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Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit News, Vaginal Mesh Lawyer Updates

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Vaginal Mesh lawsuits continue to be filed at a rapid rate. Vaginal mesh lawyers continue to file lawsuits in the MDL s in West Virginia Federal court. It is important tp file your vaginal mesh lawsuit immeditately. The bellwether trials are beginning.

The vaginal mesh lawsuits are proceeding and a jury awarded $3.35 million in vaginal a mesh case against Johnson & Johnson

Vaginal Mesh Multi District Lawsuit List Consolidated Under Judge Goodwin in West Virginia

Amercian Medical Systems Vaginal Mesh Lawyers Filing Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits In

MDL – 2325, IN RE: American Medical Systems, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

Boston Scientific Vaginal Mesh lawyers Are Filing Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits In:


MDL – 2326 IN RE: Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

Ethicon Vaginal Mesh Lawyers Are Filing Vaginal Mesh Lawsuits In:


MDL – 2327 IN RE: Ethicon, Inc., Pelvic Repair System Products Liability Litigation

Coloplast Lawyers Are Filing Coloplast Lawsuits In:


MDL – 2387 IN RE: Coloplast Corp. Pelvic Support Systems Products Liability Litigation

Published February 26, 2013

A jury on Monday said Johnson & Johnson should pay a South Dakota woman $3.35 million for failing to adequately warn her doctor of the potential dangers of a vaginal mesh implant made by the company s Ethicon subsidiary, and for misrepresenting the product in brochures.

It was the first verdict among some 1,800 vaginal mesh cases pending in New Jersey against Ethicon and J&J and could have an impact on thousands of lawsuits against other manufacturers of similar products.

The lawsuit, in state Superior Court in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was brought by Linda Gross, 47, of Watertown, South Dakota, in November 2008. It alleged that the Gyncare Prolift vaginal mesh was not safe and that J&J and Ethicon were liable, among other things, for "their defective design, manufacture, warnings and instructions."

The Ethicon product, before being taken off the U.S. market last year, was used to treat pelvic organ collapse, a condition for which the plaintiff, a nurse, was treated in November 2008.

That condition occurs when tissue that holds the pelvic organs in place is weak or stretched and bulges into the vagina. There are different types of this prolapse condition, which usually occurs after menopause, childbirth or a hysterectomy. The vaginal mesh was also used by many doctors to treat a severe form of urinary incontinence, called stress incontinence.

Gross, a nurse, filed her lawsuit after having surgery in 2006 to install a Gyncare Prolift for pelvic prolapse. She alleged the surgery led to a variety of problems, including mesh erosion, scar tissue, inflammation and "neurologic compromise to structures and tissue."

She said she had to seek medical treatment and had 18 operations to repair the damage caused by the mesh.

Ben Anderson, a member of the trail team for the plaintiff, called the jury verdict "a strong statement to Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon that they cannot put profits before women s safety."

The verdict, by a panel of six women and three men, followed a six-week trial before Judge Carol Higbee. After the verdict was delivered, the judge ruled that she will allow arguments on punitive damages. Those hearings are scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Sheri Woodruff, a spokeswoman for Ethicon, said, "While we are always concerned when a patient experiences medical conditions like those suffered by the plaintiff, all surgeries for pelvic organ prolapse present risks of complications."

She said she could not comment further.

In addition to the lawsuits against Ethicon and J&J in New Jersey, about 11,000 other claims have been filed against a variety of manufacturers of vaginal mesh, according to Florida attorney Bryan Aylstock.

Those claims have been consolidated into five cases that are pending in federal court in West Virginia, according to Aylstock, co-lead counsel in one of the West Virginia cases.

The defendants in those cases are Ethicon, C.R. Bard Inc, Boston Scientific Corp, Coloplast, and Endo Health Solutions American Medical Systems Inc.

Last year, jurors in a state court in Bakersfield, California, said C.R. Bard was liable for $3.6 million in the first case over the vaginal mesh devices to go to trial. The panel found the plaintiff and her husband were entitled to a total of $5.5 million for her medical expenses, pain, suffering and other damages resulting from Bard s Avaulta Plus device.

Last June, J&J announced that it had stopped selling the vaginal mesh following lawsuits that allege it caused infections and bleeding. On Monday, the company said there were 4,000 lawsuits against J&J involving the vaginal mesh product pending in the United States.

