Daily News & Trends

Dr Anthony Galea a Canadian physician is now being probed by the FBI for possibly having provided performance enhancing drugs to athletes in the US.

His attorney, Brian Greenspan, said he expected Galea will face several charges in a Canadian court but said he was unaware that the FBI was involved, “He looks forward to being vindicated,” Greenspan said. “He’s a physician who has always engaged in lawful practices. He’s never been involved in any improprieties, any misconduct, and any unlawful conduct.”

The investigation with Dr Galea started when his assistant was stopped at the Canada-US border and found to be in possession of both human growth hormone and actovegin in Galea’s bag. The use or sell of Actovegin is illegal in the US.

Galea, says his lawyer, has often used HCG himself and has often prescribed it to many of his patients to help them recover from injuries and improve their quality of life.

“It’s a therapeutic substance that extends life, and in his view the literature supports the prudent use of HGH in older people that enhances their general health,” said Greenspan.

Meanwhile the FBI has gained access to Galea’s computer and are pondering over records which indicate that several professional athletes were provided with these illegal performance enhancing agents.

The Times reported that Galea also visited the now more “famous” Tiger Woods several times last year and may have administered actovegin to help Tiger recover from his knee surgery.

Actovegin is a complex mixture of proteins and hormones extracted from calf blood and is said to help athletes recover from injury. Anecdotal reports from athletes who have used actovegin claim that it works in stimulating recovery from muscle and joint injuries. The product is also prohibitively expensive.

Well, it appears that Tiger has gone silent. Close friend of Tiger Woods, NBA great, Charles Barkley said yesterday that he has not been able to get in touch with Tiger because the golf pro has changed his cell phone number. During a one hour special, Barkley and film director Spike Lee talked about their concerns for Tiger.

“I think when you have these fires in your life, as I call them, you need to talk to somebody else who is famous who [has] been through things in their life,” Barkley said. “I don’t think you can talk about it to your family and friends, because your family and friends, they’re not famous.”

Spike Lee added that he was hoping that either Charles or Michael Jordan could suggest ways and help Woods survive the crises
“He’s insulated,” Lee said. “If Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan can’t get to him, and those are his boys, then other people are making bad moves.”

Woods for the first time admitted in a written statement that, “my infidelity, has caused a lot of suffering……and I am taking an indefinite break from professional golf.”

The world’s number one pro golfer has been surrounded by a string of accusations since his car crash late November.

On a final note, if Charles really wants to get in touch with Tiger, then perhaps he should contact one of tiger’s 14 blonde girlfriends.

And by the way, it is not Tiger we should be feeling sorry for. If Charles and his colleagues really want to help Tiger- how about making a call to Elin Nordegren? I am sure she does not have an unlisted phone number!

CT scans have been around for more than 20 years. Each year millions of individuals undergo a range of CT scans all over the world. Now there is a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine stating that Ct scans provide excess radiation that increases risk of cancer.

The problem with CT scans started a few months ago when patients at Cedars Sinai hospital in LA were found to have been exposed to excess radiation during a brain scan. The problem was that the machines were wrongly programmed. Since than only one other hospital has reported a similar problem.

There is no doubt that Ct scans deliver a lot of radiation – the equivalent of 100-200 conventional chest x rays. The question remains, “do ct scans cause cancer?” The answer to this question is not known because cancers do not arise in a month or even a year. There is usually a long lag time of many years. Moreover, patients who undergo CT scans are inherently sick otherwise they would not be undergoing the procedure. In some cases, patients have died from their medical disorder and this has had nothing to do with the CT scan.

Over the past 20 years, the incidence of cancers has gradually increased but this has not been correlated to CT scans. In fact, most patients are found to have a cancer as a result of the CT scan. so far, there is not a single study which has shown an increased risk of cancer as a result of a CT scan.

Only a prospective study of people who have undergone Ct scans will reveal if there is a relationship between the two. In the meantime, individuals who need a Ct scan should undergo the procedure and not follow/listen to the media hysteria.

Missing out on a Ct scan may lead to a missed cancer.

Plus 14 over par for Woods at the turn!

