A death from rabies
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Last October (2007) a 46 year old Minnesota man died of rabies, the only known victim in the US last year. Rabies is a rare disease in the US because we have good veterinary services. Most animals in routine and regular contact with humans are vaccinated against the disease. But bats have become a significant wild animal reservoir and the Minnesota case was a bat case: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - May 9, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
Planning pregancy, test for diabetes.
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New research suggests that more pregnant women are prediabetic, and that infant health can be improved by evaluating diabetic predisposition. The American Diabetes Association states "The number of pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes is rapidly increasing, leading to increased health risks for both the mothers and their unborn children. The seriousness of this problem was brought home by a new ADA-funded study, which showed a doubling of the number of pregnant women with diabetes over a seven-year period."
Women are at higher risk for diabetes if they:
Are overweight
Are physically inactive
Are over the age of 45 ...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - May 9, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Prevention Source Type: blogs
I love american spanish!
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The picture is from a bathroom in the Bellevue adult outpatient medicine clinics. I also know the phrases apretar el botón or tirar [de] la cadena - but I like floshar much better.In our Yiddish at home we say aroplozn dos vaser; I know people have also said (op)shvenkn dem klozet. Of course, just like American Spanish, in American Yiddish nowadays 99% of people say (I bet) floshn. I use that word too, with guilty pleasure. (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger)
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - May 8, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Yiddish flush the toilet Spanish translation Source Type: blogs
Childhood vaccinations: how long do they last?
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We seem to be doing a lot of vaccination stuff here lately. It's an obvious public health topic, one that's in the news and (in some quarters) considered controversial. I'm a strong proponent of vaccination where it makes sense (which is in most of the instances where it is used) but that doesn't mean I think it is problem free. For a public health scientist the problems are not only interesting but of practical import. Yesterday's post about fainting during vaccinations produced an unexpected comment thread from people who have at one time or another fainted during a vaccination or medical procedure, for example. The rare...
Source: Effect Measure - May 8, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Vaccines Source Type: blogs
What do you know and when do you know it?
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Doctors and patients think differently. One way to understand this difference is to ask the question: how do doctors and patients know? If we try to understand our own ways of knowledge (epistemology), how our patients might know, and how the two differ, this might be productive for our practice of medicine and our patients' health.See my poster on the topic below. When you're done looking at the poster, check out the thought-provoking companion exercises. Lastly, make yourself a cup of tea (Lapsang Souchong), sit down, take a minute, and write down your epistemology on a piece of paper. Please e-mail that epistemology to ...
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - May 7, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: medical epistemology Source Type: blogs
Fainting after a vaccination
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Vaccination against most childhood diseases is important for the overall health of the community. I've said that many times here and most recently, along with my Sciblings, bemoaned an increasing trend to refusing vaccination. The health related reasons for refusing to be vaccinated are largely based on false information, but that doesn't mean that when millions of people are being vaccinated something untoward doesn't happen. Usually what happens is innocuous and self-limiting. The person (often an adolescent) faints. We don't know how often that happens, but a recent effort by CDC has tried to get some handle on it. It i...
Source: Effect Measure - May 7, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Vaccines Source Type: blogs
Study links breastfeeding to increased intelligence
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One more article that indicates the value of breast feeding. In an article titled, Breastfeeding and Child Cognitive Development Dr. Michael S. Kramer, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Institute of Human Development, reports the results from following the same group of 14,000 children for 6.5 years.
The study provides the strongest evidence to date that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding makes kids smarter," said Kramer, a Professor of Pediatrics and of Epidemiology & Biostatistics in the McGill University Faculty of Medicine and lead investigator in the study.
"The effect of bre...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - May 7, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: research Source Type: blogs
Pandemic doctors' dilemma
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The AP has a story that a task force composed of medical and other experts from academia, professional groups, the military and government executive branches and agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services has been considering how to ration scarce medical resources in the event of a pandemic. Before I give you their suggested answer I want to consider the underlying problem. This may be too abstract a way for some to think about this, but it is the logical bare bones of the matter. Read the rest of this post... | Read the ...