Morningstar analyst Damien Conover said plaintiff attorneys generally pick a particularly strong case to argue first and that the judgment against J&J was sizable. But, he added that subsequent plaintiffs cases coming to trial might be less forceful, and that J&J, with annual revenue approaching $70 billion, could easily withstand eventual financial hits from the litigation.

"The size of the caseload presents a significant legal risk to J&J, although it s hard to quantify," Conover said.

Conover said J&J has taken recent charges of more than $4 billion for recalls of defective artificial hips, without badly denting the company s share price. He said charges are likely to be considerably less for the vaginal mesh litigation, "So I don t think this is a big overhang" for the company.

J&J shares closed down 0.89 percent, or 68 cents, at $75.57 on the New York Stock Exchange.

The case is Gross v. Gynecare Inc., Superior Court of Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atl-L-6966-10.

Mirena IUD Lawyers Accepting Mirena IUD Lawsuits Nationwide

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Free Legal Shield Mirena IUD Lawyers are accepting Mirena IUD cases where the device has migrated from position to the uterus, abdomen or a nearby organ. The device becomes embedded and causes a perforation and usually needs to be surgically removed.

Can you answer yes to any of these questions? If so, we need to hear from you today.

Were there any complications with the original insertion?
Do you have a perforation?
Has the device been surgically removed?

Symptoms to watch out for include:

Lower abdominal pain
Heavy vaginal bleeding
Inability to locate the Mirena IUD string
Bloating,and pain in the abdomen
Nausea, Vomiting, Chills, Fever and Rapid heartbeat

Serious side effects that have been linked to Mirena include:

  • Embedment in the uterus
  • Embedment in the abdomen or a nearby organ
  • Erosion of adjacent areas such as the vagina
  • Intestinal perforations or obstruction
  • Perforation of the uterus

Mirena IUD Lawsuits Alert

Mirena IUD lawyers are filing Mirena lawsuits for a implanted Mirena IUD needing to be surgically removed because it migrated from its original position and perforated the uterine lining, You may have a potential Mirena lawsuit.

Legal Shield has launched an aggressive outreach campaign to locate all women who have had a perforation of the uterus or abdomen or another organ.

Lawyers for Airplane Accidents and Aviation Crash Injuries

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Nationwide Airplane Crash Lawyers

Nationwide Lawyers for Airplane Accidents and Aviation Crash Injuries

An airplane disaster with loss of life can be devastating to a family and can cause severe emotional distress. If you or a loved one is a victim of an aircraft accident, control tower misconduct, or pilot negligence, not only do you need an aggressive airplane accident lawyer, but you also need emotional support. An airplane disaster can affect you for months, and live in your memory for years. Our experienced airplane crash lawyers provide effective representation while understanding your emotional needs after such a traumatic experience.

When an airplane crash occurs, people try to make sense of what happened in order to deal with the anxiety and stress of the situation. Emotional and psychological trauma results from the extraordinarily stressful event. This may shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world. The emotional damage can linger long after the crisis is over and a permanent mark may be left on your psyche. Further, airplane accident lawsuits do not settle quickly or easily thus, adding to your overall stress. For this reason, your choice of an airplane accident law firm is extremely important. A law firm inexperienced with these disasters may not understand the extent of your emotional trauma. The aircraft disaster team at Injury Lawyers USA has over 15 years of experience, as they have served the needs of airplane crash victims since 1996.

After a disaster of this magnitude, you may begin to have some common psychological reactions such as:

– Disbelief, shock, and post traumatic stress
– Fear and anxiety about the present and the future
– Disorientation; difficulty making decisions or concentrating
– Apathy and emotional numbing
– Nightmares and reoccurring thoughts about the event
– Irritability, anger, and occasional outbursts
– Sadness and depression
– Feeling powerless
– Changes in eating patterns; loss of appetite or overeating
– Crying for “no apparent reason”
– Headaches, back pains, and stomach problems
– Difficulty sleeping or falling asleep; sleep deprivation symptoms
– Increased use of alcohol and drugs

Facts About Airplane Accident Law

Airplanes are considered common carriers. This means that aircraft employees are required to use the highest degree of care in transporting you to your destination. The airplane carrier is also required to inspect and maintain all equipment, and workers are required to have the skill to carry out their duties in order to protect your safety. When the airline fails to uphold these safety standards, accidents can occur. The airplane accident lawyers at Injury Lawyers USA will argue that the airline failed to satisfy its duty of the highest care to you.


