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Explaining birdshot chorioretinopathy and its treatments

DEAR DR. ROACH: My niece was diagnosed with birdshot chorioretinopathy. Can you please explain what this is, which treatments are involved, and what the typical prognoses are? — P.Z. ANSWER: Birdshot chorioretinopathy is an inflammatory condition of the choroid and retina (the very back of the eye). The average age of diagnosis is 53. This disease is an autoimmune disease that is strongly associated with genetics. Nearly everyone with this disease has the same human lymphocyte antigen group (HLA-A29), even though only 7% of people have this antigen present in their T cells (one of ...

The Iran hawks are losing their judgment

I am an Iran hardliner. But I’m struggling to understand how other hardliners can be so credulous about President Donald Trump’s leadership of this war. It’s as if you were stranded by the side of the road and accepted a ride from an obviously drunk driver. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal editorial board scolded those of us who were not cheerleading for this war: “There’s remarkable pessimism in the media and political class about the U.S. bombing campaign against the terrorist regime in Iran. Five days into the war, you’d think from the coverage and commentary ...

The sudden political star of Trump II: Marco Rubio

“White House deploys Marco Rubio to clarify messaging about Iran conflict.” So reads the headline on the front page of the Washington Examiner’s website in the early hours of April 1, the third month of U.S. military operations against Iran, which have been taking place since Feb. 28. That prominence was overtaken as it was announced that President Donald Trump would address the nation on the war on Wednesday night. But it’s still worth noting and could turn out to be more significant as the end of the second Trump term comes into view. Rubio’s video making the case for the ...

Dear Annie: Carrying the weight of a one-sided friendship

Dear Annie: I am writing about a friendship that has weighed on my heart for quite some time. I have known this woman for more than 20 years, and in many ways, she has been a loyal and lively part of my life. We have celebrated happy occasions together, seen one another through disappointments and shared the kind of history that is not easily replaced. But in recent years, our friendship has begun to feel less like a comfort and more like a burden. Nearly every conversation revolves around her troubles, her grievances, her worries and the endless complications of her daily life. When ...

How laws prevent doctors from receiving perks off the books

DEAR DR. ROACH: Your recent column said that the “law” prohibits doctors from getting money from prescriptions. However, they get perks from pharma reps like dinner, golf, etc., and many push supplements on TV. Many “doctors” across the country make their income from prescribing supplements to patients for chronic fatigue syndrome or COVID. — D.K. ANSWER: There are statutes that prevent physicians from directly profiting from prescribing certain medications. The Stark Law prevents doctors from referring their patients to entities where the physician has a financial interest. ...

Applause, Applause

Each Saturday, The Express community newspaper highlights people, groups and activities our readers deem worthy of applause. THANK YOU to the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club for hosting a basket benefit for Mike Neff during their March 21 breakfast. Special thanks to SVBT Club President Brad Darby, Bev Confair and Brenda Masden for all of their help with the basket benefit. THANK YOU to everyone who donated baskets or prizes for the benefit and to everyone who came out to buy tickets to raise funds to help Mike and his wife, Lori. — Mike and Lori Neff The Prayer ...