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Moderate alcohol intake reduces BPH risk in males February 4, 2010

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in BPH, Food, men, nutrition, public health.
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Continuing study shows that while alcohol has health risks if not used in moderation, it also has benefits.  On top of data to suggest some protection against heart and vascular disease is evidence that modest alcohol consumption of 36 grams (about 1.2 ounces) daily can significantly reduce the risk of men developing prostatic enlargement.  Prostatic enlargement, or BPH, is a common fact of life for all men as they age.  After about age 40, the prostate begins to grow again (first growth is at puberty followed by stability in prostate size until middle-age).  Prostate enlargement does not necessarily cause symptoms for all men. However, a large percentage of men will be come symptomatic over time requiring either medication, surgery or alternative minimally invasive therapy (such as laser or microwave).   Interestingly alcohol consumption did not have an impact on the occurrence of LUTS (lower urinary tracts symptoms) which can consist of frequency, urgency, nocturia (frequent nighttime urination) slowed urinary stream, incomplete emptying and hesitancy (stopping and starting of urinary stream) and several studies showed that alcohol consumption increased the incidence of LUTS.  Of course the impact of some alcoholic beverages, especially beer, on urinary frequency is well known. The studies are summarized next.

Study Summary

In addition to age, 9 other significant determinants for LUTS suggestive of BPH were identified. Functional bladder capacity, post-void residual urine volume, treatment for cardiac diseases, education level, antidepressant use, calcium antagonist use, erectile function or dysfunction, prostate specific antigen and family history of prostate cancer were all determinants of significance.  Not all risk factors for LUTS suggestive of BPH are accounted for.  This is true as we know that 1 of 3 men without these risk factors will still be diagnosed with LUTS suggestive of BPH between ages 50 and 80 years. Some studies have indicated that alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased risk of BPH. Associations of alcohol consumption with BPH and male LUTS were evaluated which showed that alcohol consumption is associated with a decreased likelihood of BPH but not of LUTS.  The mechanism of action by which alcohol inhibits BPH is not understood and will require additional study. Compared to no alcohol intake, alcohol intake of 36 gm daily or greater was associated with a 35% decreased likelihood of BPH (p <0.001). 4 studies used LUTS as the primary outcome.  Three of the four demonstrated a significantly increased likelihood of LUTS with alcohol consumption. Total followup was 4,353 person-years.

In the end we can say that moderation in alcohol consumption is most likely beneficial in many ways, including reduction in the incidence of BPH. However, the key word is moderation, as we know that excessive alcohol use results in many negative outcomes for health and well being . . . ben kazie md

Alcohol Consumption is Associated With a Decreased Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Journal of Urology, Volume 182, Issue 4, Pages 1463-1468 (October 2009)

Risk Factors for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Suggestive of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in a Community Based Population of Healthy Aging Men: The Krimpen Study, Journal of Urology, Volume 181, Issue 2, Pages 710-716 (February 2009)

Alcohol Consumption Reduces Risk of BPH in Men – http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2657345/alcohol_consumption_reduces_risk_of.html?cat=5

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Circumcision Debate Continues Anew January 31, 2010

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in children, guidelines, medicine, men, pregnancy, public health, women.
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Once again debate rages over the issue of circumcision.  Recent conflicting studies published suggest that there is either no benefit or potentially major benefit to neonatal circumcision.  It is widely known throughout history that certain populations, based upon the use of ritual circumcision or not, have had varying degrees of protection from certain sexually transmitted diseases and disease of the genitalia.   These findings have been reported based on reviews of Jewish boys, who are circumcised at birth, Islamic boys, who are often circumcised before puberty, and sub-Saharan Africans who do not usually practice ritual circumcision.

The American Medical Association stated in 1999: “Virtually all current policy statements from specialty societies and medical organizations do not recommend routine neonatal circumcision, and support the provision of accurate and unbiased information to parents to inform their choice.” The World Health Organization (WHO; 2007), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS; 2007), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; 2008) state that evidence indicates male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition by men during penile-vaginal sex, but also state that circumcision only provides minimal protection and should not replace other interventions to prevent transmission of HIV.

