FIVE QUESTIONS CAN HELP PREVENT MEDICATION ERRORS
With the development of ever-more-powerful and complex medications, patients are urged to take special precautions in ensuring they take the right medicine the right way. A national survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists shows 85 percent of patients are concerned about at least one medication-related issue when entering a hospital or health system. Seventy percent of patients are concerned about taking two or more medicines that interact in a negative way. "Drug interactions are a real concern for many patients, as well as for pharmacists," said ASHP President Debra Devereaux. "It is extremely important that patients tell their health-care providers about all of the medications they take. Pharmacists in hospitals and health systems are a great resource for patients who have questions or concerns about their medications." Health-system pharmacists recommend that patients in hospitals ask five simple questions about their medications: What is the name of my medication? What is it used for? How will this drug interact with other medications I am taking? Should I expect any side effects? And what should I do if I experience a side effect? What should I do if I miss a dose either in the hospital or at home?
ORGANIC LABELING RULES TAKE EFFECT
Soon, food grown organically will bear the government-approved "organic" label. As rules governing such labeling take effect, the hope is that consumers will not be misled about what is and what is not organically grown produce, said Michael Jacobson, executive director of The Center for Science in the Public Interest. "Because organic farming is the soundest, most-sustainable type of farming, the biggest winner here might be planet Earth," he said. "Of course, consumers should realize that just because foods are organically grown, they still could be loaded with organic fat and organic sugar, and they still could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. At least, though, they are likely to contain lower levels of pesticide residues."
SAUERKRAUT MAY HELP FIGHT CANCER
Topping your hot dog with sauerkraut may help in the fight against cancer, researchers have discovered. The scientists have identified compounds in the fermented cabbage that may have anti-cancer properties, they report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. They found the process of fermenting cabbage produces isothiocyanates, a class of compounds previously identified as potential cancer-fighting agents. In animal studies, the compounds appear to prevent the growth of cancer, particularly in the breast, colon, lung and liver, they said. Further studies are needed to determine whether the compounds, which are not found in raw cabbage, have a similar effect in humans. "We are finding that fermented cabbage could be healthier than raw or cooked cabbage, especially for fighting cancer," said Eeva-Liisa Ryhanen, research manager of MTT Agrifood Research Finland in Jokioinen, Finland. "We are now working on ways of optimizing the fermentation process to make it even healthier so that consumers will eat more [sauerkraut]." Sauerkraut is second only to mustard as a favorite hot dog topping in the United States. Americans annually consume an estimated 387 million pounds of sauerkraut, or about 1.5 pounds per person.
SYSTEM MAY HELP RURAL DIABETICS
A new device may be just what the doctor ordered for diabetic patients living in remote rural areas. Researchers at the University of South Alabama in Mobile are testing Cybernet Medical's data collection system, MedStar, to see how accurately it can transmit glucose level readings from patients at home to the health-care providers in the office. The MedStar unit is already in use in Alabama to monitor patients with hypertension. "Diabetes is an epidemic disease in the rural South," said Carl Taylor, interim director of the Office of Emerging Health Technologies. "We know that daily monitoring helps patients with diabetes maintain appropriate drug, diet and exercise regimens. Unfortunately, few rural patients can frequently interact with their healthcare providers. We hope to show that Cybernet's MedStar device, when implemented into a comprehensive program, can eliminate the distance barrier by giving healthcare providers useful, daily updates on a patient's glucose levels, blood pressure and weight. This facilitates proactive treatment action, resulting in fewer emergency responses and hospitalizations."
(EDITORS: For more information about FIVE, contact Ellen Wilcox at 301-657-3000, ext. 1224, or [email protected]; about ORGANIC, call 202-777-8370, about SAUERKRAUT, contact [email protected]; about DEVICE, contact Rachel Berry at 253-853-5030 or [email protected].)
