Medical Care for Adults
Testimony of Dr. Jennifer Yttri to the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA on telavancin (VIBATIV)
Dr. Yttri testifies to the FDA that there is not sufficient evidence to support telavancin as a safe and effective treatment for nosocomial pneumonia. The data raise questions about a high morality rate associated with telavancin. Read More
Statement by Senior Fellow Jennifer Yttri, PhD, at FDA Public Hearing on Antiseptic Preoperative Skin Preparation Products
Dr. Yttri testifies to the FDA on the serious public health issue of contamination of antiseptic products. First, we support the recommendation of the August 2009 Advisory Committee in ensuring that all antiseptic patient preoperative skin preparation products are held to current good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards. Second, the FDA should remove ineffective antiseptics from the market. Third, as extrinsic contamination accounts for the majority of contamination outbreaks, FDA should require product packaging that would reduce extrinsic manipulation. Finally, while the majority of outbreaks seem to be related to extrinsic contamination, intrinsic contamination introduced during manufacturing most likely accounts for a greater number of contaminated products. Read More
Statement from Dr. Jennifer Yttri, senior fellow, at the FDA Public Hearing Establishing a List of Qualifying Pathogens for the GAIN Act
Dr. Yttri testifies to the FDA that the growing risk of antibiotic resistant pathogens and need for development and responsible use of new antibiotics are critical public health concerns that need to be addressed. Read More
Good News for Coffee Drinkers: the Health Benefits Outweigh the Risks for Most People
Recent research suggests that coffee offers more health benefits than risks for most people. However, women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant and women over 65 should probably limit their coffee intake because for them, the risks may outweigh the benefits. Read More
Pancreatic Cancer: Could Bacteria in our Mouth Help us Detect this Deadly Cancer Sooner?
Pancreatic cancer has an extremely low survival rate because it is difficult to detect at early stages. A method for earlier diagnosis would greatly improve patients’ chances of survival. New research suggests that a specific type of oral bacteria might serve as a warning sign for pancreatic cancer. Read More
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Not Your Grandmother’s Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. Learn more about the symptoms of RA, and the treatment options available to patients with this disease. Read More
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes muscle pain and fatigue. Learn more about the disease, its symptoms, and options for treatment. Read More
Statement of NRC Senior Fellow Sonia Nagda, MD, MPH at the Pediatrics FDA Advisory Committee Meeting on Beyaz and Similar Oral Contraceptives, September 11, 2012
Sonia Nagda, a Senior Fellow at NRC, testifies at a Pediatrics FDA Advisory Committee meeting on the use of drospirenone-containing oral contraceptive, Beyaz, in pediatric populations. Read More
Pomegranate Juice and Prostate Health
Pomegranate juice contains plenty of antioxidants, but does it improve health, as the ads imply? Read More
Should Physicians Fill Your Prescriptions After They Write Them?
Most patients receive a prescription from their doctor, which they then take to a pharmacy to be filled. Recently, however, more and more doctors have begun filling certain prescriptions in their offices. Read More