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Saturday, August 18, 2018
CDC: Drug overdoses killed 72,000 in 2017
In a front-page story, the New York Times (8/15, A1, Sanger-Katz) reports that drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 Americans in 2017, a rise of about 10 percent from the year prior, according to new preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control. The rising death toll “reflects two major factors: A growing number of Americans are using opioids, and those drugs are becoming more deadly.” Experts who are monitoring the epidemic point to the increase in synthetic opioids like fentanyl “most likely explains the bulk of the increased number of overdoses last year.” According to the CDC estimates, “overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids rose sharply, while deaths from heroin, prescription opioid pills and methadone fell.”
YouTube not a reliable resource for plastic surgery info
An analysis using keyword searches on YouTube for popular facial plastic surgery procedures revealed that many videos were part of marketing campaigns posted by non-qualified medical professionals, researchers reported in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. Many of the most-viewed videos contained biased information, lacked balanced information regarding risks and benefits and offered potentially misleading information about the practitioner's qualifications, and even some posted by board-certified surgeons were marketing tools designed to look like educational videos, the researchers found.
Saturday, April 1, 2017
DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE CHOOSING COSMETIC SURGERY
Fake cosmetic surgeon sentenced to prison for manslaughter
A salon worker in Dallas could be sentenced to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murder and practicing medicine without a license. Prosecutors say a salon client died after the defendant injected the client's buttocks with industrial-grade silicone in a procedure the salon offered as a "Wee Wee Booty."
A judge sentenced a bogus Florida cosmetic surgeon to 10 years in prison and five years of probation for allegedly injecting clients with a mixture of cement, mineral oil, bathroom caulk and tire sealant. The defendant, Oneal Ron Morris, did not contest the charges of manslaughter and practicing medicine without a license, but denied injecting the lethal combination into clients, at least one of whom died.
A salon worker in Dallas could be sentenced to life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murder and practicing medicine without a license. Prosecutors say a salon client died after the defendant injected the client's buttocks with industrial-grade silicone in a procedure the salon offered as a "Wee Wee Booty."
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
SKIN CARE
The American Skin Association launches its Seven Principles for a Lifetime of Healthy Skin, part of a worldwide educational effort to increase understanding of the importance of skin and the assurance of its health throughout one’s lifetime.
The principles are as follows:
“The Seven Principles provide guidance for today’s young as well as address the more acute needs of today’s old,” says Dr Jeannette Jakus of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, in the release. “Nearly half of all primary care visits are due to skin disorders, and this burden grows significantly as we age. The Seven Principles are tools that everyone can use, at every stage of life, that will improve our quality of life today and as we age, and reduce healthcare costs for years to come.”
The educational effort begins with the inclusion of skin health in the World Health Organization’s new Health and Aging Strategy, which explains that skin diseases — including skin cancers —not only have a significant effect on quality of life, they can lead to additional health issues in both children and adults, per the release.
“Our skin is our largest organ and protects us from harmful bacteria, pollution, and toxins in the environment,” explains Dr Jean L. Bolognia, professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “As we age, those defenses weaken, making us more susceptible to infection, pain, and hospitalization. The need to establish skin healthy behaviors and protect our skin throughout our lives is more critical today than ever before.”
“A child born today will live to be 100 years old,” adds Dr David A. Norris, chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the newly elected president of the ASA, in the release. “Our expected 21st century longevity creates a whole new set of imperatives for how we treat our skin to ensure that it lasts for 100 years or more.”
[Source(s): American Skin Association, PR Newswire]
The principles are as follows:
- Minimize exposure to UV light. Limit time outdoors between 10 am and 4 pm, apply broad spectrum sunscreen daily, wear sun protective clothing, and avoid tanning beds and similar artificial tanning devices entirely.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular water intake, sleep and exercise. Do not smoke.
- Visit your dermatologist once a year or as needed.
- Examine your skin daily, and report concerning changes in skin condition and/or color to your dermatologist or Health Care Professional as soon as possible.
- Hydrate your skin daily, especially after bathing or showering.
- Maintain good hygiene for skin, hair and nails by giving gentle and constant attention to avoid irritation.
- Immediately attend to wounds. To avoid infection and scarring, never pick or squeeze blemishes.
“The Seven Principles provide guidance for today’s young as well as address the more acute needs of today’s old,” says Dr Jeannette Jakus of SUNY Downstate Medical Center, in the release. “Nearly half of all primary care visits are due to skin disorders, and this burden grows significantly as we age. The Seven Principles are tools that everyone can use, at every stage of life, that will improve our quality of life today and as we age, and reduce healthcare costs for years to come.”
The educational effort begins with the inclusion of skin health in the World Health Organization’s new Health and Aging Strategy, which explains that skin diseases — including skin cancers —not only have a significant effect on quality of life, they can lead to additional health issues in both children and adults, per the release.
“Our skin is our largest organ and protects us from harmful bacteria, pollution, and toxins in the environment,” explains Dr Jean L. Bolognia, professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “As we age, those defenses weaken, making us more susceptible to infection, pain, and hospitalization. The need to establish skin healthy behaviors and protect our skin throughout our lives is more critical today than ever before.”
