Study Shows Bismuth Safe and Effective for H.Pylori Treatment

According to a new study, bismuth is a safe and effective addition for the treatment of H.Pylori, when used short-term. The findings are published Dec. 31, 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

H.Pylori is the bacteria that leads to peptic ulcer disease. Bismuth subsalicylate is used in chewable and liquid medications for the treatment of diarrhea and upset stomach. Bismuth compounds have been used medically for centuries, but too much can cause neurological problems.

The study, led by Professor Paul Moayyedi from McMaster University, Canada, included a review of thirty-five randomized controlled trials that included over 4500 patients. The trials compared the effect of bismuth combined with antibiotics, no treatment, or placebo, on H. Pylori bacteria.

The only side effect found was dark stools. Bismuth was found to be an effective treatment as part of overall treatment for H. Pylori.

The new information is considered important to physicians and patients. Treatment of H.Pylori has included the use of PPI’s (proton pump inhibitors), but they do not always work. Proton pump inhibitors have been associated with rash, nausea, constipation and abdominal pain. Recently, bismuth has been recommended for patients suffering from H.Pylori infection, but its safety has not been established until now.

Bismuth tablets are available without prescription, and less expensive that proton pump inhibitors. If you are being treated for H.Pylori with antibiotics, make sure you take bismuth preparation thirty minutes before taking your antibiotics. Brand names of bismuth products include Kaopectate and Pepto-Bismol.

About H.Pylori

H. Pylori was discovered in 1983 as a cause of ulcers. Until that time, treatment did not include antibiotics. Many people have the infection, which affects the stomach and duodenum. H. Pylori can lead to cancer. Over eighty percent of people have no symptoms.

H. Pylori develops in childhood, and affects over fifty percent of the population. Scientists are still not certain how the disease is transmitted.

According to the Division of Bacterial Diseases (DBD), a division of the Centers for Disease Control, “Ulcers cause an estimated 1 million hospitalizations and 6500 deaths per year. In the United States, annual health care costs of peptic ulcer disease have been estimated at nearly $6 billion: $3 billion in hospitalization costs, $2 billion in physician office visits, and $1 billion in decreased productivity and days lost from work.”

The findings come as good news, especially given the economic burden and individual health impact of H.Pylori. If you suffer from H.Pylori, speak with your doctor before you use bismuth preparations.

Resources:
Helicobacter pylori and Peptic Ulcer Disease
Adverse events with bismuth salts for Helicobacter pylori eradication: Systematic review and meta-analysis ◦

Study Shows Bismuth Safe and Effective for H.Pylori Treatment

Lab Study Shows Grape Seed Extract Kills Leukemia Cells

University of Kentucky researchers have discovered that an extract of grape seed killed seventy-six percent of leukemia cells when exposed to the substance during laboratory studies. Xianglin Shi, Ph.D., professor in the Graduate Center for Toxicology at the University of Kentucky, conducted the research that shows promise for treatment of cancer using natural compounds that do not destroy normal cells.

The object of the study was to discover if grape seed extract had the same effect on leukemia, a hematological, or blood cancer, as it does on cancer of the skin, breast, colon, lung and prostate, as shown in previous studies. Hematological cancers are the fourth leading type of cancer and cause of cancer death in the United States.

Evidence has been mounting showing the cancer preventive effects of fruits and vegetables. Dr. Shi and colleagues have specifically been studying the role of proanthocyanidins, a substance found naturally in fruits and vegetables, as well as in the seeds of many plants. Proanthocyanidins are a class of flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants.

In the current study, Dr. Shi found that grape seed extract, in higher doses, disrupted the JNK pathway that promotes cancer growth, causing the leukemia cells to die. JNK is an enzyme that through a complex series of events, senses inflammation in the body, setting off a cascade of events that control cellular function. The scientists are not sure why the grape seed extract destroyed only the leukemia cells, leaving the normal cells alone. Prior research from Dr. Shi has also shown that apple peel extract has potential for fighting cancer because it contains proanthocyanidins.

