GIANT MANAGED CARE LAW SUIT MAY BE DEAD IN THE FED
A federal judge was asked Thursday to decide whether 80 million patients can pursue claims of broken promises against the nation's managed care industry. High-powered attorneys seeking a national vehicle for grievances against the industry have expanded a case against Humana Inc. to cover the industry, which considers the issues a matter for Congress and not a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno said he would take at least five weeks to decide whether to dismiss the lawsuit.

Patients charge health insurers are bribing their staffs to reject claims to save money rather than for medical reasons. They also say lists of physicians covered by health care plans are intentionally bloated with nonparticipants, listed specialists are not necessarily covered within networks, and the internal appeals process is intended to exhaust patients "until they go away."  Humana attorneys rejected the patients' assertions as "overblown rhetoric" and said Congress is trying to address the issues with patients' rights legislation. The judge suggested dismissing the case "as a practical approach. Catherine Wilson (AP) via DisabilityTimes.
https://www.drkoop.com/news/policy/stories/august/apmanaged_care.html

POPPING THE POLY PILL
A safer, more potent form of aspirin could soon be in your medicine cabinet. Called PolyAspirin, the drug consists of about 100 individual molecules of aspirin strung together in a chain to form an elastic compound, or polymer. A promising treatment for diseases ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to tuberculosis, it could eliminate stomach irritation and other side effects of using aspirin. Others have used polymers as carrier molecules to deliver drugs and housed drugs within polymer capsules. But this is believed to be the first time that a polymer has been used as a drug itself. The structure of PolyAspirin allows it to dodge the stomach's acidic environment and break down into salicylic acid later in the intestine, which is alkaline and therefore neutralizes the acid. As a result, the medication is delivered more efficiently, which in turn means smaller pills and taking them less often. Other possibilities include polymer versions of antibiotics that release medication slowly over time, and surgical sutures that deliver anti-inflammatory drugs as they dissolve.  https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_891000/891082.stm

CHEWS ASPIRIN WISELY
If you think you're having a heart attack, the first thing you should do is chew an aspirin tablet. You've probably noticed how aspirin starts to break up as soon as it touches your tongue, so why chew it? Researchers at the U of Texas Southwestern Medical School recruited 12 volunteers and measured the length of time it took for the aspirin to inhibit blood clotting, which is the reason for taking it after a heart attack. Swallowing a whole aspirin takes 12 minutes to have any effect. Drinking a liquid remedy containing aspirin takes seven minutes to work. Chewing a regular aspirin tablet shows benefits in only five minutes. A baby aspirin taken daily can prevent heart attacks. But if you think you're really having one, you want to chew a full-strength tablet as quickly as possible. By Sam Uretsky.
https://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?ap=55&id=99420

NEW COMPOUND CAN COMPLETELY INHIBIT GROWTH OF LUNG CANCER
Researchers announced the discovery of a new synthetic compound that they say can completely inhibit the growth of lung cancer. The novel compound, called M570, has been shown to prevent small cell lung tumors from growing in mice. The drug appears more effective against tumors than cisplatin, one of the current standards of care, at least in mice. The scientists were able to ``completely block'' tumor growth in mice with M570 doses as low as 5 mg/kg per day, a dose ''several times lower'' than those required with cisplatin. The results have spurred the National Cancer Institute to study the drug in its experimental therapeutics program. ``We have a compound that is ready for commercial development if we can find a company to do it,'' said Dr. John M. Stewart at the U of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. By Todd Zwillich
https://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000821/hl/cancer_drug_1.html

