The Oculostenotic Reflex

The definition is  “Any blockage you see is a blockage you treat, even if evidence suggests no benefit.” 

This is the article see-it-stent-it-the-oculostenotic-reflex

Donations vs Diseases that kill us

A balcony reconstruction that ballooned in cost

Men of Steel Repairing Structural Issues at a New Rochelle Co-op | Co-op & Condo Boards | Habitat Magazine

A very difficult situation, but better than losing your home.

When you can't access your balcony

Here is an account of one person who sued when they didn't have access to the shared terrace space they were paying for
Access Denied

Here's another article featured in the Brick Underground that gives you even more insight into what a co-op board can and can't do.
More legal judgments

My reason for providing links to this information is that these stories imply that Amalgamated Cooperators who have lost access to their balconies have little or no legal recourse.  The work is progressing, it does not appear that these repairs will last more than a couple of years.

Balcony Restoration, continued

NYS repeatedly fails nursing home patients

May 18, 2014, Jessie Thompson was found at Penn Station in Manhattan.

Since I first posted these comments, Jessie Thompson, diagnosed with dementia, walked out the door of Jewish Lifecare Services in the Bronx.  This was on Sunday, May 4, 2014.  As of May 15, 2014 she has not been found.
Miguel Canatini, suffering from depression and schizophrenia,  was in the care of Daughters of Jacob in the Bronx.  On a field trip to a restaurant on City Island,  May 13, 2014 walked away.  He uses a walker and has one leg.  Obviously the caretakers from Daughters of Jacob failed miserably.  Thank you Bronx 12 News for not forgetting Jessie Thompson and Miguel Canatini.

This was posted on February 27, 2014
Suffolk Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing

Here is a quote from the news report on NBC NY

In recent years, New York state has steadily relaxed the number of penalties levied against long-term care facilities.

According to data compiled by the Long Term Care Community Coalition, the Health Department issued 142 enforcement actions against nursing homes in 2007. In 2011, the number was down to 81. Last year there were 27 enforcement actions against New York nursing homes totaling just over $217,000 in fines. Of those, the Suffolk Center was found responsible for just over $36,000.

The New York Health Department declined to share any reason for the drop in enforcement actions against nursing homes.

New York is also one of few states that have no law establishing a minimum number of assistants per nursing home resident. A bill in the New York legislature called the “Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act” sought to change that, but it stalled in committee last year.

A Trip to JoAnn's should not have been advertised in this bulletin

No one got permission from Phyllis, who organized the trip to Jo-Ann's, before someone asked the Co-Op to post the message.  This caused a big screw up.

Again, St. Jude Medical being investigated for kickbacks

st-jude-discloses-another-doj-cardiac-kickback-investigation

Amalgamated Houses, balcony railing

Mr. Zsebedics, the manager, showing the new railing.

Physicians fail to give patients a true picture of having an ICD

Here's a quote from the article

Trained observers faulted 18 of the 22 cardiologist-patient interviews because the cardiologists didn’t address, minimized, or outright denied quality of life issues and the long-term consequences of ICD therapy, including increased risks for anxiety and depression as well as for inappropriate shocks

Physician/patient communication on ICDs deemed problematic : Cardiology News

Increased risk of falls in the elderly on blood pressure medications

Falls, Hypertension Meds and the Elderly

Wingspan stent a danger to sufferers of intracranial atherosclerosis

This is the scary story
stent-remains-available-despite-trial-showing-dangers

Possible replacement for the Holter monitor

iRhythm ZIO patch

This patch is worn for two weeks on the chest and then sent back to the lab for analysis.  It records ones heart rhythm while you go about your daily routine.  Early testing indicates greater accuracy than the Holter monitor.  It would be nice if it does prove out.

Abbott Laboratories kickbacks

Reuters has the following news story:
Abbott Labs settles with U.S. over kickback claim

Beware the stent industry

Stents Lose in Comparisons With Surgery and Medical Therapy

This is an article by Larry Husten in Cardiobrief.  He is a reliable source of information.

