages of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Kathleen Edward got the royal treatment Thursday, while prosecutors pored over police reports about the couple who allegedly taunted the 7-year-old about her terminal illness.

The couple, Scott and Jennifer Petkov, said they also received notice Thursday that the incident had cost Scott Petkov his job
Kathleen, who is dying from Huntington's disease, was allegedly harassed by the Petkovs, family and neighbors have said.
On Thursday, Kathleen spent the morning on a shopping spree at Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, courtesy of donors responding to the dispute.

Jennifer Petkov also posted an image of Laura Edward, Kathleen's mother, in the embrace of the grim reaper. Laura Edward died of Huntington's last year at age 24.
The Petkov and Edward families, who live across from each other on Detroit Street, have filed several police reports during their years-long dispute. Trenton police have forwarded the reports to prosecutors.

"Within a week, a nation has come together for a little girl," said Jessica Shinkonis, whose 11-year-old daughter, Cailey — who also suffers from Huntington's disease — was invited by Kathleen's family to join in the shopping spree.

Weinberg said Petkov's images of the girl and her mother were on the Internet for no more than an hour.

He said Petkov has deleted her Facebook page. Weinberg said his clients made a small donation online to a Huntington's disease group in the names of Kathleen and Laura Edward.

"Because of my ignorance, people around the world are now more aware of Huntington's disease," Jennifer Petkov said.
Petkov said posting images on her Facebook page was the result of her jealousy over the outpouring of sympathy and aid to Kathleen's mother, and continued with discovery that the girl was also dying from the disorder.

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throat cancer could be caused by the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer

Mouth and throat cancer could be caused by the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer, and it could be spreading through sex and French-kissing, a study published Wednesday says.

HPV has been documented in many cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer, which is on the rise, and the study suggests that the increase in these mouth and throat cancers could be caused by infection with the virus that causes genital warts and cervical cancer.

all behaviors linked to HPV-related oral cancers, the study said.
"We suggest that we are encountering a slow epidemic of mainly sexually transmitted HPV-induced" oral cancers, the report said.

Oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV are the second most common cancer linked to the virus, and their incidence is increasing.

The researchers urge the scientists to study the effects of the HPV vaccine available to girls and women on oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide; it kills 288,000 women annually.
Cervical cancer occurs when there is uncontrolled growth of the abnormal cells of the cervix.

Causes of cervical cancer
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) - the human Papilloma Virus is the single most common cause of cervical cancer and accounts for a very large percentage of incidence of cervical cancer.
Sexual activity- becoming sexually active at an early stage is a high risk factor for cervical cancer. Other risk factor like having multiple sexual partners can increase a woman’s chance of having HPV infection thereby increasing the risk of having cervical cancer.

Poor personal hygiene- this will lead to an increased risk of HPV infection
Other risk factors are a family history of cervical cancer and age.
Symptoms and complications of cervical cancer
In the early stages of cervical cancer, the woman may or may not experience any symptoms.
Screening tests- The widespread introduction of the Papanicolaou test or Pap smear for cervical cancer screening has been credited with dramatically reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.

Education about cervical cancer and its prevention will go a long way in reducing the burden of cervical cancer in our community and the nation.

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swine flu alert issued‎

Remember? They were guarding themselves against H1N1, or "swine flu," of course! Remember how you basically couldn't carry on a conversation with another human being without discussing "Swine Flu parties" and black market Tamiflu?
Not a whole lot of surgical masks.
1. There are enough vaccines this year. Last year, the H1N1 pandemic strain emerged too late to be included in the usual seasonal flu vaccine, requiring that a separate vaccine be created. This year, some 119 million doses of the seasonal flu vaccine (which protects against H1N1 and two other strains) have already been distributed. You can get your vaccine in a couple of different forms -- the nasal spray version called FluMist or LAIV, as well as the injected form. The CDC says that, this year, they're concerned with H3N2. The good news is that it's covered in this year's flu vaccine. Exhibit A: The CDC "What's New" H1N1 website has been "archived for historical purposes."
A swine flu reminder has been issued by health chiefs in West Yorkshire.
All pregnant women will be offered the seasonal flu vaccination for the first time this year.

Dr Andrew Furber, NHS Wakefield district's director of public health, added: "This year the vaccine will protect against the three types of flu expected to be the most common types going around, including the type known as 'swine flu.'

"It is important to remind those at risk to get their annual flu jab to protect them against all the three viruses.