Strong evidence suggests circumcision can prevent human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome acquisition in sub-Saharan African men. These findings remain uncertain in men residing in other countries. The role of adult non therapeutic male circumcision in preventing sexually transmitted infections, urinary tract infections, and penile cancer remains unclear. Current evidence fails to recommend widespread neonatal circumcision for these purposes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) male circumcision policy states that while there are potential medical benefits of newborn male circumcision, the data are insufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision. Since 2005, however, 3 randomized trials have evaluated male circumcision for prevention of sexually transmitted infections. The trials found that circumcision decreases human immunodeficiency virus acquisition by 53% to 60%, herpes simplex virus type 2 acquisition by 28% to 34%, and human papillomavirus prevalence by 32% to 35% in men. Among female partners of circumcised men, bacterial vaginosis was reduced by 40%, and Trichomonas vaginalis infection was reduced by 48%. Genital ulcer disease was also reduced among males and their female partners. These findings are also supported by observational studies conducted in the United States. The AAP policy has a major impact on neonatal circumcision in the United States. This review evaluates the recent data that support revision of the AAP policy to fully reflect the evidence of long-term health benefits of male circumcision.

In the end, circumcision remains a parents choice.  Fully informed consent with all risks, options and benefits is a must for each parent.  Children are depending upon the informed choice of their parents in this regard. To be sure, in many families, religious beliefs will dominate and determine the decision that is made.  In many cases, health insurers, including Medicaid in the US, refuse to pay for elective circumcision.  Despite conflicting studies, no definitive data exists to confirm any emotional, psychological or sexual harm that can be attributed to properly performed circumcision.  To be sure, there are many who feel strongly that this is not the case and that circumcision is harmful.   Each new study adds data which seems to propagate both the pros and cons regarding circumcision.  No doubt study will continue, but in the case of a procedure which has its roots in antiquity, no doubt the practice will continue regardless of the outcome of scientific studies . . . ben kazie md and obi jo

To Circumcise or Not? Reviews offer differing views on value and risks of procedure – http://healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=634842

Safety and Efficacy of Nontherapeutic Male Circumcision: A Systematic Review – Annals of Family Medicine 8:64-72 (2010) – http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/content/abstract/8/1/64

Male Circumcision for the Prevention of Acquisition and Transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections – Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Vol 164, No 1, Jan 2010 – http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/164/1/78?home

Report of the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs: Neonatal Circumcision – http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/about-ama/13585.shtml

New Data on Male Circumcision and HIV Prevention: Policy and Programme Implications – http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/MCrecommendations_en.pdf

Male Circumcision and Risk for HIV Transmission and Other Health Conditions: Implications for the United States – http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

Lack Of Circumcision Coverage In U.S. Medicaid Programs Could Increase HIV Transmission Risk, Researchers Say – http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/140219.php

Global Challenges | WHO, UNAIDS Recommend Male Circumcision To Help Reduce Spread of HIV/AIDS – http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=1&DR_ID=43916

The Impact of Male Circumcision on HIV Transmission – Journal of Urology, Volume 183, Issue 1, Pages 21-26 (January 2010)

Effect of neonatal circumcision on penile neurologic sensation – Urology, Volume 65, Issue 4, Pages 773-777 (April 2005)

Circumcision – is there really still a major debate? – http://benkazie.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/circumcision-is-there-really-still-a-major-debate

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FDA reopens exam of BPA in food packaging January 20, 2010

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Breast, Environment, Food, Prostate, cancer, children, diabetes, medicine, public health, research.
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The controversy over BPA has again arisen.  It appears that the FDA will now reopen investigations of BPA effects and impact on health.  Concerns about BPA have been raised since the 1930’s (the first reported synthesis of the substance was in 1905 by Thomas Zincke of the University of Marburg, German).  Zincke reported key physical properties of BPA (e.g., molecular composition, melting point, solubility in common solvents) but did not propose any application or use for BPA or the other materials he synthesized. In 1953, Dr. Hermann Schnell of Bayer in Germany and Dr. Dan Fox of General Electric in the United States independently developed manufacturing processes for a new plastic material, polycarbonate, using BPA as the starting material.

