MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'advocacy'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:57 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181787&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5nzekSZKljs%2F The following is a guest post by Karen Orloff Kaplan the CEO of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. TEAL is on trend this September. Not only is teal a top fashion color for fall 2011, it’s the color of ovarian cancer awareness—and September is national ovarian cancer awareness month. Here’s how you can help raise awareness of this disease. To support ovarian cancer awareness you can get involved in the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance’s United States of Teal campaign. The goal of the campaign is to have every state in America teal—which happens when state legislators pledge their support for ovarian cancer awareness. Twenty-four states are already teal—visit www.unitedstatesofteal.org to see if your state supports women with ovarian cancer. The website also shows how you can... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181787 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:15:09 +0100 5181787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182218&cid=t_92691_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fu-s-president-barack-obama-proclaims-september-2011-as-national-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month-what-should-you-know%2F Today, U.S. President Barack Obama designated September 2010 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Libby’s H*O*P*E*™ will honor the women who have lost their lives to the disease, support those who are currently battling the disease, and celebrate with those who have beaten the disease.  Today, U.S. President Barack [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182218 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:03:15 +0100 5182218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181702&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fsay-it-aint-so-howard-dean-runs-through.html The revolving door now accommodates the whole political spectrum.  A Salon article documented the transit of one Howard Dean, former darling of the left-wing of the Democratic party:Howard Dean has long cultivated an image as the plainspoken doctor who speaks for the left wing of the Democratic Party, a role he still plays as a pugnacious pundit on TV. But since his term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee ended in January 2009, Dr. Dean has taken on a less-noticed role: paid advocate for interest groups that would find few fans among the progressive voters once energized by Dean's 2004 presidential bid.Dean may not be the worst of the 'buckrakers,' those prototypical capital characters who exploit their name and connections without regard for principle. But his recent po... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181702 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:39:00 +0100 5181702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182219&cid=t_92691_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fnocc-to-host-annual-walk-to-break-the-silence-on-ovarian-cancer-in-the-greater-washington-d-c-area%2F The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be held on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Quiet Waters Park, located in Annapolis, Maryland. The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) Central Maryland Chapter announces its 2nd Annual “Walk to Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer” to be [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182219 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:16:36 +0100 5182219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181722&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2Fcreating-people-seems-like-a-necessary-but-not-terribly-nice-thing-to-be-doing.php Less us ponder the subject of having children in the face of the existence of aging coupled with the possibility of progressively defeating aging - perhaps to the point where some of us alive today will escape age-related death by the skin of our teeth. Or perhaps not if we don't get our act together here and now. Evidently we need to have children in order to have the chance of incrementally defeating aging by building ever better versions of a biological repair kit to reverse ever more of the damage that causes degeneration and death. This task is one of decades, long enough that it may be today's researchers who start the job, but it'll be younger hands that finish it - their children and grandchildren. Yet creating people is somewhat like drafting them into a war and a human condition ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181722 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5181722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181898&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F31%2Fis-california-eliminating-mental-illness-treatment%2F According to DJ Jaffe, co-founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center which advocates for mandated outpatient treatment laws, California is “eliminating mental illness treatment.” This, of course, will be a surprise to the tens of thousands of mental health providers in California. Millions of Californians currently receive treatment for their mental disorders, both in the private and public sector. In fact, Californians wanted to make up for past deficiencies in funding their mental health services, so they passed a law in 2004 that set aside new money specifically to help fund treatment. Jaffe claims the money isn’t going to the programs it was intended to fund. Should we take his word for it? The easiest way to see whether Jaffe’s claims hold up are to look at the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181898 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:13:20 +0100 5181898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182131&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Faround-web-wednesday-captchas-whales.html If you have ever filled out a form on the Web, chances are you have seen the annoying-but-useful CAPTCHAs. The CAPTCHAs, which look like distorted, squiggly words or letter/number combinations, have to be entered at the end of many forms to ensure you ... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182131 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0100 5182131 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181789&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FmU1-nyCeM44%2F By Rozalynn Goodwin. Everyone seems to be quoting and tweeting the tender line of Miss Aibileen in “The Help”, “You is kiiiind. You is smaaaart. You is important.” But there was another line in the blockbuster movie that moved me even more. I heard it and the heavens seemed to open. The light bulb came on. Hilly Holbrook’s new maid is $75 short on one of the college tuitions for her twin sons and asks Hilly and her husband for a loan so she doesn’t have to choose which son should go to college. Doing the ‘Christian thing,’ Hilly refuses, “God does not give charity to those who are well and able.” Twelve simple words from a fictional 1960’s character summed up our nation’s current political will regarding the poor. And allow me to condense this into just one ... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181789 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:43:53 +0100 5181789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174789&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fpositive-communication-for.html I was at the grocery store the other day waiting in line, and overheard a conversation between the next cashier over and a gentleman in a wheelchair. He was asking the cashier questions like, "Have you ever been in a wheelchair? Have you ever needed to... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174789 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:56:00 +0100 5174789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174581&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2Fchanging-the-mythology-thoughts-on-sonia-arrisons-100-plus.php The latest book to emerge from the longevity advocacy community is entitled "100 Plus: How the Coming age of Longevity Will Change Everything, From Careers and Relationships to Family and Faith", and is penned by Sonia Arrison, whom you might have heard of. The foreword is by Peter Thiel, whose name you should certainly know by now - you might recall his $3.5 million funding of the SENS Foundation's program of rejuvenation biotechnology, back when it was a branch of the Methuselah Foundation. Thiel makes a point in the opening pages, and it's one to keep in mind when reading the rest of the book: Unlike the other animals, we have knowledge of death. The origins of language, of culture, and of religion can perhaps all be traced to that point in the distant past when our ancestors first acq... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174581 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169661&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fdifferent-perspectives.html I was thinking the other day about my thought processes and the way your thoughts change when you have to deal with the loss of a sense (hearing, sight, etc) or mobility. I think it is so interesting how your perspective can change so completely when y... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169661 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0100 5169661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159197&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fusing-tragedy-to-justify-mental-health-services-in-delaware%2F In a letter that could’ve been written in virtually any state by any National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) representative, NAMI Delaware executive director Matthew Stehl and president Mary Berger recently wrote an op-ed for Delaware’s leading newspaper, The News Journal. In the opinion piece, Stehl and Berger decry the lack of adequate funding for mental illness treatment in the state. In a period of economic recession, state-funded health and human services are usually the first to undergo cuts. But it’s an especially relevant issue in Delaware, because the U.S. Department of Justice struck an agreement with the state to ensure it improves its mental health services for its indigent and poor residents who need mental health services. All of which is good. I’m ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159197 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:55:45 +0100 5159197 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159684&cid=t_92691_136_f&fid=39025&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Feverythingchangesbook%2F%7E3%2F4ayIcMmnxs4%2Fmedical-records-request-free By Jackie Blachman-Forshay and Kairol Rosenthal As a patient, you have the right to access your own medical records for a “reasonable” fee, according to federal HIPAA laws.  Most doctors’ offices and hospitals charge copying fees, which range widely in price, and add up if you have a thick chart. Here are a few ways to get your records for free or at reduced cost: 1. Make friends with the office staff. Receptionists and nurses deserve to be treated well for all the work they do for us and will often reciprocate our kindness.  Some may copy your records for free.  Be sure to say “thank you!” 2. Ask for your records a little at a time. Did your doc just read your lab report over the phone? Ask them to drop a copy in the mail.  Did they explain your pathology report during your ... Everything Changes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159684 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:05:26 +0100 5159684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140144&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35179&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscottsdiabetes.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fjdrf-promise-remember%2F The JDRF volunteers around the Minneapolis area are very active.  I’m lucky to live here so I can participate in some of the great things they are doing. My trip to Capitol Hill early in the year helped me get to know some of the people in the Grassroots Advocacy team, and since then we’ve worked to keep the relationships going and the advocacy efforts moving. Monday is a great example.  A group of about 12-13 of us met with our district congressman, Erik Paulsen. This time of year the JDRF Promise Campaign swings into full steam.  The idea behind this is to get local families and those living with type 1 diabetes to tell their story to their local representative, and ask them to “remember me” when they are on Capitol Hill making decisions that will affect us. Th... Scott's Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140144 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:42:29 +0100 5140144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139879&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F16%2Fis-addiction-simply-a-brain-disease-it-is-now%2F Among addiction experts and researchers, there’s been a long-running debate as to whether drug or alcohol addiction, and even “behavioral addictions” such as compulsive gambling, are actual diseases or not. It’s not just a matter of semantics — if researchers can trace addiction’s root causes to an actual medical malfunction in the brain, perhaps that disease could be directly treated. Who am I to disagree with a “four-year process with more than 80 experts actively working on it?” Their result? Addiction is a “chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioral problem.” I suppose if we wanted, one could argue that all mental disorders can be viewed as “brain disorders” and not “simply behavioral problems.”... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139879 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:39:38 +0100 5139879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130932&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fspeakuplibrarian.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fim-oticon-focus-on-people-awards.html I'm very excited to announce that I have been chosen as an Oticon Focus on People Awards finalist in their Advocacy category. Oticon has selected three people in each of four categories -Student, Adult, Advocacy, and Practitioner - to be their finali... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130932 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:59:00 +0100 5130932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130713&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fis-pharma-ready-for-a-conversation-on-facebook Jonathan at Dose of Digital talks about pharma’s fear of Facebook pages centering around 2 issues that pharma thinks require 24/7 monitoring: Adverse Events and negative publicity. I hear the same excuse on why pharma companies are so scared to look at patient comments on blogs: adverse events. I’m sorry, but adverse events are happening [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130713 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:28:26 +0100 5130713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130741&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FUsPPCVyvHnQ%2F The following is a guest post by WomanCare Global CEO Saundra Pelletier. Besides serving as the founding CEO of WomanCare Global, Saundra is an international marketing expert, published author, keynote speaker and executive coach. By Saundra Pelletier. In 1965, Griswold v. Connecticut gave a married woman the right to use birth control to prevent or delay pregnancy as she saw fit. This guarantee of a basic human right led to other reforms that allowed millions more American women to decide the direction of their own reproductive lives.  This summer, we are proud to see another key reform go through: starting next year, the Affordable Care Act will allow even more women in the United States to be in charge of their own health by requiring new health plans to provide free birth control with... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130741 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:10:30 +0100 5130741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130947&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmogrenewed.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F14%2Fhearing-impairment-does-not-affect-my-physical-enjoyment-of%2F This post goes out to Ontario Parks who tell me that “A Regulation approved by Cabinet under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act 2006 defines a disabled person as a resident of Ontario who holds an Accessible Persons Parking Permit issued under the Highway Traffic Act, or a National Identity Card issued by the [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130947 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:35:17 +0100 5130947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130995&cid=t_92691_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F14%2Fovarian-cancer-awareness-through-social-media-technology-are-you-ready%2F The median age of a women at the time of initial ovarian cancer diagnosis is 63.  