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 'brazil'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:54:59 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704957&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTqt7VZfCzXA%2F For those who had any doubt about where R&D money is headed…look east. As in the Far East. A recent survey of 241 execs from drugmakers and biotechs finds that R&D budgets are rising just 1 percent overall this year. Meanwhile, outsourcing is expected to rise 11 percent, to 41 percent of the R&D undertaken, and most companies favor investing more of their clinical work in China. There is a price to pay, though. In the three-month period prior to the survey, price increases by contract research organizations outnumbered decreases by a 5-to-1 ratio. Looked at another way, 35 percent of the drugmakers and biotechs reported a price hike from CROs, compared with 6 percent that reported a price drop, according to the survey by RW Baird, the Wall Street brokerage. “We ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704957 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:08:46 +0100 4704957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4671636&cid=t_111476_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.GIDEONonline.com%2F2011%2F04%2F03%2Fspotted-fever-in-brazil-2%2F The following background data on spotted fever in Brazil are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2] (Primary references are available on request) Time and Place: Rickettsial spotted fever is known locally as Brazilian spotted fever, Sao Paulo fever and Febre maculosa brasileira. - Rickettsial spotted fever was first reported in Brazil in 1920. - Cases are reported in Minas Gerais, Bahia, Goias, Rio Grande do Sul and Espirito Santo. - The disease has re-emerged in Rio de Janeiro in recent years. Disease incidence and rates per 100,000 are depicted in the following graph. Between 6 and 27 fatal cases per year were registered during 2007 to 2010. Geographical notes: Outbreaks were reported in Minas Gerais during 1929 to 1944, but not during 1945 to 1980. - Subsequent outbreaks w... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4671636 Sun, 03 Apr 2011 08:04:34 +0100 4671636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610796&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIdpiqIBq5kE%2F By Juan Carlos HidalgoAs Ted Carpenter notes below, President Obama is departing on an important trip to Latin America. The countries that he will visit exemplify the macroeconomic stability and advancement of democratic institutions now found in much of the region. Brazil, by far the largest Latin American economy, has enjoyed almost a decade of sound growth and poverty reduction. Chile is the most developed country in the region thanks to decades of economic liberalization, a process that has also made it Latin America’s most mature democracy. And El Salvador is undergoing a delicate period in its transition to becoming a full-fledged democracy with its first left-of-center president since the end of the civil war in 1992. In an era when most Latin American nations are moving in the... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610796 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:54:10 +0100 4610796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610797&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fiwx_-UAQHks%2F By Ted Galen CarpenterPresident Obama’s trip to Latin America is likely to focus on economic topics, but two security issues deserve scrutiny during his stops in Brazil and El Salvador.  Washington’s diplomatic relationship with Brazil has become somewhat frosty, especially over the past year.  U.S. leaders did not appreciate Brazil’s joint effort with Turkey to craft a compromise policy toward Iran’s nuclear program.  The Obama administration regarded that diplomatic initiative as unhelpful freelancing.  And when Brazil joined Turkey in voting against a UN Security Council resolution imposing stronger sanctions on Tehran, the administration’s resentment deepened.  Obama should not only try to soothe tensions, he should shift Washington’s policy, express appreciation for B... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610797 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:16:49 +0100 4610797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495176&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6ERnIFQoFfM%2F By Sallie JamesAn amendment to end what Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) rightly called "lunacy" failed this afternoon in a depressing show of cowardice on cotton subsidies. The amendment [Amendment No. 89] would have ended payments to Brazilian [yes, sic] cotton farmers that cost U.S. taxpayers $150 million a year.  The House rejected the amendment 183 to 246.  Republicans -- those stalwart fiscal conservatives! -- voted 75 in favor and 164 against. The Democrats showed more courage and voted in favor of the amendment 108 to 82. (These numbers are according to C-SPAN; I will post an update if they prove to be incorrect). The deal on cotton is one of the more shameful aspects of U.S. trade policy. As I blogged last year, U.S. taxpayers are paying millions of dollars to Brazilian... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495176 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:32:22 +0100 4495176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4459941&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQR3poXuB5DM%2F By Juan Carlos HidalgoThe new Brazilian government of President Dilma Rousseff has announced spending cuts of 50 billion reais (approximately $30 billion) this year. This amounts to approximately 1.3% of the country’s estimated GDP for 2011. Despite good intentions, that is still a very timid effort in curbing the size of government in Brazil: Total government spending (including state and local levels) runs at almost 40% of GDP. Perhaps the timidity of the proposal is explained by the fact that curbing the size of government is not the motivation for the spending cuts. Nor is it to avoid a looming fiscal crisis. Brazil’s estimated budget deficit for 2010 was 2.3% of GDP; not good, but still a far cry from the fiscal woes of Europe or the U.S. Dilma’s reason for cutting spending lies... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4459941 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:57:02 +0100 4459941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394748&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpXbefPvyX2U%2F As drugmakers look to do more business in more foreign markets, corruption is always an issue, yes? That’s particularly true now that the US Justice Department - along with the US Securities and Exchange Commission - is paying closer attention to interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and foreign governments. Over the past year, several big drugmakers have received letters as the federal government seeks to uncover any violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which forbids US companies from bribing foreign government officials. One aspect of the probe reportedly involves exploring whether drugmakers and clinical trial organizations pay off third-party investigators to finesse research data. A report by the HHS Office of Inspector General noted that eight percent of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394748 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:01:22 +0100 4394748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343130&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fobesity-on-the-rise-in-developing-nations%2F2011.01.13 Emerging economies must act immediately to halt rising obesity rates before the epidemic becomes as severe as it is in first-world countries, according to new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD report was published in the Lancet. It characterizes the prevalence of obesity in Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Africa. Obesity rates were found to vary dramatically across these six countries. In Mexico, a stunning 70 percent of adults were reported to be overweight or obese. Nearly half of all Brazilians, Russians and South Africans fell into these categories. China and India had a lower prevalence of overweight and obesity, but were moving rapidly in the wrong direction, according to the OECD. Developing nations don’t have eno... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343130 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 14:00:26 +0100 4343130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338266&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYyI_ups9eUA%2F Concerned with a slowdown in clinical research in the UK, the Academy of Medical Sciences has issued a report calling for a new independent health agency in hopes of simplifying regulation and speeding the pace at which clinical trials are approved and conducted. In other words, trim the bureaucracy. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency came in for particular criticism, by the way. In discussing its findings, the AMS pointed out that the proportion of UK patients recruited into trials fell to 2 percent of the worldwide total in 2006 from 6 percent just six years earlier. Moreover, the proportion of drugs and devices in European Union clinical trials developed in the UK was 24 percent in 2007, down from 46 percent in 2002. “There is widespread agreement that the reg... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338266 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:56:12 +0100 4338266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4337912&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FvCim4AHajoo%2F By Ian VasquezIn yesterday’s Brazilian daily, O Globo, Pedro Abramovay, the drug czar of the new Brazilian administration, said that Portugal’s experience with drug decriminalization should be considered as an alternative to Brazil’s current anti-narcotics policy. This comes on top of Rio Governor Sergio Cabral’s call for drug legalization and of former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso’s criticism, along with other prominent Latin Americans, of drug prohibition. By officially weighing in on the side of harm reduction, Latin America’s giant can have a significant effect on the debate over this hemisphere’s drug war. Brazil’s Drug Czar: Let’s Look at Portugal’s Experience with Decriminalization is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Ca... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4337912 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:50:53 +0100 4337912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314219&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE3M3japSzKk%2F A generic drugmaker in India is seeking a voluntary license to make a version of Pfizer’s maraviroc HIV pill and if the move is denied, as expected, Natco Pharma will then pursue a compulsory license. This step taken by Natco is significant, however, because a successful outcome could open the door for other Indian generic drugmakers to override patents for all sorts of medicines. That’s because Natco is the first generic drugmaker to initiate the compulsory licensing process in India and its application is being seen as a test case. “This will be the acid test and set a precedent for the use for compulsory licensing to make medicines affordable for masses in India,” The Economic Times quotes a source familiar with Natco’s plans. Compulsory licensing, you may ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314219 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:49:25 +0100 4314219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294794&cid=t_111476_113_f&fid=38494&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcuretogether.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F12%2F28%2Fhealth-tracking-goes-to-brazil%2F Here’s a video clip from RedeTV!, one of Brazil’s biggest TV stations. Steven Dean, a long-time CureTogether member and Quantified Self organizer in New York City, gives a fantastic overview of his self-tracking, and a Brazilian doctor shares his perspective on the benefit for patients. It’s in Portuguese with a bit of English. Very exciting to see how this is spreading! (Source: The Collective Well) The Collective Well blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294794 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:41:10 +0100 4294794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266102&cid=t_111476_132_f&fid=35024&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBlindscientist%2F%7E3%2FeVos5UYshS4%2F A perfect comment on Hackernews, in response to this article: No, it’s not. Most of my extended family is in Brazil so my wife and I decided to work remote from Brazil for a couple months this fall. It’s hard to really understand how crippling the culture of bureaucracy and corruption is until you experience it. Internet. $200/mo USD for a theoretical 1MB connection. That’s assuming the power stays on. Lots of people use the internet (mostly at cafes) but it’s only for games and social networking — nobody thinks of it as legitimate way to make money. Crime. In many parts of Sao Paulo and Rio people don’t even stop at stoplights because the risk of getting shot and carjacked is too real. Education. Completely broken. Cheating is so rampant most teachers d... Blind.Scientist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266102 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:13:21 +0100 4266102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214486&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FytaYMSbbu9s%2F Rise and shine, everyone. Another day is on the way. And here on the busy Pharmalot corporate campus, we have already fed the official mascots, hustled one of the short people off to the local school house and brewed a cup of stimulation. What next? Documents to read, phone calls to return and the never-ending search for new ideas. While we get started, here are some tidbits to help you jumpstart your own routine. Have a good one and stay in touch… More Clinical Trials Are Being Held In India (The Times of India) BRIC CRO’s Are Getting More Business (Outsourcing Pharma) UK ‘Patent Box’ Will Create New Jobs (Pharma Times) AstraZeneca Cancer Drug Linked To Toxicity (Wall Street Journal) Mom Vows Fight Against Sanofi Despite Setback (News & Star) The Generic Threa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214486 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:58:50 +0100 4214486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4036950&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FoXA-DZUmgEk%2F Hello, everyone. It is truly a pleasure to see you again. We apologize for the service disruption of the past two days. Unfortunately, there were those proverbial technical difficulties that were well beyond our control. Now, though, we have returned and hope to provide you with the usual flow of tidbits that will feed your habit. Meanwhile, have a nice evening… UK’s NICE To End Curbs On Alzheimer’s Drug (Reuters) The Incredible Shrinking US Biotech Sector (Bloomberg News) Bayer Bets On Sex Drug For Older Women (Agence France Presse) Pfizer Reviews Alternatives For Capsule Unit (Associated Press) Merck To Investo $30M In Netherlands Production Line (Dutch News) InterMune Sells Hepatitis C Drug Rights To Roche (Dow Jones) Novartis Jury Decides Whether Novartis Hid Bone-Dru... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4036950 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:51:13 +0100 4036950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920804&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsigourney-weaver-fights-brazils-belo-monte-dam%2F The people of the Amazon are under attack: The Brazilian government wants to put the giant Belo Monte dam in the river, which would flood a whopping 415 square miles. The dam would power smelts for mining, displace more than 20,000 indigenous people, and produce tons of methane. Watch this video narrated by actress and activist Sigourney Weaver to learn more – after which you’ll have a chance to sign a petition to pressure Brazil’s government to stop the damn dam construction before it starts: via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Sigourney Weaver Fights Brazil's Belo Monte Dam (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920804 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:59:03 +0100 3920804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907781&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FP9TbPrw5Un8%2F Concerned that many of its drugmakers may be taken over in a wave of mergers and acquisitions, the Indian government is being urged to consider compulsory licensing to assure that prices - particularly for cancer and AIDS meds - remain affordable for its own citizens and as a way to support its economy. The idea is being floated by the Indian Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, which notes there were six large takeovers in the past four years, including Ranbaxy Laboratories, Shanta Biotech, Orchid Chemicals and Piramal Healthcare. “Most of these companies are export oriented,” DIPP writes. “There is a concern that their takeover by multinationals will further orient them away from the Indian market, thus reducing domestic availability of the drugs being produc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907781 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:51:05 +0100 3907781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868624&cid=t_111476_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV095.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit On episode #95 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Dickson, Alan, and Rich consider the end of the influenza H1N1 pandemic, dengue in Florida, vaccinia virus infection in Brazilian monkeys, and viruses in the faecal microbiota. Download TWiV #95 (68 MB .mp3, 94 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: WHO declares end of influenza H1N1 pandemic CDC’s FluView WHO global monitoring of influenza Locally acquired dengue in Key West, Florida (MMWR) CDC page on dengue Vaccinia virus infection in monkeys of the Brazilian Amazon Dam site where animals were collected for... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868624 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:40:44 +0100 3868624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3815238&cid=t_111476_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2010%2F08%2F03%2Fbrazil-3%2F Alagoas – July 23, 2010 Boys search for bricks by the Mundau River, where there used to be houses, before the floods. After the tragedy caused by the rains in June, many of the affected families in Alagoas had to deal with mental-health problems and face poor living conditions. Aiming to alleviate the sufferings of this population soon after the disaster (26 / 6) MSF sent a team to assess the situation and provide the necessary support. Currently, three MSF tents are in operation, with special focus on psychological support to victims. In addition to the consultations held in the tents, the team also visits homes, camps and collective shelters. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3815238 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:45:22 +0100 3815238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772468&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFY7B5pRD5NU%2F Several public interest groups will file a complaint today with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights alleging that the Obama Administration’s US trade policy violates international human rights obligations. Specifically, the groups charge the White House has used the US Trade Representative’s ‘Special 301′ status toward foreign intellectual property law standards to promote policies that restrict access to affordable medicines. “Although the 2010 Report shows some improvement, the Obama administration continues using Special 301 to pressure developing countries to adopt escalating intellectual property rules that are not required by any international agreement and that will negatively impact access to medicines,” says Sean Flynn, associa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772468 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:42:05 +0100 3772468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726784&cid=t_111476_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fpredictors-of-relapse-in-alcoholism%2F Predictors of relapse in 300 Brazilian alcoholic patients: a 6-month follow-up study. Three hundred alcoholic patients were interviewed at hospitalisation and again 3 and 6 months thereafter in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Assessment included mental disorders, a questionnaire focusing on patient relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous groups, and questions about participation in psychotherapy. An analysis was performed to determine predictive variables for relapse or abstinence 6 months after discharge. Findings; Relapse Previous treatment for alcohol dependence and being single proved to be associated with relapse, Abstinence adherence to AA program and meeting attendance, the presence of a comorbid depressive disorder, and probably adherence to psychotherapy could be associated with a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726784 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:59:45 +0100 3726784 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676651&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGASLabQr1Ag%2F By Sallie JamesNotwithstanding the efforts of four brave congressmen, the belated concession to reality by House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, and the misgivings of trade analysts including myself, it appears that the “temporary” deal struck by Brazil and the United States in April to ward off Brazil’s retaliation for WTO-illegal U.S. cotton supports is here to stay: The government said a deal agreed between the two countries in April to head off up to $829 million in World Trade Organization-sanctioned retaliation against U.S. goods would stay in place until a new U.S. farm bill is passed [in 2012]… “Brazil doesn’t rule out taking countermeasures at any moment,” Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s envoy to the World Trade Organizatio... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676651 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:52:20 +0100 3676651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610318&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEh7cpDw-RHA%2F By Daniel J. MitchellHillary Clinton recently opined that Brazil was a great role model for the idea of soaking the rich with higher tax rates. She didn’t really offer evidence for that specific assertion, but Politico reports that she did say that “Brazil has the highest tax-to-GDP rate in the Western Hemisphere and guess what — they’re growing like crazy.” I’m not sure if “growing like crazy” is an accurate description, particularly since poor nations normally have decent growth rates because they start from such a low baseline. But let’s excuse that bit of rhetorical excess and focus on the really flawed portion of her remarks. Contrary to her direct quote, Brazil does not have the “highest tax-to-GDP rate in the Western Hemispher... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610318 Sat, 29 May 2010 01:26:07 +0100 3610318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515637&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F1I3fCofJeb8%2F Hello, everyone, nice to see you again. The sun is shining here on the Pharmalot corporate campus as we scurry about, attempting to hustle one of the short people to the local school house. This calls for another cup of stimulation, of course. Meanwhile, more meetings and deadlines loom. So as you ready yourself for another day, here are a few items to help you along. Have a good one and stay in touch… Viagra Patent In Brazil Expires In June (Associated Press) AstraZeneca Exceeds Q1 Expectations (Reuters) Bristol-Myers Reports Big Quarterly Gain (Associated Press) Sanofi Sees Modest Effect From Healthcare Reform (Bloomberg News) Bayer Raises Financial Outlook (Bloomberg News) Australia Pays More For Generic Statins (PharmaTimes) Fate Of UK Pfizer Plant Uncertain (Leinster Leader) MDL... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515637 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 11:54:26 +0100 3515637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499050&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-80GP0dPdEo%2F By Sallie JamesYet another show of that rare commodity, bipartisan efforts to reduce the size of government today. Four members of the House—two Republican and two Democrat—have sent a letter to President Obama, calling on him to reverse the insane policy of bribing Brazilian farmers with subsidies in an attempt to correct, in accordance with the perverse two-wrongs-make-a-right school of logic, for  illegal U.S. subsidies. (There were other questionable parts of the deal with Brazil). Barney Frank (D, MA), Ron Kind (D, WI), Paul Ryan (R, WI) and Jeff Flake (R, AZ) make compelling arguments for finding a better and more permanent  solution to the dispute than the current (dodgy) deal with Brazil, including arguments about fiscal responsibility, the adverse effects of di... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499050 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:42:09 +0100 3499050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499061&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fp482CAov00A%2F By David BoazToday in Washington: actress Sigourney Weaver testifies before the  Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on the topic of ocean acidification. Because, you know, she played an environmental scientist in Avatar. It’s the best fit since Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek — all of whom had played farm women — testified on America’s agricultural crisis. Congress doesn’t have time to vote on presidential nominations. It doesn’t bother engaging in serious oversight of presidential power and civil liberties abuses. It looks at the ceiling and whistles as the national debt approaches Greek levels. But members of Congress have time to listen ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499061 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 16:02:14 +0100 3499061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487044&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4VC4OgGr6Zk%2F By Sallie JamesI’ve written before about Rep. Collin Peterson’s (D, MN) disdain for the World Trade Organization, and its rulings against U.S. farm programs. However, in launching his 2012 Farm Bill listening tour, the Brownfield blog reports that he sees that perhaps some changes might be necessary after all. And, lo and behold, he cites the WTO rulings as the reason: One of the key issues [in the 2012 Farm Bill] will be what to do about the way that cotton farmers are subsidized. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said today that the cotton program will have to be overhauled in the wake of Brazil’s successful challenge to the subsidies at the World Trade Organization. The Obama administration agreed to change the program in a deal to avert retalia... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487044 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:46:36 +0100 3487044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453884&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FoxXMXyHgvGs%2F By Sallie JamesIt appears that the United States has reached a temporary deal with Brazil over U.S. cotton subsidies, which were deemed illegal under world trade rules many years ago. (Here’s Cato adjunct scholar Dan Sumner on the case and its implications. Bloomberg’s Mark Drajem and the New York Times’ Sewell Chan have more details on the deal.) This comes not a minute too soon from the U.S. perspective: the deal was reached just one day before Brazil was to begin imposing over $800 million worth of tariffs and WTO-approved intellectual property rights violations against American firms in retaliation for U.S. intransigence in complying. (Snarky aside: where’s your commitment to ”trade enforcement” now, Mr. Obama?) What’s in the deal, you ask?... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453884 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:35:20 +0100 3453884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370679&cid=t_111476_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation%2FwAgT%2F%7E3%2FMof0YHGz-Sk%2F Cost-Effectiveness of Home Visits in the Outpatient Treatment of Patients with Alcohol Dependence The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of conventional outpatient treatment for alcoholic patients (CT) with this same conventional treatment plus home visits (HV), a new proposal for intervention within the Brazilian outpatient treatment system. A cost-effectiveness evaluation alongside a 12-week randomized clinical trial was performed. We identified the resources utilized by each intervention, as well as the cost according to National Health System (SUS), Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) tables of fees, and others based on 2005 data. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated as the main outcome measure – abstinent cases at the end of trea... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370679 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:26:06 +0100 3370679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163759&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNTNXygE_EEk%2F By David BoazElizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of the memoir Eat, Pray, Love, is back with a new book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage. In her earlier book Gilbert reflected on her broken marriage, her travels around the world “looking for joy and God and love and the meaning of life,” and her determination never to marry again. In the new book we learn that she surprised herself by meeting a man worth settling down with, a Brazilian living in Indonesia. So they became a couple and settled near Philadelphia, with Jose Nunes regularly leaving the country to renew his visitor’s visa. But then came a legal shock: She was in the early stages of research for that book when Nunes was detained, after a visa-renewing jaunt out of the country, by Homeland S... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163759 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:34:16 +0100 3163759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159924&cid=t_111476_132_f&fid=35024&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBlindscientist%2F%7E3%2FZRvH3weyFj4%2F Image via Wikipedia (I’m really behind on my promise to post 365 in 365, four to keep the average on 1, three to go after this one) In mid-October I went to Brazil, first to attend the 2009 X-Meeting in Angra dos Reis and for a first vacation period since 2005. When I moved to Canada, I wasn’t able to bring all the scientific literature I had amassed over the years, mostly stuff about frogs, evolution and phylogenetics. Nowadays printed or copied papers and out-of-date, PDF is the new in, so I decided to throw away most of the things I would be able to recover online later, but still keep some copies of rare stuff and original copies of papers. Some of the original copies I saved where from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, and some of these contained the stamp tha... Blind.Scientist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159924 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 17:50:34 +0100 3159924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3137616&cid=t_111476_132_f&fid=35024&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBlindscientist%2F%7E3%2FUtWBLhTI55Q%2F At the time of the Copenhagen meeting about climate change, Brazilian representatives were major protagonists, specially when criticizing all developed countries about their carbon emissions. The crook, also known as the Brazilian president, kept reminding everyone how advance Brazil is on “green” policies, how much native forests are still there, and saying the the developed countries have to do something to erase their polluted heritage. Well, I don’t think many of my 3 readers (yes, I got an extra one this last week!) have ever been to Brazil, so I would like to list some of the lies about Brazilian “green” policies and actions: - São Paulo is the largest city of the Southern Hemisphere, and there’s no effective recycling service. Now, imagine, 10+ ... Blind.Scientist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3137616 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:59:28 +0100 3137616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3044737&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhKDu3YrEbac%2F One of the big losers from yesterday’s successful election in Honduras has been Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who demonstrated that under his presidency, Brazil is not ready to play a positive leadership role in the hemisphere. Not only did Lula seem to be complicit in smuggling deposed Honduran president Manuel Zelaya into the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa—an irresponsible move that risked the possibility of major confrontations and bloodshed in that country—but he stubbornly refuses to recognize yesterday’s election as legitimate. Lula’s grandstanding has nothing to do with a supposed commitment to democracy, of course. After all he continues to lavish praise on the Castro brothers’ dictatorship in Cuba, has said that Hugo Chávez is the best president V... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3044737 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:37:03 +0100 3044737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908338&cid=t_111476_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fsleepless-in-brazil.html A new study shows that Americans aren’t the only people who have sleep problems. The study surveyed Brazilian adults about their sleep complaints. The results were published last week in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.The study involved a random sample of 2,110 adults from 150 cities in Brazil. Surveys were conducted during face-to-face interviews.Results show that 63 percent of people had at least one sleep complaint. Sleep problems significantly increased with age. Insomnia and nightmares were more common in women; snoring was more common in men.Insomnia was the most common complaint overall; it was reported by 33 percent of people. Twenty-nine percent of people reported having a problem with snoring.Nightmares were reported by 22 percent of people. Twelve percent reported havi... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908338 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:21:00 +0100 2908338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894770&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FO1L-EDjJ4Kg%2F Brazil’s government will use regulations and financial muscle to blunt foreign takeovers of its drug makers, the daily newspaper Valor Economico is reporting. Recent examples include Sanofi-Aventis’s $870 million deal to buy Medley, Brazil’s largest generic maker, and Pfizer’s $525 million deal for Neo Quimica, another generic company. But the Health Ministry plans to sign a number of partnerships between state-controlled labs and private-sector drugmakers before year’s end, to produce medicines jointly and reduce dependence on foreign rivals, says Reinaldo Guimaraes, the ministry’s undersecretary for strategic purchases, science and technology, according to Reuters, citing the Brazilian newspaper. Guimaraes tells Valor “the ministry is worried wit... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894770 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:32:56 +0100 2894770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894771&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F1ufZrBlh4PA%2F Once again, another day begins. Predictable, isn’t it? Nonetheless, we are braced for the usual steady stream of interesting items. Meanwhile, we would like to point out that we are having some tech work done to the site, so please excuse any interruptions when clicking through to various pages. Your patience is greatly appreciated as we update and fix a few things. And now, let’s get going… Should Michigan Repeal Immunity Law For Drug Makers? (The Free Press) Tamiflu Sales Boost Roche Results (Bloomberg) Wyeth To Keep Collegeville, Pa., Headquarters (The Times-Herald) India, Brazil To Complain To WTO Over EC Seizures (The Business Standard) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894771 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:32:40 +0100 2894771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670947&cid=t_111476_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fdr-ricardo-primi-brazilian-psychometric.html As mentioned in a prior post, while in Brazil I meet a Brazilian psychologist very much involved in human cognitive ability test development and psychometrics.  