If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane accident, seek out a law office that will aggressively pursue your case while providing you with the care and concern you deserve. As it may be difficult to make decisions during a time of such vulnerability, it is necessary to trust the airplane crash lawyer you retain. Injury Lawyers USA is here for you. Our lawyers are experienced in dealing with such issues are available to guide you and help you during this difficult time.

Airplane crashes and injuries can be caused by:

-Dangerous conditions inside the aircraft
-Careless handling of the aircraft
-Severe turbulence
-Negligent actions by incompetent flight staff
-Faulty maintenance of the aircraft and equipment
-Poor flight and airport traffic control
-Faulty equipment at the airport

Many federal, state, and international laws regulate standards for the maintenance, operation, and safety of airplanes. However, even though these laws help protect passengers of airlines, an accident may still happen. Aviation law covers personal injuries that occur aboard aircraft, including slip and fall accidents and wrongful deaths that may occur in the rare case that an airplane crashes. The laws are highly specialized, and the causes of airplane accidents may be difficult to determine. Our lawyers are skilled litigators assisting crash victims and families nationwide and internationally. If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane accident, your lawyer can review your case, protect your rights, and help you get the compensation you deserve. Our airplane accident lawyers at Injury Lawyers USA are supportive of your personal and emotional needs and fierce in their legal representation.

Contact us if you or a loved one has been a victim of:

U.S. airline accident l awyer ,
Private aircraft accident lawyer,
International aviation accident lawyer,
Helicopter crash lawyer,
Sightseeing air tour accident,
Charter aircraft accident,
Medical aircraft crash,
Flight school accident,
Seaplane crash,
Air Balloon crash,

Fighting for the people…….Demanding truth, justice and accountability Airplane Crash Wrongful Death

Vaginal Mesh Lawsuit Attorneys

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Vaginal Mesh Lawyers Filing Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits

Trial dates have been set for the vaginal mesh lawsuits. If you have not retained a vaginal mesh lawyer or your case was rejected due to certain criteria get a vaginal mesh lawsuit second opinion today. The Bellwether trials For vaginal mesh have begun
which means new facts will be coming out and new criteria may be set. Not all lawyers are using the same critieria. Have your case re-reviewed for a potential vaginal mesh lawsuit now. The statue of limitations is running out in many states, Do not assume just because your case was rejected by one lawyer it will be rejected by all lawyers. Do not give up hope.
The first three vaginal mesh bellwether trials will begin in December of 2013. The U.S. District Judge that is overseeing the trials in the Southern District of West Virginia, Judge Joseph R. Goodwin, has scheduled the three bellwether trials.
The manufacturers that have been named in these trials are:
American Medical Systems,
Ethicon
Boston Scientific.

Judge Goodwin has announced that the trials will progress as follows:

C.R. Bard will be presented to a jury on June 11, 2013

American Medical System will be presented to a jury on December 3, 2013

Johnson & Johnson/Ethicon will be presented to a jury on January 14, 2014

Boston Scientific will be presented to a jury on February 20, 2014

Judge Goodwin also indicated that additional trials using the same order of defendants will be scheduled as needed throughout 2014.

Other Vaginal Mesh Bellwether Trial Dates:

U.S. District Judge Clay Land, who is overseeing federal litigation against vaginal mesh manufacturer, Mentor in Georgia, has set bellwether jury trials against Mentor on June 3 and July 5, 2013.

Get a vaginal mesh lawyer today. nationwide experienced class action vaginal mesh lawyers available to review your case against all current vaginal mesh lawsuit criteria. You may have a case.

GranuFlo Recall, Dialysis Medication Lawsuits, Heart Attack From Dialysis Medication Lawyers

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GranuFlo is used in Dialysis treatment. it has been recalled due to sudden heart attacks and deaths. Heart attack from dialysis medication lawyers are filing lawsuits for deaths from dialysis medications.

Definitions and Kindney Disease Overview

Chronic kidney disease (CKD): any condition that causes reduced kidney function over a period of time. CKD is present when a patient’s glomerular filtration rate remains below 60 milliliters per minute for more than 3 months or when a patient’s urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio is over 30 milligrams (mg) of albumin for each gram (g) of creatinine (30 mg/g).

End-stage renal disease (ESRD): total and permanent kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, the body retains fl uid. Harmful wastes build up. A person with ESRD needs treatment to replace the work of the failed kidneys.

