Earth Essences.Com

Previous sufferers of heart inflammation can receive Pfizer vaccine

Previous sufferers of myocardittis and other heart inflammation-related conditions can safely receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, new research finds.

A French research team from t he Université Hospital of Lyon, about 250 miles southeast of Paris, presented findings of such at the European Society of Cardiology Acute CardioVascular Care conference, NBC reports. 

Findings are pending peer-review for publication in a medical journal.

There is a well-publicized risk of developing heart inflammation as a result of receiving the Pfizer vaccine, with younger men in particular being in danger.

The researchers hope that these concerns will not ward people away from receiving the jab, which has emerged as the most popular in America and much of the Western world.

Provided by Daily Mail Researchers found that people who have been hospitalized with heart inflammation over the last five years are still safe to receive the Pfizer vaccine, despite concerns over myocarditis or pericarditis

'One of [the] causes pushing us to conduct this study was a patient with a history of prior myocarditis refusing to be vaccinated against Covid, fearing a recurrence,' lead study author Dr Abou Saleh told NBC. 

Researchers gathered data from 55 French patients who had been hospitalized due to heart inflammation over the last five years.

Each of them had also received the COVID-19 vaccine at some point since it became available in 2020. Almost all had received the Pfizer shot.

None of the study participants developed heart inflammation again after receiving the vaccine.

Myocarditis or pericarditis, the two types of heart inflammation most frequently associated with the vaccines, are both relatively mild conditions.

It will generally resolve on its own after a few days of rest and with limited medical intervention. 

Experts still advise people to seek medical care if they do feel symptoms, though. 

They can be deadly if a person suffering from the conditions takes part in strenuous physical activity. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning in June that young men in particular that receive the Pfizer or Moderna Covid shots are at risk of developing the condition.

Provided by Daily Mail The CDC has warned that recipients of the mRNA vaccines, the Pfizer and Moderna shots, especially young males, are at risk of developing myocarditis. Risk of the condition is much higher for people who are infected with the virus, though 

A study by the National Institutes of Health finds that 70 per every one million males aged 12 to 15 that receive the Pfizer shot develop myocarditis. 

For males aged 16 and 17, 105 per every one million develop the condition. 

Officials still recommend people to receive the shots, though, as the risk of myocarditis from the jab is 85 percent lower than it is from being infected with Covid.

While the French study did include a few participants that received the Moderna shot, the sample size for the group was not large enough for researchers to make a strong conclusion.

None of the Moderna recipients in the study who had developed heart inflammation in the past had any issues with the vaccine either, though. 

Health officials have found that there is a slightly higher heart inflammation risk with the Moderna shot than there is the Pfizer, though it is still significantly lower than the risks from the virus itself.  

Reference: Mansur Shaheen U.S. Deputy Health Editor For Dailymail.Com

GP is struck off after she leaked confidential details on Instagram

A former Harley Street doctor has been struck off after she divulged details to a cosmetic surgeon and his lawyer about a patient who was planning to sue him for alleged botched cosmetic treatment.

Dr Natasha Ranga, 38, became involved in the dispute after the unnamed woman messaged her on Instagram for help while complaining that lip fillers given to her were 'too lumpy.'

Initially Ranga, a private practice GP who has treated Paul Gascogine in the past, held a consultation with the patient and agreed with her complaint. She even advised her to go to the General Medical Council with her concerns.

But she then breached the patient's confidentiality by leaking details of their discussion with the surgeon in question known as 'Dr D' - telling him and his lawyer that the woman had 'no abnormalities.' 

Ranga later said she messaged the cosmetic surgeon for 'guidance' and as a 'professional courtesy' - despite knowing the patient was planning legal action against him

The woman, known as Patient C, was said to be 'devastated' when she found out Ranga had betrayed her. 

Provided by Daily Mail Dr Natasha Ranga, a family GP hailed as an Instagram star, has been struck off after she leaked confidential details to another doctor about a young patient who was suing him for botched cosmetic treatment

 Provided by Daily Mail At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, Ranga, of Rugby, Warwicks, who has more than 20,000 followers on her Instagram page was found guilty of dishonesty and serious professional conduct

At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, Ranga, of Rugby, Warwickshire, who has more than 20,000 followers on her Instagram page, was found guilty of dishonesty and serious professional conduct and was ordered to have her name erased from the doctor's register.

The GP, who runs the Dr Natasha Clinic in Birstall, Leicestershire, denied breaching the woman's privacy but admitted two incidents of plagiarism after she copied extracts of essays for a course she was studying at Simon De Montfort University.

