Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Your Daily Aspirin May Help Prevent Cancer as Well as Protect Your Heart

This, and a second study published in the Lancet, indicate that patients may see up to a 25% reduction in cancer risk, and as much as a 37% lower death rate from cancers over five years than patients not on an aspirin regimen.  It is worth a thought, though it is wise to research a bit before hopping on the aspirin train.  First, otherwise healthy people may not see the benefits and in that case the side effects possible may not be worth risking.  Second, make sure that your doctor has you on the right aspirin dosage for preventative efficacy.  Just like many other meds, aspirin dose for heart and cancer benefits needs to be calculated based on body weight, so an 80 or 85mg child's aspirin may not provide the benefit you are looking for.  For many people, 160-170mg. of aspirin per day are required to get the therapeutic benefits associated with low-dose aspirin.

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)61720-0/abstract


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

FDA Approves "Restart" of testing for new class of pain treatments which focus on nerve activity.  The studies were stopped because in some cases, osteoarthritis patients felt so good that they actually overdid it and caused damage to their joints while taking the medications.  these drugs, known as anti-nerve growth factors (anti-NGFs), saying they are needed by many patients suffering from chronic pain.


I have had that feeling several times when I've had my knees injected with cortizone.  The anaesthetic which is injected along with the steriod usually gives me half an hour or so of feeling like my knees are twenty again, even though I know they are an arthritic mess.  I've been able to enjoy the respite from feeling old, sore, and creaky all the time without forgetting that the knees are shot and that I'd better take care even though they feel good for that brief time.  I guarantee like the Men's Wearhouse Founder, that I could manage to feel better all the time without forgetting myself and damaging the joints the anti-NGF's are causing to feel better.  Cross my heart.  Feel free to recruit me for the renewed studies!  

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=155845

Friday, March 09, 2012

92 Year Old Farmer Refuses to Become a Victim

http://www.petoskeynews.com/features/ky3-elderly-farmer-catches-3-thieves-on-his-property-20120308,0,3459274.story


This 92 year old farmer really speaks for himself, so I will simply link to the original report and let him tell his story.  What an inspiration this gentleman is!


Friday, January 13, 2012

Cops Believe North Carolina Inmate Hid 10-Inch Revolver In His Rectum. Luckily, It Was Unloaded. | The Smoking Gun

Cops Believe North Carolina Inmate Hid 10-Inch Revolver In His Rectum. Luckily, It Was Unloaded. | The Smoking Gun

I am truly sorry that I have apparently found it necessary to post a link to such a lowbrow story, but there it is. Somehow, the rare opportunity to forma triple entendre (hint: packing, packing, ten-inch) outweighed any shred of discretion or civility I have remaining. Again, I am sorry...but do read the piece...or at least check out the photo of the piece in full color near the story lead...

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Seahawks | Seahawks, Lofa Tatupu cut ties | Seattle Times Newspaper

Seahawks | Seahawks, Lofa Tatupu cut ties | Seattle Times Newspaper

It is a durn shame that this needed to happen, but it did. The Hawks were criticized for taking an undersized MLB too high in the draft, and though I think he showed the NFL his heart and brain in his first three seasons (3 Pro-Bowls), the injuries have really caught up with him the last couple years. Last year, there were entire games where we never heard his number called.

I think the original assessments of Lofa were right, but that his heart and work ethic game him three elite years in the NFL. And that, to me, is a more impressive achievement than players with size and talent stringing years of Pro Bowl seasons together. Best Wishes Lofa!

Saturday, July 09, 2011

Press - News - 509 - Pain Management Research Yielding More Treatment Options

Press - News - 509 - Pain Management Research Yielding More Treatment Options

Some very encouraging things are in the pharmaceutical pipeline, giving all of us who spar daily with Spondyloarthropathy and other forms of chronic pain. Now if we can just afford to make use of them!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Sunshine on Discovery Bay

Sunshine on Discovery Bay
As always, the photos we use are either my own, or in the public domain. Please let me know if there are any errors and I'll correct them immediately.