Acute kidney injury (AKI): sudden, temporary, and sometimes fatal loss of kidney function

incidence: the number of new cases of a disease in a given time period

prevalence: the number of existing cases of a disease at a given point in time


Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis and GranuFlo. GranuFlo is a Threat to Seniors

  • The incidence of CKD is increasing most rapidly in people ages 65 and older.
  • The incidence of recognized CKD in people ages 65 and older more than doubled between 2000 and 2008.
  • The incidence of recognized CKD among 20- to 64-year-olds is less than 0.5 percent.

CKD Prevalence , GranuFlo Threat in 60 and Over Population

The prevalence of CKD is growing most rapidly in people ages 60 and older.
Between the 1988–1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study and the 2003–2006 NHANES study, the prevalence of CKD in people ages 60 and older jumped from 18.8 to 24.5 percent.
During that same period, the prevalence of CKD in people between the ages of 20 and 39 stayed consistently below 0.5 percent.

Dialysis Statistics By State

  • Alabama: 7,334
  • Alaska: 350
  • Arizona: 6,747
  • Arkansas:2,905
  • California: 45,047
  • Colorado: 3,360
  • Connecticut: 3,497
  • DC:1,809
  • Delaware: 1,170
  • Florida: 20,365
  • Georgia: 14,086
  • Hawaii: 2,449
  • Idaho: 916
  • I llinois: 15,268
  • Indiana: 6,539
  • Iowa: 2,296
  • Kansas: 2,384
  • Kentucky: 4,262
  • Louisiana: 7,287
  • Maine: 975
  • Maryland: 7,823
  • Massachusetts: 5,123
  • Michigan:12,293
  • Minnesota: 3,697
  • Mississippi:5,456
  • Missouri:6,467
  • Montana: 627
  • Nebraska:1,473
  • Nevada: 2,294
  • New Hampshire: 690
  • New Jersey: 10,580
  • New Mexico: 2,451
  • New York: 23,612
  • North Carolina: 12,895
  • North Dakota: 501
  • Ohio: 13,761
  • Oklahoma:3,793
  • Oregon: 2,703
  • Pennsylvania: 14,201
  • Puerto Rico:4,032
  • Rhode Island: 838
  • South Carolina: 7,199
  • South Dakota: 689
  • Tennessee: 7,482
  • Texas: 32,383
  • Utah: 1,303
  • Vermont: 380
  • Virginia: 9,332
  • Washington: 5,026
  • West Virginia: 1,794
  • Wisconsin: 4,899
  • Wyoming:248


The high incidence of Dialysis treatment in Florida is due to the numbers of aging population. Our Florida Seniors are at risk for sudden heart attack form the dialysis medication GranuFlo and Naturalyte.

Fresenius labs has used GranuFlo and Naturalyte in Dialysis Treatments. Fresnius knew of the dangers and still used the medication. As a result many of our seniors have suffered cardiac arrest and heart problems

Fresenius Claima To Be Patient-Centered Care for Chronic Kidney Disease

Fresenius Medical Care North America is a major provider of kidney dialysis services and renal care products. We provide products, dialysis care services, education and support for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), including treatment options for later stage CKD.

Our dialysis care services include hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, education tools and transplant support services, in-center, at home, or in a hospital, to fit our patients needs. We manufacture and distribute a variety of dialysis products and equipment, including dialysis machines, dialyzers and other dialysis-related supplies.

FDA Issues Class 1 Recall of GranuFlo

In late March of 2012, the FDA became aware of the apparent link between GranuFlo and cardiac arrest, according to the New York Times. In response to information about this threat to dialysis patients, which GranuFlo producer Fresenius had not made public, the FDA issued a Safety Communication warning about the dangers of alkali dosing errors for products like GranuFlo and NaturaLyte in hemodialysis patients.

In June, the FDA then issued a Class 1 recall of GranuFlo. This is the most serious class of recall, issued when the FDA deems there to be "a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death." The FDA described the reason for the recall thus:

The manufacturer is cautioning clinicians to be aware of the concentration of acetate or sodium diacetate (acetic acid plus acetate) contained in Fresenius Naturalyte Liquid and Granuflo Dry Acid Concentrate. Inappropriate prescription of these products can lead to a high serum bicarbonate level in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This may contribute to metabolic alkalosis, which is a significant risk factor associated with low blood pressure, hypokalemia, hypoxemia, hypercapnia and cardiac arrhythmia, which, if not appropriately treated, may culminate in cardiopulmonary arrest. This product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including death.