Source: Effect Measure - May 6, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Bird flu Source Type: blogs
Australia tries to out do the us in suppression of science
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Mrs. R. and I visited Australia a number of years back. She was the one attending a scientific congress while I was the accompanying spouse. Quite nice, really. I enjoyed not having to work on a foreign visit. And Australia was terrific. We loved it. I was surprised at how good the food was (a baseless prejudice I had about Commonwealth Cuisine) and the people hospitable and friendly. Much like America, really. Unfortunately the Australian government is becoming too much like the US government when it comes to interfering in science: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - May 5, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Science policy Source Type: blogs
The clinton pander machine
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A democratic party superdelegate answers Senator Clinton's challenge to repudiate her vote phishing:
"Senator Clinton claimed yesterday that I either stand with her on this proposal or stand with the oil companies. To that I say: I stand with the families of Colorado, who aren't looking for bumper sticker fixes that don't fix anything, but for meaningful change that brings real relief and a new direction for our energy policy. We can't afford more Washington-style pandering while families keep getting squeezed."
-- Congressperson, Senate candidate, and uncommitted superdelegate Mark Udall of Colorado (via Gristmill)
I...
Source: Effect Measure - May 4, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Environment Source Type: blogs
Freethinker sunday sermonette: election pastorale
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Let's stray from the Path of Wrighteousness and listen to some other spiritual leaders close to one of the Presidential Candidates. I don't know who Senator Clinton's God Guru is (I'm guessing that depends on what is most expedient at the moment; the Great God of Gas Tax Holidays seems favored as I write) but we know who Senator McCain courted. He's twice as spiritual as Senator Obama because he has at least two big time religious leaders on board, Pastors Hagee and Parsley (NB: Parsley is his name, not his position in the Living Kingdom). Here are some quotable Words of Wisdom from the two of them, courtesy Open Left: Rea...
Source: Effect Measure - May 4, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Freethinker Sermonettes Source Type: blogs
Measles again
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In other parts of the world measles is a major killer of children and infants. In my own youth measles was a very troublesome childhood disease that was a major cause of morbidity in the US, with 3 to 4 million cases a year. One in 250 died, almost 50,000 a year were hospitalized and 1000 were left with long term disability. Then, in 1963, measles vaccination was introduced. Since 1997 there have been less than 150 cases a year, mostly less than 100.
Except this year: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - May 3, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Vaccines Source Type: blogs
They, robot
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I'll admit I don't keep up with what's going on in the world of robotics, so I was pretty stunned a couple of months ago when a reader sent us this link to the promo for Boston Dynamics Big Dog robot. It's a longish clip, but this is a pretty amazing beast (I use the word deliberately). As long as its only used to fight other robots I won't worry too much, but I suspect that's not the Defense Department's plan: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - May 2, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Technology Source Type: blogs
Best study name ever
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Thanks to my friend Pam Marcus for passing this along. I thought it was an appropriate way for me to celebrate my reentry into blogging.Lacasse A, Rey E, Ferreira E, Morin C, Bérard A: Validity of a modified Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) scoring index to assess severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jan;198(1):71.e1-7. (Source: The Antidote: Counterspin for Health Care and Health News)
Source: The Antidote: Counterspin for Health Care and Health News - May 2, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Source Type: blogs
Do dogs understand barks?
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Whenever the big dog over the back fence barks, our little dog goes racing to the back door, barking like crazy. Forget the fact that if the two dogs actually came muzzle to muzzle, the other dog would eat ours with one mouthful. On the other hand, when dogs bark on television, our dog either lifts her head briefly or keeps on snoozing. I often wondered if dog barks meant anything except making dog noise. You can still assume dogs communicate without requiring them to do it through through barking. And if barking means something, is it just the barks of a dog's own breed or is their cross-breed understanding? Are their "ba...