Dr. Shi says grape seed extract might prove to be an effective cancer fighter, saying, “This is a natural compound that appears to have relatively important properties." He is cautious about recommending grape seed extract for cancer prevention or cancer treatment just yet. Further studies are pending.

The findings are published in the January 1, 2009, issue of Clinical Cancer Research. According to the author, “These results could have implications for the incorporation of agents such as grape seed extract into prevention or treatment of hematological malignancies and possibly other cancers." This is the first study demonstrating that grape seed extract, obtained commercially, can kill leukemia cells without destroying normal cells.

Kathleen Blanchard RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com

Source:
Grape Seed Extract Kills Laboratory Leukemia Cells, Proving Value of Natural Compounds ◦

Lab Study Shows Grape Seed Extract Kills Leukemia Cells

Higher Heart Rate at Rest Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

New research shows that people with higher resting heart rate seem to be at increased risk for atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disturbance experienced by 2.2million Americans, according to statistics from the American Heart Association. Atrial fibrillation causes blood to circulate less effectively to the organs of the body, and can lead to blood clots and stroke.

The Losartan Intervention for End Point Reduction in Hypertension (LIFE) study, published in the December 2008 issue of Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, tracked 8828 patients with high blood pressure over a period of five years, evaluating heart rates at baseline, six months, and yearly.

The research found that resting heart rate greater than 84 beats per minute increased the risk of atrial fibrillation by sixty one percent. The study also showed that for every increase in resting heart rate of ten beats per minute, the risk of atrial fibrillation increased by nineteen percent.

The risk of developing atrial fibrillation from higher resting heart rate was found, independent of blood pressure lowering medication, and other health factors that contribute to mortality.

Dr Peter M Okin (Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY) and associates conducted the study, showing that higher resting heart rate alone can put people at risk for atrial fibrillation, even when there are no other discernible causes, such as infection or other acute illness.

Dr. Okin suggests, "Physicians should take a step back and ask, why is this happening? Heart rates go up for a reason. What else is going on that's putting the patient at risk?"

The study was supported by Merck in an effort to see if controlling blood pressure could reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. The study included patients with high blood pressure, treated with either Losartan or Atenolol.

Source:
Atrial Fib risk went up with rising heart rate in LIFE hypertension trial ◦

Higher Heart Rate at Rest Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

Increased Energy to the Brain May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Some forms of Alzheimer’s disease might be avoided by making sure the brain gets enough energy from glucose, through good blood flow. Lead study author, Robert Vassar, discovered that the protein eIF2alpha, acts like a switch when the brain does not receive enough energy. The result is the formation of the sticky protein material (amyloid plaques) found in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Vassar, a professor of cell and molecular biology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, "If people start early enough, maybe they can dodge the (Alzheimer’s) bullet. For people who already have symptoms, vasodilators, which increase blood flow, may help the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain.”

The research is significant, especially given statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association. Estimates show that ten million baby boomers will likely develop Alzheimer’s disease during their lifetime. Dr. Vassar believes that drugs could potentially be developed to block the formation of elF2alpha, increasing energy to the brain, and preventing amyloid plaques.

Dr. Vassar, ten years ago, discovered the enzyme, BACE1, responsible for disrupting signals between nerve cells. BACE1 is found in high levels in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Until now, no one has understood what causes the protein enzymes to form. The new research shows that lack of blood flow and energy to the brain may act as an Alzheimer’s trigger.

Dr. Vassar explains that, unlike a stroke, where the brain cells die, the brain reacts to energy deprivation by forming BACE1, a protective mechanism that later becomes harmful. “What we are talking about here is a slow, insidious process over many years where people have a low level of cardiovascular disease or atherosclerosis in the brain. It's so mild, they don't even notice it, but it has an effect over time because it's producing a chronic reduction in the blood flow."

With aging, Vassar believes some people are prone to increased levels of the harmful enzymes that disrupt brain energy.

Keep your cholesterol levels normal, manage your blood pressure, and exercise daily to increase energy to the brain and prevent cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease.