How important is social media technology to ovarian cancer awareness? Let us know what you think. The median age of a women at the time of initial ovarian cancer diagnosis is 63. In light of that fact, we are [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130995 Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:08:09 +0100 5130995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125886&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fnew-blog-accessible-reads.html As I've been writing this blog, I've realized there are some things I enjoy writing about more than others. Anything geeky, for one - new hearing aid tech and smartphone apps and everything else just makes me happy. Another of my favorite subjects is d... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125886 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:33:00 +0100 5125886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125703&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2Fnobody-is-arguing-that-radical-life-extension-is-impossible.php Discussions on "when" can probably be skipped as lacking rigor: no-one knows. All the meaningful timelines depend greatly on seeds sown now that will only bear fruit in the 2030s - the course of twenty years remains a matter of long term planning and great uncertainty in specific outcomes while we're stuck living lives that top out at a century (and that with great luck). The beginnings of a larger research community, the outcome of the debate over strategy in longevity research, and so forth. It is interesting to ponder and plot the windings of future events, but that time is probably better spent on influencing the "how" discussion or materially contributing to progress. As to the discussion on whether engineering longevity is desirable, or should be blocked by people in power - I think... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125703 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5125703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118708&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fannouncing-the-psych-central-drug-discount-card%2F I’m proud to tell you about a new, free benefit offered to Psych Central members and readers — a drug discount card. The Psych Central drug discount card can save you up to 80% or more off the cost of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs and pet prescription drugs. The Psych Central Drug Discount Card is accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies, including major chains such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and at regional chains and local stores. It is offered in partnership with NeedyMeds. The card may be used by those without insurance and by those who decide not to use their insurance — for example if the drug is not covered under their plan, the copay or deductible is high, the cap has been reached, or if they are in the donut hole. There are no income, insu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118708 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:11:01 +0100 5118708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118630&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5fR8BaAY06I%2F The following was orginally posted last Thursday, August 4th on NIH’s Feedback Blog by Dr. Kathy Hudson. This week a true pioneer in women’s health, Dr. Vivian Pinn, announced that she’s retiring from NIH. Vivian was the first Director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) and tirelessly led that office for almost two decades. But she was more than the leader of ORWH, Vivian has brought wide spread attention to the absence of women participants in biomedical research and the exclusion of women’s health in clinical decision-making. She made it her mission to highlight the importance of sex-specific differences in disease development, progression, and response to clinical interventions. She has tirelessly monitored the landscape of health research for women and ha... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118630 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:30:54 +0100 5118630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118710&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F10%2Fretractions-of-scientific-research-papers-going-up%2F Ed Silverman over at Pharmalot reports on the media coverage of a new study published by the Journal of Medical Ethics which shows a disturbing trend — more and more journals are retracting journal articles they previously published. Worse yet, nearly 32 percent of the retracted papers are not noted as retracted. “Retracted” in scientific language means that the paper has been withdrawn and should be ignored — as though it never existed in the scientific literature. Retractions generally occur because of sloppy research and errors in the data calculations, collection or statistics, or because of fraud. Is this a trend pointing to lower quality research and sloppier methods being employed? Or perhaps that because more people than ever can read the scientific research... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118710 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:11:31 +0100 5118710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118904&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F08%2Fdiabetes_feeties.html (That has to be one of the goofiest subject lines I've had in the last few ... evers.)A few days ago, I received an email from a fellow T1 PWD who has been living with diabetes several decades ... but hadn't ever had a pedicure in her whole life.And I replied:  "Neither have I."There were several crutons of information thrown at my family and I upon my diagnosis almost 25 years ago ("Don't even think about getting pregnant" and "Pedicures will cause massive infections so none of that, either" being repeat offense croutons), and getting a manicure or a pedicure was always marked as a no-way back in the day.  However, times are doing their "changin'" thing.  From what I've been told, the risk is a possible infection.  With all that ... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118904 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:40:42 +0100 5118904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107508&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FrhiqkVxpRhI%2F Women for a Healthy Future Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), commonly known as chronic diseases, cause two out of three deaths worldwide, and are the leading cause of death for women around the world. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tackle NCDs, considered to be one of the 21st century’s greatest health and development challenges. In September, world leaders will gather at the United Nations (UN) for a historic summit on NCDs. The decisions they make will impact the lives of millions. NCDs threaten women’s lives and our children’s future. Yet, we know that 80% of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and 40% of cancers can be prevented by avoiding tobacco, increasing physical activity and eating healthy foods. It’s going to take strong commitments from th... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107508 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:28:40 +0100 5107508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107600&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fbipolar-disorder-missed-when-presenting-with-depression%2F Coming as a surprise to more than a few mental health professionals, a new study out today suggests that bipolar disorder is often missed in patients who present only with major depression. The study examined 5,635 adults seen at community and hospital psychiatry departments in a number of different countries. The discrepancy was reported because of the use of “bipolarity specifier criteria” that are broader than the DSM-IV criteria, the standard for diagnosis of mental disorders by mental health professionals. Using the broader bipolar criteria developed by the researchers found an additional 31 percent of patients who could have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So what’s really going on here? Are professionals really “missing” bipolar disorder? Or have ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107600 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:49:39 +0100 5107600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107601&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F08%2Fantidepressants-overprescribed-in-primary-care%2F Antidepressants have long enjoyed a reputation as being a quick and “easy” treatment for all types of depression — from a mild feeling of being a little down, all the way up to severe, life-debilitating depression. But like all medications, they have side effects and instances where they should not be prescribed. Hence their continued need for a prescription after seeing a doctor. So what does it mean when primary care physicians are handing them out like candy? It suggests that your family doctor doesn’t really understand how antidepressants work, or what they are approved to treat. In short, it suggests that antidepressant medications are being over-prescribed by well-meaning doctors who are simply not using very good judgment. Melissa Healy, writing for the LA T... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107601 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:35:31 +0100 5107601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107603&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F07%2Fnegawatts-the-positive-psychology-behind-negative-energy%2F Almost every way we make electricity today, except for the emerging renewables and nuclear puts out CO2. And so, what we’re going to have to do at a global scale, is create a new system. And so, we need energy miracles. ~Bill Gates A typographical error led Amory Lovins to coin the phrase negawatts. In a brilliant 1989 keynote address to the Green Energy Conference in Montreal he outlined what has become the blueprint for a radical business and energy concept. Pay people to do nothing. Twenty-plus years later the idea is deeply taking hold. Fast-forward to Dr. Ron Denbo who was recently featured on a TED global ideas project. He is the Founder and CEO of Zerofootprint, an international company that provides software to measure and manage carbon footprint.  Individuals, governments ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107603 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:24:31 +0100 5107603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103457&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fnew-book-wonderstruck-by-brian-selznick.html Image is of the cover of Wonderstruck.Wonderstruck is a new novel by Brian Selznick which features deaf characters. The novel is set to be released September 13, 2011.Having loved books all my life, I often wish for more characters with differing abili... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103457 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 18:46:00 +0100 5103457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096814&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fahearingloss.com%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Faction-cameras-captions%2F Summer is here and some of us are spending some hard earned money to take a vacation.  Some of those hard earned travellers are also hearing impaired and are consumers of the airline and cruise industry. 36 million Americans are hearing impaired and/or deaf, yet we are still struggling to obtain captioning on television, the internet, [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096814 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:16:04 +0100 5096814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096341&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F04%2Fdoctor-is-my-mood-disorder-due-to-a-chemical-imbalance%2F Dear Mrs. ——– You have asked me about the cause of your mood disorder, and whether it is due to a “chemical imbalance”. The only honest answer I can give you is, “I don’t know”—but I’ll try to explain what psychiatrists do and don’t know about the causes of so-called mental illness, and why the term “chemical imbalance” is simplistic and a bit misleading. By the way, I don’t like the term “mental disorder”, because it makes it seem as if there’s a huge distinction between the mind and the body—and most psychiatrists don’t see it that way. I wrote about this recently, and used the term “brain-mind” to describe the unity of mind and body.1 So, for lack of a better term, I’ll just refer to “psychiatric illnesses.” Now, this notion of... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096341 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:35:19 +0100 5096341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096857&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F08%2Fbeing_an_adult_at_children_wit.html In the years I've attended CWD's Friends for Life conference, I always came away with this appreciation for what the conference provides for kids with diabetes, and their parents.  Kids - a whole bunch of them - running amuck and clad in green bracelets with pump tubing flapping from underneath their t-shirts ... it's a place where these families hopefully feel normal, and safe, and understood.  But I'm not a kid with diabetes.  I'm an adult.  (I checked, and it's true: adult.)  I always felt welcomed at past FFL conferences, but people constantly checked for the kid at my side, because the "child with diabetes" surely couldn't be me.  (And then there was that time that the registration lady thought Sara(aah) was my child with diabetes, wherein my he... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096857 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:06:15 +0100 5096857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086259&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Ffullerton-police-beat-to-death-mentally-ill-homeless-man%2F A police officer only needs to use “reasonable force” to make an arrest. How many Fullerton, Calif. police officers does it take to arrest one man? Well, it took five patrol cars, 6 officers, tasering 37-year-old Kelly Thomas numerous times, and beating him so badly that he went into a coma. And then died a few days later. What was Thomas’s alleged crime that resulted in his death? Breaking into cars, looking for things to steal. Welcome to our more violent America, where citizens stand by while the police beating took place, too afraid to intervene and save Thomas’s life. Is this what we’ve come to? Kelly Thomas was a long-time member of the Fullerton homeless community, and apparently had schizophrenia. While sometimes scary looking (as not bathing and not ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086259 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 15:35:53 +0100 5086259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077913&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fahearingloss.com%2F2011%2F07%2F29%2Fmeet-ted-dave-kelly-and-brian-by-michele-linder%2F This started out to be a simple post to Connect, my home list on the SayWhatClub, but grew into something more upon receiving some news that was expected, but, nonetheless, sad. I decided to post my words here instead. It all began with my watching a wonderful TED Talk given by Dave deBronkart, entitled, “Meet e-Patient [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077913 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:05:16 +0100 5077913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077916&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhy-i-read-and-how-it-helps-me-deal.html Image from Flickr user paulbenceImage is of a young woman reading outside in an urban area.For as long as I can remember, I have read books. Before that, my mother says she was reading to me constantly. In fact, our reading together helped her identify... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077916 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:18:00 +0100 5077916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077633&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Fpartaking-of-the-hope.php If you go through the first half of your life basically healthy, there are actually only a few important differences between your situation and that of your ancestors a century or two ago when it comes to health and medical technology. For all that we live in the opening years of an era of advanced biotechnology, and in an age of far greater wealth, a healthy person benefits only through (a) the reduced burden of infectious disease, and (b) through the insulating effects of wealth against malnutrition, exposure, and other environmental misfortunes. These two points are enough to explain much of the steady rise in life expectancy that occurs with growing wealth and advancing medical technology over the past centuries. What is the point of mentioning this? It is to remind us that we are no... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077633 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5077633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062290&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fneed-mental-health-treatment-in-2-weeks-fat-chance%2F This study demonstrates quite the opposite. Read the full article: Medical News: Barriers High in Mental Health Care (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062290 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:15:01 +0100 5062290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069420&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2Fwe-dont-need-to-persuade-everyone.php The point of advocacy and education for the development of rejuvenation biotechnology, such as evangelism for the Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence, is not to persuade everyone. It's to persuade enough of the right people: enough to ensure that progress occurs and ways to significantly reverse aging and its diseases are produced within our lifetimes. That doesn't have to be a sizable fraction of the population: the plausible cost of achieving radical life extension in mice is one to two billion dollars over a decade. Most of the really big pharmaceutical companies each spend that much on the development of two or three mainstream drugs, all costs included. A billion dollars is small change when considered against the economic output of even small segments of the human race. ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069420 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5069420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062408&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fdeaf-bicyclist-creates-deaf-bike-signs.html Image from DeafBikeSigns.Image is of a yellow patch saying "DEAF CYCLIST."Lately I've been thinking more about getting a bike and exploring my new neighborhood. I loved biking as a kid and teenager - it seemed like a great way to explore larger distanc... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062408 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:52:00 +0100 5062408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062294&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fmental-illness-is-not-simply-a-brain-disease%2F Last month, Andrew Brown writing for the UK’s Guardian, noted when Professor David Nutt kept referring to depression as a “brain disease” on a popular UK television program. We commend Andrew Brown for his calling out Professor Nutt in trying to dumb down the portrayal of mental disorders to simply “brain diseases.” Mental disorders remain complex disorders that involve all aspect of a person’s functioning and life — their brain and biology, their psychological makeup and personality, and their social interactions and relationships with others. The cause isn’t just one of these things in the vast majority of people who have a mental illness — the cause is all of these things, in differing proportions. I’ve written about this in th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062294 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:36:25 +0100 5062294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057763&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F23%2Fsallie-mae-markel-and-dewar-discriminate-against-people-with-mental-illness%2F Sometimes you just have to shake your head — the more things change, the more they stay the same. It can really be depressing to see how, 3 years after the federal mental health parity act was passed, the company known primarily for underwriting students loans — Sallie Mae — is discriminating against people with a mental illness. It’s doing so through one of its myriad of products called tuition refund insurance, something that allows you to reclaim up to 100 percent of your tuition if an illness strikes you while you’re in school. But not just any illness — it has to be a physical illness. If a mental illness strikes you, you will only get 75 percent of your tuition returned. There’s a silver lining on this cloud… suggesting change may be fo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057763 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 12:42:04 +0100 5057763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050987&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedeafblog.co.uk%2F2011%2F07%2Fsara_cox_offends_deaf_people_w.html Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox has outraged deaf people this week, after tweeting that subtitles on a film were “daft”. (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050987 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:58:28 +0100 5050987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050989&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fattherimmm.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ftwitter-with-knickers-twisted.html Recent umbrage taken by deafies at twitter, aghast,shocked and generally annoyed an radio presenter thought subtitles an nuisance, has failed to impress me frankly. She apologized, had an bad hair day, a few drinks maybe, let deafies know she was pee... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050989 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 07:46:00 +0100 5050989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050997&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Faround-web-wednesday.html At the blog The Echo Chamber, the blog author posted about their experiences with the Disney handheld device, which displays scripts for the attractions. It's worth a look so you know what to expect if you are planning a trip to Disney World/Land. Apac... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050997 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:28:00 +0100 5050997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028781&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeafness.about.com%2Fb%2F2011%2F07%2F15%2Finterpreting-versus-cart.htm What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using a sign language interpreter instead of a communication access realtime translation (CART) service provider? Have you experienced both of them? one is not better than the other; in my personal experience, it depends on the situation which is better. (Deaf/hard of hearing people who are oral communicators may not have experienced both.) Discuss the pros and cons of interpreting versus CART. (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028781 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:00:39 +0100 5028781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028931&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F07%2Fdenise_jonas_talks_about_diabe.html Denise Jonas is the mother of a kid with diabetes, only her kid with diabetes happens to be Nick Jonas (known in the teen circles as "OMG Nick Jonas," first name "OMG").  Denise recently stepped in as celebrity spokesmom for the Disney Online and Lilly Diabetes collaboration I (and lots of others) blogged about this morning, and she was able to take a few minutes out of her whirlwind media schedule for the Once Upon a Time Contest to chat with me on the phone.  Gracious, kind, and definitely not in denial about the challenges of life with type 1 diabetes, Denise is as sweet as she seems.  Pun sort of intended, I guess.  ;)KERRI:  Thanks for taking the time to speak with me, Denise!  When I was diagnosed with diabetes, support was only withi... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028931 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:49:32 +0100 5028931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028450&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2Fgratitude-for-the-canadian-healthcare-system-from-an-american-patient%2F “…our challenge is twofold: We have to find a way to cover all our people; and we have to figure out how to get better value for the US$2 trillion we currently spend on healthcare.” – David M. Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University and Member of the Institute of Medicine -commenting on the US healthcare system. Last month I was invited to speak for a week for The International Certificate Programme in Dual Diagnosis associated with Brock University under the guidance of Dr. Dorothy Griffiths & Dr. Frances Owen. Work I’ve developed over the past several years on psychotherapy for people with intellectual disabilities has been implemented in the States and most of the countries with socialized medicine.  The Canadians have a real fl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028450 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:34:58 +0100 5028450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029055&cid=t_92691_136_f&fid=39213&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeingcancer.net%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2Fsurviving-someone-elses-cancer-guest-post%2F Lori Marx-Rubiner, MA, MSW, describes herself as a Breast Cancer Coach/Advocate.  She has started a new blog that combines her personal and professional roles.  This particular post was written by her son Zach. – regrounding | of chemo, cancer and red, red wine Surviving Someone Else’s Cancer I was 3 ½ when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t remember much of that time, but what I do remember will stay with me for the rest of my life. Mostly I remember a few things that happened when my mom had surgery. My grandma stayed with us to help out. I remember once when my mom was still in the hospital and I was with my grandma and I was crying. I don’t remember why I was, but I do remember my dad coming home and reading me a bedtime story. I think that it was h... Being Cancer Network blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029055 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:33:55 +0100 5029055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028454&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fapproaches-to-knowledge-2-interview-with-nathaniel-b-jones%2F This is the second article of a two-part interview with Dr. Brian Jones.  Dr. Jones has a PhD in exercise science and is a full-time professor at the University of Louisville where he teaches both undergrad and graduate courses.  He approaches his classes from a scientific standpoint with an emphasis on critical thinking. In a nutshell, what is science?  Does science really prove anything? Science is a process. It is a system for evaluating information based on formulating a hypothesis, carefully testing that hypothesis through data collection and analysis, and revising the hypothesis. If the hypothesis withstands the researcher’s attempt to falsify it then it tentatively stands supported by the research. Nothing in science is ever truly “proven” correct. Scientific fa... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028454 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:25:51 +0100 5028454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028457&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fmatthew-israel-founder-of-judge-rotenberg-steps-down-in-disgrace%2F We missed reporting this at the end of May when it happened, but I like to close the loop on stories we’ve discussed in the past, so I thought it relevant to mention here. We’ve previously detailed how the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, Mass. has a “treatment” for out-of-control children where electric shocks are given in order to curb their behavior (ala BF Skinner). We’ve also noted the horror of the incident where a former patient was able to make a single phone call and cause the staff to shock two children in its care over 100 times. Now, finally, the founder of the school, Matthew Israel, has agreed to step down from the Center in order to avoid prison time. In an agreement reached with the state’s Attorney General, he will be on pro... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028457 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:50:56 +0100 5028457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028474&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F07%2F11%2Fcanadian-national-online-adhd-survey-by-caddac-whats-your-experience-with-the-medical-and-educational-system%2F Canadian National Online ADHD Survey by CADDAC. What’s Your Experience With The Medical and Educational System?Post from: Adult ADD Strengths CADDAC, The Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada is launching the first ever Canadian Survey on ADHD asking parents, caregivers, and adults with ADHD about their experiences with ADHD, the medical system, and the educational system. They are encouraging everyone to spend a few minutes filling in this survey online. The information gathered will assist them to not only better understand the needs of families with ADHD across Canada, it will help them advocate to medical, education, and government systems in the future. Please help them help those impacted by ADHD by filling out this questionnaire online and passing the link on to a... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028474 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:34:36 +0100 5028474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028700&cid=t_92691_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2Foc0WLJr5AZU%2F Dave deBronkart: Meet e-Patient Dave Participatory medicine and patients’ access to their own health data are subjects in a powerful talk by a pioneering e-patient (empowered and engaged patient). Features an interactive transcript. Subtitles available in English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Italian and Dutch. e-Patient Dave describes his experience with cancer and how learning about his condition online and networking with peers saved his life. Although his focus is cancer, mental health also has e-patients including here at PsychCentral, a member organization in the Society for Participatory Medicine. Personally, I’ve been an e-patient and peer advocate for over a decade, online and off. It’s encouraging to watch the movement grow, both informally and in organizations, b... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028700 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:30:59 +0100 5028700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992853&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fbetty-white-gets-it.html I'm reading Betty White's new book, If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't), right now. This particular passage made me smile.Okay, so you get your glasses and everyone is extremely supportive. "Oh, those are very pretty." "Those glasses look great on ... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992853 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4992853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992755&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Fhow-the-dsm-developed-what-you-might-not-know%2F The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is widely known as the bible of psychiatry and psychology. But not many people know how this powerful and influential book came to be. Here’s a brief look at the DSM’s evolution and where we are today. The Need for Classification The origins of the DSM date back to 1840 — when the government wanted to collect data on mental illness. The term “idiocy/insanity” appeared in that year’s census. Forty years later, the census expanded to feature these seven categories: “mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania and epilepsy.” But there was still a need to gather uniform stats across mental hospitals. In 1917, the Bureau of the Census embraced a publication called the Statistical Manual for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992755 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 10:43:12 +0100 4992755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992925&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F07%2F01%2Fthe-ma-legislature-has-finalized-a-budget-for-2012-cutting-15m-for-hivaids-services%2F Statement from Rebecca Haag, President & CEO, AIDS Action Committee: “We are deeply disappointed with the Conference Committee budget cutting $1.5 million in the HIV/AIDS line item. This is the third year in a row that the HIV/AIDS line item has been cut by $1.5 million or more. Last year’s cut of $2 million resulted in reduced prevention and screening programs, residential support services, non-medical case management for persons living with HIV/AIDS, and elimination of the regional Service Coordination Collaborative system. “The state’s investment in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention over the last three decades has paid off with a 59 percent reduction in new HIV diagnoses over the last 10 years, which will result in savings of more than $1.6 billion in health care costs. Mas... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992925 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:02:14 +0100 4992925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992864&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgrowinguphardofhearing.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fhearing-aid-ban-forcing-out-nyc-police.html This is DISCRIMINATION!Read this article:Ban on Hearing AidsThen a letter was sent from Brenda (HLAA) and her is what she had to say to them Hearing Loss, Misunderstood and StigmatizedThen here is a second letter: I couldn't copy the URL. LetterHeari... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992864 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:53:00 +0100 4992864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992867&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcacophonytosymphony.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fdifference-part-3.html Part 1Part 2At that moment, I realized I had a conscious decision to make. I could get defensive, cry, storm out and say they weren't legally allowed to ask me about my hearing loss (were they? I'm still not even sure?), or I could put my advocacy skil... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992867 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:44:00 +0100 4992867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992869&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaptionaction2.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fcaption-action-2-takes-on-facebook.html A new fight has been launched to get Facebook to update its video player to add closed captioning support. Why now? The answer is, because Facebook is clearly positioning itself to become a major player in the original web video content arena.This past... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992869 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:28:00 +0100 4992869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984607&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnominate-someone-for-oticons-14th.html Oticon's 14th annual Focus on People Awards are accepting nominations through July 27th for students, adults, advocates and hearing professionals to receive the award. Oticon is a hearing aid manufacturer with a long line of hearing devices like the Ep... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984607 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4984607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992643&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fthere-is-no-i-dont-know-what-to-do-with-my-life.php There should be no such thing as "I don't know what to do with my life." Scratch that statement away and erase it, as it should be "I will aid the development of life extension technology until I do know." It should be no surprise to anyone that many, or perhaps even a majority of people at any given time have no real idea as to what they want to do with their lives. No vision, no grand dream that captures them, no burning desire to achieve a specific great work. That isn't because they are incapable - far from it, it is because they haven't found their own personal blue touch paper yet. The space of ideas and ideals is vast, and even the most aggressively autodidactic internet-addicted polymath cannot embrace more than a fraction of the sphere of human knowledge. Yet you cannot know you... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992643 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4992643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984622&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Fmedtronic_you_need_to_call_the.html After Abby wrote about her diabetes-themed tattoo, there were a lot of comments from people either yaying or naying the idea of a tattoo.  I received a few emails with some photos, but the BEST photo I've seen so far is from a mom in Quebec, Canada.  Camille is the mom of a kid with diabetes, and she and her husband got inked in solidarity for their son.  From Camille's email:  "My hubby and I both got inked last October in support of our four years old son Jacob who was diagnosed [in] January 2010. He started pumping in August 2010. One day he said to me, ''Mom, am I the only one in the world who has a pump?'' I knew he felt alone on his diabetes planet so we decided to join him! I told him that we too would get pumps, that T1 is part of who we are and that the lo... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984622 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:32:00 +0100 4984622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984630&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FI6F2kW2ohU4%2Froche-social-media-summit---getting-kissed-at-the-jr-high-dance.php The meeting started out somewhat awkwardly. First, Dan Kane, the vice president of marketing opened the meeting by saying "I don't like Mike Durbin." Poor Mike had so much trouble getting to San Diego for our meeting, I couldn't imagine why anyone wouldn't like him. Well, I can certainly understand why a marketing guy would be a little jealous of someone who had a feature article (above the flap) in USA Today and a profile in Diabetes Living (of which I now have a signed copy).I was not invited the first year of the Social Media Summit but a characterization that started then and has continued is the idea that having Roche and a bunch of diabetes community members in the same room is like a junior high dance. The groups start out on opposite sides of the room and look at each other suspici... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984630 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:56 +0100 4984630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984500&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F29%2Fan-epidemic-of-bad-infographics-depression%2F In an effort to keep trying to get people’s attention in an increasingly attention-deficit world, we get a lot of inquiries for links to websites promoting education programs and other affiliate websites. The latest effort is focused around “infographics,” those graphics made popular by the USA Today newspaper that combines an interesting graphical element with hard data. A well done infographic ostensibly makes data more engaging. A fantastic infographic puts data into proper perspective and gives it valuable context. What these marketing firms send me, however, are not fantastic or even well-done. So in the interests of demonstrating that any infographic can be worse than no infographic, I’m going to critique one of the latest ones to have come across my desk. It&... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984500 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:34:42 +0100 4984500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976108&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcochlearimplantonline.com%2Fsite%2F%3Fp%3D4037 I received this message via a listserv and feel that it’s a worthwhile to post: A very important Bill regarding cochlear implant insurance for children in Massachusetts will be heard by the Joint Committee on Financial Services, on Tuesday, June 28th at 1:00 p.m. at the State House, Room B-2.  We need your help to [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976108 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:59:04 +0100 4976108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968740&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffunnyoldlife.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F25%2Faccess%2F Arlene Romoff speaks of her experience of hearing loss, advocacy, and her bilateral cochlear implants. The interviewer is also deaf, and is using an FM system to hear Arlene. The interview is in six parts. You can hop over to Arlene’s blog and buy her book ‘Listening Closely – A Journey to Bilateral Hearing’ from [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968740 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:13:04 +0100 4968740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968436&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fanother-crowdsourced-research-funding-success-for-longecity.php I'm pleased to see that the Immortality Institute / Longecity has completed fundraising for their latest project, an investigation of the potential benefits of microglia transplants in the aging brain: After months of fundraising we are now delighted to announce that the project has started! Through many donations large and small, the community has raised sufficient funds to initiate the project. Last month, we passed the 80% mark and knew that full success would only be a matter of time. Then, something amazing happened: though promoting this effort, a far sighted investor has stepped forward who can see the potential in developing this research project. The angel [committed] a substantial contribution towards a research arm that is closely aligned to the project LongeCity is funding. Th... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968436 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4968436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968583&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F23%2Fwhen-things-go-wrong-in-massachusetts-fire-the-employees-not-carney-hospital%2F Mental health care in Massachusetts is sometimes a hit or miss proposition. Especially if you’re poor or indigent, or may present a danger to yourself or others. For the 14-bed locked hospital unit at Carney — now owned by Steward Health Care — it apparently was such a “miss” proposition that they ended up sacking the entire staff. Yes, you heard me — all 29 psychiatric nurses and mental health counselors were let go about a month ago. Meanwhile, Massachusetts continues to pay Carney Hospital to run its program, with all new staff. Is it possible that 29 different professionals really were responsible for the four complaints? Or is this a perfect example of incompetent management and senior hospital executives covering their asses, and trying to put the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968583 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:39:20 +0100 4968583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960262&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FAdLUGgjvXbA%2Fdsummit-and-best-of-betes.php Thanks to a handy no-interest Best Buy credit card, I am drafting this post from 30,000 feet on my iPad as I head to San Diego. I suppose I could publish it too, if I was willing to pay $9.95 for less than 4 hours of internet.I am headed to the Roche Social Media Summit for the second year in a row. This is the third year that Roche has invited members of the diabetes community to this event and I am very thankful for the years I have been invited to attend. If you would like to follow along with our conversation, the hashtag we will be using on Twitter is #dsummit.Last year there were some interesting/controversial talks with a few diabetes related organizations so it may be worth following along to see if anything like that occurs this year as well.Also, if you didn't see the news on my... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960262 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:26:33 +0100 4960262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960267&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fupdates-from-the-state-house-june-22-2011%2F From health care funding to anti-discrimination laws, public policy plays a key role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. That’s why AIDS Action maintains a strong advocacy presence at the local, state, and federal levels. Our public policy work is especially important on Beacon Hill, where decisions are routinely made that impact the lives of people at risk for and already living with HIV/AIDS here in Massachusetts. We wanted to give you a brief update on some important legislative efforts currently underway: The 2012 State Budget The state legislature is in the final days of coming up with a budget proposal to send to Governor Patrick for fiscal year 2012, which begins on July 1st. Over the last few months, the House and Senate passed their own versions of the budget, and now a small c... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960267 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:35:47 +0100 4960267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953248&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Fguest_post_what_is_a_diabetes.html If you don't know Captain Glucose and Meter Boy, you are about to have your animated world rocked.  This dynamic duo, aka Bill Kirchenbauer (Captain Glucose) and Brad Slaight (Meter Boy), are tireless advocates for the diabetes online community. They rap.  They advocate for why glucose meters matter.  And today, they're premiering their new PSA here!*   *   *There are many important questions in the world today, like: Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? How will America pay off the deficit? What the heck is that thing on Donald Trump's head? We have no answers for any of those, but we can answer the question we are asked the most often: What is a diabetes superhero? Years ago when we created the characters Captain Glucose and Meter Boy:... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953248 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:30:36 +0100 4953248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952990&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F18%2Famericas-mental-health-budget-cuts-poor-training-and-stephanie-moulton%2F Anybody who’s been an administrator in a community mental health system in America in the past three decades knows the drill. During bust times, state governments actually come close to doing a good job with members of society who are at their most vulnerable. Services are — while never fully-funded — well-funded, and for the most part, there’s enough staff to cover the huge need in communities for mental health care for the poor. But when budgets tighten, the first place governors look to cut are social services. High on the list of social services to be cut are mental health services, because they are often people intensive. Nevermind that most of those people are poorly trained “aides” or others who often have little direct education or experience wit... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952990 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:11:39 +0100 4952990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934161&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-boundaries-between-doctor-and-patient%2F2011.06.16 This post from Kelly Young on Howard Luks’ blog asks when patients cross the line with respect to their own advocacy.  It’s worth a peek. The question of boundaries between doctor and patient is interesting.  All of my patients are empowered in some way.  The extent and level of that empowerment is personal.  On our own there are few lines and little with respect to boundaries.  We have effectively unlimited access to information and resources.  And how far we go to look after ourselves and our kids has few limits. But when we enter into a relationship with a provider, we’re no longer alone.  It’s unreasonable for a provider to tell a patient (more…) *This blog post was originally published at 33 Charts* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934161 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:00:58 +0100 4934161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934330&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Ffresh-air-fund-needs-host-families-2011%2F Imagine growing up in a city environment where you rarely see a tree, a patch of grass, or a bird. Imagine having nowhere to play a game of baseball or play catch with your dog. Imagine a place where the only thing summer brings is sweltering indoor temperatures, with no vacation or fun outside of playing in the fire-hydrant spray. For many children, this is inner-city life and the only life they know. But the Fresh Air Fund is a non-profit that has been giving free summer experiences to poor children in New York City since 1877. During that time, they’ve helped millions of children have a very different kind of summer vacation — a chance to breath some fresh air in a different, less urban environment. They need more host families living in a northeastern state this summer. Continue re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934330 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:11:23 +0100 4934330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934626&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcochlearimplantonline.com%2Fsite%2F%3Fp%3D3795 While many cochlear implant recipients do not need accommodations in the workplace as they can hear very well, there are some who cannot hear too well and therefore need accommodations.  Rachel Dubin writes an informative guest post on obtaining accommodations in workplace for those who truly need them. We’ve all heard about the Americans with [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934626 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:00:53 +0100 4934626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934632&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheshaddoxboys.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwatching-elijah.html We joined the city's Recreation Center yesterday! It has some really nice work out equipment and a basketball court for the kids to play. I can work out on the second floor and see Elijah down playing on the basketball court. When we went to check it o... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934632 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:03:00 +0100 4934632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934056&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fconfusion-abounds-especially-when-religion-and-spirituality-become-involved.php Confusion is an important barrier to overcome when advocating engineered human longevity. For those folk who are not paying much attention to the topic - which is, sadly, 99.9% of the present roster of the human race - there's little apparent difference between advocacy for real, plausible scientific development and the nonsense of the "anti-aging" marketplace. It's pretty much all the same to them, and that's a big problem. One of the long term projects for the advocacy community is to raise the general level of education and awareness, such that a far greater number of people do know that they should support SENS research and not the ramblings of the pill and potion vendors if they do have an interest in living longer. Not a small project, but we can all help. Things become somewhat w... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934056 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934689&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Fjoslin_medalists_how_far_weve.html During the Joslin medalist meeting last week, I didn't say anything.  I wasn't presenting or doing any kind of networking.  I was invited as "media" (totally in quotes) but I attended as a grown-up child with diabetes, hoping to continue on that path of growing up.  I sat next to a woman named Eleanor (my beloved grandmother's name) and she had been living with type 1 for 58 years.  She asked to see pictures of my daughter.  She offered me a cough drop after I spent a few minutes trying to clear my throat, and she stuck her hand out to take the wrapper, spying my pump tubing jutting out from my pocket.  "I don't wear a pump," she said.  "I do just fine with my needles.  And you appear to be doing just fine with your pump.&... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934689 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:00:16 +0100 4934689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934690&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Ftcoyd.html Over the weekend, the TCOYD conference team visited Albany, NY.  I was hoping to make it to this conference, but ended up all tangled in life stuff.  (Like a Sparling spiderweb.  Ew.  Spiders.)  Thankfully, Abby was nearby and able to spend the day checking out her first TCOYD event.  (And she got to meet up with the fabulous Karen and Caroline, and several other members of the DOC.)  Here's Abby's take on the conference.*   *   *This past Saturday, I attended my first Taking Control of You Diabetes conference in Albany, NY.  It was really amazing, and I'm going to try and recap it in one blog post.  Which is going to be a challenge, but I'm feeling pretty motivated after seeing Dr. Edelman and Dr. Polonsky both speak as part... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934690 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:37:20 +0100 4934690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921360&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fopen-cures-a-protocol-outline-for-mitochondrial-protofection.php Open Cures is an initiative that aims to accelerate the development of existing longevity-enhancing biotechnologies demonstrated in the laboratory, but which are not being developed for commercial use in humans - largely due to regulatory barriers. Open Cures is a volunteer initiative, open to everyone willing to help, that aims to speed the advent of biotechnologies that can slow down or repair aspects of the biological damage of aging and thus extend healthy human life. Our primary long-term goal is to bring together (a) promising but undeveloped biotechnologies of longevity and (b) the developers who can bring them to the clinic. A fellow named Allen is one of the folk whose interest in the Open Cures vision convinced me that I needed to do more than just talk about it: you can see h... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921360 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4921360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911745&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Fbullet_the_blue_sky.html What fun are random links if I can't share them with you guys?  These sites have been emailed to me, Facebook'd (what a crap verb), and Tweeted.  And now I'm channeling Bono (and wishing I had picked him up when he was hitchhiking in Vancouver) and bulleting the blue sky:The International Diabetes Federation is making a video compilation in time for World Diabetes Day, and they're getting a jump on things by starting now.  They are looking for videos on "how you act on diabetes," which makes me want to participate in a round with Kabuki Doug, but I'm excited to see how this plays out.And you can't mention video in this community without calling back to the You Can Do This Project.  Have you signed up?  Have you recorded your video?  No better day tha... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911745 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:13:56 +0100 4911745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911432&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2Fhyperactivism-considered-harmful.php What I'll here call hyperactivism is a poisonous sort of dysfunction that you'll find in activist and advocate communities associated with struggling industries or long-standing initiatives that have failed to fulfill early visions of growth. It comes about because the early supporters in any new field tend to be passionate, driven, ornery, and focused: if they didn't have these characteristics, they wouldn't be up for the job of fighting over and again to persuade people to see things their way. If you are trying to build a new venture, then you need these people: they are worth their weight in gold, and they will help you succeed. When an initiative does succeed attracting broad support and a large community, the energy and quirks of the early activists are tempered by a sea of more sed... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911432 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4911432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902483&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F06%2Fthink-encouraging-girls-to-stay-smart-in-a-dumb-downed-world%2F In her gutsy book, Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, attorney and national television legal analyst Lisa Bloom paints a dire picture: The problem is not just about that 25 percent of young women who would rather be hot than smart; rather, it’s about a culture that actually makes that a rational choice: rewarding girls for looks over brains. And it’s about ALL of us, intelligent American females, ranging from girlhood to old age, who are dazzling ignorant about some critically important things. An aggravating thing happened in the last generation. As girls started seriously kicking ass at every level of education (girls now out-perform boys in elementary, middle, and high schools; we graduate from college, professional, and graduate schools in greater ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902483 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:23:52 +0100 4902483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902621&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F06%2Fjoslin_medalists.html To be a Joslin Medalist, you need to mark 25, 50, or 75 years with diabetes.  (Well, technically, you get a certificate at the 25 year mark, but it's definitely a milestone to celebrate.)  And over the weekend, I had the opportunity to spend the day with Joslin's medalists who have spent over 50 years with type 1 diabetes.  I was invited as a member of the "media," but it was a strange experience, being "one of them," but only halfway there.  ("You're a nice kid, but you're still a rookie in this crowd," one woman said, flashing her medal and her smile at the same time.)  These generous medalists allowed me to listen to their stories, and offered a few sage words of advice into my video camera. (Best response that didn't end up on cam... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902621 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:42:41 +0100 4902621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902600&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcochlearimplantonline.com%2Fsite%2F%3Fp%3D3582 The process of preparing an Individual Family Service Plan (ages birth to three) or an Individualized Education Plan (ages three to twenty-one), can be a nerve-wracking process for even the most resilient parent of a child with hearing loss.  These meetings can be stressful, emotional, painful, confrontational… and good.  While there are many factors that [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902600 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:34:18 +0100 4902600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893743&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fattherimmm.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fdeaf-neets.html What ARE NEETS ? basically it is an term used first in the United Kingdom to describe people of working age who are (N)ot in (E)mployment, (E)ducation, or (T)raining.Putting aside the primary issue of employers not wanting to employ deaf people, it is ... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893743 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:03:00 +0100 4893743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893559&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fabandoned-minds-social-justice-civil-rights-and-mental-health-part-2%2F The first duty of love is to listen. – Paul Tillich Love is no assignment for cowards. — Ovid In part 1 of this piece I described the atrocities at Willowbrook State School as the cause for changes in the delivery of mental health services in the U.S.  Elsewhere I have described some of the changes in state and federal law surrounding terminology used to describe disabled individuals, and a comparison between the U.S. and the delivery of mental health services in New Zealand. But these descriptions are only the macro version of the movement.  There is another side to this story, a personal side. In preparation for a forthcoming book I arranged to talk to a very unique couple. On December 15th, 2010 I got to meet two extraordinary people, Michael and Amy (not their real name... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893559 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:50:34 +0100 4893559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883538&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fan-introduction-to-open-cures-at-h-magazine.php I recently wrote an article that introduces the Open Cures initiative and explains the backdrop of medical research and regulation that makes Open Cures - or something very much like it - absolutely necessary. The piece is presently published at h+ Magazine: You may recognize me as the author-slash-editor of Fight Aging!, a long-running news and advocacy site focused on progress towards reversal of aging and engineering longer human lives. There is more to progress in the general sense than just the underlying science, however, and with that in mind I recently announced the launch of Open Cures, a volunteer initiative with the aim of greatly speeding up the development of clinical applications of longevity science. Participation is open to anyone who can help with the goals listed in the ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883538 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4876469&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fccacblog.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F28%2Fsports-access-captioning-inclusion-brings-them-in%2F Guest Blog from OR-CAP: Since January 2009, Oregon Communication Access Project (OR-CAP) and HLA-Lane County, Oregon, have advocated for open captioning on a display board in the line of sight (“banner captioning”) at Matthew Knight Arena (Matt Court), the new … Continue reading → (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4876469 Sat, 28 May 2011 16:35:25 +0100 4876469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872030&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fmedical-societies-paid-to-do-corporate.html BackgroundLast year we posted about how two medical societies which received funding from a drug manufacturer tried to persuade the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to deny approval of a generic competitor to one of that company's products.  The medical societies were the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) and the North American Thrombosis Forum (NATF).  The company was Sanofi-Aventis and the product involved was its anti-coagulant derivative of heparin, Lovenox.  At the time, we noted that the SHM CEO denied the need to specifically disclose funding from Sanofi-Aventis in the letter to the FDA, since he asserted the letter was about "providing the best, most effective care to the hospitalized patient." If so, I wondered why the SHM ha... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872030 Fri, 27 May 2011 18:37:00 +0100 4872030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872044&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=35049&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nakedmedicine.com%2Fstop-pretending-you-dont-know-pharma-companies I remembered years ago I was speaking to a Forest employee who told me how proud she was to be working at Forest because of how ethical the company and the CEO was. That same employee was critical of me for talking to the WSJ about some of the less ethical practices that pharma companies [...] (Source: NAKEDMEDICINE.COM) NAKEDMEDICINE.COM blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872044 Fri, 27 May 2011 17:24:42 +0100 4872044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872083&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fqsp5YmEyy58%2F Don’t miss out on this year’s Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Annual Conference in Washington, DC, July 9-12! They have an incredible array of speakers and activities planned for their 14th Annual Conference, “Turning Promise Into Action.” The keynote speaker is Olympic medalist Shannon Miller, who will speak about her battle with ovarian cancer. Ms. Miller was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in early 2011, and has been writing about her journey on her healthy living website. On Sunday night, you can  rock out with N.E.D., an amazing band dedicated to fighting women’s cancer. This alternative rock band is made up of gynecologic oncologists from around the country. You can hear one of their original songs in this video about OCNA’s 2010 Advocacy Day. The conference concl... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872083 Fri, 27 May 2011 13:09:29 +0100 4872083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872038&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fcountries-medical-tourism-law-a-research-project-for-the-open-cures-initiative.php I am looking for volunteers to undertake some light, spare-time research for Open Cures: An open volunteer initiative that aims to speed the advent of biotechnologies that can slow down or repair aspects of the biological damage of aging and thus extend healthy human life. Our primary long-term goal is to bring together (a) promising but undeveloped biotechnologies of longevity and (b) the developers who can bring them to the clinic. The Open Cures roadmap looks a way past the present foundational work (website, writing, organizational details, and so forth) and past the forthcoming efforts to build a repository of documentation for longevity-enhancing biotechnologies. Beyond all of that lies a process of building relationships with the medical tourism industry and developers outside the... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872038 Thu, 26 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4872038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872348&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F05%2Fdiabetes_rockstars.html People within the diabetes community are strong, resilient ... and apparently pretty creative on the lyrical tip.  