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Brown Recluse Spider He has been confined to a wheelchair for 20 years. Now a paraplegic man is walking again, and his doctors call it a miracle. CBS13 went to Manteca to find out how a spider bite helped get him back on his feet. "I closed my eyes and then I was spinning like a flying saucer," explains David Blancarte. A motorcycle accident almost killed David 21 years ago. At the time he might have wished he was dead. "I asked my doctor, 'Sir what happened? I can't feel my legs'," said David. Ever since, David's been relying on his wheelchair to get around. Then the spider bite. A Brown Recluse sent him to the hospital, then to rehab for eight months. "I'm here for a spider bite. I didn't know I would end up walking," says David. A nurse noticed Da...

Cannabis may help keep Alzheimer's disease at bay. In experiments, a marijuana-based medicine triggered the formation of new brain cells and cut inflammation linked to dementia. The researchers say that using the information to create a pill suitable for people could help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's. A medicine based on cannabis (right) could help to delay the onset of Alzheimer's. The incurable disease affects 400,000 Britons, with around 500 new cases diagnosed every day as people live longer. For some sufferers, drugs can delay the progress of devastating symptoms such as memory loss and the erosion of ability to do everyday things such as washing. However, there they do not work for everyone and, with the number of patients forecast to double in a generation, there is a desperate need for new treatments. The US researchers studied the properties of a man-made drug based on THC, the chemical behind the 'high' of cannabis. When elderly rats were give...

Obama Positioned to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions Stem Cell, Climate Rules Among Targets of President-Elect's Team President Bush denied California the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. The president-elect says he will overturn that decision. Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse White House policies on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team. A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they regard as the most onerous or ideologically off...

No greater risk than general non-tokers Regular readers will recall the confused mess that is this government’s cannabis policy. There has been a drop in cannabis consumption since it was downgraded from Class B to C, but nevertheless they want to put it back up to Class B again. Yes, we know all about the argument that what you ingest is entirely your business, it being your body and all that but morals are always trumped by politics. In the comments section to our last piece the general consensus was that the policy was driven either by a craven servility to the Murdoch press or, as a daring alternative, a bending to Daily Mail woo woo. The general consensus however was that it was Puritanism, that awful fear that someone, somewhere, might be enjoying themselves and that this situation cannot be allowed to continue. We’re arguing over whose Puritanism, not whether. There was one vaguely respectable argument that could be put forward on the prohibitionist’s side, that of cannab...

Tonight, Michigan became the thirteenth state to legalize the physician supervised possession and use of cannabis. According to early returns, more than 60 percent of Michigan voters decided in favor of Proposal 1, which establishes a state-regulated system regarding the use and cultivation of medical marijuana by qualified patients. Voters endorsed the measure despite a high profile, deceptive, and despicable ad campaign by Prop. 1 opponents — who falsely claimed that the initiative would allow for the open sale of marijuana “in every neighborhood, just blocks from schools.” (In fact, Proposal 1 does not even allow for the creation of licensed cannabis dispensaries.) Michigan’s new law goes into effect on December 4th, at which time nearly one-quarter of the US population will live in a state that authorizes the legal use of medical cannabis. Meanwhile, in Massachusetts, some 65 percent of voters (and virtually every town) decided “yes” on Question 2, which reduces minor marijuana pos...

Today marks three years since Christopher Reeve died, nine years after he suffered a paralyzing injury when he was thrown from a horse. Here's a link to an article I wrote about him in 2005.

I get so sick of hearing "but he just loves cheese and baloney". Food does not equal love. Get over it, people. Stop shortening your dog's life with food. Read this: Fat Charlie lived up to his name, weighing 168 pounds before he was put on a diet. The growing obesity problem doesn't exclude pets. "We are seeing so many overweight dogs and cats, and it's sad because their weight levels are completely manageable with diet changes," says Dr. Kristine Yee, a veterinarian at California Animal Hospital in Los Angeles. But pet owners are often slow to admit that their animals need to shed pounds. A 2005 study from pet-food maker Purina found that 60 percent of pets in the U.S. were overweight. But almost half of the owners of overweight pets rated their cats and dogs as having the "ideal" body condition. Pet obesity can be a sensitive issue, says Susan Davis, a pet nutritionist based in Lake Forest, California, who has helped many pets trim down. B...

