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Topical Issues

A Novel Coronavirus: What You Need to Know About COVID-19

As a new coronavirus causes widespread illness around the world, many people are wondering how to protect themselves and their loved ones. Here's what we know about COVID-19 thus far -- with a reminder that this is an emerging situation, and new information about the 2019 coronavirus and its impact is coming out every day.

What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, only a few of which can infect humans.

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Gun Violence. What can be done?

Santa Fe High School, Texas: 10 dead, 13 Injured (5/18/18). Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida: 17 dead, 14 wounded (2/14/18). Texas First Baptist Church massacre, 26 dead, 20 injured (11/5/17). Las Vegas Strip massacre, 58 dead, 546 injured (10/1/17)  San Bernadino, California: 14 dead, 21 wounded. Colorado Springs, Colorado: 3 dead; 9 injured. Newton, Massachusetts: 28 dead (20 elementary students and 6 educators, in addition to the shooter’s mother and the shooter), 2 wounded. Tucson, Arizona: 6 dead, 13 wounded. I could go on… and on… and on.

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Medical misinformation. Down the rabbit hole

Have you ever had to decide whether to start taking a medication, choose a course of treatment for cancer, undergo a surgical procedure, or have a screening test?

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Health News Reviews

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Milk and other Dairy Foods May Decrease Diabetes Risk

Got milk? Drink up, say a group of French-Canadian researchers. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, cream, cheese, and butter may play a role in helping to combat metabolic disorders such as obesity and type-2 diabetes, according to research published September 16 in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

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Can Coffee and Green Tea Help Prevent Stroke?

Need another excuse to drink that cup of coffee in the morning? Do you regularly reach for a cup of green tea when you need a mid-afternoon pick-me-up? You may be lowering your risk of stroke, if research published March 14 in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association holds true. Study findings suggest that the benefits of green tea and coffee consumption may include a reduction in risk of stroke by as much as 20%.   

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Daily Hormone Shot May Help Memory in Older People

A daily dose of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) may help to improve memory and reasoning abilities in older people, whether or not they have mild problems with cognition. In a small randomized trial conducted by a University of Washington research team, people who received daily injections of GHRH did better on tests of mental function than those who received a fake shot, or placebo.

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Ritalin's Longterm Effects

Parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often concerned about the safety and long-term effects of medications used to help manage  ADHD symptoms. But a recent animal study by a Wake Forest Baptist research team suggests that these fears may be unfounded. In this study of juvenile monkeys, the researchers found that Ritalin – the stimulant drug most commonly prescribed for ADHD – did not affect the developing brain, physical growth, or increase the risk of later substance abuse.

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Your Questions Answered

Do I need surgery for a dislocation of my acromioclavicular (AC) joint in the shoulder?

Often I am asked by my patient's and frequently by other patients as a second opinion, whether they need surgery after a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint of their shoulder.

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Do metal plates and screws need to be removed from the bone after a fracture has healed?

It is common now for broken bones (fractures) to be fixed with metal plates and screws or a long nail, especially if the fracture is unstable or the joint surface has been damaged, and for this hardware to be left in the body.

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