Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Comparing Two Non- Pharmacological GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) Treatments

According to an article published in Archives of Surgery, two non-pharmacological GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) treatments seem to be effective in lowering medication use and improving swallowing symptoms as well as the patient's voice. One of the assessed therapies appears to be effective in reducing heartburn and cough. The other one reduces regurgitation. Archives of Surgery is a JAMA/Archives journal. More at...

Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. announced that genetic testing on the 5-lb unopened tub of King Nut peanut butter found by food inspectors last week at a West Haven distributor has produced the first independently confirmed genetic match for the salmonella strain responsible for the nationwide outbreak. This finding definitively links the peanut butter sample implicated in the recent outbreak back to the manufacturer, Peanut Corporation of America. More at...

Nationwide Medical/Surgical has recently announced they will carry the Flu Vaccine for the 2009-2010 flu season. They will carry flu vaccines made by several manufacturers in several different formats including 10-dose vials and pre-filled syringes. The 2007-2008 flu season was allegedly the worst year of the last four for adult deaths by flu and pneumonia. More at...

Clif Bar & Company announced a voluntary recall of CLIF® and LUNA® branded bars that contain peanut butter because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products contain peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of an investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning a recent Salmonella outbreak thought to be caused by tainted peanut butter. More at...

In terms of diversity and sheer numbers, the microbes occupying the human gut easily dwarf the billions of people inhabiting the Earth. Numbering in the tens of trillions and representing many thousands of distinct genetic families, this microbiome, as it's called, helps the body perform a variety of regulatory and digestive functions, many still poorly understood. More at...

New research supports a modest beneficial effect of anakinra for rheumatoid arthritis patients, but warns against potential risks for serious infections and its use with other biologic medications. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting as many as one in 100 people worldwide. It affects the joints, making them stiff and painful. Anakinra is one of a new breed of arthritis drugs licensed in the past decade called 'biologics'. More at...

Arkansas has joined the growing list of states affected by an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium that began in early September. Four Arkansas residents have tested positive for the same Salmonella strain. The cases are spread across the state with no apparent connection that can be determined. More at...

Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), today warned consumers not to handle or consume frozen Peanut Butter Cookie Dough distributed by Sweet Success Fundraising Inc, of Ontario, California because of potential contamination with Salmonella. The Department further recommends that any dough that has been thawed or baked should also be discarded. More at...