Lacking money, insurance and dentists, oral health takes a back seat, and many rural areas are barely on the bus

A dentist works at a Remote Area Medical Clinic in Wise, Va.
(Associated Press photo by Steve Helber)

Dr. Nikki Stone is a dentist who works in Hazard, Ky., at a community-run clinic. A native of the mountains, she knew that children in the region weren’t getting enough dental care, but she was still "staggered by the prevalence of dental disease when she began examining them in 2004," Margot Sanger-Katz reports for the National Journal. "Large numbers of the kids had never seen a dentist. Half had untreated tooth decay, and nearly 20 percent had urgent needs -- more than six cavities or an active abscess. She and her staff 'cried a lot,' she recalls. Crisscrossing four counties in her van, she painted fluoride on all the teeth and sent notes home with the children who needed immediate attention. In the early years, only 8 percent of those youngsters with urgent problems got the care they needed. The job was like fighting a forest fire on a mountain, she says. 'I felt like I was standing here on the line of the fire with a squirt gun.'"

In a world of medical priorities, dentistry takes a back seat to most, and In a world of health care, and rural America sometimes appears to not even be on the bus. The net result, writes Sanger-Katz, is that the United States faces a shortage of dentists that is particularly acute in poor, rural regions. "Huge pockets of the country have few (or no) providers. The federal government counts 4,503 mostly rural regions where more than 3,000 people share one dentist," she notes, "making it tough for many residents to find someone to fix their teeth."

There seems little hope for any change soon in rural America, even if the federal health-reform law survives. "It deems dental coverage an essential part of any health plan for children, but regulators have yet to spell out what insurers must cover to meet that definition," Sanger-Katz writes. "The law expands existing loan-repayment funds for dentists who relocate to underserved areas, but it offers no expansion of dental coverage for adults and doesn’t try to integrate dental health into the larger health care system."Dental disease is the largest unmet health need in the U.S. among both children and adults, according to the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign. The worst-off are the poor, the young, the old, and those in rural America, reports Margot Sanger-Katz reports.

Dental disease is among the most common reasons that children miss school. It’s the most common medical reason that soldiers can’t deploy. It is a leading cause of emergency-room visits in several states. For proponents of a freer health care market, who want patients to be motivated by financial incentives to shop around and avoid “unnecessary” care, the dental system offers a glimpse of how such a system might work. And research shows that poor oral health can lead to disease elsewhere in the body.

"For more than 100 years, dentistry has run on a separate -- and more laissez-fair -- track than the rest of medicine," Sanger-Katz writes. "Dentists have their own schools and treat patients in their own offices; fewer laws and regulations govern the field. Insurance plans typically demand high co-pays and limit their payouts for invasive procedures. About half of all dental expenses are paid out of pocket, compared with less than 10 percent of costs in the overall medical system. This is the free market. And, in some ways, it has worked: People do not drive up insurance rates by seeking frivolous procedures. Patients tend to shop around for care, and prices vary according to local economies. The rate of dental inflation, although higher than the rate for the economy overall, is lower than the rate in medicine, which is typically several points above the growth rate of the gross domestic product. (You don’t hear policymakers complain about the burden of 'runaway' dental costs.)"

“It’s very much a free market, with a greater spread between the haves and have-nots,” said Burton Edelstein, a professor of dentistry at Columbia University and the founder of the Children’s Dental Health Project. "Dental insurance is much less widespread than medical insurance; 130 million Americans lacked dental coverage in 2009, but only 50 million lacked medical coverage," Sanger Katz-writes. "And with most payouts capped at $1,000 to $2,000 per year, insurance can’t cover much beyond basic services. Medicare does not pay for dental care at all, so 70 percent of seniors lack any dental coverage, according to an Institute of Medicine report. Medicaid also fails to provide meaningful dental access for many of its beneficiaries: The program pays dentists so poorly for treatment that only about 20 percent of them see Medicaid patients." Meanwhile, seven of 61 dental schools closed in the last 30 years, meaning 2,000 fewer dentists every year, a 33 percent drop in supply, just as an older generation of dentists started retiring.

The result is a crisis. And, in a few lucky rural towns, the result looks like this: A mobile van outfitted with a volunteer dentist comes to a rural elementary school and offers free check-ups but no fillings. Or, better yet, a volunteer army of dentists, dental students and oral surgeons in a region volunteer for a two-day event at a vast arena where everyone is welcome to camp overnight for a place in line for care. Some of the dental expertise and hospitality is donated by Ronald McDonald House, or Remote Area Medical out of Knoxville, Tenn., or local community health centers. And while are limited in their ability to do much more than prevention, others can offer real dental care but no follow-up. The result is often a brutal kind of dentistry that involves, at best, mass extraction, some advice about what not to drink and explanations about how oral health is connected to overall health. (Read more)

A dentist works at a Remote Area Medical Clinic in Wise, Va.
(Associated Press photo by Steve Helber)

Dr. Nikki Stone is a dentist who works in Hazard, Ky., at a community-run clinic. A native of the mountains, she knew that children in the region weren’t getting enough dental care, but she was still "staggered by the prevalence of dental disease when she began examining them in 2004," Margot Sanger-Katz reports for the National Journal. "Large numbers of the kids had never seen a dentist. Half had untreated tooth decay, and nearly 20 percent had urgent needs -- more than six cavities or an active abscess. She and her staff 'cried a lot,' she recalls. Crisscrossing four counties in her van, she painted fluoride on all the teeth and sent notes home with the children who needed immediate attention. In the early years, only 8 percent of those youngsters with urgent problems got the care they needed. The job was like fighting a forest fire on a mountain, she says. 'I felt like I was standing here on the line of the fire with a squirt gun.'"

In a world of medical priorities, dentistry takes a back seat to most, and In a world of health care, and rural America sometimes appears to not even be on the bus. The net result, writes Sanger-Katz, is that the United States faces a shortage of dentists that is particularly acute in poor, rural regions. "Huge pockets of the country have few (or no) providers. The federal government counts 4,503 mostly rural regions where more than 3,000 people share one dentist," she notes, "making it tough for many residents to find someone to fix their teeth."

There seems little hope for any change soon in rural America, even if the federal health-reform law survives. "It deems dental coverage an essential part of any health plan for children, but regulators have yet to spell out what insurers must cover to meet that definition," Sanger-Katz writes. "The law expands existing loan-repayment funds for dentists who relocate to underserved areas, but it offers no expansion of dental coverage for adults and doesn’t try to integrate dental health into the larger health care system."Dental disease is the largest unmet health need in the U.S. among both children and adults, according to the Pew Children’s Dental Campaign. The worst-off are the poor, the young, the old, and those in rural America, reports Margot Sanger-Katz reports.

Dental disease is among the most common reasons that children miss school. It’s the most common medical reason that soldiers can’t deploy. It is a leading cause of emergency-room visits in several states. For proponents of a freer health care market, who want patients to be motivated by financial incentives to shop around and avoid “unnecessary” care, the dental system offers a glimpse of how such a system might work. And research shows that poor oral health can lead to disease elsewhere in the body.

"For more than 100 years, dentistry has run on a separate -- and more laissez-fair -- track than the rest of medicine," Sanger-Katz writes. "Dentists have their own schools and treat patients in their own offices; fewer laws and regulations govern the field. Insurance plans typically demand high co-pays and limit their payouts for invasive procedures. About half of all dental expenses are paid out of pocket, compared with less than 10 percent of costs in the overall medical system. This is the free market. And, in some ways, it has worked: People do not drive up insurance rates by seeking frivolous procedures. Patients tend to shop around for care, and prices vary according to local economies. The rate of dental inflation, although higher than the rate for the economy overall, is lower than the rate in medicine, which is typically several points above the growth rate of the gross domestic product. (You don’t hear policymakers complain about the burden of 'runaway' dental costs.)"

“It’s very much a free market, with a greater spread between the haves and have-nots,” said Burton Edelstein, a professor of dentistry at Columbia University and the founder of the Children’s Dental Health Project. "Dental insurance is much less widespread than medical insurance; 130 million Americans lacked dental coverage in 2009, but only 50 million lacked medical coverage," Sanger Katz-writes. "And with most payouts capped at $1,000 to $2,000 per year, insurance can’t cover much beyond basic services. Medicare does not pay for dental care at all, so 70 percent of seniors lack any dental coverage, according to an Institute of Medicine report. Medicaid also fails to provide meaningful dental access for many of its beneficiaries: The program pays dentists so poorly for treatment that only about 20 percent of them see Medicaid patients." Meanwhile, seven of 61 dental schools closed in the last 30 years, meaning 2,000 fewer dentists every year, a 33 percent drop in supply, just as an older generation of dentists started retiring.

The result is a crisis. And, in a few lucky rural towns, the result looks like this: A mobile van outfitted with a volunteer dentist comes to a rural elementary school and offers free check-ups but no fillings. Or, better yet, a volunteer army of dentists, dental students and oral surgeons in a region volunteer for a two-day event at a vast arena where everyone is welcome to camp overnight for a place in line for care. Some of the dental expertise and hospitality is donated by Ronald McDonald House, or Remote Area Medical out of Knoxville, Tenn., or local community health centers. And while are limited in their ability to do much more than prevention, others can offer real dental care but no follow-up. The result is often a brutal kind of dentistry that involves, at best, mass extraction, some advice about what not to drink and explanations about how oral health is connected to overall health. (Read more)

Read More

Beshear tells feds he plans to create an insurance exchange

Gov. Steve Beshear. Photo by The
Courier-Journal

Gov. Steve Beshear has re-confirmed his plans to create a state health insurance exchange, this time telling the federal government of his intention.

Beshear sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday saying he plans to issue an executive order soon to create the exchange, The Courier-Journal reports. After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal health-care reform law, Beshear announced he would create the exchange.

The exchange will be a marketplace to shop for different packages of state-approved health insurance and will be available to people who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. To offset the cost of their premiums, those participating in the exchange will receive subsidies in the form of tax credits. The Medicaid program will also fall under the exchange's umbrella.

If they choose to run their own exchange rather than have the federal government do it for them, states must have it up and running by Jan. 1, 2014. Beshear said Kentucky has been "systematically preparing to meet the implementation deadlines set forth in the law." It has already received more than $65 million from the federal government to plan for the exchange's creation.

Kentucky is the 16th state to commit to creating an exchange. (Read more)

Gov. Steve Beshear. Photo by The
Courier-Journal

Gov. Steve Beshear has re-confirmed his plans to create a state health insurance exchange, this time telling the federal government of his intention.

Beshear sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday saying he plans to issue an executive order soon to create the exchange, The Courier-Journal reports. After the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal health-care reform law, Beshear announced he would create the exchange.