Source: Effect Measure - May 1, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Biology Source Type: blogs
On hiatus
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May and the first week of June bring an R01 deadline and 2 weeks of travel, and I'm trying to get 2 more manuscripts out the door by the first of June. To minimize distractions, I'm closing up shop here for about 5 weeks. I'm also mulling about a new comment moderation policy; I'm tired of the resident trolls shitting all over every discussion thread, but I've not decided what to do about that just yet. Anyway, check back after June 8th for new material. Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology)
Source: Aetiology - May 1, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Housekeeping Source Type: blogs
Over 75 percent of new u.s. mothers breast-feed infants.
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The NHANES survey conducted by the CDC during 2005 & 2006. Hispanics had the highest breast feeding rates. There is nothing better for human children than human milk. The contents of the milk contain antibodies and other components not found in any of the alternatives. As for other beneficial health habits the rate was lowest among the poorest, the rural and the unmarried women whose only source of advice is often local health departments who are frequently underfunded. The problem continues despite Maternal and Child Health programs starting with the 'milk kitchens ' in New York in the late 1800s and early 1900s having sh...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - May 1, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Surveillance Source Type: blogs
Cost and quality of chronic disease care
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A study reported in the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care 2008 decsribes The remarkable variation in the way academic medical centers manage chronic illness is testimony to the weakness in the scientific basis of medicine. The neglect of the evaluative sciences— those sciences whose mission is to evaluate medical theory, understand patient preferences, and establish the cost-effectiveness of clinical practice—has left the nation unprepared to deal with unwarranted variation. The consequences for public policy should be obvious. Further the authors of the sudy say "the nation needs a crash program to transform the manageme...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 30, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Economics Source Type: blogs
Detox diets, procedures generally don't promote health
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One more 'fad' heard on the weekend radio talk shows sells scams to the public in the name of health. Infomercials and Web sites urge us to eliminate the buildup of toxins that supposedly results from imprudent habits or exposure to hazardous substances.
If you’re healthy, concentrate on giving your body what it needs to maintain its self-cleaning system—a healthful diet, adequate fluids, exercise, sleep, and all recommended medical check-ups, instead of relying on so-called detox procedures, says the Harvard Women’s Health Watch. (Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG)
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 30, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: complementary substances Source Type: blogs
Restaurant inspections: public perceptions vs. reality
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Foodborne diseases cause an estimated 76 million illnesses in the U.S. each year with about half associated with restaurant meals. More than 70 billion meals per year are purchased in restaurants in the U.S., accounting for 47% of total food expenditure.
Eating out can be dangerous to your health. There are insufficient resources in most communities for frequent inspections by the local healtrh department. The public has to support them by watching what happens in the restaurant. Are the server's nails short? Is their clothing clean? Is the restaurant clean? Is the hot food served hot? Are the servers ensuring that one pla...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 30, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Source Type: blogs
Body image program reduces onset of obesity
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The following from Science Daily is an example of the valuable information available from this site, I recommend a daily visit:
Researchers have found that a new obesity prevention program reduced the risk for onset of eating disorders by 61 percent and obesity by 55 percent in young women. These effects continued for as long as 3 years after the program ended. These results are noteworthy because, to date, the idea that we can reduce risk for future onset of eating disorders and obesity has been an unrealized goal: over 80 prevention programs have been evaluated, but no previous program had been found to significantly red...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 30, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Prevention Source Type: blogs
Raw water cocktail on the rocks (and in the soil)
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Every day seems to bring a new story about the crap we are leaving strewn around our environment. Not just trash but chemical trash, the kind of stuff we eat, pop as pills or dispose of and which winds up as molecules in our air, water and food. You may think you know more than you want to about this but in fact you know very little about it because no one knows much about it. For example, there are no systematic measurements of the stuff in the raw water that goes into our water treatment plants, facilities designed to handle micro-organisms and not chemicals. The EPA has a program called the Unregulated Contaminant Monit...
Source: Effect Measure - April 30, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Water pollution Source Type: blogs
Direct-to-consumer (dtc) genetic testing
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The American College of Medical Genetics has developed a 2008 Policy Statement on DTC Genetic Testing. The college is concerned with sudden influx of genetic tests offered to the to the public without requiring professional support and recommendation
The college discusses five principles in its public statement which should be read by everyone before planning to use any genetic test, however well intentioned:
A knowledgeable professional should be involved in the process of ordering and interpreting a genetic test.
