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 'brown'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:54:57 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174621&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2Fdr-andrew-wakefield-to-speak-at-national-autistic-association-conference-on-autism-and-false-accusations-of-msbp%2F Dr. Andrew Wakefield The National Autism Association is having Dr Andrew Wakefield speak at their forthcoming conference about his new book which is to be released in the spring. While it is not unusual for the NAA to support Dr Wakefield’s work, I was surprised to learn that his proposed talk will be on the subject of the Autism and Munchausen by Proxy (MSBP). Dr Wakefield writes:   “Hoping for Perpetual Sunshine This presentation is the subject of a new book coming out the spring of 2012.  It deals with the hazards of pursuing a diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) in children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), particularly those with gastrointestinal (GI) disease and/or dysfunction. Specifically, it reviews the symptomatic presentation of GI disorders ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174621 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 06:11:30 +0100 5174621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062294&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F24%2Fmental-illness-is-not-simply-a-brain-disease%2F Last month, Andrew Brown writing for the UK’s Guardian, noted when Professor David Nutt kept referring to depression as a “brain disease” on a popular UK television program. We commend Andrew Brown for his calling out Professor Nutt in trying to dumb down the portrayal of mental disorders to simply “brain diseases.” Mental disorders remain complex disorders that involve all aspect of a person’s functioning and life — their brain and biology, their psychological makeup and personality, and their social interactions and relationships with others. The cause isn’t just one of these things in the vast majority of people who have a mental illness — the cause is all of these things, in differing proportions. I’ve written about this in th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062294 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:36:25 +0100 5062294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057723&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Favoiding-wild-animal-attacks%2F2011.07.23 By now, most everyone is familiar with the tragic circumstances in which a visitor on a trail in Yellowstone National Park on July 6, 2011 surprised a brown (grizzly) bear with cubs, provoking a fatal attack. Fortunately, events like this are rare. At the same time, they are also predictable by virtue of our understanding of bear behavior, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. It was not the victim’s fault, and our hearts go out to his family and friends. For the benefit of others who will backpack and explore in bear country here is an excerpt about avoidance of hazardous animals, in particular bears, adapted from the book Medicine for the Outdoors: Avoidance of Hazardous Animals Most wild animal encounters can be avoided with caution and a little common sense. Follow these rule... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057723 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0100 5057723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029206&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9bl9WpBKcU8%2F In a bid to help federal and state governments save money, a bipartisan trio of US Senators has introduced a bill to promote the use of generics in the Medicaid program. The move comes as brand-name drugmakers are also fighting on Capitol Hill to fend off a proposal that would restore rebates for drugs taken by seniors who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (see this). Called the Affordable Medicines Utilization Act of 2011, the bill would give states incentives to increase generic drug use by letting them keep part of the difference that the federal government receives between the cost of a generic and its brand-name counterpart (here is the bill). In making their case, the pols cite a recent study by the American Enterprise Institute that maintained Medicaid needlessly spent app... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029206 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:43:12 +0100 5029206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028567&cid=t_111236_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fpersonal-health-information-and-rupert-murdoch-effect Personal health information and the lack of security surrounding it has caused quite a bit of buzz lately. read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028567 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:26:32 +0100 5028567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952845&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-school-to-require-incoming-students-to-purchase-ipads%2F2011.06.20 In a little seen nugget published in an article of the Chronicle, the Ivy League medical school, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, will be requiring their incoming medical students to use the Inkling e-book app for key medical textbooks in their first year of medical school. They will be requiring their incoming first year class to purchase iPads as well. We have been the first to report how and why Inkling is a game changer in the arena of medical e-books when we reviewed Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology: Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology for the iPad allows you to highlight, write notes, view innovative multimedia modules, and easily search for content — taking what you can do on a paper based textbook to a higher level — and taking e-learning to a comple... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952845 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:00:38 +0100 4952845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852839&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fr-54cWzkD4s%2F By Tim LynchThis morning the Supreme Court issued a remarkable ruling [pdf] concerning California’s prison system.   Because of years of pervasive overcrowding, there have been systemic violations of the Constitution’s ban on Cruel and Unusual Punishments.  To remedy those violations, the Court affirmed a lower court order to reduce the prison population.  I was not surprised to learn that Justice Anthony Kennedy authored the majority opinion in this case, Brown v. Plata. In a 2003 speech to the American Bar Association (reprinted in my book In the Name of Justice), Kennedy tried to raise more awareness about America’s prison system.  