GranuFlo Lawsuits Mounting Up. Protect Our Seniors, File Your GranuFlo Lawsuit Today

GranuFlo and NaturaLyte lawsuits are being filed in courts around the country, after hundreds of patients suffered cardiac arrest, sudden cardiac death. Pur seniors are in danger. Serious heart problems have been reported following the use of the drugs during dialysis treatments. While Fresenius Medical, the manufacturer of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, learned of the risks associated with the dialysis drugs in 2011, a GranuFlo and NaturaLyte recall was not announced until months later. GranuFlo and NaturaLyte lawsuits are now being filed on behalf of our seniors who are victims of serious heart side effects within 48 hours of a dialysis treatment with GranuFlo and Naturalyte. Problems include: sudden cardiac death, cardiopulmonary arrest, heart attack and the development of heart problems.

File Your GranuFlo Lawsuit and Protect Your Loved Ones. Get Justice form Manufacturers who value profits over harm to people. If you, a loved one or someone you are a caregiver for has been injured by a dialysis medication call the GranuFlo Lawyer Helpline of Free Legal Shiels today.


Dialysis Injury Help Center, GranuFlo Naturalyte Helpline

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Lawyers for GranuFlo and Naturalyte are filing lawsuits for dialysis injury from Granuflo and Naturalyte. Fresenius Medical Care’s dialysis product GranuFlo is a medication that dialysis centers use to treat acute and chronic kidney failure.

Your kidneys clean the blood of waste products and help maintain the body’s pH level. When they fail, the body’s pH level become more acidic than is should be. Kidney failure is treated with chemicals that help the body convert ph level. These substances convert into the alkaline substance bicarbonate, which neutralizes some of the acid buildup in the blood stream.
GranuFlo and Naturalyte have had issues with this conversion and have shown instances of immediate heart attacks as a side effect. GranuFlo contains more bicarbonate than other dialysates.

The June 2012 New York Times article describes Fresenius’s knowledge of these risks of granuFlo and Naturalyte and the product’s high bicarbonate level. According to the article, Fresenius sent a memo to its clinics warning that the higher bicarbonate levels in GranuFlo had caused 941 heart attacks in the company’s own clinics in 2010, leading the company’s researchers to estimate that GranuFlo increases a patient’s risk of heart attack by six times. Fresenius did not send the memo to GranuFlo-using clinics that the company didn’t own, however, until March 29, 2012, when the FDA consequently began investigating Fresenius for possible violations of federal regulations, the Times reports.

Currently GranuFlo and Naturalyte lawyers are accepting claims against Fresenius for immediate hear attack form their GranuFlo and Naturalyte products. A number of dialysis patients may have already been injured by GranuFlo. If GranuFlo diaysis medication caused a sudden heart attack or cardiac arrest, hemodialysis cardiac arrest or cardiopulmonary arrest, stroke, or arrhythmia speak to a GranuFlo lawyer now by calling the GranuFlo legal team of free legal Shield. We seek justice for seniors.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits, Mesothelioma Lawyers, Asbestos, Lung Cancer

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Mesothelioma is a fatal lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Certain work environments are more prone to causing mesothelioma.

  • Shipyard Workers
  • Construction Workers
  • Power Plant Workers
  • Chemical Plant Workers
  • Industrial Workers
  • Insulators
  • Boiler Workers
  • Auto Mechanics

Types of mesothelioma

  • Pleural mesotheliomas start in the chest.
  • Peritoneal mesotheliomas begin in the abdomen.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

  • Shortness of breath and
  • A heavy feeling in the chest area.
  • Pain under the rib cage.
  • Pain or swelling in the abdomen.
  • Lumps in the abdomen.
  • Weight loss for no known reason.

Mesothelioma Comes from Inhaling Asbestos For Long Periods Of Time

When a person breathes in the small asbestos fibers, they remain in the lungs and cause scar tissue to form on the the tiny air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. The amount of oxygen that is available to the body is reduced through asbestos exposure and worsened through repeated inhalations for long periods of time.

Notable asbestos verdicts in the United States include:
Mississippi

In May 2011, the current largest plaintiff s asbestos verdict was awarded to a former oil refinery worker. Union Carbine and Chevron Phillips Chemical were instructed to pay the man $322 million.
San Francisco, California

Alfred Todak, a former Navy electrician, was awarded $22.7 million, and his was wife was awarded $11 for loss of consortium.
Madison County, Illinois

Madison County s asbestos verdicts have typically favored the plaintiff, including the 2000 Hutchinson v. Shell Oil Company case in which a man was awarded a total of $34.1 million.