“A child born today will live to be 100 years old,” adds Dr David A. Norris, chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the newly elected president of the ASA, in the release. “Our expected 21st century longevity creates a whole new set of imperatives for how we treat our skin to ensure that it lasts for 100 years or more.”
[Source(s): American Skin Association, PR Newswire]
ANAPLASTIC LARGE CELL LYMPHOMA AND BREAST IMPLANTS
The Food and Drug Administration says at least nine women have died of a rare blood cancer after receiving breast implants, and that the agency is officially acknowledging an association between the implants and the disease.
On Tuesday, the agency announced that as of Feb. 1, it had received 359 breast implant-associated reports of a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or ALCL.
The cancers were more common in women who had implants with textured, rather than smooth, surfaces.
About 290,000 people received breast implants in the U.S. last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which does not track the surface textures of implants in its yearly reports.
Of the 359 cases reported to the FDA, 231 had information on the types of implants. Of those, 28 of the cancers were in women who received breast implants with smooth surfaces and 203 were in women who had a version with a textured surface.
It is still unclear whether the texturing is actually responsible for the cancer, or is just associated with a higher incidence of the disease
On Tuesday, the agency announced that as of Feb. 1, it had received 359 breast implant-associated reports of a rare type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma called anaplastic large cell lymphoma, or ALCL.
The cancers were more common in women who had implants with textured, rather than smooth, surfaces.
About 290,000 people received breast implants in the U.S. last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which does not track the surface textures of implants in its yearly reports.
Of the 359 cases reported to the FDA, 231 had information on the types of implants. Of those, 28 of the cancers were in women who received breast implants with smooth surfaces and 203 were in women who had a version with a textured surface.
It is still unclear whether the texturing is actually responsible for the cancer, or is just associated with a higher incidence of the disease
MERKEL CELL CARCINOMA
The US Food and Drug Administration has granted accelerated approval for Bavencio (avenulab), a treatment for a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer called metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
Approximately 1,600 people in the United States are diagnosed with MCC every year, and more than 30% of them will eventually develop metastatic disease, in which the cancer has spread beyond the skin into other parts of the body. Fewer than half of the patients with this disease will survive more than 1 year, and fewer than 20% will survive beyond 5 years, according to the National Cancer Institute in a media release from the FDA.
Bavencio is a human anti-PD-L1 antibody that is formulated to target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and help the body’s immune system attack cancer cells.
The treatment was developed, reviewed, and approved through the FDA’s Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy programs. It also received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases. In addition, it received an Accelerated Approval, which enables the FDA to approve drugs for serious conditions to fill an unmet medical need using clinical trial data that is thought to predict a clinical benefit to patients.
“While skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, patients with a rare form called Merkel cell cancer have not had an approved treatment option until now,” said Richard Pazdur, MD, acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence, in the release.
The approval of Bavencio was based on data from a trial of 88 patients with metastatic MCC who had been previously treated with at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. The trial measured the percentage of patients who experienced complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors (overall response rate) and, for patients with a response, the length of time the tumor was controlled (duration of response).
Of the 88 patients who received Bavencio in the trial, 33% experienced complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors. The response lasted for more than 6 months in 86% of responding patients and more than 12 months in 45% of responding patients, the release continues.
EMD Serono—the biopharmaceutical business of Merck in the United States and Canada—and Pfizer will commercialize the treatment, the release notes.
[Source(s): US Food and Drug Administration, PR Newswire]
Approximately 1,600 people in the United States are diagnosed with MCC every year, and more than 30% of them will eventually develop metastatic disease, in which the cancer has spread beyond the skin into other parts of the body. Fewer than half of the patients with this disease will survive more than 1 year, and fewer than 20% will survive beyond 5 years, according to the National Cancer Institute in a media release from the FDA.
Bavencio is a human anti-PD-L1 antibody that is formulated to target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and help the body’s immune system attack cancer cells.
The treatment was developed, reviewed, and approved through the FDA’s Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy programs. It also received Orphan Drug designation, which provides incentives to assist and encourage the development of drugs for rare diseases. In addition, it received an Accelerated Approval, which enables the FDA to approve drugs for serious conditions to fill an unmet medical need using clinical trial data that is thought to predict a clinical benefit to patients.
“While skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, patients with a rare form called Merkel cell cancer have not had an approved treatment option until now,” said Richard Pazdur, MD, acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence, in the release.
The approval of Bavencio was based on data from a trial of 88 patients with metastatic MCC who had been previously treated with at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. The trial measured the percentage of patients who experienced complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors (overall response rate) and, for patients with a response, the length of time the tumor was controlled (duration of response).
Of the 88 patients who received Bavencio in the trial, 33% experienced complete or partial shrinkage of their tumors. The response lasted for more than 6 months in 86% of responding patients and more than 12 months in 45% of responding patients, the release continues.
EMD Serono—the biopharmaceutical business of Merck in the United States and Canada—and Pfizer will commercialize the treatment, the release notes.
[Source(s): US Food and Drug Administration, PR Newswire]
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