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 'box'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:50:40 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103378&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F06%2Fwhat-trivial-habit-gives-a-giant-boost-of-happiness%2F Is it…getting enough sleep? Yes, but that’s not what I’m thinking of. Is it…getting some exercise? Yes, but that’s not what I’m thinking of. Give up? It’s….putting things away in the proper place! Zoikes, this (admittedly fairly insignificant) habit gives a disproportionate boost of happiness. Just this past weekend, I tried to find: The cord that connects my camera to my computer The headphones for my husband’s iTouch My younger daughter’s swimming goggles A copy of Patricia Clapp’s novel, Jane-Emily, for my older daughter (a terrific young-adult book, by the way) A business card I’d picked up at a meeting I attended three weeks ago The flight information for my upcoming trip A legal pad A pair of AA batteries My vi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103378 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:33:16 +0100 5103378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952994&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F17%2Ffatherless-on-fathers-day%2F {Holidays, 2008} This Father’s Day, I’ll be spending the day at my dad’s gravesite. It’ll be two years this August since my father passed away. I thought the wounds would heal by now. But they haven’t. Instead, it feels like the scar tissue is healing all wrong. The first year was a blur. Days dissolving into one another, melting like the clock in one of my father’s favorite Dali paintings. Days spent focused on checking off items on a to-do list. Months spent trying to carve out some sort of a routine in a half-empty house. Time heals all wounds; you hear that all the time. But I don’t think that’s true. Time tears off the Band-Aid, little by little, instead of ripping it off in one fell swoop. As the days, weeks, months and years go by, you just get caught... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952994 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:11:12 +0100 4952994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911571&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fhow-to-do-great-work-and-a-giveaway%2F When you’re on the job, you might feel like the last thing you’re doing is meaningful work. Like you’re stuck in a rut and just going through the motions. Email? Check. Phone calls? Check. Data entry? Check. Meeting? Check. Lunch? Check. More email. More calls. Home. Whether or not your days feel this mundane, you still might not be involved in exhilarating, engaging work that makes you happy. In Do More Great Work, Canadian coach Michael Bungay Stanier — founder of the company Box of Crayons — helps readers “stop the busywork, and start the work that matters.” Specifically, the book features a variety of exercises, which Stanier calls maps, and thought-provoking questions that help readers figure out what their own meaningful work is and how to do more of it. (It... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911571 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:15:12 +0100 4911571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723802&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsuggestions-for-stress-reduction-from-harvard%2F2011.04.18 It happens to everyone from time to time: a thorny issue sprouts up, a worry takes root. Soon those roots dig in so deeply and spread so wide that they leave little room for anything else to grow. Worrying, searching for a solution, and forecasting the future move from preoccupation to full-time work. When that starts to happen, it’s critical to call a timeout, explain stress experts Herbert Benson, MD, and Aggie Casey, the medical editors of Harvard Medical School’s Stress Management Special Health Report. Certain hormones fuel the body’s stress response (also dubbed “fight-or-flight”), speeding breathing and heartbeat, directing extra blood flow to the brain and muscles, perking up the immune system, and triggering other changes that prepare your body to respond to a perceived ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723802 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:52 +0100 4723802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450523&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FujKHiAQXNLE%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome to a brand new day. Here on the Pharmalot corporate campus we are getting our start by hustling our short people off to the local school houses. And you? No doubt, you are readying for another round of meetings and deadlines. To help you along, we have gathered some tidbits. Meanwhile, please join us for a cup of stimulation. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Merck-Serono Opens R&D Site, Adding 100 Jobs (Boston Business Journal) Roche’s Avastin Works In Late-Stage Trial For Ovarian Cancer (Reuters) Teva Earnings Miss Analyst Estimates (Bloomberg News) Has RNAi Fever Cooled? (The New York Times) Black Box Warnings Are Applied Inconsistently (Health Day) Glaxo To Move Philadelphia Offices, Denies Job Cuts (Philadelphia Inquirer) Schizoph... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450523 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:06:18 +0100 4450523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4324795&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwinterize-your-mind-and-body%2F2011.01.08 This is a guest post from Dr. Jena Wider. ********** Winterize Your Mind And Body During the winter months, certain health issues may arise that women should have on their radar. From mental health issues like stress, depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), to physical concerns like skin care, the winter can certainly pack an extra punch. Depression peaks during the holiday season, affecting more than 17 million Americans, according to the National Mental Health Association. On average, women are more vulnerable to stress-related illnesses like depression and anxiety than men. One study, conducted by Pacific Health Laboratories, revealed that 44 percent of American women report feeling sad through the holidays compared to 34 percent of American men. “Depression of any kind ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4324795 Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:00:17 +0100 4324795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4002888&cid=t_100676_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fx2tpiZ0EOIc%2F My recent talk on marine envenoming is now alive in blog-post form thanks to the MicroGnome. It gives a brief overview of the clinical aspects of marine envenoming from an Australian perspective. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4002888 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 11:52:06 +0100 4002888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3890501&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F21%2Fethical-best-practice-in-an-evidence-based-age%2F There were 2 presentations at this year’s annual American Psychological Association convention, which were important to psychotherapists in particular. With the ever-growing challenge to prove efficacy of each and every treatment, healthcare providers and consumers alike face some confusion as to how much information is enough, or too much. Does every therapists need to give a long presentation about the relative proven efficacy of low-dose medication combined with verbal therapy — and 2 hours gardening per week? (I made up the last part, but hiking and fresh air were a popular cure for quite a long time in 19th Century Europe.) Physicians are acutely aware of the need to know the research, and most ethical codes demand informed consent. Both health and mental health professionals ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3890501 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:20:35 +0100 3890501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746808&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F12%2Fintroducing-life-as-youth-know-it%2F I’m pleased to introduce our new blog, Life as You(th) Know It, by C.Y. (“Yan”) Chow. It is a blog about dealing with everything youths today have to deal with — from college and study woes, to relationship issues, family crises, friendship drama and everything in-between. I believe teens and young adults often have the greatest need for mental health and psychology information and resources, but also face the greatest challenge in actually accessing such resources (for numerous reasons). Hopefully blogs such as this one help de-mystify the psychology and mental health of youth. Despite campaigns by both parents to become either an architect or lawyer, Yan is currently a final year BSc Psychology student at the University of Warwick in England. She aspires to write for ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746808 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:39:01 +0100 3746808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733299&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVqaktbBtXWI%2F Last week, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission released its most recent report on the number of drug-related deaths in the state. The sad bottom line is that 8,653 - out of more than 171,300 deaths overall - were attributed to a drug that was listed as a cause of death, according to toxicology reports. Data was collected on various drugs, including benzodiazepines; cannabinoids; cocaine; ethyl alcohol; gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; methylated amphetamines (including Ecstasy); and various opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, methadone, morphine and oxycodone (read the report). However, one class of drugs that has, unfortunately, been associated with deaths, specifically suicide, is not included - antidepressants. Despite curiosity over this omission, Florida officials say there is a reaso... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733299 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:06:11 +0100 3733299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676649&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8Ewss4YVAME%2F By Ilya ShapiroYesterday I blogged about the Florida property rights case, which I now consider the best unanimous opinion against my position I could ever imagine.  Although the property owners lost, four justices stood for the idea that courts no less than legislatures or executive bodies are capable of violating the Takings Clause (Fifth Amendment), while two others endorsed remedying such violations via Substantive Due Process (Fourteenth Amendment), and the remaining two didn’t express an opinion one way or the other.  For more on the case, see the blogposts of Cato adjunct scholars Tim Sandefur, Ilya Somin, and David Bernstein. An interesting side note involves Justice Scalia’s excoriation of Substantive Due Process (and Justice Kennedy’s use of it): Moreover,... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676649 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:15:38 +0100 3676649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577451&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F19%2Fpsych-central-iphone-app%2F Have you ever wanted to keep up with the primary content published on Psych Central or one of its dozens of blogs on your iPhone? Now you can with the Psych Central iPhone app (free, of course!). If you already have an iPhone, just pull up the App Store and type in “psychcentral” in the search box, and you’ll see it pop right up. Download it and in a few minutes you’ll be up and running with all of the latest articles from Psych Central News, our dozens of blogs, World of Psychology and the Ask the Therapist feature. The app is completely customizable as well, allowing you to view and keep updated only on the content of interest to you. Don’t care about Blog C or Blog G? Simply turn them off and their content will no longer be displayed. You can customize font... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577451 Wed, 19 May 2010 10:06:00 +0100 3577451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3424818&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fis-your-tv-also-your-babysitter%2F Even the best parents use their idiot box as a sitter from time to time. When you have crap to do, it’s oh-so tempting to prop your kids in front of the boob tube and turn on the Disney Channel or pop in a DVD. But how much telly is way too much? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids younger than two years old not watch any TV at all, and that those older than two watch no more than one to two hours a day of educational programs. So how much are our kids watching? A hell of a lot more than that. According to a recent Nielsen report, American kids are staring at the small screen more than they have since 2001. The study reveals that kids ages two to five spend more than 32 hours a week in front of the TV, and that older kids (ages six to eleven) spend about 28 ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3424818 Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:02:04 +0100 3424818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262647&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F02%2F10%2Fwhat-two-poles%2F He looks as if he got confused when dressing this morning in his Eddie Bauer hiking boots and his Armani suit. Then I remember the snow and slush I schlepped through on the way to his office. Always ill prepared for wintry weather, or just too stubborn to buy hideous boots, I sit on his leather couch, nervously shaking my wet, tennis shoed foot, legs crossed, pillow clutched protectively in front of me and my demons. For $135, we are reviewing my meds today. On more than one occasion, it’s been pointed out that I “present” well. This psychological jargon translates into: me, looking just fine. By some unconscious effort, perhaps I do act in that manner. Still, no Oscar, or the riches that accompany it, arrives in my mail box. Go figure. Indeed, I am in grand shape. This is the only s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262647 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:15:45 +0100 3262647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3008397&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fis-google-new-fda.html At the recent FDA public hearing, Google presented its "ideas" for standard paid search ads for Rx products. The following, for example, shows its "proposal" for "Black Box Sponsored Links:"According to Klick Pharma's "Applying FDA Regulations to Online Marketing" guide, "Products with boxed warnings do not have the same flexibility in terms of creating reminder ads, as this form of ad is not permitted by the FDA for such drugs. While many boxed warning drugs have and continue to use branded reminder ads for search, it is not advisable given the current environment."Bayer has chosen not to heed this warning and decided to use Google's new "proposed" format for its  YAZ search campaign, as shown in this screen shot below (the ad I am referring to is the one on top, :-):YAZ is a special... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3008397 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:15:00 +0100 3008397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2678889&cid=t_100676_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F07%2Fmirror-box-video-david-butler%2F David Butler is a physiotherapist, and takes the ‘Explain Pain’ courses. If you’re keen to find out more about NOI group – head here This video is a good overview of the mirror box – in 7 minutes!  Enjoy. (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2678889 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:38:22 +0100 2678889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2637863&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fcan-black-box-warnings-kill.html I'm going to write about a story I saw on-line about a depressed mother who poisoned her small child. It's a terribly tragic story, and please keep in mind that I only know what I read in the article Here, and I've never examined anyone involved. The question being asked at the trial is that of whether the mother, who was depressed, was legally sane and knew it was wrong to kill her child, and that's not what I'm going to write about. I didn't pick a graphic to go with this blog post, because I couldn't think of any photo that would be appropriate to such an angst-ridden topic.I'm pulling a few sentences from the newspaper article to use as a springboard for discussion:They said Sparrow told a nurse practitioner she was considering using sedatives to kill herself, her daughter and her dog,... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2637863 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:32:00 +0100 2637863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307459&cid=t_100676_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F03%2Ftoxicology-conundrum-010%2F A 6 year-old girl was playing in shallow water at a beach in Northern Australia. She screamed and ran from the water before collapsing on the beach. Her legs and abdomen are covered in brown lines with surrounding erythema, and there appear to be tentacles stuck to her legs. She is unresponsive. Questions 1. What is the [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307459 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:00:37 +0100 2307459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2580287&cid=t_100676_113_f&fid=35744&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fe-CareManagement%2F%7E3%2FhcPD8UrQ9Jw%2F Even though I am a self-admitted dog person, Hoover is my buddy. Hoover got a new shoebox as a Christmas present.  While most cats are very tied to their existing surroundings and don’t like things to change, Hoover is not your average cat. The following photos were taken over about a two week period. Hoover hopes you enjoy them! (more…) Article Series - The Dog Manifesto: A Disruptive Innovator's Guide to Health ITWill HITECH Lead to Innovation? The Continuing Cat/Dog DialogueDogged Optimism: Five Innovative Aspects of HITECHFeline Foot-Dragging: Three Non-Innovative Aspects of HITECHWait and See: What’s Unclear or To-Be-Determined (TBD) About HITECH.Can Cats Think Outside the Box? Here’s a Role Model.Stand for Quality Group: “Link HIT Investment to Quality Imp... e-CareManagement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2580287 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:24:28 +0100 2580287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2314639&cid=t_100676_113_f&fid=35744&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fe-CareManagement%2F%7E3%2FhcPD8UrQ9Jw%2F Even though I am a self-admitted dog person, Hoover is my buddy. Hoover got a new shoebox as a Christmas present.  