Kathleen Blanchard, RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com

Source:
Brain Starvation as We Age Appears to Trigger Alzheimer’s ◦

Increased Energy to the Brain May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Say Good Night to Heart Disease with at Least Six Hours of Sleep

According to findings from University of Chicago Medical Center researchers, skipping out on adequate rest sets us up for heart disease. Adding just one hour of sleep to your nightly routine has the same positive effect as lowering systolic blood pressure by 17mm/Hg.

Study director Diane Lauderdale, PhD, associate professor of health studies at the University of Chicago Medical Center, finds the results puzzling. Twenty-seven percent of those who slept less than five hours per night had calcified arteries during a five-year follow-up. Only eleven percent of the 495 participants who slept five to seven hours nightly had signs of coronary artery disease. The number dropped to six percent for those who slept more than seven hours, and the greatest impact was on women.

According to Dr. Lauderdale, "The consistency and the magnitude of the difference came as a surprise. It's also something of a mystery. We can only speculate about why those with shorter average sleep duration were more likely to develop calcification of the coronary arteries."

Shorter sleep duration has recently been linked to several health problems, including weight gain, high blood pressure and diabetes. Scientists have not been able to pinpoint the exact reasons. Now we see that a good night’s sleep may also reduce our risk of heart disease.

An ongoing project, begun in 1985 was used for the research, called the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. The study was initiated to find out what combination of events leads to heart disease.

The participants underwent cardiac CT scoring that measures calcium buildup in the arteries that leads to heart disease. CT scans were performed five years apart. The volunteers also underwent sleep studies, answered questionnaires about sleep, and kept logs of how many hours they were in bed, focusing on sleep duration.

The researchers were not able to reach any definite conclusions about how sleep duration is associated with heart disease, but they believe several factors may be involved. They believe that the stress hormone cortisol may play a role, though measurements were not taken in all of the volunteers. Another possibility involves longer periods of lower blood pressure, which naturally occur when we sleep.

Dr. Lauderdale says that though the study was small, and should be performed again…”there is enough here to make a point. Although there are constant temptations to sleep less, there is a growing body of evidence that short sleep may have subtle health consequences. Although this single study does not prove that short sleep leads to coronary artery disease, it is safe to recommend at least six hours of sleep a night."

If you suffer from insomnia, or interrupted sleep patterns, consider taking action. The study shows us that sleeping less than six hours a night may be a set-up for future heart disease.

Kathleen Blanchard, RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com

Source:
Skipping sleep may signal problems for coronary arteries ◦

Say Good Night to Heart Disease with at Least Six Hours of Sleep

Mix of Protein and Carb Drinks Boost Athletic Performance

Athletes who consume sports drinks with protein and carbohydrates perform better than those who use drinks containing only carbohydrates. The study comes from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, following research that measured improvements in cyclist’s recovery following exercise.

Researchers from Gettysburg College and The University of Western Ontario performed the carbohydrate, protein drink study, in conjunction with Dr. John Berardi, from Precision Nutrition.

The study showed that protein and carbohydrate combination drinks improved power and endurance of the cyclists, though energy expenditure was the same for the two groups. The athletes who drank the protein carbohydrate drink also had a decreased perception of fatigue compared to the carbohydrate only group.

Fifteen trained male cyclists were given a standardized breakfast. Two hours later, they performed a sixty-minute cycling time trial using a Computrainer indoor trainer where the cyclists compete with a virtual opponent. Afterwards, they were given either a protein and carbohydrate, or carbohydrate only drink, after 10, 60 and 120 minutes. Four hours later, the cyclists again ate a standardized meal, repeating the cycling trial six hours following the first.

The athletes consuming the protein and carb sports drinks traveled farther and displayed greater cycling power in the second sixty minutes of cycling. The researchers also observed an increase in fat oxidation in the group.

Dr. Berardi concluded, "These findings may be important considering that most endurance athletes concern themselves primarily with carbohydrate intake and often fail to recognize the potential benefits of protein with respect to performance recovery". The study shows that carbohydrate drinks without protein may not be the best to boost athletic performance.

Source:

Recovery from a cycling time trial is enhanced with carbohydrate-protein supplementation vs. isoenergetic carbohydrate supplementation.



