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 'army'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:02 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921749&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FG-5n30HMlGE%2F The Danish drugmaker has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit to settle charges of off-label marketing its NovoSeven treatment to stop bleeding. As part of the settlement, Novo Nordisk has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement and will have to beef up its compliance procedures, according to a statement from the drugmaker. The lawsuit - which was filed jointly by a Oscar Montiel, a former Novo Nordisk medical liasion, and Ian Black, a former US Armed Forces physician in federal court in Maryland - alleges the medication was promoted improperly for treating unapproved uses such as blood trauma, intercranial hemorrhage and various surgeries, according to a source familiar with the case. The charges included improper payments made to Army personnel (here... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921749 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:52:08 +0100 4921749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536450&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJSq-o0X96Eo%2F In 2007, US Army Major Jason Layne Davis, who was the chief cardiologist at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington, was paid $4,812 by Boston Scientific’s Guidant unit to “train” two of the device maker’s sales reps. Specifically, they watched as he implanted devices in patients during seven procedures. And between 2006 and 2009, Guidant also gave Davis meals and other goodies, while he used almost exclusively the company’s pacemakers and defibrillators. And so in January, Davis was charged with a misdemeanor for accepting funds from an illegal source and he pleaded guilty to what amounted to accepting kickbacks (here is the plea). The inference is that the federal government has opened a new front on the war against undue influence by drug and devi... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536450 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:54:43 +0100 4536450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517155&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNV_eKlWr4R0%2F By Malou InnocentRolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings—yes, that Michael Hastings—has written another investigative article on U.S. operations in Afghanistan, centered again on a general in the theatre.  The revelations are perhaps more shocking than those that resulted in General Stanley McChrystal’s dismissal last summer. His newest bombshell alleges that the U.S Army illegally engaged in “psychological operations” with the aim of manipulating various high-level U.S. government officials into believing that the war was progressing in order to gain their continued support.  The list of targets includes members of Congress, diplomats, think tank analysts, and even Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff.  Over at The Skeptics, I attempt to put this in context:... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517155 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:30:32 +0100 4517155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433135&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F03%2Fnidal-hasan-exactly-the-man-many-knew-him-to-be%2F Army Maj. Nidal Hasan was exactly the kind of man many people knew him to be. And that’s why they continually promoted him and sent him some place else. Because nobody, apparently, was willing to intervene despite many warning signs about his behavior. Those are the findings from the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. They found that the massacre allegedly carried out by Nidal Hasan could have have been prevented. Had just one person acted on the information many different people had, the tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009 may have been prevented. “The officers who kept Hasan in the military and moved him steadily along knew full well of his problematic behavior,” the report found. “As the officer who assigned Has... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433135 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 02:00:13 +0100 4433135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372134&cid=t_124496_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJqPzs3W43zg%2F Today we share must-read insights from  Katherine Sullivan, Director of the Brain Fitness Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and Peter Kissinger, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Both of them will discuss their ongoing work and lessons learned at the upcom­ing 2011 Sharp­Brains Sum­mit (March 30th — April 1st, 2011). The interviews below were conducted via email. — Katherine Sullivan is the Director of the Brain Fitness Center at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 1. Katherine, how would you define “brain fit­ness” vs. “phys­i­cal fit­ness”? In our context (helping active duty service members and veterans recover from cognitive dysfunction most associated with traumatic brain injury), I’d say brain fitness is the outcome we work towards:... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372134 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:00:56 +0100 4372134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300548&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffemale-wounded-warriors%2F2010.12.30 This study will use internet interviews using Skype to understand this life experience. Each woman will be invited to tell her story of how she adjusted to life as an amputee with the assurance of confidentiality. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300548 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4300548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275312&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fe8bzmoXl4WI%2F By Chris EdwardsThe media is reporting on a new study that finds long-term benefits to kids of breastfeeding. Yet if health experts agree on the advantages of breastfeeding, why does the federal government subsidize mothers to use formula through the $7 billion Women, Infants, and Children program? The WIC program is run by the Department of Agriculture, which summarized the subsidies as follows (page 1): …infants participating in WIC consume about 54 percent of all formula sold in the United States. In most states, WIC participants use food vouchers or food checks to purchase their infant formula, free of charge, at participating retail grocery stores. It’s true that in addition to handing out free formula, WIC administrators counsel women on the advantages of breastfe... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275312 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:27:50 +0100 4275312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265733&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmilitary-plastic-surgery-using-liposuction-to-make-the-weight-cut%2F2010.12.18 The Orange County Register blog posted on military plastic surgery and mentioned liposuction: Army Times reports that soldiers are turning to liposuction to remove fat if extreme dieting, laxatives and other methods fail to get them under the Army’s weight limit for their height, age and gender. “Liposuction saved my career. Laxatives and starvation before an [Army Physical Fitness Test] sustains my career,” a soldier told the periodical. “Soldiers are using liposuction, laxatives and starvation to meet height and weight standards. I did, do and still do.” I am well aware of the military patient looking to stay within military parameters to stay in the service as my San Clemente office is quite close to Camp Pendleton, and I give military discounts. I have seen several of these p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265733 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:00:47 +0100 4265733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265574&cid=t_124496_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F12%2Farmy-breaks-ground-ft-hood-medical-center%2F The United States Army has broken ground on construction of a new Carl R. Darnall Medical Center at Ft. Hood, Texas. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265574 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:03:11 +0100 4265574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151875&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F11%2F10%2Fhonoring-soldiers-when-they-come-home%2F Last week at the 26th annual Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Policy Symposium, I came away from the two days feeling like there are a lot of people who know and care about the issues discussed. This year’s topic was on helping returning soldiers — especially the National Guard and Reservists — reintegrate within their family, the workplace, and the community. It seems timely to talk about some of these issues to honor tomorrow, Veterans Day. The most moving stories for me came from the day’s first panel discussion, focused on the family. Ron Capps, a 25 year veteran of the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, told his story of dealing with the realities of war, and then of coming home and dealing with his feelings. “At the end of the day, I found myself categorizing mys... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151875 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:15:49 +0100 4151875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125282&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUb_7GINy_ac%2F Three years ago, Angel Vega-Colon told his supervisor at Wyeth’s plant in Puerto Rico, where he worked as a packaging equipment supervisor, that he would soon return to active status in the US Army Reserve. Around the same time, his bid to become a reliability engineer was rejected and he received a performance improvement plan, or PIP, for his 2006 job review. There was also a dispute about whether he made a comments about the 2007 Virginia Polytechnic Institute shootings that led Wyeth to briefly deny him access to the facility. And so Vega-Colon, who entered Army unit was mobilized in November 2007 and has been on military leave since then, filed a lawsuit against the drugmaker, which is now owned by Pfizer, charging that he suffered discrimination and retaliation based on his mil... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125282 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:19:25 +0100 4125282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4003292&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F27%2Fsoldiers-dont-trust-the-military-to-help-with-suicide%2F From the “Not really surprising” file… Returning soldiers and military veterans don’t really hold much hope or trust in the military to help them with their mental health needs — especially suicidal thoughts — according to a new report. And why would they? The military is their employer. Would you feel comfortable talking to your bosses about all of your mental health issues? And not just mild stuff either, this is the serious depression, “I want to kill myself” stuff. Most of us would be extremely uncomfortable with such a conversation. We would be even more uncomfortable with such a conversation knowing it is being recorded in our work record, and will follow us around for the rest of our professional career. This is exactly what happens ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4003292 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:36:28 +0100 4003292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954208&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fharry-shearers-documentary-the-big-uneasy-blames-big-government-for-hurricane-katrina%2F Hurricane Katrina was to blame for the deadly destruction that paralyzed New Orleans five years ago, right? Not according to Harry Shearer. Yes, that Harry Shearer. The funnyman and radio host most famous for his work on The Simpsons, Spinal Tap, and A Mighty Wind believes that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is to blame for Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, and just made and released a documentary about his controversial theory. The Big Uneasy reveals how the complete failure of this governmental body led to the flooding of residential neighborhoods – and how this catastrophic disaster could have been prevented. (Oh, and then there’s the little issue of the Corp’s alleged cover-up of its actions.) The Big Uneasy will be screened next week at select theaters in New York ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954208 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:33:25 +0100 3954208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929344&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2Fs20ZPH--eEk%2Ftim-is-home-from-afghanistan.html When you were just a boy of 5 I left to start my adult life Off to college I went Before I left, you tugged my sleeve, and said "You can't go. You're the other mom." "Sorry Timmy. I'll miss you, but... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929344 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:43:00 +0100 3929344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3764184&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Farmy-suicides-hit-all-time-high%2F For the month of June, the U.S. Department of Defense reported late last week that the number of soldiers who took their own lives — those who committed suicide — was an astonishing 32 individuals, 21 of whom were on active duty (but only one-third of those on active duty were serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan). This corresponds to the ongoing record-setting of the number of suicides in the past year — 245 who died in 2009 and the 145 who have committed suicide already in 2010. At the rate of suicides so far this year, 2010 will exceed 2009 in suicides. Who does the Army blame for this rise in suicides? Why, the people who commit suicide, of course, and the very culture they work to instill from Day One in boot camp. Tim Embree of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3764184 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:30:39 +0100 3764184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3703080&cid=t_124496_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F06%2F27%2Fgeneral-mcchrystal-an-army-of-none%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. General McChrystal: An Army of None. Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: afghanistan, army, chaos theory, general mcchrystal, military, political cartoon, recruit, slogan (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3703080 Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:32:02 +0100 3703080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655575&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F182690%2F The U.S. Army vs. STDs: We want YOU…not to get syphilis or gonorrhea. Check out Mother Jones‘ Gallery of the military’s decades-long war against STDs, in public service posters. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655575 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:56:16 +0100 3655575 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644571&cid=t_124496_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fmost-us-soldiers-come-home-with-sleep.