Happy Holidays from Doctor Pundit!  Posting to resume 12/26/08.

• Plavix is the agent of choice for a multitude of preventive therapies and treatments for stroke and cardiac disease; but , its method of action may be affected by those with a certain genetic variant.
• All I want for Christmas is universal healthcare delivery?
• The American Red Cross is seriously revving up operations for Obama’s inauguration.
• What’s to blame for the sharp increase in drug-drug interactions in elderly patients?

In addition, almost 30 percent of seniors are taking at least five prescription medications and many combine prescription and nonprescription drugs. Among commonly used medications, drug-to-drug interactions extend beyond prescription drugs, with nearly half involving the use of over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements.

• The good news: healthcare is second only to the economy as the most significant concern among consumers. The bad news? The margin of difference is 75 percent to 7 percent.

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