Whey Protein Low-Carb Formula ◦

Mix of Protein and Carb Drinks Boost Athletic Performance

Stanford Researcher Challenges use of Mice for Human Disease Studies

Mark Davis, PhD, director of the Stanford Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, says it is time for researchers to start looking at humans instead of mice for answers to disease prevention and cures in humans. According to Davis, "Mice are lousy models for clinical studies. Dr. Davis points out that mice are not part of our evolutionary ancestry. Instead, Dr. Davis suggests we use a system based on the human genome for developing a better understanding of human disease.

In his essay, published December 19 in Immunity, Dr. Davis writes…”think about what we can do with people. People come to hospitals, get vaccinations, give blood and tissue samples for routine lab tests and clinical trials. We're not learning nearly as much as we could from these samples. As with the recent history of human genetics, we could be much bolder."

Davis instead, suggests the formation of a national or international infrastructure that could acquire information from human blood and tissue samples, then analyzed in a cost-effective manner. He proposes that immunological assays could be returned to investigators in a timely fashion, and maintained in the database, all in a standardized fashion. The database would include tissue and blood samples from healthy, as well as diseased individuals for comparison, and used in conjunction with traditional small lab research.

Stanford was one of the large institutions involved in the controversial Human Genome Project, which was carried out in small numbers, starting October 1990 and completed in 2003. Dr. Davis says, "The Human Genome Project didn't destroy the small lab. It complemented it”, though the project has been the subject of much debate.

In his essay, Davis writes, "What if we could define the normal range for all these parameters, and then see how they're changed by any of the over 100 infectious diseases, or 90-odd autoimmune disorders, or more than 120 inherited immune deficiencies that afflict us — or, for that matter, by aging or even vaccination? Maybe we could see something coming early on and start applying remedies to restore the normal balance and prevent the disease's progression”.

Dr. Davis also poignantly says, "We've been selected by urbanization, with plagues such as the bubonic plague and smallpox that routinely killed huge numbers of people, and modern scourges like HIV and malaria that still infect and kill millions each year. Most humans are infected with six different herpes viruses, and who knows what else. And while we're suffering away, getting colds and flu, the mice are living in the lap of luxury in miniature condominiums, with special filters on the cage tops to keep bad things out. They're in such pristine shape.”

Stanford’s Dr. Davis is taking nothing away from the contributions from mice. However, he says researchers have come to rely on the results of studies that genetically manipulate disease free mice – many of which have ended in failure.

Source:

Mouse trap? Stanford immunologist calls for more research on humans, not mice ◦

Stanford Researcher Challenges use of Mice for Human Disease Studies

Counseling Helps Women Switch to Mediterranean Diet

In just three months, a group of women doubled their fruit and vegetable intake through dietary counseling. University of Michigan researchers helped 69 women switch to a Mediterranean diet through face-to-face interviews, provision of a food exchange list, and phone counseling. The women were able to make beneficial changes in their diet by simply substituting good fat for bad. Caloric intake remained the same.

Adopting a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce mortality from diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. In the current study, the women successfully switched to a Mediterranean diet in three months, and continued to follow the diet for six months.

The women were divided into two groups. One group received guidelines from a registered dietician regarding food exchanges that provided the same number of calories contained in the women’s regular diet, but replacing bad fat with good fat. Included in the exchange were dark green leafy vegetables, and high monosaturated fat such as olive oil. The second group received a free counseling session regarding diet. Women lacking specific vitamins and minerals in their diet received a list of foods containing the nutrients, in addition to the National Cancer Institute’s “Action Guide to Healthy Eating.” The researchers found that women who did not receive counseling made few changes in their diet.

According to lead author Zora Djuric, Ph.D., research professor of Family Medicine at the U-M Medical School, “That tells us that the exchange list was helpful in assisting women to make major changes in their diet, without changes in their caloric or total fat intake.”

Specific changes that can be made when switching to a Mediterranean diet, used in the current study include the following:

•Incorporate one or more servings a day of yellow and orange vegetables (carrots,
pumpkin, and red bell peppers). Include salsa, tomatoes and tomato sauce.

•Include other vegetables such as sugar snap peas, green beans, artichokes and cucumbers. Eat one serving per day of spinach, broccoli or other dark green vegetables.