BPA has been widely used in plastics and the coatings of metal cans for decades since that time.  It has many favorable properties, but over time, it can leach out of the plastic. Studies have shown that BPA can find it’s way into the human body.  Numerous studies have indicated little evidence of definitive health risks from BPA. On the other hand, a number of research studies have raised concerns about the effects of BPA on the liver, endocrine system, as well as in the effect of hormones an breast, prostate and other tissues.  The use BPA has been banned in Canada in all infant and baby bottles and sippie cups.  Many manufacturers in the US have voluntary moved to BPA free plastic products for infants and children.  This new FDA attention should be welcome as long as it properly assesses the risks and benefits from the use of BPA in commercial applications.  It would wrong to leave a potential harmful product on the market simply because it has been in use for many years.  However, it would be equally wrong to pull a very versatile and useful product based on limited data and unfounded fears.  Let’s hope the FDA will review all aspects of the BPA issue fairly come to an informed opinion on the correct role of BPA in the food marketing system . . . ben kazie md and obi jo

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2602705/bpa_health_risks_to_be_examined.html?cat=5

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is concerned about possible health risks from bisphenol-A (BPA) a widely used component of plastic bottles and food packaging that it declared safe in 2008. The agency said Friday that it had “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children,” and would join other federal health agencies in studying the chemical in both animals and humans.

BPA is a chemical building block that is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins (these line the inside of most food and beverage cans). Over four decades of extensive safety research on BPA shows that consumer products made with BPA are safe for their intended uses and pose no known risks to human health. Polycarbonate plastic is a lightweight, high-performance plastic that possesses a unique balance of toughness, optical clarity, high heat resistance and excellent electrical resistance. Because of these attributes, polycarbonate is used in a wide variety of common products including digital media (e.g., CDs, DVDs), electrical and electronic equipment, automobiles, sports safety equipment, reusable food and drink containers, and many other products. Epoxy resins have many uses including engineering applications such as electrical laminates for printed circuit boards, composites, paints and adhesives, as well as in a variety of protective coatings. Cured epoxy resins are inert materials used as protective liners in metal cans to maintain the quality of canned foods and beverages, and have achieved wide acceptance for use as protective coatings because of their exceptional combination of toughness, adhesion, formability, and chemical resistance.  Polycarbonate looks and feels like glass but is light and difficult to break. The plastics and coatings made with BPA have many attractive properties and, among other things, are particularly good at not absorbing flavors or changing the flavor of items stored in them. Over time, the chemical can leach into the contents of a plastic container, particularly one that is used in a microwave oven or cleaned in a dishwasher.

BPA’s potential to disrupt the hormonal system, however, has made its use in plastics for food purposes controversial. Some animal studies have found that BPA apparently accelerates puberty and poses a cancer risk, and, while the issue’s focus has been on the safety of children, the chemical has also been tied to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes in adults. In a draft risk assessment in 2008 the FDA said that at levels found in products on the American market, it appeared to be safe. Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, and some retailers have removed products made of it from their shelves. The chemical can leach into food, and a study of more than 2,000 people found that more than 90 percent of them had BPA in their urine. Traces have also been found in breast milk, the blood of pregnant women and umbilical cord blood.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) – http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/b/bisphenol_a/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier

F.D.A. Concerned About Substance in Food Packaging – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/health/16plastic.html?th&emc=th

Bisphenol-A (BPA) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

About Bisphenol A – http://www.bisphenol-a.org/about/index.html

Discovery and Use of BPA – http://www.bisphenol-a.org/pdf/DiscoveryandUseOctober2002.pdf

Zincke, T., 1905, “Mittheilungen aus dem chemischen Laboratorium der Universitat Marburg,” Justus Leibigs Annals Chemie, vol. 343, pages 75-99

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Pharmacists role expanding to fill health needs January 13, 2010

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Elderly and Seniors, Health Reform, Hypertension, Medications, diabetes, medicine, public health.
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As the US population expand and the baby boomers age, the need for expanded health services is self evident. With no change in medical school enrollments over the past decade and a half, the dearth of primary care physicians and the increased demand for services, it is only natural that the nations pharmacies and pharmacists should be enlisted to assist in the continuum of care.