"People should not underestimate the effects of seasonal flu. Pharmacists offering the seasonal flu vaccine include Asda in-store pharmacy – Asdale Road, Sandal, Wakefield; Asda in-store pharmacy – Leeds Road, Castleford; Tesco in-store pharmacy – Market Street, Hemsworth.

For more information, visit: www.nhs.uk/flu

The traditional winter flu vaccine – normally available only to the over 65s – has this year been mixed with the swine flu vaccine to protect against the H1N1 virus.
NHS Camden’s director of public health Quentin Sandifer said pregnant women with swine flu would be at risk of “severe disease and flu-related hospital admissions”, adding: “This year, the swine flu virus will be one of the most common types of flu going around.

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Michael Douglas’s throat cancer.

Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones has opened up about her agony over husband Michael Douglas’s throat cancer.
Zeta Jones refuses to accompany Oscar-winner Douglas to the hospital for chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
We have shared in numerous previous posts the importance of early detection when dealing with cancer. Douglas’ wife also talked to People about how difficult it was to watch her husband undergo treatment. The hardest part is seeing his fatigue, because Michael is never tired.”

Michael Douglas was diagnosed with "throat cancer" in early August.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have been married for ten years and have two children.
When Michael Douglas revealed that he is battling stage four throat cancer for the first time on the Late Show with David Letterman, someone in the audience gasped.
Letterman asked, "Now when you said stage 4, I heard someone gasp. Douglas said, "Um, no. Douglas said the first symptom he had was a sore throat.
Letterman asked Douglas if he had ever smoked, and Douglas said he smoked and drank and "this particular type of cancer is caused by alcohol and drinking."
Douglas said, "Let's just say I'm pretty lit up – I'm pretty lit up right now."

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French diet guru Michel Montignac

A French official says French diet guru Michel Montignac, whose "glycemic index" weight-loss books sold millions of copies, has died.

The official at the City Hall of Annemasse, in eastern France, said Michel Montignac died on Sunday at a clinic there.

Michel Montignac, author of worldwide bestsellers on weight loss in the 1980s and 1990s, has died at age 66, French officials said yesterday.

Michel Montignac, who died last weekend, developed a crash diet based on never eating "bad" carbohydrates at the same time as fats.

"Bad" high-GI carbs should not be taken together with fats, as "Michel Montignac" believed these combinations would lead to fats in the food being stored as body fat.

Michel Montignac was a controversial figure, not least of all in Quebec, where his French-language books were frequent bestsellers.

As far back as 1998, the order advised against the Montignac diet, saying people lose weight by cutting back on calories, not by drinking red wine and consuming unlimited amounts of food like Michel Montignac prescribed.

The study showed that 12 overweight people lost weight after following the Michel Montignac diet for six days.

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July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Results.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has just released the July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Results.
a duly accomplished oath form or “Panunumpa ng Propesyonal”
current community tax certificate (cedula)
2 pieces passport-size pictures (colored with white background and complete name tag)
1 piece 1? x 1? picture (colored with white background and complete name tag)
All board exam passers can likewise check out Nursing Jobs Abroad for details on nursing employment opportunities available for them.
UP Manila and Saint Paul garnered a 100 percent passing rate while Chinese General received a passing rate of 99 percent.
The July 2010 nursing board exam was held in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga
A total of 91,008 exams were administered, with 37,679 passing. The exams were taken on July 3rd and 4th in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga. All participants must be wearing the white uniforms, no earrings, and white shoes.

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why not black rice and black rice bran?"

"Black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to increase consumption of health-promoting antioxidants."

The scientists explained that pigments in black rice bran extracts range from pink to black.
In the study, the researchers tested black rice bran grown in the Southern United States. Although brown rice is the most common rice variety produced worldwide, Xu said the study results suggest that black rice bran may be healthier than brown rice bran in terms of antioxidants.

"If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran?"
Xu and colleagues analyzed samples of black rice bran from rice grown in the Southern U.S.
Black rice is rich in anthocyanin antioxidants, substances that show promise for fighting cancer, heart disease, and other health problems, Xu says.

He adds that food manufacturers could use black rice bran or bran extracts to boost the health value of breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, cookies, and other foods.
Black Rice vs. Brown Rice
White rice is made when rice is milled more than is done for brown rice; the bran is also removed, Xu says.

So black rice bran may be even healthier than brown rice, Xu says.

