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Last year, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became aware that a device used to monitor a patient’s blood in Xarelto clinical trials had problems.  Now it has been reported by British Medical Journal, and via FiercePharma, that the two major drug companies (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson and Bayer A.G.) were well aware of this faulty blood monitor during the time it was being used and did not notify any of the study monitors or the FDA.

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The device in question is known as the INRatio device, and it was designed to monitor how much Xarelto was being absorbed by patients on a single dose as compared to those who were taking Warfarin (Coumadin).  The reason this is very important has to do with why drug makers claim Xarelto and the other New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) are safer and more effective than traditional blood thinning medications like Warfarin. Continue reading

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A 101-year-old woman now holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for being the oldest person ever to receive a total knee replacement, according to a recent news article from the Preston Citizen. Although it’s probably not a title she would have wished to have, considering it all stemmed from a serious fall in which she broke her hip, the surgery marks a notable feat for the medical community.

surgeonPrior to the fall accident, the woman had been dealing with serious knee pain for many years.  Doctors felt there was no choice but to do a total hip replacement procedure if she was ever going to walk again, even with the assistance of a walker.  After the hip replacement surgery, she was able to move the hip joint again, but she was having a lot of difficulty healing.  The reason for this was due to her knee trouble.  With the knee also being very week and deteriorated, she was unable to walk normally, and this was causing her to not heal properly following the total hip replacement procedure. Continue reading

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According to a recent report from WebMD News, a recent study, which asserted both Xarelto and Pradaxa were superior to Warfarin, found that Xarelto poses a higher risk of serious internal bleeding disorders than its competitor, Pradaxa. The drugs at issue are part of a new class of anticoagulants known as New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs).  Xarelto, Pradaxa, Eliquis, and Savaysa are the four NOACs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

untitled-1238929-mThe risk of increased internal bleeding disorders for patients taking Xarelto over patients taking Pradaxa was seen in patients who suffer from a serious medical condition known as atrial fibrillation (Afib).  Afib, is characterized by an irregular heartbeat not caused by a heart valve defect.  If this sounds familiar to you even though you do not suffer from Afib, it might be because Saturday Night Live alumni actor Kevin Nealon appears in a commercial where he discusses his own struggles with Afib and how taking Xarelto has helped him to lead a normal life. Continue reading

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For many years, if someone needed a blood thinner, he or she would take Warfarin (Coumadin).  This product is relatively safe and there are not many side effects, so long as a person carefully monitors his or her diet and has regular blood tests so their doctor can check the blood chemistry to see how the drug is being absorbed.

prescription-300x201The reason it is important to monitor the absorption level of Warfarin is because if the level is off, it can result in a serious internal bleeding disorders.  While this is a serious concern, as this is no minor side effect, it is easy to avoid so long as you are compliant with your medication. In the event a patient has an internal bleeding disorder and goes to the emergency room, the ER doctors will be able to administer a reversal agent (antidote) that will stop the anti-clotting effect, which, in turn, will allow the body to clot again so the internal bleeding will stop.  It should be noted that reason it is important for a patient to monitor his or her diet is because certain foods high in vitamin K like dark greens will affect the absorption rate of Warfarin, and that can lead to serious problems. Continue reading

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By now, most people have heard that Samsung’s release of the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone did not exactly go as planned.  Problems started when users were reporting their phones were spontaneously bursting into flames or completely exploding.  As if this was not bad enough, there were reports of them exploding on airplanes, which caused even more concern. The company has claimed there was a problem with the batteries that were made by a third party and has agreed to recall all of the phones sold to consumers to replace them with a device that features a safe battery.

mobile-phone-4-1490452According to a recent news article from NPR, there are now more questions being raised about not only the safety of these products, but also in the transparency of the recall process – or more accurately, the lack of transparency.  The problem is the company claimed the issue was not the device itself, which Samsung manufactured, but rather with the batteries, made by a third party.  However, that seems to not be the case, considering Samsung has switched battery suppliers and the combustion continues. Continue reading

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According to recent news release from the Today Show, long-time anchor and television personality Al Roker is recovering from his most recent total knee replacement operation. Roker says he is doing great and will stay in the recovery center until he is cleared to go home by his physical therapy team.  Footage of Roker moving around with the assistance of a walker was included in the release by the show.

tv-camera-1517392Roker also discussed how this was not the first time he had undergone knee surgery.  Around 15 years ago, he had a total knee replacement performed on his other knee after being involved in a car accident, and from general wear and tear on his knee due to being overweight most of his life.  He is, of course, much thinner now after his successful bariatric surgery.  He said that technology has come a long way since his first total knee replacement procedure, and this time, he was up and walking around in less than a day. Continue reading

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A recent study conducted by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) reveals that African American women are at greater risk of developing cancer caused by talc exposure than their peers who did not use the genital powder. powder

Study authors noted that while regular use of talcum powder was associated with higher rates of ovarian cancer regardless of where it was applied, users who applied the powder to their genitals showed a 40 percent higher risk of cancer, while those who used the powder for non-genital purposes increased the risk by more than 30 percent.

Joellen Schildkraut, an epidemiologist at the University of Virginia and the lead researcher for this study, told Reuters that black women in America were heavily targeted in marketing campaigns for the body powder. Yet it has no real benefit. Still, Schildkraut began her research as a skeptic. She questioned the fiercely debated issue of whether it caused ovarian cancer and other forms of gynecological cancer. She described herself as a cynic. Her latest findings, on top of what has been previously studied by other researchers, have convinced her. Continue reading

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A recent news article from Fox News looks at a new procedure that allows doctors to perform a total hip replacement with the assistance of a robot.  While we have seen many instances where hospitals across the country are using robots to perform partial knee replacement surgeries, there are only 10 surgeons in the country who are presently certified to use this new technology.

ward1It is a robot in the sense that one might think in that it is self-controlled.  Instead, the system uses an advanced scanner that creates a 3D model of the patient’s knee joint and displays that model on a monitor used during surgery.  The surgeon then uses a robotic surgical instrument to make the cut, and controls the robot using a series of hand control levers.  The surgeon is then able to look at the monitor with the 3D model and see where he or she is cutting. Continue reading

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According to a recent article from Military Times, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) is testing whether giving soldiers testosterone hormone can help them in terms of strength and mental acuity during extended deployments in a combat theater. While soldiers have look joked that the military was secretly putting testosterone in their food, this is an actual publicly announced study.

test-tubes-1-1416029-mOne of the problems faced by soldiers on long deployments and field operations, among many, is that they are not able to eat normal meals on a regular basis.  They are regularly forced to skip meals and survive on meals ready to eat (MREs). This results in them eating an average of 60 percent less calories than they actually require on a daily basis.   Continue reading

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For the past decade, it has been impossible to read Sports Illustrated or ESPN without being told about the benefits of testosterone. The drug companies have claimed that taking testosterone replacement therapy can help increase cardiovascular function, increase one’s libido, boost energy, cure minor depression, curb weight gain and basically make aging men feel like they did in their 20s.

syringes-and-vial-1028452-mAs discussed in a recent news article from UPI, the first actual clinical trials are not demonstrating these benefits claimed by drug companies. This is not surprising, since the claims were not supported by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor has testosterone replacement hormone been approved to treat people for what drug companies are calling “low t.”  However, the reason they are able to prescribe testosterone, which comes in pills, deodorant, gels, skin creams, sublingual patches, and a variety of other delivery methods, is because they are able to take advantage of a loophole in FDA regulations that allows for what is known as off-label use. Continue reading

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