MARCO Grand Rounds for April 1, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Bad luck last Sunday--contest QRM and long skip kept the discussion limited so it was postponed till this Sunday--April Fools Day--14.307. I notice the Flyboys also dropped their net down to 14.307 because of the Latin Lovers on 14.310.

We will discuss "Counterfeit Drugs." Counterfeiters seek large profits while limiting their risks of detection, so they favor higher priced drugs for conditions patients may be reluctant to reveal to their doctors, such as Viagra, Cialis and Propecia (embarrassment drugs). Also, Lipitor, Celebrex, Crestor, Nexium....

25% of the drugs coming in from Mexico are counterfeit. The Canadian Pharmacist's Association said that up to 50% of the drugs from online pharmacies can be counterfit or sub-standard. Many of the Canadian email addresses are phoney and coming from Central America.

Not that we don't have enough to worry about, now we have this! Learn how to spot them! (or how to try and spot them.)

Tune in, should be FUN!!!!!

MARCO Grand Rounds for March 25, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will finish the discussion on Malaria and then, time permitting, will delve into "Helping Your Patients Avoid Counterfeit Medicines." They are out there--malaria and counterfeit drugs and unless we look for them we won't find them.

The top drugs being counterfeited are: Combivir, Diflucan, Epivir, Epogen, Lamisil, Lipitor, Norvasc, Procrit, Samatatropin, Viagra and Zyprexa.

Tune in, should be fun. Also, if you have a topic you wish to discuss or have discussed please advise. The more participants the better--don't be bashful.

Hope everyone got the Newsletter by now--and remember to submit your "For Sale" articles for the upcoming classified section.

MARCO Grand Rounds for March 18, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Sunday (March 11) we discussed Human Papillomavirus HPV. We discovered it is the most common STD --present in 1/4 of all females at ages 20-24 and that 80% of us who reach age 50 have been infected--both male and female--with one of the 89+ strains that can cause condyloma (venereal warts and cervical cancer etc.)etc. Fortunately, most cases are destroyed by the body defenses within 2 years.

The new vaccine runs around $135 per injection, three required preferably for females under 29 and not men (yet).

From the recent study reported in the Feb. 28 JAMA one in 59 females remains a virgin by age 50--needless to say, they are in great demand.

The bad news, is we got hit with a pizza ad on Grand Rounds this morning along with our Latin cooks up on 310 making it almost impossible to carry on.

ASOFNOW--henceforth, as agreed by all, we will be moving down to 14.307 MHz in the immediate future. This coming week, we hope, Lou Wiederhold WA1HGE will be discussing current treatment of malaria, a disease that just won't go away.

MARCO Grand Rounds for March 11, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

NOW HEAR THIS...Marco Grand Rounds of the Air this Sunday at 10 a.m. Eastern will again attempt to discuss HPV. (We got inundated by a "contest" last Sunday)

It is a timely subject and will be a topic of converation in the office, so tune in, ask questions and with a group of 30+ we may have some answers.

MARCO Grand Rounds for February 25, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will continue the discussion of the History of Illegal Drugs. It is a challenging subject and was featured recently on the History Channel from which much of the data has been taken.

Alexander the Great conquered the known world with the help of opium and now, once again, opium is trying to conquer our world. Will it succeed?

Do we have to be "Normally normal" as Sigmoid Freud stated after he got high on cocaine?

WANTED: Send your Buy-Sell items not to E-bay but to the "Spark-Key" Marco Newsletter. Empty your Dagwood closets so we can all enjoy your junk--stop being possessive--perhaps the xyl will then have more room to store her shoes. 73...........Warren

A reply from Al, KA7LOT:

I recall reading an article 15 or so years ago in Smithsonian about a cocaine epidemic in America in about 1914. The article mentioned that the NYC police were upset that people high on cocaine were dangerous and had to put down. The police then carried 32 caliber pistols, and wanted something more powerful to help stop folks high on cocaine, so the 38 caliber came into being with the nickname "Saturday night special". 73's to all, Al KA7LOT

MARCO Grand Rounds for February 18, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss "The History of Illegal Drugs." Should be a loser's winner!

The weather in Tampa Bay is 55 degrees and all the Yanks are wearing long underwear. (Union suits are banned in the South.)