•Add herbs such as cilantro, sage, basil and peppermint (one tablespoon or more each
day).

•Get your vitamin C from oranges, strawberries and mangos (one or more servings per
day)

•Consume eight to ten servings daily of high monosaturated fats (macadamia nuts,
olive oil, avocado, or hazelnut oil). Avoid corn oil and margarine altogether.

•Eat apples, bananas, grapes and other vegetables throughout the day.

•Replace one food in your diet with garlic, leek or onion.

•A recent study also suggests that adding walnuts, almonds or mixed nuts boosts the
health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.

Research, focused on the health benefits of food, continues to show that the Mediterranean diet is a powerful way to fight disease. The women in the UM study were able to get the same nutrients found in a Mediterranean diet, using American foods.

The study is published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Source:
Women double fruit, veggie intake with switch to Mediterranean diet

Kathleen Blanchard RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com ◦

Counseling Helps Women Switch to Mediterranean Diet

Mediterranean Diet Including Nuts Leads to Better Heart Health

Researchers again find that consuming nuts can lead to better heart health, especially when combined with a Mediterranean diet. According to new research, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, incorporating olive oil and a handful of nuts into our daily diet can reduce our risk of metabolic syndrome, a known cause of heart disease and other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Researchers studied 1224 older people who had major risk factors for developing heart disease. They divided them into groups. One received 1 liter of virgin olive oil, the other 30 grams, or one ounce of nuts, and another a low fat diet. All of the participants had signs of metabolic syndrome. After one year, they again measured indicators of heart health, using guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

The entire study group received periodic education regarding the Mediterranean diet. None of study group limited food intake, eating to their satisfaction. They also did not incorporate new exercise routines during the study.

The researchers discovered that those who ate nuts combined with a Mediterranean diet experience a 13.7% reduction in signs of metabolic syndrome. The group who received olive oil in addition to a Mediterranean diet had a 6.7% reduction in the cluster of factors that compose metabolic syndrome - high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, abdominal obesity, elevated CRP (an inflammatory marker), and insulin resistance.

The researchers used mixed nuts, and virgin olive oil to study the effects of a Mediterranean diet on heart health. We have been conditioned to seek low fat food options for heart health. The current study showed that a Mediterranean diet alone did not affect metabolic syndrome as significantly as the combination of nuts, plus a Mediterranean diet – the participants reduced signs of metabolic syndrome by 2% with a Mediterranean diet alone, when compared to those who consumed olive oil and mixed nuts.

The authors concluded that managing metabolic syndrome through a Mediterranean diet, including nuts could lead to better heart health. Past studies have shown that eating a Mediterranean diet can reduce our risk of early death from a wide array of diseases.

Kathleen Blanchard, RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com

Source:
Effect of a Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Nuts on Metabolic Syndrome Status

Related:
Strict Mediterranean Diet Aids in Primary Disease Prevention
Blood Pressure Management for Women - Go (Soy) Nuts ◦

Mediterranean Diet Including Nuts Leads to Better Heart Health

Researchers Discover how Natural Immunity Kills HIV Infected Cells

Researchers have identified cells that halt the progression of HIV to AIDS. They studied people who have had HIV for years, yet never develop symptoms of AIDS. The findings could allow scientists to find an effective AIDS vaccine.

A small group of HIV infected people; referred to as long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), have a special type of immunity that kills HIV when it infects the cells, known as CD8+ T cells. According to the new research, CD8+ T cells become highly effective HIV killers when they team up with other molecules in the body. When the molecules get together, they destroy HIV infected cells, halting the progression of HIV to AIDS.

Stephen Migueles, M.D., senior author Mark Connors, M.D., and colleagues at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), studied CD8+ T with innovative technology that allowed them to watch how CD8+ T cells, taken from long-term HIV survivors, kill HIV infected cells.

The researchers discovered that cells taken from LTNP’s destroyed HIV in less than an hour. Conversely, CD8+ T taken from AIDS progressors could not do the job, even when CD8+T cells were present in large quantities.

The second molecule, manufactured by CD8+ T cells is the protein, perforin. When enough perforin forms it punches holes in the HIV infected cells. The next molecular member of the HIV killing team, granzyme B, then enters the HIV infected cell, killing the virus.

