In an effort to find new therapies for 6,000 rare diseases, National Institutes of Health researchers are screening drugs approved for other uses. They’re hoping to find off-label uses for the diseases afflicting some 25 million Americans.

“This is a critical step to explore the full potential of these drugs for new applications,” said Dr. Francis S. Collins, NIH director, in a statement. “The hope is that this process may identify some potential new treatments for rare and neglected diseases.”

The research is being coordinated by the NIH’s Chemical Genomics Center and uses information on 27,000 active drug ingredients included in the center’s publicly available pharmaceutical collection browser. It also includes 2,750 small molecule drugs with regulatory approval in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan as well as those registered for human clinical trials. The center hopes to add more compounds.

For now, the focus is on collaboration with disease foundations, industry and academic investigators who can test the limited amounts of the compounds in the database. New clinical trials would be needed to test the drugs on the rare, and neglected, diseases. As would U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.

The cost of drug development is so high that there are only therapies for less than 300 rare diseases now. But the hope is now that some of these other drugs have been vetted in large populations that there uses can be expanded. There are a few cases of new uses being found for drugs already.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Drugs
        

Officials at the Baltimore City Health Department have issued two more violation notices to two businesses for selling children’s jewelry items with too much lead.

“These products were found to be extremely high in lead content. Excess lead levels in children can severely impair development and can even cause death,” said Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, in a statement. “The health department will continue to look for children’s products with high lead levels so parents can shop with confidence, knowing toys sold in the city are safe.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission published more stringent standards on lead content in children’s product in August 2008, and children’s jewelry items containing 300 parts per million or higher were subsequently banned. 

These companies were selling jewelry in excess of the limit:

+A Dollar, 200 E. Pratt St., was selling a blue flower ring with 13,000 parts per million of lead and a ring charm containing 70,000 parts per million.

+Beauty Lane, 7621 Harford Road, was selling a Rhinestone Girl chain & Rhinestone Girl charm with lead content of 18,500 parts per million and 20,900 parts per million. The store was also selling a pink star ring with 34,700 parts per million.

Photos courtesy of the Baltimore City Health Department

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health
        

 Considering the number of people in the state and nationally who use oxygen therapy, the Maryland fire marshal has put out some tips to avoid a catastrophe by fire.

“All Marylanders need to be aware of the potential hazards involving medical oxygen use,” said State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard in a statement. “Oxygen itself is not flammable, however, an oxygen enriched environment can cause materials to ignite more readily and burn at a faster rate than normal.”

Hair, plastic, skin oils, clothing and furniture catch fire at lower temperatures when there is extra oxygen. The fires burn hotter and faster.

Cooking and candles were heat sources in many fires, but smoking was the leading factor in fires in home where oxygen is used, said the fire marshal citing according a National Fire Protection Association report. The heat enabled the ignition of about six in 10 of such fires.

In total, from 2002-2005, oxygen equipment was involved in 209 home fires. They caused an average of 46 deaths and 62 injuries a year. Even more people were treated for burns each years -- 1,190.

For prevention:

+Don’t allow open flames near oxygen, including those from the stove or candles.

+Don’t smoke when oxygen is in use.

+Keep petroleum based products including lotions that can self-ignite away from oxygen.

+If you must smoke, turn off the oxygen supply for 10 minutes first so high concentrations drop before going outside to smoke.

+Post “no smoking” signs inside and outside of the house.

+Test smoke alarms monthly.

+Put a fire escape plan in place with two exits and practice.

+Fully learn how the oxygen therapy equipment works.

For more information on fire safety, call 1-800-525-3124 or go to www.firemarshal.state.md.us.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and the Susan Cohan Colon Cancer Foundation wants to get the word out about prevention and screening.

The education and advocacy foundation is holding its Susie’s Cause Colon Cancer Health Festival this Saturday in the West Baltimore MARC train parking lots from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is also sponsored by Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, St. Joseph Medical Center – The Cancer Institute and Operation Reachout Southwest.

They hope to raise awareness about colon cancer and show people how to reduce their risk.
They are especially hoping to draw people from the predominately African American neighborhoods of West Baltimore, which has a high rate of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related death, the groups say. The groups note that the American College of Gastroenterology recommends African Americans begin screening for colon cancer at age 45, rather than 50.

“Colon cancer falls especially hard on underserved communities and we need to get the message out about how to prevent and treat it,” said David Cohan, president of Susie’s Cause, in a statement.

Added Samuel L. Ross, chief executive of Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, “We want the members of our community to feel empowered by the information we’re providing at the health festival, and to take action. Everyone can take small steps to prevent colon cancer by eating healthier, exercising and most importantly getting screened.”

The festival will offer choirs, cooking demonstrations and vegetable gardening tips. Healthy snacks will be provided. Emcee for the event will be Reverend Lee Michaels, host of WMAR-TV’s “Grace and Glory.”

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

The Veterans Administration reports that it has reduced MRSA infections by 50 percent in its intensive care units around the country during the first three years of a special initiative.

MRSA, or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be life threatening, especially in the ICU – and the results of the initiative, now in its fourth year, could help other hospitals design programs to cut down on the infections.

“This is a landmark initiative for VA and health care in general,” said Dr. Robert Petzel, VA’s under secretary for health, in a statement. “No one should have to worry about acquiring an illness or infection from the place they trust to deliver their care. I am proud that VA is leading the way.”

