African-American race is among the risk factors for developing dangerous blood clots after receiving a drug-coated stent.

Despite taking anti-clotting medications as directed, African-Americans had more than double the rate of clotting compared to other races.

African-American race is a distinct risk factor for developing life-threatening blood clots after receiving a drug-coated stent, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

African-American race was the strongest predictor of clotting that occurs more than 30 days after implantation, researchers said.

For the study, researchers examined data on 7,236 patients who had stents, coated with clot-prevention drugs, implanted to prop open narrowing arteries. The drug-coated stents, also called drug-eluting stents, were implanted between mid-2003 and the end of 2008.

Even after considering other known risk factors — such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney problems — researchers found that African-Americans still experienced a higher rate of thrombosis or clotting.

The bottom line is this is not just because this population is sicker or less compliant, but there is something else there that needs to be explored,” said Ron Waksman, M.D., the study’s lead author. Read the rest of this entry »


A new international survey shows that over 90% of pharmacists believe they are key to improving patients’ health, and while most pharmacists surveyed see their responsibilities increasing, they voice concerns on training and pay.

The survey shows that almost 3 in 4 pharmacists (73%) now provide patients with health promotion and management services. Nearly all (9 in 10) pharmacists agree that more information and advice – including on specific medications and treatments – are expected from pharmacists than ever before. However most pharmacists (78%) say that they are asked to provide additional services, such as advice, without fair and proper compensation.

“Pharmacists’ roles are changing, and we find ourselves increasingly working with patients and other healthcare professionals to prevent and treat disease. This survey shows that pharmacists welcome this expanded role, as it highlights what they like doing most – helping deliver better patient outcomes – while increasing visibility of pharmacists’ expertise. However, we also see an education and income gap that will need to be closed to ensure the pressure on current pharmacists isn’t too great, and so that we can continue to attract the best and brightest to the profession in the future,” said Ton Hoek, Chief Executive Officer of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).Other results of the survey show the degree to which pharmacists are concerned about the counterfeit medicines issue. Read the rest of this entry »


Back to School in a Healthy Way

Medical Exams, vision tests, and dental appointments are essential to the Health and Well-Being of New Hampshire’s School-Age Children

With the back to school shopping season in full swing, it is also important to arm area children and teens with other tools they need to have a good school year- like medical exams. These are critical to good health and should take place before or shortly after the start of the new school year, and include a routine doctor’s exam to confirm that all immunizations are up-to-date, a dental check-up, and a vision exam.

Richard Lafleur, medical director, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire, notes that this is a good time of the year for parents to talk to their child’s medical provider about the specific examinations their child should receive. “As parents prepare their children and teenagers for the transition back to school, they need to make sure each child gets the recommended immunizations, along with an eye exam and dental cleaning,” he said.

Dr. Lafleur, who in addition to serving as Anthem’s medical director, maintains an active internal medicine practice in Derry. He recommends the following:

Vaccinations:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are many recommended vaccines for children and teens, including influenza, which should be given to all school-age children from six months to 18 years. Other immunizations include: Read the rest of this entry »


More than 100,000 citizens join scientific experts and public interest organizations in calling on FDA to tighten oversight and curtail misuse and overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms

A broad coalition of organizations hand-delivered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more than 180,000 letters responding to the agency’s request for comments on rules governing the use of antibiotics on industrial farms. By the tens of thousands, American citizens have sent the FDA a clear message: antibiotics are a vital foundation of public health in the United States; overuse and misuse has created a threatening crisis of antibiotic resistance; and it is time for the federal government to ensure strict veterinary oversight and force the food animal industry to curtail the routine use of antibiotics.

The letters were collected by a coalition of organizations committed to saving antibiotics as pillars of public health in the United States. The groups include: Center for Food Safety; Center for Science in the Public Interest; CREDO Action; FamilyFarmed.org; Farm Aid; Food & Water Watch; Food Democracy Now!; The Humane Society of the United States; Organic Consumers Association; and Union of Concerned Scientists.

The correspondence from citizens responded to requests by FDA for comments on two recent actions related to oversight and control of antibiotic use in food animal production. In March, the FDA announced its intention to alter its Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) guidelines, which govern the role and procedures veterinarians must follow with regard to prescribing antibiotic use in animal agriculture. In June, the agency issued draft guidance calling on the food animal industry to voluntarily curtail the non-judicious use of antibiotics on industrial farms, which threatens human health. Read the rest of this entry »


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