Well, the numbers keep on growing and Tiger is on the verge of mental collapse say sources close to the golf pro. The sexual trysts which have made him more famous than all his golf victories have not only brought him shame but his marriage is on the verge of collapse. There is word that Woods may move to Sweden with his wife and family because of the media hysteria surrounding his conquest of beautiful blondes.

Said a source close to woods, “He’s only just coping — he’s on the edge. He sees everything coming crashing down around him. His career, his family.”

Now there is news that his wife not only sleeps elsewhere but has stopped speaking to him and “divorce” may not be something that has not cropped up in the mind of Elin Nordegren.

Elin has yet to say much but has indicated that her husband definitely needs some type of therapy.

Well now there is news that Tiger has been bedding another beautiful blonde called Theresa Rogers. Sources say that this fitness fanatic from Wellington, FL has been Woods’ lover for a very long time, even before he married Elin Nordegren.

The Woods debacle just does not want to die. The reason- Woods always projected himself as “Mr. Perfect- do no evil and see no evil.” What we now know is that Woods is no more what we thought he was but a lot worse- welcome to the real world of cheaters.

There are many athletes who use the product actovegin to enhance their performance in sports. In fact, actovegin has been banned by the world anti doping agency. The makers of the product claim that it can enhance recovery and improve stamina. The product is derived from calf blood and contains a number of substances including trace elements, proteins and inositol plus a number of hormones. Inositol by itself does not do anything for the body.

The manufactures claim that when actovegin is injected, it increases oxygen concentration and promotes healing by increasing glucose uptake into the tissues. The product is readily available over cyberspace either in a pill form or an injectable. Since the product has a number of protein components, sports experts indicate that the oral pill is not effective as the protein is most likely inactivated in the stomach by the acid. However, the injectable product may have some activity. There have been no scientific studies to demonstrate the benefits of actovegin.

There are no clinical reports about the products benefit in humans in any scientific journal. However, the product continues to be frequently abused by athletes. It can be obtained without a prescription.

Athletes who have taken this product claim that they can perform better and heal much faster after injury. Until more studies are done, the products efficiency is questionable.

In any case, all athletes should understand that most sporting agencies have now adopted methods to detect actovegin and if you are caught, you will be banned from professional sports.

Legionnaires’ disease was first identified in 1976 when an outbreak of pneumonia occurred at an American legion convention in Philadelphia. Legionnaires disease is a severe form of pneumonia and unlike other pneumonias is not acquired from person to person but from inhaling bacteria from the air-conditioning equipment. Individuals who are most susceptible to legionnaires’ disease are the elderly and those who have a weakened immune system.

A mild form of Legionnaires’ disease is known as Pontiac fever. Untreated Legionnaires’ disease is fatal. Individuals who acquire legionnaires’ pneumonia usually develop symptoms in 2-14 days after exposure. The typical complains are that of a headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, confusion and loss of appetite.

The organism that cause Legionnaires’ disease thrives in warm damp environments and is often found indoors, in whirlpools, spas or air conditioning systems.

Healthy individuals usually do not acquire this infection. Most of the reported cases in the USA have been in smokers, elderly and those with chronic lung disease. When the treatment is delayed, respiratory failure and septic shock can occur.

The diagnosis of legionella pneumonia is usually straight forward and the disorder is curable if antibiotics are started as soon as possible. The earlier the antibiotics are started, the less is the chance of complications and possibly death

Sociopaths are individuals who are best described as having antisocial personality disorder. This is a chronic form of mental illness where one’s thinking, perceiving certain circumstances and relating to other individuals is abnormal.

Individuals who have antisocial personality disorder generally have no regard for what is right or wrong. They can tell the difference but do not care about ethics. These individuals frequently violate the laws and rights of others. A common theme among sociopaths is their ability to land themselves into frequent trouble or conflicts with everyone around them. Excessive lying, violent behavior and a penchant for being conniving are common traits. These individuals often abuse drugs and/or alcohol and often do not accept responsibility for their families, children or their jobs.

The other signs and symptoms of a sociopath do vary from intimidating others, lacking remorse about hurting others, impulsive behavior, extreme agitation, poor or abusive relationships and irresponsible work ethics.