The consumer should be fully informed regarding what the test can and cannot say about his or her health.
The...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 29, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: policy Source Type: blogs
Benzene in soda: update
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We've covered the FDA failure leading to their overlooking benzene in soda pretty often (at least if pretty often means here, here, here, here, here, here and here). It's like the guy who went to the doctor complaining of pain in his belly. "Ever have it before?" the doctor asked. "Yes, twice" the patient said. "Well, you have it again." Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 29, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: FDA Source Type: blogs
Bris reprise
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Summary, pix. (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger)
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - April 28, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Micah Berger Sollod Source Type: blogs
Too many aging patients, too few geriatricians
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There will not be enough geriatricians when the 78 million baby boomers begin to turn 65 in 2011, according to a new Institute of Medicine report. By 2030, there will be an estimated 8,000 geriatricians, but the nation will need 36,000, according to the Assn. of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs. IOM report recommends an increase in geriatric competency throughout the health care work force to offset a shortage in geriatric specialists. It also called for the adoption of interdisciplinary care models and a fundamental change in how health care is reimbursed. As noted in this blog previously, the primary care workfor...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 28, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: policy Source Type: blogs
Manufacturing chemicals, manufacturing doubt
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On a couple of occasions (here, here) we've taken note of the scientific controversy regarding the plasticizer, bisphenol-A (BPA). I shouldn't really put it this way, because as the leading BPA researcher, Fred vom Saal of the Univeristy of Missouri said in the Washington Post over the weekend, there is no meaningful controversy any longer. Now that NIH's National Toxicology Program has finally presented its draft report on BPA expressing concern over possible carcinogenic and developmental effects, vom Saal's statement seems pertinent: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 28, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Regulation Source Type: blogs
Announcing a summer schedule
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The Reveres caucused this weekend and finally decided that with summer coming on and the academic and flu seasons ending this would be a good time to lighten up on our twice a day posting. There may even be days with no posts at all.
In truth we have found the posting schedule wearing. This blog hasn't gone dark a single day since the end of 2004 and the strain is beginning to take a toll on us. We still have extremely active professional lives and many responsibilities in "meat space." The inartful nature of our blogging may not look like it, but this activity takes many hours daily and we frankly need the time, both fo...
Source: Effect Measure - April 27, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Blog Source Type: blogs
Freethinker sunday sermonette: onward christian soldiers
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The more things change the more they get weirder. In my day, the only way you could be a Conscientious Objector was to claim that status on religious grounds. If you were an atheist, tough shit. Now if you are an atheist, they don't want you to fight. This is something for all you young folks to keep in mind when President McSame or President Hilary get us involved in a war with Iran and they have to re-institute conscription: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 27, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Freethinker Sermonettes Source Type: blogs
Are you responsible for your own health? what about others.
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In an interesting turn about, the Chicago Tribune has reversed its policy of fining employees who smoke on their own time. The original intent was to pressure employees into better health and reduce insurance premiums for all its employees. The president of the company has decided to try efforts ot entice employees to change behaviors with rewards rather than punishment. Changing adult behavior is very difficult. Peer pressure may work better than executive pressure. Should you be concerned about the health of your fellow workers if their behavior causes your insurance bill to increase? Few people today accept reponsibilit...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 26, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: policy Source Type: blogs
Epa gets the doubt of the benefits
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We frequently observe here that almost everything in public health, from the societal level to the molecular level, is a balancing act. With most benefits comes a risk and with many risks a benefit. Of course there is a problem when the benefits and risks accrue to different parties as when the public runs the risks and the corporation gets the benefits. So that's one problem in making the trade-offs. Another is when the risks and benefits are completely different, essentially non-comparable. We often try to solve this by measuring them on a common scale like total number of lives saved or lost, or more commonly, by moneti...
Source: Effect Measure - April 26, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Environmental health Source Type: blogs
Showtime
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When I read about this Japanese robot designed to clean urinals that was made to look like a stylized elephant I was reminded of a joke. First the robot, then the joke.
