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 'anti'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:51:47 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158994&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdrug-shown-to-protect-obese-mice-from-the-diseases-of-obesity%2F2011.08.25 I usually choose not to write about the “new new scientific thing” that gets picked up by the press,  because early research is usually not reproducible and good science takes a long time to validate as true.  But since we know that mice and rats that are kept on low-calorie diets live 30% longer (and healthier) than their fat cohorts, I was interested in a new research compound, SRT-1720,  that was shown to protect obese mice from diseases of obesity.  Fat mice lived 44% longer if they were given this drug. The “designer” drug works by (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158994 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5158994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159891&cid=t_101782_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2FpdrJbmhzB3U%2Fboomers-will-be-spending-billions-to.html The following is an interesting article written by National AP writer David Crary. Baby boomers heading into what used to be called retirement age are providing a 70 million-member strong market for legions of companies, entrepreneurs and cosmetic surgeons eager to capitalize on their "forever young" mindset, whether it's through wrinkle creams, face-lifts or workout regimens. It adds up to potential bonanza. The market research firm Global Industry Analysts projects that a boomer-fueled consumer base, "seeking to keep the dreaded signs of aging at bay," will push the U.S. market for anti-aging products from about $80 billion now to more than $114 billion by 2015. The boomers, who grew up in a culture glamorizing youth, face an array of choices as to whether and how to be a part of that... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159891 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:36:00 +0100 5159891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130843&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fhow-your-doctor-decides-dose-of-your.html When you do your IVF treatment, a very important decision the doctor needs to make is - What should your starting dose of HMG / FSH ( brand names for these key IVF meds include Repronex; Gonal-F; Follistim) be for optimal super ovulation? This is a key decision because this determines how many follicles you’re likely to grow. If he selects a dose which is too low , you may not have enough eggs or embryos. And if he selects a dose which is too high, you may grow too many follicles and end up with OHSS. We do have rules of thumb for this, but as with any biological system , it’s very hard to predict how a patient will respond finally, and we need to acknowledge that some of this is trial & error. As a general rule for most young patients, the starting dose is 3 amp of Menogon , whi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130843 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:42:00 +0100 5130843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130668&cid=t_101782_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fdiversion-pathfinder-selection-for-children-and-young-people%2F Scan or click to download 'Diversion pathfinder selection for children and young people' Title: Diversion pathfinder selection for children and young people The Skinny: Invitation from DH Offender Health to submit expressions of interest to become a youth justice point of arrest diversion pathfinder. Funding is available to provide identification of health needs and other vulnerabilities and support under 18 year olds into interventions at the earliest stage possible. Publisher: DH Size: 16p. Published: 03/03/11 Supplementary Documents: Background Scope Document: Pathfinders for Children and Young People Point of Arrest Diversion Application guidance for Children and Young People Point of Arrest Diversion Pathfinders Application form Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion process ... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130668 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:27:47 +0100 5130668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159029&cid=t_101782_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4683%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dprofessor-geoffrey-petts-of-the-university-of-westminster-says-they-are-not-teaching-pseudo-science-the-facts-show-this-is-not-true Jump to follow-up On 23rd May 2008 a letter was sent to the vice-chancellor of the University of Westminster, Professor Geoffrey Petts Dear Professor Petts   You may be aware an article by Zoe Corbyn, published in Times Higher Education 24 April 2008, with the title Experts criticise ‘pseudo-scientific’ complementary medicine degrees.   The subtitle of the article was Vice-chancellors should re-examine courses, say campaigners.  In the light of that, we wondered whether you had anything to add to the comments made by David Peters in todays THE.  We are preparing a response to that, and it seems fair to ask your view before we proceed. (In order to save you time, copies of the two articles are attached.)   As an expert on... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159029 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:37:57 +0100 5159029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107518&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fplastic-surgeon-weighs-in-on-anti-aging-medicine%2F2011.08.08 Reader Question: Do you do anti-aging medicine? I do not see it on your web site. If not, what is your opinion of it? I am not a fan or follower of the anti-aging medicine fad in so much that it promotes what I believe to be a false concept. An older person cannot be made into a younger version of herself by boosting certain hormones. There is really no good evidence that it works. Patients don’t live any longer. It might also be found to be harmful in the long run. Plastic surgeons will differ in their opinions as to what works with low risk to improve things. To me (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Truth in Cosmetic Surgery* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107518 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:00:57 +0100 5107518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097136&cid=t_101782_158_f&fid=38949&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAgingWithGraceCareconnection%2F%7E3%2F7piwh569rg8%2Fnew-anti-depressants-linked-to-falls.html The following is an interesting article that appeared in McKnight's Daily Update on August 4. Elderly patients being treated for depression may have better luck and fewer side effects with older tricyclic antidepressants rather than newer, more popular antidepressants such as Effexor and Prozac, a new study reports. Researchers say that while newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are generally considered safe and effective, there have been fewer studies testing their safety and efficacy in senior citizens. SSRIs, which include Celexa, Paxil and Zoloft, recently have been linked to an increase in falls in the elderly. However, British researchers say tricyclics could be safer in people over 65, especially those at risk for falls. The University of Nottingham analyzed pres... Aging with Grace CareConnection blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097136 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:46:00 +0100 5097136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069556&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Feggs-are-not-follicles.html Many infertile women are very confused about the difference between follicles and eggsJust because they ovulate, they feel they much be producing good eggs every month.However this is not always true ! Women can have anovulatory cycles - and even ovulatory cycles may be the result of poor quality eggs !What about those women who are happy that their ultrasound scans for follicle tracking/ ovulation monitoring shows that they grow follicles every month ?While I agree this is reassuring, it does not mean that the egg quality is fine - especially in an older womanRemember that the follicle is only the black bubble which the sonographer can track during your scan. Normally, a good follicle ( one which grows at 2 mm per day and ruptures on Day 14 at the time of ovulation) does contain a good eg... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069556 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 02:44:00 +0100 5069556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050879&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fdoes-the-derma-roller-really-work%2F Katie is curious…I have been doing a lot of research on Collagen Induction Therapy using a derma roller. It’s a roller device with a bunch of tiny needles. You roll it over your skin and it creates tiny, microscopic holes in the skin. The theory is if you slightly, slightly injure your skin it will induce your skin to produce more collagen and reduce scars and wrinkles. It has been shown on the The Doctors and Rachel Ray shows and its all over Youtube etc (not that any of these are reliable, but I do trust The Doctors show more than the rest of course!). Creating these tiny holes is also supposed to help topical products penetrate deeper. So I bought into the hype and bought one. It’s only been a couple of weeks and I’ve used it three times. I use one of the smalles... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050879 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:01:34 +0100 5050879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036528&cid=t_101782_140_f&fid=34844&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheicarusproject.net%2Falternative-treatments%2Fharm-reduction-guide-to-coming-off-meds-greek-translation The Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, published by The Icarus Project and Freedom Center, is now available in Greek - thanks to the dedicated volunteer translation work of Marianna Kefallinou.You can download the Greek version here.Οδηγός Μείωσης της Βλάβης για τη Διακοπή των Ψυχιατρικών Φαρμάκων (Source: The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness) The Icarus Project - Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036528 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:25:03 +0100 5036528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008666&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fb0Td2mZIFjs%2F European Union antitrust regulators have ended a four-year probe into charges that Boehringer Ingelheim abused the patent system to thwart rivals from launching versions of the best-selling Spiriva med for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. To settle the investigation, the German drugmaker agreed to make changes in its intellectual property protections. As the EU noted, Boehringer is the market leader in COPD meds thanks to its Spiriva inhalers, which generated nearly $4.3 billion in sales last year. The fracas began, though, in 2003, when Boehringer filed patent applications for new treatments involving combinations of three categories of active substances, including a new active substance that was discovered by Almirall, a Spanish drugmaker. Almirall objected to the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008666 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:15:21 +0100 5008666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159031&cid=t_101782_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4582%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dapologists-for-andrew-wakefield-at-southampton-university-a-russell-group-university-teaching-some-dangerous-nonsense Conclusion Electrodermal testing cannot be used to diagnose environmental allergies", published in the BMJ .[download reprint]. In 2003 he published "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proving trial of Belladonna 30C” [download reprint] that showed homeopathic pills with no active ingredients had no effects: The conclusion was "”Ultramolecular homeopathy has no observable clinical effects" (the word ultramolecular, in this context, means that the belladonna pills contained no belladonna). In 2010 he again concluded that homeopathic pills were no more than placebos, as described in Despite the spin, Lewith’s paper surely signals the end of homeopathy (again). [download reprint] What i cannot understand is that, despite his own findings, his pri... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159031 Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:10:30 +0100 5159031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984500&cid=t_101782_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=4976228&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Vitamin E rich FoodIntake of Vitamin E slows the process of aging. If you include vitamin E in your diet, you are bound to have a healthy and glowing skin. It is known to wrought miracles to your skin and make you look young. Vitamin E has a series of organic compounds that consists of various phenols. It is known as a fat soluble vitamin with very strong anti-oxidant properties. There is no doubt that vitamin E slows down the process of aging as it works as an anti aging antioxidant. So, if you want to fight back the sign of aging and look young, add vitamin E in your diet to get amazing results. You can add it to your diet as natural food or as supplements. 1. Vitamin E rich food a. Wheat germ oil: It helps in curing dryness of skin and gives it a glow.b. Almonds: Nou... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976228 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:23:37 +0100 4976228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976210&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Frveg3vLj9MY%2F The UK government has filed a lawsuit seeking about $351 million in damages against Servier Laboratories over charges the French drugmaker “abused” its dominant position by delaying rivals from launching generic versions of a blood pressure drug, The Financial Times writes. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and more than 150 primary care trusts claim that between July 2001 and July 2007, Servier schemed to prevent a generic form of Aceon, or perindopril, from reaching the market, the paper continues. Consequently, the National Health Service paid “elevated prices.” The Servier patent on Aceon expired in 2003, but a generic did not appear in the UK until July 2007. The lawsuit cites documents showing Servier applied to the European Patent Office for another patent during t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976210 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:07:38 +0100 4976210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968488&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-nasal-spray-is-the-first-of-its-kind%2F2011.06.26 Meda Pharmaceuticals has announced a new nasal spray “Dymista” that contains both a steroid and an anti-histamine active ingredient. Why is this significant? It’s because it’s the first and only one to do so. Of course, it’s not available yet until the FDA approves it, but at least it has shown effectiveness in Phase 3 clinical trials. At this time, nasal sprays as it relates to nasal allergies come in two separate flavors: 1) Steroid Nasal Spray (flonase, nasonex, nasacort, rhinocort, veramyst, omnaris, etc, etc) 2) Anti-Histamine Nasal Spray (patanase, astepro, astelin) This new combo nasal spray “Dymista” contains (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Fauquier ENT Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968488 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100 4968488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4959999&cid=t_101782_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fquality-in-primary-care-2011-vol-19-no-2%2F This article aims to assess the continuity of antidepressant therapy in the primary care setting and whether this therapy is conducted with appropriate review. (Print subscription held at Fade Library) Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Anti Depressants, Patient Monitoring, Primary Care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4959999 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:51:07 +0100 4959999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953026&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-were-my-embryos-of-such-poor.html While a good IVF clinic is good at making good embryos, sometimes we will encounter patients whose embryos are all of poor quality.What's a poor quality embryo ? This is one which divides slowly ( for example, one which has only 4 cells on Day 3) ; or one which has a lot of fragments. ( This is why you must ask your clinic for photos of your embryos, so you have documentation of the quality of your embryos ! )Why does this happen - and what can you do about it if it happens to you ?Remember that there are only 3 variables which influence embryo quality - eggs; sperm and the lab. This means that poor quality embryos could only be because of the 3 following reasons:poor quality eggs;poor quality sperm; ora poor quality labSurprisingly, experience has shown us that the sperm are not important... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953026 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100 4953026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953029&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhat-is-empty-follicle-syndrome-why.html At the end of the egg collection, the first question every patient wants to know is - How many eggs did you collect, doctor ?Egg retrieval is usually a very straightforward procedure, and we usually get at least one egg from each mature follicle ( more than 18 mm in size) . This is why we expect to collect at least as many eggs as there are mature follicles . However, sometimes, much to the doctor's chagrin and the patient's dismay, sometimes we do not get any eggs at all. This is not common, but let's examine why this happens , and what we can do about it.Technically, if we do not collect any eggs at all , this condition is called " empty follicle syndrome( EFS) ". Sadly, this term is abused and misused by many IVF doctors, who are happy to make this "diagnosis" and blame this condition w... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953029 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4953029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934396&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhat-is-empty-follicle-syndrome-why.html At the end of the egg collection, the first question every patient wants to know is - How many eggs did you collect, doctor ?Egg retrieval is usually a very straightforward procedure, and we usually get at least one egg from each mature follicle ( more than 18 mm in size) . This is why we expect to collect at least as many eggs as there are mature follicles . However, sometimes, much to the doctor's chagrin and the patient's dismay, sometimes we do not get any eggs at all. This is not common, but let's examine why this happens , and what we can do about it.Technically, if we do not collect any eggs at all , this condition is called " empty follicle syndrome( EFS) ". Sadly, this term is abused and misused by many IVF doctors, who are happy to make this "diagnosis" and blame this condition w... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934396 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4934396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934740&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F11%2F2011-asco-exelixis-reports-expanded-cabozantinib-xl184-phase-ii-data-for-advanced-ovarian-cancer-six-deaths-reported%2F Exelixis, Inc. reported expanded Phase 2 study data with respect to cabozantinib (XL184) use in advanced ovarian cancer patients at the recent 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The overall solid tumor Phase 2 safety and tolerability data reference six deaths, including two ovarian cancer patients. Exelixis, Inc. reported expanded Phase 2 study [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934740 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:10:03 +0100 4934740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921689&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F09%2F2011-asco-additional-phase-iii-study-data-support-the-potential-role-of-avastin-in-newly-diagnosed-recurrent-ovarian-cancer%2F Positive results from two bevacizumab (Avastin®) phase III clinical studies were presented at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on June 4. The data reported add to the growing body of evidence in support of bevacizumab use to treat recurrent and newly-diagnosed ovarian cancer. Positive results from two bevacizumab (Avastin®) phase III [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921689 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:15:13 +0100 4921689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921425&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-to-treat-horse-and-donkey-bite-wounds%2F2011.06.09 Earlier this week this tweet from @prsjournal caught my eye Most Popular: Management of Horse and Donkey Bite Wounds: A Series of 24 Cases: No abstract available http://bit.ly/lgNkCS I missed this article when it came out in the June 2010 issue of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal.  As I have covered fire ant bites, cat bites, and snake bites.  Fellow blogger Bongi has written about hippo bites.  It’s time to cover horse and donkey bites. Dr. Köse, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Harran University Hospital, Turkey and colleagues presented a retrospective evaluation of 24 patients treated for animal bites (19 horse and five donkey bites) from 2003 to 2009.  The head and neck were the most frequent bite sites (14 cases), followed by the extremities (8 ca... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921425 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4921425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902419&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-brief-history-of-vaccines-the-anti-vaccination-movement-and-modern-quackery%2F2011.06.06 A good case of smallpox may rid the system of more scrofulous, tubercular, syphilitic and other poisons than could otherwise be eliminated in a lifetime. Therefore, smallpox is certainly to be preferred to vaccination. The one means elimination of chronic disease, the other the making of it. Naturopaths do not believe in artificial immunization . . . —Harry Riley Spitler, Basic Naturopathy: a textbook (American Naturopathic Association, Inc., 1948). Quoted here. Here’s what a good case of smallpox will do for you: If you’re lucky enough to beat the reaper (20-60%; 80% or higher in infants) or blindness (up to 30%), those blisters will leave you scarred for life. Oh, and the next time a good smallpox epidemic comes around, your children born since the last one will catch it and cont... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902419 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:16 +0100 4902419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893809&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2F2011-asco-entremed%25e2%2580%2599s-enmd-2076-demonstrates-clinical-activity-in-recurrent-platinum-resistant-ovarian-cancer-patients%2F EntreMed, Inc. announced that ENMD-2076 demonstrated clinical activity — a six-month progression free survival rate of 19% – when administered as a single agent to platinum drug-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer patients. The announcement is based upon interim phase 2 data presented today at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.  EntreMed, Inc., a clinical-stage [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893809 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:10:24 +0100 4893809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813438&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fis-eating-donkey-skin-good-for-your-complexion-2%2F In this study, researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology fed gelatin to mice and measured the effect of ultraviolet light on their skin. One group of mice were fed what would be the human equivalent of one large tablespoon of gelatin everyday. They found that after 6 weeks the gelatin-ingesting mice showed a 17% increase in collagen content of their skin compared to the control group (who did not receive gelatin) who had a 53% decrease in collagen content. The Beauty Brains bottom line This is a single study on mice but if corroborated by further research and the appropriate clinical trials, it could indicate that eating gelatin can help your skin. Whether or not you choose to get your gelatin from slabs of Donkey Skin or a nice bowl of Strawberry Jell-O is up to y... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813438 Thu, 12 May 2011 06:01:42 +0100 4813438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813288&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnasal-anti-histamine-spray-now-available-over-the-counter%2F2011.05.11 Up until now, there have been three anti-histamine nasal sprays in the United States market available only by prescription… Astelin, Astepro, and Patanase. However, in May 2011, Meda Pharma announced a new anti-histamine nasal spray Rhinolast Allergy that is available over-the-counter. The active ingredient is azelastine, the same one as found in the prescription nasal spray Astelin and Astepro. Azelastine has a triple mode of action: anti-histamine effect, mast-cell stabilizing effect, and anti-inflammatory effect. Azelastine has a rapid onset of action of 15 minutes. It can be used from the age of 5 years. This nasal spray can be used in combination with other over-the-counter anti-histamines medications taken orally like zyrtec, claritin, allegra, and benadryl. Read more about thi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813288 Wed, 11 May 2011 13:00:00 +0100 4813288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4797835&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F05%2F08%2Fwrinkle-creams-how-to-tell-which-ones-really-work%2F Beautie15 asks…What is your go-to anti-aging/wrinkle product? I do some work with StriVectin and I love to hear feedback from anyone who has tried it or are thinking about trying it to help reduce the appearance of lines on your face. I’ve been trying the new StriVectin-SD for about 5 weeks now and my face feels softer and looks healthier. They say it takes about 8 weeks to see full results, so I’ll let you know how it goes! The Right Brain responds: To be honest, Beautie, we haven’t heard great things about StiVectin (see this discussion thread in our Forum for details.) But, we are big fans of testing products for yourself rather than just accepting the marketing hype. Case in point:  Autumn Whitefield-Madrano (who runs a terrific blog called “The Beheld&#8... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4797835 Sun, 08 May 2011 06:01:05 +0100 4797835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775406&cid=t_101782_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2Fmaterial-world-part2-220307.mp3 One of my first posts about nonsense taught in universities was about the University of Westminster (April 2008): Westminster University BSc: “amethysts emit high yin energy”. since then, there have been several more revelations. Jump to follow-up Professor Petts The vice-cnancellor of Westminster, Professor Geoffrey Petts, with whom the buck stops, did have an internal review but its report was all hot air and no action resulted (see A letter to the Times, and Progress at Westminster). That earned Professor Petts an appearence in Private Eye Crystal balls. Professor Petts in Private Eye (and it earned me an invitation to a Private Eye lunch, along with Francis Wheen, Charlie Booker, Ken Livingstone . . ). It also earned Petts an appearence in the Guardian (The opposite of... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775406 Tue, 03 May 2011 08:10:00 +0100 4775406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4758711&cid=t_101782_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F04%2F27%2Fnursing-times-2011-v-107-no-14%2F This article looks at the indications and procedures for using anti-embolism stockings, plus the competencies required to perform the procedure. Contact the Library for a copy of this article. Filed under: Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: Anti-Embolism Stockings, Mechanical Thromboprophylaxis, Peripheral Arterial Disease, Venous Thromboembolism (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4758711 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:29:39 +0100 4758711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4747608&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=38261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vibrantglow.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fexercise-slows-aging-process-and.html We exercise for many reasons. Some to lose weight and get fit. Others to reduce stress and feel better. Slowing down the aging process doesn't usually come to mind, but it should. Recent studies are finding that exercise can keep cells younger. Specifically, vigorous exercise that breaks a sweat can stop telemeres--the protective caps and very small units of DNA on the ends of chromosomes--from shortening. Aging shortens telemeres because each time a cell divides it cannot completely replicate itself. When a telemere finally gets too short, the cell dies. Shorter telomeres are linked to a wide range of aging-related diseases.Psychological stress can also accelerate telemere shortening. Studies have looked at various stressors, including post-traumatic stress disorder, childhood abuse and c... Vibrant Glow blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4747608 Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100 4747608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771076&cid=t_101782_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.com%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fcan-hobbyists-and-hackers-transform-biotechnology%2F For most of us, managing our health means visiting a doctor. The more serious our concerns, the more specialized a medical expert we seek. Our bodies often feel like foreign and frightening lands, and we are happy to let someone with an MD serve as our tour guide. For most of us, our own DNA [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771076 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:21:06 +0100 4771076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4719949&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fi-have-low-amh-level-what-should-do-i.html For older infertile women, AMH ( anti-Mullerian hormone, also known as MIS ( Mullerian inhibiting substance) has become the new FSH . AMH is a very good marker for egg quality - and provides us with a quantitative measure for egg quality and quality.In the past, we had to depend upon FSH levels. A high FSH level suggests poor ovarian reserve, but FSH levels are not very reliable, because they vary according to which day of the cycle the test is done; and can also be artificially suppressed by a high estradiol levelAMH is a much better marker for ovarian reserve. It does not vary from cycle to cycle; and remains the same throughout the cycle. A low AMH suggests you have poor ovarian reserve - but even if your level is low, this does not mean you should panic !Remember that it's just a test ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4719949 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:28:00 +0100 4719949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4715014&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpYq3k6eZCQ4%2F Four years after the merger between the CVS drugstore chain and the Caremark pharmacy benefits manager, which has spurred numerous investigations and lawsuits over anticompetitive concerns, a handful of consumer groups have written the US Federal Trade Commission to ask the agency to break up the company. Why? The groups charge CVS Caremark limits choice through various programs, the merger has given CVS unfair advantage over other retailers, patients are steered toward CVS and confidential patient information is improperly shared. Such concerns have already prompted investigations by the FTC and attorneys general of 24 states. CVS Caremark has previously said it is cooperating with the probes. “There is strong evidence that the CVS Caremark merger has harmed consumers,” says the lett... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4715014 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:18:08 +0100 4715014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684528&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F04%2F06%2Fhow-to-tell-if-your-skin-care-products-are-really-working-2%2F Randi G asks about the value of VISIA… Is there really any value to the VISIA skin care analysis, or is it just a marketing tool to sell skin care products and services? The Right Brain responds: VISIA is a digital camera system that uses multi-spectral imaging (different kinds of light) to analyze your skin`s condition. It takes a picture of your face and separates the image into different views based on different wavelengths of light. One view shows melanin, the pigment in you skin that gives you freckles and makes you tan. Another view shows blood flow in the skin and is useful for evaluating facial flushing and redness. A third view shows damage done to your skin by sun exposure. This is a legitimate technology that is used by professionals in cosmetic medicine, clinical dermat... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684528 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:01:34 +0100 4684528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4677134&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F514%2Fthe-dirt-on-common-cosmetic-ingredients%2F Have you given up trying to figure out what causes your skin allergies? Unbeknownst to many consumers, we could be spending good money on products that we think are good for our skin but are actually causing allergic reactions, dermatitis, premature aging, and worse.  The following are the cosmetic industry’s dirtiest ingredients, rated according to Environmental Working Group’s cosmetics database Skin Deep, which references the American Cancer Society and other reliable organizations.  Skin Deep rates specific ingredients on a hazard scale from 0 to 10, the latter being the most harmful. Petrochemicals Petroleum jelly, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethanol Found in skin astringents, perfumes Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) rates a low 2 on Skin Deep’s hazard scal... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4677134 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:16:43 +0100 4677134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4670203&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FEuBxzB-YbdY%2Faccountable-care-organization-aco-regulations-first-look.html ACO regulations and related federal issuances hit the street last Thursday, after several months of waiting -- from CMS, OIG, FTC, DOJ and IRS.  They cover the waterfront, ranging from the central regulation defining the structure and workings of the ACO, to  limited Stark self-referral ban and anti-kickback statute waivers in the fraud and abuse arena, to new frameworks for antitrust analysis, to rules governing joint ventures involving taxable and tax-exempt organizations.  