CHRONIC RISE IN LUNG DISEASE
Chronic lung disease in women is on the rise, researchers say. A new study published in the journal Thorax shows the rate of the disease in women has nearly doubled over the past 10 years. The data came from the General Practice Research Database on some 4 million patients in England and Wales. The disease in question is one in which the airflow in the airways of the lungs is chronically obstructed, some of it due to aging and the natural decline in lung function over the years but most of it resulting from smoking, the researchers said. It is the fifth most common cause of death worldwide. The full effects of smoking trends in women have yet to be seen, as evidenced by the steady rise in lung cancer. And they suggest that the chronic lung disease rates in women will continue to rise, said Dr. John Soriano of the Department of Worldwide Epidemiology at Glaxo-Wellcome Research and Development in London. ArcaMax Health Tip, no referral

QUADRUPLE BOSTON SYMPHONY
An accident that claimed the life of one person last week gave new hope to four others when a hospital performed four transplant operations using organs from a single donor. The 12-hour procedure at Brigham and Women's Hospital involved five surgical teams, more than 100 people, and required such exquisite timing that Dr. David Sugarbaker, the hospital's chief of thoracic surgery, called it "pushing the miraculous." The transplants of two lungs, a heart and kidney were made possible when one hospital turned down the donor's lungs, and the next four matches on the donor list happened to be patients at Brigham's. "It's serendipity as much as anything," said Dr. Scott Swanson, who handled one of the lung transplants.
https://www.discoveryhealth.com/enews?c=295509

SECOND WIND LUNG TRANSPLANT NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The early registration deadline is approaching for Second Wind Lung Transplant Associations National Conference in Durham, NC on September 8, 9, 10. Don't miss speakers from Duke University Medical Center and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and exhibitors from Roche, Sangstat, Wyeth- Ayherst, the American Lung Association, the CF Foundation, Lincare and more. From Kathryn. Please see their web site for conference details at:
https://www.2ndwind.org/conference4.htm

OH THE BLOATING, THE CRAMPS, THE PARDON ME-GAS
All blamed on a sugar called lactose that's found in dairy products. Nearly 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant. Simply avoiding dairy products is one way to reduce the discomfort associated with lactose intolerance, but dairy products are the primary source of calcium, a much-needed nutrient. Yet, some dairy products contain very little lactose and some prepared nondairy foods have lactose added to them. In addition lactose is used as the base for manufacturing more than 20% of the prescription drugs in the United States, and 6% of the over-the-counter medications. Ironically, some tablets for reducing stomach acid and gas contain lactose.  So how do you cope with the symptoms?
https://www.discoveryhealth.com/enews?c=295293

IS IT ALLERGY OR POLLUTION?
If the pollution doesn't get you, the ragweed will. While nicer plants, like your baskets of impatiens and ferns, have all wilted away in the drought, ragweed continues to thrive and as heat and pollution get worse, it gets more prolific. The plants thrive on carbon dioxide and, like other weeds, are heartier than many plants that wilt in hot and dry conditions. Ragweed is actually a more vigorous plant next to highways and throughout urban areas (and) because it's so happy in its smoggy environment, it will produce more pollen. As smog alerts continue and the plants release their pollen, it's hard to distinguish which one is making you miserable. Many of the symptoms are the same, from itchy eyes to stuffy noses to sore throats.

How you treat the problem can make a big difference. Trying to treat pollution symptoms with allergy medications - especially some over-the-counter products - could leave you sleepy. Instead, allergy specialists recommend you try to determine exactly what you're suffering from. It's probably an allergy if you have no fever, mucous secretions are clear and runny, sneezes occur in rapid sequence and there's itchiness in the nose, ears and throat - especially the roof of the mouth. But if you've been experiencing problems like itchy eyes or irritated lungs for the past month, the problem is probably pollution.  Also, note the time of day you feel miserable: Ragweed is worse in the morning and pollution is worse at night. For recommended treatment of both conditions:
https://www.discoveryhealth.com/enews?c=295430

ASBESTOS IN GARDEN PRODUCTS OK
Small amounts of asbestos in some gardening products such as potting soil pose little risk to consumers but may be hazardous to people who regularly work with the raw material, the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.
https://www.discoveryhealth.com/enews?c=295508