While most cats are very tied to their existing surroundings and don’t like things to change, Hoover is not your average cat. The following photos were taken over about a two week period. Hoover hopes you enjoy them! (more…) Article Series - The Dog Manifesto: A Disruptive Innovator's Guide to Health ITWill HITECH Lead to Innovation? The Continuing Cat/Dog DialogueDogged Optimism: Five Innovative Aspects of HITECHFeline Foot-Dragging: Three Non-Innovative Aspects of HITECHWait and See: What’s Unclear or To-Be-Determined (TBD) About HITECH.Can Cats Think Outside the Box? Here’s a Role Model.Stand for Quality Group: “Link HIT ... e-CareManagement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2314639 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:24:28 +0100 2314639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2235674&cid=t_100676_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fyoutube-mirror-box-videos%2F I was just looking for a quick video on using mirror box for CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome) - well I couldn’t find any on YouTube, but I did find a good few on use for stroke. Take a look at these and let me know what you think!  BTW If you’ve made a video on mirror box therapy in CRPS, or phantom, let me know and I’ll link to it. BTW you don’t always need the box - you can simply use a mirror… Enjoy! (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2235674 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:55:01 +0100 2235674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2276201&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2FyGa0XWofFVI%2Fautism-and-food-forget-about-food.html I wonder why people with autism seem to forget about food.Here are my reasons and some solutions. Your suggestions are welcome.1. Too Busy doing someting else, such as computing. An alarm clock is my help. However, I sometimes forget about the alarm sound too -((When visitors come over to my home, I always ask them what they want to drink, but their company is so overwhelming I simply forget to make their wish come true. It so odd I just stay and sit on the sofa doing other things. Solution: make your guests clear upon arrival that you have a tendency to forget these matters. Just ask them to make clear there and ask them please to mention it directly. No one likes to get or to serve cold coffee!2. When I am not at home, I find it hard to eat in a strange environment, and thoughs about foo... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2276201 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:02:00 +0100 2276201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260483&cid=t_100676_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Flove-is-greater-than-breast-cancer%2F On my vanity sits a beautiful silver box embellished with hearts and rhinestones. On top of the box is an oval plaque engraved with the words, “I’ll always be your baby boy.” A secret nickname follows the inscription. This is the Christmas gift I got from my youngest son, and the inscription alludes to a passage from a favorite book I used to read him when he was very young. The nickname is one that only I call him, one that he usually rolls his eyes at. After opening his presents Christmas morning, my son left the room for a few moments and returned with a beautifully wrapped present that he handed sheepishly to me. The moment I opened the box, I began to cry, it was so beautiful and truly unexpected. My son also cried and hugged me. He later told me that he understood at that momen... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260483 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:43:44 +0100 2260483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2081033&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fdetoxification-fraud.html Christmas and New Year has, as usual, been a prolonged period of general excess; too much rich food; too much booze; too many high calorie snacks. Wherever you are, wherever you turn, there seems to be an open box of biscuits or chocolates which, for eleven and a half months of the year, you would not touch.We took the tree and the cards down last night and normal service has been resumed. The feeling of excess is replaced by a craving for cornflakes, beans on toast and iced water.This is a great time of year for the nutritionists and other quacks to start flogging their dubious wares. The purveyors of colonic lavage will be busy. I’ve taken a couple of days off work this week. Luxury. Pure luxury. The BBC Radio 4 TODAY programme is much more enjoyable when one is not going to work. I wa... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2081033 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 10:42:00 +0100 2081033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077342&cid=t_100676_88_f&fid=38203&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprecordialthump.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F01%2F02%2Fproblems-in-toxicology-010%2F A 6 year-old girl was playing in shallow water at a beach in Northern Australia. She screamed and ran from the water before collapsing on the beach. Her legs and abdomen are covered in brown lines with surrounding erythema, and there appear to be tentacles stuck to her legs. She is unresponsive. Questions 1. What is the likely diagnosis? 2. Where does this condition occur? 3. Describe the immediate and prehospital management of this patient. 4. Should the tentacles be removed? How? 5. Describe the use, indications, and effectiveness of antivenom for this condition. 6. Describe further management of this patient - she arrives at hospital undergoing bag-mask ventilation and has a pulse, but she is tachycardic and hypotensive. 7. Describe the role of verapamil in the treatment of this condit... AEQUANIMITAS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077342 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:45:01 +0100 2077342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074325&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fgive-away.html The oh so very delightfully charming "Lis Garrett" from "Root and Sprout" is hosting a giveaway today. Can that possibly be one word? Click on the flower to whizz you right thereORGet the code:-Cut and pastefrom this littleboxy thing below Similarly charmingly and delightfully, "Debbie" from "Three Weddings" is also hosting a give .......away......sorry I just can't put those two words together again.Debbie's Click on one of the brides to whizz you right thereORGet the code:-Cut and pastefrom this littleboxy thing below As a result, these two thoroughly reprobate bloggers have double dared me to do likewise. Up until now, I have never given anything away if I could possibly help it, and I'm quite certain that there will be a whole host of pitfalls that I'm about to plop into.Since I am all... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074325 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:59:00 +0100 2074325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074327&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Ftissue-box-mood-control-try-tackling-it.html As with most tips and tricks around here, this has been scientifically, nay, exhaustingly tested for your benefit. I can assure you that it is 100% effective for one typical and one atypical child. Conversely, it is completely ineffective for another typical and atypical child. Thusly, an overall 50% success rate is worth a bash in my book. Follow the basic principles in “tissue box.” Choose the fabric with care to cause minimum offense, remain gender neutral and avoid tickly, scratchy, itchy textures. Fleeces usually fit the bill, are cheap and easy to work with since they don’t fray. White is usually a poor choice when filthy snotty children are involved but the sheep-like woolly texture was a definite favourite. Select a decorative trim that could resemble hair and stitch to the i... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074327 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:54:00 +0100 2074327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056685&cid=t_100676_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F12%2Fbox-jellyfish-chironex-fleckeri%2F The box jellyfish is found in tropical Australian waters. Most stings are benign and respond to supportive measures. Severe envenoming has been associated with at least 67 deaths in Australia, the last 12 being children. All deaths occur within 5 minutes of the sting, probably secondary to direct cardiac toxicity.      Toxin The specific venom [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056685 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:43:28 +0100 2056685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027260&cid=t_100676_140_f&fid=35448&url=http%3A%2F%2Fseemedlikeagoodideathetime.com%2F2008%2F12%2F09%2Fstupid-arrogant-does-not-equal-insane%2F I deleted it late last night (the post from yesterday) where I was asking if our esteemed Gov. was insane. (due to his reasoning on forcing banks to keep up the bad loan giving). Evidently thug politics won. I took it down because….well. *hangs head in shame* It appears he is not nuts, just stupid.  