This video was sent to me by a reader, and even though the visuals on it are just the lyrics, it did crack me up (and she's quite the songbird)!  Created by Denise, who blogs at My Sweet Bean and her Pod, this song is now part of the diabetes-themed song library. "We can rock a SWAG for any popsicle." and "Pancreas stand-ins, now put your hands up" may be among the best diabetes-lyrics I've heard since ShugaSheen's debut. (Source: Six Until Me.) Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872348 Thu, 26 May 2011 14:26:54 +0100 4872348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872165&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Fwhen-mental-illness-stigma-turns-inward%2F This study shows in some cases, it might even be increasing.) We see stigma everywhere. Every time violence is automatically connected to mental illness in an article or news report, we see it.* We see it in movies and other forms of media. We see it at work where stereotypes might be perpetuated, where employees are afraid to “come out” with their diagnosis. We see it with our families or friends, who might say versions of “just snap out of it” or “get over it already” or offer “advice” like sleep more, eat less, look on the bright side and try harder. There’s also just pure ignorance, especially when it comes to serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., wrote in Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872165 Thu, 26 May 2011 12:00:16 +0100 4872165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862477&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fthree-parallel-tracks.php There are three parallel tracks along which the future development of longevity science must progress, and we'll reach the end goal only as rapidly as the slowest of the three tracks moves. 1) Science and Biotechnology The most obvious of the tracks is that the technologies of rejuvenation must be developed. We can see what the form that these technologies must take: damage repaired, waning cell populations renewed, waste byproducts broken down and removed, cancer thwarted. Initiatives like SENS can describe the needed procedures in great detail, at the level of cells and molecular machinery, as we truly are within a tantalizingly close reach of their creation. But the biotechnologies of rejuvenation don't yet exist, and the many technology demonstrations of long-lived mice, flies, and ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862477 Tue, 24 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4862477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862823&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35179&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscottsdiabetes.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fjdrf-advocacy-vlog%2F http://advocacy.jdrf.org/ – JDRF Advocacy, get involved JDRF Advocacy VLOG – Get Involved is a post from: Scott's Diabetes (Source: Scott's Diabetes Blog) Scott's Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862823 Tue, 24 May 2011 04:21:01 +0100 4862823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862826&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F2OYwHMF7p1w%2Fford-story-flop.php Last week, David forwarded the bloggers here at Diabetes Daily a press release from Ford about some "new" technologies that are working on for in-car health. There was a "not-so" live chat last Thursday where we had the opportunity to ask questions and find out more information about these services. I say not so live because there was a few minute delay between typing a comment and seeing it on the screen. You could tell that the "experts" had specific chat messages that they had written ahead of time and getting those out were more important than answering any questions. Not the way to truly engage in social media. Related to diabetes, there are two technologies/services that they are promoting that I think BOTH miss the target for the diabetes community.You can read all the informat... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862826 Tue, 24 May 2011 02:56:53 +0100 4862826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862480&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fthe-latest-rejuvenation-research-and-the-most-important-debate.php I'd missed the emergence of the latest issue of Rejuvenation Research last month, which opens with this: Possibly the biggest battle that I have had to fight over the past decade is to persuade people to take seriously the idea that it is time even to think about "reversing aging" while we remain so negligibly able even to slow aging down. The flaw in that logic is simple: it is that rejuvenation, i.e. the restoration of an organism's physiological state to how it was at an earlier age, will be achieved not by reversing the processes of aging but by repairing the accumulated damage that those processes create. To get back to where we came from, in other words, we do not need to retrace the route we took from there to here. Any route will do, and in this case there turns out to be a vastly... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862480 Mon, 23 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4862480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852936&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F23%2Fabandoned-minds-social-justice-civil-rights-and-mental-health-part-1%2F “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” — Edmund Burke “What conditions?” asked Rivera. “In my building,” responded Wilkins, “there are sixty retarded kids with only one attendant to take care of them.  Most are naked and they lie in their own sh*t.” This exchange was from a telephone call from Dr. Wilkins, who had been fired from Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, New York. He and a coworker were fired for their concern for the welfare of the inhabitants.  The person they were talking to was a young television reporter: Geraldo Rivera. On January 6th, 1972, Wilkins and Rivera met at a diner.  Wilkins still had the keys to many buildings, and the plan was set to bring in a camera crew to (illegally) film the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852936 Mon, 23 May 2011 18:34:41 +0100 4852936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862483&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2Fannouncing-open-cures.php I'm pleased to announce that Open Cures has launched. This is the volunteer initiative sprung from discussion of the Vegas Group concept that has been taking place here for the past few months. More than a dozen ways to extend life in mice have been demonstrated in laboratories Yet the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) forbids commercial therapies for aging Thus the best biotechnologies for human longevity languish, undeveloped... But this is a shrinking world, linked by the internet and medical tourism Advanced, safe clinical development takes place in many countries We can work around the FDA, and this is how it will be done » Looking at the future of commercial medical development and rejuvenation biotechnology, it seems clear that something has to be done. The present ... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862483 Sun, 22 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4862483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848090&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fbluetooth-in-place-of-standard-fm.html My Oticon kit, including Streamer (& old cellphone)I've heard of FM transmitters before - awesome devices for meeting rooms, movie theaters, lecture halls and other spaces that allow people with hearing aids to listen more easily - but today I lear... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848090 Fri, 20 May 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4848090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841469&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FdfmEiCMqXOw%2F The rise of the Tea Party has come with increased concern over the federal deficit and strained state budgets, and cries for less government spending. The Medicaid program has a bright red bull’s eye target on its back, mainly because several erroneous stereotypes exist about its recipients who often don’t have the means to speak and fight for themselves. The situation is no different in my state of South Carolina. Last week, one of our state senators referred to South Carolina’s Medicaid program as a “Mercedes health plan.”  Our Department of Health and Human Services responded by saying, “It’s a little bit of a stretch to call it a Mercedes.” This morning, that same senator posted a guest editorial on FITSNews, “A Hand Up, Not a Hand-Out.”  In this piece, the indepe... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841469 Thu, 19 May 2011 19:58:11 +0100 4841469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841794&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fsix-predictions-on-future-of-hearing.html Hearing aids are becoming very science-fictiony devices, like something you might see on Star Trek. Many new models have Bluetooth capability, as I wrote about in a January guest post here. Below are some predictions I have for hearing aids as we conti... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841794 Thu, 19 May 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4841794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841581&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fmuzzling-doctors-who-ask-questions-about-gun-safety%2F Imagine that your 16-year-old daughter has been bullied mercilessly in school, but hasn’t talked to you about it, or spoken about her suicidal impulses. One day, she is brought by ambulance to your local hospital emergency room, having made superficial cuts on her arms while in school. The emergency room physician tries to call you at work, but your cell phone isn’t picking up. The doctor begins her evaluation of your daughter, including an assessment of all relevant risk factors for suicide. Now imagine that the doctor believes she is forbidden by law from asking your daughter whether there are guns in your home — despite the fact that firearms in the home markedly increase the risk of gun-related suicide.1 You needn’t use much imagination. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott is expec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841581 Thu, 19 May 2011 10:38:43 +0100 4841581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841582&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fapa-mental-health-blog-party-2011-roundup%2F Here is our roundup of posts from the Psych Central Blog Network that blogged about mental health today as a part of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Mental Health “Blog Party.” Psych Central is the world’s largest independent mental health network run by ordinary mental health professionals. Each month, over 1.5 million people visit our site from around the world to learn more about better mental health and conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and anxiety. Psych Central bloggers are some of the most dedicated and passionate people I’ve met in the field of mental health. Some are professionals, some are not, but all share one thing in common — they have a knack for writing about psychology and mental health issu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841582 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:55:30 +0100 4841582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841584&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fincreasing-mental-health-awareness-too-much-of-a-good-thing%2F Today is the American Psychological Association’s “Blog Party” in recognition of May being mental health month. The marketing effort behind designating a specific month a time to recognize and help increase awareness of a certain disease, disorder or condition is intended to help people learn more about various medical and mental health concerns. But a few weeks ago, physician H. Gilbert Welch wrote an op-ed in the LA Times that questioned whether the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Have we become a nation of people who will get diagnosed for all sorts of sub-clinical problems at the drop of a hat? Indeed, I think there is a very real danger of that becoming the case. And nowhere is that more likely than in mental health. Dr. Ron Pies talked about some of these... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841584 Wed, 18 May 2011 10:14:06 +0100 4841584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828983&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F17%2Fa-psychologist-and-a-superhero%2F Psychology has spilled over into pop culture in many ways throughout the years. For instance, in 1911, one psychologist saved Coca-Cola by conducting rigorous studies into caffeine’s effects on cognition and sensory and motor abilities. In 1929, another inspired his nephew’s successful public relations campaigns, which linked smoking cigarettes with female empowerment, if you can believe it. Since 1895, other psychologists were directly involved in advertising, using surveys and other new ploys to get us to buy their products. (You didn’t need toothpaste to clean your teeth; you needed it to make you sexier.) One psychologist even changed the comic book world and influenced an entire movement (that would be the feminist movement). In the early 1940s, Harvard psychologist William ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828983 Tue, 17 May 2011 10:30:00 +0100 4828983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828986&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F15%2F10-great-moms-of-the-twentieth-century%2F Due to an error on our part, this article should’ve appeared a week ago… But hey, better late than never! – Ed. They are activists, humorists, Holocaust survivers, writers, first ladies, and missionaries. But first and foremost, they are moms. And, in my opinion, some of the best. As a relatively new mom, I could learn a lesson or two from the veterans. So here is a list of my blue-ribbon picks. 1. Erma Bombeck. She was the funniest mother in America, with an uncanny ability to bemuse fellow moms with hilarious twists on cleaning toilets and carpools of whinny kids. For more than 30 years her clippings occupied the most coveted real estate in middle-class homes — the refrigerator — where she’d offer invaluable insight and a dose of comedy amid lost sock... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828986 Sun, 15 May 2011 10:28:28 +0100 4828986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821091&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fprogress-and-challenges-in-hepatitis-c%2F May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Currently, more than 3 million people in the U.S. and 170 million worldwide are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).   HCV-related liver disease and other health complications now claim an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 American lives each year – making HCV the fourth leading infectious cause of death in the U.S.  These numbers have been projected to increase substantially in the coming decade. Fortunately, the past few weeks have brought news of promising developments that may help change these bleak projections:  Namely, the imminent approvals of two new drugs for HCV treatment – Merck and Co.’s boceprevir and Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ telaprevir. In late April, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee unanimously recommended th... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821091 Thu, 12 May 2011 17:00:05 +0100 4821091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813360&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Fva-mental-health-care-is-so-bad-its-unconstitutional%2F So says a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, after reviewing the evidence about the ability of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to offer an appropriately level of mental health care and treatment to returning soldiers. In this way, the costs of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been grossly underestimated, because they don’t take into account the increased needs and costs of the vets’ ongoing and increasing mental health care. The longer we’re at war, the worse it’s going to get. According to the article on TIME.com about the recent ruling, not only do some vets have to wait weeks to get in to see a mental health professional at many VA medical centers, but there’s often no significant triaging ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813360 Wed, 11 May 2011 15:30:28 +0100 4813360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803410&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F05%2Fletter_writing_day.html Dear Littler Me,I wish you'd known you weren't alone.  That even though you didn't have a bunch of friends with diabetes (YET) when you were growing up, you still had lots of friends.  And a family that loved you.  