The exchange will be a marketplace to shop for different packages of state-approved health insurance and will be available to people who earn up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. To offset the cost of their premiums, those participating in the exchange will receive subsidies in the form of tax credits. The Medicaid program will also fall under the exchange's umbrella.

If they choose to run their own exchange rather than have the federal government do it for them, states must have it up and running by Jan. 1, 2014. Beshear said Kentucky has been "systematically preparing to meet the implementation deadlines set forth in the law." It has already received more than $65 million from the federal government to plan for the exchange's creation.

Kentucky is the 16th state to commit to creating an exchange. (Read more)

Read More

Chart shows impact of Medicaid expansion or rejection

A one-stop graphic that spells out what's in store for states that don't elect to expand Medicaid is the subject of a report by The Washington Post's Sarah Kliff.

The charts show governors who elect not to expand the insurance program for the poor and disabled will leave their poorest citizens without coverage.

One segment of the chart uses Arkansas as an example of what would happen if expansion is rejected. Because Medicaid eligibility varies by state, the picture will be considerably different for Kentucky, since families in this state are eligible for Medicaid up to about 60 percent of the poverty line compared to Arkansas's 17 percent, as indicated by the bottom segment of the chart.

The chart shows that if Kentucky were to reject expansion, people with incomes from the poverty line down to 60 percent of the line would not be eligible for any government coverage or assistance.

For a larger version of the chart and a clear look at a complicated subject, click here.

A one-stop graphic that spells out what's in store for states that don't elect to expand Medicaid is the subject of a report by The Washington Post's Sarah Kliff.

The charts show governors who elect not to expand the insurance program for the poor and disabled will leave their poorest citizens without coverage.

One segment of the chart uses Arkansas as an example of what would happen if expansion is rejected. Because Medicaid eligibility varies by state, the picture will be considerably different for Kentucky, since families in this state are eligible for Medicaid up to about 60 percent of the poverty line compared to Arkansas's 17 percent, as indicated by the bottom segment of the chart.

The chart shows that if Kentucky were to reject expansion, people with incomes from the poverty line down to 60 percent of the line would not be eligible for any government coverage or assistance.

For a larger version of the chart and a clear look at a complicated subject, click here.

Read More

Governors in both parties undecided on whether to expand Medicaid; seeking answers to several questions

There is hesitation among governors on both sides of the aisle regarding whether or not to expand Medicaid, which would cover millions more Americans under the program for the poor and disabled.

"At least seven Democratic governors have been noncommittal about their willingness to go along," N.C. Aizenman and Karen Tumulty report for The Washington Post. Gov. Steve Beshear has not indicated whether he will expand coverage in Kentucky, but previously expressed concerns about the costs associated with the move, and state House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover has said he should not. Kentucky would have to start paying part of the extra cost in 2017, and 10 percent of it by 2020. Several Republican governors have said they will not participate, while others say they have not decided.

The issue is surely a major discussion topic at the National Governors Association meeting this week in Williamsburg, Va. Questions remain unanswered: "Will states that opt in have the option of scaling back in future years? If a state that opts out decides it wants to participate at some later point, will the federal government still pay nearly the full cost of covering those who become newly eligible for Medicaid? And can a state participate only partially — for instance, by raising the income cutoff for its program to a level lower than the ceiling envisioned in the law, which is set at 133 percent of the federal poverty line?" Aisenman and Tumulty ask.

NGA Executive Director Dan Crippen said states are confused over what to do. The association has sent a list of questions to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius about the issue. "States need to be making these decisions now, and it's hard to make them if you don't have clarity," said Matt Salo, director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.

Sebelius has said she will address concerns during meetings that will take place in various cities starting July 31. There is no deadline yet for when states must choose whether or not to expand. (Read more)

There is hesitation among governors on both sides of the aisle regarding whether or not to expand Medicaid, which would cover millions more Americans under the program for the poor and disabled.

"At least seven Democratic governors have been noncommittal about their willingness to go along," N.C. Aizenman and Karen Tumulty report for The Washington Post. Gov. Steve Beshear has not indicated whether he will expand coverage in Kentucky, but previously expressed concerns about the costs associated with the move, and state House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover has said he should not. Kentucky would have to start paying part of the extra cost in 2017, and 10 percent of it by 2020. Several Republican governors have said they will not participate, while others say they have not decided.

The issue is surely a major discussion topic at the National Governors Association meeting this week in Williamsburg, Va. Questions remain unanswered: "Will states that opt in have the option of scaling back in future years? If a state that opts out decides it wants to participate at some later point, will the federal government still pay nearly the full cost of covering those who become newly eligible for Medicaid? And can a state participate only partially — for instance, by raising the income cutoff for its program to a level lower than the ceiling envisioned in the law, which is set at 133 percent of the federal poverty line?" Aisenman and Tumulty ask.

NGA Executive Director Dan Crippen said states are confused over what to do. The association has sent a list of questions to Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius about the issue. "States need to be making these decisions now, and it's hard to make them if you don't have clarity," said Matt Salo, director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.

Sebelius has said she will address concerns during meetings that will take place in various cities starting July 31. There is no deadline yet for when states must choose whether or not to expand. (Read more)

Read More

Repeal of health law would have big impact on Kentucky, HHS Secretary Sebelius writes

The U.S. House voted again yesterday to repeal the health-care reform law, a move that has no chance of passing in the current Senate and would be vetoed by President Obama if it did.

In an op-ed piece in The Courier-Journal, which put the news of the House vote on an inside page, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, left, said a repeal of the law would have big ramifications for Kentucky because:

• The law eliminates lifetime limits on coverage because it prevents insurance companies from dropping customers if they get sick or meet a lifetime dollar cap. This had helped 1,414,000 Kentuckians, including 528,000 women and 362,000 children.

• It provides free preventive care like vaccinations, checkups and cancer screenings for 732,000 Kentuckians who have private health insurance.

• It provides funding for expanding community health centers in underserved areas.

• It requires insurance companies to spend "at least 80 cents of every premium dollar on health care and quality improvements, not CEO salaries or advertising," Sebelius writes. If they don't do so, customers get a rebate.

• Seniors receive free preventive services under Medicare, and the law eliminates the prescription-drug "doughnut hole." Since the law was enacted, 5.2 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved more than $3.7 billion on prescription drugs.

• The law allows young adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance plan, which translates to 48,000 Kentuckians. (Read more)

The U.S. House voted again yesterday to repeal the health-care reform law, a move that has no chance of passing in the current Senate and would be vetoed by President Obama if it did.

In an op-ed piece in The Courier-Journal, which put the news of the House vote on an inside page, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, left, said a repeal of the law would have big ramifications for Kentucky because:

• The law eliminates lifetime limits on coverage because it prevents insurance companies from dropping customers if they get sick or meet a lifetime dollar cap. This had helped 1,414,000 Kentuckians, including 528,000 women and 362,000 children.

• It provides free preventive care like vaccinations, checkups and cancer screenings for 732,000 Kentuckians who have private health insurance.

• It provides funding for expanding community health centers in underserved areas.

• It requires insurance companies to spend "at least 80 cents of every premium dollar on health care and quality improvements, not CEO salaries or advertising," Sebelius writes. If they don't do so, customers get a rebate.

• Seniors receive free preventive services under Medicare, and the law eliminates the prescription-drug "doughnut hole." Since the law was enacted, 5.2 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved more than $3.7 billion on prescription drugs.

• The law allows young adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents' insurance plan, which translates to 48,000 Kentuckians. (Read more)

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New form of Oxy is harder to inhale and inject, so drug users are turning to heroin, Opana for high

A new formulation of OxyContin makes it harder to
inhale or inject. Drug Enforcement Administration photo.

A change in the formulation of the powerful drug OxyContin has addicts turning to another high to fuel their habit: heroin.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis had more than 2,500 patients from 150 drug rehabilitation treatment centers in 39 states respond to survey questions that had a particular focus on the reformulation of OxyContin, reports research-reporting service Newswise. The new formula makes it harder to crush the pills, making inhaling or injecting them more difficult.

Since the new version of the drug was introduced, "inhalation or intravenous administration has dropped significantly," said lead investigator Theodore J. Cicero. But drug use has not lessened, with addicts turning to heroin instead, which is also inhaled or injected. "We're now seeing reports from across the country of large quantities of heroin appearing in suburbs and rural areas," Cicero said.

OxyContin was originally designed to be released in the body slowly, preventing an immediate high. But by crushing the pills and inhaling them or dissolving them in water and then injecting the solution, addicts were able to get "an immediate rush," Newswise reports.

Moreover, because OxyContin was designed to be slow-release, it contained large amounts of the generic drug oxycodone, which spurred even more in demand. The new version of the drug was introduced in 2010.

Survey results show "users who selected OxyContin as their primary drug of abuse has decreased from 35.6 percent of respondents before the release of the abuse-deterrant formulation to 12.8 percent now," Newswise reports. (Read more)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called prescription drug abuse an "epidemic." In Kentucky, about a 1,000 people die each year from prescription drug overdoses. More people die in Kentucky from prescription drug overdoses than they do from traffic accidents.

Law enforcement is also seeing that drug seekers are switching from OxyContin to the prescription drug Opana, reports Donna Leinwand Leger for USA Today. "A few years ago, it was OxyContin. Now it's Opana," said Raquel Foster, a police spokeswoman for the Fort Wayne Police Department.

As a new, harder-to-abuse formulation of Opana hits the market, however, "they are going to find a way to satisfy their addiction," said DEA Special Agent Gary Boggs of the Office of Diversion Control. "When they either can't get those particular pharmaceuticals or can't afford them, they now gravitate to heroin."  (Read more)

A new formulation of OxyContin makes it harder to
inhale or inject. Drug Enforcement Administration photo.

A change in the formulation of the powerful drug OxyContin has addicts turning to another high to fuel their habit: heroin.

Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis had more than 2,500 patients from 150 drug rehabilitation treatment centers in 39 states respond to survey questions that had a particular focus on the reformulation of OxyContin, reports research-reporting service Newswise. The new formula makes it harder to crush the pills, making inhaling or injecting them more difficult.

Since the new version of the drug was introduced, "inhalation or intravenous administration has dropped significantly," said lead investigator Theodore J. Cicero. But drug use has not lessened, with addicts turning to heroin instead, which is also inhaled or injected. "We're now seeing reports from across the country of large quantities of heroin appearing in suburbs and rural areas," Cicero said.

OxyContin was originally designed to be released in the body slowly, preventing an immediate high. But by crushing the pills and inhaling them or dissolving them in water and then injecting the solution, addicts were able to get "an immediate rush," Newswise reports.

Moreover, because OxyContin was designed to be slow-release, it contained large amounts of the generic drug oxycodone, which spurred even more in demand. The new version of the drug was introduced in 2010.

