CANNABIS JOINS THE FAMILY OF "WONDER DRUGS."

Whoa! A giant step was taken by the governing body of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The ACP is the second largest medical organization in the country with 124,000 members, and now has endorsed the medical use of marijuana. The ACP wants the Feds to roll back the prohibition and the report cites studies which show that the drug is useful in treating severe weight loss associated with AIDS as well as the nausea and vomiting frequently seen with cancer therapy. Their declaration stated that additional studies are needed to define therapeutic properties of marijuana, standard and optimal doses, and routes of delivery. The report states that research has been hindered by debate over legalization, the complicated federal approval process and limited availability of research-grade cannabis. No doubt the issue will be presented at the June meeting of the American Medical Association, and pressure will be on the delegates to follow suit with the ACP. If the AMA House of Delegates joins the ACP on this issue, the door will be open. Perhaps also the American Academy Ophthalmology (AAO) will follow suit and change policy re marijuana and glaucoma.

THERE IS NO GREED LIKE THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, NOT EVEN TOBACCO PEOPLE OR THE OIL INDUSTRY.

Not satisfied that cholesterol-lowering drugs are already prescribed in excess, now Merck wants to dispense 20 mg. doses of Mevacor over the counter without a prescription. Fortunately, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said no with a "not approvable" letter. Merck is not to be dissuaded. Edwin Hemwall, Merck’s vice president, said Merck would evaluate the conditions outlined in the agency’s response to determine the path forward for Mevacor OTC.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRUE LOVE AND HERPES – HERPES IS FOREVER.

In the not too distant past before specific anti-viral therapy, penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) for corneas scarred by herpes was considered nearly always a loser. Now a study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology has documented the use of acyclovir comparing oral versus topical therapy. Topical use resulted in a rejection rate of more than 50% but oral acyclovir reduced the rejection figure to 20%. Clearly, oral acyclovir should be the prophylactic drug of choice in PKP for eyes scarred with herpes simplex.

HAS ANYBODY SEEN ELVIS LATELY?

The death of big-time movie star Heath Ledger due to a combination of sedatives and prescription pain-killers has served to accentuate the potential dangers of mixing prescription medications. The great majority of patients don’t have a clue about the cumulative effects of drugs, especially those designed for sleep or pain or anxiety, and the addition of alcohol further heightens the potential for death. When the medical examiner’s report shows death due to drug overdose, the toxicology report often reveals that multiple drugs were ingested. In Ledger’s case the report listed hydrocodone, diazepam, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine as being found his system. The City of New York Chief Medical Examiner concluded that "the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications." Lethal combo – narcotics, sedatives, tranquilizers and alcohol.

WHAT A CUTE GECKO! THAT’S NO GECKO. IT’S A PANTHER.

According to Pew Research Center data released in 2007, 36% of 18 to 25-year-olds have tattoos while 40% of 26 to 40-year-old have at least one. Beyond age 41 the number drops to 10%. Naturally, some of these people aren’t happy with the result and 17% regret their tattoo decision, sometimes because a name inscribed is no longer in favor (Mother?), or the image faded or sagged, or "it was stupid." Technology to the rescue! A company called Freedom-2 in Camden, New Jersey, has developed an ink that can be removed with just one laser treatment and it leaves no scar. So far, old time tattoo artists aren’t interested in changing ink says Sailor Bill Johnson, vice president of the National Tattoo Association. "We’ve had success and we know what is good." The FDA needs to approve tattoo inks before they can be marketed, but in fact, they seldom bother since there haven’t been any widespread concerns about tattoo safety. The actual practice falls under state and local regulations. The threat of disease is real since improperly sterilized tools can transmit HIV, hepatitis or staph aureus, or all three. One-time U.S. Marine George Schultz, holder of three cabinet posts under two presidents has a tiger tattooed on his ass. We don’t know what it looks like today, and let’s hope we never will.

