Glaucoma and Medical Marijuana.
Glaucoma is a disease of the optic nerve, the cable that carries messages from the visual system to the brain. With elevated pressure within the globe, the optic nerve will suffer injury that can lead to blindness. While we have medications, laser treatment, and sometimes surgery, in some patients the pressure is relentless and cannot be controlled. Marijuana is known to reduce the pressure within the eye and it has been suggested for therapy in these stubborn cases. Smoking THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) the active ingredient in marijuana can reduce the intraocular pressure. Alternatively, the drug can be taken orally or absorbed under the tongue to avoid possible damage to the lungs as may occur with smoking. However, the effect is limited; pressure rises again after three or four hours. Moreover there are systemic side effects of impaired judgment and drowsiness. To date, research has not been able to compound a topical medication with effective THC. In summary, appealing as the idea is, like many things medical, the art is painted in shades of grey.
A Rude Awakening
At Stanford University department of psychiatry, researchers conducted a survey to evaluate confusional arousal, a condition called sleep drunkenness. Some 19,000 adults eighteen years and older were studied to determine the incidence of this condition that occurs when the body beats the brain out of bed. Sufferers may awaken not knowing where they are, have trouble talking or try to answer the phone when the alarm is ringing. These events can occur to anyone with jet lag or fatigue, but for one in seven (15%) of those studied, they regularly inhabit this hazy world. Such episodes are sometimes linked with other sleep disorders, anti-depressant drug use, and mental illness, according to the journal Neurology.
Out of Africa: HIV, Ebola, West Nile Fever† Chikungunya.
Still another virus has migrated out of Africa, bringing suffering and often crippling pain. Chikungunya “to walk bent over” has established itself In Brazil, the Caribbean, India, SE Asia and the Pacific islands. This mosquito born disease comes on like the flu with fever, chills, headache and aching joints and typically lasts a week. Many patients later develop severe joint pain that can recur for months or years. Apart from settling in Southeast Asia in the late 1950s, previous sorties from Africa have fizzled. Not this time. In 2005 the virus migrated from Kenya and found its way to Reunion, an island off the coast of Africa The island was overwhelmed and became the jumping off place for a mutated virus that swept through Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, and the Seychelles. It moved to India and hit the jackpot. With mutation the virus can inhabit Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito), both living in Hawai‘i. The best thing that can be said is that unlike Dengue, Chikungunya confers lifetime immunity, but then once is enough.
Wow, I Need a Drink. What's in your Handbag?
Last summer the US Food and Drug Administration jumped the gun with approval of a powdered alcohol compound that only needs water. The FDA reneged and ordered further study of Lipsmark LLC, and its revolutionary product. Following scientific review the Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau approved labels for Palcohol, a compound that can easily become a lemonade drink. Because alcohol is regulated at the state level, once a product receives federal approval it can go on sale in most states. Several states have adopted pre-emptive bans and more are gearing up to ban powdered alcohol. Still, large states including California, Florida and New York have no laws that would limit its distribution. Since the compound will probably be sold in foil packets, there can be no doubt it will travel far and wide. Keep the breathalyzer handy.
MERS Is One More Scary Disease.
A 68 year-old man returned to Korea from the Middle East. Nine days after he first appeared with fever, cough and shortness of breath, doctors recognized he had MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). The vigor of this betacorona virus derived from bats is frightening. One hundred eighty two patients have been found positive for MERS and thirty-one have died. In Arabia the fatality rate is estimated at 40%. It is not air borne, but rather is spread by personal contact. In an attempt to choke off the epidemic, Korean officials have temporarily closed over 2,000 schools including 20 universities. 2,467 have been placed in isolation at home or in facilities. Because one sick man can spread MERS so easily, it is evident that health facilities in Hawai‘i and other destinations of Korean and Middle East traffic, must be super-alert for this disease.
Does my Chin Make Me Look Fat?
Activis recently changed its name to Allergan after purchasing that company. Focusing on the cosmetic market Activis (now Allergan) has made a generous offer to absorb Kythera, that markets Kybella, an injectable compound that breaks down the fat in sub-mental fullness also known as the double chin. Allergan is seeking to add Kybella to bolster its market-leading cosmetic medicine portfolio, anchored primarily by Botox. Kybella, approved by the FDA in April of this year, will give Allergan a product for the chin to go along with therapies for the forehead, eyes, cheek and nose. Some experts have forecast sales well below Kythera's estimate because treatment requires multiple injections. A typical double chin patient will need four sessions, each requiring dozens of shots. Patients are used to one or perhaps two visits and might be turned off with repeated trips. The double chin is a new target in the $12 billion cosmetic market, and has the appeal of an undertreated defect affecting both men and women.
A Rare Event: A Customer Winning Against Bank of America.
In June 2011 the Bank of America wrongfully pursued payment for a house and lot in Naples, Florida. Warren and Maureen Nyerges had purchased the property with cash paid directly to the bank. After a frustrating struggle for more than a year, the bank finally admitted its error and thought the matter was forgotten. No, Warren and Maureen won a judgment of $2,534 for expenses that the bank contemptuously ignored. The Nyergeses sought and obtained a seizure order, and two deputies backed a truck up to the local BA branch to confiscate computers and office furniture valued at $2,534. After two hours of multiple phone calls with higher up bank officials, the branch manager wrote a check for payment in full.
Addenda
Drug overdose took the lives of 44,000 Americans in 2013, exceeding motor vehicle crashes. Over half of the deaths (52%) were caused by prescription drugs.
Restaurant sign, “No. We do not have Wi-Fi. Talk to each other.”
Teach your children about taxes. Eat 30% of their ice cream.
Jerry Seinfeld is kind of short, but he can always stand on his wallet.
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You do the dishes, sweep the floor and make the beds.
In six months you have to do it all again. (Joan Rivers)
I've been married so long I'm on my third bottle of Tabasco sauce.
In sex as in banking there is a penalty for early withdrawal.
Aloha and keep the faith rts
(Editorial comment is strictly that of the writer.)