Wal-Mart Refuses to Rehire Cancer Patient Who Uses Medicinal Marijuana
March 17, 2010
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, a story comes along that simply blows your mind.
Such is the case for a former Wal-Mart employee who was fired after the company learned of his medical marijuana use.
Joseph Casias has sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor and uses medicinal marijuana to ease symptoms associated with the cancer he has.
When the company found out about his little habit, they fired him and will not hire him back.
“I gave them everything,” Casias told Wzzm13.com. ” 110 percent every day. Anything they asked me to do, I did. More than they asked me to do. Twelve to 14 hours a day.”
It is stories such as this that give our country a bad name, but what makes this situation worse, is Wal-Mart’s stance on the matter.
“This is just an unfortunate situation all around,” said spokesman Greg Rossiter. “We’re sympathetic to Mr. Casias’ condition, but like other companies, we have to consider the overall safety of our customers and associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this.”
Michelle Obama Gives Food Makers A Talking Too
March 17, 2010
First Lady Michelle Obama continued her anti-obesity campaign yesterday with a talk to food manufacturers.
Her message was simple enough to understand, as she urged food makers to hurry up and incorperate changes to their products that will make their food healthier for children.
She spoke at a meeting of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, and urged companies to “step it up” when it comes to making food healthier.
Her main areas of interest lie in reduction of salt and sugar from food, as well as fat.
“We need you not to just tweak around the edges but entirely rethink the products you are offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children,” she said.
Colon Cancer Treatment Depends On Age Of The Patient
March 17, 2010
Results of a new study suggest that the older a colon cancer patient is, the less likely they are to receive chemotherapy after they undergo surgery.
Researchers came to this conclusion after reviewing health records of 675 stage III colon cancer patients.
They stated that the older a patient was, the less likely they were to receive chemo following surgery, and those who did, received it in smaller doses than younger patients.
One reason for this say the researchers, is that chemotherapy can comes with unwelcome side effects which can be enhanced in the elderly.
Traditionally the standard treatment for colon cancer is surgery plus chemotherapy, and studies have proven that when combined, this method of treatment results in longer life than simply using one of the methods for treatment.
The study is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Women Twice as Likely to Die from Heart Disease than Men
March 16, 2010
Results of a new study suggest that women are more likely to die from heart disease than men.
According to French researchers, this is the case because women are not normally given the same standard of care that men are afforded.
They based this conclusion on a study of 3000 French women comparing their aftercare following a heart attack.
They noted that of the 3000 women hospitalized with a cardiac event, fewer women than men received certain tests to check for subsequent heart damage, thus putting them at twice the risk of death that male patients were at.
Such tests could be very beneficial in prescribing future treatment, but are not being performed on female patients, say the researchers.
“When there are no clear contradictions, women should be treated with all recommended strategies, including invasive strategies,” said Francois Schiele, head of cardiology at the University Hospital of Besancon.
Michelle Obama Urges Food Makers to Smarten Up
March 16, 2010
At a meeting of the Grocery Manufacturers Association held today, First Lady Michelle Obama urged food makers to hurry up and make their products healthier for children.
America is in the midst of an obesity epidemic, a fact that Obama hopes to change by preaching the benefits of a healthy diet to anybody who will listen.
In her anti-obesity campaign, Obama has traversed the country speaking to children in schools about the benefits associated with eating smart.
Today marks the first time that she has actually talked with food manufacturers to tell them what they already know.
“We need you not to just tweak around the edges but entirely rethink the products you are offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children,” she said.
“While decreasing fat is certainly a good thing, replacing it with sugar and salt isn’t,” she urged. “This needs to be a serious industry wide commitment to providing the healthier foods parents are looking for at prices they can afford.”
Heart Disease Plus Erectile Disfunction Equals Danger
March 16, 2010
Those men who have heart disease and also complain of erectile disfunction are actually at increased risk of heart attack and death.
Results of a new study suggest that men with these two medical problems are twice as likely to die from a heart attack and more likely to die from all causes.
Part of the problem say researchers, is drugs that are used to treat erectile disfunction which actually can mask signs of heart trouble.
These drugs, including viagra work by promoting bloodflow throughout the body, but do not treat underlying heart problems.
“Men with ED going to a general practitioner or a urologist need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease and proper treatment,” said a researcher. “ED is an early predictor of cardiovascular disease.”
norovirus Outbreaks Prompt Delay of Mercury Cruise Ship Departure
March 16, 2010
A series of norovirus cases aboard the Mercury cruise ship has resulted in the company delaying the next launch to allow for thorough cleaning to be performed.
Over the last three voyages, more than 1000 passengers have fallen ill despite attempts by the company to clean the ship top to bottom.
The ship was supposed to set sail this Friday but will be remaining in port for an additional two days so staff can continue cleaning.
Those passengers who do not want to go on the shortened cruise can request a full refund, and those who do, will receive some of their money back.
“The onboard credit will be applied directly to their onboard account and may be used for any onboard purchases or service,” said Celebrity Cruisesspokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. “Any unused portion of the onboard credit will be refunded to them at the end of their cruise.”
Bacteria Maybe Next Weapon Against Crime
March 16, 2010
Hundreds of bacteria found on our hands maybe the next key to who we are and could be the next weapon in the ongoing fight against crime.
As it turns out, the bacteria on our hands is unique to each of us, meaning that the germs on my hands for example, are totally unique to me and not the same as the germs on your own hands.
For years police have used fingerprinting as a way of identifying a person, but in some cases when a crime is committed, retrieving a usable fingerprint is not an option.
Now new research suggests that tracking down a bad guy through bacteria left at the scene of a crime may indeed be a possibility.
In a small study researchers proved the technique effective by performing an experiment using a mouse from a computer.
They took swabs from the mouse and were able to determine its owner via analysis, proving that their method was successful.
They published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Arthritis Drug Controls Blood Sugar in Type Two Diabetics
March 16, 2010
Boston (DbTechNo) - A painkiller called salsalate has been shown in a clinical trial to be useful for type 2 diabetics to congrol their blood sugar levels.
salsalate is in the class of drugs known as anti-inflammatories, and is a popular drug in the treatment of arthritis. Read more
Ingredient in Bananas May Prevent HIV Transmission
March 16, 2010
Boston (DbTechNo) - Lectins are naturally occuring chemicals found in bananas that according to researchers maybe the next big weapon in the ongoing fight against HIV.
Scientists have been working to come up with a cure for the fatal disease, or at least a full proof way of blocking its transmission from one person to the next. Read more