Keep those "For Sale" items coming in as we want to get a classified ad section going in the Newsletter. Also, how about a name for the NL? Right now tentatively it is "Spark-Key." Any other suggestions?

MARCO Grand Rounds for February 11, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

MARCO GRAND ROUNDS OF THE AIR for Feb. 11, continuation of INFLAMATORY BOWEL DISEASE.

Have had request for rname of test for determining aspirin resistance--IT IS: "Ultegra Rapid Platelet Function Assay This is a blood test. There is also a urine test called "Aspirinworks" but not as good.

MARCO Grand Rounds for January 21, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss a common problem that accounts for 1 in 8 patient visits--IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME. If we have 40 check-ins that means there will be about 5 on board with this problem. These bowel problems are always fun.

Those of you who are receiving this by email can also receive the February edition of the Marco Newsletter via pdf file by clicking on the attachment and then printing it. [Also available for download at http://www.marco-ltd.org]. Those not bothering should receive their hard copy edition in about ten days with your certificate of CME for 2006. All members will receive a hard copy if your dues are paid or nearly paid.

If you want to have some fun, tune in 15 minutes before 10 eastern on Sunday and using your CW key tap out "She is his mississippi sis." I understand this was a fim-trick in training the military during WW II whereas they had to pick up 15 wpm in two weeks or flunk out of radio school!

MARCO Grand Rounds for January 14, 2007

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss "Isabelle" a diagnostic tool that is being used by the VA to come up with a diagnosis in children. The program is available to private doctors and all hospitals. [Blogmaster's note: It appears to me that two ideas are being run together here. The VA doesn't do diagnosis in children. We do not (yet) have child-veterans in this country. Tune into the net to hear the real story!]

If we have time we will discuss the law that took effect in Florida Jan. 1, 2007 and which will be in effect all over the US by October. It is the law concerning PRESENT ON ADMISSION DIAGNOSIS which means you have to list all the diseases a patient has before they go into the hospital so that the insurance and Medicare will not be billed for those pre-existing conditions. It is already implemented in California so maybe Arnold can tell us about the added regulatory work involved.

IF YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH "ISABELLE" or other computer programs dealing with diagnosis or experience with PRESENT ON ADMISSION please help out. This one should be a necessary bore, but the boys pulling the puppet strings are serious.

MARCO Grand Rounds for 12/31/2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss "Dizziness" and "Tinnitus" if we have time. Also, about the Eplex maneuver to relieve postural vertigo.

Need the check-in list for last week.

MARCO Grand Rounds for December 24, 2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will attempt to conclude the discussion on Polonium 210 and the Russians. Harry WB9EDP will be net controller as I will be in Washington D(amn)C(crowded). Should be a good won [sic].

Radiation Detectors

From Chip, N5RTF:

Enjoyed the talk this morning on radioisotopes. As a sideline, I enjoy building geiger counters and usually have a couple quietly clicking away at home. They are sometimes illuminating. I was once able to detect a leak from a local nuclear plant 2 days before it was announced publicly. It is also interesting to observe counts go up when it starts raining.

If any MARCO members would like to build their own counters, I recommend Charles Wenzel's web site:

http://www.techlib.com/science/geiger.html
Tubes can be purchased from LND incorporated at: http://www.lndinc.com/

His circuits are impressive, in that they can be built mostly out of a junk box and draw only about 1 ma. in operation. Output from the detector can be modified to drive any number of devices: lights, speakers, digital counters, software, etc.

Be the first in your neighborhood to know you've been nuked!

MARCO Grand Rounds as of December 8

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last week we tried to discuss Polonium 210 but were snowed by a pile-up. Harry WB9EDP will again try and explain the murder of the Russian agent by radioactivity.

If we have time, we will also hit on the new program "Isabel" that is coming into vogue.

So far, our Sunday net is holding up fairly well being at the bottom of the sun spot-cycle. Below are averages for Sundays of each year:

1998, average check-in was 14.45 members 2003, average check-in was 28.63

1999, average check-in was 15.95 members 2004, average check-in was 29.50

2000, average check-in was 20.25 members 2005, average check-in was 29.17

2001, average check-in was 22.6 members 2006, average check in was 28.96

2002, average check-in was 26.15 members.

