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January 27th, 2012

Dr. Irina Puscariu Allegedly Murdered By Wife of ROTC Aerospace Instructor

Shannon O'Roark Griffin and Roscoe Griffin (inquisitr.com)

A sordid love triangle came to a tragic conclusion this month when Dr. Irina Puscariu, a psychiatrist in Kansas City, Missouri, was allegedly shot to death by Shannon O’Roark Griffin, 52, of Granbury, Texas.

O’Roark Griffin is the wife of Roscoe Griffin, a retired Air Force colonel and an aeropsace instructor in a Kansas City  Junior ROTC program, who was apparently carrying on an affair with Dr. Puscariu.

When Griffin revealed his intentions to continue the affair during a therapy session and later informed his wife of plans to seek divorce, O’Roark Griffin allegedly drove from her home in Texas to Dr. Puscariu’s home in Kansas City.

Upon being allowed into the home, O’Roark Griffin allegedly shot Dr. Puscariu three times from close range, killing her.

O’Roark Griffin has been taken into custody in connection with the murder.

Dr. Puscariu’s Vitals profile lists her as Board Certified psychiatrist with an overall patient rating of 3 stars, with 5 patient reviews.

 

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Posted in Doctor Demise, Untimely Deaths. Tags: , , , , , , .

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January 25th, 2012

Study: Common Household Chemical May Reduce Vaccine Effectiveness

Dr. Richard Malley (hms.harvard.edu)

In a study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health,  researchers have identified a correlation between the level of a common environmental chemical – perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) – found in a child’s body and the extent to which a child responds to tetanus and diphtheria vaccines.

Published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study tested levels of PFCs found in 600 children living on the Faroe Islands and found that those children with the highest level of the chemical had a 50% lower reaction to the tetanus and diptheria vaccines, leading to a decrease in vaccine effectiveness.

Although PFCs can be found in common household items, like food packaging, stain-resistant carpets, and nonstick pans, Dr. Rich Malley cautions parents against jumping to conclusions based on the study results. An infectious disease specialist who was not involved with the study, Dr. Malley said,

“I would say it’s an elegant study and it’s provocative, but it’s just showing an association, not a cause and effect.”

Dr. Malley’s Vitals profile lists him as an author of 50 publications on the subject of infectious disease and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

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Posted in Medical Research. Tags: , , , , , .

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January 23rd, 2012

Anthony Bourdain Criticizes Paula Deen for Becoming Diabetes Drug Spokesperson

Paula Deen (yumsugar.com)

Anthony Bourdain (bostonherald.com)

Rekindling a feud that began last year, Anthony Bourdain responded to Paula Deen’s announcement that she has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and is now a spokesperson for a diabetes medication with a thinly veiled Twittter attack, saying:

“Thinking of getting into the leg-breaking business, so I can profitably sell crutches later.”

This isn’t the first time Bourdain has spoken out against Deen, saying in regards to her notoriously rich and fattening recipes, that Deen is the,

“most dangerous person to America.”

Do you think Paula Deen is a hypocrite for becoming a paid spokesperson for a diabetes drug while sharing her unhealthy recipes? Or do you believe that she’s simply using her celebrity to increase awareness of diabetes? Let us know by commenting here.

For more information on diabetes, visit our Diabetes Patient Guide.

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January 18th, 2012

Vitals’ Most Popular Doctors of 2011

Dr. Shriram Nene and Madhuri Dixit (totalfilmy.com)

Vitals provides patients with a wealth of information on every practicing physician in the country – over 720,000 in total. But some doctors are more popular than others. Of the 250 million total page views received by doctors on Vitals in 2011, the following doctors’ profiles received the most.

You may recognize some of these doctors from television. Others, you may not have heard of at all. What these doctors have in common, though, is their ability to draw a crowd.

Here’s a look at the five most popular physicians on Vitals in 2011:

#5 Most Viewed: Dr. Tanveer Zamani

In early 2011, Pakistani national media reported that Dr. Zamani and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari were married in a secret ceremony. Both parties vehemently denied the rumor, but not before Vitals users flocked to Dr. Zaman i’s profile to learn more about Pakistan’s alleged new First Lady.  

#4 Most Viewed: Dr. Andrew Ordon

Dr. Andrew Ordon is perhaps best known for his role on the popular, Emmy award-winning television show “The Doctors.” He provides a plastic surgeon’s perspective in discussing timely health topics with an ER doctor, an OB/GYN, and a pediatrician.

#3 Most Viewed: Dr. Conrad Murray

While Conrad Murray’s profile has been removed from Vitals following his involuntary manslaughter conviction and the revocation of his medical license in the death of Michael Jackson, he was nevertheless one of Vitals’ most viewed doctors in 2011 due to the interest sparked by his highly-publicized murder trial.