Here's a pic of the robot followed by a machine translation of the Japanese Press Release (courtesy 3Yen, hat tip Boingboing): Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 25, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Technology Source Type: blogs
Naming a bird flu virus
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For years we have been naming flu viruses in a particular way. Now Declan Butler has a news article in Nature observing that the system is being modified for bird flu to be more "politically correct." What is the system that's being modified (still in use for seasonal flu)? Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 25, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Bird flu Source Type: blogs
Cheshbon, please!
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I'm sorry we had to read another Forward article with the headline "Venerable Journal In Language We Don't Read Closes Its Gaping Mouth" - and I do agree with some of the basic facts: less readers of Yiddish, less writers of Yiddish, blah blah blah zzzzz. (Fewer Yiddish letters, even. Now there are only 16: we had to lay off everything after samech. Sad.) But pleeze, if you do have a Yiddish journal, or care about Yiddish writing (yours or anyone else's), don't expect my pity until you do your utmost to share the wealth of the words you care for. Make sure your journal gets to those who want to read it (I didn't even know ...
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - April 24, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Yiddish Yiddish literature Source Type: blogs
The bush administration: keeping us safe (from subversive art)
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The art professor is finally cleared but a distinguished biologist was still punished by a ridiculous, mindless, cruel and utterly reckless use of raw power by the Bush administration: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 24, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Bioterrorism Source Type: blogs
Better news from the art world
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You may recall the case of geneticist Robert Farrell, who had been initially charged with bioterroism for sharing generally-harmless strains of bacteria with a colleague, SUNY-Buffalo art professor Steven Kurtz. Farrell plead guilty to a reduced charge last fall and received a fine and probation. Now the verdict is in for Kurtz; more after the jump. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Aetiology)
Source: Aetiology - April 24, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Academia Source Type: blogs
Important new flu paper in cell: part iii
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In the previous two posts (here and here) we laid out some new results that dissect what might be happening at the molecular level when a patient infected with SARS or bird flu descends into Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) from Acute Lung Injury (ALI) in a just published paper in the journal Cell (Imai et al., "Identification of Oxidative Stress and Toll-like Receptor 4 Signaling as a Key Pathway of Acute Lung Injury", Cell, Vol 133, 235-249, 18 April 2008). We have already discussed their experiments showing that TLR4, a receptor that is part of the innate immune system, was needed for ALI caused by an acid mis...
Source: Effect Measure - April 24, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Bird flu Source Type: blogs
Worried about the fda?
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The New England Journal of Medicine today published two "Perspective' articles on the responsibilities of the FDA and the total lack of responsibility of both the legislative and executive branches of government to support the FDA. Then the politicians turn around and criticize the FDA for their own failings. The FDA is given oversight responsibility by Congress to evaluate all drugs and medical devices. No-one in Congress has put a price tag on these legislated mandates. It is easier to criticise the FDA when they cannot carry out their assigned role. The Congressional Budget office reccomends $multimillion increases to t...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 23, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: policy Source Type: blogs
Computers and public health: as the worm turns
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A viral infection with serious public health consequences occurred in Canada on January with little publicity: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 23, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Public health preparedness Source Type: blogs
Links between ozone and premature death.
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Today the National Academies of Science released a report on links between Ozone Exposure and Premature Motality. The crux of the information is in Chapter 5, which explains the biological plausibility and the problems with analyses of previous studies comparing cities and even countries, over time. Ozone can be seriously considered as an adverse contributor to chronic heart and lung disease, but while it is possible to describe associations there are so many confounding variables and demographic differences between the various study groups, and changes in variables such as obesity and lack of exercise over time make it is...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 23, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: research Source Type: blogs
Important new flu paper in cell: part ii
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In our previous post we set the stage for discussing the results of a significant new paper by Imai et al. and colleagues on the mechanism of lung damage from diverse pathogens, including SARS, bird flu H5N1, 1918 H1N1 flu, inhalational anthrax and Monkeypox. If this work is verified it is a major step forward in our understanding of how the devastating consequences of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Acute Lung Injury (ALI) come about and may well provide clues about how to treat what is still an essentially untreatable and catastrophic medical condition. Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on ...
