Category: Quality Control (Page 11 of 74)

FDA Approves New Weight Loss Pill

June 27, 2012 / Staff

It has been 13 years since the FDA has approved a new drug for weight loss.

Belviq, the Arena Pharmaceuticals drug which also goes by the generic name lorcaserin, is one of three new potential weight-loss treatments to be approved.

The drug works by activating a receptor in the brain that may help a person eat less and feel full after eating smaller amounts of food.
It is approved for use in obese adults with a body mass index or BMI of 30 or greater and in overweight adults with a BMI of 27 or greater if they have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. For example, a 5-foot-7 woman who weighed 192 pounds would have a BMI of 30.

Patients who do not lose 5 percent of their body weight within 12 weeks of taking the pill will be advised to discontinue use of the drug.

It is important that patients achieve “clinically meaningful weight loss” as cardiovascular risks including heart attack and stroke may be a consideration.

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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Donna Shalala Discuses A Major Threat To Our National Security

June 7, 2012 / Staff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Obesity takes a huge financial toll on the nation.

Chronic illnesses caused by obesity are crippling our healthcare system.

How can we turn this around?

Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Hospitals, Medicaid, Medicare, Nutrition, Quality Control, Research, Resources, Wellness

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Experimental New Drug To Fight Breast Cancer

June 4, 2012 / Staff

For women with faced with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer trastuzumab emtansine, commonly referred to as T-DM1, will offer a very important therapeutic option.

The drug, trastuzumab emtansine, commonly referred to as T-DM1, appears to be superior to the standard treatment for women with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Researchers are presenting the results of a large three-year clinical trial Sunday at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago.

This two pronged approach to treating cancer offers an effective result with fewer side affects than traditional treatments.

Because the drug is delivered directly to the cancer and not into the blood stream the immune system has the opportunity to help fight the cancer.

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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Bloomberg’s Ban On Supersize Soft Drinks

May 31, 2012 / Staff

Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has proposed new legislation which would ban ‘super-size’ sugary drinks served in cups greater than 16 ounces.

Many applaud the efforts as one solution to the growing problem of obesity and type 2 diabetes which is crippling the health care system.

There have been studies that have found correlations between food portion sizes and rates of obesity, blood pressure and heart disease. A report by the CDC found portions increased 75 percent between 1977 and 1991 – unsurprisingly, we’ve observed huge jumps in obesity rates as well.
Studies have shown that people with more on their plates eat nearly 50 percent more than people who are served smaller portions.

Quality Control, Wellness

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The Dangers Of Bath Salts

May 31, 2012 / Staff

Something which sounds as harmless as “bath salts” is actually a synthetic drug and the results can be deadly.

Bath salts contain amphetamine-like chemicals such as methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), mephedrone, and pyrovalerone. They’re referred to as a “designer drug of the phenethylamine class” by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other drugs in this class include amphetamines, mescaline, and ephedrine. MDPV comes in a powdered form that is inhaled, swallowed or shot into a vein. Bath Salts are sold as “cocaine substitutes” or “synthetic LSD”.
When MDPV gets to the brain, the effects include producing feelings of empathy, stimulation, alertness, euphoria, sensory awareness and hallucinations. Other reported effects include rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and sweating. According to the DEA, MDPV has been reported to cause intense panic attacks, psychosis, and a strong desire to use the drug again.

Public awareness is growing as popularity of the drug has made it’s way into schools causing parents and teachers to be on the lookout for changes in behavior.

This highly addictive substance has resulted in a rise of emergency room visits and calls to poison control.

The resulting psychosis which can occur has led to devastating violence such as that seen in the video above.

Quality Control, Resources

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