All areas of study and action have their virtuoso. That person who is ‘first among equals’; George Washington was most famously, known by this phrase.

 

So too in medicine, there are great specialists and then there are others who are acknowledged as being just a slight cut above those of highest caliber. Here in The Valley, we have so many wonderful physician specialists that it makes medical practice here a pleasure, and it gives me confidence in the care you are getting from these skilled professionals. You can access that list on the RECOMMENDED PROVIDER list on our website.

 

Among those who are recommended, there are some who are the virtuosos. I have found them through professional relationships, but more often from patients who have told me of someone they ran into here or in their hometown, and I have accumulated a list of them. If for some reason you need a medical or surgical virtuoso, be in touch and we’ll either have that name…or we’ll find it.

 

For now, enjoy this musical performance by the virtuoso who got me thinking about this topic …accordionist Alexandr Hrustevich …something truly special.

 

Doctor Doug:

I heard on the news that one of my  medications was recalled due to chemical concerns and cancer risk.  Can you tell me what you recommend I do?

Sid

 

I responded

Sid;
Right now…..several blood pressure medications are being implicated with concerns of imperfect production with chemical ‘taint’.
The studies do not support any short term worries, but nonetheless, this is not ideal or acceptable over time.

Plan:
1. Call your pharmacy and check to see if your medication lot# has been recalled.

2. Get an alternative producer if your manufacturer or lot has been directly recalled, if available in that pharmacy. If not, call an alternative pharmacy to see about their medication and lots.
2. Return to our website where we will post and updated list on medications that are recalled and resources where you can locate information
3. Continue on your current medication dose and type if it is working as there may be no perfectly safe harbor until this issue is clarified.

D

 

LINKS

Lack of short term risk of tainted medications

https://www.tctmd.com/news/lack-short-term-cancer-risk-tainted-valsartan-reassuring

FDA RECALLS:

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

FDA EMAIL UPDATES FOR RECALLS (SIGN UP)

http://go.fda.gov/subscriptionmanagement

 

The internet is full of untruths, especially when it comes to comments and concerns about statin therapy.

 

There is a grass-roots effort by the non-medical community to impugn the CHOLESTEROL HYPOTHESIS, a foundational concept in cardiovascular medicine that hold that higher level of cholesterol (LDL/bad fraction) increases the risk of heart disease and lowering this number reduces the risk.

 

So….they comment on data that is critical of this concept or that suggests statin therapy is ineffective, or worse, causes dementia and other major health problems.

 

Nothing could be further from the truth, and the latest study in the NEJM on PRALUENT, a new type of injection medicine to lower cholesterol, has demonstrated definitively that lowering LDL cholesterol to levels previously unobtainable (25-50) and provide improved benefits in the heart and prevent death.

 

PRALUENT, and it’s sister medication REPATHA, are a new set of medications that focus on reducing cholesterol via the PCSK9 receptor pathway.  This is markedly different than the mechanism of action from statins, but it achieves the fundamental same goal….reduction of LDL cholesterol.

 

In this latest study, we finally have ‘endpoint’ results that show longer life in patients who have had an acute MI and who are put on PRALUENT.

 

The exact patients who benefit most from the $600 per month injection therapy (every 2-4 week self-injections) will become clear with additional study, but one this is for certain…the lynchpin CHOLESTEROL HYPOTHESIS continues to hold and inform us on ways to increase longevity in heart disease patients.

A recent report from The Washington Post about researcher Piero Anversa’s falsified heart research at Harvard Medical School is a tragedy.

 

Not only has this researcher duped the general scientific community, his 31 scientific papers suggested a new area of research for young cardiologists, and those who are following this path and chasing a red herring.

 

Doing great research is a challenge and a burden.  Pursuit of greatness can alter the objective mentality that is needed for a true scientific mindset.  See my recent comments on James Allison, PhD, the latest Nobel Prize winner in medicine.

 

Anversa is not alone.  There is an entire website devoted to withdrawn research.   Review it  <<<HERE>>>>  

 

You will be amazed how much of what is taken for accurate results is ultimately withdrawn from the scientific literature, and often without such fanfare.

Although my patients know that Cathy Kurth, AD is the audiologist we recommend the most, many patients still are not inclined to use a hearing aid for a whole host of reasons.

 

With the FDA approval of the BOSE HEARING AID, one of those impediments to getting a hearing aid has been eliminated, in that you can buy this hearing aid without seeing an audiologist.

 

Yes…that’s right…you can now just go buy a hearing aid that is of the highest caliber and adjust it using the BOSE SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY that works with your smart phone.

 

You will be seeing this available in the near future…so look for it if you are interested.

I have been doing emails with patients for 25 years, about as soon as AOL got started.

 

Although I’ve changed my email once,
OLD: douglakin@aol.com to
Current:  douglakin@doctordoug.com,

you can always find your old emails from me by searching for “FROM THE DOC.”

 

I have signed my emails to patients in this manner for 25 years.  So…if you are looking for an old email from me to see labs or comments…just search on your old email file    “FROM THE DOC”