Survey results show "users who selected OxyContin as their primary drug of abuse has decreased from 35.6 percent of respondents before the release of the abuse-deterrant formulation to 12.8 percent now," Newswise reports. (Read more)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called prescription drug abuse an "epidemic." In Kentucky, about a 1,000 people die each year from prescription drug overdoses. More people die in Kentucky from prescription drug overdoses than they do from traffic accidents.

Law enforcement is also seeing that drug seekers are switching from OxyContin to the prescription drug Opana, reports Donna Leinwand Leger for USA Today. "A few years ago, it was OxyContin. Now it's Opana," said Raquel Foster, a police spokeswoman for the Fort Wayne Police Department.

As a new, harder-to-abuse formulation of Opana hits the market, however, "they are going to find a way to satisfy their addiction," said DEA Special Agent Gary Boggs of the Office of Diversion Control. "When they either can't get those particular pharmaceuticals or can't afford them, they now gravitate to heroin."  (Read more)

Read More

Work of UK prof was cited in decision on health care

Professor Nicole Huberfeld.
University of Kentucky photo.

The work of a University of Kentucky law professor helped shape the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of the federal health-care reform law. 

Two of the major issues in question was whether the government could be force people to buy health insurance — often referred to as the individual mandate — and if the federal government could use its fiscal powers top make states expand Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The mandate was upheld, as was the Medicaid expansion, though the ruling will allow states to choose whether or not they want to expand their programs.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited the work of UK professor Nicole Huberfeld "in a portion of her concurring opinion dealing with the expansion of Medicaid," reports Brian Powers for Business Lexington. In her work, Huberfeld has focused on the program for the poor and disabled and had researched "the intersection of constitutional law and health-care law," Powers reports.

When Huberfeld was told her work had been cited she said it was "amazing," as well as "thrilling ... humbling." She added, "We sometimes feel that we perform our research and publish it and get it out there, and to know that someone is actually reading it is really gratifying. When you write, you hope that someone reads your research." (Read more)

Professor Nicole Huberfeld.
University of Kentucky photo.

The work of a University of Kentucky law professor helped shape the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the constitutionality of the federal health-care reform law. 

Two of the major issues in question was whether the government could be force people to buy health insurance — often referred to as the individual mandate — and if the federal government could use its fiscal powers top make states expand Medicaid eligibility to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The mandate was upheld, as was the Medicaid expansion, though the ruling will allow states to choose whether or not they want to expand their programs.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited the work of UK professor Nicole Huberfeld "in a portion of her concurring opinion dealing with the expansion of Medicaid," reports Brian Powers for Business Lexington. In her work, Huberfeld has focused on the program for the poor and disabled and had researched "the intersection of constitutional law and health-care law," Powers reports.

When Huberfeld was told her work had been cited she said it was "amazing," as well as "thrilling ... humbling." She added, "We sometimes feel that we perform our research and publish it and get it out there, and to know that someone is actually reading it is really gratifying. When you write, you hope that someone reads your research." (Read more)

Read More

2012 Winn feline health grants

2012 Winn grant review panel meeting

Earlier this year, Winn announced the funding of 10 new feline health research projects for a total of over $174,000. Each year, the Winn Feline Foundation receives proposals from veterinary researchers around the world who are interested in improving feline health. To date, Winn’s cumulative total in feline health research funding exceeds $4 million.
Winn is seeking donations of $250 and up to sponsor specific projects. Sponsors will receive progress reports as they are available and copies of any publications that result from the project that are provided by the investigators. Your help in sponsoring these projects means Winn can fund even more research next year.

Available for 2012 sponsorship:
W12-026: Anti-immune evasive therapy for feline infectious peritonitis
An effective therapy for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is not currently available and most affected cats succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host's immune system and that a specific drug can act as a blocking agent to inhibit this evasion mechanism. In a previous project funded by Winn, it was shown that this drug is well tolerated when given to healthy cats. In this project, the efficacy of the drug as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats will be evaluated. If the results of the pilot study are promising, the project will be expanded into a full trial.

W12-027: Development of tools to assess chronic pain in cats

Feline health symposium, Austin TX, 2007

It is crucially important to identify pain fighting medications that are safe for cats, so we can treat conditions such as arthritis or cancer better. Once a treatment option has been identified, studies must be designed carefully to prove that the new treatment is effective. The greatest obstacle is the need for reliable ways to measure pain in cats. The goal of this project is to develop a tool called the "Feline Brief Pain Inventory." This will be an owner-completed questionnaire that will identify and report on how the cat behaves at home, focusing on behaviors that relate to pain. The project will also evaluate the use of an activity monitor that is worn on the cat's collar while at home to determine how many days the monitor must be worn to collect reliable data.

W12-034: Decontamination of textiles exposed to ringworm
Ringworm in cats is most commonly caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. While this skin disease is curable, treatment can be challenging because infected cats shed large amounts of infected hairs and spores into their environment. Effective cleaning is necessary to prevent contamination of the environment and prevent re-infection of cats. No evidence-based information is available for cleaning of household textiles such as fabric, carpeting, and clothing. This project will determine the efficacy of decontamination options for household textiles to identify safe and effective practices.

W12-039: Pimobendan for treatment of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common reasons that senior cats are presented to veterinarians. These investigators have administered pimobendan to cats with combined kidney and heart disease after the patients developed congestive heart failure. In some of these patients, a greater improvement in kidney values and clinical response than is typically noted occurred when they were treated with pimobendan. Pimobendan is an effective drug for management of heart failure in dogs and may support kidney function through improved heart function and improved blood supply to the kidneys. This drug is also given to cats with heart disease. This pilot study will assess the effect of administering pimobendan to cats that only have CKD compared with standard treatment methods.

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2012 Winn grant review panel meeting

Earlier this year, Winn announced the funding of 10 new feline health research projects for a total of over $174,000. Each year, the Winn Feline Foundation receives proposals from veterinary researchers around the world who are interested in improving feline health. To date, Winn’s cumulative total in feline health research funding exceeds $4 million.
Winn is seeking donations of $250 and up to sponsor specific projects. Sponsors will receive progress reports as they are available and copies of any publications that result from the project that are provided by the investigators. Your help in sponsoring these projects means Winn can fund even more research next year.

Available for 2012 sponsorship:
W12-026: Anti-immune evasive therapy for feline infectious peritonitis
An effective therapy for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is not currently available and most affected cats succumb to their disease. Previous research has shown that FIP virus can evade the host's immune system and that a specific drug can act as a blocking agent to inhibit this evasion mechanism. In a previous project funded by Winn, it was shown that this drug is well tolerated when given to healthy cats. In this project, the efficacy of the drug as a treatment for FIP in 10 naturally infected cats will be evaluated. If the results of the pilot study are promising, the project will be expanded into a full trial.

W12-027: Development of tools to assess chronic pain in cats

Feline health symposium, Austin TX, 2007

It is crucially important to identify pain fighting medications that are safe for cats, so we can treat conditions such as arthritis or cancer better. Once a treatment option has been identified, studies must be designed carefully to prove that the new treatment is effective. The greatest obstacle is the need for reliable ways to measure pain in cats. The goal of this project is to develop a tool called the "Feline Brief Pain Inventory." This will be an owner-completed questionnaire that will identify and report on how the cat behaves at home, focusing on behaviors that relate to pain. The project will also evaluate the use of an activity monitor that is worn on the cat's collar while at home to determine how many days the monitor must be worn to collect reliable data.

W12-034: Decontamination of textiles exposed to ringworm
Ringworm in cats is most commonly caused by the fungus Microsporum canis. While this skin disease is curable, treatment can be challenging because infected cats shed large amounts of infected hairs and spores into their environment. Effective cleaning is necessary to prevent contamination of the environment and prevent re-infection of cats. No evidence-based information is available for cleaning of household textiles such as fabric, carpeting, and clothing. This project will determine the efficacy of decontamination options for household textiles to identify safe and effective practices.

W12-039: Pimobendan for treatment of chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common reasons that senior cats are presented to veterinarians. These investigators have administered pimobendan to cats with combined kidney and heart disease after the patients developed congestive heart failure. In some of these patients, a greater improvement in kidney values and clinical response than is typically noted occurred when they were treated with pimobendan. Pimobendan is an effective drug for management of heart failure in dogs and may support kidney function through improved heart function and improved blood supply to the kidneys. This drug is also given to cats with heart disease. This pilot study will assess the effect of administering pimobendan to cats that only have CKD compared with standard treatment methods.

More on cat health:
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Neuropathy Associated With Gluten Sensitivity.

Neuropathy Link To Gluten Sensitivity There is an ever growing body of research that links Peripheral Neuropathy with gluten sensitivity.  I see this and treat these patients daily in my office. I know the devastating affects that gluten

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Neuropathy Link To Gluten Sensitivity There is an ever growing body of research that links Peripheral Neuropathy with gluten sensitivity.  I see this and treat these patients daily in my office. I know the devastating affects that gluten

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Read More

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Cures Testimonial Videos

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Results. Peripheral Neuropathy causes devastation in the lives of those that are afflicted with it and also to those around them. Does peripheral neuropathy control your life? Does peripheral neuropathy stop you fro

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Results. Peripheral Neuropathy causes devastation in the lives of those that are afflicted with it and also to those around them. Does peripheral neuropathy control your life? Does peripheral neuropathy stop you fro

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Read More

What Makes Our Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment Unique?

Our three part treatment program for Peripheral Neuropathy Dr. Walter K. Crooks treats each person with peripheral neuropathy individually not as if they were on an assembly line.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO which explains the treatment approach to Peripheral Neuropathy that gets absolutely amazing results.

The various treatments you have received have not addressed the root cause of your Peripheral Neuropathy condition, especially why you continue to deteriorate and have worse and more Peripheral Neuropathy symptoms.

Houston Neuropathy Treatment is being revolutionized by Dr. Walter K. Crooks to help end the needless suffering caused by peripheral neuropathy. 

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Our three part treatment program for Peripheral Neuropathy Dr. Walter K. Crooks treats each person with peripheral neuropathy individually not as if they were on an assembly line.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO which explains the treatment approach to Peripheral Neuropathy that gets absolutely amazing results.

The various treatments you have received have not addressed the root cause of your Peripheral Neuropathy condition, especially why you continue to deteriorate and have worse and more Peripheral Neuropathy symptoms.

Houston Neuropathy Treatment is being revolutionized by Dr. Walter K. Crooks to help end the needless suffering caused by peripheral neuropathy. 

via noneuropathyhouston.com

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Peripheral Neuropathy Doctor in Houston Texas Bio.