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Virus associated with chronic fatigue syndrome

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

After years of research, the link between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and exposure to a virus may finally be solidifying. A certain retrovirus appears to be present in extremely large numbers of people diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome , compared with control groups. The media coverage and commentary about these findings, however, reveals a prevalent misconception about the nature of illness in general. "It's just psychological," many people have complained, dismissing the condition altogether. Every illness that involves changes in mental functioning, emotion or behavior by definition does have a psychological component — and that's pretty much everything.

Tina Tidmore is one of an estimated 1 million to 4 million Americans who have chronic fatigue syndrome, a variety of symptoms with the hallmark of extreme lack of energy.

So Tidmore was very interested in results announced this week in Washington -- that a team of scientists from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have found evidence of genes from murine leukemia viruses in the blood of 87 percent of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients tested. Will further tests confirm an association between this family of viruses, which can infect humans as well as mice?

The researchers on Monday cautioned that the finding of the virus in many blood samples of "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" patients does nothing to show that the virus is involved in the disease.

"It's a dramatic association, but is not causality," said Dr. Harvey Alter, chief of clinical studies in the department of transfusion medicine at the NIH Clinical Center.

But an association of the virus with the syndrome would raise questions about the safety of donated blood.
And since the murine leukemia viruses are retroviruses -- a type of RNA viruses that includes HIV, the cause of AIDS -- it would raise the question of whether anti-retroviral therapies that are so successful for AIDS patients might also be beneficial for "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" patients.

Bridges said researchers have looked for years -- without success -- to find an infectious cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as well infectious causes of the diseases rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.
The blood samples that were tested for Monday's report had been collected from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients 15 years ago to test for a possible infection by mycoplasma. Lane Collins of Camden, an Internet friend of Tidmore's, has had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 1989, with its fatigue and muscle pain.

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A city pharmacy was robbed of OxyContin Thursday evening

A city pharmacy was robbed of "OxyContin" Thursday evening

According to Larson's arrest papers, Community Pharmacy employees told police that Larson walked in and was looking at a rack of bandages. When a clerk asked him if he needed help, Larson allegedly asked if the pharmacy had any 80 mg OxyContin pills.

Erb allegedly agreed, and Larson picked her up in his car. Larson drove to a spot near Broad Avenue and 23rd Street.

A man entered the Rite Aid in the Shaw’s plaza on Central Avenue a little before 6:30 last night, headed to the pharmacy then demanded and received "Oxycontin", Lt. Bill Breault said.
Last night's theft was similar to one the morning of July 28 at the Care Pharmacy at 18 Central Ave., where a man also entered, demanded and received Oxycontin, but never showed a weapon.
The suspect in the Care Pharmacy robbery is described similarly: 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10, between 30- and 50-years-old and thin to average build. Surveillance from the Care Pharmacy heist showed the man leaving in a light blue station wagon with a Maine registration.

A city pharmacy was robbed of OxyContin Thursday evening when a man wearing a surgical mask robbed the Rite Aid at the Shaw's Shopping Plaza.

The Care Pharmacy on Central Avenue was robbed on July 28.

Thursday's robbery occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. when the suspect entered the store and approached the pharmacy at the store's rear. Breault said witnesses described the suspect as wearing a surgical mask over his face. The suspect was also reportedly wearing a baseball cap and jeans.

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prenatal vitamins remains the recommended daily intake for pregnant women.

Ideally, a prenatal vitamin would also contain the recommended daily intake of iron for pregnancy–27 milligrams (mg). However, if the high dose of iron supplements upset your stomach or make you too constipated, it’s fine to skip the iron as part of your prenatal vitamin before you’re actually pregnant. If you have anemia (iron deficiency), your doctor may recommend a higher dose than the standard 27 mg/day.

If your prenatal contains Vitamin A, make sure it’s in the form of beta-carotene rather than retinol, and that the dose does not exceed 100% of the daily recommended intake. High doses of the ‘active’ form of Vitamin A (retinol) can produce birth defects, particularly in early pregnancy.

• You may find a variety of B vitamins (thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12) and/or Vitamin C in your prenatal as well.

Lastly, don’t expect a prenatal viatmin to deliver much by way of calcium; high doses of calcium interfere with iron absorption and therefore usually do not exceed 150mg in a prenatal vitamin which contains iron.

A new study finds that women who develop a severe form of pregnancy-related high blood pressure tend to have lower blood levels of vitamin D than healthy pregnant women -- raising the possibility that the vitamin plays a role in the complication.

In the current study, researchers found that vitamin D levels were generally lower among 50 women with early severe preeclampsia compared with those of 100 healthy pregnant women. The average vitamin D level in the former group was 18 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), versus 32 ng/mL in the latter group.