MARCO Grand Rounds - an Addition

From Warren, KD4GUA:

With the second reported poisoning with Polonium 210 in Europe, our physicist, Harry WB9EDP has promised to give us a brief description of this radio-active substance prior to our discussion of "Isabelle" this upcoming Sunday. You might read Peter Zimmerman's fine article in the Wall Street Journal of Dec. 1 concernng this gruesome death.

Tune in, should be interesting.

MARCO Grand Rounds for December 3, 2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday Grand Rounds we will discuss "ISABEL." Who is she? She is a little girl in England who was misdiagnosed and almost died...her Dad began a program to help doctors make the right diagnosis. It has been very well received and is now on-going in the VA and many teaching hospitals. It is time we all knew about it--its ability to make diagnosis and its cost

I have tried to get hold of Albert Breland KA7LOT MD who has had experience with this program. I hope he can come on board. He was last heard to be in Alaska working for the VA. Bert was a neuro resident of our late President Bob Currier.

If Chip N5RTF or any other MARCO members have experience with Isabel, please be on board Sunday, 10 a.m. Eastern 14.308 (go down to 14.307 if Latin stations antagonistic.)

Good news--Bill Hazell, W4TAD is out of sick bay and home.

MARCO Grand Rounds for November 26, 2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

This Sunday we will discuss Chantix, the new FDA approved drug for quitting smoking. We will also discuss your methods to induce your patients to quit. Other meds being studied include rimonabant a pill and upcoming vaccines . Early tests of these new meds have been promising. 15 years after quitting--the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker! (Do you believer that?)

Let's help those with, kick the habit, which is tougher than opium to quit.

Sunday 14.308, 10 a.m. Eastern. If we are bombarded by the Latins on 14.310 go DOWN to 14.307. "If you can't lick 'em, leave 'em."

NOTE: The December pdf version of the Newsletter is available on the internet via listserve. The mail-version should be in the pipeline by Tuesday.

MARCO Grand Rounds, November 16, 2006

From Warren, KD4GUA:

Last Sunday, November 12, we had 34 check-ins for a discussion on the use of Statin drugs. Due to time limitations we were unable to finish and thus, will continue this Sunday, 10 a.m. Eastern 14.308...if we hit the Latins go DOWN to 14.307 as they will probably be haunting at 14.310.

Medical Personnel Needed in Africa

Received from MediShare International Chairman Bill Stenberg, N5QF:

Dear MARCO members:
MediShare has received a request for medical personnel by Nlogha E. Okeke,MD, FACS in Eastern Nigeria.
The Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre is a 98 bed nonprofit, non-governmental general hospital located in the eastern part of Nigeria. Some information about the hospital can be accessed at its web site- www.enmc-hospital.org.
If you can help please contact Dr. Okeke (ifeomake@yahoo.com), and please cc to me.
Thank you!!!
William Stenberg, DDS, MPH/ N5QF
MediShare Director
www.medishare.org

Audio Download of MARCO Grand Rounds

Chip Keister, N5RTF, has made audio of MARCO Grand Rounds available through his Website.

Here is the information from Chip:

Internet streaming audio of MARCO Grand Rounds is up and running again today. This is an MP3 icecast/shoutcast stream available by clicking the following link or pasting it into your favorite MP3 player:

http://tkeister.net:8000/stream.m3u or cut and paste http://tkeister.net:8000/stream

Winamp and VLC work best. Microsoft Media Player will work after a long buffering delay.

I have also set up an FTP site to download previous Grand Rounds audio. The link is:

ftp://tkeister.net User name is marco. Password is wb5d.

Files are listed by date. To download, you will have to have your browser set to active FTP. In Microsoft Internet Explorer, on the top toolbar, click Tools, then Advanced, then scroll down to an entry labeled: Use Passive FTP (for firewall and DSL modem compatibility). Uncheck this box, then click Apply, then OK. Go back to the file list and click on the desired archive, then follow the instructions from your browser.

This is not real audio on demand, but will allow people to catch Grand Rounds when they couldn't be on the air in person. Please send comments, positive or negative.

Note that real-time streaming is available during the net, held Sundayts at 10AM Eastern Time (1500 UTC in the Winter and 1400 UTC in the Summer).

MARCO Website updated

On November 4, 2006 the "Radio Links" page of MARCO's Website was updated with several new links added.

-KM2L