The VA implemented four infection control practices, including patient screening, contact precautions for patients found to have MRSA and extra hand sanitizer stations and hygiene reminders. The initiative also involved changing the culture so everyone felt infection control was a personal responsibility.

The VA has more than 1,000 U.S. facilities that serve more than 6 million veterans a year. More than 1.7 million screening tests for MRSA were conducted as part of the new initiative.

The Baltimore VA Medical Center was one of the five test sites for the first phase of the initiative, the VA reports. The city has rate of community infection, rather than those who become infected in the hospital, twice the national average and that helped local clinicians develop an expertise.

They had been doing their own research and helped establish protocols to reduce the local rate over the years. Now there are systemwide declines, and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Many metro areas around the country, including Baltimore-Washington, have made improvements in air quality in the last year, but half the nation still has unhealthy level of air pollution, according to the annual State of the Air report from the American Lung Association.

The bad air that some 154.5 million people breathe contains ozone (smog) or particle pollution (soot) from smokestacks and tailpipes that can cause early death, asthma exacerbations, coughing and wheezing, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits.

The good news, the lung association said, was that in the last year all metro area surrounding the 25 cities most polluted by ozone showed improvement – Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia, with 8.4 million people, is No. 14 on this list, up a spot from last year. And all but two of the 25 cities most polluted with year-round particle pollution improved. Only 11, however, of those most polluted by short-term spokes in particle pollution saw improvement.

“State of the Air tells us that the progress the nation has made cleaning up coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions and other pollution sources has drastically cut dangerous pollution from the air we breathe,” said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association president and chief executive. “We owe our cleaner air to the Clean Air Act.”

The lung association decried efforts in Congress to weaken the act, which the Environmental Protection Agency credits with saving more than 160,000 lives last year.

The group used the color-coated air quality index that warns the public of bad air quality days used by the EPA. It considers ozone and particle pollution, the most widespread types of air pollution. The data in the report, which can be found at stateoftheair.org, is from 2007-2009.
The cleanest cities were Honolulu and Santa Fe-Espanola, N.M. Most of the dirtiest were cities in California, lead by Bakersfield and Los Angeles-Riverside.

In Maryland, Baltimore City and Garrett County were the only two areas without a failing grade for high ozone days. And only Harford and Frederick made the list of cleanest counties for short-term particle pollution.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health, Consumer health, News roundup
        

The Baltimore County Police Department will participate with the Drug Enforcement Administration on its Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.

The officials don’t want these unused and potentially dangerous drugs thrown in the trash. No identification is required and no questions will be asked, and over-the-counter drugs will also be taken. (Remove prescription labels from packaging.)

Drop them off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

+Precinct 2/Woodlawn, 6424 Windsor Mill Road, Woodlawn
+Precinct 7/Cockeysville, 111 Wight Avenue, Cockeysville
+Precinct 12/North Point, 1747 Merritt Boulevard, Baltimore

They can’t take intravenous solutions, injectibles and syringes.

Update: Here are Howard County sites collecting medications from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Northern District Police Station, 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City
Southern District Police Station, 11226 Scaggsville Road, Laurel
Harper’s Choice Police Satellite Office, 5485 Harper’s Farm Road, Columbia
Long Reach Police Satellite Office, 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia
North Laurel Police Satellite Office, 9105 All Saints Road, Laurel
Owen Brown Police Satellite Office, 7154 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
Oakland Mills Police Satellite Office, 5820 Stevens Forest Road, Columbia
Wilde Lake Police Satellite Office, 10451 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Drugs
        

A sprinkle of red pepper will burn more than your mouth, according to some new research. It can burn calories.

Purdue University researchers found that a half teaspoon of the spice can be a weight-loss aid, along with other dietary changes and exercise. That’s less than previous studies have shown. Though, the effects were stronger for those who don’t like to eat red pepper.

“We found that consuming red pepper can help manage appetite and burn more calories after a meal, especially for individuals who do not consume the spice regularly,” Richard Mattes, professor of foods and nutrition who collaborated with doctoral student Mary-Jon Ludy, said in a statement.

“This finding should be considered a piece of the puzzle because the idea that one small change will reverse the obesity epidemic is simply not true. However, if a number of small changes are added together, they may be meaningful in terms of weight management.”

It’s the capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their heat, that researchers say can reduce hunger and increase energy expenditure, or burning calories. Unlike past studies, the Purdue researchers found that 1 gram of ordinary dried and ground cayenne red pepper was acceptable to eaters and effective. Capsules don’t work because consumers have to taste the pepper, according to the Purdue study, published in Physiology & Behavior.

The study looked at 13 people who liked spicy food and 12 who didn’t. Those who didn’t consume pepper regularly saw the biggest impact on hunger. This suggests that the pepper losses its efficacy as it becomes familiar. Researchers said more studies will be needed to determine how to prolong effectiveness.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Mark Jeter has been chronicling his journey with stomach cancer on this blog.

It was a tough road for Mark for awhile. He was tiring of the side effects of chemotherapy. The lost weight. The nausea. Feeling bad for days then getting better just in time for another chemotherapy session.

Everything tasted like metal. Orange juice was the only thing that seemed to taste normal.

Some days it was hard to be positive.

But below he talks about getting good news from the doctor.  He will also hear soon about a surgery he must undergo to hit the tumor directly with radiation.

Click here to read other posts from Mark. 

 On April the 4th the doctor had me go back to get another scan to see which way this thing is moving, is it getting smaller from the treatment or is it still growing?