Source: Effect Measure - April 23, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: biology Source Type: blogs
A bris!
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Details on request. (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger)
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: baby boy circumcision Source Type: blogs
Ebmbs
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What is the effectiveness of pediatric CPR?What is the effectiveness of laypersons' pediatric CPR?What is the effectiveness of classes for laypeople about pediatric CPR?What is the effectiveness of e-mails advertising classes for laypeople about pediatric CPR? (Source: Zackary Sholem Berger)
Source: Zackary Sholem Berger - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: evidence-based medicine Source Type: blogs
Better than roadkill
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It's kind of strange when suddenly there are a lot of articles on growing meat in a vat (it's probably because there was a recent conference in Norway on the topic). Even we posted on it last week and today the New York Times tells us that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - scientists excepted), the militant and sometimes violent animal rights group, is offering a $1 million prize for the "first person to come up with a method to produce commercially viable quantities of in vitro meat at competitive prices by 2012": Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Food Source Type: blogs
Clinton and obama parrot the "vaccine and autism connection inconclusive" line
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Via Razib, Obama on vaccines:
"We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate. Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it."
--Barack Obama, Pennsylvania Rally, April 21, 2008.
and Clinton:
I am committed to make investments to find the causes of autism, including possible environmental causes like vaccines. I have long been a supporter of increased research to determine the links between environmental factors and diseases, and I believe we should increase the NIH's ability to engage in this type of research. My adm...
Source: Aetiology - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Public health Source Type: blogs
Sacrificing health for art
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I realize art is, of course, subjective. I know what I like; sometimes I can explain why, and sometimes I'm not sure what it is about a piece that draws me to it. Certainly good art evokes emotion and can stir controversy and push limits. And like the notorious virgin Mary/elephant dung uproar, an undergrad at Yale has recently caused quite a stir with her own senior art project:
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce mi...
Source: Aetiology - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Misc. Source Type: blogs
Adhd and heart disease.
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The Wall Street Journal and others today have discussed the possible heart disease developed among children labeled as having ADHD. Most medicines have undesired side effects. The issue is deciding when the benefit outweighs the risk. While the stimulant drugs used to control ADHD are found valuable by parents, one msy wonder how much of the acting out is the result of poor discipline rather than disease. It is too simple to diagnose a 'condition' and prescribe a drug. Maybe this wake up call from the American Heart Association will help more parents consider behavioral therapy rather than drugs to help their children. We ...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Source Type: blogs
Life expectancy declining for some american women.
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"For the first time since the Spanish influenza of 1918, life expectancy is falling for a significant number of American women," according to a study published in PLoS Medicine. Lead author Christopher J.L. Murray, M.D., a physician and epidemiologist at the University of Washington, and colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health. Women seem to learn slowly from the adverse behavior of men. While the survey cannot pin direct cause and effect to these results, the public health community has seen the excess of obesity, smoking, minimal exercise, poor diet and the adverse effects of increasing urbanization upon the po...
Source: Dr. Buttery's Public Health BLOG - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Surveillance Source Type: blogs
Important new flu paper in cell: part i
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The cells of your body don't just sit there, unmindful of what is going on around them. They have to respond to things, even cooperate with other cells to get things done for the common good. Humans do the same thing. We've developed a system of signaling to each other using an intricate vocal system, a complex grammar, ears, eyes and smell detecting systems. It's a very complicated package with a lot of moving parts. It's not so surprising, then, that cells also have complex signaling systems with a lot of parts that they use to respond to their environment. Just as we sometimes make a coordinated response to something in...
Source: Effect Measure - April 22, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Bird flu Source Type: blogs
Tangled web, tangled bank and mercury poisoning
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"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive pollute." I know it doesn't rhyme. But the tangled web is real: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure)
Source: Effect Measure - April 21, 2008 Category: Epidemiologists Tags: Biology Source Type: blogs
