Roughly equivalent to our JCoHA (Joint Commission) here in the US, the NPSA has been taking notes on the administration of medications in English and Welsh Hospitals.  Their findings?  In every hospital in England and Wales, there were reports of patients not receiving their medications on time or [...]]]> Source: BBC Health; National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)

Roughly equivalent to our JCoHA (Joint Commission) here in the US, the NPSA has been taking notes on the administration of medications in English and Welsh Hospitals.  Their findings?  In every hospital in England and Wales, there were reports of patients not receiving their medications on time or at all.

From 9/06 to 6/09, the NPSA recorded reports of 68 cases of severe injury and 27 deaths with an additional 21,000 cases of drug administration delays or non-administration.  Since reports to the NPSA are voluntary, the organization believes that these figures are underestimated.

Alarmingly, antibiotics (drugs to treat infection) and anticoagulants (blood thinners) and cardiac drugs are the most likely to harm patients if missed.  Although even antidepressants and Parkinson’s Disease drugs can have dramatic effects upon patient wellness if they are not timely received.

And if this is happening in England and Wales, consider the implications for an area as populated as the US with all of its hospitals and nursing home facilities.

~Posted by D.M. Schwadron, Esquire

The Flu (Influenza if you’re French) is a contagious URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) caused by different strains of influenza viruses.  (Flu? They should eat more fresh fruit!) Each flu season, the US FDA, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the WHO (World Health Organization) work with vaccine manufacturers [...]]]> Source: US FDA Consumer Updates

The Flu (Influenza if you’re French) is a contagious URI (Upper Respiratory Infection) caused by different strains of influenza viruses.  (Flu? They should eat more fresh fruit!) Each flu season, the US FDA, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the WHO (World Health Organization) work with vaccine manufacturers to focus upon the 3 flu strains projected to cause the most problems.  For you budding virologists, this year it’s A/Brisbane/59/2007; A/Brisbane/10/2007; and, B/Brisbane/60/2008.

The current flu season vaccine (2009-2010) does not protect against the dreaded swine flu (H1N1). There is currently a swine flu vaccine pending approval and wide-spread dissemination.  The approved vaccines are: Afluria (CSL, Ltd); Fluarix (GlaxoSmithKline); FluLaval (ID Biomedical); Fluvirin (Novartis); Fluzone (Sanofi Pasteur); and, FluMist (MedImmune).

Of the vaccines there are the traditional injection form and the nasal inhalant variety.  Both are believed to be equally effective.  Autumn (The Fall) is the best time for vaccination according to the CDC.  Contrary to popular mythology, you can not get the flu from the flu vaccine. You can experience reaction to the medication, however.

Research from the CDC suggests that 5-20% of the US population gets the flu during active flu seasons causing hospitalizations for some 200,000 and the death of 36,000.  Flu symptoms include: fever; headache; chills; body aches; extreme fatigue; and weakness.

Posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.

Epidemiologists (people who study outbreaks of diseases) are beginning to link cases of Parkinson’s Disease to individuals occupationally (at work) exposed to pesticides. Specifically, [...]]]> You have to be the right age group for this one and it may be a regional thing but . . Apparently running behind the mosquito truck was NOT a good idea.

Epidemiologists (people who study outbreaks of diseases) are beginning to link cases of Parkinson’s Disease to individuals occupationally (at work) exposed to pesticides. Specifically, the study focused upon French farm workers (a potential oxymoron) who used and were close to the use of organochlorine based insecticides, including DDT which has been long banned in the United States.

The Paris-based researchers have reported early results suggesting an increased risk for Parkinson’s Disease among that group. While the study drew no conclusions for common backyard gardeners, if the results relative to professional farm workers are supported, it might be a good idea to just put down the spray can and find more environmentally, and people-healthy ways of ridding yourself of those bugs eating your tomatoes.

posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.

Unfortunately the larger joke is on the patients who may be taking these drugs to [...]]]> A study published in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests that dopamine agonists, drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease can lead to the development of compulsive behaviors including gambling and hypersexuality. There’s a joke there somewhere.

Unfortunately the larger joke is on the patients who may be taking these drugs to slow their disease. The Mayo Clinic study was a sampling of 267 Parkinson’s patients treated between 2004 and 2006, 38 of whom were taking therapeutic doses of a dopamine agonist.

Of those, 7 developed compulsive gambling and sexual behavior. Notably, none of the patient’s receiving carbidopa or levodopa, the standard Parkinson’s medications. Clearly a limited study but worth mentioning anyway. If you or your loved one have Parkinson’s and is taking a dopamine agonist and you are concerned about behavioral changes, consult your physician.

posted by David Marc Schwadron, Esq.