IS YOUR FACE SAFE?
The FDA has little regulatory power over the cosmetics industry. The FDA's role is limited to banning ingredients that have been shown to cause problems, or requiring that cosmetics be labeled to warn of potential problems. Natural cosmetics, which may have fewer or no preservatives, are more susceptible to spoilage and bacterial contamination than traditional cosmetics. Plus, their ingredients may not have been in use as long as conventional ingredients and problems may not emerge until the product hits the market. For example, vitamin E, commonly added to natural cosmetics, can cause either an immediate allergic reaction (hives) or a delayed reaction (dermatitis). For these reasons, if any problems develop with all-natural products, stop their use immediately. When it comes to allergic reactions, don't depend on hypoallergenic or dermatologist-tested cosmetics to protect you completely. Most manufacturers who label their products hypoallergenic do try to avoid ingredients that commonly cause allergic reactions. But whether natural or synthetic, hypoallergenic or not, any product can cause reactions. It simply depends on whether an individual user is allergic to a particular ingredient. The FDA says that regularly breathing in hair spray and powders can cause lung damage and offers tips to avoid problems.
https://www.discoveryhealth.com/DH/ihtIH/WSDSC000/24479/23874.html

VEGETABLES CAN HELP PREVENT BLINDNESS
Macular Degeneration Can Be Slowed. New research at Tufts University suggests that eggs and leafy greens may protect against the leading cause of preventable blindness. Thirteen million Americans are going blind due to an untreatable condition called macular degeneration. It's an age-related illness in which the retina gradually deteriorates.

According to the research, increasing the amount of lutein and zeaxanthine in the diet may help. These carotenoids are found in leafy green vegetables, like spinach and kale. They are also found in eggs. Carotenoids work as an antioxidant, protecting the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays. Following the recommended dietary guidelines of at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables and a few eggs a week should be enough help protect the eyes. Other environmental factors that can lead to the development of macular degeneration are smoking, not wearing sunglasses to block UV rays, and drinking too much alcohol. Via DisabilityTimes.
https://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wcvb/20000822/lo/189844_1.html

CHOCOLATE LOVERS LIVE LONGER
A study reported in the BMJ suggests that people who regularly eat candy live up to a year longer than those who deprive themselves. The study looks at the 1998 health records of 7,841 men, who entered Harvard as undergraduates between 1916 and 1950. The study finds that people who eat modest amounts of candy bars, from one to three a month, have a 36 percent lower risk of death than those who abstain, reports The Washington Post. The researchers say that antioxidant phenols in the chocolate portion of the candy probably are responsible for the added longevity. They say the amount of phenols in a 1.5-ounce chocolate bar is about the same as in a glass of red wine. Stan Simon
https://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?ap=55&id=101057

AND IT’S GOOD FOR YOUR TEETH TOO
Santa may not be real and there probably aren't fairies at the bottom of every garden. But CHOCOLATE could one day help prevent tooth cavities, say researchers in Japan. Scientists believe that antibacterial agents in cocoa beans offset its high sugar levels. They have found that parts of the cocoa bean, the main ingredient of chocolate, thwart mouth bacteria and stop dental decay.
https://www.newscientist.com/nlf/0826/choc.html
 
 

RESOURCES OF INTEREST TO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
A new website, Access America for People with Disabilities has been created by the Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities, and will serve as a one-stop information source on Federal programs, services, and resources of interest to Americans with disabilities, their families, employers, and service providers. It will also serve to promote awareness of disability issues to the general public. Via Cecil and Leona.
https://www.disAbility.gov

