Epsom salt cuts rates of cerebral palsy

For pennies, literally, ob/gyns across the world could prevent cases of cerebral palsy.
An IV of magnesium sulfate, which basically is Epsom salt, given to women at high risk of premature birth cut the rate of CP from 3.5% to 1.9% in a study published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
UNC’s Dr. John Thorp, [...]

LDL cholesterol, gateway to medical mysteries

Vytorin, a drug that lowers LDL cholesterol, reportedly is associated with a higher rate of cancer, according to the FDA.
There are so many tangents to this story it’s difficult to keep up with them all.
WSJ Health Bloggers hit on the financial angle, naturally, and their message seems to ask people not to rush to judgment [...]

The other UNC medical blog

Haven’t gotten enough of China or the Olympics?
Already want a break from national politics?
Check out the dean’s blog.
I admit to lagging. I’ll also cop to being a bit pessimistic about the concept, based on previous versions when heavily edited with an eye for administrative speak. When Melanie visited from Vandy a few weeks ago and [...]

More talk about cancer

Tomorrow I will blog about something other than cancer.
But today I wanted to follow up on last week’s post, which went into a little detail about a friend’s telling me that she has cancer. Lisa Carey, our oncologist, had suggested that I also speak with Theresa Raphael-Grimm, who is anything but. Theresa has a faculty [...]

Breast cancer therapy with one dose of radiation

More breast cancer news. Indulge me a little, please.
I saw David Ollila this afternoon in the hospital’s Corner Cafe. I was too into my burrito bowl and he was in scrubs, so I didn’t attempt a conversation.
But the last time I sat down with the breast cancer surgeon he told me about some very exciting [...]

When talking with a friend about cancer, being speechless is OK

I got a call from a friend the other day.
“How are classes?” I asked. She’s finishing a second master’s degree while working full-time — at home (she’s married with two young, very active sons) and for a major academic medical center in the mid-West.
“Well, school’s on hold,” she said. “I’ve been going to chemo instead.”
She [...]

Candidates promise science without political strings

At the risk of appearing to be an NPR affiliate, here’s another story worth mentioning.
Joe Palca reports that the presidential candidates have vowed to leave their political interests out of funding and policy for science. Way to go, Joe!
If you want to know more about the apolitical science movement, visit Sciencedebate 2008.

Health care policy in the presidential debate

Jonathan Oberlander was again interviewed by NPR’s Julie Rovner in a story that aired today on Morning Edition. The candidates’ plans, Rovner explains, are very different in some fundamental ways. McCain would tax employer-provided insurance (which most of us have), then give everyone a tax break. Obama would leave what’s in place and add the [...]

Gimme a bruise!

Wow.
In the 25 years from 1983 and 2007 there were 103 fatal, disabling or serious injuries in high school female athletes.
Out of 80 direct catastrophic injuries (resulting from activity inherent in the sport), 44 were in cheerleaders; two young girls died. No other sport came close. Gymnastics: 9. Track: 7.
You’d think this would be obvious, [...]

Code blogger, stat

We’re 1 week old today, and still blogging!
As a special celebration, here’s a video I stumbled across.

I found the video by starting at Tara Parker-Pope’s Well, which must be one of the most popular blogs in any category. it’s a great model for introducing people to news, then showing them the [...]