Peripheral Neuropathy Doctor In Houston Texas Area. Dr. Walter K. Crooks  has dedicated his life to having a maximum positive influence on everyone he meets. He has spent countless hours pouring over the newest research regarding Peripheral Neurop

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Peripheral Neuropathy Doctor In Houston Texas Area. Dr. Walter K. Crooks  has dedicated his life to having a maximum positive influence on everyone he meets. He has spent countless hours pouring over the newest research regarding Peripheral Neurop

via noneuropathyhouston.com

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Peripheral Neuropathy: Real and Lasting Treatment Results

Neuropathy Killing Your Hands or Feet? A There is a new HOPE for those that suffer due to Peripheral Neuropathy! Peripheral Neuropathy is widespread, afflicting an estimated 20 million people in the United States. If someone is diabetic they hav

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Neuropathy Killing Your Hands or Feet? A There is a new HOPE for those that suffer due to Peripheral Neuropathy! Peripheral Neuropathy is widespread, afflicting an estimated 20 million people in the United States. If someone is diabetic they hav

via noneuropathyhouston.com

Read More

Thyroid Treatment in Houston Texas

Come listen to an exciting free thyroid seminar…   Learn These Closely Held Medical Secrets For Successful Thyroid Recovery: The 7 patterns of thyroid imbalance The one food that could be making your thyroid problem worse

via fixmythyroidnow.com

Come listen to an exciting free thyroid seminar…   Learn These Closely Held Medical Secrets For Successful Thyroid Recovery: The 7 patterns of thyroid imbalance The one food that could be making your thyroid problem worse

via fixmythyroidnow.com

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About Houston Thyroid Doctor

Thyroid Answers In Houston Texas Dr. Walter K. Crooks  has been helping thyroid patients since graduating from the Parker College of Chiropractic in 2000. Post Graduate Accomplishments: Pioneered THYROID NEURO-METABOLIC THERAPY Is a

via fixmythyroidnow.com

Thyroid Answers In Houston Texas Dr. Walter K. Crooks  has been helping thyroid patients since graduating from the Parker College of Chiropractic in 2000. Post Graduate Accomplishments: Pioneered THYROID NEURO-METABOLIC THERAPY Is a

via fixmythyroidnow.com

Read More

Thyroid {help} In Houston Texas

Why 80% of Women On Thyroid Medications WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER With Symptoms...



and



What You Can Do To FINALLY End Your Suffering!



Some 20 million Americans are affected by thyroid disorders…that is 1 in every 13 people!



And more than half of those people are unaware they have a thyroid problem because it frequently goes undiagnosed…until it gets severe.



According to the National Women’s Health Information Center, 1 in 8 women will experience a thyroid disorder during their lifetime.



The reason why may surprise you because I’m sure you’ve never heard it explained to you…that’s because most doctors are only vaguely familiar with thyroid disorders.



Using my background in functional neurology, functional endocrinology and functional immunology has allowed my patients to return to the life they always knew they wanted, a life free of hypothyroid symptoms!

Thyroid Treatment with Real & Lasting Results is now within your reach!



After studying more about thyroid disorders, I realized how poorly diagnosed and treated thyroid conditions are. I also noticed a very disturbing trend in the current treatment approach for these conditions, which I’ll reveal in a moment…



First, let’s learn more about how the thyroid works...



In healthy people, the thyroid makes just the right amounts of two hormones, T3 and T4.

These hormones have important actions throughout the body. Most importantly, they regulate many aspects of our metabolism, affecting how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, how much we weigh…and our general well-being.



In short, the thyroid "runs" our metabolism—it’s literally the “gas pedal” of the body.



Thyroid hormones also have direct effects on most organs, including the heart which beats faster and harder under the influence of increased thyroid hormones (this is why heart problems can often accompany chronic thyroid problems in women, and perhaps why heart problems are more common in women under the age of 50).



T3 is the more biologically active hormone (it’s more important for cellular function), and in fact most of T4 (80%) is converted to T3 in the body’s peripheral tissues. So T4 is just a precursor for the more active hormone, T3.



One of the problems in some thyroid disorders is that you may have trouble converting T4 to T3 in your tissues (have you been checked for this?). This can create a deficiency of T3, disrupting the body’s ability to properly regulate metabolism…leading to specific symptoms.



One of the controversial aspects of the most common thyroid medication, Synthroid, is that it is only T4. If you have difficulty converting T4 to T3 (and Synthroid is a synthetic form of T4, mind you) then this medication is not as effective.



Iodine is the primary element of T3 and T4 (T3 contains three iodine molecules and T4 contains four iodine molecules, respectively). This makes iodine essential to the production of these two important thyroid hormones.



In the United States, we rarely have an Iodine deficiency because of added iodine in the diet. In fact treating hypothyroidism in America with Iodine without a confirmation of Iodine deficiency through blood tests should NEVER be done!



Adding Iodine to a person in the absence of an Iodine deficiency increases that person's chances of acquiring an Auto Immune Disease of the Thyroid. I'll have more on that in a little while...



Before we go any further, let’s cover the three primary types of thyroid conditions:



Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism or Grave’s

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis



Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (slow thyroid)



Do you feel fatigued, tired or sluggish?



Do you have cold feet and/or hands?



Do you require excessive amounts of sleep to function?



Do you gain weight easily or have difficulty losing weight?



Do you have difficult or infrequent bowel movements (constipation)?



Are you depressed?



Do you lack motivation?



Do you suffer from morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses?



Do you suffer from thinning hair or excessive hair falling out?



Do you suffer from dryness of the skin and/or scalp?



Do you suffer from mental sluggishness?



Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormones or is unable to utilize the hormone that is available.



Since the main purpose of thyroid hormones is to "run the body's metabolism," it is logical that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.



Millions of Americans have this more common medical condition…and it often goes undetected in the early stages. Were you told that your results were “normal” and yet you continue to have symptoms?



Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism or Grave’s Disease (over-functioning thyroid)



Do you experience heart palpitations?

Do you suffer from inward trembling?

Do you have an increased pulse even at rest?

Are you nervous and/or emotional?

Do you suffer from insomnia?

Do you experience night sweats?

Do you have difficulty gaining weight?



Hyperthyroidism is the medical term to describe an over production of thyroid hormones. Although this condition is less common, it can precede a slowing down of the thyroid.



Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Is To Blame For About 80% of ALL Americans Suffering With Low Thyroid Symptoms!



Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland (this is an auto-immune disorder).



The diagnosed may be made through thyroid antibodies, however that is not always the case due to the length of time a patient has been afflicted with this autoimmune thyroid disease. They may not be actively making antibodies due in large part to their immune system is just plain tired!



Patients suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis will experience symptoms of hypothyroidism AND hyperthyroidism…MEANING they will experience some or ALL of the above symptoms.



Treating this with thyroid replacement hormones does nothing to stop the destruction of your thyroid! Yes, you need the hormone replacement, however the underlying problem is that your body is eating away at your own thyroid gland!



For as long as you and those that treat you ignore this immune system assault on your thyroid you will never feel healthy!

In fact you will continue to deteriorate!



There is an 80% chance that this is what is causing your continued symptoms, and it will continue to make you miserable, depressed, over weight and fatigued and your blood work will be quote "normal" .

However, you will feel anything but normal!



Since the thyroid gland controls the body’s metabolism, it can affect all of the systems of the body such as the gut, liver, gall bladder, hormones, cholesterol, brain (via neurotransmitters), adrenal glands, breasts, ovaries, and heart.



This is EXACTLY why your thyroid NEEDS to function at its optimal level.



Now, back to that disturbing trend I observed concerning the treatment of thyroid conditions…the disturbing trend: most thyroid sufferers are treated exactly the same!



This really bothers me because I understand from my knowledge of neurology that no two people react the same…especially with endocrine dysfunction.



Then why are all thyroid sufferers treated the same???



Did you know that there are MANY different blood tests that can be analyzed in order to determine exactly how your thyroid is affected? Most doctors just use the same old blood tests and never bother checking beyond those.



A vast majority of thyroid disease patients could be symptom free with using natural thyroid treatment methods.



Please don’t think that you should discontinue your medication.



I am NOT here to tell you to stop taking your current medications.



Our office would NEVER do that!



We actually work WITH your M.D. to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.



How do we do this?



We use very specific blood tests, which may include any or all of the following, depending on individual determination:



Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): the message sent from a gland in the brain (pituitary) to the thyroid

Free T3: an important hormone produced by the thyroid gland, considered to be the more biologically active hormone of the thyroid

Free T4: another important hormone produced by the thyroid gland

Thyroid Antibodies (TGB & TPO): checked in suspected cases of autoimmune thyroid disorders (see below)

Reverse T3: this is a wayward (or “reverse”) version of T3 and causes problems

Total T4: this is a reflection of how much total T4 hormone there is in the blood

Free Thyroxine Index (FTI): this is an estimate of how much thyroxine is in the blood

Resin T3 Uptake: this test measures the unsaturated binding sites on the thyroid proteins

Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP): checks electrolytes, blood sugar, and other markers that can indicate any disturbances in physiology

Lipid Panel: cholesterol, LDL, HDL, etc. because these can be related to endocrine dysfunction

Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/differential: this checks your cells counts—white blood cells, red blood cells, and so forth as well as a specific breakdown of certain white cells that can indicate an often overlooked pattern of endocrine change

Urinalysis: sometimes we discover substances your body is eliminating in the urine that shouldn’t be there



We ALSO test to see if you have an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is where your immune system attacks a particular area of the body (like the thyroid, for instance), so we test for specific thyroid antibodies to determine if YOU suffer from an autoimmune thyroid disease.



We can also check for certain food protein antibodies, myelin (fatty sheath around the nerves) antibodies, cerebellar (back part of the brain controlling balance, coordinated movement, and spinal muscles) antibodies.



Additionally we can test your adrenal glands (small glands on top of the kidneys) via an Adrenal Stress Index (ASI), many thyroid sufferers also suffer from adrenal problems.



Have you EVER been checked for any of the above antibodies or had an ASI?



Remember: NO TWO THYROID PATIENTS ARE ALIKE SO NOT ALL THYROID PATIENTS SHOULD EVER BE TREATED ALIKE!



Based on your PERSONAL blood chemistry, we can quickly determine what course of action will benefit you the most and get you on the road to recovery.



IF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BASED ON YOUR CURRENT BLOOD WORK, THEN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MOST LIKELY INACCURATE!



YOUR SPECIFIC CONDITION MUST BE ANALYZED VIA YOUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY RESULTS IN ORDER TO MAKE EFFECTIVE NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS!

In fact not doing so could make your thyroid condition that much worse!



Thyroid Treatment in Houston Texas is now a reality. Come to our free information packed educational Thyroid Workshop this Saturday, June 14, 2012 at 11:00 A.M.! Call 281-812-8101

http://FixMyThyroidNow.com

Thyroid

Why 80% of Women On Thyroid Medications WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER With Symptoms...



and



What You Can Do To FINALLY End Your Suffering!



Some 20 million Americans are affected by thyroid disorders…that is 1 in every 13 people!