Incidence of Mesothelioma

State/Region Incidence per 100,000
New Jersey 1.52
Seattle-Puget Sound 1.44
Louisiana 1.37
Connecticut 1.08
Greater California 1.06
Utah 1.02
New Mexico 0.99
Detroit 0.89
Kentucky 0.85
Iowa 0.80
Georgia 0.70

The six states with the highest mesothelioma death rates include: Maine, Wyoming, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Washington

Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos related cancer call our mesothelioma helpline today. We will connect you with an experienced mesothelioma, mass tort lawyer. Mesothelioma lawsuits are mass torts and must be handled by an experienced mass tort lawyer.

Januvia, Byetta Risks of Pancreatic Cancer, Lawyers Looking At Lawsuits

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New Information on Byetta and Januvia is gaining interest by lawyers for Pancreatic and Thyroid Cancer. Type II Diabetics are potential victims of cancer from these Diabetic drugs.

Popular diabetes drugs may raise pancreatic cancer risk, study suggests
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
Updated 9/23/2011 6:15 PM

People with type 2 diabetes taking the drugs Januvia or Byetta might have an increased risk of developing pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, a preliminary study suggests.
Sponsored Links

The study also found that Byetta (exenatide) may raise the risk of thyroid cancer.

Although the links aren t conclusive, they merit further investigation, the researchers noted.

"We have raised concern that there may be a link, but we haven t confirmed it," said lead researcher Dr. Peter Butler, director of the Larry L. Hillblom Islet Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. "We need to do more work to figure out whether this is real or not."

Both drugs help control blood sugar levels by encouraging production of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).

Januvia (sitagliptin) and Byetta, an injectable drug, are a new way of treating type 2 diabetes, and they potentially have advantages over older medications, Butler said. But, because these drugs are new, they re "the ones we know least about," he said. "When new drugs come out, the long-term side effects of these drugs are not well understood."

For the study, recently published in the journal Gastroenterology, Butler s team used 2004-2009 information in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration s database on adverse events, which are reported by doctors whose patients use these drugs.

When compared to other treatments, the researchers found a sixfold increase of reported cases of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) linked to patients taking Januvia or Byetta; a 2.9-fold increase in reported cases of pancreatic cancer among those taking Byetta and a 2.7-fold increase of reported pancreatic cancers among Januvia users.

In addition, they also noted an increase in reported cases of thyroid cancer with Byetta.

This latest study builds on earlier research, published in a 2009 issue of Diabetes, which found an increase in pancreatitis in rats whose GLP-1 levels were raised, the researchers said.

Butler is quick to point out that these increases in pancreatic cancer risk, while statistically significant, are not specifically related to patients, but rather to an increase in doctors reporting these cases to the FDA.

"It is important to avoid alarmism and have people stop medicines that they may be benefitting from when the risk is not yet defined," he stressed.

"If the drug and you are working well together, I wouldn t say there is any reason to stop the drug, based on the evidence we have right now," he said. "But if you have any concern you should talk to your doctor about it."

Being overweight is an important risk for both pancreatic cancer and type 2 diabetes, Butler noted. So the first advice to overweight patients with type 2 diabetes is to lose weight. "By doing that, you reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer," he said.

In addition, the first medication used to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetics is metformin, which by itself may reduce the risk for pancreatic cancer, Butler said. Metformin is an older drug with a well-known safety profile, he noted.

Dr. Mary Ann Banerji, director of the Diabetes Treatment Center at SUNY Health Science Center Brooklyn in New York City, said that "this is not perfect data."

However, Banerji does not prescribe these drugs for patients who have had a history of pancreatitis or a family history of thyroid cancer. There are alternatives such as metformin and insulin, as well as Avandia and Actos, she said, but studies have turned up an increased risk for heart attack and heart failure in the last two drugs. The FDA has removed Avandia from pharmacy shelves, and the agency issued a warning last summer that there is a possible increased risk of bladder cancer in patients who take Actos for more than a year.

The concerns about Januvia and Byetta "should not be blown out of proportion," Banerji said. "You prescribe them on an individual basis, because, in the end, all of medicine is individual," she said. "We should use these drugs judiciously along with metformin."

