Science can be amazing

15-minute-old newborn gets pacemaker for heart

The name Jaya in Hindi means victorious. And little Jaya Maharaj was just that, when she became one of the smallest recipients of a pacemaker when she was just 15 minutes old.

Jaya is now three months old and doing quite well, despite having to induce labour so prematurely and the operation that gave her the pacemaker. Doctors chose to implant one rather than do an external one with a second surgery later, and the pacemaker should last her ten years. I'm so glad that medicine was able to give this child a second chance, and I'm sure her family is thrilled to have her. The condition could easily have caused her to die in the womb.

I really need to talk to my doctor

This is the third time I have been on the diabetes drug Avandia. I need to talk to Dr Nesbitt about trying Actos instead, due to concerns of heart damage from Avandia. Experts have told diabetics not to stop taking the drug without a doctor's okay, but it really looks like the drug has dangerous side effects. Personally, I don't want to have a heart attack because of something that was supposed to help me. Diabetics are already at risk for heart problems; they don't need anything to help push them along. I think they should pull it from the market. Of course, there's a lot of money and politics in play here, so we'll see how it turns out.
Research Ties Diabetes Drug to Heart Woes

Hundreds of people taking Avandia, a controversial diabetes medicine, needlessly suffer heart attacks and heart failure each month, according to confidential government reports that recommend the drug be removed from the market.

The reports, obtained by The New York Times, say that if every diabetic now taking Avandia were instead given a similar pill named Actos, about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be averted every month because Avandia can hurt the heart. Avandia, intended to treat Type 2 diabetes, is known as rosiglitazone and was linked to 304 deaths during the third quarter of 2009.

“Rosiglitazone should be removed from the market,” one report, by Dr. David Graham and Dr. Kate Gelperin of the Food and Drug Administration, concludes. Both authors recommended that Avandia be withdrawn.

U.S.: Controversial diabetes drug harms heart: Internal F.D.A. reports are part of fierce debate over Avandia

GSK to face FDA meeting over Avandia safety record

Au Revoir, Avandia? FDA Reviewers Urge Agency to Pull Drug: Doctors, Diabetes Experts Split on Whether Drug Should Be Eliminated

Health Buzz: FDA Report Advises Avandia Be Pulled From the Market

Two scientific 'Wow!' moments

Team Creates Rat Heart Using Cells of Baby Rats

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Reversal Of Alzheimer's Symptoms Within Minutes [The direct link to the paper on this is: Rapid cognitive improvement in Alzheimer's disease following perispinal etanercept administration, with a commentary also available for free download (both can be viewed through HTML or PDF).]