And more than half of those people are unaware they have a thyroid problem because it frequently goes undiagnosed…until it gets severe.



According to the National Women’s Health Information Center, 1 in 8 women will experience a thyroid disorder during their lifetime.



The reason why may surprise you because I’m sure you’ve never heard it explained to you…that’s because most doctors are only vaguely familiar with thyroid disorders.



Using my background in functional neurology, functional endocrinology and functional immunology has allowed my patients to return to the life they always knew they wanted, a life free of hypothyroid symptoms!

Thyroid Treatment with Real & Lasting Results is now within your reach!



After studying more about thyroid disorders, I realized how poorly diagnosed and treated thyroid conditions are. I also noticed a very disturbing trend in the current treatment approach for these conditions, which I’ll reveal in a moment…



First, let’s learn more about how the thyroid works...



In healthy people, the thyroid makes just the right amounts of two hormones, T3 and T4.

These hormones have important actions throughout the body. Most importantly, they regulate many aspects of our metabolism, affecting how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, how much we weigh…and our general well-being.



In short, the thyroid "runs" our metabolism—it’s literally the “gas pedal” of the body.



Thyroid hormones also have direct effects on most organs, including the heart which beats faster and harder under the influence of increased thyroid hormones (this is why heart problems can often accompany chronic thyroid problems in women, and perhaps why heart problems are more common in women under the age of 50).



T3 is the more biologically active hormone (it’s more important for cellular function), and in fact most of T4 (80%) is converted to T3 in the body’s peripheral tissues. So T4 is just a precursor for the more active hormone, T3.



One of the problems in some thyroid disorders is that you may have trouble converting T4 to T3 in your tissues (have you been checked for this?). This can create a deficiency of T3, disrupting the body’s ability to properly regulate metabolism…leading to specific symptoms.



One of the controversial aspects of the most common thyroid medication, Synthroid, is that it is only T4. If you have difficulty converting T4 to T3 (and Synthroid is a synthetic form of T4, mind you) then this medication is not as effective.



Iodine is the primary element of T3 and T4 (T3 contains three iodine molecules and T4 contains four iodine molecules, respectively). This makes iodine essential to the production of these two important thyroid hormones.



In the United States, we rarely have an Iodine deficiency because of added iodine in the diet. In fact treating hypothyroidism in America with Iodine without a confirmation of Iodine deficiency through blood tests should NEVER be done!



Adding Iodine to a person in the absence of an Iodine deficiency increases that person's chances of acquiring an Auto Immune Disease of the Thyroid. I'll have more on that in a little while...



Before we go any further, let’s cover the three primary types of thyroid conditions:



Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism or Grave’s

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis



Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (slow thyroid)



Do you feel fatigued, tired or sluggish?



Do you have cold feet and/or hands?



Do you require excessive amounts of sleep to function?



Do you gain weight easily or have difficulty losing weight?



Do you have difficult or infrequent bowel movements (constipation)?



Are you depressed?



Do you lack motivation?



Do you suffer from morning headaches that wear off as the day progresses?



Do you suffer from thinning hair or excessive hair falling out?



Do you suffer from dryness of the skin and/or scalp?



Do you suffer from mental sluggishness?



Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormones or is unable to utilize the hormone that is available.



Since the main purpose of thyroid hormones is to "run the body's metabolism," it is logical that people with this condition will have symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.



Millions of Americans have this more common medical condition…and it often goes undetected in the early stages. Were you told that your results were “normal” and yet you continue to have symptoms?



Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism or Grave’s Disease (over-functioning thyroid)



Do you experience heart palpitations?

Do you suffer from inward trembling?

Do you have an increased pulse even at rest?

Are you nervous and/or emotional?

Do you suffer from insomnia?

Do you experience night sweats?

Do you have difficulty gaining weight?



Hyperthyroidism is the medical term to describe an over production of thyroid hormones. Although this condition is less common, it can precede a slowing down of the thyroid.



Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Is To Blame For About 80% of ALL Americans Suffering With Low Thyroid Symptoms!



Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland (this is an auto-immune disorder).



The diagnosed may be made through thyroid antibodies, however that is not always the case due to the length of time a patient has been afflicted with this autoimmune thyroid disease. They may not be actively making antibodies due in large part to their immune system is just plain tired!



Patients suffering from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis will experience symptoms of hypothyroidism AND hyperthyroidism…MEANING they will experience some or ALL of the above symptoms.



Treating this with thyroid replacement hormones does nothing to stop the destruction of your thyroid! Yes, you need the hormone replacement, however the underlying problem is that your body is eating away at your own thyroid gland!



For as long as you and those that treat you ignore this immune system assault on your thyroid you will never feel healthy!

In fact you will continue to deteriorate!



There is an 80% chance that this is what is causing your continued symptoms, and it will continue to make you miserable, depressed, over weight and fatigued and your blood work will be quote "normal" .

However, you will feel anything but normal!



Since the thyroid gland controls the body’s metabolism, it can affect all of the systems of the body such as the gut, liver, gall bladder, hormones, cholesterol, brain (via neurotransmitters), adrenal glands, breasts, ovaries, and heart.



This is EXACTLY why your thyroid NEEDS to function at its optimal level.



Now, back to that disturbing trend I observed concerning the treatment of thyroid conditions…the disturbing trend: most thyroid sufferers are treated exactly the same!



This really bothers me because I understand from my knowledge of neurology that no two people react the same…especially with endocrine dysfunction.



Then why are all thyroid sufferers treated the same???



Did you know that there are MANY different blood tests that can be analyzed in order to determine exactly how your thyroid is affected? Most doctors just use the same old blood tests and never bother checking beyond those.



A vast majority of thyroid disease patients could be symptom free with using natural thyroid treatment methods.



Please don’t think that you should discontinue your medication.



I am NOT here to tell you to stop taking your current medications.



Our office would NEVER do that!



We actually work WITH your M.D. to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.



How do we do this?



We use very specific blood tests, which may include any or all of the following, depending on individual determination:



Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): the message sent from a gland in the brain (pituitary) to the thyroid

Free T3: an important hormone produced by the thyroid gland, considered to be the more biologically active hormone of the thyroid

Free T4: another important hormone produced by the thyroid gland

Thyroid Antibodies (TGB & TPO): checked in suspected cases of autoimmune thyroid disorders (see below)

Reverse T3: this is a wayward (or “reverse”) version of T3 and causes problems

Total T4: this is a reflection of how much total T4 hormone there is in the blood

Free Thyroxine Index (FTI): this is an estimate of how much thyroxine is in the blood

Resin T3 Uptake: this test measures the unsaturated binding sites on the thyroid proteins

Complete Metabolic Profile (CMP): checks electrolytes, blood sugar, and other markers that can indicate any disturbances in physiology

Lipid Panel: cholesterol, LDL, HDL, etc. because these can be related to endocrine dysfunction

Complete Blood Count (CBC) w/differential: this checks your cells counts—white blood cells, red blood cells, and so forth as well as a specific breakdown of certain white cells that can indicate an often overlooked pattern of endocrine change

Urinalysis: sometimes we discover substances your body is eliminating in the urine that shouldn’t be there



We ALSO test to see if you have an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is where your immune system attacks a particular area of the body (like the thyroid, for instance), so we test for specific thyroid antibodies to determine if YOU suffer from an autoimmune thyroid disease.



We can also check for certain food protein antibodies, myelin (fatty sheath around the nerves) antibodies, cerebellar (back part of the brain controlling balance, coordinated movement, and spinal muscles) antibodies.



Additionally we can test your adrenal glands (small glands on top of the kidneys) via an Adrenal Stress Index (ASI), many thyroid sufferers also suffer from adrenal problems.



Have you EVER been checked for any of the above antibodies or had an ASI?



Remember: NO TWO THYROID PATIENTS ARE ALIKE SO NOT ALL THYROID PATIENTS SHOULD EVER BE TREATED ALIKE!



Based on your PERSONAL blood chemistry, we can quickly determine what course of action will benefit you the most and get you on the road to recovery.



IF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT BASED ON YOUR CURRENT BLOOD WORK, THEN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MOST LIKELY INACCURATE!



YOUR SPECIFIC CONDITION MUST BE ANALYZED VIA YOUR BLOOD CHEMISTRY RESULTS IN ORDER TO MAKE EFFECTIVE NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS!

In fact not doing so could make your thyroid condition that much worse!



Thyroid Treatment in Houston Texas is now a reality. Come to our free information packed educational Thyroid Workshop this Saturday, June 14, 2012 at 11:00 A.M.! Call 281-812-8101

http://FixMyThyroidNow.com

Thyroid

Read More

Legislators, doctors debate how health law will or should affect Kentucky; we answer some questions that were left hanging

By Tara Kaprowy and Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Though host Bill Goodman (above, in an advance promo) said they just "scratched the surface" on what the federal health-care reform law will mean for Kentucky, physicians and legislators debated Medicaid expansion, the implications of requiring people to buy health insurance, how to pay for it all and other questions last night on KET's "Kentucky Tonight" panel and call-in show.

Perhaps the biggest question about the law in Kentucky is whether the state will choose to expand Medicaid, allowing as many as 329,000 more people with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty threshold to qualify for the program for the poor and disabled and be paid for entirely by the federal government in 2014-16. State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, pushed hard for the expansion, saying "We can't leave 100 percent of the money laying on the table."

Starting in 2017, the amount of federal contribution will start to decrease — to 95 percent in 2017, 94 percent in 2018, 93 percent in 2019 and 90 percent in 2020 and subsequent years, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation.

Kentucky already has a $400 million shortfall in its budget, said Republican state Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, and would need "$515 to $695 million by 2020" to pay for the additional recipients. Other Republicans have said that would require higher taxes or cuts in services, and called for Gov. Steve Beshear to reject the expansion, but supporters of the law argue that the state will save money overall. For that story, click here.

Louisville urologist Michael Macfarlane, a member of the state Republican executive committee, said he would like to see everyone get health care, but "It really boils down to how are we are going pay for this. . . . In every program like this they underestimate what the future entails. . . . The money is not out there. . . . We are going to be Greece and Spain before long."

Marzian replied, "We are paying now for our uninsured folks that we can put onto Medicaid." Noting that the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to help the Kentucky Speedway and the Kentucky Horse Park and build the Yum! Center in Louisville, she asked, "Why can’t we help our middle class and the poorest of the poor get health insurance and health care?" She said the law will stimulate the economy because having more people insured will generate more need for health-care services and health-care jobs.

The panel also debated the implications of the law's requirement to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld as a legitimate use of the taxing power of Congress. Marzian said requiring people to buy health insurance is "personal responsibility" since "everybody uses health care at some point."