IDIOPATHIC PULMONARY FIBROSIS (IPF) CLINICAL TRIAL
From Olivija. Male and female patients, ages 20 through 79, within 2 1/2 years of diagnosis of biopsy-proven, moderately severe IPF who have failed to respond to an adequate trial of corticosteroids within the previous 24 months. Clinical investigators and trial locations of patient enrollment to commence in August 2000. Singular locations by city alphabetically: Baltimore MD.  Boston MA, Charleston SC, Chicago IL, Decatur GA, Denver CO, Madison WI, Nashville TN, New Orleans LA, Portland OR, Rochester MN, Scottsdale AZ, West Haven CT, Seattle WA, and Wichita, KS

Multiple locations:
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco & Stanford, CA
Brandon, Miami & Orlando, FL
Ann Arbor & Detroit MI,
Chesterfield & St. Louis MO
New York & Rochester, NY
Charlotte & Durham, NC
Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH
Philadelphia & Pittsburgh, PA
Dallas, Lackland AFB & Houston, TX
Charlottesville & Falls Church, VA
Canada: Vancouver, BC & Toronto, ON

For more information and exact trial locations:
https://www.intermune.com/trials/html/trials1.html

OUR INNER LIAR
Most people consider themselves honest. So what goes wrong when they enroll in a clinical trial? As many as 30 percent of clinical subjects pretend to take drugs that they really just throw out, new research shows. The finding alarms researchers. Hoping to skirt the information void, researchers in the latest study took a different tack. They used home monitoring devices to measure dumping rates among 101 patients enrolled in the Lung Health Study, a 5,000-subject look at the effects of inhalers and smoking cessation counseling on men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All bad news? Not necessarily. A co-author of the study says drugs that show marginal to modest benefits in clinical studies may in fact be better than those results imply and "in clinical trials the efficacy of inhaled medications may be underestimated."  Although compliance with inhaled drugs, such as those for asthma, is notoriously poor, the same probably goes for pills, too, and most researchers account for non-compliance by enlarging their studies enough to preserve their statistical power. If you're interested in experimental drugs and procedures, visit ClinicalTrials.gov, which is run by the National Library of Medicine. Article by Adam Marcus via DisabilityTimes.
https://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/hsn/20000817/hl/clinical_trials_bring_out_your_inner_liar_1.html

FOR RIB PAIN SUFFERERS-COSTOCHONDRITIS
From Gremlin39 in VA Beach: Costochondritis is very painful complicated by COPD and coughing.

Lucille in FL adds that Costochondritis is a medical term meaning inflammation and tenderness of the cartilage that attaches the front of the ribs to the breastbone (sternum). When there is swelling in the area of tenderness it may also be called Tietze's Syndrome. The cause is usually difficult to establish unless it follows trauma to the involved area, which is often at the level of the second or third rib attachment. In many instances, there is no swelling or redness but just pain and local tenderness. The pain, which may be quite intense, is commonly aggravated by exercise and activity, erroneously suggesting that it may be coming from the heart. In the absence of localized tenderness or swelling of the involved rib cartilage, tests to exclude other causes may be warranted. Diagnosis may be based in part on the exclusion of other causes. Treatment initially may center on use of anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen. In the absence of an adequate response to such treatment, an injection of a steroid medication into the involved cartilage may provide benefit. No referral.

ON A WING AND A …
Accommodating the Needs of Air Travelers with Disabilities and Special Needs. The Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General is conducting a review of airline customer service. As part of this review, they invite the special needs flying public to share their air travel experiences with them. The Office of Inspector General will use the information you are providing as part of its report to Congress due December 31, 2000 and will make the report available to the public following its release to Congress. From Suzi in IN. Form at:
https://dynamic.tasc.dot.gov/oigsurvey/specialneeds.cfm

HE SPREADS-SHE SPREADS
An analysis of popular diets at this site rating hunger, health, ease and expense.
https://www.ivillage.com/diet/features/dietsaz/articles/0,6883,42059-1,00.html

THE DOCTOR WON'T SEE YOU NOW
Too many patients, too few physicians mean long waits for appointments
U.S. patients are waiting months to get appointments with their doctors for physicals. An even more worrisome trend is developing as people are being asked to endure similar wait times for appointments with specialists and for important diagnostic tests. And the trend is expected to continue. There are a number of reasons patients are being forced to wait including a shortage of doctors, doctors who only work part-time because of teaching obligations, and more doctors whose time is spent fighting insurance companies for their patients' care or for payment.