Industry representatives, insisting that no studies involving these drugs have found an increased risk of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, stand by their products. The database used for the study contains information on doctor-reported cases and does not reflect cause-and-effect, they said.

Dr. Barry Goldstein, vice president and therapeutic area head for diabetes and endocrinology at Merck Research Laboratories, which makes Januvia, said that "there has been no association shown between Januvia and pancreatitis."

"We have full confidence in Januvia, which is used by millions of patients around the world," he said.

Anne Erickson, a spokeswoman for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, makers of Byetta, said that "the conclusions of the study are in contrast to other nonclinical, clinical and adequately conducted post-marketing epidemiological studies."

Epidemiological studies have not established a significantly increased risk of pancreatitis associated with Byetta, she said. "To date, the available data do not demonstrate that exenatide increases the overall risk of cancer in humans."

Another expert, Dr. Ronald Goldberg, professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, said the findings merit consideration. "I don t think the study is definitive, but it raises a flag and is clearly something we need to pay attention to going forward."

There is "more benefit than risk with these drugs, based on our current knowledge," he

Vaginal Mesh Update, Vaginal Mesh Lawyers

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Vaginal mesh lawsuits have been consolidated in three major jurisdictions: West Virginia, New Jersey and Georgia. There are a total of 6 MDL s that are currently active. No matter where your case is filed it will most likely end up in one of these under the auspices of a lead cousel that will proceed on your behalf. These are not class actions but, consolidations. This is very different as it is still on an individual settlemement basis. Just to give you a point of reference the first Yaz settlements have settled for $250,000 for the first grouo of victims and the DePuy for $600,000 for six victims.

Problems with vaginal mesh systems marketed by a number of different medical device manufacturers have caused thousands of women throughout the United States to suffer severe injuries. The major manufactures involved in the litgations are Johnson and Johnson, Bard, Boston Scientific, and American Medical. Johnson and Johnson has just recently pulled 4 of the Gynecare mesh off the market and has published a new label change for one still on the market.

The vaginal mesh lawsuit lawyers are filing mesh lawsuits for women who have received any type of surgical mesh or bladder sling to repair pelvic organ prolapse, which could include:

Bard Avaulta Support System
AMS Elevate Prolapse Repair System
AMS Apogee Vault Suspension System
AMS Perigee System
AMS Monarc Sling System
AMS Sparc Sling System
Ethicon Gynecare Gynemesh
Ethicon Gynecare Prolene Soft Mesh
Ethicon Gynecare Prolift Pelvic Floor Repair System
Ethicon Gynecare TVT Transvaginal Sling
Boston Scientific Pinnacle Pelvic Floor Repair Kit
Boston Scientific Uphold Vaginal Support System
UGYTEX Dual Knit Mesh
Coviden IVS Tunneler Sling

Due to the risk of vaginal mesh complications, the FDA warned in July 2011 that doctors should recognize that in most cases, pelvic organ prolapse can be treated successfully without a bladder sling or pelvic mesh. Thousands of women had a bladder sling or vaginal mesh implanted in recent years, and compensation may be available for serious injuries caused by the defective and dangerous design of the pelvic support systems.

Mesh lawsuits should be filed quickly as the staute of limitations is running close in many states and some are past the filing date already.

Cystocele and Rectocele Mesh Repair, FDA Warnings

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Risks with Cystocele and Rectocele Mesh Repair , FDA Warnings, Vaginal mesh lawyers

In July 2011, the FDA released a safety communication warning healthcare providers of the serious risks associated with surgical mesh used to repair pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Specifically, the FDA stated that complications were not rare, and that surgery with the mesh may be no better than traditional surgery options that don’t use mesh.

Public Citizen and Vaginal mesh

In October 25, 2011, a consumer advocacy group called Public Citizen submitted an appeal to the FDA that all non-absorbable vaginal mesh be recalled. They stressed that there is a need for these non-absorbable vaginal meshes to be removed from the market since it’s benefits over other non-mesh procedures used to repair POP and SUI were unseen, and patients who received them developed fatal reactions. The group also recommends that all non-absorbable vaginal mesh be tested appropriately for safety and effectiveness before the FDA approves its availability in the market.

FDA 510 (K) Process

Manufacturers needed only to show they were similar to devices already on the market to gain approval through the FDA’s 510(k) approval process. The remaining eight recalled devices didn’t have to go through any kind of FDA review. Of the 113 recalls, 35 were for cardiovascular devices, including automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, and only 12 of them had been required to undergo patient testing.