The research clarifies how HIV survivors are able to avoid symptoms of AIDS. The accumulation of sufficient quantities of perforin and granzyme B in CD8+ T cells eliminates HIV in infected cells. The discovery explains why a minority of people infected with HIV do not require medications to stop the progression of HIV to AIDS.

The researchers hope for a new vaccine that can facilitate the production of large amounts of perforin and granzyme B from CD8+ T cells. If such a vaccine proves successful, it may provide a way to keep HIV infected individuals from developing AIDS.

Kathleen Blanchard, RN
http://grabsomehealthnews.blogspot.com

Source: http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2008/LTNPs.htm ◦

Researchers Discover how Natural Immunity Kills HIV Infected Cells

Renowned MRI Expert Alerts Public to New Concerns Possibly Exposing Infants to Superbug Infections

— Infants Taped to Torn and Contaminated Pads When Undergoing MRI —

CHICAGO, Illinois — December 2, 2008 — During the third day of the Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA 2008) conference, Chicago, IL, Dr. Peter Rothschild, one of the world's foremost MRI experts, is alerting the public to a common practice that endangers young immunosuppressed patients by exposing them to damaged pads and possible Superbug infections during MRI.

Peter Rothschild M.D. is considered one of the world's foremost MRI experts. He formerly served as Medical Director of the research laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, where he helped develop the first commercially available Open MRI scanner. He is the editor of the first textbook on Open MRI and the author of the landmark paper “Preventing Infection in MRI: Best Practices for Infection Control in and Around MRI Suites.”

Rothschild warns that a common procedure in hospitals and free standing MRI centers is to tape infants and young children directly to the MRI pads, to keep them from moving during their scans. Any movement during an MRI scan will degrade the resulting image, making it difficult or impossible to make the proper diagnosis. This is especially important for babies due to their already small size, thus the need for the best image resolution possible.

Additionally, MRIs are very loud, therefore if the babies are sedated, they must be deeply sedated/anesthetized and monitored constantly to make sure they do not stop breathing. The high magnetic fields in MRI make it difficult and very dangerous to use much of the standard monitoring equipment. Recently a child was killed in an MRI, when an oxygen container was carried into the room, flew into the bore of the magnet and crushed him.

While taping infants eliminates the risks associated with sedation, Rothschild says the poor condition of the MRI pads makes this an extremely dangerous procedure by increasing the risk of infection from prolonged exposure to contaminated pads, especially for a premature infant without a fully developed immune system. MRI table pads often have tape and tape residue on the surface of the pads, which itself is an opportunistic breeding ground for bacteria and is difficult, if not impossible, to clean. Over time, pad surfaces become torn and frayed exposing the foam core, which is very porous and impossible to properly clean. Thus, the foam core is another excellent breeding ground for deadly Superbug bacteria.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have clear and unambiguous guidelines, stating that since it is impossible to adequately clean pads in this condition, they must be immediately replaced. It is estimated that 80-90% of MRI pads currently in use are torn and frayed; however few MRI centers perform routine inspections of the diagnostic pads to determine if they need to be replaced.

Rothschild says, “After seeing the pads with tape and tape residue from a well-known children’s hospital, I realized that they were taping the babies, IV tubing and other material directly to the pads. I couldn’t believe that someone with any infection control training would ever do such a thing when the MRI pads are in such an appalling condition. It is not a surprise that MRSA is spreading like wildfire through hospitals and outpatient facilities. These babies can then spread this dangerous Superbug throughout the hospital from direct contact or through blankets and other material they come in contact with. I assert contaminated MRI pads are a threat to the entire hospital and must be replaced.”

Dr. Rothschild adds, “If you visit http://Superbug.smugmug.com, you can see the actual pads that infants were taped to. You can clearly see the holes in the covering material where the underlying foam is exposed and discolored. The tape was not only used to hold the babies in place, but it was also used in a vain attempt to repair these pads. Obviously the technologists working at the hospital realized there was a problem, however for years the administration would not purchase new pads, even though the cost was minimal, less than the fee charged for two MRI exams. This is a common scenario I hear all the time.”