Pathologically stupid. Funny [...] (Source: bipolar chicks blogging) bipolar chicks blogging blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027260 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:26:15 +0100 2027260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2005926&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Flast-minute-gift-try-tackling-it.html This decorative tissue box cover provides an inexpensive, attractive, yet all too seasonal gift. It is also ready wrapped to save paper.Sniff.I’m told by those who know about such things that ‘gold’ is THE colour of choice but this could easily be adapted to anyone’s personal preferences.The choice of fabrics in America is quite daunting, everything from golfing prints to stamp samples, so don’t rule out the unisex option. Fortunately there are also many cheaper remnants available for the thrifty.Here’s how to put it together.For your base colour, duplicate for contracting top colour. Don't forget to cut out a square for the bottom.French seam the base colour strip and top colour strip together. French seam the side until you have the equivalent of a cylinder. Add the base. Hem... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2005926 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:59:00 +0100 2005926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924708&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F437368122%2F Using a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and Pfizer’s antidepressant dramatically reduced the severity of anxiety disorders in children compared with either treatment alone, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine. The findings are likely to add to the ongoing controversy about giving antidepressants to children. In 2004, the FDA required drugmakers to add Black Box warnings to antidepressants concerning suicide and suicidal thoughts in children. That led to yet another controversy that some doctors stopped prescribing the meds as often, leading to a rise in teen suicides (back story). In the study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health and involved 488 kids between ages 7 and 17, none of the children committed suicide, and there ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924708 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:39:28 +0100 1924708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901613&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FnmB6xmGZF5s%2F After being so very tired on Tuesday, Charlie got himself out of bed on Wednesday morning, got dressed and zoomed out the door sans sweatshirt and bookbag before either Jim or I could shove on our shoes. After a tough couple of days at school, Wednesday was very good. Jim had suggested that keeping Charlie in motion (especially out of doors) might help. Last year Charlie had Adapted Physical Education at 11am, just around the time he was getting sluggish and his energy was ebbing. This year, he has gym at 8.37, right after he gets to school. That means he’s active first thing in the morning, perhaps gets a bit tired from the workout, and then has a long day of working at his desk, learning pre-vocational and life skills (his class has the use of a home-ec room’s kitchen and als... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901613 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:07:41 +0100 1901613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883570&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F421456941%2F Three years ago, the FDA required makers of antidepressants to supply Med Guides along with their pills. That wasn’t good enough for a couple of New Jersey moms, who have been pushing their state legislature to go further - a bill requiring a doctor or nurse to obtain informed consent from a minor’s parent before writing a prescription for any psychotropic that already carries a Black Box warning. In fact, thanks to their urgings, a bill has been kicking around the state legislature for nearly two years and passed the assembly. However, the state senator who heads the Senate health committee, Joe Vitale, has repeatedly failed to schedule the bill for a vote (here’s the bill and the assembly version). Last fall, he told us the bill would move forward, but it never did. And Vitale ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883570 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:49:50 +0100 1883570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764227&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F382260313%2F The ongoing controversy over the links between antidepressant use and suicide among teenagers remains one of the great debates in health care these days. Ever since the FDA acknowledged the problem by holding highly publicized hearings in 2004, which were then followed by Black Box warnings in 2005, a fresh debate erupted among doctors and others who feared the moves would cause the proverbial pendulum to swing too far - fewer scrips would be written and, consequently, more suicides would result. For instance, two years after Health Canada warned about prescribing antidepressants to children, a study reported the number of kids who died by suicide increased 25 per cent after years of steady decline. And here’s background on a similar study last year in the American Journal of Psychia... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764227 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:55:14 +0100 1764227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742836&cid=t_100676_137_f&fid=35357&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAlzheimersNotes%2F%7E3%2FUCl54wQxLGM%2F AlzheimersNotes.com All this mention of lunch boxes in the giveaways we’re conducting at One Book Two Book brings to mind memories of my school days.  We used either a brown paper bag or metal lunch box.  (It seems metal lunch boxes are making somewhat of a come back.) That’s all that was available then. If we were fortunate, we got a new one when school started. (With four in the family needing lunch boxes, book bags, pencil boxes, and clothes, new lunch boxes weren’t always in Mother’s budget.) Many of these lunch boxes came with a thermos. (Occasionally Mother bought one separately.)  In these we usually carried milk. We didn’t have boxed juices and beverages, so either drank milk or water. Mother might put soup in the thermos on cold weather days. Attending a One-Room Sch... Alzheimer's Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742836 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:00:10 +0100 1742836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692384&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F359504449%2F Americans are likely to be exposed to unacceptable side effects of FDA-approved drugs because of flaws in the way new drugs are tested and marketed, according to research presented earlier this week at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. “Drug disasters are literally built into the current system of drug testing and approvals in the United States,” says Donald Light, a sociologist and a professor of comparative health policy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, who gave the talk. “Recent changes in the system have only increased the proportion of new drugs with serious risks.” Systematic reviews indicate that one in seven new drugs is superior to existing drugs, but two in every seven new drugs result in side effects se... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692384 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:19:48 +0100 1692384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625797&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F336156450%2F Last week, an FDA advisory committee voted that 11 epilepsy meds can increase the risk of suicide, but voted 14-4 against adding a Black Box about those risks on the drug labeling, something the agency itself suggested several times in the weeks leading to the meeting. The episode followed a spate of new or revised Black Box warnings - the most serious warning the FDA can recommend a drugmaker place on product labeling - for a host of drugs over the past few years. These include antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, anemia treatments, ultrasound meds, asthma drugs and diabetes pills (have we forgotten anything? Send us a note). The recent vote over epilepsy meds prompted speculation that, perhaps, the FDA has become so painfully aware of safety concerns that the Black Box warning i... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625797 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:43:15 +0100 1625797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1594003&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F329135607%2F The agency, of course, signaled as much last month when Rusty Katz, the director the FDA’s neuropharmacological drug division, publicly acknowledged the agency has been working on getting suicide warnings in the labeling for 11 meds. Here’s the back story. Earlier today, though, the FDA made the proposal official in briefing documents posted on the agency website in advance of an advisory committee meeting being held this Thursday to discuss the issue. Here are the documents. A recent FDA analysis of nearly 200 studies found patients on epilepsy meds were more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors than those on placebo - on average, 0.43 percent compared with 0.22 percent. The agency, however, noted the effect was rare and remain uncertain about the cause. “There see... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1594003 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:32:17 +0100 1594003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526301&cid=t_100676_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F313904319%2Ffda_adds_black_box_warning_to_1.html The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it now requires the manufacturers of "conventional" antipsychotic drugs to include a black box warning on the labeling and prescribing information of this class of drugs.The changes are to warn about an increased risk of death associated with the off-label use of these antipsychotics to treat behavioural problems in older patients with demntia. Off-label treatments are those uses that are not FDA or manufacturer approved. (Source: PharmaGazette) PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526301 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:00:06 +0100 1526301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1500126&cid=t_100676_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F306994078%2F Johnson & Johnson’s Regranex, a prescription foot jell which is used to treat refractory leg and foot ulcers in patients with diabetes, is now being given the black box warning from the US FDA. The updated warning states that patients who use three or more tubes of the gel over two years are five times more likely to die from cancer than those who do not use it. The label also advises physicians to use caution when prescribing the drug to patients with malignancies. Tags: back box warning, Diabetes, diabetic, fda, foot jell, foot ulcers, Regranex, ulcersShare This (Source: Diabetes Notes) Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1500126 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:45:48 +0100 1500126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1488221&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fevista-nobody-is-pointing-gun-at-us.html According to an IndyStar.com article, the new Evista ads "are raising a new round of criticism from some women's health groups" (see "A new pitch for an old pill"). Lilly markets Evista.The issue is whether or not Evista's breast cancer prevention benefit is worth the risk."Evista," says the article, "has been shown to raise the risk of blood clots and fatal strokes. In one clinical trial of 10,000 patients with coronary problems and other health issues, women who took Evista had a 49 percent higher risk of dying if they suffered a stroke than those who took a placebo."The drug's packaging insert even carries a black-box warning about those risks -- the strongest warning required by the Food and Drug Administration."The article seems to be a "fair and balanced" critique and quotes a few di... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1488221 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:03:00 +0100 1488221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392541&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F275731684%2F We’re down to the last week-plus of Autism Awareness Month 2008. We’ve been asked to wear our awareness, to eat and shop and to give $$$$ in support of autism—not that my autistic son has been asked or even expected to do anything in honor of the month. The funny, or curious, or ironic thing about Autism Awareness Month is that an autistic child doesn’t have to do anything except (which is not a bad thing, not at all!) to be him or herself. Today being Earth Day, our small household is doing our part to be eco-minded and -acting. Plenty for Charlie and us to do: He’s been taking out the recycling, I carry around my coffee cup to refill and avoid printing out what I can see on my computer. We’ve been walking whenever we can (to the grocery store yesterday... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392541 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:00:33 +0100 1392541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1367952&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F268631964%2F From an op-ed in today’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution by neurologist Jon S. Poling, the father of Hannah Poling, with a proposal for more research in the “mitochondrial autism”: Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may not be rare at all among children with autism. In the only population-based study of its kind, Portuguese researchers confirmed that at least 7.2 percent, and perhaps as many as 20 percent, of autistic children exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction. While we do not yet know a precise U.S. rate, 7.2 percent to 20 percent of children does not qualify as “rare.” In fact, mitochondrial dysfunction may be the most common medical condition associated with autism. …… Although unlikely, if the Portuguese studies are incorrec... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1367952 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:00:47 +0100 1367952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1356373&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F266288921%2F This is certain to cause a ruckus. Two years after Health Canada warned about prescribing antidepressants to children, a new study reports that the number of children and teens who died by suicide increased 25 per cent after years of steady decline, The Vancouver Sun writes. At the same time, the increased suicide rate coincided with a 10 percent drop in the rate of visits to docs for treating depression in children. The researchers tracked health records of more than 265,000 Manitoba children per year between 1995 and March 2006. Health Canada warned in 2004 that antidepressants may be associated with an increased risk of suicide-related events in patients under 18. They found the warning was followed by a 14 percent drop in antidepressant use among children and teens, fewer visits to doc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356373 Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:11:17 +0100 1356373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1353151&cid=t_100676_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F264800434%2F Jamie Davis of Mediccast sent me a link to an interesting article from the CNN website. It describes how mirror box therapy is being used to help veterans who have suffered amputations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those of you who heard Sandra Blakeslee’s interview about body maps back in Episode 23 will remember that she described how her son built the first mirror box for VS Ramachandran several years ago while working as a graduate student. It is good to see that military physicians are beginning to apply some of the recent findings of neuroscience to helping injured vets, but you may also recall that when we talked with Dr. Edward Taub about stroke rehab, he reported the difficulty of getting new methods of head injury treatment into the VA clinics. link to article about mirrors: htt... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1353151 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:24:55 +0100 1353151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1329201&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F258555793%2F The Prescription Drug and User Fee Act is regularly blamed for pushing the FDA to rush approvals and causing unanticipated safety problems. And so researchers examined outcomes for drugs approved two months prior to their PDUFA dates and those approved at other times and guess what they found? The PDUFA system led to more recalls and an increased likelihood that a drug will receive a Black Box warning, according to the study in The New England Journal of Medicine. You may recall that PDUFA was begun in 1992 and ushered in a new era in which drugmakers pay so-called users fees to the FDA to speed the approval process. Since then, however, the system has been widely criticized for turning the FDA into an arm of industry that focuses more attention on approval and less on safety. The research... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1329201 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:18:45 +0100 1329201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1315478&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F254535535%2F Sales reps have been pounding doctors’ doors on behalf of Merck and Schering-Plough’s beleaguered cholesterol drug Vytorin, but their pleas aren’t getting them very far. It’s been two months since the results of the controversial Enhance trial suggested Vytorin was no better than a cheap generic at slowing the progression of cardiovascular disease. The hullabaloo appears to have quieted down, but the calm probably won’t last long. A deeper dive on the data is slated for the annual meeting of American College of Cardiology at the end of the month. The sessions could spark another round of questions. In the meantime, despite the companies’ sales efforts, new prescriptions for the drug haven’t recovered from their decline after the results came out Ja... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1315478 Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:39:06 +0100 1315478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1281118&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F246265989%2F Two sleep aids were among the seven drugs in Heath Ledger’s system when he died at age 28: temazepam, sold as Restoril; and doxylamine, an ingredient in over-the-counter sleeping medicines. No single drug was identified as the cause of his death, and Ledger’s drug use clearly went far beyond that of most 20somethings. Still, he did fit one striking pattern: The use of sleeping pills has been growing steadily among young adults. One in three adults has occasional insomnia, and one in 10 adults has chronic sleeplessness, according to the National Institutes of Health. In recent years, more people have been taking pills to help them with the problem. About 8% of the insured population took sleeping pills in 2006 compared with around 5% in 1998, according to an analysis by researc... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1281118 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 21:43:44 +0100 1281118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1268595&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F243395476%2F Three years ago, the FDA required makers of antidepressants to supply Med Guides along with their pills. That wasn’t good enough for a couple of New Jersey moms, who have been pushing their state legislature to go even further - a bill requiring a doctor or nurse to obtain informed consent from a minor’s parent before writing a prescription for any psychotropic that already carries a Black Box warning. Last November, however, it looked like the bill, which had been kicking around a year, was dead after making it to the New Jersey assembly and senate. The state senator who heads the health committee, Joe Vitale, failed to schedule the bill for a vote, citing procedural issues and the need for further study. At the time, he told us the bill would still move forward, but it never did. He ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1268595 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:22:22 +0100 1268595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1134002&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F212804601%2F Those FDA warnings about the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents taking those meds appear to have had “modest and targeted effects on the intended populations,” according to a study in Archives of General Psychiatry (subscription may be required). Relying on data from the Medco pharmacy benefits manager, the researchers analyzed trends in antidepressant use for three age groups - kids between 6 and 17 years old; adults aged 18 to 64, and those 65 and older. And they examined the usage over three time periods - May 1, 2002 to June 19, 2003, before any warnings were issued; June 20, 2003 to Oct. 15, 2004, when a warning was issued on Glaxo’s Paxil, and from Oct. 16, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2005, during which time Black Box warnings were issued and s... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1134002 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:23:25 +0100 1134002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1147418&cid=t_100676_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fboutique-drugs-splitting-mass-market.html "Recently, the term boutique has started being applied to normally-mass-market items that are either niche or produced in intentionally small numbers at very high prices. For example, before the release of the Wii, a Time Magazine article suggested that Nintendo could become a boutique video-game company, producing games for niche audiences, rather than trying to compete directly with Microsoft and Sony [1]" [Boutique@WP]"articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals and articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals." [FDA definition]As found via Bio-IT/drug discovery expect analysts in the future more boutique drugs. Two main causes are mentioned.Fi... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1147418 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:15:00 +0100 1147418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1096735&cid=t_100676_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F200592834%2F I have always enjoyed learning what specific search topics have led readers to my sites. And believe me some are too darn funny, inappropriate, disgusting and there has even been one or two that have made me blush (which is very hard to do). I get a kick out of what must go through some peoples heads when they sit down and type away in that little Google box! Here is a top 10 list of very strange, off beat and interesting search terms that brought a variety of readers to Diabetes Notes… 1. diabetes night shift 2. diabetes elimination games 3. evel knievel 4. human 5. ten nine eight seven six five four three two one 6. vibrators and diabetes 7. latest drugs discovery for newborn in 2007 8. is sweet n low poisonous to pets? 9. sex sex sex sex and the last but not least 10. diabetic po... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1096735 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:54:47 +0100 1096735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030257&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F185452818%2F It would only be surprising if Takeda Pharmaceuticals didn’t make such a move. The drugmaker plans to roll out ads touting the safety of its own Actos diabetes pills tomorrow - just two days after Glaxo acquiesced to the FDA and agreed to place yet another Black Box warning on Avandia product labeling. The new warning carries info about heart attack risks; an earlier Black Box mentions heart failure. Although the latest Avandia warning says that evidence is “inconclusive” about the increased risk of heart attacks, Wall Street expects the language to further dampen sales of the drug, which have plummeted since safety concerns arose in May, the Associated Press notes. And this gives Actos an advantage, because its the only diabetes drug in the same class as Avandia. Takeda ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030257 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 23:26:40 +0100 1030257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1027238&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184761620%2F This was expected, but now it’s official. The agency acted after a recent panel voted to recommend the Glaxo diabetes pill remain on the market, but with stiffer warnings about heart attack risks. The debate followed a controversy that erupted last May, when The New England Journal of Medicine published a meta-analysis showing Avandia increased the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent. Last week, Health Canada severely restricted usage. “FDA has moved expeditiously to review the cardiovascular risks of this drug so that we could inform patients and doctors at the earliest possible time of our findings,” says Janet Woodcock, FDA’s deputy commishr for scientific and medical programs, chief medical officer, and acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1027238 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:23:20 +0100 1027238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1022532&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184107608%2F When you wish upon a star… Ever the optimist, Garnier believes that a tougher FDA warning on the Avandia productd label may not be a disaster for the diabetes med. When asked whether Avandia could return to its former level of profitability even with a second so-called black-box warning, the Glaxo ceo tells Reuters: “Absolutely. It all depends on what the language is.” The FDA is expected - any day - to decide on a labeling change, which may very well carry a second Black Box warning linking Avandia to an increased risk of heart attacks. Last week, Canada’s health ministry severely restricted use of the pill. The regulatory activity follows a controversial meta-analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine last May that found Avandia linked to a 43 percent increas... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1022532 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:04:53 +0100 1022532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=974715&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F174274876%2F Glaxo’s diabetes pill already has such a warning about heart failure, but apparently the FDA wants to add one about the risk of heart attacks, according to The Wall Street Journal. Talks are still under way, the paper writes, but if agency officials succeed, the move would make it still more difficult for sales to rebound. Ever since the New England Journal of Medicine published a study last May that Avandia raised the risk of heart attacks by 43 percent, the drugmaker has insisted evidence is lacking that the diabetes pill is more dangerous than rival meds. Avandia scrips, meanwhile, have continued to plunge and sales were down 38 percent in the third quarter. As the paper notes, Takeda’s Actos also carries a warning about the risk of heart failure, but not heart attack. An F... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=974715 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:30:48 +0100 974715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903792&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F161249505%2F It’s not clear who posted this pastiche of clips, but the message isn’t ambivalent - antidepressants can cause suicide and, in some cases, violence. The timing is interesting, too - this appears on YouTube (see below) just a week after a study is published in The American Journal of Psychiatry suggesting Black Box warnings on product labeling caused scrips to drop and suicides to rise. The video contains TV clips about the controversy, snippets of an FDA meeting about the drugs, and interviews with now-familiar critics, including Harvard’s Joseph Glenmullen and David Healy of the University of Wales. The video opens and closes with a 911 call in which a New Jersey teen can be heard threatening to kill herself. This is not for the faint-hearted, and it’s likely to up... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903792 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:29:05 +0100 903792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=880357&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F158052073%2F Two weeks ago, the controversy over antidepressants and Black Box warnings for suicides re-emerged after yet another study in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggested that prescriptions fells due to the publicity given the issue three years ago. Then, CDC data was released showing a rise in suicide among youngsters in 2004 - before the warnings actually showed up on labeling. The American Psychiatric Association complains the warnings are scaring away docs and patients, some of whom may benefit from the meds. So what affect did those Black Box warnings have on antidepressant usage? We asked Medco, the big pharmacy benefits manager, to share annual scrip data and the trend is interesting… Scrips for male and female youngsters between 10 and 19 years old were rising between 2001 an... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=880357 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:47:02 +0100 880357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1147437&cid=t_100676_107_f&fid=36698&url=http%3A%2F%2Fminingdrugs.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fsocial-chemistry-and-wikipedia.html As posted already are there still several problems with structure/substructure searches, and even the plain indexing of chemical structures within Wikipedia. Here are more details about it.==One==1.1. There are technical problems, because a SMILES code might contain characters reserved for the Wikipedia syntax.1.2. Some people dislike SMILES strings for large molecules1.3. It seems not to be easy to convince people about the relevance of unified chemical identifiers within Wikipedia, and subtructure and structure search link-outs. Especially the Wikipedia administration seems to be very skeptical and non-responsive.Substructure search in eMolecules and PubChem added I have added a SMILES based substructure search for eMolecules and PubChem. Please have a look at Cetirizine containing alrea... Mining Drug Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1147437 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:05:00 +0100 1147437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=862234&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F155020316%2F There was an outburst of news last week concerning antidepressants and whether Black Box warnings placed on product labeling was responsible for an increase in suicides. The link between the meds and suicide was already controversial, but the latest study fanned the debate because the increased suicide rate took place during the same year that there was significant publicity about the links. Yet, this was before the warnings were actually issued. Moreover, the new study was based on just one year of data. So we asked you whether the Black Box should stay, given that the FDA is on record saying the warnings could be revoked, depending upon additional info. One caveat - this is not a scientific poll. However, the results clearly suggest that there is support for the warnings. Our thanks to t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=862234 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:26:13 +0100 862234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=850662&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F153453025%2F In the explosion of information yesterday surrounding the use of antidepressants, suicides and Black Box warnings, there was a little noticed item. The study in the American Journal of Psychiatry was authored by eight people, two of whom have rather noticeable conflicts of interest. The study, which received front-page treatment in The Washington Post, was co-authored by Robert Gibbons, a professor of biostatistics and psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who has served as an expert witness for Wyeth, the company that sells Effexor. And J. John Mann, a psychiatry professor at Columbia University, has received research support from Glaxo, which sells Paxil, and served as an adviser to Eli Lilly, which peddles Prozac and Cymbalta. How do we know? These competing interests wer... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=850662 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:42:19 +0100 850662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=847519&cid=t_100676_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F153058952%2F That’s the conclusion of yet another study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, which finds that teenage suicides rose 14 percent from 2003 to 2004, a year in which the debate that antidepressants actually cause suicide gained widespread publicity. (Here is the abstract). The data suggest that for every 20 percent decline in antidepressant use among patients of all ages in the United States, an additional 3,040 suicides per year would occur, Robert Gibbons, a professor of biostatistics and psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who did the study, tells The Washington Post. Meanwhile, the CDC today released new data showing the suicide rate for 10- to-24-year-olds increased by 8 percent in 2004, the largest single-year rise in 15 years. The decline took place from 1990... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=847519 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:16:12 +0100 847519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828076&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F28%2Fcnn-coverage-of-diabulemia-is-bananas%2F Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Opinion, Allie Beatty, Support, PersonalitiesI'm outraged at the coverage CNN provided on diabulemia. They accuse diabetics who suffer with the condition of doing the wrong thing. CNN neglected to address the cause of diabulemia. The drug all insulin dependent diabetics must use is a synthetic hormone that has been genetically modified. It is nothing like human insulin or any natural vertebrate insulin, for that matter. The fact that 1 in 3 diabetics choose to take less insulin is not because they wish to eat more food. It is a reaction provoked by an inadequate and dangerous genetically modified drug. The reason a diabetic would take less insulin is to avoid experiencing the unnatural side effects the insulin is causing. CNN sensationalized diabulemia and ... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828076 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 828076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=801629&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F144434170%2Fdo_comfort_zones_help_or_hurt.html When I taught at UBC – a fellow faculty rushed home after a brief cell conversation that reported her aging mom naked as a jaybird out on Main Street. For the second time that week, the woman simply left home without her mental comfort zone – in this case - her clothes. Most people agree,  that some routines are worth holding onto in any civilized community. Fewer recognize, though, how the human brain rewires daily for ruts or renewal. How so? Common practices and patterns stack up in your brain’s basal ganglia much like Word files stored in a computer. That nuclei cell collection holds hundreds of everyday routines most people take for granted. Removed or diseased … this brain function would do us in. Just as my friend’s mother drifted into t... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=801629 Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:31:04 +0100 801629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=773341&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F01%2Fso-avandia-stays-but-will-doctors-prescribe-it%2F Filed under: Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Drugs, ComplicationsIt was plastered all over the news earlier this week. The committee of advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted 22-1 to keep GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia on the market. They also voted 20-3 the evidence reveals Avandia increases risk of heart attack. Comforting, isn't it? Avandia, used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been under attack for cardiovascular risks since a late May study showed a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack. Okay, so Avandia will likely get a black box warning from the FDA, its sternest alert to doctors. Pascale Boyer Barresi, an analyst at Bordier & Cie in Geneva stated the black box is likely and Avandia sales will probably not recover to previous levels. They might gain 10 to 15 percent... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=773341 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 773341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=748911&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F21%2Fless-insulin-longer-life%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, ResearchHoward Hughs Medical Experts have discovered the key to a longer life is lower insulin levels. Less insulin helps cells fend off diseases that lead to early death like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. So how does one lower their insulin levels? Caloric restriction by way of eating less carbohydrates. Caloric restriction postpones the onset of life-threatening conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. It may still happen, but at a later age. Scientists manipulated genes in mice to produce 50% less insulin and saw the mice live 18% longer. While lowering insulin throughout the body can lead to a diabetic state, scientists found that allowing insulin levels to be high throughout most of the body, and lowering the... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=748911 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 748911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682755&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F18%2Fprescribers-letter-offers-practitioners-unbiased-avandia-advice%2F Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Drugs, ResearchAvandia is out of the top headlines lately, but I am sure the controversial drug remains top-of-mind for type 2 diabetics carrying a prescription. I fumbled upon Prescriber's Letter recently, an independent service providing information about meds to paid subscribers. They claim their research reports are unbiased, the website does not accept advertising (a plus) and overviews are written by editors advised by experts, government agencies and national organizations. The June edition of Prescriber's Letter offers a synopsis on Avandia. It might be worth a read. In a nutshell, Prescriber's acknowledges Dr. Nissen's meta-analysis which points to higher heart attack risk for Avandia versus different meds or placebos. They also acknowledge expe... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682755 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 682755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=637976&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F24%2Fcancer-research-competition-could-fuel-better-research%2F Filed under: Research, EventsIf all else fails, why not hold a competition with a million dollar prize for the best cancer cure idea? This is exactly what a group of Harvard researchers and hedge fund managers are doing. Due to a recent lack of adequate federal funding, the Gotham Prize for Cancer Research has been formed to bring out the most creative ideas to help further cancer research. While more traditional folks might balk at an idea that focuses on creativity rather than concrete proof, the founders of the organization are expecting good things to come of the contest. The competitors will be invited to write an essay outlining their idea. Over the course of a year the entries will be evaluated and judged on their feasibility. This sounds like a most interesting approach.Read |... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637976 Thu, 24 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 637976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=631574&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34866&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecardioblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F23%2Fnew-machine-keeps-heart-beating-on-its-own-until-transplant%2F Filed under: Research, SurgeryI can't begin to imagine what this looks like in action. A new machine keeps donor hearts beating on their own for up to 24 hours. The extra time allows the organ to be flown anywhere in the country to a patient who needs it, and eliminates the conventional 6 hour time limit. Some hearts, according to the article, get damaged by the ice that hearts are now placed on, and others aren't strong enough to survive the wait until transplant, but by keeping a heart beating that kind of damage could be eliminated. Three hearts preserved in the machine have been successfully transplanted into recipients, and the machine will be tested at five transplant centers around the country. Medical technology is a marvel, isn't it?Read | Permalink | Email thi... The Cardio Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=631574 Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 631574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=589134&cid=t_100676_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F04%2Fthought-for-the-day-something-to-bead-about%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Products, Cancer Survivors, Thought for the DayBreast cancer survivor Linda Griggs offers a wide variety of hands-on healing products for other survivors -- like an inner child notebook with markers for journaling and expressing emotions, a wooden box with instructions on how to create a healing shrine, a non-fiction account of her own cancer journey, and so much more. Griggs, who also teaches workshops and speaks out on cancer as a hero's quest, is now onto something new. She's stringing beads.Think about this:"After helping a young breast cancer survivor make a "power necklace" to help pump her up before chemo, I realized perhaps other survivors might benefit from having their own empowering necklaces," Griggs says.Griggs has begun making necklaces from natura... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=589134 Fri, 04 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 589134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470303&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fthings-i-wish-i-knew.html We come to day with day with a list of Shoulds we take at face value (--where would you like me to begin? Don't smoke, don't drink excessively, don't be overweight, exercise, take your meds, ingest enough calcium, don't shoot heroin, stay out of jail, don't quit too many jobs, get your screening colonoscopy at 50, yearly mammograms after 40, wear a condom, sunlight is good, sunlight is bad, sunscreen is good, sunscreen is bad, coffee is good, coffee is bad....) only to have them rethought time and again. Roy is now finally off his HRT or so I'm told, he still doesn't look post-menopausal to me.A few things I find myself wishing I knew the answers to:Will my children be damaged by all the video-game playing I allow?Will my relationship with my children be damaged if I don't allow them to pl... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470303 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:41:00 +0100 470303 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=470309&cid=t_100676_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F12%2Fmy-three-shrinks-podcast-2-roots.html We'd like to thank our readers and listeners for your kind comments and suggestions about our first podcast. This one's a bit longer, at about 33 minutes. I think we'll get better about the time. About 20 minutes seems to be a good balance. This is actually the second half of the original podcast, which went long so we sliced it into two podcasts. Don't expect to get a podcast every other day... if we do one every other week, I'll be pleasantly surprised (though I'm striving for every Sunday). Maybe we can be like Digg's Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht and drink alcohol at the beginning of each podcast... that would be interesting.Here are the show notes for the podcast: December 10, 2006: RootsTopics include: Dr Anonymous is again not mentioned in this podcast (but we do thank him for the id... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=470309 Sun, 10 Dec 2006 19:57:00 +0100 470309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487007&cid=t_100676_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F08%2Flooking-for-some-pokemon-stuff.html Indulging a certain passion (though not this one), I'm looking for a couple of hard to find Pokemon items. Any help is greatly appreciated.A copy of the US version of Pokemon Box for Nintendo Game CubePokemon Box is no longer available (at least as far as I could see) at the Pokemon Center.There are non-US versions of Box on e-Bay and other sites, but I’ve not seen a US version The guys at the local game shop had never heard of Pokemon Box.A copy of the Pokemon Colosseum Promo Disk (again for Nintendo Game Cube) This is available on e-Bay and other sites, but for quite a bit more than I’d like to fork out. I asked at the local game shop, figuring their prices might be a bit better than on e-Bay, but they don’t deal in Promo Disks (though they said they’d keep an eye out).The purpos... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487007 Mon, 21 Aug 2006 04:13:00 +0100 487007