Buford, an insurance agent and the chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, contended that instead of buying health insurance, those not eligible for Medicaid could just choose to pay the penalty ($695 for individuals or up to 2.5 percent of the household income, the Kaiser Foundation notes) and when hospital care is needed, "She can buy insurance on her way in the ambulance," and after being treated, can cancel the policy.

"That is simply not true," Marzian said. "There is a waiting period." Well, not exactly.

Nicole Huberfeld, a University of Kentucky law professor whom Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited in her opinion, told Kentucky Health News, "The law allows for one three-month grace period of non-coverage per year, so if a person were uncovered, then covered, then uncovered, then covered, penalties would be assessed for the second two non-covered periods." She called that scenario "economically inefficient" since "Most people do not choose to pay something, the tax penalty, for nothing: opting not to have insurance coverage."

In his blog for MoneyTalks News, Stacy Johnson argued that buying health coverage only when it's needed might also backfire: "If you go to the emergency room for a broken leg, will you sit there in agony, applying for insurance and waiting as long as it takes for newly purchased insurance to kick in?"

The liveliest debate on the hour-long show was between the two doctors, Macfarlane and Morehead internist Ewell Scott.

Macfarlane said, "This system really has nothing to do with helping people get health insurance, this system is really going to take over health care . . . directly by computer programs and protocols out of Washington," which he said will ration care and socialize the system. He said a new coding system that will require physicians to select from a vast number of codes — up to 68,000 in the new system from 13,000 in the old one, the American Medical Association indicates — to describe in detail the diagnosis and treatment of each case.

Scott replied, "I think Dr. Macfarlane, with all due respect, is crazy. . . . This is not going to happen." Asked is and how Macfarlane was misstating the facts, Scott said, "This is not going to be a problem for the physician." Macfarlane replied, "That's just not true."

The system in question is the International Classification of Diseases. The ninth version of the system has been in place for 30 years. The transition to ICD-10 will be effective Oct. 1, 2013, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Despite the increased number of codes, it is not expected to be more time-consuming for providers because "each diagnosis or procedure gets only one code," said Don McLeod, spokesman for the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Scott acknowledged the law is not perfect and "does nothing to control costs in the long run," but called it "a baby step forward for getting us out of this terrible, dysfunctional health-care financing system we've gotten ourselves into." Scott noted the U.S. has the most expensive health-care system in the world "by double" but has "the worst outcomes in the world." A study by The Commonwealth Fund ranked the U.S. sixth of the seven main industrialized countries in terms of quality.

Macfarlane maintained, "We have the best system in the world." He acknowledged changes are needed, but "The idea that the mandate will pay for this is just false." Large swaths of the population, including young adults, undocumented immigrants and people who are out of work, will continue to avoid buying health insurance, he said. (In fact, undocumented immigrants are exempt from paying the penalty, according to the Kaiser Foundation.)

Goodman ended the show by acknowledging the subject's complexity and the need for more discussion on another episode later this summer or in early fall. To view the show, click here.

Kentucky Health News is a service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

By Tara Kaprowy and Al Cross
Kentucky Health News

Though host Bill Goodman (above, in an advance promo) said they just "scratched the surface" on what the federal health-care reform law will mean for Kentucky, physicians and legislators debated Medicaid expansion, the implications of requiring people to buy health insurance, how to pay for it all and other questions last night on KET's "Kentucky Tonight" panel and call-in show.

Perhaps the biggest question about the law in Kentucky is whether the state will choose to expand Medicaid, allowing as many as 329,000 more people with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty threshold to qualify for the program for the poor and disabled and be paid for entirely by the federal government in 2014-16. State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, pushed hard for the expansion, saying "We can't leave 100 percent of the money laying on the table."

Starting in 2017, the amount of federal contribution will start to decrease — to 95 percent in 2017, 94 percent in 2018, 93 percent in 2019 and 90 percent in 2020 and subsequent years, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation.

Kentucky already has a $400 million shortfall in its budget, said Republican state Sen. Tom Buford of Nicholasville, and would need "$515 to $695 million by 2020" to pay for the additional recipients. Other Republicans have said that would require higher taxes or cuts in services, and called for Gov. Steve Beshear to reject the expansion, but supporters of the law argue that the state will save money overall. For that story, click here.

Louisville urologist Michael Macfarlane, a member of the state Republican executive committee, said he would like to see everyone get health care, but "It really boils down to how are we are going pay for this. . . . In every program like this they underestimate what the future entails. . . . The money is not out there. . . . We are going to be Greece and Spain before long."

Marzian replied, "We are paying now for our uninsured folks that we can put onto Medicaid." Noting that the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to help the Kentucky Speedway and the Kentucky Horse Park and build the Yum! Center in Louisville, she asked, "Why can’t we help our middle class and the poorest of the poor get health insurance and health care?" She said the law will stimulate the economy because having more people insured will generate more need for health-care services and health-care jobs.

The panel also debated the implications of the law's requirement to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld as a legitimate use of the taxing power of Congress. Marzian said requiring people to buy health insurance is "personal responsibility" since "everybody uses health care at some point."

Buford, an insurance agent and the chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, contended that instead of buying health insurance, those not eligible for Medicaid could just choose to pay the penalty ($695 for individuals or up to 2.5 percent of the household income, the Kaiser Foundation notes) and when hospital care is needed, "She can buy insurance on her way in the ambulance," and after being treated, can cancel the policy.

"That is simply not true," Marzian said. "There is a waiting period." Well, not exactly.

Nicole Huberfeld, a University of Kentucky law professor whom Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited in her opinion, told Kentucky Health News, "The law allows for one three-month grace period of non-coverage per year, so if a person were uncovered, then covered, then uncovered, then covered, penalties would be assessed for the second two non-covered periods." She called that scenario "economically inefficient" since "Most people do not choose to pay something, the tax penalty, for nothing: opting not to have insurance coverage."

In his blog for MoneyTalks News, Stacy Johnson argued that buying health coverage only when it's needed might also backfire: "If you go to the emergency room for a broken leg, will you sit there in agony, applying for insurance and waiting as long as it takes for newly purchased insurance to kick in?"

The liveliest debate on the hour-long show was between the two doctors, Macfarlane and Morehead internist Ewell Scott.

Macfarlane said, "This system really has nothing to do with helping people get health insurance, this system is really going to take over health care . . . directly by computer programs and protocols out of Washington," which he said will ration care and socialize the system. He said a new coding system that will require physicians to select from a vast number of codes — up to 68,000 in the new system from 13,000 in the old one, the American Medical Association indicates — to describe in detail the diagnosis and treatment of each case.

Scott replied, "I think Dr. Macfarlane, with all due respect, is crazy. . . . This is not going to happen." Asked is and how Macfarlane was misstating the facts, Scott said, "This is not going to be a problem for the physician." Macfarlane replied, "That's just not true."

The system in question is the International Classification of Diseases. The ninth version of the system has been in place for 30 years. The transition to ICD-10 will be effective Oct. 1, 2013, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Despite the increased number of codes, it is not expected to be more time-consuming for providers because "each diagnosis or procedure gets only one code," said Don McLeod, spokesman for the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Scott acknowledged the law is not perfect and "does nothing to control costs in the long run," but called it "a baby step forward for getting us out of this terrible, dysfunctional health-care financing system we've gotten ourselves into." Scott noted the U.S. has the most expensive health-care system in the world "by double" but has "the worst outcomes in the world." A study by The Commonwealth Fund ranked the U.S. sixth of the seven main industrialized countries in terms of quality.

Macfarlane maintained, "We have the best system in the world." He acknowledged changes are needed, but "The idea that the mandate will pay for this is just false." Large swaths of the population, including young adults, undocumented immigrants and people who are out of work, will continue to avoid buying health insurance, he said. (In fact, undocumented immigrants are exempt from paying the penalty, according to the Kaiser Foundation.)

Goodman ended the show by acknowledging the subject's complexity and the need for more discussion on another episode later this summer or in early fall. To view the show, click here.

Kentucky Health News is a service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

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Expanding Medicaid will save the state money by eliminating much expense on the uninsured, think tank and op-ed writer argue

If Kentucky chooses to expand Medicaid eligibility up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, the state will gain in key areas, argues Jason Bailey, director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, right, in an op-ed piece in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Citing numbers from the Urban Institute, Bailey said the law will provide more than 400,000 Kentuckians with health insurance whether through the expansion of Medicaid or through the state insurance exchange, a number he told Kentucky Health News is a "conservative estimate."

But the kicker is the move will also "result in deep savings in money now spent on the uninsured," he writes. Bailey again quotes from the Urban Institute report, which indicates the state will save between $140 million and $828 million in the first six years of the law in large part because of the decreased use of emergency rooms and because Medicaid will pick up most of the tab for mental health services, which states and local governments mostly shoulder alone.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, though, estimates that states' Medicaid spending will rise by 2.2 percent by 2022 if they decide to expand Medicaid. But that number "actually overstates the net impact on state budgets because it does not reflect the savings that state and local governments will realize in health-care costs for the uninsured," CBPP spokesperson Shannon Spillane told Suzy Khimm for The Washington Post. "In fact, states could end up with a net gain." (Read more)

If Kentucky chooses to expand Medicaid eligibility up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, the state will gain in key areas, argues Jason Bailey, director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, right, in an op-ed piece in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Citing numbers from the Urban Institute, Bailey said the law will provide more than 400,000 Kentuckians with health insurance whether through the expansion of Medicaid or through the state insurance exchange, a number he told Kentucky Health News is a "conservative estimate."

But the kicker is the move will also "result in deep savings in money now spent on the uninsured," he writes. Bailey again quotes from the Urban Institute report, which indicates the state will save between $140 million and $828 million in the first six years of the law in large part because of the decreased use of emergency rooms and because Medicaid will pick up most of the tab for mental health services, which states and local governments mostly shoulder alone.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, though, estimates that states' Medicaid spending will rise by 2.2 percent by 2022 if they decide to expand Medicaid. But that number "actually overstates the net impact on state budgets because it does not reflect the savings that state and local governments will realize in health-care costs for the uninsured," CBPP spokesperson Shannon Spillane told Suzy Khimm for The Washington Post. "In fact, states could end up with a net gain." (Read more)

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Who is on Medicaid already? Not all poor Kentuckians, foundation president says on op-ed distributed to Kentucky newspapers

By Susan Zepeda
President and CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision upholding much of the Affordable Care Act, states have many factors to weigh. Importantly, SCOTUS affirmed the right of states to opt out of the expansion in Medicaid coverage envisioned under Affordable Care, without penalty. Some state and national leaders have been heard to say that the poor are “already covered under Medicaid.”

Currently, nearly 15 percent of Kentuckians lack health insurance, including approximately 290,000 low-income adults who are uninsured and would be eligible for the Medicaid expansion. It may surprise many to know that about eight out of 10 uninsured Kentuckians are working adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Kentucky could benefit the most, compared to other states, as a result of the Medicaid expansion — with about 57 percent of our uninsured adults newly eligible for coverage.

