Monday, October 3, 2005

Easy to Remember: 40/20 Rule When Using Statins and More Medical News

40/20 Rule When Using Statins
A 40-point LDL drop leads to 20% reduction in heart attack risk. This effect of statins takes place over a period of 5 years. The study was published in the Lancet. Probably we should start putting statins in drinking water now... (just a joke).

References:
40-Point Cholesterol Drop=20% Lower Heart Risk - WebMD
Early Online Publication: Specific benefits of statin therapy identified - The Lancet (free registration required)

New Treatment for Carotid Stenosis - Stent Instead of Surgery
Read more in Abbott Gets F.D.A. Approval for Neck Stent With a Filter - NYT. The carotid stents and embolic filters, sell for more than $3,000 a kit. Medicare pays about $8,000 for the stenting which is comparable to the reimbursement for carotid endarectomy. Buy carotid stenting has fewer side effects and a shorter recovery time.

French Fries Contain a Suspected Cacinogen. Warning Lebels Demanded
Acrylamide was found in French fries just recently, in 2002. Even the "healthy" black olives contain this supposedly carcinogenic chemical. Read more in California Wants to Serve a Warning With Fries - NYT 9/05

5 Reported Cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome After Meningitis Vaccine (Menactra ) - WebMD

White Coat, Mood Indigo - Depression in Medical School - NEJM 9/05

Katrina Displaces Nearly 6,000 Doctors - Associated Press

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