I had to go back to the doctor's on the 8th of April to get the results. I am sitting in the waiting room waiting for my name to be called to go in the back to see Dr. Katz.  To my surprise she comes out with the biggest smile and grabs me by the arm and takes me in the back.

While back there she tells Carla (my wife) and I that they looked at the scan and I am responding to the chemo very, very well. Thank you GOD. Smile and joy took over the room.

Now ,I had to get ready for another round of chemo on Monday. That good news keeps me from my original plan of trying to ask for a week off because I was tired of getting chemo, then being sick for a week and half, finally feeling good for four days and the same thing happening all over again.

God has a way of working everything out.

On Monday the 11th of April I go back in for my chemo and it was like I was a STAR getting the royal treatment. They finally gave me a HUGE room with a view. The nursing staff treated me as if I was the President of the United States. They treated me so well I thought I was on vacation with  all the kindness, cards, balloons and love they gave me.

This chemo treatment was better than any other time because they figured out what I can handle and corrected the amount of meds to fit my body. I am glad to say that everything went well.

My doctors set it up for me to get the surgery at John Hopkins to remove whatever is left. On April 20, I will meet with my other doctor from Hopkins to find out what their plan is for me.

I have been home for three day and I feel GREAT. It's funny when you go into the hospital they weigh you and I weighed 204 pounds. When I left the hospital I weighed 207 to my surprise since I had been losing so much weight.

My family keeps me fed well.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

As we shed the bulky sweaters and heavy coats for warmer weather, the extra pounds we put on over the winter become more noticeable.

Some of us will be looking at ways to slim down so we can wear sundresses and sleeveless shirts.

One group is warning against using the over-the-counter drug Alli to aid in our weight loss efforts.

Public Citizen wrote a petition to the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month saying Alli, and its prescription form Xenical, should be removed from shelves because it can damage the liver, cause kidney stones and result in acute pancreatitis.

The group said the risks of the drugs outweigh the benefits. They also note that the benefits are questionable because the weight loss isn't much more than if people would just diet or exercise.

“These drugs have the potential to cause significant damage to multiple critical organs, yet they provide meager benefits in reducing weight loss in obese and overweight patients," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group.

Any of you have experiences with the drugs? Were you able to lose weight?

Posted by Andrea Walker at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The bacterial infection MRSA is so potent that typical antibiotics don't kill it.

So, it seems a little far-fetched that a hand sanitizer could prevent the infection, which can cause death.

Yet, that is what some hand sanitizer companies were claiming.

But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has put a stop to that.

The regulatory agency this week ordered four companies to stop making the claims.

FDA offiicials so there is no proof that hand sanitizers prevent MRSA.

These are the companies they slapped on the hand:

1. Staphaseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel, by Tec Laboratories

2. Safe4Hours Hand Sanitizing Lotion and Safe4Hours First Aid Antiseptic Skin Protectant, by JD Nelson and Associates

3. Dr. Tichenor’s Antiseptic Gel, by Dr. G.H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co.

4. Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizer, Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes, and Clean Well All-Natural Antibacterial Foaming Hand Soap, by Oh So Clean Inc., also known as CleanWell Company

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Spring is here, meaning many of us will be out enjoying the sunshine.

As the warm weather brings us all outdoors, The Skin Cancer Foundation wants to remind us about the dangers of the sun's rays.

The foundation has brought its "Healthy Skin Tour" to the Baltimore area and is giving free cancer screenings.

They will be at the Rite Aid on Brandermill Road in Gambrills until 1 p.m. today. Saturday they'll hit the Rite Aid on Reistertown Road in Pikesville from 10 a.m. to noon.

The hope is to catch skin cancer early on and educate people on how to protect themselves.

You'll be able to spot them in their tour van.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Cancer
        

Many patients experiencing chronic pain are concerned about the addictive nature of their medications. If you have questions or concerns, join us at noon ET for a live chat on the subject with Johns Hopkins pain specialist Dr. Paul Christo.

Can’t make the chat? Send questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to baltimoresun.com/healthchat to read the transcript.

Posted by Kim Walker at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Men with low-grade prostate cancer can opt out of surgery without much risk of death, according to a long-running Johns Hopkins study of 769 men with the disease.

“Active surveillance” may be a better option according to the study, published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and thought to be the longest and largest of its kind. 

None of the men, mostly 65 and older, have died since the study began in 1995, though some have had surgery because the cancer spread.

“This study offers the most conclusive evidence to date that active surveillance may be the preferred option for the vast majority of older men diagnosed with a very low-grade or small-volume form of prostate cancer,” Dr. J. Ballentine Carter, study senior investigator and urologist, said in a statement.

Many men still prefer to have the tumor removed, up to 90 percent of the 217,000 American men diagnosed a year, including most 75 and older, said Carter, director of adult urology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Brady Urological Institute.

Carter says the excessive treatment for patients with milder disease needs to be addressed. Complications from surgery or radiation include incontinence and other bowel, urinary or sexual problems.

Carter’s team plans to expand the surveillance study to other institutions. He also hopes to update National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to include surveillance for low-grade cancer. There also are plans for a web-based educational program.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer
        

Many people turn to antibiotics to fend off stubbon pimples.

But with all the reports about overuse of antibiotics, it raises the questions about whether using the drugs to treat acne will cause bacterial resistance.

Not so, according to one new study.

The study, by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, contradicts beliefs about long-term use of antibiotics. It was posted online recently in the Archives of Dermatology and will run in the August print edition of the publication.