Dr. Rothschild warns that infection control has had a very low priority at most MRI facilities for a variety of reasons. Infection control has been locked out of the MRI magnet rooms due to compelling safety concerns due to the magnetic fields. Budgets are tight and some MRI centers have been able to become accredited without an infection control policy and with torn and contaminated pads

He further states that most often, inspectors did not even enter the MRI room, much less seriously look at the pads or ask for an infection control policy. Even if they would walk into the scan room, the pads would be covered with a clean sheet and unless they took the time to look underneath the sheet, they would simply pass the MRI center.

Many administrators and technologists know that accreditation agencies will not look closely inside the MRI suite. Combined with radiology administrators’ limited knowledge of infection control and their position as decision makers to determine where and how to spend money and other resources, they therefore have simply ignored the problem instead of trying to fix it. The end result is the administrator’s refusal to replace pads or bring in experts to develop an infection control policy for their imaging centers.

“I have never heard of an MRI facility failing accreditation because of torn and contaminated pads or lack of an infection control policy. However, even though as many as 80-90% of the pads in use today are torn and frayed and few, if any MRI centers have an infection control policy, clearly none of the inspectors are looking in this critical area,” said Dr. Rothschild.

“Unfortunately, accreditation does not mean that a MRI center is clean and safe,” emphasized Richard Nolan M.D., a well known orthopedic surgeon with 25 years of experience with MRIs, who has been concerned for years over the lack of infection control at MRI facilities. “I have no idea how the Joint Commission or the American College of Radiology (ACR) can accredit any MRI facility that is in such clear violation of even the most basic infection control practices. Until they (Joint Commission and ACR) take seriously the threat of worn out contaminated table pads and lack of infection control procedures, this situation will only get worse.”

Nolan advises, “They must immediately make every effort to thoroughly evaluate the pads and demand an infection control policy. Until then, it will remain up to the individual patients and referring doctors to determine if an MRI facility is clean and safe. I encourage any patient undergoing an MRI to examine the pads they are lying on, since I can assure you that if they are torn and frayed that the radiology department or hospital gives infection control a very low priority, if any such policies exist at all. The fact that the children’s hospital Dr. Rothschild refers to passed a Joint Commission inspection while using these torn and contaminated pads clearly means that these inspectors are not going into the MRI suite and magnet room looking at the conditions of the pads.”

Finally, Dr. Nolan adds “The lack of infection control in the MRI suite can result in a threat to the entire hospital as well as the outpatient community.”

In his recently released white paper published in July 2008, Rothschild calls for more infectious disease control policies in the industry and patient education on how to prevent contracting a superbug infection from their MRI scan. He also provides an 11-step checklist for radiology technologists that were developed with the help of the nation’s top infection control experts.

To request a copy of Dr. Rothschild’s white paper, titled “Preventing Infections in MRI: Best Practices for Infection Control in and around MRI Suites,” contact Doug Kohl, Sierra Communications, (209) 586-5887, or dkohl@mlode.com. More information on superbug infections in MRI can be found at www.patientcomfortsystems.com

About Peter Rothschild, MD

Dr. Peter Rothschild is considered one of the world's foremost MRI experts. He formerly served as Medical Director of the research laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, where he helped develop the first commercially available Open MRI scanner. He is the editor of the first textbook on Open MRI, authored numerous papers on the subject and is a sought after speaker who lectures on MRI and its future. Dr. Rothschild is a Board Certified Radiologist and served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of California at San Francisco. He earned his MD degree in 1981 from the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky. He is founder and president of Patient Comfort Systems, Inc., a company dedicated to patient comfort and safety.

Photography

To view photographs of the worn pads from a well-known children’s hospital, visit http://Superbug.smugmug.com

The pictures accompanying this press release clearly show tape and tape residue on torn contaminated pads. These pads were used for many years at a well known children’s hospital. During this time the MRI facility was accredited by both American College of Radiology and the Joint Commission for hospital accreditation ◦

Renowned MRI Expert Alerts Public to New Concerns Possibly Exposing Infants to Superbug Infections