While many believe that Medicaid provides coverage for all low-income individuals, Medicaid coverage is actually quite complex, with significant state-to-state variation. In Kentucky:
• Working parents are eligible for Medicaid only if they earn 62 percent or less of the federal poverty level - less than $8,926 per year for a family of two.
• Jobless parents are eligible if their total income is 36 percent or less of the federal poverty level – less than $5,144 per year for a family of two.
• Pregnant women are eligible if their income is up to 185 percent of the poverty level (about $20,665) but lose this eligibility, dropping to the lower income limits above, after the child is born.
• Legal immigrants, child or adult, in the U.S. for less than five years, are not eligible for Medicaid. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid coverage regardless of how long they’ve been in the U.S.

Susan Zepeda

In short, not all Kentuckians living in poverty are covered by Medicaid. If Kentucky does not take the option of expanding Medicaid, many individuals and families living in low-income and poor households will be left without health-insurance access.

The new law also creates health insurance exchanges, and places limits on out-of-pocket expenses on health insurance depending on income level. While these subsidies will allow many low-income parents and individuals to purchase health insurance, they appear only to be available for families above the poverty level.

And other pieces of the law were developed with the assumption that all states would expand Medicaid coverage. Because of this assumption, cuts to other federal health funding are built into the continuing roll-out of the Affordable Care law: For example, nationally Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding has provided an average of 95 percent of uncompensated care costs for state-owned hospitals; 69 percent of uncompensated care for local public hospitals; and 38 percent of uncompensated care for private hospitals. The law will reduce DSH funding by $14 billion over 10 years, starting in 2014.

This funding decrease to key providers was supposed to be offset by the increase in Medicaid coverage, since the number of uninsured individuals seen at hospitals would drop significantly under the Medicaid expansion. If Kentucky opts out of the Medicaid expansion, however, state, local, and private hospitals could be faced with sharp increases in uncompensated care (care provided but not paid).

The coming months will present opportunities for our state leaders to look at the sometimes difficult health realities of our Commonwealth and make decisions that will best serve the health of all Kentuckians. To quote the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”

Susan G. Zepeda is president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, a non-profit, non-partisan philanthropic organization that invests in communities and informs health policy through research, education and grant making.

By Susan Zepeda
President and CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision upholding much of the Affordable Care Act, states have many factors to weigh. Importantly, SCOTUS affirmed the right of states to opt out of the expansion in Medicaid coverage envisioned under Affordable Care, without penalty. Some state and national leaders have been heard to say that the poor are “already covered under Medicaid.”

Currently, nearly 15 percent of Kentuckians lack health insurance, including approximately 290,000 low-income adults who are uninsured and would be eligible for the Medicaid expansion. It may surprise many to know that about eight out of 10 uninsured Kentuckians are working adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Kentucky could benefit the most, compared to other states, as a result of the Medicaid expansion — with about 57 percent of our uninsured adults newly eligible for coverage.

While many believe that Medicaid provides coverage for all low-income individuals, Medicaid coverage is actually quite complex, with significant state-to-state variation. In Kentucky:
• Working parents are eligible for Medicaid only if they earn 62 percent or less of the federal poverty level - less than $8,926 per year for a family of two.
• Jobless parents are eligible if their total income is 36 percent or less of the federal poverty level – less than $5,144 per year for a family of two.
• Pregnant women are eligible if their income is up to 185 percent of the poverty level (about $20,665) but lose this eligibility, dropping to the lower income limits above, after the child is born.
• Legal immigrants, child or adult, in the U.S. for less than five years, are not eligible for Medicaid. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid coverage regardless of how long they’ve been in the U.S.

Susan Zepeda

In short, not all Kentuckians living in poverty are covered by Medicaid. If Kentucky does not take the option of expanding Medicaid, many individuals and families living in low-income and poor households will be left without health-insurance access.

The new law also creates health insurance exchanges, and places limits on out-of-pocket expenses on health insurance depending on income level. While these subsidies will allow many low-income parents and individuals to purchase health insurance, they appear only to be available for families above the poverty level.

And other pieces of the law were developed with the assumption that all states would expand Medicaid coverage. Because of this assumption, cuts to other federal health funding are built into the continuing roll-out of the Affordable Care law: For example, nationally Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding has provided an average of 95 percent of uncompensated care costs for state-owned hospitals; 69 percent of uncompensated care for local public hospitals; and 38 percent of uncompensated care for private hospitals. The law will reduce DSH funding by $14 billion over 10 years, starting in 2014.

This funding decrease to key providers was supposed to be offset by the increase in Medicaid coverage, since the number of uninsured individuals seen at hospitals would drop significantly under the Medicaid expansion. If Kentucky opts out of the Medicaid expansion, however, state, local, and private hospitals could be faced with sharp increases in uncompensated care (care provided but not paid).

The coming months will present opportunities for our state leaders to look at the sometimes difficult health realities of our Commonwealth and make decisions that will best serve the health of all Kentuckians. To quote the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”

Susan G. Zepeda is president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, a non-profit, non-partisan philanthropic organization that invests in communities and informs health policy through research, education and grant making.

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Radiology Second Opinion Service Online

How would you or your Doctor like the ability to upload all your radiology exams, including MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, Mammograms and Ultrasounds and receive a detailed second opinion report?

Well, now you or your Doctor can upload your exams conveniently. These reports are prepared by Metis MD board-certified sub-specialized radiologists with 10 years or more experience. Metis MD is an online service providing a second opinion on all your medical imaging.

Because this service is online, it is available to patients anywhere worldwide. Your report will include detailed anatomic descriptions that focus on both the patient's and doctor's specific concerns. These radiology exams are compared with other exams, by experts, making solid recommendations based on correlations between the scans and the patient's medical history. These experts will explain their findings to the patient and/or physician, rating the quality of the scan.

"This service breaks new ground in consumer healthcare" stated Gregory Goldstein, MD, Metis MD founder and president. Dr. Goldstein went on to explain "Giving patients direct access to highly skilled board-certified radiologists has not been done like this before".

Medical imaging plays a key role in medical care and patients have an extremely important say on who and where they receive healthcare from. Patients should receive the very best information in order to, confidently, make the best treatment decisions along with their physicians.

With more and more patients wanting to have more control over final decisions regarding their treatments, Metis MD is giving them the second opinion they are looking for. Second opinions offer patients the power to decide what avenues they have and which ones they wish to take. Metis MD will offer clear, concise findings with expert advice based on the patient's medical history and the findings by the report.

Metis MD will offer you the very best service at very affordable rates, all online. You no longer have to wait for a service to pickup your exams from your Doctor and take weeks to get the results back. Or travel a great distance to sit in a waiting room for hours for a second opinion. Your particular situation is handled with the highest confidentiality and highest expert opinions.

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

How would you or your Doctor like the ability to upload all your radiology exams, including MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, Mammograms and Ultrasounds and receive a detailed second opinion report?

Well, now you or your Doctor can upload your exams conveniently. These reports are prepared by Metis MD board-certified sub-specialized radiologists with 10 years or more experience. Metis MD is an online service providing a second opinion on all your medical imaging.

Because this service is online, it is available to patients anywhere worldwide. Your report will include detailed anatomic descriptions that focus on both the patient's and doctor's specific concerns. These radiology exams are compared with other exams, by experts, making solid recommendations based on correlations between the scans and the patient's medical history. These experts will explain their findings to the patient and/or physician, rating the quality of the scan.

"This service breaks new ground in consumer healthcare" stated Gregory Goldstein, MD, Metis MD founder and president. Dr. Goldstein went on to explain "Giving patients direct access to highly skilled board-certified radiologists has not been done like this before".

Medical imaging plays a key role in medical care and patients have an extremely important say on who and where they receive healthcare from. Patients should receive the very best information in order to, confidently, make the best treatment decisions along with their physicians.

With more and more patients wanting to have more control over final decisions regarding their treatments, Metis MD is giving them the second opinion they are looking for. Second opinions offer patients the power to decide what avenues they have and which ones they wish to take. Metis MD will offer clear, concise findings with expert advice based on the patient's medical history and the findings by the report.

Metis MD will offer you the very best service at very affordable rates, all online. You no longer have to wait for a service to pickup your exams from your Doctor and take weeks to get the results back. Or travel a great distance to sit in a waiting room for hours for a second opinion. Your particular situation is handled with the highest confidentiality and highest expert opinions.

About Dr Kevin Lau

Dr Kevin Lau DC is the founder of Health In Your Hands, a series of tools for Scoliosis prevention and treatment. The set includes his book Your Plan for Natural Scoliosis Prevention and Treatment, a companion Scoliosis Exercises for Prevention and Correction DVD and the innovative new iPhone application ScolioTrack. Dr Kevin Lau is a graduate in Doctor of Chiropractic from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia and Masters in Holistic Nutrition. He is a member of International Society On Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT), the leading international society on conservative treatment of spinal deformities. In 2006 I was awarded the "Best Health-care Provider Awards" by the largest Newspaper publication in Singapore on October 18 2006 as well as being interviewed on Primetime Channel News Asia as well as other TV and Radio. For more information on Dr Kevin Lau, watch his interviews or get a free sneak peek of his book, go to: http://www.hiyh.info.

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U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks at
a Rotary Club meeting in Louisville.
(C-J photo by Michael Clevenger)

With Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell calling the federal health-care reform law a tax on the middle class, Courier-Journal Washington correspondent James R. Carroll collects the findings of independent fact-checking services to assess whether McConnell is accurate.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 4 million people would pay the tax or penalty for not being covered by insurance in 2016, which translates to about 1.2 percent of the population. But Glenn Kessler of The Fact Checker at The Washington Post, relying on CBO estimates, reported "that 16 million people will receive subsidies or tax credits to help pay for health coverage — about 5 percent of the population."

"It's worth noting that the health law involves more taxes than just a penalty on the uninsured," Kessler notes, including an excise tax on plans with very high premiums; fees for manufacturers and insurers; higher Medicare payroll taxes for people who make more than $200,000 a year; a tax on manufacturers of medical devices; and a tax on indoor tanning services. All told, "it's a stretch to say that any of these taxes will affect the middle class."

McConnell's assertion that President Obama is raising taxes with the individual mandate is also a double-edged sword: a similar penalty was passed with the health-care overhaul in Massachusetts while Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was governor. On that point, McConnell said "Romney will have to speak for himself." Last week, Romney said requiring all Americans to buy health insurance is equivalent to a tax, but that ran counter to how he viewed it earlier in the week.