The problem isn't confined to the U.S. Canadians are concerned they'll face a doctor shortage because the average age of doctors there is getting older. 40% of doctors practicing in Canada are over 50. And older people will have to wait even longer as their ranks continue to swell. By Serena Gordon. Article at:
https://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?ap=55&id=101188

COMPUTERS CAN PLAY DOCTOR
Computers can analyze chest X-rays almost as well as humans and the two can correct each other's mistakes, a new study shows. That is not to say that a computer could be trusted to do it in isolation, but with a reasonably well-defined small image such as in nuclear medicine, a computer was able to interpret it reasonably accurately. Three doctors, each with more than 15 years experience in nuclear medicine, examined chest X-rays from 100 patients. The doctors had never seen the images before and were given no details about the patients. They compared their results to those from computers running neural network software that analyzed the same X-rays. In most cases, the computers matched the humans in their assessments of the chest scans, particularly in cases with large pulmonary clots. It is suspected that the computers would outperform a resident or intern. By Robert Preidt
https://www.healthscout.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Af?ap=55&id=100326

SKILLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The guidelines for emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation were changed for the first time since 1992 in an effort to focus on skills that make a difference. The new guidelines drop the requirement that the layperson providing emergency CPR check for a pulse because studies found that some 35 percent of the time people were wrong about whether the victim had a pulse. The result could be not giving aid to someone who needs it. Instead, people assisting victims are urged to check for other signs of circulation such as breathing, coughing or movement when deciding whether to perform CPR.  Lots more in this article, worth the read.
https://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/446510.asp

MEN, HOW UNHEALTHFUL WAS YOUR WILD YOUTH?
Youthful indiscretions? Which will come back to haunt you? The answer may surprise you. Your past probably includes at least one incidence of inappropriate behavior when it comes to health -- anything from drug use to loud music to a steady diet of fast food to a summer as a beach bum.  By Karen Shideler, The Wichita Eagle
https://www.wichitaeagle.com/news/health/docs/uhoh0815_txt.htm

TEN STEPS TO BETTER MEMORY
You knew what you wanted at the grocery store, but now you simply can't remember. Is it early dementia or just lack of attention? In this Self-Healing column, Dr. Andrew Weil tells you ten ways to improve your memory. Do you get enough antioxidants and B vitamins? Exercise your mind? Eat enough brain foods? Here's how you can maintain mental fitness. Editors note: This site sells herbs, however the article does contain some good tips for improving memory.
https://www.allherb.com/consumer/default.asp?j=WEIL

NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT
Tax Dollars at Work. A Huntsville biologist has won a $500,000 grant to create genetically engineered peanuts that don't cause allergies. Alabama A&M U Professor Hortense Dodo won the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She has worked since 1995 to try to create hypoallergenic peanuts, and her research shows she's ''on the right track,'' she said. By James McWilliams
https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/Aug2000/22-e32883.html

"NEW" KID ON THE BLOCK
Bill Horden an advocate for COPD patients is launching a newsletter,  "THE COPD ADVOCATE." He says it will "express opinions of the Publisher/Editor and readers, be issued gratis periodically, as deemed appropriate, in the fond hope that it may positively influence early diagnosis, better treatment, and appropriate support of COPD patients and their caregivers." To subscribe, enter your email address at: https://www.COPDAdvocate.com

This site will be next updated on September 1, 2000
 
 

Joan Costello Editor

If you have some news or tips to share click:  [email protected] COPD-Support, Inc. P.O. Box 490714 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33349 https://copd-support.com Click Here to subscribe  to the Email version of This Newsletter