The reduction was found in both oral and topical antibiotics.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Drugs
        

You know how your body feels out-of-whack for about a month after daylight savings time?

Turns out that you're not imagining it.

A researcher at Loyola University Health System in Chicago says that one hour change in time can cause havoc to your health.

People are going to work or school the day after the time change sleeping 40 fewer minutes than normal, leaving to all kinds of side affects.

Studies have found there's a higher risk of heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries on the first Monday after the time change.

"Many people already are chronically sleep-deprived, and Daylight Saving Time can make them even more tired for a few days," said Dr. Nidhi Undevia, medical director of the Sleep Program at Loyola University Health System.

Undevia offers these tips for coping with Daylight Saving Time:

-- In the days before the time change, go to bed and wake up 10 or 15 minutes earlier each day.

-- Don't nap on the Saturday before the time change.

-- To help reset your internal body clock, expose yourself to sunlight in the morning as early as you can.

Something to keep in mind when the next change in time rolls around.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is looking for data and public input on infant crib bumper pads, those cushioned linings that are supposed to prevent babies from bumping into the crib but may provide a means of asphyxiation.

The pads have been linked to 20 infant deaths in the United States, including at least one in Maryland in 2007, though data is limited. The American Academy of Pediatrics has expressed concern about them and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced it plans to consider the issue.

State health officials want to hear from the public, interested parties, health professionals and other knowledgeable about product safety. Are they a risk? Are there benefits? Could dangers be reduced with labeling? The state will decide whether to pass on the information to federal officials or take action within the state.

The comment period is open until May 9. An advisory panel will review the comments and make recommendations.

Submit comments to Michele Phinney, Director of the Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 201 W. Preston St., Room 512, Baltimore, MD 21201, or call 410-767-6499, TTY:800-735-2258, or by email to regs@dhmh.state.md.us, or by fax to 410-767-6483.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Pediatrics
        

Seems like everyone these days suddenly has the long, luscious locks of Rapunzel.

Weaves have allowed many of us to have the hair that nature didn't give us.

But these weaves are now causing health issues for many African American women.

A recent study found that braids, weaves and other types of hair extensions may be contributing to scarring of the scalp and hair loss in African American women.

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio issued questionaires to 326 African American women about hair loss. Hair loss in the center of the scamp and clinical signs of scarring were seen in 59 percent of the women who responded.

Type 2 diabeties was also higher in the women with hair loss, suggesting that metabolic irregularities may contribute. Bacterial scalp infections and braids and weaves also seemed to contribute.

So, ladies, although you may want hair down your back, think of the consequences that may come with getting it. Maybe lay off the weaves and be glad about what you have naturally.

Or you may end up bald-headed later.

(Caption, Lil Kim sports her long, yet fake, locks)

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Women's health
        

The web is buzzing about actress Catherine Zeta-Jones' confirmation that she was treated for biopolar disorder II. The Los Angeles Times writers for the Booster Shoots blog have a detailed post on what the disorder is and how it differs from biopolar disorder I:
"People with bipolar II swing from severe depression to a milder and briefer manic state called hypomania. They aren't impaired to the extent that folks with bipolar I can be."
Read more here.

Our area hospitals have informational pages on the disorder as well. Johns Hopkins Epidemiology - Genetic Program in Psychiatry program offers a definition and resources here, and the University of Maryland Medical Center's bipolar resources page is here.

Has anyone suffered from or know someone who's suffered from the disorder? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Posted by Kim Walker at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Mental health
        

State health officials are planning on collecting some core health information to assess the state of the state and what can be done to improve it.

The officials collect all kind of health statistics now, but much of it gets lost “amid the sea of data,” said Dr. Josh Sharfstein, secretary of the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

He wanted to pick the most important measures and then work with the city and counties to come up with plans on how to improve public health. Many of the localities produce their own reports and plans, but Sharfstein said a statewide report can give them some context.

Before the state moves ahead with a final plan, it is seeking public input to make sure officials are looking at the right information.

Categories include reproductive health and birth outcomes, infectious disease control, safe indoor and community environments, chronic disease control and health care access.

No new resources or collections will need to be made – the state and federal government already collect all the data that the state is looking for.

Sharfstein said the reports are encouraged in the federal health care reform law and Maryland will collect new data and produce a report every three years or so. He doesn’t remember another such report in recent years.

To review the draft report or comment through May 12 on this Maryland State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2011-2014, go to http://dhmh.maryland.gov/ship/. A final report including strategies is expected in July. Local implementation plans are expected by December.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Donate Life Maryland is using the month of April to try and encourage more people to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

They are reminding people that they can sign up at Motor Vehicle Assocation offices. A heart will be placed on their license showing they are a donor.

People can also sign up online through the organization and get a registration card.

Organs that can be donated include: heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and small intestine.

Tissue that can be donated include: corneas, eyes, skin, bone, tendons, ligaments, vessels and heart valves.

More than two million Maryland residents are registered as donors, or 48 percent of those eligible.

About 4,000 people are waiting for donated organs in the Maryland/Washington area.

To read a story about efforts to overtun a ban transplanting HIV-infected organs into others who are already infected, click here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: General Health
        

One of the ways Baltimore City is aiming to tackle the obesity problem among students is by engaging students in forming the message about healthy eating.

The effort is part of the city’s Get Fresh Baltimore campaign, which works to increase access to healthy affordable food and develop good eating habits. And school kids will be asked to develop advertising to raise awareness among their peers -- and themselves.