McConnell told the Louisville Rotary Club last week that repealing the law would be his top priority if Republicans win the presidency in November, reports Chris Kenning for The Courier-Journal. (Read more)

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks at
a Rotary Club meeting in Louisville.
(C-J photo by Michael Clevenger)

With Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell calling the federal health-care reform law a tax on the middle class, Courier-Journal Washington correspondent James R. Carroll collects the findings of independent fact-checking services to assess whether McConnell is accurate.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 4 million people would pay the tax or penalty for not being covered by insurance in 2016, which translates to about 1.2 percent of the population. But Glenn Kessler of The Fact Checker at The Washington Post, relying on CBO estimates, reported "that 16 million people will receive subsidies or tax credits to help pay for health coverage — about 5 percent of the population."

"It's worth noting that the health law involves more taxes than just a penalty on the uninsured," Kessler notes, including an excise tax on plans with very high premiums; fees for manufacturers and insurers; higher Medicare payroll taxes for people who make more than $200,000 a year; a tax on manufacturers of medical devices; and a tax on indoor tanning services. All told, "it's a stretch to say that any of these taxes will affect the middle class."

McConnell's assertion that President Obama is raising taxes with the individual mandate is also a double-edged sword: a similar penalty was passed with the health-care overhaul in Massachusetts while Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was governor. On that point, McConnell said "Romney will have to speak for himself." Last week, Romney said requiring all Americans to buy health insurance is equivalent to a tax, but that ran counter to how he viewed it earlier in the week.

McConnell told the Louisville Rotary Club last week that repealing the law would be his top priority if Republicans win the presidency in November, reports Chris Kenning for The Courier-Journal. (Read more)

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FDA approves fast, take-home test that detects HIV

A model demonstrates how to use the OraQuick test, which
detects the presence of HIV in saliva.
AP photo by Chuck Zovko.

Soon, taking an HIV test will be no more complicated than swabbing one's mouth and waiting for the results. The Federal Food and Drug Administration last week approved the OraQuick test, which detects HIV antibodies and gives a result in 20 to 40 minutes. 

Orasure plans to start selling the test in October at local pharmacies and online, reports Matthew Perrone for The Associated Press. It is expected to cost less than $60 but more than the one used by health professionals, which costs $17.50.

About 240,000 of the 1.2 million people who are suspected of carrying the HIV virus don't know they are infected. 

The FDA says the test is not 100 percent accurate, but a trial conducted by Orasure showed it only detected HIV in people who have the virus 92 percent of the time. It was 99.9 accurate ruling out HIV in people not carrying the virus. People who test negative should re-test after three months because it can take time for the HIV antibodies to appear. (Read more)

A model demonstrates how to use the OraQuick test, which
detects the presence of HIV in saliva.
AP photo by Chuck Zovko.

Soon, taking an HIV test will be no more complicated than swabbing one's mouth and waiting for the results. The Federal Food and Drug Administration last week approved the OraQuick test, which detects HIV antibodies and gives a result in 20 to 40 minutes. 

Orasure plans to start selling the test in October at local pharmacies and online, reports Matthew Perrone for The Associated Press. It is expected to cost less than $60 but more than the one used by health professionals, which costs $17.50.

About 240,000 of the 1.2 million people who are suspected of carrying the HIV virus don't know they are infected. 

The FDA says the test is not 100 percent accurate, but a trial conducted by Orasure showed it only detected HIV in people who have the virus 92 percent of the time. It was 99.9 accurate ruling out HIV in people not carrying the virus. People who test negative should re-test after three months because it can take time for the HIV antibodies to appear. (Read more)

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Tensions mounting as implementation of prescription drug bill nears on July 20

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg,
sponsored the prescription drug bill.
(Courier-Journal photo)

A controversial bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse, which was considered by many as the hallmark of the 2012 General Assembly, is creating tension as its implementation draws nearer. It takes effect July 20.

House Bill 1 puts more restrictions on pain clinics to prevent so-called pill mills from setting up shop in the state. It also requires doctors who prescribe controlled substances to use the state's drug-monitoring system known as KASPER. It further requires licensing boards to set up standards to increase oversight and spell out how doctors should be using KASPER. "But many of the details remain uncertain — including how frequently doctors must run searches of patients — and several areas are poised to drive a wedge between the medical industry and lawmakers in the coming months," reports Mike Wynn for The Courier-Journal.

The Kentucky  Board of Medical Licensure has written a draft proposal with dozens of new rules that have prompted confusion and anger among physicians. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's sponsor, has questioned the move. "What it appears to me they are doing is almost making it over burdensome to practitioners, and one might argue that is an attempt to make the entire system fail," he said.

Given the anticipated impasse, some expect Gov. Steve Beshear "to sign emergency regulations that will achieve at least some of the goals of HB 1, but those would expire within six months and wouldn't be subject to a prior review process," Wynn reports. (Read more)

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg,
sponsored the prescription drug bill.
(Courier-Journal photo)

A controversial bill aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse, which was considered by many as the hallmark of the 2012 General Assembly, is creating tension as its implementation draws nearer. It takes effect July 20.

House Bill 1 puts more restrictions on pain clinics to prevent so-called pill mills from setting up shop in the state. It also requires doctors who prescribe controlled substances to use the state's drug-monitoring system known as KASPER. It further requires licensing boards to set up standards to increase oversight and spell out how doctors should be using KASPER. "But many of the details remain uncertain — including how frequently doctors must run searches of patients — and several areas are poised to drive a wedge between the medical industry and lawmakers in the coming months," reports Mike Wynn for The Courier-Journal.

The Kentucky  Board of Medical Licensure has written a draft proposal with dozens of new rules that have prompted confusion and anger among physicians. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's sponsor, has questioned the move. "What it appears to me they are doing is almost making it over burdensome to practitioners, and one might argue that is an attempt to make the entire system fail," he said.

Given the anticipated impasse, some expect Gov. Steve Beshear "to sign emergency regulations that will achieve at least some of the goals of HB 1, but those would expire within six months and wouldn't be subject to a prior review process," Wynn reports. (Read more)

Read More

After losing weight, get the same number of calories from fat and carbs to maintain weight loss, study suggests

Subjects on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet did not do
as well when it came to keeping weight off, a study
has found. (Photo by Tetra Images)

All calories may not be equal when it comes to weight loss, the results of a small study show. It found that people who ate a diet of an even amount of carbohydrates and fat were the winners when it came to shedding pounds.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 21 overweight men and women. After following a 12-week weight-loss regimen in which they lost 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, the subjects were divided into three groups and fed a different kind of diet. One diet was low-fat (60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein). A second was low in carbohydrates: 10 percent carbs, 60 percent fat and 30 percent protein. The third was called a "low glycemic index diet," with 40 percent carbs, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein.

In all three diets, while the subjects were at rest, they burned fewer calories than before they lost weight. "But over the course of the day, the subjects burned more than 300 additional calories on average when on the very low-carbohydrate diet compared with the low-fat diet," reports Eryn Brown for the Los Angeles Times. However, "blood samples drawn from the participants in the low-carb diet phase contained elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as C-reactive protein, which signals chronic inflammation in the body and has been linked to cardiovascular disease."

Subjects on the low glycemic diet burned 200 more calories than those on the low-fat diet and did not have the problems associated with the high-carb diet, prompting the study's senior author, Dr. David Ludwig, to recommend it as the best course of action. (Read more)

Subjects on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet did not do
as well when it came to keeping weight off, a study
has found. (Photo by Tetra Images)

All calories may not be equal when it comes to weight loss, the results of a small study show. It found that people who ate a diet of an even amount of carbohydrates and fat were the winners when it came to shedding pounds.

The study, which was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 21 overweight men and women. After following a 12-week weight-loss regimen in which they lost 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, the subjects were divided into three groups and fed a different kind of diet. One diet was low-fat (60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein). A second was low in carbohydrates: 10 percent carbs, 60 percent fat and 30 percent protein. The third was called a "low glycemic index diet," with 40 percent carbs, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein.

In all three diets, while the subjects were at rest, they burned fewer calories than before they lost weight. "But over the course of the day, the subjects burned more than 300 additional calories on average when on the very low-carbohydrate diet compared with the low-fat diet," reports Eryn Brown for the Los Angeles Times. However, "blood samples drawn from the participants in the low-carb diet phase contained elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol as well as C-reactive protein, which signals chronic inflammation in the body and has been linked to cardiovascular disease."

Subjects on the low glycemic diet burned 200 more calories than those on the low-fat diet and did not have the problems associated with the high-carb diet, prompting the study's senior author, Dr. David Ludwig, to recommend it as the best course of action. (Read more)

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Revealing more about FIP

Pedersen NC, Liu H, Scarlett J, et al. Feline infectious peritonitis: Role of the feline coronavirus 3c gene in intestinal tropism and pathogenicity based upon isolates from resident and adopted shelter cats. Virus Research 2012;165:17-28. 
  
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a complex disease involving a mutant coronavirus. The specific mutation that occurs allowing this normally innocuous virus to cause a fatal disease remains unclear. A particular virus protein, the 3c protein, has been investigated as a possible viral mutational site contributing to disease development. These investigators found that this protein appears to be involved with the ability of the virus to replicate in the intestines. Mutations in the gene for this protein lead to the virus being unable to replicate in the intestinal tract and thus unable to be shed in feces. More than half of the FIP viruses they analyzed had a mutation in the 3c gene. This may explain why FIP outbreaks with cat-to-cat transmission of the mutant virus rarely occurs – it is simply no longer shed in feces once this mutation occurs. While we still don’t know what makes the FIP virus so nasty, we have gained a better understanding of its strange epidemiology. [MK]

See also: Brown MA. Genetic determinants of pathogenesis by feline infectious peritonitis virus. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011;143:265-268.

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Pedersen NC, Liu H, Scarlett J, et al. Feline infectious peritonitis: Role of the feline coronavirus 3c gene in intestinal tropism and pathogenicity based upon isolates from resident and adopted shelter cats. Virus Research 2012;165:17-28. 
  
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a complex disease involving a mutant coronavirus. The specific mutation that occurs allowing this normally innocuous virus to cause a fatal disease remains unclear. A particular virus protein, the 3c protein, has been investigated as a possible viral mutational site contributing to disease development. These investigators found that this protein appears to be involved with the ability of the virus to replicate in the intestines. Mutations in the gene for this protein lead to the virus being unable to replicate in the intestinal tract and thus unable to be shed in feces. More than half of the FIP viruses they analyzed had a mutation in the 3c gene. This may explain why FIP outbreaks with cat-to-cat transmission of the mutant virus rarely occurs – it is simply no longer shed in feces once this mutation occurs. While we still don’t know what makes the FIP virus so nasty, we have gained a better understanding of its strange epidemiology. [MK]

See also: Brown MA. Genetic determinants of pathogenesis by feline infectious peritonitis virus. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011;143:265-268.

More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Read the Cat Health News Weekly
Join us on Google+

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