Cardiotoxity of Anticancer Drugs and Radiation

Chemotherapy for cancer can lead to cardiomyopathy. Our current state of knowledge is that chemotherapy is a shotgun approach to treating cancer. Many more cells than cancer cells are affected. Among the chemotherapy drugs that can cause heart problems are the anthracyclines, a class of chemotherapy drugs that includes doxorubicin (Adriamycin) and daunorubicin (Cerubidine). There are other chemical agents that also have these terrible effects.
Radiation treatments for cancer can also create serious risks for the heart.
Some large medical centers are developing programs to treat the heart damaging effects of chemotherapy. In other words, yet another money maker for the facilities. When will we see more concern for the whole person?
Here's the link for the Heart Failure Society of America

Many herbal products don't list all ingredients and contain fillers

Study: Herbal products omit ingredients, contain fillers

Here's the first paragraph:
Consumers of natural health products beware. The majority of herbal products on the market contain ingredients not listed on the label, with most companies substituting cheaper alternatives and using fillers, according to new research from the University of Guelph
The report says approximately 60 per cent of the products tested had cheaper alternatives.

Of great danger to people with allergies, is this quote from the story

More than 20 per cent of the products included fillers such as rice, soybeans and wheat not listed on the label.

Little Risk When Doc Says Stop DAPT

The European Society of Cardiology is having their big meeting.  Here is the story
Discontinuing DAPT per doctor's orders is ok else big trouble
Here are the highlights

• For patients undergoing PCI and discharged on dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT), patients who discontinue dual anti-platelet therapy on the advice of their physician are much less likely to have a disruption-triggered event, a study found.
• Note that there was an increased risk observed in patients who stopped DAPT due to bleeding or non-compliance, although there was a wide variation according to the underlying context in which antiplatelet therapy was withdrawn.

Public Citizen petitions the FDA for a black box regarding a clopidogrel

I am not passing judgment on the wisdom of this, just making this document available
Clopidogrel warning via Public Citizen

Here is a quote from it:

Public Citizen, representing more than 300,000 members and supporters nationwide, and 
Neil A. Holtzman, M.D., hereby petition the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 21 U.S.C. Section 355(e)(3) and 21
C.F.R. 10.30, to immediately add a black-box warning on clopidogrel (brand name: 
Plavix, as well as generic equivalents). The black-box warning must address the 
increased risks of major and minor bleeding with use beyond 12 months following 
implantation of drug-eluting coronary artery stents. Such warning is made necessary both 
by a lack of evidence of a further reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events, such as 
myocardial infarction or stroke, as well as existing evidence of continued risk of major 
bleeding with more prolonged use. We also urge the FDA to require the distribution of an 
FDA-approved, updated Medication Guide containing this information to be dispensed to 
all patients when their prescriptions are filled and to ask companies to send a “Dear 
Doctor” letter to warn physicians of these preventable adverse effects that occur with use 
for greater than one year.

Follows is a link from Sanofi that gives extensive product information on Plavix.
Sanofi info on Plavix

There are two passages I am quoting regarding Plavix and excessive bleeding.

Page 7
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Adverse Drug Reaction Overview
The safety profile of clopidogrel has been evaluated in clinical trials in more than 44,000 patients including over 1200 patients treated for 1 year or more and further assessed during post-marketing experience.
Of the patients who participated in the CAPRIE, CURE and CLARITY double-blind international clinical trials, approximately 50% were elderly patients (> 65 years) and 15% were 75 years and older. In the ACTIVE A trial, 75% of patients treated with PLAVIX were 65 years of age and older, and 41% were 75 years and older. In COMMIT study, approximately 58% of the patients treated with PLAVIX were 60 years and older, 26% of whom were 70 years and older.
The most frequent adverse drug reactions (≥1%) with PLAVIX (with or without associated ASA) in controlled clinical trials were hemorrhage and bleeding disorders including purpura, any rash, dyspepsia, abdominal pain and diarrhea (see "Clinical Trial Adverse Drug Reactions").
The most serious adverse drug reactions from controlled clinical trials rarely reported (<1%) were bleeding and clotting disorders including gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hemorrhagic ulcer and hemothorax.

Page 20
OVERDOSAGE
Overdose following clopidogrel administration may lead to prolonged bleeding time and
subsequent bleeding complications. Appropriate therapy should be considered if bleeding is
observed or suspected.
A single oral dose of clopidogrel at 1500 or 2000 mg/kg was lethal to mice and rats, and at 3000
mg/kg to baboons.
Treatment:
No antidote to the pharmacological activity of clopidogrel has been found. Platelet transfusion may
be used to reverse the pharmacological effects of PLAVIX when quick reversal is required.
For management of a suspected drug overdose, contact your regional Poison Control Centre.

TAVR, the new cash in for cardiologists

Aortic valve stenosis, no doubt more people will be told they have it and urged to have TAVR, transcatheter aortic value replacement.  It's the new cash in for cardiologists.  Beware, look into your options if this is proposed for you.