Faculty Bibliography

Far-fetched as this may seem, our antibiotics are fast becoming useless in fighting even the most-common infections. Just think what this means to you: Without effective antibiotics to battle those 50,000th-inch-long single-cell organisms, common scrapes, urinary- tract infections and sore throats will often lead to serious long- term complications and possibly death. Vaccines that are being developed are our only promising therapy. In a nutshell, antibiotic resistance means that bacteria, the tricky, fast-reproducing microorganisms, have found ways to resist our most-powerful drugs. This should not come as a surprise. Within four years after the widespread introduction of penicillin in 1943, bacteria began appearing that could resist it. And the more widely antibiotics are prescribed around the world, the easier it is for germs to find ways to mutate and become resistant to medication. And to spread. This has left us with dozens ofineffective, worthless - but expensive - drugs

Two weeks ago the music manager strenuously denied reports that he flew into a rage at the blockbuster Awards in Los Angeles upon learning that his headlining client, Jennifer Lopez, had been given a smaller dressing room than fellow performers 'N Sync - and expressed his displeasure..

Below Dr. Steven Lamm and Gerald Secor Couzens explain why [Pamela Anderson], 32, who has made headlines around the world because of her recent decision to have her breast implants removed, should be cynical about the idea that [Tommy Lee], currently undergoing periodic drug testing, anger-management sessions and counseling, is likely to reform his violent tendencies.......

Everyone has different sleep requirements. The important thing is to get enough sleep to awaken refreshed and feel alert throughout the day. Lamm discusses some common sleep problems and how to alleviate them

Patients don't hesitate to complain to their physicians after being made to wait in the office, or when they feel they've received so-so treatment during their eight-minute consult

It's called the silent killer. By the time many middle-aged and menopausal women finally consult with their doctors about their vague, nonspecific complaints of pelvic pain, backache, bloating and overall malaise, they're stunned when they're finally told that thief test results indicate advanced ovarian cancer

WITH the recent news of high-profile men such as Yankee manager, Joe Torre, actor Charlton Heston, Kansas City Chiefs owner, Lamar Hunt, former Sen.Bob Dole and golfer Arnold Palmer developing prostate cancer, many concerned men (and their partners) want to know what they can do to protect themselves. Soy protein products are widely available and can be purchased at most supermarkets. Traditional sources of soybeans and isoflavones include tofu, bean curd, tempeh, soy milk, miso and soy sauce. A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that there is now enough evidence to show convincingly that tomatoes in many forms, including raw, ketchup, pasta sauce, tomato paste, soup and salsa have prostate cancer fighting abilities

"What's happening to my memory" is one of the most troubling questions for people over 50. Reasons for memory lapses are discussed, and tips for improving memory are offered, along with information on Alzheimer's disease

To date, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the mighty Blue Diamond for women's use. Clinical trials of both Viagra and of Vasomax, a new oral medication, are only now in the early investigational phases needed for approval. "I'm absolutely against women indiscriminately using the medication," says Laura A. Berman, a sex therapist at the Boston University Medical Center. Along with her sister Jennifer, a urologist and director of the new Women's Sexual Health Clinic, Berman is now evaluating women of all ages from around the country who complain of sexual dysfunction. Viagra and other drugs in the rapidly growing sexual medicine armamaterium - such as testosterone and estrogen and, eventually, Viagra-like topical gels and creams - relax the arteries and allow more blood to flow to the genitals, where it's needed. With more blood comes increased sensitivity, even for post-menopausal women and those who have had hysterectomies

These are not just pill formulations that a man gulps down with a glass of water; indeed, some of the novel drugs being tested include gels and creams (tasteless, most likely. Flavored? We don't know.) that are rubbed into the penis. There are also "needle-less" and "painless" injectable medications. Bill Gates, Microsoft's CEO, currently has a sizable interest in Icos, a Bothell, Wash., company that's developing a medication similar to Viagra. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, could be years away. While many of these men can be helped by Viagra, it's estimated that of the men 50 years of age and older with heart ailments, approximately 10 to 20 men per million will die (without taking Viagra or any other prosexual) during sexual intercourse. Still, the FDA considers Viagra to be a very safe medication and should be readily prescribed to men who need it and can safely use it. If you're considering Viagra, be sure to first have a thorough cardiovascular assessment