Increasingly complex illnesses, often treated with multiple medications, create an ideal format for utilization of the skills of pharmacists. Trained in medications and their interactions, pharmacists are now counseling patients on various medication questions.

We have also seen the expanded role of local pharmacies in aiding in the availability of immunizations. Physicians have long had issues with this, as their costs were usually not covered to provide the service and the risk of legal action from adverse effects could be high. Chain pharmacies employ their pharmacists providing broad based corporate coverage which diminishes the risk for them.

Clearly, as we move forward in the health reform process, much of the reform is taking place in the marketplace independent of any federal action. The expanded role of pharmacists is just one example of the market in action . . . ben kazie md

Pharmacists dispense pills, counsel patients, screen for illness, give vaccines – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/11/AR2010011103349.html

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Digital Health Care – Denmark shows how it is done January 13, 2010

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Health Reform, Internet Medicine, health economics, medicine, public health.
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Tiny Denmark is leading the way in digital health care, with patients being able to link into their own medical records and make data entries. This includes various test results such as vital signs (pulse and blood pressure), blood test monitoring (such as glucose levels) and other e health interactions. These interactions include online prescriptions, communications between patient and doctor regarding symptoms and some degree of online consultation. Of course, translating Denmark’s success to the United States is hardly easy. Denmark is a small country, with a homogeneous population which is highly literate. They also have a different sense of concern about privacy when it comes to health information. The Danish system is socialized and state controlled, which also allows for easier enforcement of uniformity.

While not all is to be emulated by us, the concept of online care is here to stay and will expand over time. It is a natural progression of the information age and the comfort that both patients and physicians are achieving with new technology . . . ben kazie md

Denmark Leads the Way in Digital Care – http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/health/12denmark.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

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XMRV implicated in chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer January 9, 2010

Posted by Obi Jo in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Immunity, Prostate, cancer, medicine, men, public health, women.
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A novel virus, XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus), may account for the majority of cases of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and is implicated in as many as 27% of prostate cancer occurrences.  These findings continue to suggest that large swaths of human disease may in fact be related to infectious disease.  We know this to be true in the case of stomach and duodenal ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria.  We also are well aware of the implications of HPV (human papilloma virus) in the causation of cervical cancer.  Viruses have also been implicated in the development of sarcomas, lymphomas and other tumors.  It is appearing likely that a virus, in this case XMRV, may be playing a major role in the etiology of CFS.  The finding of XMRV in the cells of large numbers of test subjects with CFS as well as in men with prostate cancer (including the prostatic secretions) suggestions that the virus plays some role in the development of many of these cases.  The fact that virus cultured from CFS patients can reinfect uninfected cultures, along with the finding of the virus in prostate secretions (prostatatic secretions make up the majority of semen content at ejaculation), suggests that this virus is likely able to be transmitted in a variety of ways, including via sexual activity.  These findings suggest that work on a vaccine to counteract the virus, as well a new retroviral medications, could play a role in the treatment of CFS as well as the prevention or treatment of prostate cancer.  Research is ongoing. Here are some basic facts we are currently aware of regarding this linkage and thinking.

  • Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disease of unknown etiology that is estimated to affect 17 million people worldwide.
  • Studying peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CFS patients, DNA was identified from a human gammaretrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) in 67% as compared to 3.7% in healthy controls.
  • Cell culture experiments revealed that patient-derived XMRV is infectious and that both cell-associated and cell-free transmission of the virus are possible.
  • Secondary viral infections were established in uninfected primary lymphocytes and indicator cell lines after their exposure to activated PBMCs, B cells, T cells, or plasma derived from CFS patients.
  • These findings raise the possibility that XMRV may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of CFS and that the virus may be transmittable.
  • Prostatic secretions obtained by manually milking the prostates after radical prostatectomy suggest that XMRV is likely sexually transmissible also.
  • Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) was recently discovered in human prostate cancers and is the first gammaretrovirus known to infect humans.
  • While gammaretroviruses have well-characterized oncogenic effects in animals, they have not been shown to cause human cancers.
  • Other viruses have been shown to cause cancer of the cervix, connective tissues (sarcomas), immune system (lymphoma), and other organs.
  • If the retrovirus XMRV is shown to cause prostate cancer, this could have important implications for preventing viral transmission and for developing vaccines to prevent XMRV infection in people.