Boyfriends, girlfriends, significant others, husbands, wives, partners... how do you know who's right for you? Here's my simple advice: Don't pick someone based on looks, money, job, social status, sexual attraction... Pick someone based on one criteria: If you become very ill and cannot fend for yourself, would you want this person to be the sole advocate for your health and well-being? Just a thought.

Now this worries me. Could we be creating a future generation of mentally disabled adults? It's almost 2hrs long, so get something to drink, and a healthy snack, and take it all in. Especially if you have young children.

This morning we had a dog "event" that I thought I'd write about, even though I'm not going to write all about it, cause, well, it's sort of embarrassing. So, here goes. Willie and Frankie both like to wake me up in the "morning". ("Morning" is in quotes cause I usually roll out of bed around 11-12, which for most people is lunch-time. If you have a problem with this, bite me.) Anyway, this particular morning, Willie awoke with "morning wood" (or "lunch-time wood" if you prefer). Ew. Then he and Frankie started wrassling and "it" happened. Frankie stepped on the piece of "wood". Ow. From that point on, the piece of "wood" would not go back to it's normal state. (I am so not going to describe this any further. Here's a more professional description. ) Willie couldn't even sit or lay down. I guess it was painful. It sure looked painful, although I tried NOT to look. I called th...

Finding Comes As Menu Foods Expands Its Recall And Senate OKs Regulation Of Pet Food Labels WASHINGTON, May 3, 2007 "If you can imagine an instantaneous kidney stone — that's essentially the way I would perceive it. -Dr. Perry Martos, University of Guelph (CBS/AP) The mystery of how two chemicals that are considered non-toxic poisoned so many pets may have been solved, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports. The breakthrough was made at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. A week ago, scientist Perry Martos mixed together a few drops of melamine and cyanuric acid, the two unauthorized chemicals found in tainted pet food. In less than a second, they formed a mass of crystals nearly identical to crystals found in the kidneys of sickened animals. "If you can imagine an instantaneous kidney stone — that's essentially the way I would perceive it," says Martos. Dr. Kimberly May of the American Veterinary Medical Association says the discovery could end up...

Va. Doctor Convicted of Drug Trafficking ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A pain-management doctor who prescribed large amounts of opiates and drew patients from across the country to his northern Virginia clinic has been convicted on 16 counts of drug trafficking by a federal jury. The jury acquitted William E. Hurwitz on 17 other counts on Friday, and a judge dismissed 17 others, including the most serious charge - drug trafficking resulting in death. It was the second time in three years that a federal jury convicted Hurwitz of drug trafficking. His 2004 conviction - and 25-year prison sentence - was tossed out by a federal appeals court, which ruled that a judge improperly barred the jury from considering whether Hurwitz was acting in good faith. Hurwitz faces up to 20 years on each count when he is sentenced on July 13. Prosecutors argued that Hurwitz was no better than a common drug dealer who ignored obvious signs that his patients were dealers or addicts. "Drug traffickers come in a...

WASHINGTON (AP) - An industrial chemical that led to the nationwide recall of more than 100 brands of cat and dog food has turned up in a second pet food ingredient imported from China. The discovery expands the monthlong cascade of recalls to include more brands and varieties of pet foods and treats tainted by the chemical. "This has exposed that the safety standards for pet foods are not in place in any significant way and the kind of drumbeat, day after day, of recalls has shaken consumers' confidence in the pet food industry's adherence to food safety standards," said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States. The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. The FDA has there is no evidence so far to suggest any of the rice protein went to compani...

WASHINGTON (AP) - An industrial chemical that led to the nationwide recall of more than 100 brands of cat and dog food has turned up in a second pet food ingredient imported from China. The discovery expands the monthlong cascade of recalls to include more brands and varieties of pet foods and treats tainted by the chemical. "This has exposed that the safety standards for pet foods are not in place in any significant way and the kind of drumbeat, day after day, of recalls has shaken consumers' confidence in the pet food industry's adherence to food safety standards," said Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States. The chemical, melamine, is believed to have contaminated rice protein concentrate used to make a variety of Natural Balance Pet Foods products for both dogs and cats, the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday. The FDA has there is no evidence so far to suggest any of the rice protein went to compani...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Three times a week, Vince Stankoski is lifted from his wheelchair onto a stationary bicycle. Electrodes are attached to three of his muscle groups, coaxing his paralyzed legs to pedal. It is the highlight of his workout. "I like that I can look down at my legs and still see muscles there," says the Allentown, Pa., man who lost the use of his legs after falling from a tree in 1998. Apart from the bike, he also likes using the upper body weights, which come equipped with a seat that swivels away so he can move his wheelchair into position and lift. Stankoski is one of the fortunate ones. He belongs to a gym specifically designed to accommodate people with disabilities. Few other disabled people have that option. The basics of good health - diet and exercise - often present challenges for people with disabilities, a situation made more difficult by a common assumption that disability and poor health go hand in hand. The result, according to the federal C...