Public school kids will develop ads touting fruits and vegetables that will be displayed in city buses. Other ads – 2,000 in total – will run in other places visible to the kids.

In Baltimore City, one in three kids is overweight. Among high school students, 37 percent are overweight, compared with 29 percent of high school students around the state. These kids are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and sleep apnea.

Kick off of the ad campaign will be today at Moravia Park Elementary School.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The Maryland General Assemby had a busy session, passing a collection of health-related bills.

Top of the list was establishing the framework for the health care exchanges that will go into effect in 2014 under federal health care reform. The state set up the basics of a market where the uninsured will go to buy coverage. The state has been moving aggressively to get all the pieces in place – and to get all the federal grant money it can.

Another bill pushed by the O'Malley administration was a prescription drug monitoring program that would require doctors to check a database before writing new scripts for pain medications. The state has seen a huge jump in the number of opiate addicts – particularly young people who abuse oxycodone. The bill, which passed, aims is to cut down on “doctor shopping” among those addicts. Here's a Sun story on the subject.

Also passed were bills that aim to track and curtain the use of unnecessary medical procedures including heart stents. This comes after an investigation into stent use at St. Joseph Hospital. And the state will now study how it could distribute medical marijuana and allow sick people to use medical necessity as a defense. The legislature also raised the alcohol tax to 9 percent from 6 percent though most of the money won’t go to health causes.

They miss anything this year?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Consumer health
        

Don't judge a person by his or her appearance.

Especially, if you're intimate with them.

A new study on herpes found that your sexual partner may be free of symptoms such as genital lesions, but that doesn't mean he or she is not carrying the sexually transmitted disease.

And yes, they can pass it on to you even if it doesn't "look" like they have it, according to the study to be published in tomorrow's Journal of the American Medical Association. About 16 percent of adults in the United States have the herpes simplex type 2 virus, but only 10 to 25 percent with herpes show symptoms, the study said.

Scientists found that viral shedding on the genital skin that can't necessarily be seen could cause the disease to be passed on.

Many people are engaging in sexual activity not knowing they are  at risk of passing the virus on to their partners.

Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world with an estimated 536 million people infected with it.

The researchers said condom use, drug therapy and disclosure of the disease to partners can help curb the spread of herpes.

But these methods have had limited impact because so many people don't know they have herpes.

So get tested and make sure your partner does too.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Recent stories of sudden cardiac death among athletes -- including a Harford Community College freshman and a Michigan high school player who both collapsed on the court – have cardiologists at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center discussing what families should do.

A recent study in the journal Circulation found that about one in 44,000 National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes has sudden cardiac death each year. Survival is low for victims outside of hospitals, the American Heart Association says.

The Hopkins doctors say most cases in young athletes stem from underlying heart conditions, so it should prompt medical evaluation for the whole family when one member suffers.

“Because several types of inherited, and often lethal, heart conditions can manifest themselves in sudden death or fainting during exercise, the story doesn't end with the child being successfully brought back to life or with the postmortem results,” Dr. Anne Murphy, a pediatric cardiologist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, said in a statement.

Any child with chest pain or fainting that occurs during exercise should see a pediatric cardiologist, the doctors said. Tests can reveal abnormalities that can lead to trouble.

And any child with a family history of sudden cardiac death not caused by common coronary health disease should also see a pediatric cardiologist.

But what about healthy kids in healthy families?

There's been debate about whether every kid in sports should be tested. Dr. Jane Crosson, another pediatric cardiologist at Hopkins, said universal screening is "a wonderful goal, as we all would like to prevent even a single death in these settings." But there really isn't a good one-time test.

But, she said in the United States that screening the big, diverse population with electrocardiograms would lead to a lot of false positives -- around 10 percent. They would need echocardiograms to prove they are normal. This would be expensive, stressful and time consuming. Further, many at risk wouldn't even be identified by a one-time ECG screening because the concerning conditions are progressive, or show over time.

"Hopefully in time we will develop better ways to screen athletes, and for that matter all children, but for now our methods are too imperfect to justify mass screening," she said. "It is important, however, for parents to help insure that their children are evaluated properly for cardiac risk factors during pre-participation evaluations."

That means families need to make sure that their histories and the children's symptoms are communicated to their doctors.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

Many hospitals are making efforts to improve the quality of care but there isn’t consensus on how to measure the progress, says Dr. Peter J. Pronovost, Johns Hopkins patient safety expert.

In the April issue of the journal Health Affairs, Pronovost calls for more attention to the accuracy and reliability of the measures. Without this, patients can’t be sure any improvements have been made.

“There is bipartisan support behind efforts to start paying for value rather than volume,” Pronovost said. “This is great, but we act as if there's a whole library of reliable outcome measures for us to use, and the fact is that serious work needs to be done to create them. We can't shrink from doing this science. We need to be guided by it.”

Pronovost said there are still shortcomings in hospital quality and patients are still being needlessly harmed. This is increasing health care costs.

And past efforts at assessing improvement have not always proven consistent or useful.

Pronovost said some hospitals measure overall death rates but they are not always a reflection on the quality of care. And other research that compared four different measurement services found that they reported the same data differently – 43 percent of hospitals showed higher-than-expected mortality in one metric and lower-than-expected in another.