And people who didn't understand exactly what it meant to be "low" or "high," but they wanted to, and they tried.I wish you had known that there were other kids just like you.  It wasn't until you spent your summers at Clara Barton Camp that you realized just how normal diabetes was for some families.  That some kids woke up every morning, just like you did, and shot up.  Or that some kids were hounded by their parents to "just let me check your pee for ketones, okay?"  I wish you had known that doctors lie.  ... Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803410 Tue, 10 May 2011 14:21:02 +0100 4803410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803136&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsafe-injection-protocols-are-not-being-followed-by-clinicians%2F2011.05.10 Thanks to Laura Landro for shining light on unsafe injections in her WSJ blog, “Unsafe Injection Practices Persist Despite Education Efforts.” Landro writes: “A new push is underway to eliminate unsafe injection practices, which remain a persistent safety problem despite years of efforts to educate clinicians about the risks of re-using needles, syringes and drug vials. In the U.S., failure to follow safe practices in delivering intravenous medications and injections has resulted in more than 30 outbreaks of infectious disease including hepatitis C, and the notification of more than 125,000 patients about potential exposure just in the last decade, according to health-care purchasing alliance Premier Inc.” As a registered nurse this is unthinkable.  Learning to administer injectio... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803136 Tue, 10 May 2011 11:00:38 +0100 4803136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803244&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F05%2F09%2Fbc-premier-christy-clark-im-absolutely-committed-to-working-with-you-on-it-re-opening-bc-adult-adhd-clinic%2F BC Premier Christy Clark “I’m Absolutely Committed To Working With You On It” Re: Opening BC Adult ADHD ClinicPost from: Adult ADD Strengths I went to the town hall meeting that BC Liberal Premier and Point Grey riding by-election MLA candidate Christy Clark had last Friday at St. Mark’s Church in Kitsilano, Vancouver. I asked Premier Christy Clark a question about re opening the BC adult ADHD clinic at an adult hospital that the BC Liberal govt closed down in 2007 after it had a 12-14 month wait list for an entire year. 8% of kids and 5% of adults have ADHD so there are more adults with ADHD than children, and most don’t know they have it and many doctors have NO training on ADHD. UBC medical students only get 1 hour of training on ADHD. I get em... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803244 Tue, 10 May 2011 05:25:28 +0100 4803244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4797783&cid=t_92691_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fadvocacyand-advocacy.html I'm coming down off the high afforded by the Society for General Internal Medicine's 2011 annual meeting - collaborative and inspiring. I was surprised by my own reactions to two plenary addresses. One was by Holly Atkinson, former head of Physicians for Human Rights, on the topic of advocacy and professionalism: "Should Medical Professionalism Include Advocacy?" Not surprisingly, given Dr. Atkinson's history, her answer was Yes. The most interesting moment of her talk came with a question from the audience. The gist of the question was that requiring advocacy for professionalism implies that those of us who don't participate in advocacy aren't good doctors. In response, Atkinson proferred a definition of advocacy that was disappointingly weak. Everything is advocacy - ... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4797783 Sun, 08 May 2011 09:37:00 +0100 4797783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4797870&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCochlearKids%2F%7E3%2FQXMOpIxoQUc%2Fweve-reached-decision.html Woohoo! I finally slept last night. As you know the torment of my child's future-education wise-has really been tearing me up inside. Well we have finally reached a decision. I'm waiting to announce which direction we are going til later because I need... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4797870 Sat, 07 May 2011 11:24:00 +0100 4797870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794978&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fahearingloss.com%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fthe-hearing-aid-tax-credit-being-proposed-stinks%2F Senators Olympia Snowe and Tom Harkins have introduced S.905.   This piece of legislation provides a tax credit of up to $500 per hearing aid, every 5 years. There are 6 other Senators who are the original co-sponsors of this piece of legislation. Personally, I find it insulting. A tax credit of $500? When was the last [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794978 Fri, 06 May 2011 22:42:16 +0100 4794978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794897&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fblurring-sponsorship-advertising-disclosures%2F Many companies sponsor things, and in the world of mental health and psychiatry, those companies tend to be pharmaceutical. Sponsorships help promote a company’s brand (and, indirectly, the products they sell). Since I believe — like most mental health professionals — that most people benefit from a combination of both medications and psychotherapy in the treatment of serious mental disorders, I see the value of many pharmaceutical companies’ products. However, as we putter along in this age of the Internet, I’ve seen a disturbing trend toward blurring the line between editorial content and advertising. And now I see, thanks to a blog entry this week by Dr. Danny Carlat, that this trend is being promulgated by one of the very organizations responsible for over... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794897 Fri, 06 May 2011 14:30:00 +0100 4794897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789332&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F05%2Fhelping-schools-with-their-mental-health-needs%2F May is Mental Health Month (if you hadn’t heard), and in keeping with that theme, it’s good to check in to see where mental health resides in various places in society. One of those places is in our schools. Schools can be a helpful frontline in the identification — through screening programs — of at-risk children and teens who may get a mental disorder. In the past decade, schools have also become a necessary component of ensuring students who need mental health treatment have access to something that can help. But University of Missouri researchers caution that when it comes to mental health programs in schools, one size does not fit all. Just trying to implement research-based solutions without truly understanding what the problem is in a particular school or sch... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789332 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:45:24 +0100 4789332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775550&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F05%2F02%2Faids-action-issues-response-to-63-legislators-who-signed-letter-calling-mariatalkscom-into-question%2F Note: Due to the high volume of visits to MariaTalks.com, the site is occasionally going offline. If you experience delays when trying to view the site, please be patient and try again at a later time.   It’s been nearly two weeks since the Boston Herald ran a cover story calling into question the nature and purpose of MariaTalks.com, a website operated by AIDS Action Committee with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Since then, we’ve hoped that those who visited the site would see what we know to be true, that MariaTalks.com is a great resource for Massachusetts teens, providing comprehensive, medically accurate, and developmentally appropriate information about sexual health in a non-judgmental, easily-accessible format.   That has largely happened.... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775550 Mon, 02 May 2011 20:15:17 +0100 4775550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775599&cid=t_92691_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fgsk-national-headache-foundation-and.html Last week I came across this tweet posted by @GSKUS:RT @NHF: Need help remembering your #migraines details? Find an online migraine diary from @GSKUS at http://bit.ly/hBS98QFor my Twitter-challenged readers, I should point out that "RT" signifies that @GSKUS "retweeeted" a tweet originally made by @NHF, which is the Twitter account of the National Headache Foundation.Whenever a pharma company retweets a message from a third party, it raises some flags. For example, suppose NHF was a patient advocacy organization that promoted off-label use of medications and suppose those medications were marketed by GSK? Further, what if GSK helps support NHF with funding? What if NHF received the majority of its funds from GSK? What if NHF was actually created by GSK and not independent at all?I am askin... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775599 Mon, 02 May 2011 18:22:00 +0100 4775599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775526&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcochlearimplantonline.com%2Fsite%2F%3Fp%3D3267 SURPRISE! NEW EaR BOOKS!!! In honor of Better Hearing and Speech Month 2011, Elizabeth Boschini (author) and Rachel Chaikof (illustrator) are proud to announce the re-release of their books, Ellie’s Ears and Happy Birthday to My Ears.  Since the original release for BHSM 2008, these children’s books, which feature characters who are deaf but can [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775526 Mon, 02 May 2011 12:02:24 +0100 4775526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768196&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F04%2F29%2Fstanding-against-racism-what-you-can-do%2F The Fourth Annual Stand Against Racism takes place today, April 29. The YWCA-sponsored event will see more than 250,000 individuals and organizations take a Stand Against Racism by raising awareness of racism and suggesting ways to eliminate it. AIDS Action Committee is participating in Stand Against Racism today as part of our mission to attack the root causes of HIV/AIDS. The existence of racial and ethnic health care disparities has long been recognized. They were most notably documented in a comprehensive 2002 report from the Institute of Medicine that cites local, state, and federal researchers and commissions, titled Unequal Treatment: Confronting Health Care Disparities. No one should be surprised that these disparities have been persistent in the transmission and treatment of HIV a... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768196 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:57:40 +0100 4768196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4768164&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2F10kidsin2010.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fjob-outlook-for-teens-w-disabilities.html Guess I should just write job outlook for teens in general.  Doesn't really matter if you have a disability or not, jobs are hard to come by.  I have 3 teens in this house right now.  Irina is 18yo, Max is 16yo, and Yana is 15yo.  A... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4768164 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:35:00 +0100 4768164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762880&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2F6-ways-my-parents-helped-me-with-my.html My post Believe in Yourself has me thinking about growing up with hearing loss and how best to support and nurture a child with challenges. I count myself very lucky to have grown up with amazing parents who supported me in everything I did. For today'... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762880 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:37:00 +0100 4762880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762906&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2Fjt4El-j481w%2Fyou-are-a-pizza-restaurant-and-i-am-too.php AKA She’s so nice, I posted it twice.As most of you have probably already read here in this post by Brittney, Ginger Vieira recently published a book called "Your Diabetes Science Experiment". She is very generous and sent me a copy to review.Over the recent long weekend, I was FINALLY able to finish it. It isn’t a long book (don’t be scared). I am just a very slow reader and wanted to give it the attention it deserved.Ginger probably THE best vlogger in the diabetes community. Instead of writing a typical review or posting the transcript of an interview, I asked Ginger if she would be willing to do something a little different for me. With her help, I was able to create more of a “vlog-ish” book review.Since you’ve already read a review here, I decided to post my review on my other ... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762906 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:17:41 +0100 4762906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762734&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Fpotential-early-documentation-projects-for-the-vegas-group.php What is the Vegas Group initiative setting out to achieve, in a nutshell? I'm still working on that short explanation, but here is one attempt at it. Thanks to the present regulatory situation in the US - where aging is not recognized as a disease, and therefore no therapy for aging can be legally developed - there are any number of potentially useful biotechnologies presently languishing without further development. These are methods and techniques shown to extend life in mice or repair and reverse specific biochemical aspects of aging, but for which there is no further funding for clinical development. Nothing may be happening for these technologies in the US, but there are active biotechnology and medical development communities in other parts of the world who are not so encumbered by l... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762734 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4762734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758786&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fnominate-someone-for-the-samhsa-voice-awards%2F I pass this news release along, in case anyone knows of someone (or themselves!) who might be a good candidate for nomination for this year’s SAMHSA Voice Awards. Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in recognizing consumer/peer leaders and TV and film professionals who have given a voice to individuals with behavioral health problems (mental health and/or addiction issues). This year, SAMHSA is putting special emphasis on the impact of trauma and the significant effects it can have on individuals, families and friends, communities, and our Nation. Consideration is being given to consumer/peer leaders who have successfully advocated for the rights of trauma survivors and promoted the importance of trauma-informed care. Additional considerat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758786 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:01:13 +0100 4758786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758934&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fmassachusetts-house-passes-public-health-amendment-adding-25m-to-hivaids-funding%2F Statement by Rebecca Haag, AIDS Action President & CEO BOSTON, April 27, 2011—“The public health amendment passed by the House yesterday is a smart and focused investment in public health. Prevention and wellness programs are critical to long-term savings in health care. Over the last 10 years, the state’s investment in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention has paid off with a 59 percent reduction in new HIV diagnoses. This will result in a savings of more than $1.6 billion in health care costs. “Even as the rate of new infections has declined dramatically, the number of people living with HIV and AIDS has increased by 42 percent. Today, there are approximately 18,000 people living in Massachusetts with a diagnosis of HIV. Care is prevention and the House deserves praise for recog... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758934 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:56:59 +0100 4758934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758892&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadiosallergies.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fwhat-monumental-day.html As we continue our life in the allergy free lane and prepare to wrap up our time here in Massachusetts I am finding myself making yet another huge decision. A decision that feels so right in every cell of my body....a decision I have waited entirely to... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758892 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:55:00 +0100 4758892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758721&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Fsens-foundation-is-hiring-for-the-lysosens-project.php LysoSENS is the SENS Foundation initiative to build a platform for medical bioremediation capable of breaking down the damaging byproducts of metabolism that build up in old cells and degrade their ability to recycle garbage. The short of is that we know that out there somewhere are bacteria that can eat these compounds, such as the lipofuscin that contributes to many age-related conditions. There is no buildup of prominent components of lipofuscin in graveyards, for example - so something is consuming it. That bacterial something will be armed with enzymes, biological knifes and saws that might be turned into a therapy to destroy lipofuscin if identified and introduced into the human body. You might recall that the early LysoSENS volunteers ran a contest for soil samples from obscure loc... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758721 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4758721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753761&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Falan-beesley-liberal-candidate-for-delta-richmond-east-supports-screening-prisoners-in-federal-jails-for-adhd%2F Alan Beesley Liberal candidate for Delta – Richmond East Supports Screening Prisoners in Federal Jails for ADHDPost from: Adult ADD Strengths Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about adults and children with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753761 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:40:00 +0100 4753761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753762&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Fsukh-dhaliwal-liberal-mp-for-newton-north-delta-supports-screening-prisoners-in-federal-jails-for-adhd%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about adults and children with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime. After the rally was over ... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753762 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 18:10:57 +0100 4753762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753763&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Fwendy-yuan-liberal-candidate-vancouver-kingsway-supports-screening-prisoners-in-federal-jails-for-adhd%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about people with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime. After the rally was over I decided to ask som... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753763 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:15:56 +0100 4753763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753764&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Fhedy-fry-liberal-mp-for-vancouver-centre-supports-screening-prisoners-in-federal-jails-for-adhd%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Monday April 14th I went to see Michael Ignatieff at the Vancouver Alpine Club. I asked Michael a question about ADHD & crime during the Q & A period, I think I was the 3rd questioner “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD 15 clinical studies show? And only 5% of adults have ADHD? The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” I’m asking politicians this question for several reasons but one of them is most people don’t care at all about people with ADHD or think it’s overdiagnosed/space alien/drug company conspiracy/ not beating up your kid enough etc. But they do care about crime. After the rally was over I decided to ask som... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753764 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 16:30:24 +0100 4753764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753875&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fspeakuplibrarian.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fdiscovering-deaf-worlds.html I still have a follow up post from my trip that needs to be written about ANASCOR, the national deaf organization of Costa Rica. In the meantime, I hope you will take a few moments to watch this new video that explains the mission of Discovering Deaf W... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753875 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:53:00 +0100 4753875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753647&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Fan-update-on-early-vegas-group-discussions.php The Vegas Group is a recently launched initiative that aims to speed up translation of existing longevity-enhancing biotechnologies from the laboratory to human therapies. There is little incentive for commercial entities to work on these technologies in the US because the FDA does not recognize aging as a disease, and will therefore never approve a therapy for aging. But if these technologies, currently documented only in the prickly, dense scientific literature, can be brought into the open biotechnology arena, explained, and made accessible, they will be picked up by semi-professionals, developers, and commercial ventures in less restricted parts of the world. Protofection, for example, is a technique for introducing replacement mitochondrial DNA into all the cells of the body - a way... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753647 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4753647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747791&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcochlearimplantonline.com%2Fsite%2F%3Fp%3D3189 This is a letter to a particular person who I will not name: I would like to introduce you myself first. I am Jessica’s older sister, Rachel, who was also born profoundly deaf and speak and hear with bilateral cochlear implants. I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a BA degree and [...] (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747791 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:19:53 +0100 4747791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744932&cid=t_92691_165_f&fid=37962&url=http%3A%2F%2Fotnotes.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fot-in-hd-presidential-address.html AOTA President Florence Clark opened the 2011 AOTA Conference with an excellent presidential address describing the need for OTs to compete. (Photo credit to Cheryl Crow, videographer extraordinaire, from the OT Connections Gallery) We live in a world of competition. Especially now, in a time of health care reform where decisions are being made about what services are necessary in the future, we as occupational therapy practitioners need to be engaging competition with (not against) others to ensure our role in promoting occupational fulfillment to the public. Competition needs to be acknowledged. It drives innovation and can improve practice. It's not going away, so get comfortable with it. Victories are won often by teamwork, but always by competition. But, as Dr. Clark said, "let's fa... Occupational Therapy Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744932 Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:40:00 +0100 4744932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744892&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhearingsparks.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fbelieve-in-yourself.html This is a story about Jillian Szenderski, a pre-kindergarten student who has been implanted with cochlear implants. It's a success story about the child who now has intelligible speech and will go on to "regular" kindergarten next year.However, buried ... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744892 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:41:00 +0100 4744892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742597&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=34847&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsixuntilme.com%2Fblog2%2F2011%2F04%2Fearth_day_and_diabetes_1.html Nothing says "Earth Day" like stumbling upon this awesome photo (and caption) on Facebook:"Using my infusion site protective cap as a guitar pick... total D-rockstar status!"Jessica writes a blog at J's Adventures in T1 Land, has type 1 diabetes, and is an excellent example of d-cycling (diabetes recycling).  Do you reuse your diabetes supplies in any way?  (Or am I the only one who has used clipped syringes as water guns, glucose tab jars to store whey protein, and pump caps as cat toys?)  How do you keep your diabetes green? (Source: Six Until Me.) Six Until Me. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742597 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 14:04:39 +0100 4742597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742609&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Ffunding-the-fight-against-hivaids%2F It’s budget season, and as you’ve probably heard funds for health and prevention programs are on the chopping block nationwide. We’re busy reminding lawmakers that investing now in HIV prevention and care services will save billions in the long run. In Massachusetts alone, it is estimated that without the programs we had in place from 1998-2008 we would have seen an additional 4,085 HIV cases in our state, resulting in over $1.5 billion in health care costs, not to mention the challenges each of these people would have faced managing a life-threatening disease. In Massachusetts Last week, the Ways & Means Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012, which begins July 1. The committee recommended $2 million in cuts to ... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742609 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:43:30 +0100 4742609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734408&cid=t_92691_129_f&fid=38601&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheshaddoxboys.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fwhat-about-that-new-medication.html So Elijah has been on this new medication for almost two weeks now. I do think it has made a difference in his aggression level. I haven't heard much from the school and I haven't asked. We have his IEP meeting on Monday and I figure I will ask then. I... (Source: Deaf Village) Deaf Village blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734408 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:30:00 +0100 4734408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734215&cid=t_92691_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2011%2F04%2F18%2Fof-course-green-party-leader-elizabeth-mays-answer-to-my-would-she-support-screening-federal-prisoners-for-adhd%2F Of Course. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May’s Answer to my ? Would She Support Screening Federal Prisoners For ADHDPost from: Adult ADD Strengths Yesterday I went to two leaders rallies in Vancouver, Michael Ignatieff’s in North Vancouver and Elizabeth May’s in Vancouver At the Green party rally that started at 7.30pm in front of the train station in Vancouver I asked Elizabeth May who’s @elizabethmay on Twitter “Do you knew that 20-45% of prisoners have ADHD?”  Only 5% of adults have ADHD. She said a lot of prisoners have ADHD and other mental health problems. I then said “The UK screens prisoners for ADHD in their jails, would you commit to screening prisoners in Federal jails for ADHD?” She answered “Of course&#8221... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734215 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:24:33 +0100 4734215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724169&cid=t_92691_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2FtVN4MueOW6w%2Fadvocacy.php .I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be an advocate. A group of people recently traveled to Washington DC to advocate for diabetes among our Congressmen.Another group of people were invited to California to advocate for the causes of people with diabetes to interested parties at Medtronic.There was a press release for an episode of True Life on MTV that was reworded in response to contact from the diabetes community.Even Reader’s Digest – my source for quality jokes when I was a kid – was recently targeted in social media forums by people with diabetes who were upset about an upcoming special edition.Two years ago, a group of people touched by diabetes traveled to Indiana to meet with a pharmaceutical company and share their thoughts and opinions on how best to work... Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724169 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:47:35 +0100 4724169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734019&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Fa-mailing-list-for-discussion-of-the-vegas-group-initiative.php I have created a mailing list - actually a Google group - for discussion on the Vegas Group initiative, as outlined in past posts here at Fight Aging!: The Vegas Group: a so far fictional community of the next ten years that will merge the longevity advocacy and open biotech communities in order to (a) reverse engineer the most promising life-span-enhancing techniques demonstrated in the laboratory, (b) translate that work into human rejuvenation biotechnologies, and (b) make these therapies available for use via medical tourism to Asia-Pacific region clinics. I suppose it's not quite so fictional now that a small group of people are talking about how to make it happen. The present focus - for me at least - is on kickstarting a narrow, exploratory project of documentation and reverse eng... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734019 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4734019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4719872&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Freversing-engineering-protofection-as-a-first-target-for-the-vegas-group.php The Vegas Group is a yet-to-be-built community initiative intended to bring longevity science to the open biotechnology and DIYbio communities - and from there reverse engineer and make ready for human use the most promising longevity-enhancing technologies demonstrated in mice in the laboratory. We are entering an age of medical tourism, and the clinics and laboratories of Asia will be happy to accept business and open source biotechnologies generated by DIYbio work in the US. At this stage, I'm still thinking through the project: breaking it down into manageable chunks, and considering what I should work on first: The path to this future involves networking and community building in a whole new and different direction from that taken by much of the longevity advocacy community - and the... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4719872 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4719872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714705&cid=t_92691_87_f&fid=34980&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fightaging.org%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2Freversing-engineering-protofection-as-a-first-target-for-the-vegas-group.php The Vegas Group is a yet-to-be-built community initiative intended to bring longevity science to the open biotechnology and DIYbio communities - and from there reverse engineer and make ready for human use the most promising longevity-enhancing technologies demonstrated in mice in the laboratory. We are entering an age of medical tourism, and the clinics and laboratories of Asia will be happy to accept business and open source biotechnologies generated by DIYbio work in the US. At this stage, I'm still thinking through the project: breaking it down into manageable chunks, and considering what I should work on first: The path to this future involves networking and community building in a whole new and different direction from that taken by much of the longevity advocacy community - and the... Fight Aging! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714705 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4714705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709352&cid=t_92691_135_f&fid=35277&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.aac.org%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F04%2F13%2Faids-actions-statement-on-ma-house-budget-cuts%2F Statement by Rebecca Haag, AIDS Action President & CEO on $2 million cut to HIV/AIDS line item in the Massachusetts House budget: “The House budget released today is a short-sighted approach to the state’s investment in public health. Prevention and wellness programs are critical to long-term savings in health care. The state’s investment in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention has paid off with a 59 percent reduction in new HIV diagnoses over the last 10 years, which will result in savings of more than $1.5 billion in health care costs. “The fact is that care is prevention. Massachusetts has been successful in reducing new infections because we’ve invested heavily in connecting people with care. The combination of Medicaid and community-based services for people with HIV resul... AIDS Action Committee's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709352 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:59:36 +0100 4709352