GLG News by Physicians who Treat Sepsis (US)

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Documenting What We Knew All Along

July 13, 2011

Analysis of:A Little Placebo Effect For the Common Cold | online.wsj.com

This article from the Wall Street Journal discusses a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial on the effectiveness of echinacea and placebo for the common cold. Unsurprisingly, it demonstrated that taking a pill--any pill, including a placebo--reduces symptom severity and duration, compared to "doing nothing."

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Exodus to where?

May 28, 2010

For physicians to exodus from government programs, they must have someplace to go to. The practice style and location of physicians will dictate whether they stay or leave government programs. Some physicians will find they cannot leave government programs, so will either have to accept lower payment; close, sell or merge their practice; or leave medical practice altogether.

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

The good news is that these drugs are already approved

October 28, 2009

Analysis of:Triple-combo Drug Shows Promise Against Antiviral Resistant H1N1 | www.medicalnewstoday.com

Adamas has a proprietary mixture of three drugs: amantadine, oseltamivir and ribavirin to treat antiviral resistant strains of novel H1N1 Influenza A.

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Potential game changer for patients and hospitals regarding C. difficile colitis

July 18, 2009

Analysis of:Rapid DNA Test to Detect Clostridium difficile Infection Approved by FDA Today | www.medscape.com

Clostridium difficile-associated colitis is a disabling, and potentially life-threatening infection.  Moreover, hospitals spend great resources in isolating patients with this disease to prevent infection within the hospital. This new technology from Cepheid offers faster, and more accurate diagnosis, leading to potentially quicker treatment for patients, but potentially huge savings for hospitals, that can shorten isolation periods for these patients. 

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

18 months too late for this outbreak, but may be the way toward the future.

July 8, 2009

Analysis of:Cadila Pharma-Novavax JV to produce swine flu vaccine | www.business-standard.com

The referenced article states that the joint venture would begin producing swine flu vaccine in two years, possibly based on viral-like particle (VLP) technology.  While this is too late to have significant impact in the current pandemic, it points to possible future technologies for vaccine development.

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Better Tuberculosis vaccine is desperately needed, but will a vaccinia-based vaccine be safe and embraced?

April 23, 2009

Analysis of:TB vaccine enters advanced clinical trials at Oxford | timesofindia.indiatimes.com

The decades old BCG vaccine needs to be replaced.  It offers at best 50% efficacy, can at times cause severe reaction, and renders subsequent tracking of active TB difficult to impossible. This article describes a trial in South Africa to assess the effectiveness of a new candidate vaccine in infants already immunized with BCG. There is a significant reason why there are so few specifics in the press release.

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Safety profile similar to placebo! Can't do better than that.

April 6, 2009

Analysis of:Intercell announces European approval of new vaccine, IXIARO®, to prevent Japanese Encephalitis | www.pipelinereview.com

Intercell vaccine is as effective as current JE-VAX, with side-effects similar to placebo. The current JE-VAX is used parsimoniously because of the risk of hypersensitivity reactions. This new vaccine will likely supplant and replace the current vaccine. However, until it has US approval, there may not be recommendations from CDC regarding its use.

Peter BornsteinEpidemiologist HEALTHEAST CARE SYSTEM

Trial set to fail?

March 5, 2009

Analysis of:Novexel's NXL104/ceftazidime Combination Commences Second Phase II Clinical Trial in Hospital Patients With Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections (cIAIs) | www.pipelinereview.com

Novexel's trial of their novel beta-lactamase NXL104 combined with ceftazidime and metronidazole vs meropenem is an interesting choice.  While the Novexel arm looks to have very good activity against gram negative organisms and anaerobes, it almost completely lacks coverage against gram positive agents.  This appears to be a trial set to fail.

John HsuDirector of AnesthesiologyPRESBYTERIAN INTERCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC.

Computer Technology Really Does Improve Patient Care

February 6, 2009

Analysis of:Health Info Technology Saves Lists, Costs: Study | news.yahoo.com

Information technology in healthcare saves lives if it is frequently used by doctors for medical practice.  Scientific papers in the past have suggested that information technology saves lives by preventing medication errors but this paper suggests that the way doctors practice medicine may be modified to saves lives as well. 

John HsuDirector of AnesthesiologyPRESBYTERIAN INTERCOMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC.

Why hasn't EHR been adopted faster

November 26, 2008

Analysis of:Survey: Hospital EHR Adoption Rate is Below 12% | www.govhealthit.com

The lack of a comprehensive EHR implementation suggests that we are failing at our goal of improving the healthcare system.  While the article highlights many problems, very few solutions are offered to remedy this part of our healthcare crises. The key implications are: 1. The adoption rate of electronic health records in nonfederal U.S. hospitals is low 2. The percentage of these electronic record systems may be classified as "fully functional is low 3. The companies that can fill the enormous gaps in adoption have laid the foundation for future adoption.

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