Finding the counts proved, the panel blasted Ranga for breaching patient confidentiality as well as failing to maintain proper medical records.

They stated: 'The breach of patient confidentiality was aggravated... in particular by Dr Ranga’s knowledge that Patient C and Dr D were in dispute. 

'Further, the importance of making, maintaining and retaining appropriate records was demonstrated by the circumstances of this case, in which a substantial dispute had arisen in relation to what was said at a medical consultation.

'No contemporary record of that consultation had been produced.' 

The drama unfolded in February 2018 when the woman approached Ranga for advice on Instagram about treatment she had received two months earlier from Dr D which involved lip fillers and the application of Profhilo, a treatment to reduce 'hollowness below her eyes.'

The Manchester hearing was told a consultation later took place with Ranga, after which Patient C sent her a text message on Instagram saying: 'Thanks so much for your help and guidance I really appreciate it.'

Recalling their consultation, Patient C told the tribunal: 'Dr Ranga sat opposite me, was very sympathetic and came across to me as a kind person. She was supportive of me in saying that the Profhilo treatment had been inappropriate in my case.

'I also disclosed to Dr Ranga that I was considering legal action against Dr D. Dr Ranga was supportive of this idea and advised me to make a formal complaint to the GMC.'  

In March 2019, Patient C emailed Ranga again saying she was suing Dr D and asked for a letter outlining the findings of their consultation and her professional opinion about the Profhilo treatment.

But the tribunal was told that same day, Ranga messaged Dr D on Instagram and falsely told him that during her consultation with Patient C, she 'did not find 'abnormalities in Patient C's presentation'.

In another email to Dr D's lawyer the next day, Ranga went into further details about the consultation but admitted that she was relying on her memory. 

Afterwards, Ranga sent a letter back to Patient C saying: 'I'm sorry to hear this is not resolved for you after all this time. I can't write a report, I'm afraid it was just an initial consultation.'

In finding the counts proved, MPTS chairman William Hoskins said Ranga had shown 'repeated and persistent dishonesty' and criticised her failure to produce contemporaneous medical records. 

He said: 'Dr Ranga’s evidence was implausible in many respects. She said documentation relating to the consultation had been in paper form and had gone missing as a result of an office move but then described how the document folders had simply fallen over...

'Dr Ranga also gave evidence saying she had been threatened by Patient C. But when that matter was further explored, she said that telephone call she said she had received was from a male caller who had apparently told her to "tell the truth and to watch out in Leicester."

'Nothing in the call directly linked this call to Patient C and Patient C herself produced her phone records to show that she had not been in touch with Dr Ranga. 

'Patient C also said that she had not discussed this case with friends and family because she was sensitive about seeking cosmetic treatment. 

'Patient said Dr Ranga's breach of confidentiality had had a devastating impact upon her. Dr Ranga does not appear to grasp this dimension of her misconduct. Any ordinary decent person, would consider her actions as dishonest.'  

Cocoa pills could reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease – study

Taking a cocoa pill may reduce the risk of dying from heart or circulatory disease, new research suggests.

PA Archive Cocoa pills could reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, says a study (Steve Parsons/PA) - PA Archive

According to the study, people who took the supplement were 27% less likely to die from the conditions.

However, it did not reduce the overall likelihood of cardiovascular events – any incidents that may cause damage to the heart.

Researchers suggest the findings offer promising signals that cocoa flavanols could have a protective cardiovascular effect.

But eating lots of chocolate will not have the same effect, with the trial using a cocoa extract containing levels of cocoa flavanols – naturally occurring plant nutrients – that someone would not be able to get from tucking into their favourite treats.

Howard Sesso and JoAnn Manson from the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, America, led the study team that looked at the outcomes of the Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) study.

Dr Sesso said: “When we look at the totality of evidence for both the primary and secondary cardiovascular endpoints in COSMOS, we see promising signals that a cocoa flavanol supplement may reduce important cardiovascular events, including death from cardiovascular disease.

“These findings merit further investigation to better understand the effects of cocoa flavanols on cardiovascular health.”

Dr Manson said: “Previous studies have suggested health benefits of flavanols – compounds in several plant-based foods including cocoa, tea, grapes and berries.

“COSMOS was not a chocolate trial, rather, it’s a rigorous trial of a cocoa extract supplement that contains levels of cocoa flavanols that a person could never realistically consume from chocolate without adding excessive calories, fat and sugar to their diet.”

