Aspirin Decreases the Risk of Several Common Cancers
By Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, January 15, 2012
Is there anything more to be said about the multiple benefits of Aspirin? After all, it’s been a star for over 100 years and stars are supposed to eventually burn out. But in spite of its longevity, researchers keep findings new ways that Aspirin fights common diseases. It truly is the miracle drug of the last century.
Tear drops may rival blood drops in testing blood sugar in diabetesBy American Chemical Society Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Scientists are reporting development and successful laboratory testing of an electrochemical sensor device that has the potential to measure blood sugar levels from tears instead of blood — an advance that could save the world’s 350 million diabetes patients the discomfort of pricking their fingers for droplets of blood used in traditional blood sugar tests. Their report appears in ACS’ journal Analytical Chemistry.
What Did You Learn Last Year?By Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, January 7, 2012
How much did you learn from this column last year? It’s always the hope of a medical journalist that at least some medical topics didn’t go in one ear and out the other. There’s the other possibility, however, of a lousy teacher. Let’s see how many of these questions you can get right.
The Many Different Faces of InfectionBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, December 25, 2011
For centuries infection has been a major killer. Then several years ago it appeared that antibiotics had largely eradicated this menace. But unexpectedly the AIDS virus struck with a vengeance. Now scientists are linking infection to peptic ulcers, heart attack and cancer. So how can you protect yourself and your family from these serious illnesses?
New process could advance use of healthy cells or stem cells to treat diseaseBy Online Wednesday, December 21, 2011
In a discovery that may help speed use of “cell therapy” — with normal cells or stem cells infused into the body to treat disease — scientists are reporting development of a way to deliver therapeutic human cells to diseased areas within the body using a simple magnetic effect. Their report appears in ACS’ journal Langmuir.
Rx: Ha Ha
By Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, December 10, 2011
A Russian youth, a member of the Siberian Ski patrol, arrived home after guarding the frontier for several months. He was asked by a TV interviewer, “What do you do first on arriving home after being away for so long?” He replied, “I make love to my wife”. The interviewer replied, “I understand that as you’ve been away a long time. But what do you do next?” The young man replied, “I make love to my wife again.” “Yes”, the frustrated interviewer continued, “but then what do you do?” The young Russian replied, “Oh, I take off my skis.”
The Best Time to Have an OperationBy Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, October 15, 2011
A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says it’s much safer to time your sickness. If not, there is a good risk of ending up with inferior medical care. So when should you get ill? And what is the prime time to have an operation?
Have A Problem With Doctors? But What About Doctors?By Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, July 16, 2011
Do doctors get better medical care? Today, patients frequently complain that doctors don’t spend enough time with them. Or never communicate after diagnosis. But at a class reunion of The Harvard Medical School I discovered that doctors who are often specialists themselves don’t always end up with adequate care from their colleagues.
Several of my former classmates had undergone surgery after seeking the best surgeons and hospitals available. It was uncanny how many had suffered bad results. But high on their list of complaints was the lack of empathy from colleagues.
What You Should Know About “Pre-Diseases”By Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, July 9, 2011
Samuel Johnson once remarked, “Nothing sharpens the wit so much as the knowledge you’re going to be hanged in the morning.” Today, doctors can predict when medical endings will happen and what can be done to prevent them. But too many patients are using the wrong prescription to treat “pre-disease” problems.
In the past, doctors could inform patients they had diabetes, hypertension or a fractured bone. Today, they’ve moved a notch higher and often are able to predict these ailments before they strike. But this ability has pitfalls.
Two Words, “Irresponsibly Permissive”, Tell a StoryBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, July 3, 2011
How did this country, and the U.S., become such drug-addicted societies? A recent report states that the pain killer, Oxycontin is now the number one drug used by addicts in North America. But whether it’s this drug, crack cocaine, crystal meth, or others, the result is always the same, wasted lives, needless deaths, crime, and tons of taxpayers’ money that should be used for productive purposes. It’s a cop-out when Ministers of Health claim there’s no easy answer.
Will Some Doctor Write This Prescription?
By Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, April 9, 2011
Were the judges right or wrong? A man suffered spinal injuries in a car accident leaving him with chronic pain only relieved by marijuana. His insurance company refused to pay for this medication. But Quebec judges believed that “personal experience” must be considered when deciding if a patient is helped by medication. They ruled his company must pay $5,000 so he could grow his own marijuana. When I wrote about this I asked for your opinion.
DJ from Sherbrooke, Quebec, responded, “Congratulations for bringing this matter to the public’s attention. My Father is dying of cancer and this is the one remedy that helps to control his pain and nausea. It’s ludicrous he has to obtain this illegally, but there is so much red tape to get it legally. It seems that the government and drug companies would sooner have him addicted to painkillers such as oxycodone.”
Quebec Judges Make Right Decision About MarijuanaBy Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, March 19, 2011
What would you do if you were the judge? A man in his 40s (his name is protected under provincial law) is involved in a severe car crash. His spine is badly damaged resulting in painful spasms. A variety of painkillers are prescribed to alleviate the pain, but none are effective. Would you agree to the medical use of marijuana?
Patient X requested insurance coverage for marijuana, but it was refused. Not an unexpected decision as the use of this drug has sparked controversy for many years. But an unusual event occurred in this case.
Sierra Leoneans Welcome Mercy Ships into Port of FreetownBy Online Monday, February 28, 2011
Freetown, Sierra Leone— This week marks the fifth time in 18 years that Freetown has welcomed a Mercy Ship; this time it is the Africa Mercy – the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship. For the next ten months, Mercy Ships is offering its state-of-the-art hospital ship – with six operating theaters, lab, pharmacy, 78 beds, and an outpatient clinic – to partner alongside the Sierra Leonean government. The ship will provide free health care to the people of Sierra Leone and training for health care workers until November 2011.
In response to an invitation from the President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, Mercy Ships program strategy has been carefully aligned with the country’s current five-year health care plan.
Dying in Pain Is the Number One FearBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, February 27, 2011
Woody Allen once joked, “I’m not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” A world-wide survey by the Lien Foundation in Singapore recently reported the primary worry of the elderly is dying in pain. It listed England as the best place to die. Canada and the U.S tied for 9th place.
As a physician I’ve always known that pain is the overwhelming fear, particularly for cancer patients. I’ve also known that heroin has been available in Britain for 90 years to ease the final agony of death. This knowledge triggered a visit to England to witness its use and to question why it wasn’t used for this purpose in Canada. I didn’t realize my probe would engender so much controversy.
The Case Of The Dilated PupilBy Dr. Gifford Jones Monday, May 3, 2010
What causes the most problems for patients? Ask Dr.Jerome Groopman, Chief of Experimental Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He’s author of the book “How Doctors Think”, which describes a study of 100 incorrect diagnoses.
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