Like all things in mental health the cause of such behavior is unknown. Some experts believe that perhaps a sociopath personality is inherited or may be a product of the environment.

Anti social personality disorder is very difficult to treat and there is no magic bullet. The current treatment approaches include psychotherapy, anger management, medications or in-patient therapy- none of them work. Overall, these individuals remain isolated, end up addicted to alcohol or drugs or eventually end up in jail or a psychiatric facility.

Well, not many people will be disappointed with playgirl’s decision not to publish a series of nude photos of Tiger woods’. Says Daniel Nardicio, director of marketing for the online adult magazine, “ We have been unable to verify the authenticity of the photos and want to play safe.”

The photos were reportedly obtained from a mobile phone by Woods himself and sent over to his so called “girlfriends”. Daniel says that one of the reasons Playgirl has always has a good reputation is that its editorial policy has always preferred to work with live willing subjects and not get into hassles with copy right issues or fakes photos.

“This is a prime example of the direction Playgirl does not want to take,” Nardicio said. “I prefer subjects who are willing.”

Well, this little bit of good news for Tiger was quickly offset by the announcement late yesterday that Accenture has ended the sponsorship deal with the golf great. Accenture had been sponsoring Tiger Woods for the past 6 years in a deal worth millions of dollars. Accenture said on its website, “given the circumstances of the last two weeks…the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising.”

In the meantime, Woods announced on his website that he has decided to take a break from golf and professional escorts and focus his attention on his marriage and family.

There is news that Tiger Woods was into threesome and once paid close to $60K to act out his fantasies with high priced Hollywood hookers. Said Michelle Braun, “One of his favorites was Loredana Jolie.” Michelle Braun described Loredana as a voluptuous blonde who once was a playboy model.

“She’s a stunning girl,” said Braun. “He went out with her four or five times. She took part in group sex. They met up in 2006 or early 2007. I’d say he paid $15,000 for her.” Added Braun, “Tiger had a pretty big appetite for women. He was rarely with just one girl. He usually wanted more. He liked three-ways.”

Braun asserted that Tiger Woods would easily fork out $30,000 to $40,000 a weekend for his sexual liaisons with women he met at golf tournaments.

“He would request the college-cutie, girls-next-door look,” she said. Braun also said the girls were in awe at the size of Tiger “club” and his staying power.

“He could go for days,” she said. “He’d pay a flat rate for an evening, but an evening would usually be extended. The girls would talk about his stamina.”

At the end of the weekend, Woods would buy all the girls gifts and promised to come back for more. Like all celebrities, Woods always paid cash and liked to communicate via text messaging.

Most of the girls who had a sexual relationship did not come forward earlier because they only knew Tiger by his “club” and not by his face.

Just announced this morning is news that Jenny Sanford, wife of Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina is filing for divorce. This comes a few months after the governor confessed to having an affair with someone he called his “soul mate.”

Jenny Sanford released a statement that the decision to go ahead with the divorce was difficult and came after many attempts at reconciliation proved futile but that she’s committed to keeping the process “peaceful for our family.”

“As so many of us know, the dissolution of any marriage is a sad and painful process. It is also a very personal and private one. Because Mark and I are public figures, we have naturally had less privacy with which to deal with our difficulties than do other couples,” she said. “Indeed, I know it will soon become known so I choose to release this brief notice that I am now filing for divorce.”
Mark Sanford had previously mentioned that he would try and mend his marriage even after e mails surfaced confessing his love for his South American lover. Jenny Sanford had always stood by her husband but this time she said his behavior was “inexcusable’ and she was unwilling to forgive and just let go.

Jenny Sanford and her 4 children have been living at their beach front home on Sullivans Island for the past few months whilst the governor has remained in the state capital.

Sanford did go on to thank everyone who supported her through this ordeal and said, “Please know the boys and I are doing well and are blessed with the incredible support of friends and family and bolstered by our faith and the unfailing love of our God above,” she said.

For the Governor his problems are just beginning as he is being investigated for a variety of ethical violations.

Elin Nordegren- are you listening?