He and a fellow researcher called for the creation of an independent agency to create standardized measures. “The goal is to make the process of determining quality standard and transparent, and make data meaningful for consumers and usable by clinicians, ultimately improving patient outcomes,” Pronovost said.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health, Health care professionals
        

There's a new diet rage that has cropped up just in time for us to slim down in preparation for bathing suit season.

The 17-Day Diet is the idea of Michael Moreno, a hunky family medicine doctor in California.

It's gotten the attention of Dr. Phil and the talk show The Doctors, which have featured segments about the diet on its shows.

The diet seems very similar to the South Beach diet, which restricts carbs and then reintroduces good carbs into the diet.

Moreno's diet has three cycles that last 17 days. The cycles, he says, prevent boredom and triggers calorie confusion which helps burn calories and fat faster.

Cycle 1 is the most restrictive, allowing for 1,200 calories a day and eliminating bad carbs.

Cycle 2 allows for 200 more calories and adds two-servings of healthy carbs

Cycle 3 once again allows for more calories including small snacks and 1 serving of alcohol

Cycle 4 is when you hit your goal weight and are working to maintain it. It allows for some splurging on weekends.

The diet also calls for exercise - 17 minutes a day in cycle 1, ramping up with each cycle.

Here is a more detailed description and review of the diet on WEBMD.

What do you readers think? It seems less restrictive then most diets once you get past cycle 1. And it encourages healthy eating. But would you try it?

What other diets have you found worked for you?

Tell us your thoughts. 

Posted by Andrea Walker at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

Exercise may be good for the body, but too much of it may be bad for the bones.

Teenage girls who participate in high-impact physical activity - such as basketball, running, gymnastics and cheerleading - have a higher risk of developing stress fractures, according to a report in the online edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Young girls with family histories of osteoperosis have an even greater risk, according to the study.

“Weight-bearing activity stimulates bone remodeling and thus increases bone mass density, but very high levels of activity may be detrimental to bone health and increase the risk of stress fractures,” the authors of the study wrote.

Stress fractures are still pretty uncommon, affecting about 20 percent of young girls.

The study looked at 6,831 girls between the ages of nine and 15 over an eight-year period beginning in 1996. During that time 267 girls, or 3.9 percent developed a stress fracture.

Girls reporting a family history of osteoporosis or low bone mass density were almost twice as likely to develop a stress fracture. Girls who participated in eight or more hours of physical activity a week were also twice as likely to develop a stress fracture as those who engaged in less than four hours of activity per week.

Specifically participating in basketball, running, and gymnastics/cheerleading led to the fractures.

The older a girl was when she started her menstrual period also resulted in an increased risk of developing a stress fracture.

The study concluded that parents should continue to encourage young girls to participate in sports, but to make sure they are not training excessively.

The study was conducted by Alison E. Field, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, along with her colleagues.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

What recession? Plastic surgery procedures increased nearly 10 percent from 2009 to 2010, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

There were more than 9.3 million surgical and non-surgical procedures in 2010, at a cost of almost $11 billion, according to a study conducted by the group.

Close to half the patients were aged 35-50.

“In my own practice, I’ve seen a major increase in demand by men -- the study showed an increase overall of 88 percent since 1997 -- breast lifts and generally a bigger caseload proving that beauty is recession proof,” said Dr. Grant Stevens, chairman of the media relations committee of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

He said requests for liposuction, eyelid surgery and tummy tucks were the most requested surgical procedures. Botox was the most requested non-surgical procedure. Getting more popular are laser procedures, including laser hair removal, and chemical peels and breast reduction.

About 19 percent of the patients were ethnic minorities, he said. Normally plastic surgery is the domain of white women.

Have you thought about plastic surgery?

McClatchy Tribune photo of a Botox procedure

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Categories: Consumer health
        

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants consumers to think about how many calories they're about to eat when they order at a restaurant.

The federal agency is proposing that restaurants be required to put calorie counts on their menus. The rule would apply to restaurants with more than 20 locations and also include other retail food places such as bakeries, coffee shops and some convenience stores.

A seperate proposal by the agency would require calorie counts on vending machines.

"The proposals will ensure that consumers have more information when they make their own food choices," Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement. "Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier."

Health care reform requires the disclosure of calorie information. Many restaurants already provide calorie counts, but usually in a brochure or on an Internet site that isn't easily accessible.

Under the FDA proposal, restaurants would also tell people it is recommended they eat a diet that consists of 2,000 calories a day.

You can give your input on the proposal here.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Diet and exercise
        

The warmer weather can be difficult for knee pain sufferers who want to go outside and get active. If you are experiencing knee pain and have questions about treatment, check out our live chat today at noon with a pain specialist from Johns Hopkins.

Dr. Paul Christo, director of the Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship Training Program at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, will be taking reader questions from noon-1 p.m. (ET) Not sure if you can make the chat? Send questions in advance to healthcalendar@baltsun.com and come back to the chat to read the transcript.

Learn about other pain topics in Pain: Time to Take Charge.

Posted by Kim Walker at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

April 4-10 is National Public Health Week and state health officials are highlighting injury prevention.

They say injuries are a serious and costly public health problem for Maryland – they are the No. 1 killer of children and young adults up to age 24 and the fifth leading killer of all ages. State data also shows they cost more than $217 million in emergency department charges and $855 million in hospitalizations.

And while anyone can get an injury, they are often preventable, officials say.

“It takes only a moment for an injury to happen,” Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said in a statement. “Avoid that moment by doing the little things to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.”

He is encouraging people to learn how to prevent injuries and adopt this motto: “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free.”

