Hepatitis B is a blood-borne infection of the hepatocytes in the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) which could lead to inflammation of the liver. Many patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) do not have any symptoms and thus don’t even know they have the condition. Over many years, chronic infection and inflammation can lead to severe scarring of liver - a condition ... Continue Reading
Vitamin D
By Helen K. Kelley
Vitamin D is a nutrient that is needed to maintain good health for every part of the body – from keeping bones strong and helping the body absorb calcium to working with parathyroid function and the immune system. It is also a nutrient in which most adults are deficient. Atlanta Medicine recently spoke with two Atlanta rheumatologists, who shared their knowledge of current ... Continue Reading
Tick-borne Diseases
By Helen K. Kelley
When the weather warms up, people naturally spend a lot more time outdoors. But the warm weather also beckons all kinds of insects to come out from their winter dormancy, including pesky ticks. The Southeast is a favorite breeding ground for ticks, and many Atlanta physicians are familiar with the diseases they can carry. Atlanta Medicine recently spoke with two infectious ... Continue Reading
Statins, PCI or Nutrition – Which Matters?
By Neil Cooper, M.D., MHA, MSc
After my ST elevation myocardial infarction in 2012 and emergent deployment of left anterior descending stents, the first book I read was Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D. After reading other sentinel scientific studies on nutrition and heart disease, I realized the answer to the question of what’s necessary, statins, percutaneous coronary ... Continue Reading
Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease is the leading endocrine disorder in the United States. While there are several different health issues that can result from either an overactive or underactive thyroid, thyroid cancer is the most prominent. The rate of thyroid cancer has tripled in the past three decades, likely due to better detection methods. Here, Atlanta Medicine shares the thoughts of two ... Continue Reading
Care Critical: Diabetes Self-Management Education
By Mary Ransbotham, RN From ATLANTA Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 4 Diabetes is a chronic, progressive disease that requires ongoing complex medical management, and the physician’s role extends well beyond glycemic management. A large body of evidence exists to support a range of interventions to improve diabetes outcomes, including Diabetes Education. Diabetes Education ... Continue Reading
Diagnosing and Treating Nail Fungus
By Helen Selser, M.D. From ATLANTA Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 5 With an estimated 35 million cases each year, Onychomycosis (fungal infection of the nail unit) is one of the most common dermatological problems in the United States. While oral medications carry risks and often do not produce a lasting cure, new topical medications provide viable monotherapy ... Continue Reading
Diabetes Is Advancing: Are You Keeping Pace?
By N. Spencer Welch, MD From ATLANTA Medicine, Vol. 85, No. 4 Diabetes is not going away. As America becomes more sedentary and more overweight, and as developing countries “ westernize†their diets, the incidence of diabetes – especially Type II – is skyrocketing. While the incidence of the disease is increasing at an alarming rate, we are continuing to ... Continue Reading
Major Advancements Made Toward Treating and Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
The National MS Society continues to pursue all promising paths to uncover solutions for everyone with MS, wherever those opportunities exist, with particular focus on progressive MS, nervous system repair, and wellness/lifestyle. Last year, 2013, has shown positive results from previous investments in research and the Society is committed to expanding its research funding to ... Continue Reading
Researchers Seek Clues to Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
Emory researchers are conducting a prospective clinical study to examine the possibility of diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) before motor symptoms occur. The study is an arm of the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), which was launched in 2010 by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to help define one or more biomarkers of PD. The PPMI ... Continue Reading
Study Shows U.S. Diabetes Care Improves, Potentially Costly Gaps Remain
According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Americans with diabetes had increasingly better control of their blood sugar and cholesterol levels and attended more preventive check-ups from 1999 to 2010. However, one in five Americans with diabetes still smokes, blood pressure has not improved significantly, and approximately 40 percent don't receive ... Continue Reading
Overview of the Systemic Manifestations of Rheumatic Diseases
By Kelly O. Weselman, M.D., F.A.C.R. From ATLANTA Medicine, 2012, Rheumatology, Vol. 83, No. 3 Although many think of rheumatic diseases as causing joint pain and swelling, it is important to remember that these illnesses cause pathology in multiple other organ systems. Since these patients frequently present to primary care physicians and virtually all specialists, it is ... Continue Reading
Stem Cell Techniques and Enhanced Treatment Strategies are Promising for Patients With Blood Disorders
Studies of stem cell biology and transplant approaches presented at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) illustrate how the use of advanced modeling techniques is optimizing stem cells to treat patients with blood disorders, as well as the potential of enhanced treatment strategies to improve the success rate of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) ... Continue Reading
New Studies Reveal Critical Insights to Improve Care of Patients With Sickle Cell Disease
Research unveiling key gaps in continuity of care for sickle cell patients transitioning from pediatric to adult care were presented recently during the 54th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited, chronic blood disorder affecting between 90,000 and 100,000 Americans.[1] Instead of producing healthy red blood ... Continue Reading
Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Gaining Ground
The possibility of an inexpensive, convenient test for Alzheimer's disease has been on the horizon for several years, but previous research leads have been hard to duplicate. In a study published online and in the upcoming issue of the journal Neurology, scientists have taken a step toward developing a blood test for Alzheimer's, finding a group of markers that hold up in ... Continue Reading