As has been shown this past year in relation to the Swine flu pandemic, there is much we still need to learn about viruses and their behaviors.  Vaccine development is a key component of advancing worldwide disease prevention and transmission.  Hopefully, new research will direct us to a vaccine for XMRV in the not too distant future . . . obi jo and ben kazie md

XMRV is present in malignant prostatic epithelium and is associated with prostate cancer, especially high-grade tumors – http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2009/09/04/0906922106.abstract

First Evidence Of Virus In Malignant Prostate Cells: XMRV Retrovirus Linked To More Aggressive Tumors – http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090907162310.htm

Detection of an Infectious Retrovirus, XMRV, in Blood Cells of Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1179052

Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute 2008-2009

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Other flu-like viruses most common now December 27, 2009

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Allergy, Environment, Swine Flu, children, medicine, public health.
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Swine flu has captured the attention of the media and public, yet it may be the many “other” viruses that are actually causing the most havoc this chilly holiday season.  Rhinovirues, the major group which can be attributed to many cases of sinus like infection, sore throat and fever is the leader among all viruses identified this season by far.  All are advised in addition to the H1N1 vaccine, they should seek out and receive the annual seasonal flu shot as soon as possible.  Immunization can reduce not only your discomfort but will go a long way toward limiting the spread of these ubiquitous infections (viruses) . . . ben kazie md

Several flu-like viruses are more common than usual this flu season in the United States, adding to the misery and confusion caused by H1N1 swine flu, one lab company said on Tuesday. Kansas City, Missouri-based ViraCor Laboratories found that only 6% of the samples it was sent tested positive for influenza A virus. Tests by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show virtually all influenza now circulating is H1N1 swine flu. survey by ViraCor that shows the most common virus is rhinovirus. Others much less common viruses include metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus.  The rest include a range of flu-like viruses, each caused by a distinct germ but all causing similar symptoms. By far the most common is rhinovirus, one of the so-called common cold viruses, the testing company found.

Other viruses abound in U.S. flu season, tests show – http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BL4H020091222

ViraCor-IBT Laboratories Launches Comprehensive Influenza and Respiratory Virus Testing Service – http://www.viracor.com/images/stories PDF/r%20-%20influenza%20and%20respiratory%20virus%20testing%20final.pdf

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H1N1 vaccination urged as supplies grow December 27, 2009

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Complications, Elderly and Seniors, Environment, Immunity, Swine Flu, children, medicine, public health.
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Despite vast expansion of the vaccine supply recently, the race to immunize has not  picked up proportionately .  With well over 111 million doses available, only some 60 million have been used to date.  These numbers reflect a certain fatigue on the a part of the public over swine flu news, a concern born of misconceptions about the safety of the vaccine and an overblown anxiety about potential side-effects.  To date, side effects have been few and consistent with the annual seasonal flu vaccination programs.   Health officials continue to urge the public to seek vaccination in order to prevent a feared third wave of the infection . . . ben kazie md

At least 60 million Americans have received the swine flu vaccine out of 111 million doses available as of this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. Swine flu rates have declined for 7 straight weeks and are at their lowest level since pupils returned to classes in September. Flu season in the Northern Hemisphere usually peaks in January and February, and Americans should get the swine flu vaccine to protect against the possibility of resurgence. The vaccine to fight the H1N1 virus is plentiful after weeks of short supply, and long lines have largely disappeared at clinics, pharmacies and doctors’ offices. But as infections have slowed, government officials now are trying to persuade more Americans they need the vaccine. Only 20% of children received a swine-flu shot when it was offered at Alabama elementary schools recently, and part of the reason for the tepid demand appears to be “H1N1 fatigue.,”

Swine Flu Vaccine Administered to 60 Million in U.S – http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aLU1SHriIVyI

60 million in U.S. vaccinated against swine flu; About half of Americans say they want the vaccine, but half still say no – http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34525214/ns/health-cold_and_flu/

U.S. Urges H1N1 Shots as Supplies Surge – http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126150314633801635.html

