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Staggeringly
obese man gets free bypass surgery
MONTERREY, MEXICO
— At 1,200 lbs, 40-year-old Manuel Uribe
is believed to be the heaviest man alive. Bedridden
for the past five years, he will soon travel from his
native Mexico to Modena, Italy, to undergo intestinal
bypass surgery that's been offered to him free of charge.
Despite his colossal size, Mr Uribe's cholesterol and
blood sugar levels are normal, and his heart works relatively
well, making him a great candidate for the operation
that will last several hours. Mr Uribe, whose wife left
him over 10 years ago because she feared he would die,
weighed a more reasonable 290 lbs until his early 20s.
Ex-BMJ
editor says journals awash in sham research
LONDON —
So-called peer reviewed studies are all too often a
pack of lies, writes Dr Richard Smith, former editor
of the BMJ. In an opinion piece in the May 3
edition of the Journal of the Royal Society, Dr
Smith warns that cases like that of Korean scientist
Dr Hwang Woo-Suk — who won international fame for
his falsified stem cell research — are more common
than we'd hope to believe. He blasted universities for
failing to get tough on unethical researchers in those
rare instances they get caught. In order to avoid embarrassment
for the school, Dr Smith says fake research is typically
"covered up altogether or the guilty researcher is urged
to retrain, move to another institution or retire from
research."
Common
virus could set off MS
DURHAM, NC —
New evidence is helping to clarify the long suspected
link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and the Epstein-Barr
virus (EVB). Scientists have found that patients with
MS carry a population of immune cells that overreact
to EBV. These T-cells boost the immune system's response
to EBV, which can then trigger the immune system to
start attacking the body. The study, which was published
in advance online May 2, will be published in the June
2006 issue of Brain.
Pep
talks from docs help keep heavy drinkers on the wagon
PROVIDENCE —
Having a few heart-to-hearts right in your office, combined
with the craving-reducing drug naltrexone or professional
counseling, helps problem drinkers kick the habit, according
to research published in JAMA on May 3. This
landmark alcoholism trial followed 1,383 subjects and
concluded that as few as nine 20-minute "interventions"
in a primary care setting helped patients stay dry.
"Having someone check on a patient's progress, assess
their health and provide encouragement speaks to the
power of sustained, professional medical care," said
co-author Dr Robert Smith.
Prayer
isn't a first-line Tx
CHICAGO —
Doctors are torn over whether and how to discuss religion
with their patients, according to a survey of 2,000
practising MDs published in the May issue of Medical
Care. Only half of the respondents admitted to asking
their patients about their religious convictions, even
though nine out of 10 believe it's their duty to indulge
patients who bring it up. Though the doctor's degree
of religious zeal was a more important factor than their
denomination in determining behaviour, Protestant MDs
were found to be the most likely to pray along with
their patients.
Pop
shaken out of US schools
NEW YORK —
Former US President Bill Clinton can no longer be accused
of being soft on soft drinks. In a move aimed at improving
the diet of schoolchildren, Mr Clinton has brokered
a deal with the big three soda pop makers. PepsiCo,
Cadbury Schweppes and Coca-Cola — who account for
nearly 90% of the pop market — have agreed to stop
selling their fizzy sugar water on school grounds. Though
fatty chocolate milk and sugary sports drinks like Gatorade
aren't part of the deal, the ex-president's initiative
is being hailed as a landmark victory in the battle
against childhood obesity.
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