POP repair surgeries may include cystocele and rectocele. Unfortunately, complications have been found with both.
Types of POP Repair Include Cystocele and Rectocele.The sling procedure, or suburethral sling procedure, refers to a particular kind of surgery using ancillary material to aid in closure of the urethral sphincter function of the bladder. It is performed as a treatment of severe urinary incontinence. The sling procedure, also known as the suburethral fascial sling or the pubovaginal sling, has many forms due to advances in the types of material used for the sling. Some popular types of sling material are Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene), Gore-Tex ® , and rectus fascia (fibrous tissue of the rectum).

Cystocele and rectocele repair

  • Cystocele—bladder prolapse
  • Rectocele—rectal prolapse (end of the large intestine, or rectum)
  • Uterine prolapse
  • Vaginal prolapse
  • Enterocele—herniated small bowel

Mesh was initially incorporated into POP surgical repair because it offered more support to the affected organ and helped shore up surrounding muscles and tissues. Since the risk for recurrence of prolapse is high in women who have cystocele surgery and rectocele surgery, the hope was that surgical mesh would help sustain the repair. The FDA received many reports, however, or cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications.

Mesh complications

  • erosion of mesh
  • serious infection
  • recurrence of pop / sui
  • perforation
  • pain
  • corrective surgeries
  • injury to other organs
  • vaginal scarring
  • urinary problems
  • hardening of mesh

Cystocele Mesh Complications and Rectocele Mesh Complications

During cystocele surgery, transvaginal mesh is inserted through the vagina to help act as a barrier and to hold the bladder in place. The mesh is also intended to help stop related problems like incontinence.

A rectocele occurs when the thin wall of tissue separating the rectum from the vagina weakens, allowing the front of the rectum to bulge into the vagina. During rectocele surgery, excess stretched tissue is removed through the vagina, and a mesh patch may be used to support and strengthen the wall. (Surgery may also proceed from the abdomen, anus, or perineum.)

Though surgical mesh does seem to provide better support for pelvic organs, cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications made the improvement a moot point. The FDA, in its 2011 warning, mentioned that it had received nearly 3,000 reports of vaginal mesh complications between 2008 and 2010, with the most common being mesh erosion through the vagina. Mesh erosion can require multiple surgeries to repair and may be extremely debilitating.

Other cystocele mesh complications and rectocele mesh complications included pain, infection, bleeding, pain during sex, organ perforation, urinary problems, recurrent prolapse, vaginal scarring/shrinkage, and neuro-muscular problems. Many required additional surgical treatment and hospitalization.
Cystocele Surgery and Rectocele Surgery

Cystocele, urethrocele, enterocele, and rectocele are particularly likely to occur together. Urethrocele is virtually always accompanied by cystocele (cystourethrocele). Cystocele and cystourethrocele commonly develop when the pubocervical vesical fascia is weakened. Enterocele usually occurs after a hysterectomy. Weakness in the pubocervical fascia and rectovaginal fascia allows the apex of the vagina, which contains the peritoneum and small bowel, to descend. Rectocele results from disruption of the levator ani muscles.

Severity of these disorders can be graded based on level of protrusion:

  • 1st degree: To the upper vagina
  • 2nd degree: To the introitus
  • 3rd degree: External to the introitus

If you have been injured due to a vaginal mesh from any of the manufactuirers listed below contact Vaginal mesh Helpline 1 877 522-2123

Manufacturers

Johnson & Johnson

  • Ethicon TVT
  • Gynecare Prolift
  • Gynecare Prosima
  • Gynecare TVT
  • Gynemesh PS

C.R. Bard

  • Avaulta PlusT BioSynthetic Support
  • Avaulta SoloT Synthetic Support
  • Faslata Allograft
  • PelvitexT Polypropylene Mesh
  • Pelvicol Tissue
  • PelviSoft Biomesh

Boston Scientific

  • AdvantageT Sling System
  • Prefyx Mid UT Mesh Sling System
  • Prefyx PPST System
  • Obtryx Curved Single
  • ObtryxMesh Sling
  • Arise
  • Pinnacle
  • Solyx
  • Lynx

American Medical Systems

  • SPARC
  • BioArc
  • MiniArc
  • Apogee
  • Elevate
  • Monarc
  • In-Fast
  • Perigree

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