MARCO Grand Rounds, August 28, 2005

From Warren, KD4GUA:

As of this date no news from our President Chip Keister N5RTF in New Orleans...when last heard from Sunday he was contemplating moving out of the city. Any news place on Listserve. Also no news from John WB5BHB in Vancleave, MS.

Last Sunday we discussed the use of guidelines which are primarily used for one disease and which get complicated when there are several comorbidities present especially in older patients. Our checkins are doing very well: To date, Aug. 28 checkins for 2002: 875; for 2003, 966; for 2004, 1,021 and for this year 1,045. KD4GUA, Warren, will be in Washington D.C. this weekend, and Harry WB9EDP has gratiously volunteered to be net control Sunday. Please keep record of check-ins...program pending.

MARCO Grand Rounds for August 21, 2005

From Warren, KD4GUA:

We finished up on B-12 last week (if you missed it, it will appear in the next Newsletter). We are still ahead of last year with check-ins and last year was a record year. We had some unusual check-ins Sunday, i.e., WB2UFO checked in, W4UVS, Ed Westcott, came on board after having a CVA and he did very well. Linda KE5BQK's" husband Bernie (KD5QHV) managed to land on the net and Bob Morgan VE3OQM came through for the third straight week.

This week JAMA Aug 10 2005 Page 716, "Guidelines and Quality of Care for Older Persons." It basically says guidelines (known as cookbook medicine) may be OK when the patient has ONE disease but most older people have multiple diseases and things get mixed up. Tom W3GAT is bringing some ammunition to keep the show explosive. Isn't it great what the ter----- are doing to the drug industry! They wiped out the small airplane manufacturers, they are working on the doctors and now the drug companies. Bill, KC9CS, our Abbott Rep should have some GOOD comment.

MARCO Grand Rounds, August 14, 2005

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last week we discussed the importance of vitamin B-12....we ran short of time so will continue that discussion this Sunday.

The reason B-12 is important is the body needs 9 essential amino acids which it does not produce. From these 9 the body adds 11 more with the aid of B-12. For example, Methionine is a necessary amino acid ...from this it is converted to homocysteine and then to cystine another essential amino acid. If there is a deficiency of B-12 there will be an elevation of the homocysteine level in the blood and we know that is NOT good. Increased risk of CV disease.

There is an excellent article in JAMA Aug. 10, 2005, Page 716, "Guidelines and Quality of Care for Older Patients." It basically says guidelines (cookbook medicine) may be ok when the patient has ONE disease, but most older people have comorbid pathology--more than one disease and then when you introduce two guidelines you start getting into trouble. Plan on discussing this week from Sunday unless someone has something else to bring up.

MARCO Grand Rounds for August 7, 2005

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last Sunday electrical storms caused a postponement on the lecture "B-12 Deficiency in those over 50." Harry WB9EDP came up with a remarkble off-the-cuff discussion on "ionization" that was a winner. Incidentally, the National Acad. of Science has just come up with a study that states, "Even very low doses of radiation pose a risk of cancer over a person's lifetime. It rejected some arguments that tiny doses are harmless or may in fact be beneficial (Australian uranium miners had a higher life expectancy than non-miners!)

Danny, W4DAN, had the misfortune of falling while cutting wet grass on a Tennessee hill resulting in 4 fx in the lower left leg. He is now home with a cast.

This week we will back on the B-12 schedule. Remember, MediShare net Monday nights 7.225 at 9:30 pm eastern.

MARCO Grand Rounds for July 31, 2005

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last Sunday, Lou WA1HGE, discussed "The late withdrawal of implantable defibrillators." Did the Company withhold information after two deaths to prevent massive legal action? We never did solve that one! Good News: Our check in rates up to Aug. 1st read as follows: 2002--755; 2003--816; 2004--889; 2005--895. This week we will discuss B-12 Deficiency in those over 50. We had some interesting checkins Sunday--VE3OQM came back after a two year absence fixing his kitchen. Peter N3NCD and Doug KB3HER from HEW's club station in Maryland came on board. We also had about 5 checkins to the MediShare net on Monday night at 7.225 and Echolink N5UUA-L. Also, got a new address on Gene N3HG who is now living in what he describes as a "prison" of steel, called a Retirement Villa? (no radio antennas allowed, can someone pass him a saw?)