Medical News: FDA Warns of Cure-All Product Based on Bleach - in Product Alert, OTC from MedPage Today

"The FDA has warned consumers not to use a product called Miracle Mineral Solution -- which makes broad health claims -- because it's actually an industrial strength bleach.

"Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away," the agency urged.

The FDA has received several reports of people who have suffered severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening hypotension after drinking a mixture containing the product.

Sometimes labeled as Miracle Mineral Supplement, MMS is 28% sodium chlorite. Its instructions call for consumers to mix it with citrus juice or another acidic substance.

An enormous variety of health claims are made for the product, including treatment of HIV, hepatitis, the H1N1 flu virus, common colds, acne, and cancer.

According to the FDA, the mixture produces chlorine dioxide, a potent bleach used for stripping textiles and industrial water treatment.

At the doses consumers would ingest under these directions, this agent is known to cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration, the FDA said.

MMS is distributed on Internet sites and online auctions by multiple independent distributors with varying labels, the agency said..."cont'd

Press Release: Canada's Leading Ovarian Cancer "Patient" Advocate Speaks at Sask Conference

 

OCATS

Ovarian Cancer Awareness & Treatment in Saskatchewan

A SUPPORT & ACTION GROUP FOR ANYONE AFFECTED BY GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS

M E D I A   R E L E A S E

CANADA’S LEADING OVARIAN CANCER “PATIENT” ADVOCATE SPEAKS AT SASK CONFERENCE

For Immediate Release

REGINA, July 26, 2010  - Conference Co-Chairs Scott Livingstone, CEO Sask Cancer Agency and Darlene Gray, President, OCATS, in partnership with CNT Management Group, invite survivors, support people and the medical community to the first ever Gynecologic Cancer Conference, Strategies for Survival on September 24, 2010 at the Regina Inn.  Early Bird registration fees available until the end of July for this important event featuring some of the province’s most knowledgeable specialists in female reproductive cancers.  Experts will address clinical study trials for new drug therapies, managing cancer recurrence, the emotional aspects of cancer diagnoses, identifying families with hereditary risks, alternative and complimentary therapies available and the roles of our nurses, general practitioners, and pharmacists in cancer care delivery.

A conference highlight will be a presentation by Canada’s leading ovarian cancer “patient” advocate, Sandi Pniauskas.  Other experts presenting at the conference include the following.

Dr. Christopher Giede, Gynecologic Oncologist at the Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon and the team leader of Saskatchewan gynecologic oncology team of female reproductive cancer specialists.

Dr. Muhammad Salim, Medical Oncologist at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Regina and the specialist of all our Clinical Study Trials. 

Dr. Vicki Holmes, Medical Director of the Women’s Mid-Life Health Centre in Saskatoon. Dr. Holmes developed the concept of this centre and is the resident physician at the centre.

Rosalee Longmoore, RN, a Registered Nurse for 34 years with a wide range of experience on all Saskatchewan medical nursing issues.

Andrew Gilbertson, Pharmacist and owner of Hill Avenue Drugs, Regina, Regina’s first and currently only pharmacy that specializes in compounding custom prescription medications.

Dr. Heather Fox, Naturopath, a health specialist with over 30 years experienced and a registered doctor of Natural Medicine through the Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners, Canada.

Monica Milas, Personal Growth and Healing Services Counsellor and Therapist.

Wendy Stoeber, Genetic Counsellor at the Division of Medical Genetics, Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon.

And a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Program Working Group, Scott Livingstone, the new CEO of the Sask Cancer Agency, will speak about Saskatchewan’s new Gynecologic Oncology Program.

The conference will include an exhibit hall marketplace and be followed by the OCATS Annual Benefit Gala and Silent Auction featuring Jack Semple and presentation of the OCATS 2010 Catleya Award of Collaboration & Vision.  Conference on-line registration at  http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=ce9c4a0f-157e-4a42-ab49-0f19dae902e3. A group guestroom rate is available at the Regina Inn by asking for the OCATS event.  Discounted conference fees available for OCATS members and all students.  For more information please contact Darlene at 306-775-1848 or CNT Management Group Claire Bélanger-Parker [claire.belanger-parker@cntgrp.ca].

For more info contact Darlene Gray at OCATS at 306-775-1848, cell 529-3199 or darlenegray@sasktel.netdarlenegray@sasktel.net

# # #

e-Patients: Changing the Health Care System in Real-Time Tuesday, September 21, 2010 Toronto (Note: fees)

Note: conference fees which would exclude most patients/e-patients from attending

e-Patients: Changing the Health Care System in Real-Time
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Novotel Toronto Centre
45 The Esplanade
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W2

Registration
Registration will take place on Tuesday, September 21, 2010,
at 8:30am at the Novotel Toronto Centre, 45 The Esplanade,
Toronto.
Space is not guaranteed, unless payment is received
prior to the event.Registration FeeMember (OHA/OHPA/MOHLTC):
$495.00 + HST $64.35 = Total $559.35
Non-member:
$980.00 + HST $127.40 = Total $1107.40

EvidenceUpdates: Cochrane Collaboration review: Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults including professional commentaries and warning

CONCLUSIONS: Influenza vaccines have a modest effect in reducing influenza symptoms and working days lost. There is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission.

