Hepatitis C testing for antibody to hepatitis C may not be enough to screen organ donors. Unfortunately a recent report in the Annals of Internal Medicine showed transmission of hepatitis C to organ donor recipients from an organ donor whose hepatitis C antibody testing was actually negative. Later testing for Hepatitis C Nucleic Acid testing was positive in this organ donor. Since an organ donor tissues such as tendons, skin,  cornea can be given to as many as 100 recipients, a more through screening of the donors may have to be done.

COX-2 Inhibition and Cardiovascular Risk after CABG Surgery   When administered to patients for pain control after coronary-artery bypass surgery, valdecoxib and its intravenous prodrug, parecoxib, were found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular thromboembolic events. These findings add to the growing concern that the use of COX-2 inhibitors increases the risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in persons who are at risk for such events.

Fracture in men is rather uncommon. Recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) showed that use of Lupron, a hormone that inhibits male testosterone and is now used to treat prostate cancer, can increase risk of fracture in Men. Therefore men who are getting Lupron should have bone density testing and discuss treatment for Osteoporosis with their physicians or see a rheumatologist for treatment. 

Remicade, the new rheumatoid arthritis drug, appears to be effective in treatment of herniated disc and sciatica. This study involved 10 patients and the treatment was highly effective with none of the patients requiring surgery and all returning to work within one month of treatment. Remicade blocks TNF that was shown to play a significant role in inflammation caused by herniated disc. Rheumatology

Graded activity was more effective than usual care in reducing the number of days of absence from work from 87 to 58 days because of low back pain.  This study showed that Graded activity is more effective in returning people with low back pain to work faster. The Annals of Internal Medicine