There is debate over what constitutes an adequate level of vitamin D in the blood. The findings, reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, do not prove that lower vitamin D levels contribute to early-onset severe preeclampsia.
A few past studies have found an association between vitamin D and preeclampsia in general. Now more work is needed to see whether pregnant women's vitamin D levels predict the odds of preeclampsia developing -- and whether raising those levels with vitamin D supplements lowers women's risk of the complication, according to Dr. Christopher J. Robinson, of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Of the preeclampsia group, 54 percent were deemed to have vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL), versus 27 percent of the healthy group. Only 24 percent of women with preeclampsia had vitamin D levels greater than 32 ng/mL, compared with 47 percent of their healthy counterparts.

It is biologically plausible, Robinson said, that the vitamin could affect preeclampsia risk. Right now, it's generally recommended that pregnant women get anywhere from 200 to 400 IU of vitamin D per day; prenatal vitamins contain 400 IU.
For now, though, Robinson said, the 400 IU in "prenatal vitamins remains the recommended daily intake for pregnant women".

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ketamine effective at relieving depression??

The traditional form of" ketamine, even though effective at relieving depression", when taken by itself, it can lead to short-term psychotic symptoms. Ketamine can cause side effects, including blurred vision, confusion, drowsiness, increased or decrease blood pressure or heart beat, metal or mood changes, nausea, vomiting and nightmares.

Stewart R. and Hirani V from King's College London and University College London Medical School in the United Kingdom published in the July 1, 2010 issue of Psychosomatic Medicine saying depressive symptoms in older people were linked with clinical vitamin D deficiency defined as having 25(OH)D levels lower than 10 ng/mL.

Another study led by May H.T. and colleagues from Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, UT and published in the June 2010 issue of American Heart Journal indicates that vitamin D levels are associated with incident depression among people aged 50 or older who had cardiovascular disease, but no prior history of depression.

Depression affects an estimated 17.5 million men and women in the United States, 9.2 million of whom have major or clinical depression.

It was seen that patients who were not affected by other anti-depressants responded to the drug.
The drug, "ketamine" was even able to reinstate synaptic connections between nerve cells in the brain. Dr. Ronald Duman, Professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Yale University, who fronted the study, said, "It's like a magic drug — one dose can work rapidly and last for seven to 10 days".
However, George Aghajanian, professor of pharmacology at Yale University and co-researcher on this study said that before ketamine is prescribed to patients for use, further exploration is needed.

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contaminated eggs

As the nation's largest egg recall continues, the FDA investigation is focusing on the huge egg farms in Iowa owned by Austin "Jack" DeCoster.

The CDC continues to receive new reports of salmonella illness from the strain of the bacteria implicated in the egg recall. If the chicks did not bring the salmonella with them, then they may have picked up salmonella at the Quality Eggs facility. The source could be contaminated feed -- and Farrar said Quality Egg is the source of the feed used on the farms to which the contaminated eggs were traced. To date, Farrar said, FDA investigators have not isolated salmonella from the suspected facilities. The recalled eggs are packaged under a wide range of brand names. So far, eggs have been recalled in 22 states.

Local grocery stores and restaurants are doing what they can to reduce any fears stemming from a recent nationwide recall of 500 million eggs.

On Aug. 13 Wright County Egg out of Iowa conducted a voluntary recall of its shelled eggs. The recall was expanded Aug. 18.

The eggs have been linked to the bacterium salmonella.
The brands affected by this recall include Bayview, Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Broomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, Kemps and more, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Owens said the department strongly recommends returning contaminated eggs to stores where they were purchased, but if for some reason consumers want to eat them, they need to be careful how they cook them.

John Stevens, owner of Grocery Outlet on Grass Valley Highway, said customers have returned about two-dozen eggs so far, but the eggs weren’t contaminated.

Keeping customers safe is a priority at the store, Stevens said.
Jennie Teel-Wolter, marketing manager for Raley’s, said the company only had to pull certain cartons of Bayview eggs off its shelves, so it wasn’t highly affected by the recall.

Teel-Wolter said most of the eggs sold at Raley’s come from California, and the company has an internal food-safety department that is always in contact with food-safety agencies to monitor for recalls.

Edelweiss staff members said they have only heard joking comments from customers about the recall.

Browns Valley resident Char Davis, who was enjoying a mid-day meal at Edelweiss Monday, said her actions following the recall helped assuage her fears

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