His name was Dr. Ricardo Primi.  I've now got a link to his psychometric lab, which also includes a new blog....which is written in Portuguese.Technorati Tags: psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, psychometrics, measurment, Brazil, Ricardo Primi, intelligence, human cognitive abilities (Source: Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner)) Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670947 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:39:00 +0100 2670947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670948&cid=t_111476_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fintelligencetesting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhistorical-brazil-psychological.html While attending the Brazilian assessment/measurement conference we were treated to a visit to a collection of historical psychological assessment instruments. Below are pictures of a few...and a few select comments. I've requested the name of the professional who has these instruments in her collection and will post her name as soon as I receive it. I found this very interesting....as I also collect old measures of cognitive functioning.An obvious concept formation category test (Gf)A tool to measure some aspect of psychomotor strength (Gp)A measure of psychomotor dexterity and speed (Gp, Gps)A very neat HUGE single blog assembly test (Gv)A measure of psychomotor coordination (remember the game "Operation"---very similar feedback concept)The classic Kohs blocksAn ingenious test. You need t... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670948 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:29:00 +0100 2670948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609176&cid=t_111476_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F07%2F07%2Fbrazil-2%2F Photo: David Prichard Rio de Janeiro - May 2009 Landscape of Complexo do Alemão, a conglomerate of 11 communities in the outskirts of Rio, with an estimated total population of 150,000. In this poor area of Rio de Janeiro controlled by armed drug-dealers, MSF provides emergency care and psychosocial support to the population trapped by violence. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609176 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:20:11 +0100 2609176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741113&cid=t_111476_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FIFzWxDBOLQU%2F Readers of virology blog have no doubt seen news reports that a Brazilian influenza isolate called A/Sao Paulo/1454/2009 (H1N1) is novel strain with mutations that enable it to infect new hosts. Here is one example of such a report, from The Australian: Brazilian scientists have identified a new strain of the H1N1 virus after examining samples from a patient in Sao Paulo, a research institute says. The variant has been called A/Sao Paulo/1454/H1N1 by the Adolfo Lutz Bacteriological Institute, which compared it with samples of the A(H1N1) swine flu from California. The genetic sequence of the new sub-type of the H1N1 virus was isolated by a virology team led by one of its researchers, Terezinha Maria de Paiva. The mutation was comprised of alterations in the Hemagglutinin protein which a... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741113 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:30:16 +0100 2741113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609186&cid=t_111476_46_f&fid=38787&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fphotos%2F2009%2F06%2F12%2Fbrazil%2F photo: Roberto (Bear) Guerra Complexo do Alemao, Rio De Janeiro - June 2008 Children play soccer in the street in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious favelas, Complexo do Alemao. (Source: MSF Blogs) MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609186 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:01:58 +0100 2609186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256026&cid=t_111476_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FurXVkEyPprE%2Fmoral-outrage-of-week-excommunication.html In a very sad and disturbing case from Brazil, Yahoo news reports: “A senior Vatican cleric has defended the excommunication of the mother and doctors of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion in Brazil after being raped…."It is a sad case but the real problem is that the twins conceived were two innocent persons, who had the right to live and could not be eliminated," he said. The girl was apparently raped by her stepfather since she was six; he also allegedly sexually abused the girl's physically handicapped 14-year-old sister -- but the stepfather is not being excommunicated -- he is still a Catholic in good standing (at least if he ‘confesses’). The doctors who carried out the abortion did so for fear that the slim girl would not survive carrying the fetuses to term; Preside... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256026 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:11:00 +0100 2256026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984949&cid=t_111476_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F463183919%2F Genome survey sequencing (1.9X coverage) was generated for Moniliophthora perniciosa, the cause of witches' broom disease on cacao plants. The sequence for this basidiomycete plant pathogen was published in BMC Genomics this week. The authors report a higher number of ROS metabolism and P450 genes. Evaluating whether these copy number differences are significantly different from other basidiomycete fungi and are lineage specific expansions will help determine if these families played a role in the adaptation of this plant pathogen. This work provides an important stepping stone in understanding and eventually controlling this pathogen which is devastating cacao plantations. An associated review describes what we have and can learn about Witches' broom disease. See related: Will you alway... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984949 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:23:17 +0100 1984949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852801&cid=t_111476_105_f&fid=36987&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FIvorKovicMd%2F%7E3%2F411473352%2F EyePhone is the new application for iPhone which might prove useful to an ophthalmologist in the field to quickly assess a persons vision. It includes several ophthalmic tests such as Ishihara, near vision acuity, amsler grid and fixation target. Flashlight and pupil gauge are also there. EyePhone was developed in Brazil by Valemobi for a company called Eyecare and it is available for free in the iTunes app store. Take a look at various tests it offers. Near Visual Acuity Test Distance E Test Fixating Test Color Test - Ishihara Amsler Grid Pupil Gauge I am not sure how much useful this app will turn to be. If nothing, those Ishihara test plates look pretty amazing. Nevertheless, it is very exciting to see that creative medical apps for the iPhone seam to be appearing on regular b... Ivor Kovic, M.D. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852801 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:03:34 +0100 1852801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811494&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F397147464%2F Hello, everyone. We had the opportunity to visit our favorite physician yesterday for our annual tune-up and are happy to report that we are still very much with you. Even more gratifying - no sales rep cut us in line. To celebrate, we are brewing our usual cup of stimulation and offering you a few tidbits. Hope you have a pleaseant weekend… Criminal Charges Dropped Against Pan Pharma Founder (LiveNews.com.au) Dynavax Shares Fall After Issuing FDA Response (Yahoo/AP) Researchers Find Baby Fat Cells (Yahoo/Reuters) Brazil To Make Merck AIDS Drug After Talks Fail (Yahoo/AP) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811494 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:56:18 +0100 1811494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802931&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F394626772%2F The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is stepping up an ad campaign against the drugmaker over the price of Kaletra, claiming Abbott charges Mexico five times more than other middle-income countries. The example cited - $5,400 a year in Mexico compared with $1,000 per year in Brazil for the second-line AIDS treatment. The ads are running in newspapers in Illinois, where Abbott is headquartered. “Abbott is once again living up to its terrible record on AIDS by abusing NAFTA’s patent protections to charge five times as much for Kaletra in Mexico as it does in other middle-income countries, a heartless business calculation that effectively makes this drug all but out of reach for nearly all those living with HIV/AIDS in Mexico,” Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s preside... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802931 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:55:48 +0100 1802931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764223&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F382559105%2F The Brazilian Patent Office has rejected a patent application filed by Gilead Sciences for its Viread medication. And Doctors Without Borders is saying the move could increase access to a key AIDS drug across the developing world. “Securing wider access to (Viread) is absolutely crucial,” Tido von Schoen-Angerer, executive director of DWB’s Access Campaign, says in a statement sent us. Viread “is a cornerstone drug, recommended by the World Health Organization both for patients starting treatment and for those whose medications aren’t working anymore. In the past, Brazil’s production of anti-retroviral drugs has helped to bring down prices of ARVs globally. We hope this will happen again.” According to the non-profit, Viread can now be made by Brazilian generic c... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764223 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:30:34 +0100 1764223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625793&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F336524734%2F The Sao Paulo Civil Police have relaunched an investigation into alllegations of improprieties by the Brazilian units of several big drugmakers, including Wyeth, Abbott, Novartis, Serono and the Benatti wholesaler, Estadao.com reports. The investigation began after an anonymous letter was sent last year to the Ministry of Health by two people who identified themselves as former Wyeth employees. The text of the letter outlined a scheme by which the drugmakers were financing patients lawsuits against the government health system to force state agencies to pay for expensive and imported meds not on the government formulary. The scheme was allegedly being done indirectly with drugmakers giving wholesalers either substantial discounts or extended payment plans, in exchange for the wholesalers p... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625793 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:10:06 +0100 1625793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1594006&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F328899557%2F Yet another survey has been released gauging the mood among big pharma execs and, not surprisingly, most are rather glum. The findings by RolandBerger, a consulting firm, indicate that US profits appear to be in jeopardy, outsourcing will continue unabated, in-house R&D is unlikely to solve industry problems, and cost cutting will definitely continue. Bright spots? Brazil, Russia, India and China, the so-called BRIC countries, which are large and growing quickly. Here are some of the results: Roughly half of the respondents say their US profits will decline in the medium to long term. About one-third say getting drugs registered is a major problem at the moment. In the EU, lengthy reimbursement procedures and pricing both cause 28 percent of the execs a headache. In Japan and the BRIC... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1594006 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:02:37 +0100 1594006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538300&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F318111267%2F Earlier this month, Mariangela Simao, who heads Brazil’s HIV/AIDS program, spoke with National Public Radio about the country’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and, in particular, its use of generic drugs from India and a compulsory license for efavirenz, which is sold by Merck. As she notes, Brazil is a “big market” with about 180,000 people in treatment. And Simao maintains the country has a “good working relationship” with pharma, “but we fight every year to lower prices…we have to work within our budgets and think about long-term sustainability.” With Merck offered a 3-cent discount off the 70 cent price of efavirenz. In the end, Brazil paid 39 cents for a generic from India. Go here to listen to the interview… (S... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538300 Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:41:08 +0100 1538300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522208&cid=t_111476_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F312751464%2F NPR had a story this weekend on Cocoa plantation collapse and the ecological aftermath of the changes the witches' broom fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa has wreaked. The genome sequence project for this Homobasidiomycete fungus (also known as Crinipellis perniciosa, phylogenetic relationships discussed by Aime and Philips-Mora 2005) is underway at the Laboratory Genomica e Expressao at UNICAMP, Brazil.  The witches's broom (not this witches' broom) is named because of the bristly form it induces in the cacao plants. The genome project will hopefully improve the diagnosis and treatment work that is needed.  Beyond the insatiable need for chocolate, the NPR story does talk about the impact on farmers, the economy, and the environment with the loss of these cacao plantations. Some links:... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522208 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:57:26 +0100 1522208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363857&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F267856252%2F Brazil has decided that the drugmaker’s Viread is “in the public interest,” suggesting a patent will be rejected over pricing. If that happens, the country may import a generic. The Health Ministry published a decree that patenting the drug in Brazil would generate “expectations of monopoly rights with an impact on the price of the product,” Reuters writes. The ministry requested a priority examination of the patent filing by Gilead with the Brazilian INPI patent body, which will have to review the ministry’s objections. “If no patent is issued, Brazil will be free to negotiate prices of the drug, be it generic or brand name,” a health ministry source told Reuters on Thursday, adding that the case was “not about compulsory licensing&#82... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363857 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:53:37 +0100 1363857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1207605&cid=t_111476_151_f&fid=35797&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewrecovery.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fbrazil-study-does-aa-really-work.html "Do Alcoholics Anonymous groups really work? Factors of adherence in a Brazilian sample of hospitalized alcohol dependents." -- That's the title of a study in the current issue of the American Journal of Addiction, published by a American Academy of Psychiatrists in Alcoholism and Addiction. A team of researchers headed by M.B. Terra followed 300 alcoholics committed to three hospitals in Puerto Allegre, Brazil. Results (from the abstract): AA adherence was below 20%. The main factors reported by patients as reasons for non-adherence to AA were relapse, lack of identification with the method, lack of need, and lack of credibility. The factors reported by patients as reasons for adherence were identification with the method and a way to avoid relapse. Although AA is considered an effective... New Recovery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1207605 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:36:00 +0100 1207605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1185862&cid=t_111476_10_f&fid=35345&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gideononline.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F01%2F29%2Fincrease-of-visceral-leishmaniasis-in-brazil%2F Quoted in ProMED: Visceral leishmaniasis was 1st described in Brazil in 1934 and 1st reported from Rio de Janeiro state in 1977. 90 percent of cases are reported from the north (mouth of the Amazon) and eastern regions. The disease is endemic to Alagoas, Bahia, Ceara, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio Grande do Norte, Roraima and Sergipe. Urban transmission was 1st reported in 1981, from Teresina (Piaui State). A large focus extends from Roraima into Venezuela and Guyana. The reported incidence has increased from 164 cases (35 fatal) in 1980 to 3220 (223 fatal) in 2005; see graph . A total of 44 289 cases were reported during 1980 to 2000, 39 823 of these from the northeast. Brazil accounts for over 90 percent of cases ... GIDEON blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1185862 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:58:33 +0100 1185862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1025486&cid=t_111476_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184636061%2F We called it hondling in my old neighborhood. Whatever you want to call it, the Latin American nation saved a bundle on AIDS drug between 2001 and 2005, according to a new study in the Public Library of Science journal. Infection rates remained at levels comparable to the US and more than 180,000 Brazilians gained access to treatments. The researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health analyzed the costs of individual AIDS drugs in Brazil and found that generic drugs produced in Brazil were actually more expensive than similar drugs made elsewhere. But by haggling with drugmakers for lower prices on their patented brand-name AIDS meds, Brazil was able to lower the overall average costs for AIDS drugs. “Brazil’s AIDS treatment program has been cited widely as the developing ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1025486 Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:00:33 +0100 1025486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828143&cid=t_111476_107_f&fid=35762&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2Fgrrlscientist%2F%7E3%2F149352141%2Ftimes_hero_for_the_planet_impr.php tags: Marc van Roosmalen, primatology,monkeys, Brazil, research, biopiracy Dutch scientist Marc van Roosmalen (pictured) was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for illegally trying to auction off the names of monkey species and keeping monkeys at his house without authorization. Image: Eraldo Peres (AP). In a surprising move, the Brazilian government recently sentenced world renowned primatologist, Dr. Marc van Roosmalen, to nearly 16 years in prison. Van Roosmalen, who discovered seven species of monkeys and a new primate genus in the Amazon rainforest, was formally charged with illegally keeping wild animals at his home, with embezzlement and with improper appropriation for trying to auction off naming rights to new monkey species on the internet. However, this scientist,... Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828143 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:20:26 +0100 828143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=699223&cid=t_111476_112_f&fid=34614&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthewelltimedperiod.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Femergency-contraception-in-brazil.html SAO PAULO, Brazil - Brazil's government has added "morning after" pills to its newly expanded birth control program in hopes of helping poor people reduce unwanted pregnancies and dangerous illegal abortions.Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao announced the addition a month after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the government would provide cheap birth control pills at 10,000 drug stores across Latin America's biggest country.Speaking at a round-table discussion Monday sponsored by the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, Temporao called the morning-after pill "an important tool for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies that will definitely be part of our strategy" to help Brazil's poor have the same access to birth control as its rich elite....The newly expanded program offers regular co... The Well-Timed Period blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=699223 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:54:00 +0100 699223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651192&cid=t_111476_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F121614170%2F Go here to see the cartoons (6 in all) and very special thanks to Leila for telling me about them and for translating the dialogue! The cartoons are aimed at children and the characters are all children. The cartoonist, Mauricio de Souza, is very well-known in Brazil. As Leila emailed me: “Monica is a strong, smart, bossy girl, and Cebolinha (who has a speech impediment — [he] trades r for l) is always teasing her because of her big teeth, calls her “chubby” and hides her stuffed bunny.” Monica stands up for André and (as you can see) prevails. Filme 1 MONICA - Hi, I want you to know André, my new friend. He’s autistic. Autistics don’t make eye contact.(giving the bunny to him): Here you go. CEBOLINHA - Let me see. Oh. MONICA - They don’t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651192 Sat, 02 Jun 2007 12:16:56 +0100 651192