Researchers said previous smaller short-term trials found cardiovascular benefits for cocoa flavanols on blood pressure and blood vessel dilation.

COSMOS also found that a common multivitamin did not prevent cancer and cardiovascular events.

More than 21,000 participants were randomised to take daily capsules that contained 500 mg cocoa flavanols, a multivitamin tablet, neither or both.

Some 410 people took the cocoa extract and 456 were given the placebo.

The study found the cocoa pills reduced total cardiovascular events by 10%, but researchers say this was not statistically significant.

They caution that the findings should be interpreted carefully, and further studies are needed.

Because the study ended after about 3.6 years, it was likely to be too short to detect whether the supplements could have affected cancer risk, according to the scientists.

The findings are published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Reference: Independent: Nina Massey

'I've had a blood transfusion every 3 weeks since I was 2 months old due to a rare disease that can kill people in their 30s'

At best thalassemia leaves you tired, weak, and pale because the body does not produce enough haemoglobin to carry oxygen around the body. At worst a dangerous iron build-up caused by regular blood transfusions could kill you if it goes unchecked. Graphic designer Ashkaan Bandoui, 34, from Acton suffers from the rare blood condition known to affect around 1,500 people in the UK. The disease mainly affects ethnic minorities and threatens life opportunities when it is stigmatised.

Ash explains: "I have been lucky enough to have all the treatments and medicines. Because I have grown up with it, it has just been part of my life. But, for a lot of people there is a stigma and they see their friends who are married and think, 'Why do I have to miss things to be in the hospital?' Having children would not affect me personally, but other people say because we have had to go through this we do not want to risk it."

Luckily the disease is only passed on when two carriers have a child, and even then it is a one in four chance of each child having the disease which is why awareness and screening for the disease is so important. However, the effects are so dire some parents may opt to terminate a pregnancy. Currently all pregnant women in England are screened for the disease.

United Kingdom Thalassaemia Society (UKTS) executive director Romaine Maharaj, 57, says things have moved on since the 60s when kids were told they had a life expectancy of five years with the disease. "There are people as old as 65 now but we have lost three women in their 30s in the last three months," she explains. She also talks candidly about the grim reality of living with the condition, describing the "bone pain", constant hospital check-ups, and regular transfusions. She even tells Ash his cheeks look yellow, asking if he's remembered to take his meds.

In 1978 she got together with other parents to get funding for research into pumps and tablets that could replace "medieval" treatment methods. To reduce iron build-up some Thalassemia patients have to sleep with a needle under the skin of their stomach, pumping in drugs to breakdown the excess iron. The lump grows and the needle position has to be changed. This invasive practice makes it difficult to treat children, and even the most diligent adult.

Because of this the main issue is none-compliant patients. Even with improvements to medicine, patients are on a strict regime of tablets with some needing a blood transfusion twice a month (Ash goes for his once every three weeks). Romaine people get complacent because "you don't feel the effect of the drug".

UKTS Some thalassemia patients need blood twice a month

Ash describes "the rebel period" when he left home and became less strict with his treatment. "At that time there was no immediate effect I could see, " he says. But, at his next hospital appointment they warned him his iron levels had gone up. The cruelty of the condition means "when it goes up it goes up very quickly, and then to bring it back down is hard".

In his 30s Ash has gone well beyond the life expectancy of the 1960s, but he has to be careful. Older patients tend to develop diabetes which brings a whole host of issues and more treatment to keep on top of.

Ash's positivity is balanced by Romaine's realism, but both share the goal of raising awareness which will ultimately leave people better informed about the impacts of the disease on a potential child, and less stigmatisation for those who endure the illness. Sadly, for now there is no cure, but there are several symptoms to look out for.

Anaemia

• tiredness and a general lack of energy
• shortness of breath
• pounding, fluttering or irregular heartbeats (palpitations)
• pale skin
• yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

High iron levels

1. heart problems – including problems affecting the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), an irregular heartbeat and heart failure
2. swelling and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis)
3. delayed puberty
4. low levels of oestrogen (in women) or testosterone (in men)
5. diabetes

problems with the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) and parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism)

Other problems

1. delayed growth during childhood
2. small stones in the gallbladder (gallstones), which can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), tummy (abdominal) pain and jaundice
3. unusual bone growth, such as an enlarged forehead or cheeks
4. weak, fragile bones (osteoporosis)
5. reduced fertility – some people with thalassaemia may need fertility treatment to help them have children