#2 Most Viewed: Dr. Jennifer Arnold

Dr. Arnold stars with her husband Bill Klein in TLC’s show “The Little Couple” which follows the couple as they face the challenges presented by their individual forms of dwarfism, especially when it comes to starting a family. A neonatologist caring for infants at the Texas Children’s Hospital, Dr. Arnold appeals to people of all sizes, drawing the second most visitors to her profile in 2011.

#1 Most Viewed: Dr. Shriram Nene

Dr. Nene is a thoracic surgeon who lived and practiced in Denver, Colorado for almost ten years until he and his wife decided to move to Mumbai, India in October of 2011. The news of their move wouldn’t have been noteworthy, except for the fact that Dr. Nene’s wife is one of Bollywood’s most famous actresses, Madhuri Dixit. The news of the couple’s return to India made headlines all over the world and brought Dr. Nene’s Vitals profile the highest number of visitors in 2011!

 

To view our previous press releases, click here.

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Posted in Celebrity Doctors, Doctors In The Media, Michael Jackson Doctors. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , .

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January 17th, 2012

‘Mob Wives’ Turn to Dr. Andrew Klapper for Plastic Surgery

Dr. Klapper's patient Renee Graziano (dailymail.co.uk)

For New York based plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Klapper, the pressure to deliver the best results for his patients is consistent no matter who he’s operating on.

Dr. Klapper’s ability to maintain his composure makes him the go-to surgeon for the ladies of the VH1 reality show ‘Mob Wives,’ which follows the interactions of various mafia-affiliated women.

While other doctors may be too nervous to operate on women with such notorious reputations, Dr. Klapper is rumored to have performed multiple procedures on Renee Graziano, daughter of reputed mobster Anthony Graziano, and Karen Gravano, daughter of infamous mobster turned informant Sammy “The Bull” Gravano.

Dr. Andrew Klapper (silive.com)

With a clientele that has earned him the nickname “The Bodfather,” Dr. Klapper is unfazed by the backgrounds of his patients, saying,

“Mobster, model, mogul – it doesn’t matter to me. The stakes are just as high across the board.”

 

Visit Dr. Klapper’s Vitals profile to see what his patients are saying about him.

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Posted in Doctors In The Media. Tags: , , , , , , .

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January 16th, 2012

Doctors Marvel: Muhammad Ali Still Fighting as He Approaches 70th Birthday

Muhammad Ali with longtime trainer Angelo Dundee (AP / usatoday.net)

Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest fighters to ever be involved in the sport of boxing. His accomplishments are nothing short of amazing. He also does things that ordinary people do,  like celebrate his birthday. On January 17th, Ali will celebrate turning seventy years old. Despite having Parkinson’s disease for more than three decades, the Louisville Kentucky native is still going strong.

Dr. David J. Houghton praises his continued efforts in staying active:

“His ability to maintain an active lifestyle and perseverance shows tremendous resilience in the face of what is a degenerative brain disease”

Dr Abraham N. Lieberman, the Director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson’s Center in Phoenix said:

“The Parkinson’s has affected him a lot, one of the things he has a lot of difficulty speaking…But he’s never downbeat about it. He’s a tremendous inspiration to everyone.”

According to Vitals, Dr. Houghton completed the Medical College of Georgia School Of Medicine in 2002 and specializes in Parkinson Disease. Dr. Lieberman, now retired, graduated from the New York University School of Medicine in 1963 in the top 25% of his class.

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Posted in Conditions, Parkinson's Disease. Tags: , , , , , .

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January 13th, 2012

Freestyle Skier Sarah Burke Under Watchful Eyes After Surgery

Sarah Burke (vancouversun.com)

Competing in the X-Games has its positives and negatives. Along with the chance to showcase talent among the world’s top athletes, comes the chance for injury. Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke sustained a serious head injury on January 10th 2012 in Park City, Utah while practicing in the half pipe. She tore a vertebral artery, leading to doctors putting her into a coma to decrease swelling and pressure on her brain. She remains in critical condition.

Dr. William T. Couldwell, the neurosurgeon who performed the operation, explains:

“With injuries of this type, we need to observe the course of her brain function before making definitive pronouncements about Sarah’s prognosis for recovery.”

Dr. Andrew M Naidech, the medical director of the neuro-spine intensive care unit at Northwest Memorial Hospital added:

“Tears can cause bleeding that disrupts blood flow to the brain, which in serious cases can lead to brain damage or death.”

According to Vitals, Dr. William T Caldwell is one of America’s leading experts on Craniotomy and Brain Diseases amongst others. He received his MD from the McGill University Faculty Of Medicine in 1984. Dr. Andrew M Naidech graduated in the top 50% from the Temple University School of Medicine in 1997.

 

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Posted in Conditions, Sports Injuries. Tags: , , , , , , .

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January 12th, 2012

Analysis Shows El Paso Lagging in Average Wait Time for Doctors’ Offices

Average wait-times (vitals.com)

Waiting to see your doctor can be a nerve-racking experience. Fear of an unknown diagnosis, worry about the rising cost of healthcare and the irritation of an unduly long wait in the doctor’s office all contribute to the anxiety felt by patients today.