Some steps include using seatbelts on every trip, not using cell phones while driving and wearing a bike helmet.

More tips from state officials include checking your home for hazards such as poor lighting and uneven surfaces that can cause falls, understanding workplace safety regulations, putting kids in properly installed car seats, working with schools to implement school violence and bullying programs and changing smoke alarm batteries and installing carbon monoxide detectors.

For more information, click here or go to the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website.

Baltimore Sun file photo/John Makely

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Safety
        

Mark Jeter has been blogging his journey being treated for stomach cancer. Here he talks about how his body just couldn't take a chemo session he underwent last month.

Read all of Mark's blog posts here. 

And here is his latest entry. 

I know that is has been a while since I last updated my blog but I had to go through a storm.

 My last treatment last week was to be Monday through Friday but it did not turn out that way. I had to say an extra three days because I did not take to well to the chemo this time. I truly have to say that if it was not for my wife, family and friends I am not sure how I would have made that one. It was so nice to get beautiful text messages that keep you spirits lifted.

I got home on Monday and started to eat like a pig, since I had not eaten anything in seven days. I lost so much weight during that time I dropped two pants sizes. I was not going to buy new clothes because I knew that I was going to gain it back. I went to the doctors on Monday and I gained all my weight back.

While going through the storm I realize that God will send people around you or in your space that will help you get through, I was truly amazed when the nursing staff was checking on me to see if I need anything and these nurses were not my nurses. They just remembered me from before and wanted to show me love.

It took me a while to start feeling like myself after I got out and it seems like once I start feeling like myself, it time to go right back in to start it all over again.

Keep me in prayer because I go back in on Monday and pray that everything will be alright.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Mark Jeter's Cancer Journey
        

Tonight City Hall will be lit up in blue for Autism Awareness Month.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is partnering with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, which treats brain and spine injuries and disorders, to recognize the international “Light It Up Blue” campaign launched by the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

She will join with Dr. Gary Goldstein, Kennedy Krieger President and CEO, and Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Baltimore City Health Department commissioner at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Plaza in front of City Hall, 100 N. Holiday St., to kick off the month.

One in 110 U.S. children has autism, which is a complex developmental disorder, according to Kennedy Krieger.

On a related note, a project housed at Kennedy Krieger will also begin the first major survey to study the experience of wandering and escaping among those with autism spectrum disorders. That tendency puts them at risk of injury, but officials say information on the issue is lacking.

The Interactive Autism Network, with support from autism advocacy groups, is undertaking the study.  The network works to accelerate the pace of autism research through an online initiative.

The results should help families, advocates and policy makers to keep those with autism safe, said Dr. Paul Law, director of the project at Kennedy Krieger. Preliminary data will be available April 20.

Officials need more participants. If you’re interested, parents or guardians can enrolled in the IAN Project. To register go to www.ianresearch.org.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Autism
        

Twenty three hospitals in the state, including several in the Baltimore area, have been designated as “cardiac interventional centers” by the state emergency management system. That means if you’re having the most common type of heart attack that the ambulance will take you to one of these places.

They have demonstrated that they can effectively handle those experiencing an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI. A STEMI occurs when an artery supplying blood to the heart is suddenly blocked.

The designation is one of many that the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems has established. Others are for trauma, burns, spinal cord injuries, pediatrics, eye, hand/upper extremity, hyperbaric, neurotrauma, perinatal and stroke.

The cardiac designation is a result of a recommendation made in 2007 by the American Heart Association, which was aiming to improve outcomes for STEMI sufferers. The association estimates that About 400,000 Americans experience a STEMI every year. In Maryland, approximately 5,600 do. And only half call 911 and are transported by ambulance to a hospital that performs the recommended procedure, balloon angioplasty, to improve the blood supply.

With most heart attacks, people feel discomfort in the center of the chest that last more than a few minutes or that goes away and returns. It can feel like pressure, squeezing or pain. There may also be pain in the arm, back, neck, jaw or stomach and shortness of breath. Some sweat, feel nauseated and lightheaded. The emergency officials say to call for help if you have these symptoms.

The cardiac hospitals in the area include: Anne Arundel Medical Center, Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Carroll Hospital Center, Franklin Square Hospital Center, Howard County General Hospital, The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, St. Agnes Hospital, St. Joseph Medical Center, Union Memorial Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center and Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

The hospitals were all designated for cardiac care three years, and will need to be renewed after that. The designations for hospitals in other categories last from one to five years.

For a list of all the cardiac hospitals and the other trauma and specialty hospitals, click here.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cardiovascular Health
        

Johns Hopkins Health System announced this morning it has completed its merger with All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg Fla.

It is the first time Hopkins has joined with a hospital outside of the Washington Baltimore area.

Industry experts have said the non-cash transaction would bolster the prestigious Baltimore health system's visibility in the highly specialized pediatric field.

It could also give Hopkins a new revenue source as it and other healthcare providers try to contain rising health costs. Hospital officials have said they would combine resources to apply for medical research funding and build on each institution's strengths.

Hopkins already operates a children's division, but the merger is expected to further enhance a well-established pediatric branch.

Plans for the merger were first announced in July.

All Children's Hospital retains its name under the deal. Donations made to the hospital's foundation remain for the benefit of All Children's and leadership and the day-to-day operations of the 259-bed freestanding pediatric hospital and outreach facilities in eight west Florida counties are not expected to change.