I DO NOT FEAR THOSE PALE GREEN PANTS WITH NOBODY INSIDE THEM. I SAID AND SAID AND SAID THOSE WORDS. I SAID THEM, BUT I LIED THEM. (Dr. Seuss)

Roger Clemens, possibly the best baseball pitcher in modern times, went before the House of Representatives committee investigating baseball, and swore that he did not and has not ever taken or been injected with human growth hormone or anabolic steroids. It is a tough call for Roger because his old teammate Andy Pettite stated under oath that Clemens had told him that he had taken the drug. Moreover, the trainer at the time has testified that he administered the drugs to Clemens during the 1999 and 2000 baseball seasons. Supposedly, he retained needles and syringes to establish his DNA evidence, if it should ever become important to do so. Oh yeah, right!! Like the famous blue dress of President Clinton fame, why would a person keep syringes and needles nearly ten years? It might appear that the trainer had other things on his agenda besides keeping his team’s athletes in competitive shape. Do you think? Whatever the Clemens outcome this wonderful game invented in the USA has been dishonored by a few rotten apples.

A NEW SURVEY REVEALS THAT MOST AMERICANS WOULD RATHER GIVE UP SEX THAN THE TELEVISION REMOTE.

No one could claim that the 2008 Super Bowl (XLII) was dull. Often the Super Bowl party is much more interesting than the game, but this time it was white knuckles to the very end as the New York Giants upset the already canonized, (by all the sport talking heads) "best of all time" New England Patriots. The Fox network was delighted because the game was the second-most watched television spectacle of all time with 97 million, topped only by the final MASH episode in 1983 (100 million) according to Nielsen Media Research. The audience increased over the course of the game reaching 130 million at the end. The advertisers got their money’s worth as they paid out $2.7 million for a 30-second spot. The fighting balloon floats were judged the best advertisement with the Charlie Brown balloon winning the bottle of Coca Cola.

ALWAYS YIELD TO A BLIND PEDESTRIAN EVEN THOUGH HE CAN’T READ YOUR LICENSE PLATE.

A study published in the journal Ophthalmology used a managed care data base to evaluate the cost of being blind compared with a similar population of patients with eyesight. Researchers identified 10,796 blind patients and a similar cohort of seeing patients, using total and pharmacy-related direct medical charges for a full year. For the blind population the median charges in the first year were $6,854 per person, while the non-blind patients’ median charges were $3,778. The analysis by age group revealed significantly higher overall charges in the older age group.

GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT!

Not unlike Hawaii, certain places in Lake County, California, attract illegal dumping. A Lucerne man loaded his pick-up with garbage, drove out Robinson Road, stopped and dropped the tailgate, and began to empty his garbage. He fell dead, apparently with shovel in hand, cause of death undetermined. Fate? Karma? Bachi? Be careful where you dump!

JAWS SPRING KID JUST AHEAD OF SPIN CYCLE.

A four-year-old wanted to investigate the top-loading washing machine (it was not running). He managed to get stuck against the agitator with his knee folded across his chest. Firefighters and the "jaws of life" were required to extricate him without injury, but the washer was never the same.

ADDENDA -----

• In the Netherlands a man was arrested for licking women’s toes while they were sunbathing. Prosecution had to negate the arrest because toe-licking is not defined as a crime since there is no objective sex act.
   
• In Melbourne, Australia, a 38 year old man and his 36 year old girl friend planned to rob a restaurant. He grabbed what he thought was a bag of money, but was a bag of rolls. Then he accidentally fired his gun striking his partner in the buttocks. They were arrested.
   
• A sex shop in Brasov, Transylvania, was ordered to pay $1,179 to a man who claimed his inflatable doll had "lost her moan."

Aloha, and keep the faith. ----------rts

Contents of this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinion, policy or position of the Hawaii Ophthalmology Society or the Hawaii Medical Association. Editorial comment is strictly that of the writer