Residents of El Paso, in particular, better be prepared for an exercise in patience. Vitals found that patients in the western Texas city have the longest average doctor’s office wait times as identified through an extensive analysis of patient ratings.

Vitals analyzed patient-reported wait times from its database of over 700,000 physicians to learn more about nationwide wait time trends.

“While the actual encounter with a physician is a key factor in how a patient feels about their office visit, with today’s busy lifestyles, wait times definitely matter in overall patient satisfaction,” said Jeff Cutler, executive vice president of Vitals. “It’s important for patients to be aware of how long they can expect to wait to receive the care they need, and increasingly, they can find this information on the Internet.”

Clocking in at 29.25 minutes on average, El Paso users reported the longest doctor’s office waits of any city on Vitals – about 8 minutes longer than the national average of 21 minutes. The bottom five is rounded out by Memphis, Miami, Las Vegas and Fort Worth with average wait times of at least 23.5 minutes.

A town where patients may be more at ease than those in El Paso is Minneapolis where  residents can expect to wait just 16.32 minutes on average – the shortest average wait time reported by users on Vitals.

Vitals has released its findings in an effort to increase transparency in healthcare. By reporting on average doctor’s office wait times by area, Vitals hopes that healthcare providers will strive to improve the quality of service they offer their communities.

“Vitals focuses on empowering patients with the tools and resources they need to make informed healthcare decisions and take charge of their health,” said Cutler. “It’s exciting to see more physicians and patients embrace the Internet as a tool to connect with one another and improve the patient experience.”

Visit Vitals to rate your doctor on his quality of care and leave the amount of time you waited for your visit.

 


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January 11th, 2012

Like With Diets, Moderation is Also Best for Marijuana Smoking

Marijuana (cannabis-pics.com)

The medicinal side-effects of marijuana have been the subject of many scientific studies in the past. A recent study published in the Journal of American Medical Association states that people who smoked an average of 2-3 marijuana joints a month did not suffer from any lung problems as compared to cigarette smokers. It is a well-established theory that marijuana has therapeutic potential for relieving pain, stimulating appetite, controlling nausea as well as improving mood.

Dr Stefan Kertesz, study co-author and an associate professor of preventive medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said:

“Marijuana may have beneficial effects on pain control, appetite, mood, and management of other chronic symptoms. Our findings suggest that occasional use of marijuana for these or other purposes may not be associated with adverse consequences on pulmonary function.”

Dr Kertesz further added:

“Marijuana is like any complex substance that affects many different parts of human biology and human functioning. For some people it’s going to be the impact on social life or legal issues or intellectual functioning that might be harmful. Some people really do develop severe addictions to marijuana.”

But while this study suggests that smoking marijuana once in a while does not cause any damage to lung function, engaging in long term use raises serious concerns about its adverse impacts on health. A number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.

Also, some experts do not completely agree that marijuana has absolutely no impact on a healthy person’s lungs. Their skepticism is not unjustified as the study subjects were only given two kinds of pulmonary function tests that assessed their ability to inhale and exhale. Also, the study did not take into account the prevalence of lung cancer among marijuana smokers.

According to Vitals, Dr Stefan Kertesz is a board certified internist and preventive medicine specialist who received his education at the Harvard University School of Medicine in 1993.

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Posted in Controversial Medicine, Lifestyle Research, Medical Research. Tags: , , , , , , , .

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January 10th, 2012

Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway: How Beyonce and Jay-Z’s $1.3 Million Could Help Others

Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway (lifescript.com)

It has been reported in the media that Beyonce and husband Jay-Z spent $1.3 million to rent and renovate a maternity floor of Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan in preparation for the birth of their child, Blue Ivy Carter.

If this rumor is true, one person it does not sit well with is Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway, an OB/GYN from Florida, who happens to also have been a resident of the same Marcy Projects in Brooklyn where Jay-Z once lived.

In her blog, Dr. Burke-Galloway contrasts the joyous occasion of Blue Ivy’s birth with today’s child delivery statistics, saying,

“Unfortunately, the same day that Blue Ivy Carter entered the world, 2 women died of maternal complications. Many more had abruptions, premature labor, shoulder dystocias and stillbirths. $1.3 million dollars bought quality care for Beyonce, something that should really be experienced by all.”

Dr. Burke-Galloway goes on to suggest that the money Lenox Hill Hospital received from the Carter family is an opportunity to improve the chances that a mother and child will have a successful and complication-free delivery.

“my prayer is that Lenox Hill Hospital will take their windfall profit of $1.3 million dollars and put it to good use. How about donating ultrasounds, maternal fetal consultations and (OMG), a couple of free deliveries for uninsured pregnant women?”

According to her Vitals profile, Dr. Burke-Galloway received her medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1987 and has an overall patient rating of four stars based on two ratings.

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