WARNING: This review includes 15 out of 36 trials funded by industry (four had no funding declaration). An earlier systematic review of 274 influenza vaccine studies published up to 2007 found industry funded studies were published in more prestigious journals and cited more than other studies independently from methodological quality and size. Studies funded from public sources were significantly less likely to report conclusions favorable to the vaccines. The review showed that reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin but there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies. The content and conclusions of this review should be interpreted in light of this finding.

Also: link to the Cochrane Collaboration review (The Cochrane Library):

Background
Different types of influenza vaccines are currently produced worldwide. Healthy adults are presently targeted mainly in North America.

Objectives
Identify, retrieve and assess all studies evaluating the effects of vaccines against influenza in healthy adults

Authors' conclusions
Influenza vaccines have a modest effect in reducing influenza symptoms and working days lost. There is no evidence that they affect complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission.

WARNING:

This review includes 15 out of 36 trials funded by industry (four had no funding declaration). An earlier systematic review of 274 influenza vaccine studies published up to 2007 found industry funded studies were published in more prestigious journals and cited more than other studies independently from methodological quality and size. Studies funded from public sources were significantly less likely to report conclusions favorable to the vaccines. The review showed that reliable evidence on influenza vaccines is thin but there is evidence of widespread manipulation of conclusions and spurious notoriety of the studies. The content and conclusions of this review should be interpreted in light of this finding.





Plain language summary

Vaccines to prevent influenza in healthy adults
Over 200 viruses cause influenza and influenza-like illness which produce the same symptoms (fever, headache, aches and pains, cough and runny noses). Without laboratory tests, doctors cannot tell the two illnesses apart. Both last for days and rarely lead to death or serious illness. At best, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B, which represent about 10% of all circulating viruses. Each year, the World Health Organization recommends which viral strains should be included in vaccinations for the forthcoming season.

Authors of this review assessed all trials that compared vaccinated people with unvaccinated people. The combined results of these trials showed that under ideal conditions (vaccine completely matching circulating viral configuration) 33 healthy adults need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms. In average conditions (partially matching vaccine) 100 people need to be vaccinated to avoid one set of influenza symptoms. Vaccine use did not affect the number of people hospitalised or working days lost but caused one case of Guillian-Barré syndrome (a major neurological condition leading to paralysis) for every one million vaccinations. Fifteen of the 36 trials were funded by vaccine companies and four had no funding declaration. Our results may be an optimistic estimate because company-sponsored influenza vaccines trials tend to produce results favorable to their products and some of the evidence comes from trials carried out in ideal viral circulation and matching conditions and because the harms evidence base is limited.

Cochrane Collaboration review: Elastic compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis

Background

One of the settings where deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower limb and pelvic veins occurs is in hospital with prolonged immobilisation of patients for various surgical and medical illnesses. Using graduated compression stockings (GCS) in these patients has been proposed to decrease the risk of DVT.

Objectives

To determine the magnitude of effectiveness of GCS in preventing DVT in various groups of hospitalised patients.

Authors' conclusions

GCS are effective in diminishing the risk of DVT in hospitalised patients. Data examination also suggests that GCS on a background of another method of prophylaxis is more effective than GCS on its own.

Plain language summary

Elastic compression stockings for prevention of deep vein thrombosis during a hospital stay
Hospital patients can develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the legs and pelvic veins immediately after surgery or if they are not mobile because of a medical illness. Symptoms vary from none to pain and swelling in the legs. A blood clot can move from the leg to the lungs with the danger of pulmonary embolism and death. Usually the DVT clears up or has long term effects such as high venous pressure in the leg, leg pain, swelling, darkening of the skin or inflammation.

DVT can be prevented using compression or drugs but drugs may cause bleeding, which is a particular concern in surgical patients. Graduated elastic compression stockings help prevent blood clots forming in the legs by applying varying amounts of pressure to different parts of the leg. Our review confirmed that graduated compression stockings reduce the risk of DVT in hospitalised patients. Our findings also suggest that wearing elastic stockings as well as receiving another method of prophylaxis has increased benefit. We identified 18 randomised controlled trials, eight comparing wearing stockings to no stockings and 10 comparing stockings plus another method with that method alone in patients undergoing surgery. The other methods used were Dextran 70, aspirin, heparin and mechanical sequential compression.