Month: November 2011

New York’s New Medicaid Care System

November 30, 2011

New York is now working to alter the care system for nearly 1 million people on Medicaid through the federal health care reform called Health Homes.

According to the reform, patient care focuses on the case itself, and organized through a network which will include hospitals, mental health organizations, health plans, community-based institutions, addiction disorder providers and health centers.A care manager will be elected to manage these numerous services.

According to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, it was no small feat for his staff to organize such a program in such little time. Agencies throughout the state have pooled resources to provide information and eduction to the public, as well as to health home applicants.

Garlic Oil May Protect Hearts After Surgery

November 28, 2011

A recent study revealed that a compound found in garlic oil may provide significant protection for hearts following surgery or attacks.

The compound, called allicin, has been linked to cardiovascular health in the past. It reacts with red blood cells, resulting in the relaxation of blood vessels and smooth blood flow.

Researchers have produced a garlic oil called diallyl trisulphide, or DATS, which may help “release protective compounds to the heart.”

Though potent-smelling, the oil has significant potential. A synthetic, highly purified version of the product was tested on mice with blocked coronary arteries. Study researchers hope the injection will be able to replace the unstable hydrogen sulphide gas.

“Interruption of oxygen and blood flow damages mitochondria, and loss of mitochondria integrity can lead to cell death,” lead researcher David Lefer said. “We see that diallyl sulphide can temporarily turn down the function of mitochondria, preserving them and lowering the production of reactive oxygen species.”

Sleep Disorders and Sleep Apnea

November 23, 2011

Steve Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai, specializes in treating sleep disorders. Nearly 1,500 patients see him each year.

The upcoming holiday season is especially stressful (think: family get-togethers and highly caloric dishes) and so the quality of your sleep is that much more important.

“The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) reports that between 50 and 70 million American adults have a sleep disorder,” Feinsilver said. “Studies show that good sleep hygiene is essential for your overall health- and that getting enough good sleep helps you eat less.”

In fact, sleep deprivation often leads to weight gain. Disorders like sleep apnea, which is characterized by poor breathing during sleep, can actually shorten your life span if left untreated.

“It’s normal to have a little irregular breathing during sleep, but an apnea event is a 10-second pause in your breathing that wakes you up very slightly,” Feinsilver explained. “To have the disease sleep apnea, you need to have 10 or more apnea events an hour.”

“It probably gets worse as you get older, it’s more common in men than women, and more common in people that are overweight,” Feinsilver continued. “Some people are more anatomically predisposed to this because they have what we call ‘crowded throats’- the muscles of the tongue and soft palate just don’t leave them as much room as the throat to breathe through.”

Congress Names Pizza A Vegetable

November 21, 2011

In an effort to discourage an Obama administration proposal to make school lunches healthier, Congress has named pizza and French fries vegetables.

The spending bill, released on Monday, will negate the standards set by the Agriculture Department earlier this year, which includes limiting the use of potatoes and salt, and boosting whole grains. The new bill also named tomato paste, which is used on pizzas, a vegetable.

The changes were pushed by frozen pizza producers, the salt industry and potato farmers. Some conservatives in Congress claim the federal government should not be telling children what to eat.

Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said the changes will “prevent overly burdensome and costly regulations and to provide greater flexibility for local school districts to improve the nutritional quality of meals.”

Breakthrough for IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc with Dr. Steven Victor

November 16, 2011

In recent news, IntelliCell BioSciences, Inc. just announced a study they had published regarding the efficacy of IntelliCell’s proprietary SVF for treating gum recession. This company, a leader in regenerative medicine and the manufacturing of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) that contains adipose derived adult stem cells, just published this pilot study on the October 2011 edition of the Journal of Implant & Advanced Clinical Dentistry.

Authored by Nicholas Toscano, DDS, MS; Danny Holtzclaw, DDS, MS; and Steven Victor, MD, the pilot study included 7 females and one male. They showed that Mucograft ® collagen matrix in combination with SVF treatments might be a clear alternative to invasive harvesting of gum tissue for gum recession.

As IntelliCell Chairman and CEO Dr. Steven Victor explained, “This is a very encouraging study. Gingival recession is a significant issue in dentistry and IntelliCell is offering a new, potentially superior, non-invasive solution that minimizes patient discomfort and improves outcomes. Dentistry is one of numerous fields in which our SVF may show efficacy.”

Dr. Nicholas Toscano, the periodontist who ran the study said, “I am really excited about stromal vascular fracture stem cells and the impact on regenerative dentistry. Future research could prove this to be a major breakthrough in oral and maxillofacial reconstruction.”

Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Obese Teens

November 9, 2011

A recent study has revealed that obese teenagers need much more vitamin D than those who weigh significantly less. The National Institutes of Health in the U.S. have known for years that while vitamin D deficiency is common in all Americans, it is especially seen to affect overweight and obese adolescents.

“If obese adolescents only consumed the recommended 600 IUs (International Units), they would be in trouble,” Catherine Peterson, a study author, said in a statement. “It takes 4,000 IUs to raise their vitamin D status within a sufficient range… This indicates that physicians need to carefully evaluate the vitamin D status as their overweight and obese patients.”

The Common Cold and the Flu

November 7, 2011
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrYh0bQCPgE&w=420&h=315]

The season is changing, and with the winter come the flu and the common cold. Though these ailments are inconvenient and uncomfortable, they often pass on their own in less than a week. Learn which symptoms may indicate a more serious infection and when a visit to the doctor is advised.