• Natural Balance recalls types of dog, cat food • Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food , Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food recalled • Last month, Menu food recalled 60,000 cans of pet food • Large veterinary chain sees 30 percent increase in kidney failure WASHINGTON (AP) -- Natural Balance Pet Foods recalled two kinds of pet food after receiving reports of animals vomiting and experiencing kidney problems, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday. The recall includes all date codes of Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food. The company does not know the cause of the problem, but said it is focused on one particular lot. Natural Balance Pet Foods is working with the FDA to investigate the matter and is urging consumers to not feed either pet food product to their animals. Last month, Menu Foods recalled 60 million cans of dog and cat food after the deaths of 16 pets, mostly cats, that ate its products. (Details on recall) The FDA said te...

Breakthrough pain is truly a pain in the ass. What is it? For me, it's where pain "breaks through" my pain medication's effectiveness. I'll take my normal dosage of pain meds for my daily pain, and it won't work completely. I'll still have pain that "breaks through". Luckily, this doesn't happen on a regular basis. The way I deal with it is by taking another dose of my pain meds. This usually causes more fatigue from the side effects, and in turn causes me to have to take a nap. I usually take Darvocet 100/650 for my "normal" pain. I used to add Ultram for break-thru pain, but I found that it made me jittery, like having a cup of coffee. So now I simply take another Darvocet. If I don't take the extra meds, I usually have to take a nap anyway for the side effects of the additional pain. Either way, I'm napping. Naps are good.

Apr 5, 5:06 PM (ET) WASHINGTON (AP) - The recall of pet foods and treats contaminated with an industrial chemical expanded Thursday to include dog biscuits made by an Alabama company and sold by Wal-Mart under the Ol'Roy brand. The Food and Drug Administration said the manufacturer, Sunshine Mills Inc., is recalling dog biscuits made with imported Chinese wheat gluten. Testing has revealed the wheat gluten, a protein source, was contaminated with melamine, used to make plastics and other industrial products. Also Thursday, Menu Foods, a major manufacturer of brand- and private-label wet pet foods expanded its original recall to include a broader range of dates and varieties. Menu Foods was the first of at least six companies to recall the now more than 100 brands of pet foods and treats made with the contaminated ingredient. The recall now covers "cuts and gravy"-style products made between Nov. 8 and March 6, Menu Foods said. Previously, it applied only to products made ...

FDA Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P07-58 April 5, 2007 Media Inquiries: 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA FDA Issues Health Hazard Alert for Pet Chews Due to Contamination with Salmonella The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today warned consumers not to use American Bullie A.B. Bull Pizzle Puppy Chews and Dog Chews manufactured and distributed by T.W. Enterprises, Ferndale, WA, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, which can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination, in people, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Consumers who have the pet treats manufactured or distributed by T.W. Enterprises listed below should not feed them to their pets, but instead dispose of them in a safe manner (e.g., in a securely covered trash receptacle). Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling these pet treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed thei...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers who thought they were purchasing sleep aids, antidepressants and other drugs over the Internet instead were shipped a powerful anti-psychotic, sending some unwitting victims to the emergency room, federal health officials warned Friday. The Food and Drug Administration said a number of consumers took the schizophrenia drug, haloperidol, after being shipped what they thought were a variety of different pills, including Ambien, a sleep aid, and the anti-anxiety medications Xanax and Ativan. Others thought they were getting the antidepressant Lexapro. Preliminary analysis of the pills, packaged in plain plastic bags and mailed in envelopes bearing Greek postmarks, suggest they contain haloperidol. The FDA said it had reports of several consumers seeking emergency medical treatment for symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, muscle spasms and muscle stiffness after taking the pills. The FDA used the occasion to remind consumers of the possible dangers of buyin...