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644571 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:08:00 +0100 3644571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614520&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-readings-on-combat-medicine-and-battle-zone-care%2F2010.05.31 When Americans think about wartime medicine, “MASH” reruns and the comic antics of Hot Lips Houlihan and Hawkeye Pierce are likely to come to mind. A decidedly more authentic view can be found in “Paradise General” and “The Nightingale of Mosul,” books by a real-life Army surgeon, Dr. Dave Hnida, and an Army nurse, Col. Susan Luz. Both authors served in Iraq during some of the bloodiest days of the war in 2006 and 2007. At an age when people often retire from the military, 48-year-old Dr. Hnida, a family physician in Littleton, Colo., volunteered for service, answering the Army’s call for doctors. Col. Luz was a 56-year-old Army reservist—her previous tours had included delivering babies for military families stationed in Germany and bringing humanitarian aid to South A... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614520 Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:58 +0100 3614520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508244&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F04%2F27%2Farmy-transition-units-a-dark-place%2F This article makes it seem like the problem still exists, and the Warrior Transition Units may have made some issues even worse by over-medicating soldiers upon their return. Perhaps a government oversight committee will open an independent investigation to get to the truth of the matter, and ensure soldiers are receiving the care they need. Read the full article: Feeling Warehoused in Army Trauma Care Units (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508244 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:30:10 +0100 3508244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443661&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F173568%2F Readeo Celebrates The Month of the Military Child: Readeo, a website offering children’s books online with videochat, is offering six months of free long-distance story time for military kids, in honor of The Month of the Military Child, and to thank families for their service. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443661 Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:00:43 +0100 3443661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433051&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2Fa1-FdxDBv4g%2Fgood-to-see-you.html My brother, Tim, appears in this video at the 3:57 mark: [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433051 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:16:00 +0100 3433051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408633&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaNXS4_7KILI%2F So here’s a chilling statistic - at least one in six service members is on some form of psychiatric drug. What’s more, many troops take a mix of antidepressants and antipsychotics to prevent nightmares, for instance, or an anti-epileptic to reduce headaches, according to The Military Times. Meanwhile, there’s not much research on these cocktails. Here’s another problem: the meds can impair motor skills and reduce reaction times, just the sort of side effect wanted for a fighting soldier, yes? And given that some meds may increase the risk of suicide, some docs and members of Congress question whether the drugs are connected to the rising rate of military suicides, the Times writes. “It’s really a large-scale experiment. We are experimenting with changing people... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408633 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:28:52 +0100 3408633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280084&cid=t_124496_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FyXQ-wp_147o%2F Very interesting and relevant recent study on the impact of mindfulness meditation (noticed thanks to heads up by SharpBrains reader John): Building Fit Minds Under Stress (Science Daily) “high-stress U.S. military group preparing for deployment to Iraq has demonstrated a positive link between mindfulness training, or MT, and improvements in mood and working memory” The study also suggests that sufficient mindfulness training (MT) practice may protect against functional impairments associated with high-stress challenges that require a tremendous amount of cognitive control, self-awareness, situational awareness and emotional regulation Please note that this wasn’t a properly randomized study, so in fact much/ most of the effect may be due to the placebo effect, but stil... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280084 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:21:49 +0100 3280084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178814&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F15%2Freport-on-fort-hood-hasan%2F The AP reported this morning that the Army report to be released today will implicate Army Maj. Nidal Hasan’s supervisors and those who knew of his troubled behavior, but failed to detail it in his records or further followup on it. Hasan’s disturbing behaviors were detailed as far back as during his medical residency and were apparently known to anyone who worked closely with him in a supervisory capacity. And when they became aware of his behavior, did they detail it and pass it along to Hasan’s future bosses? Apparently not: Hasan got passing grades and a promotion in part because disturbing information about his behavior and performance was not recorded by superiors or properly passed to others who might have stepped in, the report found. As Hasan’s training p... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178814 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:45:54 +0100 3178814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178642&cid=t_124496_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fsleepless-nights-for-army-wives.html This study confirms what many people have long suspected,” lead author Alyssa Mansfield, PhD, said in a news release. “It provides compelling evidence that Army spouses are feeling the impact of recent deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. The result is more depression, more stress, more sleepless nights.”The authors noted that current warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan differs greatly from other recent conflicts involving the U.S. Both operations have involved sustained ground combat. They also have been met by strong insurgent attacks.As a result the wives of deployed soldiers may fear for the safety of their loved ones. At the same time they face the stress of maintaining a household and caring for children alone.The authors also suggested that the results may underestimate the severi... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178642 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:38:00 +0100 3178642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063434&cid=t_124496_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2009%2F12%2F07%2Fliam-clancy-brought-ireland-%25e2%2580%2593-and-politics-%25e2%2580%2593-to-my-front-door%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up: On Friday word came down that Irish folk singer Liam Clancy, 74 years old, had died. Within minutes Facebook was awash in the news. Radio DJs announced they were planning tributes. Others, including me, posted Clancy Brothers videos. I found a clip of Liam Clancy singing “The Patriot Game,” the ballad written by Dominic Behan, brother of renowned Irish playwright Brendan Behan. I had not heard the song in years, but even so, I discovered I knew it by heart. I am neither Catholic nor descended from Irish ancestors, but you could not have guessed that from my family’s record collection. While my parents also had bagpipe music and such evocative titles as “Folk Music from Many Lands,” we had every record ever released by ... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063434 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:24:33 +0100 3063434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003822&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F17%2F2009-army-suicides-highest-ever%2F While most of us will be spending Thanksgiving with our loved ones next week, there are already 140 Army families who will not be spending this year celebrating their time together. Instead, those families will be mourning the loss of one of their own, due to suicide. With 140 suicides already on the books amongst Army families, 2009 is going to the be a record-breaking year for the Army, but not in a way they would like anyone to notice. 2009 will mark the year that the Army has suffered the highest suicide rate ever. So what does the Army do? Does it recognize the significance of this number with a solemn, sincere statement? No, instead it turns on the full denial PR machine: “We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year,” General Peter Chiarelli, the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003822 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:35:44 +0100 3003822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2985033&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FX4LCGvmila0%2F Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat, has asked the Pentagon for info on how many troops in war zones have been prescribed antidepressants while they were deployed. Cardin sent a letter Tuesday to US Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressing concern about how antidepressants are being administered troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cardin wants to determine if the Defense Department is prescribing antidepressants appropriately and is concerned about any connection between the meds and suicide rates among troops. In October, for instance, 16 active-duty US soldiers killed themselves, bringing the total number of active-duty suicides in 2009 to 134. At this rate, the number of 2009 suicides will eclipse last year’s total of 140 – the highest yearly number of suicides in Army histor... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2985033 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:50:53 +0100 2985033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984784&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMTmkItfLiyM%2F This morning, Politico Arena asks: The Fort Hood tragedy: Why does it matter, or not, what we call it? Is it being politicized? My response: If we want to be technical, what we call the Fort Hood massacre matters, and James Taranto got it right in Monday’s Wall Street Journal:  It was not a terrorist attack, targeting noncombatants, but an act of guerrilla warfare, carried out by one of our own in apparent contact with the enemy, and hence an act of treason. But the deeper and far larger problem is why the Army didn’t act sooner against this man and, even more, why it is, as Dorothy Rabinowitz put it in yesterday’s Journal, that “the tide of pronouncements and ruminations pointing to every cause for this event other than the one obvious to everyone in the rationa... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984784 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:23:45 +0100 2984784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981106&cid=t_124496_101_f&fid=38979&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCrzegrlnet%2F%7E3%2FAsZ6KmLY_dw%2F Hello and welcome to this edition of Grand Rounds! As I contemplated the possibilities for a cheeky theme and racked my brains for something pithy or unique, my thoughts consistently fell on the fact that tomorrow is Veterans Day in the United States. Veterans Day is simply a day off for some. For others it is a day in which we take the opportunity to show those, who sacrificed greatly for the freedoms we enjoy, appreciation. Tomb of the Unknowns Arlington National Cemetery Photo Credit: Emily McGee What does this have to do with an international edition of a medical carnival? Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech. —Benjamin Franklin Freedom of thought, and freedom of speech is what blogging ... crzegrl, flight nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981106 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:02:39 +0100 2981106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977337&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F09%2Fthe-psychology-of-hasan-the-ft-hood-shooter%2F I’ve held off in writing anything about the tragic Ft. Hood shooting, allowing some time for details to emerge and for emotions to settle. Random acts of violence always leave us all scratching our heads, but sometimes the violence seems so extreme, the act so irrational, one can’t help but turn and ask, “Why did he do it?” Major Nidal Malik Hasan is now apparently conscious and talking in his hospital bed, after being shot multiple times by Sgt. Kim Munley, a civilian police officer, who selflessly and heroically put herself in harm’s way in order to save countless of others’ lives. Munley is in stable but good condition and is very upbeat, according to news reports. Virginia Tech helped guide Munley’s aggressive response to Hasan’s shooting... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977337 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:07 +0100 2977337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943760&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F59kcNwZCpA4%2F Najim Abed al-Jabouri, former mayor of Tal Afar, has a piece in the Times that seems like cause for alarm: Both the military and the police remain heavily politicized. The police and border officials, for example, are largely answerable to the Interior Ministry, which has been seen (often correctly) as a pawn of Shiite political movements. Members of the security forces are often loyal not to the state but to the person or political party that gave them their jobs. The same is true of many parts of the Iraqi Army. For example, the Fifth Iraqi Army Division, in Diyala Province northeast of Baghdad, has been under the sway of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, the Shiite party that has the largest bloc in Parliament; the Eighth Division, in Diwaniya and Kut to the southeast of the capital,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943760 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:39:14 +0100 2943760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2814399&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_dapXlMk1w0%2F Pat Tillman, who gave up a lucrative NFL career to join the Army after 9/11, was a true patriot:  he wanted to defend America, not conduct social engineering overseas.  That led him to oppose the Iraq war. Reports the Daily Telegraph: According to a new book, Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in 2004 and hailed as an all-American hero by the former president, was disillusioned by Mr Bush and his administration’s “illegal and unjust” drive to war. In Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman, by Jon Krakauer, the author relates the strong views of Tillman – who gave up his NFL football career to serve his country – and his brother Kevin, who joined the same Rangers unit. The war “struck them as an imperial folly that was doing long-term dam... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2814399 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:32:10 +0100 2814399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2803893&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOcSb6u6tsWM%2F Andrew C. McCarthy has an article up  at National Review criticizing a recent decision by Obama administration officials to improve the detention procedures in Bagram, Afghanistan. McCarthy calls the decision an example of pandering to a “despotic” judiciary that is imposing its will on a war that should be run by the political branches. McCarthy’s essay is factually misleading, ignores the history of wartime detention in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, and encourages the President to ignore national security decisions coming out of the federal courts. More details after the jump. McCarthy is Factually Misleading McCarthy begins by criticizing a decision by District Judge John Bates to allow three detainees in Bagram, Afghanistan, to file habeas corpus petitions testing the... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2803893 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:42:23 +0100 2803893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2766002&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMYE1NNP_d1A%2F Veronique de Rugy put up a post at The Corner referencing Rich Lowry’s defense of “enhanced interrogation techniques” and my response. Rich has since responded. With regard to the apprehension of Uzair Paracha, an Al Qaeda facilitator in New York, it seems likely that the apprehension of Majid Khan in Pakistan four days after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s (KSM) apprehension came from material picked up with KSM and not from interrogation. The key here is that when Majid Khan was in Pakistan, Paracha was pretending to be Majid Khan in communications with immigration officials. Detective work was probably what brought this guy under the microscope. However, I’m willing to lay that aside because, as Rich points out, there is probably more to the story that shouldn’t be declassified. As... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2766002 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:48:46 +0100 2766002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751883&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FfLCN5LEtKac%2F Conservative columnist George Will wants out of the war in Afghanistan.  And his recommendation is getting some notice.  Reports Mike Allen in Politico: George F. Will, the elite conservative commentator, is calling for U.S. ground troops to leave Afghanistan in his latest column. “[F]orces should be substantially reduced to serve a comprehensively revised policy: America should do only what can be done from offshore, using intelligence, drones, cruise missiles, airstrikes and small, potent special forces units, concentrating on the porous 1,500-mile border with Pakistan, a nation that actually matters,” Will writes. President Obama ordered a total of 21,000 more U.S. troops into Afghanistan in February and March, and casualties have mounted as the forces began confronting the Tali... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751883 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:37:06 +0100 2751883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727188&cid=t_124496_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FKlxqeqhQliI%2F With the repeated deportation happening in the Army these days, the organization is hoping to recognize strain and depression early on for its staff. It is implementing a new set of mental health tests that are supposed to be “unprecedented” in “size and scope.” All active duty and reserve soldiers will have to take a test that will help identify trouble area. The test consists of 170 questions and will look at “physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and family issues” and suggest additional training from the results. This program is desperately needed. The life of a solider is a tough one, and has high rates of emotional-related problems as a result. So far 4,000 soldiers have taken this test, with more to come. Image: sxc.hu. ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727188 Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:31:13 +0100 2727188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641441&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2FSzn1srU-26s%2Ftimmy-celebration.html We all got together with Tim for a family dinner before he ships out to Afghanistan sometime next month. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641441 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:37:00 +0100 2641441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2638005&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FaYTjsgOixOc%2Fdepartment-of-defense-testing-out.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2638005 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:34:00 +0100 2638005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3105031&cid=t_124496_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F07%2F16%2Fforgive-me-for-not-being-quiet%2F Michael Jackson got a moment of silence in Congress for dying. He sold records, made music, and made people happy. He was an accused child molester. While never convicted, he did settle CIVIL cases out of court (which is all but admitting guilt when it comes to child molestation, am I right?). My cousin Brian was 19 years old. He was killed three days ago in Iraq by what the military has dubbed an “IED.” [Improvised Exploding Device] This is called newspeak, and it’s the government’s way to change the way a word makes us feel (and our response) — it’s propaganda and manipulation of the public to alter our thoughts, perceptions, and maybe even our ideals without us even knowing. They want to make it seem not as bad — not as harsh. Now, read it again... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3105031 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:23:51 +0100 3105031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859129&cid=t_124496_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fmy-ammunition%2F Here is a post from my now-dead Myspace page. I wrote this post on Monday, March 28, 2007. I was in the middle of my terrible nausea and vomiting phase. I also had a a stomach tube that had recently been placed.  Here’s what I wrote: Yesterday was a good day. Telly, Lexi, Pam, Jeff and I went to Bodega Bay to visit the beach.  This was all Telly’s idea.  At first, I didn’t want to go.  I had a bunch of excuses lined up: -I’m tired -I can’t swim -Even if I COULD swim, I can’t submerge in water because of the feeding tube (don’t want to risk infection) -I’ll be too hot, just sitting on the beach without shade I went anyway, mainly because I didn’t want to be a party pooper, but I wasn’t expecting much fun. After a 2 hour-ish dri... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859129 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:19:23 +0100 2859129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349069&cid=t_124496_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F24WEO4FpkcE%2F Round-up of recent articles on neuroscience, brain development and cognitive health: Encephalon 68: A carnival of neuroscience: Chris hosts a great collection of neuroscience and psychology posts in his signature Q&A style. Bilingual Babies Get Head Start --- Before They Can Talk: - Unlike the monolingual group, the bilingual group was able to successfully learn a new sound type and use it to predict where each character would pop up. - The bilingual babies' skill applies to more than just switching between languages. Mehler likened this apparently enhanced cognitive ability to a brain selecting "the right tool for the right operation"—also called executive function. - In this basic process, the brain, ever flexible, nimbly switches from one learned response to another as ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349069 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:20:11 +0100 2349069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2274551&cid=t_124496_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fsleepy-soldiers-proposal-recommends.html Stars and Stripes reports that the U.S. Army Medical Command is proposing changes to current Army sleep guidelines.The draft proposal recommends that U.S. soldiers in combat zones get seven to eight hours of sleep each night. Current guidelines suggest that soldiers get at least four hours of sleep each day when deployed.The change would help prevent “performance degradation” on the battlefield. The guidelines state that sleep loss can have a critical effect on problem solving and decision making. It can result in delayed reaction times, lapses of attention and confused thinking.The article cites two recent studies conducted at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The first study was published in the journal Sleep in 2007. It shows that 53 hours of sleep deprivation can impair t... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2274551 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:14:00 +0100 2274551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195063&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F541779304%2Fhappy-birthday-tim.html Today, my brother, Tim, turned 24 years young. I miss him very much. He is currently stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where his unit, the 82nd Airborne, is preparing for their upcoming... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195063 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:20:00 +0100 2195063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943819&cid=t_124496_101_f&fid=38979&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCrzegrlnet%2F%7E3%2FHHNB3erAQKk%2F My day was spent painting, assembling lamps (more complicated then it sounds!) and ordering counter top for the Conex—aka, my office. Needless to say I am whipped. How the heck did my office get such a name? This morning, John was roped into painting with mom and I. He declared that my office looks like the inside of a Conex. Think the name is going to stick, unlike “The Dungeon,” which will disappoint some of you. *pointed looks* So, with little brain power to finish the lengthy post on HEMS safety that I started at 0430 today, I leave you with some Army humor as I will be wearing that hat (or beret as it were) this weekend. [Thanks Greybeard!] Captain McGee as in ARRRRR Matey! This is a very VERY long story, and Vijay needs all the props for this one. I really do nee... crzegrl, flight nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943819 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:56:29 +0100 2943819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167904&cid=t_124496_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2FYzOFmCEC5Ek%2F var iamInit = function() {try{initIamServingHandler(320,477,582318,"http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/Resources/Css/css2.css")}catch(ex){}}() Diabetics who were treated at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center from August 2007 to January 2009 may have received an injection from an insulin pen used on “multiple diabetics.” About 2,100 patients could be at risk for hepatitis or HIV, although staff at the medical center believes the risk is low that someone is actually infected. Tags: bad injections, diabetics, dirty needle, pen, william beaumont army medical centerShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167904 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:31:56 +0100 2167904 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2147546&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F30%2Farmy-suicides-increase%2F A harbinger of things to come? Likely. The U.S. Army reported yesterday that the suicide rate rose to 20.2 per 100,000 people in 2008, up from 16.8 per 100,000 from 2007. This is the first time the Army’s rate has topped the national suicide rate for the same age group. The Army says they can’t tell you why the numbers are increasing. But the articles quotes others who offer their opinions: Dr. Judith Broder, founder of the Soldiers Project, a counseling service for troops and families in Southern California, said the repeated deployments caused some service personnel to lose faith in religion or themselves. Some become suicidal after abusing drugs or alcohol. “They become extremely depressed and really hopeless, like, ‘This is never going to end, I’m neve... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2147546 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:17:55 +0100 2147546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2040119&cid=t_124496_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FIY_IiAIUdGM%2F There’s been studies about older parents, both fathers and mothers, being more “at risk” of having an autistic child, and especially if it’s their first-born child—-now, a study published in Oxford University’s Schizophrenia Journal is suggesting that being a younger dad means you’ll have healthier children. From today’s Science Daily: “There is a growing body of data showing that an advanced age of parents puts their kids at risk for various illnesses,” says Dr. [Mark Weiser from Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine]. “Some illnesses, such as schizophrenia, appear to be more common the older parents get. Doctors and psychologists are fascinated by this, but don’t really understand it. We want to know how it works.” To... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2040119 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:33:13 +0100 2040119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021679&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F478145408%2Fsoldier-home-for-visit.html [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021679 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:30:00 +0100 2021679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021682&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F478069449%2Fwhen-he-was-just-boy-of-5-i-left-to.html When he was just a boy of 5 I left to start my adult life Off to college I went Before I left, he tugged my sleeve, and said "You can't go. You're like the other mom." "Sorry Timmy. I'll miss you,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021682 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:43:00 +0100 2021682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952451&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2FOjDW-MiiNZk%2F *** Last Updated November 11, 2008 *** Please see the notes for each branch of the U.S. military. If you have notice of updates to military breastfeeding regulations and policies, please alert me with a comment and I will be happy to keep this information up to date! A military new mother generally receives six weeks of maternity leave starting the day she leaves the hospital. The leave can be extended upon written request along with a physician’s recommendation. Air Force: The Air Force offers four-month deployment deferrals after the birth of a child. On May 23, 2007, Air Force Instruction 44-102 (PDF document) was modified to state: 4.15. Breastfeeding and Breast Pumping 4.15.1. The importance of breastfeeding during the first year of life to infant nutrition and health and to fa... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952451 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:52:18 +0100 1952451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1911582&cid=t_124496_151_f&fid=35793&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thejunkyswife.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fzombie-army-argument.html Could we talk about something else?One of my jobs includes teaching a night course in writing, and we were workshopping a student's essay tonight that was a great example of what I like to call the "Zombie Army" argument. It's my way of describing the inevitable slippery slope fallacy that feels so satisfying to writers when they are first learning to make a great argument. They sniff out a logical trail, and they start upping the emotional ante until suddenly, they are describing a future, possible world that will inevitably emerge unless we change our terrible ways: There will be limited power, limited food, and limited access to these resources (obviously, they are controlled by The Man.) We'll all live in caves and fight with weapons fashioned from fence posts and scrap metal. We will ... Heroin Addiction Codependence blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1911582 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:57:00 +0100 1911582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901488&cid=t_124496_85_f&fid=34798&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcommitmenttoliving.com%2F2008%2F10%2F22%2Fclinical-reflections-on-armys-approach-in-interactive-suicide-prevention-video%2F A colleague pointed me to a Washington Post article describing an interactive suicide prevention video the Army has produced and will make mandatory for all soldiers.   