I had the opportunity to discuss the regs the day after they were issued on a special edition of the Blog Talk Radio show, ACO Watch, hosted by Gregg Masters (@2healthguru).  Gregg's guests included Mark Browne (@consultdoc), Vince Kuraitis (@VinceKuraitis), Jaan Sidorov (@DisMgtCareBlog) and yours truly (@health... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4670203 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:07:31 +0100 4670203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664312&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FwCXPiE0r0eI%2Faccountable-care-organization-proposed-regulations-released-for-public-comment.html The long-awaited ACO regulations were released by CMS in draft form today, accompanied by a series of conference calls for different constituencies.  Here is a mirrored copy: Medicare Program; Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations - Proposed rule. // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ // <![CDATA[ (function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript&... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664312 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:10:32 +0100 4664312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658414&cid=t_101782_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F30%2Fantioxidants-and-your-health%2F Antioxidants are good for your health. Or at least that is a popular claim. An antioxidant is any molecule that slows down or prevents oxidation reactions.  Originally, oxidation reactions were defined as chemical reactions with oxygen.  More recently, oxidation reactions have been described as reactions in which an atom or molecule loses an electron. Oxidation is a natural part of life.  Excessively high antioxidant levels are detrimental to health. Some people have suggested that oxidation reactions contribute to heart disease, declines in cognitive abilities, and cancer. “Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene have been shown to be antioxidants in a test tube, and it is often claimed that they and many other substances are able to function as antioxidants in the body. However, wh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658414 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:20:01 +0100 4658414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643014&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F506%2Ftrue-skincare-and-products-with-idebenone%2F If you do a search for true skincare products, one of the first things you will see is information about a compound called idebenone.  What is it?  That’s what this post is all about. Idebenone is described in most advertisements as a synthetic analog of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 or COQ10 for short.  I am a big proponent of all naturally occurring forms of COQ10.  I have seen what the antioxidant can do. If you are over the age of 20 and you are not taking the dietary supplement on a daily basis, you should be.  It could help you live a longer healthier life.  It could reduce your risk of heart disease and help prevent gum disease.  It can also help protect your skin from damaging UV radiation. For many years, we have been told by marketers and major healthcare organizations th... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643014 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:12:17 +0100 4643014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642858&cid=t_101782_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fn3w-dFUNHGE%2F It’s a good morning, and we’re about to put a serious spring in your step during this second week of spring. How? Our 40 Days of Giveaways are back and all-new today. (If you’re late to this spring fling: Blisstree is using the season of Lent to reward you for giving up your vices in favor of healthier habits. Each weekday from now until May 3, we’ll give away a different prize to one reader just for becoming our Facebook fan.) And we hope today’s nifty prize will help launch you into a healthier, happier spring season. We’re giving away a one month’s supply of Nature Made’s Açaí + SuperFruit Super Antioxidant to one reader who simply “Likes” Blisstree on Facebook. About Nature Made Açaí + SuperFruit Super Antioxidant: A combination of extracts from the ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642858 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:30:33 +0100 4642858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642771&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F03%2F28%2F5-things-you-need-to-know-about-retin-a-2%2F Beauty Bug begs an answer… I’m currently reading Free Gift with Purchase, by Jean Godfrey-June, the beauty editor for Lucky. The books says that Retin-A helps with wrinkles and Beauty Bug wants the Beauty Brains to comment. Does Retin-A really get rid of wrinkles? The Left Brain responds: What is Retin-A Retin-A is the brand name of a prescription drug called Tretinoin which is a derivative of vitamin A. In 1971, the FDA approved the topical application of Tretinoin to treat acne and sun damaged skin. This drug works by irritating the skin, which triggers the basal layer to produce fresh skin cells, thus increasing cell turnover. (Mmmm, turnover!) As new cells more rapidly replace the old ones, the skin takes on a younger, smoother appearance. So it does work, but there are a... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642771 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:01:43 +0100 4642771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631568&cid=t_101782_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fattitude-is-everything-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F I frequently run into individuals — as I did in my past as an RN — who thought they were the only ones who were suffering. What is this whole living with pain business, some morbid contest to see who’s suffered the most? It’s far too easy to slide down into that hole of depression and self-pity and think you’re the most unfortunate, the most tortured, and the most miserable of them all. If that’s your approach you’ll get a prize for certain; all you have to do is win. Your prize is a life of darkness engulfed in pain and suffering. Your attitude will stink. Your friends and family will eventually resent you and remember, it can get awfully dark down in that hole. I have many goals and hopes for this blog, but the big one is to avoid the whole contest idea. I know as ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631568 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:32:34 +0100 4631568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600657&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D2246 FOTB – Food of the Boob Sweet shaved ice!  You know, the kind that’s extremely bad for you that contains all that goodness – namely: condensed milk and vanilla ice cream mixed with sugar , then drenched in a double coat of brown sugar?   It’s ridiculously good and ridiculously bad, and should come with about 10 IU of insulin and a syringe.  Well, a London ice cream parlor is titillating its customers with a new flavor of ice cream made from human breast milk, and that don’t need no sugar – it is already home sweetened! The new ice cream flavor, which is named “Baby Gaga,”  is made from a mix of cream made from 75 percent human breast milk and 25 percent cream from old Bossy the cow, herself. The taste of human breast milk varies enormously, bas... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600657 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:36:19 +0100 4600657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636511&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fvalue-of-clomiphene-citrate-challenge.html Many older infertile women are very unsure as to whether they need to do IVF; and if they do need IVF, if they should use their own eggs or to use donor eggs. While they understand with their heads that using donor eggs would maximise their chances of getting pregnant, it's hard for their heart to accept this decision, because most of us want a genetic link with our child !This is especially true for older women who have regular cycles; grow follicles on ultrasound scans ; or have had a miscarriage in the last 2-3 years. If my cycles are regular and I can get pregnant in my own bedroom, doesn't this prove my eggs are fine ?Gynecologists ( who do not specialise in infertility treatment) will often add to this confusion. Because they see 42 year old women who get pregnant in their own bedroo... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636511 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:14:00 +0100 4636511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4580971&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FzNuaBRS5t4o%2Fdavid-harlow-quoted-in-ama-american-medical-news-story-on-daily-deal-websites.html Groupon, LivingSocial and other daily deal websites are being used by health care providers -- though thus far mostly by those that are not covered by traditional commercial or governmental health insurance (e.g., dental, chiropractic, acupuncture services).  Read the American Medical News story on Groupon, where I was quoted, and please take a look at my blog post on the subject as well -- at the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media blog -- entitled: Groupons for Health Care Services: No-Brainer or Legal Minefield?  In that post, I observed: There are a number of legal issues, and their resolution will depend, in part, on where you are situated, since many of the relevant rules are state laws, which vary.  For example: Groupon collects 50% of the price of the groupon as its fee; is th... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4580971 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:48:42 +0100 4580971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560519&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F07%2F2011-sgo-annual-meeting-ovarian-cancer-abstracts-selected-for-presentation%2F The March 2011 supplemental issue of Gynecologic Oncology sets forth the ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer-related medical abstracts selected by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists for presentation at its 42nd Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer™, which is being held in Orlando, Florida from March 6-9, 2011. The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) is hosting its 42nd Annual [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560519 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:39:54 +0100 4560519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560489&cid=t_101782_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FyALMggHNRE4%2F photo: Thinkstock Welcome to our brand-new Blisstree series about living with chronic diseases as your perpetual housemate. (I kicked things off a few weeks back with my tales of Hailey-Hailey Disease, a chronic — and very irritating — skin condition.) Each week, in a Q&A or a personal essay, we’ll feature someone who’s living and struggling with a different chronic disease, and how they manage their life navigating such an enormous built-in obstacle. If there’s a specific chronic disease you’d like us to cover, tell us about it in our comments section, below (anonymously, if you like). In this week’s post, we talk with Simone Edwards, a 35-year-old wife, mother, career woman, and New York City resident who has suffered from Crohn’s Disea... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560489 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:22:11 +0100 4560489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549834&cid=t_101782_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fyou-can-still-count-in-a-life-with-chronic-pain%2F As many of you, I have those days when my thinking is fuzzy. That’s a kind and understated way of saying I feel my years of this compromised life, am distracted by daily pain and have done something to confuse myself. That something is often forgetting to eat, resulting in low blood sugar. Other days I run around in a fog for no reason at all, because I’m trying to do too much too fast or haven’t slept well the night before. Today, as I was refilling my medicine containers into those weekly plastic containers I realized how often I use basic counting to prevent mistakes and to promote many of the other forms of therapy I use in my life of chronic pain. I’m certain many of us have tricks, gimmicks and reminders as we find our way through this strange life we have been given. We writ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549834 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:57:12 +0100 4549834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570581&cid=t_101782_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fsix-science-selections.html Astrologer Richard Nolle says the March 19 Supermoon will cause major earthquakes or other disasters. Scientists are not expecting any major disasters from the supermoon. | Space.com – On March 19, the moon will swing around Earth more closely than it has in the past 18 years, lighting up the night sky from just 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometers) away. On top of that, it will be full. And one *astrologer* believes it could inflict massive damage on the planet. But, who gives a sh*t what an astrologer thinks. Astronomers point out that this is only 7% closer than the average distance and will have very little impact other than the moon looking ever so slightly bigger in the night sky. Science Spot – Physical Science News – I archived my Spotlight column (2002-2010) on Scie... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570581 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:03 +0100 4570581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545141&cid=t_101782_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F03%2F03%2Fmichael-lucas-and-the-pink-washed-liner-notes-of-men-of-israel%2F His fans might be forgiven for not actually knowing his name. Michael Lucas has made millions from gay men who have bought, or otherwise paid to view, one of hs 100+ films – roughly eighty percent of which he has starred in. Lucas touched off a controversy last week when he threatened to pull his [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545141 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 02:59:55 +0100 4545141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536063&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-ari-brown-on-dr-oz-a-very-inaccurate-view-of-vaccines%2F2011.03.01 Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician and author, was [recently] on The Dr. Oz Show. She was asked to join a discussion about autism. Dr. Brown is a board-certified developmental pediatrician, a mom of two, and an advocate for science. She is passionate and clear about what she believes. She is speaking all over the country about how to protect children from illness, particularly when making decisions about vaccines. She contributed ideas in my series in late 2010 entitled, “Do You Believe in Vaccines: Part I, Part II, and Part III.” On Dr. Oz, she was asked to contribute to a discussion about autism that ultimately focused on fears about vaccines. I worry that the discussion wasn’t a representation of most American families, and even Autism Speaks refused to join the show. Dr. Brown has s... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536063 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:00:27 +0100 4536063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522151&cid=t_101782_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2Fscience-rules%2F One of my favorite blogs has another great one: http://thisisindexed.com/2011/02/damn-science/ (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522151 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:30:49 +0100 4522151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498399&cid=t_101782_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FMaSE3EWaB_E%2F Some people are known to be loners, reticent. If you are one of them, you avoid social encounters. You don’t make too many friends and like keeping to yourself. People, and encounters with them, make you uncomfortable. You find it difficult to have meaningful and positive interactions with others. Maybe you have tried before but it only led to bad results – there were misunderstandings, hurt and heart breaks, incompatibility. Maybe you even feel that most people, if not everyone, are potential sources of trouble. You feel that if you try to build a relationship, sooner or later, something is going to go wrong between you and them. They don’t really understand you, they can’t understand you. You have decided that you are better off without this trouble. You don&#821... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498399 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:52:03 +0100 4498399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477885&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2Ffo8JZajtT1I%2Faqc-to-aco-as-goes-massachusetts-so-goes-the-nation.html About four years ago here in Beantown, survivors of the last big ill-conceived or poorly-executed (depends who you ask) wave of health care management and finance innovation were kicking around for a new approach to aligning payor and provider incentives, focusing on quality and cost containment. To hear Andrew Dreyfus, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, tell the story, the Blues wanted to address both quality and cost, and therefore (after looking in vain for a model elsewhere that could be transplanted to Massachusetts) developed the Alternative Quality Contract, or AQC, which features a global payment model hybridized with substantial performance incentives, plus design features intended to lower the cost of care over time. Many of the features put in place under the AQC w... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477885 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:38:45 +0100 4477885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450302&cid=t_101782_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4066 The Science Museum is a wonderful place. As a child it seemed magical. So all the more disappointing to find that it houses an exhibition that promotes quackery. The exhibition is uncritical and sometimes downright dangerous.  It does not teach you anything about science, it teaches anti-science and uncritical thinking. It was not originally like this. Most of the objects in the exhibition were originally part of Henry Wellcome’s Wellcome Museum of Medical History, based at 183 Euston Road. It was moved on permanent loan to the Science Museum in 1977 where it was known as The Wellcome Museum of the History of Medicine. > Recently the Wellcome-Trust sponsored exhibition was the subject of a blog post at Purely a figment of your imagination, written by Alex D... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450302 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:06:50 +0100 4450302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445892&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2011%2F02%2F07%2Fdo-wexler-products-protect-skin-from-mmps-2%2F This article from Pubmed shows research that indicates treatment with isotretinoin (the drug Accutane) can reduce two types of MMPs (MMR9 and 13) and that may be the mechanism by which Accutane works. Of course, Accutane is a prescription drug so you won’t find it in a cosmetic product. And while this study appears to validate that certain MMPs might play a role in acne, it doesn’t prove that MMPi’s can help fight wrinkles. Other than this study, we couldn’t find much to back up Dr. Wexler’s theories. But, we admit there is a lot of research on MMPs and it’s impossible for us to research ALL the studies that have been done. The Beauty Brains Bottom Line Scientists seem to agree that MMPs do play a role in various skin conditions, but we haven’t be... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445892 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:01:33 +0100 4445892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433330&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZnvAWxo_J08%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. And here on the frosty Pharmalot corporate campus we are bounding with energy thanks to the ritual cup of stimulation, or three. The special flavor today is Golden French Toast. Of course, this makes it all the more possible to hunt down those interesting tidbits. Here are a few to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… Komen Advocacy Group Is Cautious On Avastin (Wall Street Journal) Merck 2011 Misses Estimate And Takes $1.7M Drug Write-Off (Bloomberg News) Teva Receives FDA Warning Letter For Jerusalem Plant (Reuters) Merck’s Gardasil Prevents HPV And Genital Warts In Men (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Profits Slump On Legal Costs And Avandia Slowdown (PharmaTimes) Painkiller Prescription Errors Due To ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433330 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:12:59 +0100 4433330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419137&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbook-review-deadly-choices-how-the-anti-vaccine-movement-threatens-us-all%2F2011.01.31 A friend suggested she was tired of hearing about vaccines. Her comment and our subsequent conversation seemed to reflect an important shift in parent sentiment: The conversation about vaccines is beginning to get somewhere. While much of this was born of the mainstream media’s newfound realization that the vaccine-autism connection was cooked, some of this is due to the tireless work of those like the Children’s Hospital of Philedelphia’s Dr. Paul Offit who get the story right. As part of his passionate agenda to expose vaccine truths, he’s published “Deadly Choices: How the Anti-vaccine Movement Threatens Us All” (Basic Books, 2011). For those looking to understand the origins of anti-vaccine sentiment, read this book. What struck me is the deep history beh... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419137 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:00:50 +0100 4419137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411722&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNXZC9JGOTcQ%2F In a bid to make HIV meds more accessible to poor countries, the Tibotec unit of Johnson & Johnson yesterday announced a licensing deal with several generic drugmakers to manufacture, market and distribute an investigational an HIV med in India, sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (which ones are these, you ask? Here is the list). The drug in question is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. The generic drugmakers, including Hetero Drugs, Matrix Laboratories and Aspen Pharmacare, will be entitled to manufacture a once-daily 25 mg version of Tibotec’s TMC278 as a single agent med and a fixed-dose combo product. In exchange, the companies will pay royalties of two percent to five percent, limit their gross profit margins and will be responsible for regulat... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411722 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:23:59 +0100 4411722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411574&cid=t_101782_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Flearning-from-my-patients.html I am always amazed by how smart my patients are ! It's fun learning from them and they keep me on my toes. Here's a first person guest post from one of my patients ( who is a PhD and knows more about fertility than most gynecologists do !). She has done all her learning "on the job" - and this is an excellent example of what a highly motivated intelligent patient can do to help herself, when she sets her mind to it.She has carried out a clinic trial on herself and done an extremely good job of it as well. In fact, based on her experience, I am now going to start studying the effect of Vit D3 supplementation on women with low AMH levels. If Vit D helps to improve their low AMH levels ( and thus their ovarian reserve ) this will be a big step forward in the treatment of these women !) It's t... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411574 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:37:00 +0100 4411574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389181&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flexapro-for-treatment-of-hot-flashes%2F2011.01.23 In a well done placebo-controlled study published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), use of escitalopram (Lexapro) reduced hot flashes in menopausal women. Investigators enrolled 205 women, randomizing them to either Lexapro 10 mg or placebo, with instructions to increase to two pills a day if needed after four weeks. Lexapro users experienced about a 60 percent reduction in hot flash frequency over the eight-week study. About half ended up on the larger 20 mg daily dose by study’s end. The drug’s effect was apparent at about one week of use, and it was well tolerated. As in almost studies of menopausal treatments, the placebo group also experienced a significant reduction in symptoms — about 40 percent — but the difference between place... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389181 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:00:21 +0100 4389181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377787&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FcjCmn3mBJKE%2F Two years ago, the US Federal Trade Commission filed a highly publicized lawsuit against Cephalon over pay-to-delay deals worth an estimated $200 million with some generic drugmakers - Ranbaxy Labs, Mylan Labs and Teva Pharmaceuticals - to keep a copycat version of its Provigil sleep-disorder pill off the market until 2012 (read this). Now, though, more than three dozen other drugmakers have raced to court to try to keep details of their own deals from being disclosed as a result of this battle. In a motion filed in federal court in Philadelphia this week, no fewer than 37 drugmakers - including Abbott Laboratories, Merck, Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Bayer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Actavis, Waston Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Reddy’s, ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377787 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:48:02 +0100 4377787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4352713&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-slippery-slope-of-anti-vaccine-complacency%2F2011.01.15 I got a package in the mail today: My very own (complimentary) copy of Paul Offit’s new book, “Deadly Choices; How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All.” Needless to say, I can’t wait to read it. Not coincidentally, Dr. Offit has been making the rounds of interviews in the wake of the book’s release. Although I haven’t heard any of them directly, I did see a reference to this NPR interview on the FaceBook page of an old friend, who quoted from it thusly: IRA FLATOW:  You write that some pediatricians will not see kids who are not vaccinated. Is that a good solution to the problem? DR. PAUL OFFIT: I don’t know what’s a good solution to that problem. And I feel tremendous sympathy for the clinician who’s in private practice. On the one hand, and my wife sort ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4352713 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:02 +0100 4352713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343127&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finfluenza-its-not-just-the-flu%2F2011.01.13 One of our readers suggested that I review the book The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, by John M. Barry. It’s not a new book (it was published in 2004) but it is very pertinent to several of the issues that we have been discussing on this blog, especially in regards to the current anti-vaccine movement. It’s well worth reading for its historical insights, for its illumination of the scientific method, and for its accurate reporting of what science has learned about influenza. In the great flu epidemic of 1918, influenza killed as many people in 24 weeks as AIDS has killed in 24 years. It’s hard to even imagine what that must have been like, but this book helps us imagine it. It tells horror stories: Children found alone and starving beside the cor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343127 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:51 +0100 4343127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4330998&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F69gsw3BvO6Q%2F By Jason KuznickiRadley Balko writes: [I]t’s worth remembering that the government initiates violence against its own citizens every day in this country, citizens who pose no threat or harm to anyone else. The particular policy that leads to the sort of violence… is supported by nearly all of the politicians and pundits decrying anti-government rhetoric on the news channels this morning. (It’s also supported by Sarah Palin, many Tea Party leaders, and other figures on the right that politicians and pundits are shaming this weekend.) I hope Rep. Giffords—and everyone wounded yesterday—makes a full recovery. It’s particularly tragic that she was shot while doing exactly what we want elected officials to do—she was making herself available to the people she serves. And of course... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4330998 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:16:11 +0100 4330998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318334&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-autism-vaccine-fraud-the-difference-one-journalist-can-make%2F2011.01.06 The BMJ’s statement this week that the 1998 article by Andrew Wakefield and 12 others “linking MMR vaccine and autism was fraudulent” demonstrates what a difference one journalist can make. Journalist Brian Deer played a key role in uncovering and dismantling the Wakefield story. (Of course, others recently have said something similar about The Daily Show comedian Jon Stewart’s role in focusing on the health problems of 9/11 first responders.) CNN’s Anderson Cooper had a segment worth watching, including a new interview Cooper conducted with Wakefield via Skype: Unfortunately, journalism played a key role in promoting Wakefield’s claims. The “Respectful Insolence” blog referred to one journalist as “CBS’ resident anti-vaccine pro... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318334 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 16:00:16 +0100 4318334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4309610&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftop-10-health-stories-of-2010%2F2011.01.04 1. Health care reform How could the health care reform legislation that President Barack Obama signed into law on March 23, 2010, not be the #1 story of the year?  Whether you are for or against it, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is nothing if not ambitious, and if implemented, it will fundamentally alter how American health care is financed and perhaps delivered.  The law is designed to patch holes in the health insurance system and extend coverage to 32 million Americans by 2019 while also reining in health care spending, which now accounts for more than 17% of the country’s gross domestic product. The biggest changes aren’t scheduled to occur until 2014, when most people will be required to have health insurance or pay a penalty (the so-called indiv... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4309610 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 14:00:49 +0100 4309610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304879&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-set-to-approve-new-anti-obesity-drug%2F2011.01.02 The FDA has been tough on diet drugs of late. Three years ago it scuttled an attempt to get the European diet drug rimonabant approved for use in the U.S. More recently it rejected, at least temporarily, applications for Qnexa and Lorcaserin. But that trend may have been reversed last week, when an advisory committee set the stage for possible FDA approval of Orexigen’s investigational diet drug, Contrave. By a 13-7 vote, the committee said in essence that the somewhat modest beneficial effects of the drug outweighed its tendency to increase blood pressure. The FDA will make final decision on the matter by the end of January. It is not required to follow the advice of its advisory committees, but as was the case for the three diet drugs mentioned above,  it usually does. (more…... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304879 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 19:00:19 +0100 4304879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4305122&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F345%2Fcellist-katinka-kleijn-spreads-the-word-about-toxic-skincare%2F Are there toxic compounds in your facial moisturizer?   Well-known cellist Katinka Kleijn just found out that the products she typically utilized before every single performance were harmful and has joined forces with other people in attempting to expand awareness of natural skin care products. The EWG has been attempting to expand awareness for many years.  I myself have been attempting to let individuals know by way of my blog and articles published on eZinearticles.com   It is great to see that other people are working to help as well. Although there are quite a few worries, the primary one is cancer.  Many of the chemical compounds accepted for use in cosmetics are acknowledged or suspected carcinogens.  Plant derived substances like wakame kelp are safe and effective. Researchers... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4305122 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:51:13 +0100 4305122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294638&cid=t_101782_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FoS-uDNzJSP4%2F Methylhexaneamine C7H17N was originally intended to be used as a nasal decongestant but in recent times it has found its way into dietary supplements marketed with thermogenic or stimulant properties. It can certainly be a tricky substance to locate in the 'ingredients' section of over the counter (OTC) energy products and while it is banned in sport, it is still legal in dietary supplements - making it even more tricky to monitor (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294638 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:35:18 +0100 4294638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4295031&cid=t_101782_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FdAnmrtQZZ7g%2F “The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity.” ~T.H. Huxley Was your childhood tragic enough to murder your inner child? Unfortunately, as an adult survivor, you may have blocked bad memories enough to deny your inner child their opportunity to thrive. Your inner child has been hiding for too long. Accept the fact that you were once a child, then give the inner YOU that’s been longing to come out permission to play. Here Are 10 Ways To Find Your Inner Child: 1.    Expand your 5 senses. Look at all the beauty that surrounds you. Take time to observe sunrises, sunsets, stars, moonlight, and nature. Listen to bird calls, children playing, trees rustling, happy music, and people laughing. Smell the aroma of food, flowers, and bubble baths. Touch finger paint... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4295031 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:07:54 +0100 4295031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281557&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F336%2Fanti-aging-lotion-below-the-shoulders%2F Recently released is a new anti aging body lotion.   Many of the anti-aging products on the market are for your face.  A few of them are great, but right up until recently, there wasn’t much to choose from if you were looking for a body lotion with anti-aging effects. The signs of aging skin are not restricted to your face.  There are many other symptoms like rough elbows or chapped heals as well.  At times the initial symptom that women notice is sagging skin on their upper arms. Collagen loss and slowing growth of elastin fibers are the primary reasons for the sagging.  Roughness on the heels and elbows have to do with extreme dryness, which is also associated with the aging process.  A all-natural collagen cream may deal with these difficulties. Maybe you are one of the many pe... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281557 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 20:32:38 +0100 4281557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277831&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgoing-against-medicine-courageous-or-foolish%2F2010.12.21 Every once I awhile a story catches my eye as I scan the news websites. There was one this morning on CNN with this catchy title: “Mom Defies Doctor, Has Baby Her Way.” The article describes a story where a mother was going to have her fourth baby. Her previous three were born via C-section. Mom did not want another C-section done, and “defied” her doctor’s order for the procedure. “You’re being irresponsible,” the patient was told. The middle of the article talks about the current thinking and statement of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology saying that “it’s reasonable to consider allowing women who’ve had two C-sections to try to have a vaginal delivery.” Of course, there’s risks with proceeding... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277831 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4277831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277874&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2F8bXem7TfRhs%2Fdavid-harlow-quoted-in-ama-american-medical-news-story-on-geolocation-apps.html As health care providers continue to wonder whether and how they should add social media to their mix of communications tactics, new tools -- and new uses for those tools -- continue to sprout up.  I'm quoted in the current edition of American Medical News in a story that looks at the question of whether and how health care providers should use geolocation services (e.g., Foursquare, Gowalla) as additional channels through which they may communicate with patients, colleagues and referral sources -- or through which they may encourage patients and others to communicate among themselves. I've touched on this issue in recent presentations on health care social media, and have noted that even "checking in" on line at an STD clinic -- an activity discounted by Mark Scrimshire in the article ... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277874 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:59:37 +0100 4277874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272601&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpAmBhLecykw%2F The controversy over the so-called pay-to-delay settlements is bubbling up to the US Supreme Court. Three pharmacy chains and a wholesaler have asked the court to review the issue because they maintain the deals choke off competition by stifling the arrival of lower-cost generics on their shelves. The issue has become a cause celebre for the US Federal Trade Commission (look here), which has been lobbying Congress to enact legislation to restrict the settlements, and has also divided courts across the country, which is why the Supreme Court was asked to review the topic and settle the matter. The case cited by the retailers and wholesaler involved a deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its patent challenge to the Cipro antibiot... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272601 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:41:59 +0100 4272601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266268&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FATItVCZMAC0%2F For years, there were contentious debates about links between certain prescription meds, notably antidepressants, and suicidal behavior. Now, the focus is turning to violent behavior directed toward others. And a new study is linking 31 widely prescribed drugs - most notably, the Chantix anti-smoking pill - with 1,527 serious acts of violence, such as physical abuse, physical assault and homicide. The study, which was published in PLoS One, identified 484 drugs that accounted for 780,169 serious adverse event reports of all kinds, including 1,937 cases meeting the violence criteria determined by the researchers. There were 387 reports of homicide, 404 physical assaults, 27 cases indicating physical abuse, 896 homicidal ideation reports and 223 cases described as violence-related symptoms. ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266268 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:31:34 +0100 4266268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266300&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F330%2Fnatural-skin-care-ingredients-for-an-anti-aging-facial%2F An anti aging facial treatment may perhaps be utilized on an infrequent or a frequent basis, it all depends on the formulation of the product.   Facial treatments at the spa are high-priced, but everyone likes to indulge on occasion.   But it is the product you use on a daily basis that tends to make the largest difference. What makes the most difference is selecting a natural skin care product that can generate healthful skin holistically instead of deciding on purely superficial solutions. It is hard to believe that a lot of the most popular elements provide no real benefit.   They are preferred because of misinformation spun by the cosmetic industry. For instance, collagen does nothing when applied to your skin.  The processes used to soften it destroy its bioactivity.  The skin�... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266300 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:06:54 +0100 4266300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258835&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FwJtIn6mLNdM%2F By Walter OlsonAs Dan Mitchell pointed out this morning, proposals to abolish the $100 bill, on the grounds that it’s too easily used in underground-economy activities such as tax evasion and drug dealing, are another instance in which ordinary citizens are called on to sacrifice convenience and privacy to help in the ever-expanding federal fight against “money laundering.” I’ve long been fascinated by the unintended consequences that arise from these laws, especially from the federal “know your customer” rules under which banks (and increasingly other businesses) are required to pry into their customers’ earnings sources, family relationships, overseas ties and other sensitive matters. Those who cannot furnish satisfactory answers — such as ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258835 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:20:52 +0100 4258835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251275&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F327%2Fthe-science-of-keeping-skin-young-and-wrinkle-free%2F Skin creases are not an inevitable component of the aging process, if you look to the most current studies.  Sun injury, a main cause of wrinkling, can be healed naturally.  Right here’s how the complete process works. When UV rays from the sun hit your skin, the free radical molecules commonly existing in and close to the tissues become frenzied.  The activity of the chemicals can damage cellular structures and also the skin’s DNA strands. When we are young, de-oxidizing chemicals like SOD, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione are able to neutralize the free radicals earlier than they can do any injury.  As we get older, there are a lot more free radicals in our pores and skin and less of the neutralizing anti-oxidants.  This, according to dermatologists, is the major trigger of wrinklin... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251275 Sat, 11 Dec 2010 23:16:32 +0100 4251275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245413&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2010%2F12%2F09%2Fis-retin-a-burning-my-face-2%2F Seven-Teen says…I’m quite desperate for any advice on my current skin situation. I have fair skin, and it turns out to be quite sensitive as well. I had a few break outs, being 17 and all, so I got Retin-a from my doctor.  I used it last week for 2 nights, and became quite red. I stopped using this but stupidly decided to put on antibiotic to ease the redness. Currently my skin looks burned– extremely red, blotchy, bumpy disgusting and scaley.  Is there anything I can do? My texture is terrible right now, how long will it last? The Left Brain’s Reply: I need to preface this discussion by saying we are not doctors and that your question is best answered by the doctor who prescribed the Retin-A. However, having said that, I can comment on what you might expect when... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245413 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:01:30 +0100 4245413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245414&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1586 Claudia Schiffer The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.  Maybe the tomatoes are partially responsible for her amazing looks? Lycopene, which is what makes tomatoes red, is nature’s most powerful antioxidant; studies have shown that increased lycopene consumption can lead to decreased risks of heart disease as well as certain types of cancers, including breast, prostate, and colorectal and may also lower the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol.  No word on whether it makes your hair blond, curly, and sexy. Tomato juice can, however,  significantly increase the presence of cell-protecting antioxidants that help ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245414 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:13:12 +0100 4245414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241949&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FU1IRA4muioM%2F Generally, trade agreements are discussed behind closed doors, but a New Zealand talk paper was leaked the other day and contains ideas that run counter to suggestions being pushed by US and the global pharmaceutical industry. In fact, the Public Citizen advocacy group, which publicized the leak, calls it a “direct challenge to the monopoly interests of major pharmaceutical corporations.” The disclosure comes amid negotiations that are being held this week in New Zealand among eight countries and the US that are participating in the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, or FTA. At issue is the extent to which the FTA would move beyond intellectual property standards in the World Trade Organization’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property, or TRIPS agreem... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241949 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:45:36 +0100 4241949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233187&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealthcare-diplomacy-and-a-night-at-the-white-house%2F2010.12.06 It’s not often you get invited to the White House. I had my chance this week, when I was a guest at the White House’s Hanukkah party. Now, when I say “guest,” I mean I was a guest of the president — of Hadassah, that is. My mother, Nancy Falchuk, is the president of one of the largest Jewish charitable organizations in the world, Hadassah. Her organization sponsors many different charitable activities, particularly related to healthcare (here she is in Jerusalem speaking at the ceremony lighting the walls of the Old City pink in honor of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.) One of the terms she uses a lot is “healthcare diplomacy” — the idea that part of the solution to intractable problems of war and peace is building bridges through something that we all share –... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233187 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:00:14 +0100 4233187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225656&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7MhiAperP14%2F And so, $720 million later, GlaxoSmithKline has finally discontinued work SRT501, a drug designed to mimic the ant-aging benefits of red wine, saying the compound did not work sufficiently in advanced multiple myeloma patients and caused kidney damage. This is not terribly surprising, given that a clinical trial was halted last spring for ‘unexpected safety events’ (see here). The discontinuation is a bit of an embarassment for Glaxo. Earlier this year, there was quite a flap over the value of the Sirtris compound. Sirtris, you may recall, made a name for itself by developing drugs that activate sirtuins, a class of enzymes involved in aging, and its most advanced compound was a formulation of resveratrol, a substance found in red wine and plants. Lured by the fountain of yout... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225656 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:51:28 +0100 4225656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225657&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FdczYYLlP0h4%2F Once again, European Commission antitrust regulators have raided the offices of several drugmakers seeking evidence that they struck anticompetitive deals or used their dominant market positions to squeeze rivals. So far, though, only AstraZeneca has confirmed that it received a visit. “The Commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have acted individually or jointly, notably to delay generic entry for a particular medicine,” the commission says in a statement. This could be a potential violation of EU antitrust rules.” The focus of the raid on AstraZeneca was its Nexium heartburn med, which is a $5 billion global seller but faces generic competition across Europe. “Earlier this week, competition authorities commenced inspections at a small numbe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225657 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:18:40 +0100 4225657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197070&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmaking-circumcision-a-crime%2F2010.11.23 Have you heard? First San Fransisco bans toys in Happy Meals. Now CNN is reporting there’s a  circumcision ban proposed in San Fransisco as well.  To recap: Anti-circumcision activist Lloyd Schofield has drawn up a proposal outlawing all circumcisions, even for religious reasons (circumcision of boys is traditional in Judaism and Islam.) The punishment would be up to a year in jail or up to a $1,000 fine. Boy, oh boy. What a hot-bed topic circumcision is. Mandating a ban against all circumcisions is like mandating a requirement that all boys be circumcised. Nobody is right. Everyone is an expert. You’re either for it or against it. But making circumcision a crime? I don’t know. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist*... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197070 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0100 4197070 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190305&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D876 WHERE’S THE BEEF? Erection Failure Is a Disaster! But, there are some natural ways to help prevent this conversation, and perhaps might allow a guy to use those handy blue Viagra Pills only as backup.  A recent study suggests that pomegranate juice might be a healthy way to improve erectile dysfunction. The purple-reddish colored fruit has more anti-oxidants than red wine, green tea or blueberries, and is thought to have excellent anti-aging properties, with benefits for everything from wrinkle- free glowing skin to better heart and circulatory health. Nearly half of  men (47%) who drank a glass of pomegranate juice a day reported they got better erections and had better sex.  Drinking concentrated POM liquid decreases a chemical reactant in the blood called carbonyl malondi... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190305 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:12:22 +0100 4190305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190151&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwheres-my-government-provided-healthcare%2F2010.11.22 Freshman Republican Congressman Andy Harris, who was elected on a promise to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), is outraged that he’s going to go a whole month before his government-provided health insurance kicks in. From Politico: A conservative Maryland physician elected to Congress on an anti-Obamacare platform surprised fellow freshmen at a Monday orientation session by demanding to know why his government-subsidized health care plan takes a month to kick in. Republican Andy Harris, an anesthesiologist who defeated freshman Democrat Frank Kratovil on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, reacted incredulously when informed that federal law mandated that his government-subsidized health care policy would take effect on Feb. 1st –- 28 days after his Jan. 3rd sw... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190151 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4190151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190287&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2Fes001VGqoHg%2Fhealth-care-reform-what-price-progress-1.html There's a lot of breast-beating going on out there regarding recent "shocking" behavior by many health care provider organizations.  Believe it or not, all across the nation, health care providers are seeking to affiliate/acquire/be acquired in the hopes of creating more efficient, more comprehensive provider networks, which can survive and flourish under new reimbursement regimes designed to squeeze inefficiencies out of the system in an effort to achieve the much-vaunted triple aim of providing high quality health care to ensure population health at a reasonable cost.  This thread was picked up in Robert Pear's Sunday New York Times piece, Consumer Risks Feared as Health Law Spurs Mergers, which focuses on concerns that prices will go up as health care providers consolidate and gain g... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190287 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:50:04 +0100 4190287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186928&cid=t_101782_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F20%2Fpatent-medicine-redux-drug-ads-vs-psychotherapy%2F My father got his M.D. in 1930; I got mine in 1958. Insulin and penicillin came into being during his early years of practice. In my first years as a psychiatrist, tranquilizers and antidepressants changed the landscape of mental health. As doctors, Dad and I both welcomed Medicare in 1965; later on as patients we became grateful beneficiaries. I remember him explaining “ethical pharmaceuticals” — a term that distinguished companies like Merck from hucksters of “patent medicines.” The scandal at Merck about the arthritis drug Vioxx came after his time — he would have been appalled. Recently the line between ethical drug companies and hucksters was blurred by GlaxoSmithKline, which paid a record fine for its bad acts. Until this Glaxo case, drug firms took fines and som... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186928 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:30:04 +0100 4186928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771190&cid=t_101782_107_f&fid=38577&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbiosingularity.com%2F2010%2F11%2F20%2Ffor-decades-scientists-have-been-searching-for-the-fundamental-biological-secrets-of-how-eating-less-extends-lifespan-it-has-been-well-documented-in-species-ranging-from-spiders-to-monkeys-that-a-d%2F For decades, scientists have been searching for the fundamental biological secrets of how eating less extends lifespan. It has been well documented in species ranging from spiders to monkeys that a diet with consistently fewer calories can dramatically slow the process of aging and improve health in old age. But how a reduced diet acts [...] (Source: Biosingularity) Biosingularity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771190 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 01:47:40 +0100 4771190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183385&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2F5yuEUj5711I%2Fdavid-harlow-keynotes-on-health-care-social-media-and-the-law-at-annual-healthcare-and-the-internet-.html I attended the 14th Annual Healthcare and the Internet Conference in Las Vegas this week, and gave a keynote presentation entitled: "Health Care Social Media - The Lawyers Don't Always Say No" in which I discussed the reasons for health care providers to engage with their constituencies via social media -- both from a business perspective and from a regulatory perspective (ACO rules and future phases of Meaningful Use rules effectively demand a response from providers involving social media), and how to do it without getting into trouble (there are a variety of HIPAA, other privacy, liability, anti-kickback and fraud and abuse issues to keep in mind when planning for patient engagement through social media). Here are the slides from my talk: Health Care Social Media - The Lawyers Don't Al... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183385 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:53:27 +0100 4183385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179467&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F18%2Fexelixis-reports-promising-interim-data-from-ovarian-cancer-patients-treated-with-xl184%2F Exelixis reports promising interim data from ovarian cancer patients treated with XL184, including:  a  32% confirmed response rate per RECIST in patients with platinum-resistant or platinum-sensitive disease, and a 64% overall week-12 disease control rate. Exelixis, Inc.  today reported interim data from the cohort of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179467 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 23:03:41 +0100 4179467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179534&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F317%2Floreal-skincare-and-hair-collection-review%2F L’Oreal recently signed on a new celebrity to promote their hair and skincare collection.  The celebrity was quoted as saying she was “honored to represent a brand that is rich in history, synonymous with beauty and reflective of the modern woman”. There is no doubt that the company is rich, with earnings of over 17 billion euro in 2009.  The history is relatively long.  In 1907, they began providing hair dyes, which were promoted as inoffensive or “safe”. The safety of the original ingredients is unknown, but the ingredients the company includes in their hair dyes today are far from safe.  According to Skin Deep, they are highly hazardous. Skin Deep is an online database created by the Environmental Working Group.  You can visit the site.  Type in a product name and if it ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179534 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:49:00 +0100 4179534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179520&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEhLvTt5hga8%2F In this world of fraud, bribes and huge fines, what do companies doing business in Europe anticipate when they hear the word compliance? In short, lots of change. A new survey finds 93 percent believe regulatory compliance will be a big challenge and 82 percent say new regulations - such as the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Anti-Bribery law, which becomes effective next April - are going to have a measurable impact. More specifically, 62 percent say that implementing transparency guidelines will prompt decreases in promotional spending. And 53 percent expect to spend more on transparency efforts to increase. The survey, by the way, was conducted by Cegedim, a consulting and market research firm, which queried 117 people - 83 percent from drugmakers; 8 percent from device comp... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179520 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:22:39 +0100 4179520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4167945&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyauU-_wOBeI%2F By David BoazThe movie “Mao’s Last Dancer” is a sleeper hit, says the Los Angeles Times: It features no big-name stars, drew mediocre reviews and traffics in the esoterica of Chinese ballet. And yet “Mao’s Last Dancer,” the true story of a ballet performer who defected to the United States in 1981, has become one of the season’s biggest art-house hits. Bruce Beresford’s Australian-produced film tells of Li Cunxin, an 11-year-old Chinese boy plucked from his rural village in 1972 under the reign of Mao Zedong to dance for the Beijing Ballet. While in residence at the Houston Ballet a decade later, he defected to the United States after a politically charged standoff that involved the FBI and diplomats from China and the U.S. It’s been in... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4167945 Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:31:05 +0100 4167945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4163029&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F12%2Fovarian-cancer-drug-amg-386-shows-promise-with-move-to-phase-3-trials-in-australia-canada-europe%2F A new drug (AMG 386) designed to arrest ovarian cancer cell growth by inhibiting blood vessel formation is being readied for a phase 3 trial in Australia, Canada and Europe. AMG 386, a new drug designed to arrest ovarian cancer cell growth by inhibiting blood vessel formation, is being readied for a phase 3 trial [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4163029 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:27:07 +0100 4163029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159528&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F313%2Fskin-care-facts-the-experts-dont-want-you-to-learn%2F Skincare experts ideas range greatly on topics like anti aging skin care, zits, eczema and sun exposure.  Right here is the short version of my belief on those topics. Sun exposure is healthful, as long as it is not excessive.   Sun burning is bad for the skin’s well being in many ways.  Spending too much time indoors is probably a whole lot worse for your well being than being active. Of course, that does depend on exactly where you dwell and the volume of air pollution in your environment.  If you stay in a big city, try to get away and get some refreshing air just about every few days or so.  It can do you a world of good. Nourishing lotions and good dietary supplements, as well as a nutritious diet, can help shield you from the injury that the sun could do to your skin.  If so... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159528 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:12:00 +0100 4159528 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155234&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fimmunizations-nccam-fails-to-provide-responsible-information%2F2010.11.11 If you go to the website of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), you’ll find that one of its self-identified roles is to “provide information about CAM.” NCCAM Director Josephine Briggs is proud to assert that the website fulfills this expectation. As many readers will recall, three of your bloggers visited the NCCAM last April, after having received an invitation from Dr. Briggs. We differed from her in our opinion of the website: One of our suggestions was that the NCCAM could do a better job providing American citizens with useful and accurate information about “CAM.” We cited, among several examples, the website offering little response to the dangerous problem of widespread misinformation about childhood immunizations. As Dr. Novella subseq... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155234 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:51 +0100 4155234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151791&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcuring-the-common-cold-from-the-inside-out%2F2010.11.09 Antibodies can fight viruses from within infected cells, reported researchers who now believe that treatments could be applied to viral diseases like the common cold, “winter vomiting,” and gastroenteritis. Previously, scientists thought that antibodies could only reduce infection by attacking viruses outside cells and by blocking their entry into cells. Once inside the cell, the body’s only defense was to destroy the cell. But protection mediated by antibodies doesn’t end at the cell membrane. It continues inside the cell to provide a last line of defense against infection. Researchers at the U.K.’s Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology showed that cells possess a cytosolic IgG receptor, tripartite motif-containing 21 (TRIM21), whic... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151791 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:00:00 +0100 4151791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151980&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2F33NVHEUOWTA%2Foig-issues-roadmap-for-new-physicians-a-guide-to-avoiding-fraud-and-abuse.html In October, the Office of Inspector General issued a report on Fraud and Abuse Training in Medical Education, finding that 44% of medical schools reported giving some instruction in the anti-kickback statute and related laws, even though they weren't legally required to do so. (As an aside, do we really live in such a nanny state? Over half of all medical schools don't teach their students anything about this issue -- because nobody's making them -- even though it is an issue that looms large in the practice of medicine.)  On a more positive note, about 2/3 of institutions with residency programs instruct participants on the law, and 90% of all medical schools and training programs expressed an interest in having dsome instructional materials on the subject of the anti-kickback statute, p... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151980 Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:33:16 +0100 4151980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134312&cid=t_101782_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FZ4IoFXhO0C4%2F Would you like to live a more vibrant life? Your life can get better, both physically and emotionally. And best of all, it’s easier to get there than you probably think! Stand up and volunteer. Right now you have countless opportunities to give your time and talents to others. Volunteering will give you a chance to change lives whether you are tutoring, contributing to a local charity or assisting the homeless. People who volunteer feel happier, have a sense of purpose, and experience the rich rewards that come with giving time. Being generous with your time and effort can lead to improved physical and mental health for yourself and others. Here Are 7 (Simple) Ways To Volunteer And Give To Your Community: 1.  Link Up With Local Community Outreach. There are many ways to reach people in ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134312 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:55:29 +0100 4134312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133711&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-does-anti-vaccine-really-mean%2F2010.11.04 We write a lot about vaccines here at Science-Based Medicine. Indeed, as I write this, I note that there are 155 posts under the Vaccines category, with this post to make it 156. This is third only to Science and Medicine (which is such a vague, generic category that I’ve been seriously tempted to get rid of it, anyway) and Science and the Media. There is no doubt that vaccines represent one of the most common topics that we cover here on SBM, and with good reason. That good reason is that, compared to virtually any other modality used in the world of SBM, vaccines are under the most persistent attack from a vocal group of people, who, either because they mistakenly believe that vaccines caused their children’s autism, because they don’t like being told what to do by The Man, because... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133711 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:00:04 +0100 4133711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4122023&cid=t_101782_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F10%2F31%2Festrogen-replacement-therapy-speeds-growth-of-er-ovarian-cancer-increases-risk-of-lymph-node-metastasis%2F Estrogen therapy used by menopausal women causes “estrogen receptor positive” (ER+) ovarian cancer to grow five times faster, according to a new study being published by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center in the November 1 issue of Cancer Research. Estrogen therapy used by menopausal women causes so-called “estrogen receptor positive” (ER+) ovarian cancer to grow [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4122023 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:41:17 +0100 4122023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119756&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F303%2Fastonishing-skincare-products-actually-reverse-sun-damaged-and-wrinkled-skin%2F Scientists of late announced an astonishing skincare treatment that has the ability to restore sun damage and wrinkles.   The essential component is the well-known antioxidant CoenzymeQ10. CoQ10 is naturally present in just about all living cells.   Without it, cells would deteriorate and die quickly from oxidative stress. The skin’s COQ10 acts to negate free radicals created during exposure to UV rays from the sun.   Researchers found that the skin’s coenzyme Q10 levels are quickly depleted when exposed to direct UV light. They asked themselves:   What would happen if the Coenzyme Q10 could be replenished and the skin never ran out? Months of testing later, they were sincerely amazed by what they discovered.   Natural skincare products containing the microscopic ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119756 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:09:27 +0100 4119756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097939&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-unvaccinated-children-cause-public-health-fears-to-increase%2F2010.10.22 Dr. Robert Sears’ The Vaccine Book, is, as Dr. Rahul Parikh puts it, “a nightmare for pediatricians like me.” In a piece from Salon, Dr. Parikh brings his issues to the author. The controversy of the book is the so-called “alternative vaccine schedule,” which, as vaccine developer Paul Offit puts it: …is “misrepresentation of vaccine science” that “misinforms parents trying to make the right decision for their children” in the Journal of Pediatrics. And yet, as a pediatrician myself, I have seen an increasing number of caring, reasonable parents hold it up like a bible in my practice (and that of my colleagues). This post, however,  isn’t about the vaccine controversy — I’ll leave you to read Dr. Parikh’s excellent piece for yourself. What I found interest... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097939 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:00:28 +0100 4097939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077623&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F294%2Fmeaningful-beauty-cindy-crawford-skin-care-review%2F Meaningful skincare products are endorsed by Cindy Crawford, a former US supermodel who is getting a little older. The complete line includes cleansers, creams and masks.  Finding out about the ingredients has been difficult. Many cosmetic companies use advertising and celebrity endorsements to sell their products.  They might talk about the science behind the ingredients or the results we can expect to see after using them.  But they don’t want to give us a detailed list of ingredients until we physically pick up the product. Some companies are becoming less secretive about their products.  They realize that more and more consumers are concerned about safety.  It’s not just the people with allergies or sensitivities that worry these days. Scientists from around the world have exp... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077623 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 21:46:49 +0100 4077623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074068&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Funscientific-medicine-what%25e2%2580%2599s-the-harm%2F2010.10.14 Any promoter of science-based medicine often faces the question: “What’s the harm?” What is the harm if people try treatment modalities that are not based upon good science, that are anecdotal, or provide only a placebo benefit? There are generally two premises to this question. The first is that most “alternative” placebo interventions are directly harmless. The second is that direct harm is the only type worth considering. Both of these premises are wrong. The pages of Science Based Medicine (SBM) are filled with accounts of direct harm from unscientific treatments: Argyria from colloidal silver, death from chelation therapy, infection or other complications from acupuncture, burns from ear candleing, stroke from chiropractic neck manipulation — the list goes on. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074068 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:50 +0100 4074068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061088&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F290%2Feliminate-fine-lines-and-wrinkles-with-natural-skin-creams%2F Researchers and consumers alike understand what the root causes of skin wrinkles are, so there should be a basic solution on the market that will rejuvenate our skin to the firm, supple form it once had. It doesn’t make sense that we are able to walk on the moon and catalogue the entire human genome, but cannot find an answer to fine lines and wrinkles beyond antioxidants. Something is very wrong with this picture, don’t you think? Antioxidants offered in all natural skin care creams are the key to repairing the wrinkles and fine lines caused by harmful free radical activity, and there are a significant number of anti-wrinkle skin creams that contain natural compounds for this exact reason. Antioxidants reduce the risk of damage free radicals can cause to your chemic... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061088 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:43:18 +0100 4061088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055956&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FtsVcPs4lKRU%2F The proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement has been causing a ruckus for nearly two years as consumer activists object to provisions that may allow European nations to seize low-cost generics under the guise of counterfeit products. The talks are designed to uphold intellectual property standards, according to this statement from US Trade Rep: “ACTA…will include state-of-the-art provisions on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including provisions on civil, criminal, and border enforcement measures, robust cooperation mechanisms among ACTA Parties to assist in their enforcement efforts, and establishment of best practices for effective (intellectual property rights) enforcement.” But critics say the initiative goes too far and, with a final deal expect... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055956 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:15:33 +0100 4055956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045094&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealth-benefits-of-green-tea-omega-3-combo%2F2010.10.08 We have know for some time that there are health benefits from drinking green tea. Research also shows that Omega 3 fatty acids have beneficial effects on a number of organs in the body, including the cardiovascular system, the brain, and even depression. Dr. Fereidoon Shahidi, research professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, is hoping to show that green tea polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may also prevent colon cancer and even have anti-viral effects when combined with certain Omega 3 fatty acids. “We know from experience that green tea is not well absorbed by the body,” Dr. Shahidi said. “Our premise was to see if by adding something to it that has its own benefits, like Omega 3 fatty acids, we might g... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045094 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:00:00 +0100 4045094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045099&cid=t_101782_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FbHRgEMhpKPY%2F Yay...it's Friday. Time to challenge that cerebral cortex and put on those 'mental' dancing shoes as we trip the light fantastic of medical trivia, and lift the latch on the cage of the tiger of tease...so fasten your brastraps in anticipation of the Funtabulously, Frivolous Friday Five... (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045099 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 05:54:58 +0100 4045099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036772&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FmSY0Ec6RZEE%2Faco-workshop-the-feds-commit-to-making-accountable-care-organizations-work-with-safe-harbors-waivers.html Don Berwick kicked off the day-long Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Workshop and Listening Session, co-hosted by the FTC, CMS and the OIG, with a short, stirring speech that touched on his Triple Aim for health care: better care for individuals, better health for populations and reduced per-capita costs.  He committed the government to interpreting applicable statutes "wisely, so as not to impede the development of ACOs."  That sums up the reason this workshop was so eagerly anticipated.  Health care providers are extremely eager to become ACOs - though the term has yet to be fully defined - yet are extremely concerned about the potential to have specific ACO arrangements identified as illegal by the FTC, the OIG or CMS because the arrangements violate antitrust law, Stark, anti-kic... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036772 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:16:06 +0100 4036772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4025690&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1187 Please Shay it isn’t so Shay-la Hershey – Size 38KKK!  (World’s Largest Breasts Record) No need to hit the GYM – just head to the beach instead! Just 10 minutes of staring at the charms of a well-endowed female is equivalent to a 30-minute aerobics work-out,” said author Dr. Karen Weatherby, a gerontologist. So, since Shayla’s chest is over 7 sizes larger than a D cup,  you can get get a 3 1/2 workout by looking at her bust for just ten minutes! Boob oglers have a lower blood pressure, slower resting pulse rates and decreased risk of coronary artery disease.  Of course, right after seeing large breasts there usually is a temporary increase in blood pressure and heart rate, but then it settles down with time.  Playboy King, Hugh Hefner may therefore ... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4025690 Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:29:04 +0100 4025690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013321&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2Fulbc5SYkKHI%2Fself-referral-disclosure-protocol-redux-if-it-aint-broke-dont-fix-it.html The OIG scrapped its old self-referral voluntary disclosure program in 2009 (it dated back to 1998, and was revisited in 2008), and the PPACA mandated that it be replaced.  Just like clockwork, on the deadline for its promulgation, the OIG obliged, and the new Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol is now posted and effective. The new protocol could be clearer, and could offer more comfort -- but it doesn't.  Makes one pine for the old policy's clarity: in the old days, voluntary disclosure bought you a discounted fine for Stark violations -- not like the new protocol's wishy-washy maybe-we'll give-you-a-discount language.  The new protocol also fails to help a provider seeking to disclose past wrongs voluntarily in dealing with the Federales on a number of fronts simultaneously (e.g., for ... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013321 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:02:00 +0100 4013321 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998954&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdfSHez0bTmw%2F By Michael F. CannonThat’s the headline of an article posted this week in Politico: Rarely have so many political strategists been so wrong about something so big. But when it comes to the health care bill, everyone from former President Bill Clinton on down whiffed on some of the more significant predictions. Democrats would run aggressively on the legislation? Nope. Voters would forget about the sausage-making aspects of the legislative process? Doesn’t seem that way, as the process contributed to the sense that the bill was deeply flawed. And Clinton’s own promise to jittery Democrats that their poll numbers would skyrocket after the bill finally passed also didn’t pan out, as the party is fighting for its life in the midterms. What can explain the miscalculation? ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998954 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:17:19 +0100 3998954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998989&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhen-adults-get-chickenpox%2F2010.09.24 We think of chickenpox as a childhood disease, but there are adult cases and they tend to lead to more serious complications. Chickenpox is caused by the varicella virus and it is extremely contagious. Most people are exposed in childhood (or they receive the chicken pox vaccine), and so adults rarely contract it. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women because the fetus can become infected. The latency period from infection exposure to disease is 10 to 21 days. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998989 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3998989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3999312&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F279%2Fhow-to-find-an-anti-wrinkle-cream-that-is-worth-your-money%2F There is barely an anti wrinkle cream on the market that is worth wasting your time and money on, and this is because the cosmetic companies simply aren’t trying to produce effective formulas. I know that may sound like a bold charge, but it is certainly not made without solid evidence.  All anyone has to do is look at the ingredients that are in the average anti aging cosmetic to see that I am correct. Most formulas that are designed to reduce lines and skin sagging can only produce results that last for a few hours at a time.  This is because these products feature ingredients that bind water to the skin to help make it appear fuller, constrict the underlying tissue to make the skin pull taut, or “relax” the facial muscles to the point where they sag and tug at the skin. The last... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3999312 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:12:39 +0100 3999312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983462&cid=t_101782_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2010%2F09%2F19%2Fis-red-tea-good-for-your-face-3%2F Gaby gabs about tea… I just wanted to if applying red tea on my face is actually beneficial for it, I use regular tea and apply it on my face after washing it at night, is red tea good for the skin? The Right Brain brews this response: Tea is a hot ingredient these days. Green tea (and black tea too) comes from the plant called Camellia sinensis which is rich in ingredients known as polyphenols that have antioxidant properties. These are ingredients that scavenge “free radicals,” the toxic by-product of natural biological processes that can damage cells and lead to cancer. For more background on the healthful aspects of tea we refer you to this great article from WebMD. Red Tease Red Tea, also known as Rooibos, is not really “tea” in the traditional sense. It ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983462 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:48:33 +0100 3983462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3981015&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FhFvpmaAFRys%2F Want to hinder the supply of low-cost, accessible AIDS/HIV meds to poor countries? One way is to continue to implement free-trade agreements between India, which is an increasingly important supplier of these meds, and the European Union, according to a new report co-authored by an official from UNITAID, the United Nations relief organization that supplies the drugs to such nations. How so? Trade talks currently taking place between India and the European Union include proposals that could delay or restrict Indian generic drug makers by extending patent terms for brand-name meds, requiring data exclusivity and imposing tighter rules on enforcing borders. The report, which appears in the Journal of the International AIDS Society, suggests prices could rise and access delayed to improved med... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3981015 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:48:27 +0100 3981015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3973114&cid=t_101782_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F2VKEYVGzqQs%2F Just as Allergan pleads guilty to a misdemeanor for misbranding in relation to off-label promotion of its widely used Botox (see this), the drugmaker was also tagged by the FDA for running an ad for its Acuvail anti-inflammatory that the agency deemed misleading for overstating efficacy and omitting risk information. Acuvail is an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, that is used Acuvail is used to treat pain and inflammation after cataract surgery. But a recent two-page ad - which features a row of four diamonds that range from small and dull to large and sparkly - suggests the drug has “enhanced” and is superior to other ocular NSAIDs. The FDA, however, says this isn’t so, and goes on to spank Allergan for implying Acuvail improves outcomes and patient comfort, a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3973114 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:30:23 +0100 3973114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965667&cid=t_101782_140_f&fid=35436&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseroxatsecrets.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F13%2Fricky-hatton-in-rehab-to-fit-his-depression%2F The boxer, Ricky Hatton, is in rehab – but I bet none of his doctors will think about stopping his medication – I’d bet my house on the fact that Ricky will have been prescribed an SSRI or an SNRI. It’s a classic story – his errant behaviour will have been caused to a great degree by the very drugs that doctors thought might help him “His father has already been talking to the specialists over the last few weeks,” Max Clifford said. “He and others have been increasingly concerned about his depression and his drinking. “He met with the specialist today and he was told that his depression is severe depression and that he has a drink problem. The drugs are quite recent.” “The problem is depression and the drink has been a problem for some tim... seroxat secrets... blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965667 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:58:44 +0100 3965667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965718&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F273%2Fprotect-your-skin-with-ayurvedic-skin-care%2F Today the world is rapidly developing day by day and so are the people trying to merge with the only constant thing in the world that is change. They are mostly devoted to improve their appearance through skin treatment. There is an old thought that face is the mirror of one’s mind so the people are giving more emphasis on facial therapy so as to look more attractive. Clothes don’t make a man so there is no much use of wearing expensive clothes rather than taking care of the skin and body. Skin care has become an inevitable part of the modern life. There are several products available in the market for all age groups. A person aged 40 should not try the ones which are applicable on a 20 year old. Rather the mid aged person must use products like anti aging cream that will turn you look... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965718 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:14:05 +0100 3965718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954261&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwho-partners-with-traditional-healers-in-africa%2F2010.09.09 There’s an AIDS epidemic in Africa, and efforts to fight it are hampered by the endemic social problems of that continent. Chief among them are the lack of sufficient modern health resources, the spread of destructive rumors and myths about HIV/AIDS, and even the persistence of HIV denial in Africa (although this last factor is better than in the past). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are teaming up with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ) to address the first problem –- the lack of health services. Most Zambians use traditional healers for primary healthcare. The WHO has therefore decided to utilize traditional healers in the fight against AIDS. There are interesting pros and cons to this policy, but it mus... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954261 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:20 +0100 3954261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946701&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F270%2Fnatural-skin-care-ingredients-to-look-for%2F The top wrinkle product for effectively restoring firmness and elasticity to the skin is one that incorporates the correct mix of natural skin care substances. Regrettably, a significant number of the formulas on the market are developed with mostly synthetic ingredients, which provide very little benefit at all.   Many of the ingredients that go into making such products are actually potentially harmful. Be wary when choosing your skincare creams, because far too many companies include chemicals in their products proved to be cancer causing or toxic to human beings.   You should study the ingredients in any formula before actually putting it on your skin. If a skin cream you are considering purchasing turns out to contain anything unnatural in it, then it is... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946701 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:34:52 +0100 3946701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942881&cid=t_101782_114_f&fid=34648&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHealthBlawg%2F%7E3%2FkWg4LfO-GBo%2Foig-imaging-preauthorization-may-be-handled-by-hospital-for-referring-docs-and-patients.html The OIG released an advisory opinion at the end of last month OK'ing a hospital's proposal to provide insurance pre-authorization srevices free of charge to patients and physicians.  This is an issue that has long vexed folks in the imaging world.  Clearly, this is a free service provided to referral sources (to the extent they are obligated by contract with third party payors to obtain the pre-authorization before referring a patient for an MRI, for example), so why is the OIG OK with it?  In the opinion, the OIG blesses the arrangement for four reasons: The arrangement doesn't target specific referring docs, so the pre-authorization service will be provided for patients of docs who are contractually bound to handle it themselves, as well as for patients of those who aren't, and t... HealthBlawg :: David Harlow's Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942881 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:17:13 +0100 3942881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938294&cid=t_101782_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fprimary-biliary-cirrhosis%2F Pathophysiology 1) progressive inflammation and destruction of the intrahepatic bile ducts 2) causes development of cirrhosis 3) likely has an autoimmune component Signs and Symptoms 1) fatigue 2) jaundice 3) pruritus 4) hepatomegaly 5) splenomegaly 6) xanthelasma 7) diagnosis is often made on asymptomatic laboratory detection Characteristic Test Findings Laboratory – 1) increased alkaline phosphatase (3 times normal value) 2) mildly elevated AST and ALT 3) antimitochondrial antibody Histology/Gross Pathology Ludwig’s classification describes histology – portal and periportal scarring and fibrosis and cirrhosis Associated Conditions 1) osteoporosis 2) hypercholesterolemia 3) thyroid disease (15%) 4) scleroderma (15%) 5) joint pain 6) dry eyes/mouth (75%) 7) gallstones (30... Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938294 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:20:23 +0100 3938294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929233&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fresponsible-vaccine-advocacy-how-to-make-a-difference%2F2010.09.02 I lost a patient this season, an infant, to whooping cough (pertussis). After falling ill, he lived for nearly a month in the intensive care unit on a ventilator, three weeks of which was spent on a heart/lung bypass machine (ECMO) due to the extent of the damage to his lungs. But all our efforts were in vain. The most aggressive and advanced care medicine has to offer couldn’t save his life. The only thing that could have saved him would have been to prevent him from contracting pertussis in the first place. He was unvaccinated, but that was because of his age. He was part of the population that is fully dependent on herd immunity for protection, and that is exquisitely prone to a life-threatening course once infected. This is a topic we’ve covered ad nauseum, and I’m not incli... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929233 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:35 +0100 3929233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929467&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F266%2Fhas-your-home-aging-skin-treatment-been-disappointing%2F Have you found yourself getting frustrated over the lack of improvement you have seen from the aging skin treatment you’ve been using? This is not a unique experience I can assure you, because literally millions of people feel exactly the same way you do.  The problem lies in the fact that the cosmetic companies aren’t giving their customers the effective, high quality ingredients they need. Most of the wrinkle reducing formulas on the market are primarily synthetic, save for the errant natural ingredient appearing here and there.  These are the products that are typically built around the inclusion of livestock derived collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. To many people these three compounds represent the backbone of any effective wrinkle reducing skin care formula, but the truth... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929467 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:12:33 +0100 3929467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3915307&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F262%2Fwrinkle-prevention-is-smarter-than-fighting-wrinkles-after-theyve-formed%2F A better way than trying to get rid of lines and skin slackening once they have taken hold is practicing ongoing wrinkle prevention. The problem that people have with both stopping wrinkles from forming and eliminating them once they have already made their appearance is the lack of effective anti aging formulas.  Most of these products are made very cheaply, and therefore don’t contain what it is you need. The cosmetic industry is known for using the lowest quality ingredients possible in order to develop their formulas, so that they can maximize their profit margin.  This means that the formula they provide will primarily feature synthetics as ingredients, as the all natural compounds that a person needs in order to look younger require extensive processing. Only a few companies are ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3915307 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:07 +0100 3915307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895890&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcovertrationingblog.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F876%2F0%2Fobesitydividend.mp3 DrRich has pointed out several times that it is very important to our new healthcare system, as a matter of principle, to be able to discriminate against the obese. The obese are being carefully groomed as a prototype, as a group whose characteristics (ostensibly, their lack of self-discipline, or their sloth, or their selfishness, or whatever other characteristics we can attribute to them to explain how their unsightly enormity differentiates them from us), will justify “special treatment” in order to serve the overriding good of the whole. The obese are a useful target for two reasons. First, their sins against humanity are painfully obvious just by looking at them, so it is impossible for them to escape public scorn by blending in to the population, unlike some less obvious sinners ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895890 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:00:16 +0100 3895890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3896118&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F255%2Fwass-your-wrinkle-cream-highly-rated-in-clinical-trials%2F Media coverage and production of anti wrinkle cream ratings in order to help people choose which product is best are in many cases leading the public astray. Oftentimes there is some sort of incentive mired in why a few specific products are chosen for these infamous “top ten lists”, and it more often than not has to do with either money or advertising dollars.  These products are not often selected because of their safety or effectiveness. Take the instant wrinkle removers that could cause you to lose part or total control over the muscles in your face as a perfect example.  The skin care products don’t help with the loss of collagen, elastin, or hyaluronic acid due to enzyme processes , and they don’t do a thing to boost tissue growth. Is it really worth ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3896118 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:33:36 +0100 3896118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889050&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F196225%2F Very Special K: A new form of the anesthetic ketamine, also known as the recreational drug “Special K,” could be used as an anti-depressant that takes effect immediately. (via Medical News Today) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889050 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:58:27 +0100 3889050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889316&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F251%2Feye-wrinkle-cream-reviews-are-filled-with-hype%2F Eye wrinkle cream reviews generally don’t give you enough information about what is necessary for truly repairing the issues surrounding the formation of lines, skin slackening, bags, and dark circles. What you get is mostly a sales pitch, when what you need is pertinent information about the ingredients, how they work, and any possible side effects these ingredients could have.  Let me give you an example. One of the latest fads when it comes to “repairing” lines and wrinkles around the eyes is compounds that temporarily paralyze the muscles to lessen the affects of making facial expressions. This does nothing to actually reverse what is causing the lines around your eyes to form.  What you are not told is that long term use of formulas designed to cause temporary muscle paralysis... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889316 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:46:15 +0100 3889316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885347&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftestosterone-for-anti-aging-in-men-a-medical-fraud%2F2010.08.19 On the car radio, I have several times happened upon “infomercial” programs touting the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy for men, broadcast by doctors who specialize in prescribing the drugs. They have lots of wonderful stories about men who feel younger, happier, and more vigorous because of their macho remedies. It’s a tribute to the power of the placebo. I have been reviewing John Brinkley’s goat gland scam for a presentation on medical frauds. In an era before the isolation of the hormone testosterone, Brinkley transplanted goat testes into human scrotums in an attempt to treat impotence and aging. We are more sophisticated today — but not much. Longevity clinics and individual practitioners are offering testosterone to men as a general pick-me-up and anti-agi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885347 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:00:29 +0100 3885347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858123&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fmichelle-rodriguez-joins-sea-shepherds-ineffective-anti-whaling-campaign%2F Michelle Rodriguez announced at last night’s Sea Shepherd “Sea No Evil” fundraiser that she’ll be joining their next campaign in Antarctica. The Sea Shepherd campaign, if you haven’t yet wasted your time watching “Whale Wars” on The Discovery Channel, is an anti-whaling organization best known for sending ships, led by captain Paul Watson, to interfere with Japanese whaling. We’re sure her intentions are good, but if you’ve ever watched the show, you’ll wonder why she didn’t just throw some money at the cause instead: The crew seems to spend most of their time crying while they watch whales die after losing battles against behemoth Japanese whaling ships. That said, braving the difficult conditions on board fits Rodriguez’s to... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858123 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:16:46 +0100 3858123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845102&cid=t_101782_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Famerica-has-a-heart%2F2010.08.08 As an American, I was proud when I heard the news. I grinned to myself. It was on my way to work, through a beautiful city park, with the sun rising over the hillside. The morning radio program reported the news that a California judge overturned their state’s ban on gay marriage. I know what you’re thinking: A medical blog is running amuck right into a political hornet’s nest. But isn’t it true that a nation’s kindness is a defining characteristic? America and Americans do much that is good and right. Examples of such goodness are too numerous to list. If you are a victim of a calamity, you can be sure that America will help. Ask Haiti. And it’s not just foreign countries, we help each other. There’s a flood and then there are volunteers. A powe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845102 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3845102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813215&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F248%2Fanti-aging-herbs-and-antioxidant-skin-care%2F If you want to achieve your goal of having firmer, younger looking skin, then you are going to have to take advantage of the amazing benefits of anti aging herbs and botanicals. You will not get the results you are after by applying products to your skin that are loaded down with synthetic compounds, as these substances don’t provide you with what it is you need.  Chemically developed ingredients can also be harmful to your health. You want all natural products for treating your skin, because they will not contain the toxins and carcinogens that most over the counter skin care products are developed with. Formulas are developed using healthy compounds like Jojoba, Maracuja passion fruit extract, Babassu wax, and other natural compounds supply the abundance of antioxidants necessary for ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813215 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:30:52 +0100 3813215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808722&cid=t_101782_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2FdpT-GCFi9RM%2F In the past couple of days two different articles have appeared on the Guardian’s Comment is Free website, both critiquing the proposed 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. DSM-5 to its mates. If you haven’t come across it, this is the manual produced by the American Psychiatric Association, giving a shopping catalogue of psychiatric diagnoses. One of them may be yours to keep. Of the two critiques, one is written by a clinical psychologist, Dorothy Rowe. The other by a Lacanian psychoanalyst, Darian Leader. Both make reasonable points about the various difficulties of defining mental illness. Both then go on to say more about their own ideological biases than they do about psychiatry. Let’s briefly list the valid problems with makin... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808722 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:02:30 +0100 3808722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3807530&cid=t_101782_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F244%2Flooking-at-the-latest-anti-aging-research-for-skin-care%2F Anti aging research has proven that what your skin needs is all natural compounds for maintaining increased firmness and elasticity.  This is because these substances provide your skin with antioxidants, which are necessary for the repair of free radical damage. Clinical studies have proven that certain natural compounds can do much more than previously thought, so let’s look at what certain ingredients can do to help you look younger. There are three major causes behind why lines and wrinkles develop in the skin.  Free radicals stealing the electrons from chemical structures in the skin, and throughout the body are one of the major reasons why wrinkles develop. The steady decomposition of your collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid caused by enzyme activity, and a gradual decline in t... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3807530 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:22:56 +0100 3807530