All Children's will also maintain its voluntary medical staff and physician organizations, including the University of South Florida physicians who are practicing at the hospital. The university and All Children's plan to continue the residency program with the university through 2014. They are discussing whether to extend the program beyond that.

Local community leaders will continue to have majority voting rights on the board of All Children's. The chairman of the board of All Children's Hospital will become a member of the board of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Board members at All Children's Hospital will also have the opportunities to serve on various Hopkins boards.

All Children's will operate under the direction of the Hopkins health system governance structure much like its other hospitals, including The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Howard County General Hospital, Suburban Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Posted by Andrea Walker at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: General Health
        

Men who used a cardiac drug called digoxin had a 24 percent lower risk for prostate cancer, which could potentially lead to using that drug or similar ones to treat that cancer, Johns Hopkins scientists say.

Digoxin is made from the foxglove plant used for centuries in folk medicine and for congestive heart failure and rhythm abnormalities. It’s now a leading candidate among 3,000 screened by the Hopkins researchers for prostate cancer.

Researcher emphasize the drug isn’t proven to prevent prostate cancer and it has significant side effects. “This is not a drug you’d give to health people,” said Elizabeth Platz, professor of epidemiology, oncology, and urology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

But it shows promise for treatment: Platz did an epidemiologic study after collaborators in the Kimmel Cancer Center whittled the list of potential cancer drug candidates down to 38 in their lab. All of the drugs reduced prostate cancer cell growth by at least 50 percent. The dual approaches reduced the possibility that results were due to chance.

The most effective drug was one used to treat alcoholism and not widely used, so they went with the heart drug, which was used enough on people to be studied. The data came from 47,000 men aged 40-75 in a Harvard study from 1986-2006. About 5,000 cases of cancer were diagnosed after 1986 and tose on digoxin since the start of the study had a 24 percent lower risk of getting the disease.

The drug alters enzymatic pathways for sodium and potassium in heart cells and may do the same for prostate cancer. The next step is testing the effect on prostate cancer cells. The findings are published in the April 3 issue of Cancer Discovery.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Cancer, Cardiovascular Health
        

Air cleaners can greatly reduce household air pollution and lower rates of asthma symptoms in children who live with smokers, according to a new Johns Hopkins study.

The reduction in symptoms was similar to those achieved with some anti-inflammatory asthma drugs, the study found.

But a smoke-free home is still best because the nicotine levels in the air didn’t change and the all of the effects of second-hand smoke were not removed, said the Hopkins researchers in the Aug. 1 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. They said parents should use the cleaners as an interim measure as they seek to quit smoking.

“Air cleaners appear to be a an excellent partial solution to improving air quality in homes of children living with a smoker but should not be viewed as a substitute for a smoke-free environment,” said lead investigator Arlene Butz, an asthma specialist at Hopkins Children’s and professor of pediatrics in the Hopkins School of Medicine.

The researcher followed 115 children of smokers in 41 households for six months. A third got cleaners, a third got cleaners and counseling and a third got neither during the study but received cleaners at the end. Air quality in homes with cleaners saw a nearly 50 percent drop in particulate matter, though the air never got as clean as smoke-free homes. Overall, the kids had 33 more symptom-free days per year compared to kids without cleaners.

Asthma affects 6.5 million U.S children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, making it the most common pediatric chronic illness. Almost a third of kids share a home with a smoker, and up to two-thirds of kids in cities live with a smoker, according to the researchers.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Asthma
        

Want to avoid taking drugs for your maladies because you don’t like the side effects, or you just don’t like taking medicines? Men’s Health has some DIY suggestions for all sorts of common problems like insomnia and headaches. Some of the proposed fixes, found in the April issue, are below. They mostly seem harmless. Let us know if they work:

+Instead of cough syrup, use honey: Take 2 teaspoons of buckwheat honey, the darker kind with more antioxidants, to coats the throat. It should relieve irritation that causes coughing. And it should help avoid  dizziness that can come with DM, cough medicine’s active ingredient.

+Instead of NSAIDs or acetaminophen for lower back pain, use the Warrior Pose: Yoga poses can be therapeutic as well as strengthening. The poses can decrease or eliminate the need for pain meds, which can cause liver and gastrointestinal troubles.

+Instead of painkillers for frequent headaches, get more sleep: Avoid multiple active ingredients and decrease use of pain pills that can cause overuse headaches. Instead get consistent sleep can desensitize the areas of the brain associated with cranial pain.

+Instead of antidepressants for mild depression, try retraining your brain: Try a technique that is focused on controlling your negative reactions to thoughts and emotions by viewing them objectively. It’s called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. It shifts awareness back on your body and its emotions.

+Instead of sleeping pills for insomnia, try staying awake a little later: Sleep medicines lose their effectiveness over time, so try going to bed later. To get back on track, push up bedtime in 20 minutes increments.

+Instead of laxatives, try drinking more water: Drinking two glasses of water before breakfast fills your colon with fluid and makes movements easier. Also try eating apples and bananas for more fiber that will stimulate bowel movements. 

+Instead of daily asthma and allergy medicines, use an air filter: A filter will remove irritants that cause wheezing, chest tightness and coughing. If a whole-house air filtration system isn’t possible, buy a portable unit.

+Instead of antiviral influenza medications, use a humidifier: The flu virus likes drier air, so increasing humidity can reduce the virus’ survival. Use a humidifier in your bedroom set at 50 percent.

Los Angeles Times photo of Warrior 1 pose

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Consumer health