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Many wary of H1N1 vaccine December 27, 2009

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Complications, Elderly and Seniors, Immunity, Swine Flu, children, medicine, public health, research.
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Fears about the swine flu vaccine coupled with some degree of complacency among the public, as well as “swine flue info overload” have resulted in a far fewer doses of vaccine having been administered than health officials feel desirable, despite recent widespread availability of the H1N1 vaccine.  Officials continue to worry about the evolution of a ‘3rd wave’ of the flu as we move through the winter months and into the spring.  Immunization is the surest way to both prevent the flu and to limit its ability to spread among the population over time.  Recent recalls, which have NOT been related to safety, have added to some negative perceptions about the vaccines in general. Weighing risks and benefits of any medical treatment or procedure are always warranted.  However, all are urged to review the available safety data, which has grown substantially indicating that the H1N1 vaccine is safe and effective . . . ben kazie md

Pandemic influenza vaccine is getting much easier to find but more than half of American adults say they still don’t want it, and one-third of parents say they don’t want their children to get it either, according to two surveys. As of this week, 111 million doses of vaccine against the pandemic strain of H1N1 flu have been released to states and cities. Not all of it has been used. There have been no unusual or unexpected vaccine side effects reported. About 44% of high-priority adults, and 55% of all adults, said they did not intend to get the vaccine. About 35% of parents said they would not get it for their children. About 60% of parents cited the vaccine’s safety as their main concern.

More vaccine but fewer takers, H1N1 surveys indicate – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/22/AR2009122203418.html

Poll finds drop in public concern about swine flu – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjdCHrP82YTFser5vD6CzTK1az6wD9COGI282

Voluntary Non-Safety-Related Recall of Specific Lots of Nasal Spray Vaccine for 2009 H1N1 Influenza – http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/sprayrecall_qa.htm

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Another recall of H1N1 nasal vaccine due to loss of potency December 27, 2009

Posted by benkaziebenkazie in Immunity, Swine Flu, children, medicine, public health, research.
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Once again we have had a recall of nasal H1N1 vaccine.  This unfortunately adds to public concerns about the safety of the vaccine.  To date, over 60 million Americans have received H1N1 vaccinations and the side effect profile appears no different than the routine annual flu shot.  This recall, like the others, is related to loss of potency, NOT safety.  The FDA stressed this as did the manufacturer.  Parents should be aware to make sure their children are getting the correct vaccine, but in almost all cases, this batch will have already been removed within 24 hours of the recall notice.  Discuss with  your child’s pediatrician or doctor if you have any concerns . . . ben kazie md

Vaccine-maker MedImmune has voluntarily recalled 13 lots of vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 influenza because the lots have lost some potency since they were manufactured. In the second such recall this season, manufacturer MedImmune says the vaccine has lost potency since it was made. ‘This is not a safety issue,’ a U.S. official says. The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that the vaccine is safe and patients who received the product should be protected from the H1N1 virus. The FDA says the vast majority of the doses have already been distributed and used. Agency officials say the vaccine met potency specifications when it was distributed in October and November. AstraZeneca Plc recalled 4.7 million doses of its nasal spray version of the swine flu vaccine after routine tests showed a decline in potency, U.S. regulators said. The doses remain safe, and people who have already been inoculated don’t need to get vaccinated again

More H1N1 vaccine is recalled – http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-sci-swine-flu-vaccine23-2009dec23,0,7683819.story

Nasal swine flu vaccine recalled over potency – http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjdCHrP82YTFser5vD6CzTK1az6wD9COL7RG0

MedImmune recalling swine flu vaccine-FDA – http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2213056920091223

AstraZeneca’s Swine Flu Nasal Spray Recalled for Lower Potency – http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601202&sid=aonChg_enJ8k

Spray Flu Vaccine Is Recalled – http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/health/policy/23brfs-SPRAYFLUVACC_BRF.html?_r=1

H1N1 swine flu nasal spray vaccine (LAIV) recalled in US by AstraZeneca’s MedImmune – http://www.dancewithshadows.com/pillscribe/h1n1-swine-flu-nasal-spray-vaccine-laiv-recalled-in-us-by-astrazenecas-medimmune/

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