I experimented with the online demo of Beyond the Front, which shows scenes from the life two soldiers and allows the viewer to make choices that either lead toward or away from help and survival.   The demo portion I reviewed focuses on the decision a distressed soldier faces in deciding to talk with the chaplain or not.   I was impressed with the quality of the video and interested by the approach. I am not expert enough in public awareness and mass media approaches to prevention to comment or speculate about how effective this video might be in preventing suicide in the Army.  But I would like to comment on some i... Commitment to Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901488 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:21:38 +0100 1901488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825641&cid=t_124496_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fmilitary-service%2F This article applies to those who live in the U.S. = = == === ===== If your autistic child is in an inclusion setting in high school, attending as a “regular” student, you will eventually encounter military recruiters. As part of No Child Left Behind, public schools are obligated to provide student information to the local recruiters. A recent story in the Oregonian (excerpted below) shows the problems that can occur. To help prevent this kind of problem, you can take the following steps: Have appropriate documents of diagnosis, treatment, IEPs, etc. for your child If possible, obtain a letter from the school district case manager, pediatrician and others Be proactive, and find out who the local recruiters are, for all services Be even more proactive, find out the chain of co... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825641 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:37:32 +0100 1825641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631683&cid=t_124496_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F337675433%2F I knew about Amy’s Army when I got the following in my inbox from Dori Persky: Amy Katz was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 2003. She volunteered to participate in a worldwide study for Gleevac in order to “help other kids.” But, while the drug allows her to lead a somewhat normal lift, the only known cure for CML is a stem cell transplant. Although Amy’s whole family has been tested, none of them are a match (although ironically, her two sisters are perfect matches for each other.) Amy’s Army was founded by friends and family soon after learning about Amy’s diagnosis. They held their first marrow drive in 2004 and had a turnout of over 1,620 people! The second drive drew 500 people in the midst of a Pittsburgh snowstorm! Although the many marrow drives... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631683 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:21:50 +0100 1631683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631524&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F337673451%2Fmiss-you-timmy.html I miss you Timmy. I know you've grown up and are a man, but you'll always be loved by your big sister. If telepathy exists, know that I'm sending good thoughts and vibes that will help you during... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631524 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:02:00 +0100 1631524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618140&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F334791704%2Fperhaps.html The chairs were scattered across the patio, and the table umbrella was open to shade us from the hot sun. The refrigerator was full of picnic foods, and my family members were about to arrive. We... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618140 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:56:00 +0100 1618140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1551781&cid=t_124496_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FUniqueButNotAlone%2F%7E3%2F321001236%2Fsoldier.html Words are not coming to me tonight. Emotions prevail right now. I waffle between fear and tears, but at the same time have an immense amount of pride. My 23 year old baby brother, Tim, enlisted... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1551781 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:42:00 +0100 1551781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500283&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F306161056%2F Seven months after sergeant Christopher LeJeune started scouting Baghdad’s dangerous roads — acting as bait to lure insurgents into the open so his Army unit could kill them — he found himself growing increasingly despondent, Time magazine writes. “We’d been doing some heavy missions, and things were starting to bother me,” says LeJeune, whose unit was protecting Iraqi police stations targeted by rocket-propelled grenades, hunting down mortars hidden in dark Baghdad basements and cleaning up its own messes. “You don’t always know who the bad guys are. When you search someone’s house, you have it built up in your mind that these guys are terrorists, but when you go in, there’s little bitty tiny shoes and toys on the floor — things like t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500283 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:12:43 +0100 1500283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477893&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F29%2Fthe-armys-response-to-rise-in-suicides-ptsd%2F Today I participated on a U.S. Army-sponsored conference call to discuss their reaction to data showing that 115 active soldiers took their own lives last year (nearly double the rate from 2005) and approximately 17 U.S. veterans commit suicide each and every day (significantly more than reported to Congress last year). Statistics also show a nearly 50 percent jump in new posttraumatic stress (PTSD) cases last year when 13,951 service members were diagnosed with combat stress, compared to 9,549 in 2006. The Army says it is working hard to improve access to mental health care among the troops, to reduce the stigma often attached to seeking counseling, and to train and educate soldiers to recognize signs of stress in themselves and their comrades. But senior officers also acknowledge there ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477893 Fri, 30 May 2008 01:35:07 +0100 1477893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1294725&cid=t_124496_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F249588776%2F And the PLA boasts that lots of yuan are being saved. But do they really know where those drugs are coming from and if they’re even safe? Given the state of pharmaceutical manufacturing in China, one has to wonder. There’s room for cruel irony here. In any event, here’s the party line, no pun intended: The PLA claims that online purchasing helped cut pharmaceutical costs in 2007, when it only spent 79 million yuan, or about $11 million, out of a 100 million yuan budget for the 32 most commonly purchased drugs, the Xinhua news agency reports. The savings were achieved by soliciting large-volume online bids and dispersing purchases across provincial lines, according to Li Jianhua, the director of the health bureau of the PLA’s General Logistics Department. Wholesale p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1294725 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:23:18 +0100 1294725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1281236&cid=t_124496_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F246351191%2F A few updates and announcements: - 1) My apologies for slow blogging, due to travel. I participated yesterday in a fun panel discussion at ETech on Use Your Head- The Future of Mind Hacks. You can read some take-aways (in Italian, so this may be good brain exercise) here. - 2) We will release our report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 next Monday, to coincide with Brain Awareness Week. Make sure to visit our blog next Monday if you want to learn more. - 3) The National Museum of Health and Medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center is planning some great activities during Brain Awareness Week (Thank you, Tim). Learn more about their "Partners in Education" activities for students in the Washington DC area. - 4) The Dana Foundation has released a great researc... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1281236 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:50:00 +0100 1281236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1198833&cid=t_124496_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F228755260%2F A roundup of several excellent articles this week: Keeping Your Brain Fit (US News and World Report) - "In a study of more than 2,800 people ages 65 or older, Harvard researchers found that those with at least five social ties—church groups, social groups, regular visits, or phone calls with family and friends—were less likely to suffer cognitive decline than those with no social ties." - "The working hypothesis is that it has something to do with stress management," says Marilyn Albert, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins and codirector of the Alzheimer's research center there. In animal studies, a prolonged elevation in stress hormones damages the hippocampus. Social engagement appears to boost people's sense of control, which affects their stress level. Creative ar... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1198833 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:35:05 +0100 1198833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194732&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fqucktitioner-goes-to-war.html At least the government is consistent. It is now going to "save" a little money by dumbing down the army. Why should the army be spared? They have done it to the doctors, the teachers and the lawyers. It's all in The Times:Nearly 1,000 new army recruits face having their combat training cut by half so that they can be rushed to the battlefields of Afghanistan. The “exceptional” measure is being proposed by senior officers to meet a serious shortage in manpower, The Times has learnt. It would affect those infantry battalions being earmarked to fight in the country next year. One senior defence source admitted that the new recruits would not be properly qualified to fight since they would receive only 50 per cent of the basic training usually given to qualified combat infantrymen. “I w... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194732 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:29:00 +0100 1194732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1192822&cid=t_124496_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F01%2F31%2Farmy-suicides-up-20%2F Two stories out this week suggest that you have a lot more to worry about than just getting shot at by the enemy in today’s Army. Today, the Army reported that suicides for 2007 jumped 20% over the previous year, up to 121 soldiers. CNN has the story: Internal briefing papers prepared by the Army’s psychiatry consultant earlier this month show there were 89 confirmed suicides last year and 32 deaths that are suspected suicides and still under investigation. More than a quarter of the combined total — about 34 — died while serving a tour of duty in Iraq, an increase from 27 in Iraq the previous year, according to the preliminary figures. The report also showed an increase in the number of attempted suicides and self-injuries — some 2,100 in 2007 compared ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1192822 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:23:53 +0100 1192822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=985963&cid=t_124496_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F176293970%2F 18-year-old Alex Ritter said it: He plays Bach and Brahms and “America the Beautiful.” And then walks in circles; he speaks one or two words at a time. My son Charlie is still working on “Oh Susannah” and “Happy Birthday”—Ritter started playing the piano at the age of 11 and who knows what Charlie might play? In the words of Alex Ritter: “Piano, good job.” Photo courtesy of owly9 via Flickr. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=985963 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:36:31 +0100 985963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1034979&cid=t_124496_113_f&fid=36670&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fmsdn%2Fhealthblog%2F%7E3%2F184363145%2Fa-swiss-army-knife-approach-to-healthcare-it.aspx Last evening I returned to Seattle from a three-day trip to Switzerland.  I was there to provide the opening keynote for the ehealthcare.ch conference in Nottwil and also to meet with Microsoft customers and partners attending the event. Perhaps the highlight of my trip was sharing the keynote stage with Dr. Bertrand Piccard.  Unless you are Swiss, you may not immediately recognize the name.  In Switzerland, Dr. Piccard is a national hero.  His grandfather and father were noted balloonists and undersea explorers.  Bertrand is best known for piloting the Brietling Orbiter 3 in a 1999 race to travel around the world in a balloon.  His latest quest is to circumnavigate the world in a custom-built, solar powered pl... HealthBlog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1034979 Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:30:00 +0100 1034979 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675426&cid=t_124496_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F15%2Ftvs-mr-wizard-tom-herbert-dies-of-bone-cancer%2F Filed under: Bone Cancer, Television, Daily news, Celebrity in memoriam, Celebrity newsDon Herbert, also known as television's science teacher Mr.Wizard, died at his home Tuesday of bone cancer. He was 89.Mr. Wizard's target audience was kids (baby boomers: you may already know this) and his lessons taught youngsters to use the thinking skills of scientists through workshop experiments using simple household items. His 1950s series Watch Mr. Wizard was so good it won a Peabody Award in 1954, and Herbert was one of David Letterman' first guests when the show Late Night With David Letterman debuted in 1982. Herbert's show made it to Nickelodeon too and ran from 1983 to 1991. Reruns were shown until 2000. Nickelodeon's Mr. Wizard episodes are available here.A native of Waconia, Minnesota, Her... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675426 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=493246&cid=t_124496_95_f&fid=34914&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.streetdoc.net%2Findex.php%2Fffp%2Findividual%2F1860%2F Ugh, censorship.  We all know my feelings on that, but I guess it comes with the job, and there are valid OPSEC concerns.  I just hope this isn’t one of those “take a mile” things. Big Brother is not watching you, but 10 members of a Virginia National Guard unit might be. The Manassas-based Virginia Data Processing Unit activated a team in July for one year to scan official and unofficial Army Web sites for operational security violations. [...] Based in Arlington, Va., AWRAC was created in 2002 to monitor official Web sites. Its mission was expanded in August 2005 by order of the Army Chief of Staff to include unofficial sites written by servicemembers. ARNEWSComments:(0) (Source: Far From Perfect - Complete) Far From Perfect - Complete blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=493246 Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:00:00 +0100 493246