He made the point that every citizen ought to take an interest in the prison system–it is not just the realm of correctional... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852839 Mon, 23 May 2011 19:01:00 +0100 4852839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847960&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fuk-paediatrician-and-msbp-expert-knew-babies-suffered-breathing-problems-and-died-after-vaccination%2F Over the last two years I have seen two documentaries both entitled ‘A Very Dangerous Doctor’. Both featured the work and research of the now discredited Professor David Southall. It has puzzled me how these documentaries failed to mention the crucial evidence of Lisa Blakemore-Brown and instead both chose to focus their attention on the work and evidence of Munchausen by Proxy campaigner and Southall hater Ms Penny Mellor. Ms Blakemore-Brown began to speak out about this incredibly dangerous man back in 1995/1996 long before Penny Mellor had even been heard of. However, instead of the fame and glory that has been lavished on Ms Mellor, Blakemore-Brown has had to endure many attempts to destroy her career, victimization and ridicule. I believe the key reason behind the attempts... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847960 Thu, 19 May 2011 17:45:11 +0100 4847960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775601&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FEBgixMvO-Qc%2F Back in 2001, the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published a paper concluding the Paxil antidepressant was “generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents.” But the study, known as 329, was later discredited amid charges that outcomes were conflated, unflattering results were omitted and ghostwriting was involved. The details became known more than two years ago as documents emerged from investigations by UK regulators (look here) and the former New York Attorney General (read this), as well as lawsuits charging GlaxoSmithKline hid the risks of its Paxil pill. More recently, there was a call for the paper to be retracted (read here). One of the 22 co-authors was Stan Kutcher, a physician who is running for the Canadian par... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775601 Mon, 02 May 2011 14:49:06 +0100 4775601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753662&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FinGdljgrPLk%2F By David BoazTalking about royal weddings on NPR, Tina Brown says that there’s high unemployment in Britain, as there was in 1981, because of Conservative governments’ budget cuts (transcript edited to match broadcast): Of course, the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana occurred three decades ago, but Brown points out that there are plenty of similarities between the two eras. “2.5 million are out of work right now with the budget slashes and all the economic austerity that’s happening in England,” Brown says. “There were actually the same amount of people exactly out of work at the time of Charles and Diana, when Mrs. Thatcher came in and began her draconian moves.” I know that Tina Brown is a journalist, not an economist, but surely she’s h... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753662 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:29:32 +0100 4753662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4719901&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F04%2F16%2Fuk-nurse-gave-vaccine-to-child-without-consent-to-meet-government-goals%2F A UK nurse has been accused of vaccinating a child with the MMR without his mothers consent to hit vaccine targets. The Daily Mail has reported that a Birmingham mother has made an official complaint stating that a nurse at the ‘Pak Medical Centre’ gave her son the MMR without her permission. Robina Siddique told the newspaper that she firmly believes that nurse Rashiela Parekh vaccinated her three year old son purely to meet vaccination targets. Siddique claims that she took her son to the clinic for the DPT vaccination making it very clear at the time that she did not want her son to have the MMR. This was because she felt that it was unsafe. She told the Mail: “I had refused the MMR for my child because I don’t think there is enough research into the long-term implic... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4719901 Sat, 16 Apr 2011 10:38:04 +0100 4719901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4610997&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fp-iLT_qgFpc%2F Two senators want the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate the price that KV Pharmaceuticals is charging for its brand new Makena med for high-risk pregnancies, given that versions of the same drug have been available from compounding pharmacies for many years at a fraction of the cost. The drugmaker, they charge, is price gouging. The cost of the treatment went from roughly $10 to $20 to $1,500 after KV received FDA approval earlier this year. And KV has also sent letters to compounding pharmacies warning them about continuing to make the treatment or face possible legal action. A trade group representing compounders pooh-poohed the threat, but patients, doctors and insurers are outraged at the price tag (back story). Investors, however, believe Makena represents a remarkable turnar... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4610997 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:39:45 +0100 4610997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611001&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-Fna623g0RI%2F In their ongoing quest to save former GlaxoSmithKline lawyer Lauren Stevens from serving jail time, her attorneys may have succeeded in convincing a federal judge to toss the indictment. Why? They raised doubts about the extent to which federal prosecutors correctly portrayed her defense to a grand jury, according to court documents. And so US District Judge Roger Titus will issue a ruling in which he may instruct the feds to issue a new indictment and begin new grand jury proceedings. You may recall that Stevens, who was indicted for obstructing an FDA probe into off-label marketing of Wellbutrin SR, indicated in recent court filings that she received advice from other Glaxo lawyers, including the King & Spalding law firm that regularly works for the drugmaker. She wants to offer wha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611001 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:52:00 +0100 4611001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560591&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FBT-5WE3EYXc%2F Citing a dramatic rise in pharmaceutical thefts, five US Senate Democrats have introduced a bill to increase penalties for stealing drugs and other medical products by relying on the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization law. Better known as RICO, the proposal to use this law reflects reports of brazen robberies and organized crime involvement. In particular, the move is an attempt to crack down on a growing number of reports that stolen drugs - such as OxyContin and insulin - are diverted and relabeled, but often resold on the black market without proper storage before winding up in legitimate pharmacies or sold online. The bill would formally criminalize storing, transporting or changing labels on stolen medical products (read statements from New York’s Chuck Schumer and Oh... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560591 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:47:33 +0100 4560591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560283&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fx2HOtSmjTvQ%2F Jelinek and Brown announce that Emergency Medicine Australasia is taking a stand against drug company advertising. The LITFL team applauds! (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560283 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:00:54 +0100 4560283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549754&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedicaid-will-the-cost-of-expanding-eligibility-be-overwhelming%2F2011.03.04 Medicaid has been front and center this week as President Obama addressed the National Governors Association, and several governors testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Obama told the governors that he supports the Wyden-Brown bill, which would accelerate the availability of waivers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), so that states would not have to first create health insurance exchanges under the law, and then have the right to dismantle them and replace them with other mechanisms to achieve coverage goals of the law without additional cost to the federales. (See Wyden-Brown fact sheet.) The sponsors’ home states, Oregon and Massachusetts would otherwise have to dismantle parts of their own health reform efforts in order to align with the federal mandates... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549754 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:00:45 +0100 4549754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536063&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-ari-brown-on-dr-oz-a-very-inaccurate-view-of-vaccines%2F2011.03.01 Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician and author, was [recently] on The Dr. Oz Show. She was asked to join a discussion about autism. Dr. Brown is a board-certified developmental pediatrician, a mom of two, and an advocate for science. She is passionate and clear about what she believes. She is speaking all over the country about how to protect children from illness, particularly when making decisions about vaccines. She contributed ideas in my series in late 2010 entitled, “Do You Believe in Vaccines: Part I, Part II, and Part III.” On Dr. Oz, she was asked to contribute to a discussion about autism that ultimately focused on fears about vaccines. I worry that the discussion wasn’t a representation of most American families, and even Autism Speaks refused to join the show. Dr. Brown has s... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536063 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:00:27 +0100 4536063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532193&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FiHDgr4lwp2s%2F By Michael F. CannonThe New York Times reports: Seeking to appease disgruntled governors, President Obama plans to announce on Monday that he supports amending the 2010 health care law to allow states to opt out of its most burdensome requirements three years earlier than currently permitted. It's significant that the president is finally acknowledging that ObamaCare is unworkable and will impose enormous burdens on the states.  Or is he? A closer look shows that the president is not lifting the burdensome requirements ObamaCare imposes on states.  All he's doing is proposing to move up, from 2017 to 2014, the date on which states can apply for federal permission to impose a different but equivalently or more coercive plan to expand health insurance coverage.  Here's what the Times s... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532193 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:53:27 +0100 4532193 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495387&cid=t_111236_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2Fscott-brown-could-erins-law-get-away-tell-today-have-helped%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. Scott Brown: Could Erin’s Law (‘Get Away, Tell Today’) Have Helped? Erin Merryn, the woman behind Erin's Law. As a child, I learned how to duck and cover in case of a nuclear attack. My mother told me not to run with scissors, lest I “put out” my eyes. And instructional films, similar to this one, warned me not to walk off with strangers. Why these strangers were coming around in the first place, or what could happen to me if I succumbed to an invitation, I had no idea. Erin Merryn aims to change all that with a simple, memorable phrase: “Get away, tell today.” Merryn, who testified before the Illinois Legislature in 2010, states her case eloquently… Read the rest on Politics Daily. Scott Brown: ... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495387 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:24:42 +0100 4495387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482744&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0xyyNavTAKM%2F By Sallie JamesA bill that would have set a troubling precedent indeed was killed in the Senate last week. I've written previously about the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, and its fate has been tied up with the Generalized System of Preferences, a scheme by which certain developing countries gain duty-free access to the U.S. market for many of their goods. Congress was trying -- and failed -- to pass an extension of the programs together, along with the Andean Trade Preference Act. Well, in an effort to extend for eighteen months the stimulus-enhanced TAA program (they were less fulsome in their enthusiasm for the other part of the bill; the barrier-reducing ATPA), Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced what they deemed to be a legislative "fix" to the thorny... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482744 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:21:56 +0100 4482744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450272&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FNTXDwT1ezW0%2F By Chris EdwardsIn Hollywood, there is a genre called "slasher movies." In the media, there is a genre of "slasher stories" on state government budgets. A piece in the WaPo today is classic: Democratic and Republican governors alike are sounding similar themes, as they slash once sacrosanct programs...In California, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has proposed closing a $25 billion budget gap by...slashing funding for higher education...Sen. Dean A. Rhoads, the chamber's senior Republican, said Nevada should be raising taxes as well as slashing programs. Wow, it sounds brutal doesn't it? For a different perspective on state budgets, see my testimony last week to the Senate Budget Committee. Slasher Stories is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450272 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:02:57 +0100 4450272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4445805&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Fc2ECFg2qEN8%2F The LITFL Review is your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peaks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4445805 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 08:38:09 +0100 4445805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419143&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshiver-yourself-thin%2F2011.01.30 British researchers are trying to causally link raising the thermostat to obesity prevalence. “Domestic winter indoor temperatures” appear to be rising, the researchers wrote, as is obesity. They focused on a causal link, focusing on acute and long-term effects of being comfortable in the winter. They write: “Reduced exposure to seasonal cold may have a dual effect on energy expenditure, both minimizing the need for physiological thermogenesis and reducing thermogenic capacity. Experimental studies show a graded association between acute mild cold and human energy expenditure over the range of temperatures relevant to indoor heating trends.” They also look at brown adipose tissue (BAT), aka “brown fat,” the type of fat that actually consumes energy inste... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419143 Sun, 30 Jan 2011 17:00:00 +0100 4419143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4405779&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhope-for-those-with-body-dysmorphic-disorder%2F2011.01.26 The Science Daily article entitled Body dysmorphic disorder patients who loathe appearance often get better, but it could take years discusses the disorder as highlighted in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (JNMD).   The JNMD article reports the results of the longest-term study so far to track people with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). The study was conducted by researchers at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital. The good news? The researchers “found high rates of recovery, although recovery can take more than five years.” This is a small study with only 15 BDD patients who were followed over an eight-year span. An excerpt: After statistical adjustments, the recovery rate for sufferers in the study over eight years was 76 percent and the recurrence rate was 14 p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4405779 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4405779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399826&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTU6O6Hd_s60%2F Another day, another letter to the FDA commish from a group of bipartisan US senators over the biologics debate. The latest missive comes from health committee chair Tom Harkin, John McCain, Chuck Schumer and Sherrod Brown, who are “extremely concerned about possible misinterpretations” of the biosimilars statute “that could further delay the availability of generic biologic drugs.” They are referring to a provision in the healthcare reform law that says generics can enter the market after a brand-name biologic has had exclusivity for 12 years. But earlier this month, a different group of senators - Orrin Hatch, Kay Hagan, Michael Enzi and John Kerry - wrote FDA commish Margaret Hamburg to urge a different interpretation that would favor brand-name drugmakers and biotechs. At issue... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399826 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:57:23 +0100 4399826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4349517&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F01%2F14%2Fvaccine-induced-child-abuse-exposed%2F As the Wakefield saga unfolds, we have seen the lengths pharmaceutical industries and governments will go to in a bid to cover up the truth. However, destroying a professionals reputation is not the only tactic employed to cover up vaccine injuries. Blaming parents of child abuse is another tactic being regularly used. Many parents, who believe that they have been falsely accused of child abuse, are convinced that their child has been injured by a routine childhood vaccination. Yet, many in the medical establishment, however, are less convinced. Instead, they push ahead for police and child protection intervention. Sadly this means that many sick and disabled children enter the care system receiving inadequate medical or educational intervention and carry on to deteriorate. // Profession... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4349517 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:59:37 +0100 4349517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275324&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-chia-pet-for-diabetes%2F2010.12.21 Like swallows returning to San Juan Capistrano in the spring, Chia Pets begin appearing every December on late-night television and in the gift aisles of many stores. (Full disclaimer: I bought one for the Yankee Swap at Harvard Health Publication’s annual Christmas party.) Water these ceramic figures and they sprout a green “fur” from seeds embedded on the surface. Silly? Sure, that’s why they are such a hit. What you might not know is that the seeds may someday be a real gift for people with diabetes. Chia seeds come from a plant formally known as Salvia hispanica, which is a member of the mint family. It gets its common name from the Aztec word “chian,” meaning oily, because the herb’s small, black seeds are rich in oils. It was a staple food for the Aztecs, and legend has... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275324 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:00:58 +0100 4275324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258922&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F14%2Fsleep-tight-7-travel-tips-for-bedbug-phobia%2F “I don’t have bedbugs, Kenneth. I went to Princeton.” ~ Jack Donaghy, Character on NBC’s show “30 Rock” You probably have heard on the news about the problem with bedbugs in hotels. Nasty little things. They come out at night and suck your blood while you sleep. I like vampire stories as much as the next guy, but when it comes to my blood I am very possessive. I don’t want to share it with a bug. I assume you feel the same. You can learn more than you’d ever want to know about these creatures at the government’s CDC website here, but suffice to say that it is worth an ounce of prevention to cope with them beforehand, particularly this holiday travel season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency hav... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258922 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:03:22 +0100 4258922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253201&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F12%2Fthe-dreaded-question-is-santa-real%2F Parents often live in fear of this time of the year, because as their child ages, their belief in Santa Claus becomes challenged by hints that perhaps he isn’t as real as they thought. Sometimes the first hints come from watching television, catching a part of conversation that suggests Santa was never real. Other times it comes from surreptitiously catching Mom & Dad putting out the presents in the middle of the night. Yet other times it comes from the realization that it may be physically impossible for one individual to go down so many chimneys in such a short amount of time (not to mention how heavy he would be eating all those cookies!). Psych Central’s parenting expert Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker will help you get through this transition to help keep your child’s ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253201 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:36:47 +0100 4253201 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175842&cid=t_111236_117_f&fid=38158&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drneedles.comhttp%3A%2F%2Famericanacupuncture.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fbrown-cell-treatment-for-obesity.html BROWN CELL TREATMENT FOR OBESITY We all know there’s good and bad cholesterol. It turns out that there is also good and bad fat. White fat White fat is considered bad. It is distributed to widely throughout the body.  These specialized cells is door lipids or adipocytes. They are defined in childhood and stay steady throughout life. 10% of the cells are renewed each year.  The main determinants of obesity are the number of adipocytes and their societies.All fat cells in the body stays the same since new cells are offset by an equal loss of cells that die. Losing weight as an adult only shrinks the mass of the cells, which is quickly  recovered by new cells. It’s hard to maintain the weight you reached after a reducing diet since the new fat cells that... Dr. Needles Medical Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175842 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:38:00 +0100 4175842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118943&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FMzvfm9IcvgU%2F Prof Anthony F T Brown knuckles down and gets to grips with the evidence surrounding assessment and management in acute medicine for the annual FRACP lecture series. Prof Brown aims to contextualize the most pertinent evidence based information pertaining to acute medical emergencies in summative statements. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118943 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:00:42 +0100 4118943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105654&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEzmy65Kdm3E%2F By Andrew J. CoulsonWhen Jerry Brown touts his record on education on his campaign website, he starts by citing the two charter schools he founded, calling them “among the top-performing schools in Oakland.” They aren’t — not when measured by academic achievement, at any rate. The chart below shows the percentage of students in Brown’s two charter schools who score at or above the “proficient” level on the California Standards Tests (averaged across all available grades and subjects). The results are broken out a few different ways to show that they are not particularly sensitive to demographics. Far from being “among the top,” Jerry Brown’s schools are marginally lower-scoring than the abysmal Oakland Public Schools, and fan... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105654 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:05:07 +0100 4105654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097901&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fay4GkX_ipyA%2F By Tad DeHavenFlorida Times-Union reporter Matt Dixon deserves kudos for his detailed exposé of Congresswoman Corrine Brown’s (D-FL) corruption-tainted earmarking. Since 2008, Brown has sought millions for a non-profit in Jacksonville that employs a lobbying outfit that just happens to have Brown’s daughter Shantrel on its staff. Brown and her daughter have tried to secure $1.1 million for “streetscape improvements and renovations” at a plaza leased by the non-profit. Rep. Brown is currently requesting a direct appropriation of $1 million for it, but interestingly says on her website that “I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest in this project.” Okay, but what about her daughter? As the article explains, this isn’t the first time the Browns... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097901 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:47:37 +0100 4097901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053364&cid=t_111236_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F10%2Ffear-of-ivf.html Many infertile couples are afraid of doing IVF. For some of them, the fear is so overwhelming, that they refuse to even consider this option, thus depriving themselves of their best chance of having a baby !There are many reasons for this fear - it can be a long list !fear of injectionsfear of painfear of side effectsfear of multiple pregnanciesfear of anesthesia ( once I sleep, will I wake up again ?)fear of failurefear of expenseI think it's important for patients to face up to their fears - and the best way of doing this is to reframe your perspective ! Many of these fears are untrue and irrational.Its true that IVF is expensive; and that the outcome is always uncertain; but the only risk is emotional and financial. There is no medical risk and no pain ; and it's important to explode th... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053364 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:37:00 +0100 4053364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031309&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F21147165%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EPaper-Beats-Digital-For-Emotion.htm Direct mail is so last millenium, right? Ultra-efficient digital marketing seems all but certain to supplant actual paper marketing delivered by humans. It might be a little too soon to shut down the paper mills, though, according to a study by branding agency Millward Brown. The research project used fMRI brain scans to show that [...] Comments[...] read an article (Paper Beats Digital for Emotion) that ... by Rock, Paper, Scissors…Digital?Roger, we sponsor events that directly support our practice ... by Chris ZdunichPlus 8 more...Related StoriesNeuromarketing Standards Battle Ahead?Holy Branding! Religion Gives Brand ImmunityThe Case FOR College Sports (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031309 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:57:32 +0100 4031309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001731&cid=t_111236_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflapsblog.com%2F2010%2F09%2F24%2Fu-s-district-court-judge-jeremy-fogel-clears-path-for-california-executions-to-resume-but-will-they%2F The newly renovated San Quentin Prison Death Chamber AP Photo Well, for now – or should I say until Monday afternoon, California executions as per state and federal law can proceed. A federal judge in San Jose gave the go-ahead today for next week’s scheduled execution of a convicted murderer from Riverside County, which would be the state’s first execution in nearly five years. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel, who blocked lethal injections at San Quentin State Prison in February 2006 because of haphazard procedures, untrained staff and the potential of inflicting excruciating pain, said revised state regulations and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling had removed constitutional obstacles to renewed executions. Fogel acknowledged that he has not yet reviewed the state’s a... FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001731 Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:46:26 +0100 4001731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998954&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdfSHez0bTmw%2F By Michael F. CannonThat’s the headline of an article posted this week in Politico: Rarely have so many political strategists been so wrong about something so big. But when it comes to the health care bill, everyone from former President Bill Clinton on down whiffed on some of the more significant predictions. Democrats would run aggressively on the legislation? Nope. Voters would forget about the sausage-making aspects of the legislative process? Doesn’t seem that way, as the process contributed to the sense that the bill was deeply flawed. And Clinton’s own promise to jittery Democrats that their poll numbers would skyrocket after the bill finally passed also didn’t pan out, as the party is fighting for its life in the midterms. What can explain the miscalculation? ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998954 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:17:19 +0100 3998954 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913105&cid=t_111236_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fdr-mark-mandellbrown-sues-dr-lawrence-kurtzman-defamation%2F The disagreement between surgeons Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown and Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman about who is qualified to perform which plastic surgical procedures has now moved into the courts. Dr. Mandell-Brown is suing Dr. Kurtzman and is asking for $3 million in damages. The case is scheduled to be heard in November. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913105 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:52:56 +0100 3913105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3907541&cid=t_111236_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fdr-michael-glyn-brown-charged-wife-beating%2F Texas hand surgeon Dr. Michael Glyn Brown has been charged with a third-degree felony for allegedly assaulting his fourth wife. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3907541 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:47 +0100 3907541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3845281&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FKnFPugzRQdQ%2F A bipartisan bill was introduced late last week that would give drugmakers additional incentives to develop medications for rare pediatric diseases. The Creating Hope Act would entice drugmakers by offering a ‘priority review voucher,’ which would entitle them to a six-month priority review by the FDA of another drug in exchange for developing a med aimed at treating a rare pediatric illness. In other words, a drugmaker would have a potentially big seller reviewed several months faster than would occur otherwise, since the standard FDA review time is 10 months. “We are falling woefully and inadequately short in our efforts to cure and treat rare and neglected pediatric diseases and conditions,” says Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat who co-sponsored the proposal, in a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3845281 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:09:07 +0100 3845281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784246&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FozgMmywe9Mg%2F By Ilya ShapiroOur friends at the Competitive Enterprise Institute have released a new report on the worst state attorneys general in the country.  Despite Eliot Spitzer no longer being eligible for consideration, six attorneys general comprise the worst-in-the-nation list: 1. Jerry Brown, California 2. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut 3. Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma 4. Patrick Lynch, Rhode Island 5. Darrell McGraw, West Virginia 6. William Sorrell, Vermont The report, authored by Hans Bader (who will be contributing an article to this year’s Cato Supreme Court Review), uses several criteria for determining who made the list of shame: ethical breaches and selective applications of the law; fabricating law; usurping legislative powers; and predatory practices (such as seeking to regula... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784246 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:42:31 +0100 3784246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733051&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fcongrats-to-our-sex-poll-random-house-giveaway-winners%2F Announcing the three winners of our steamy sex poll giveaway from Random House: Bekah, chrissycrue100, and stiletostrytime. These lucky commenters and re-Tweeters took our (anonymous) sex poll and spilled the goods about how often they do it. They’re each now the proud owners of Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned on Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses)! by Douglas Brown (Three Rivers Press; available in bookstores everywhere). Congratulations again. Now go have sex. About Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned on Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses)!: Even though it feels like there’s never enough time or energy, trust Annie and Doug…THERE IS! Creeping into middle age and saddled with work deadlines, child rearing, homemaking, and 1... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733051 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:45:01 +0100 3733051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733296&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FKt1cB4vPm9Q%2F Last week, the American Journal of Cardiology published a paper that carried a curious title: “Linguistic Analysis of In-Office Dialogue Among Cardiologists, Primary Care Physicians, and Patients With Mixed Dyslipidemia.” In short, this examined the discussions between 24 doctors - 12 cardiologists and 12 primary care physicians - and 45 patients who were diagnosed with high cholsterol. The subject of their chat? Treatment with Niaspan, a drug sold by Abbott Labs. The paper found docs didn’t do well discussing the problem and their patients are poor listeners. And the study made an interesting observation - that only one doc noted Niaspan will improve HDL and offer protection from heart blockages or development of plaque in the arteries. However, as CardioBrief pointed ou... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733296 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:55:19 +0100 3733296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729843&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F187182%2F Last Chance to Win Sexy: Take our sex poll and re-Tweet it, comment on our Facebook page, or leave a comment on the giveaway post, and you could win a copy of Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned on Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses)! Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729843 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:42:28 +0100 3729843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687069&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Four-sex-poll-heats-up-with-a-cool-giveaway-from-random-house%2F Remember yesterday when we asked you to take our (anonymous) sex poll and spill the goods about how often you do it? Well, now our friends at Three Rivers Press (an imprint of Random House) want to get in on all the steamy action with a cool giveaway. Here’s the deal: If you take our sex poll AND re-tweet it, or comment on our Facebook page, or leave an anonymous comment below (or all three), you’ll automatically be entered to win a copy of: Just Do It: How One Couple Turned Off the TV and Turned on Their Sex Lives for 101 Days (No Excuses)! by Douglas Brown (Three Rivers Press; available in bookstores everywhere) Three lucky Blisstree readers will win a copy! Just click the re-tweet or Facebook icons above, or leave an (anonymous) comment below. Good luck! Now go have sex. Abo... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687069 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:42:06 +0100 3687069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665938&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhelen-gurley-brown-on-bad-girls%2F Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere. –Helen Gurley Brown Post from: BlissTree Helen Gurley Brown on Bad Girls (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665938 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:00:33 +0100 3665938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581591&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyrFMb31yafw%2F By Ilya ShapiroJust as Tuesday’s primary elections were good news for libertarians, they were bad news for Elena Kagan.  Now that Arlen Specter (D-R-D-PA) will never again face an electorate, we will be able to see his true colors, whatever they are – this should be interesting! — on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), assuming she wins her June 8 primary run-off (having to tack left to do so), will be a possible vote against Kagan so she can show skeptical Arkansans that she’s not an Obama-Reid-Pelosi rubber stamp.  And Rand Paul’s trouncing of establishment candidate Trey Grayson in the Republican primary should strike fear into the hearts of all senators running for re-election this fall (or even 2012) such that they refuse to�... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581591 Thu, 20 May 2010 12:42:30 +0100 3581591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581593&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FT6MBJYbKO6E%2F By David RittgersThe attempted Times Square bombing prompted Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Scott Brown (R-MA) to propose that anyone suspected of providing material support, as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 2339A, to State Department-listed terrorist groups be stripped of their citizenship. As Julian Sanchez points out, existing law provides for expatriation for a number of reasons, but in two distinct categories. The first is for actions that demonstrate intent to relinquish citizenship: swearing loyalty to another nation, serving in a foreign military as an officer or non-commissioned officer (or in any capacity if that country is at war with the United States), formal renunciation before a diplomatic official, and similar actions. The second is for serious crimes against national secur... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581593 Wed, 19 May 2010 21:00:07 +0100 3581593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3567941&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F16%2Fface-it-6-steps-to-help-women-deal-with-aging%2F Mark Twain once wrote, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” I like that. But get real. In a culture preoccupied with youth and beauty, where there has been a 114 percent increase in the number of cosmetic surgeries performed since 1997? How do women escape the judgment conferred on them every time she opens a magazine, gets online, or turns on the tube? How does she silence the menacing messages she sends herself when a new gray hair is found, or her crow’s feet grow an inch longer? Very deliberately and carefully say Vivian Diller, Ph.D and Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D, both professional models turned psychologists, in their new book, “Face It: What Women Really Feel as Their Looks Change.” The authors propose a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3567941 Sun, 16 May 2010 10:30:29 +0100 3567941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542578&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhP8hhGSy-qU%2F By Julian SanchezSens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Scott Brown (R-MA), joined on the House side by Reps. Jason Altmire (D-PA) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), today introduced a little publicity stunt in legislative form called the Terrorist Expatriation Act, making good on Lieberman’s pledge to find a way to strip the citizenship of Americans—whether naturalized or native born—who are suspected of aiding terrorist groups. It does so by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act, which lays out the various conditions under which a person may renounce or be deprived of citizenship.  A couple things to note about this: First, the act as it stands now contains a provision that could probably be used to revoke the citizenship of terrorists. One of the ways to trigger the loss of citizenship ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542578 Thu, 06 May 2010 22:39:57 +0100 3542578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3526725&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fheqs31Ut9lk%2F By adminBritain may have given the world freedom as we understand it (i.e. see The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns by Benjamin Constant), but you would not know it from the last prime ministerial debate that took place last Thursday. The candidates (Conservative David Cameron, Labour’s Gordon Brown and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg) used the word “freedom” only 2 times. They said the word “free” 5 times, but all in the context of the supposedly “free” goodies, which they promised to lavish on the electorate. Words “responsible” and “responsibility” fared somewhat better (4 times). But the winning words were “fair” and “fairness” that were mentioned 22 times — almost always in connection with taxing the rich. Here is a typical example: Bro... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3526725 Mon, 03 May 2010 15:37:16 +0100 3526725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519469&cid=t_111236_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3000 I voted labour in every election (apart from my very first) up to and including 1997.  This is about my feelings for the 2010 election.  Make up your own mind (but don’t let Rupert Murdoch manipulate you). Downloadable button from Mark Golding at http://www.coia.org.uk Don’t Get Fooled Again “I agree with Rupert“ By 2001 election, I had been forced to the conclusion that Tony Blair had views that were well to the right of Margaret Thatcher’s, in many areas that mattered to me. so I voted Lib Dem. That was before 9/11 After that event, all doubt was gone, so the 2005 election it was Lib Dem again.  I won’t even consider the Conservative party much.  I have never understood how anyone could vote for them, ever. The only choic... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519469 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:30:42 +0100 3519469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499129&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34786&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrmichelletempest.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fhustings-at-castleside.html This is a short clip from the Castleside Hustings on Wednesday night - from left to right the representatives are for Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservative, Independent, UKIP and BNP, all hoping to represent the people of the North West Durham constituency. We were asked questions from directly from the audience. The question: 'Like many people over the past few years politicians from all Parties seem to have lost touch with ordinary people in the street. People are worried about crime, the NHS and many other things. How do I know you will listen and speak up for us in Westminster?' (Source: The Psychiatrist Blog) The Psychiatrist Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499129 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:55:00 +0100 3499129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479664&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F4O2lz_1MOAw%2F By Sallie JamesSen. Sherrod Brown (D, OH), along with eight other “usual suspects,” yesterday sent a letter to Senators John Kerry (D, MA), Joe Lieberman (I, CT) and Lindsey Graham (R, SC), outlining what’s necessary for their support of the latter’s climate green jobs bill (there seems to be some confusion about the precise purpose). The math, assuming that Republicans vote as a block to defeat the bill, requires that these senators’ demands be met if the Democrats are to overcome a filibuster and pass the bill. So what exactly do they want? The main thrust of their demands seems to be for U.S. manufacturing’s competitiveness to be “addressed,” including by asking for the bill to “invest” (don’t you just love the way th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479664 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:10:41 +0100 3479664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463557&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fmore-celebrity-baby-names-that-almost-count-as-child-abuse%2F When it comes to the most unfortunate names for children of Hollywood stars, we thought we’d heard it all. Turns out, we were wrong. Here are ten more best of the worst. David Duchovny and wife Tea Leoni have the last laugh over naming their kid "Kyd". (photo: WENN.com) 1. Hud, 2. Spec Wildhorse, and 3. Teddy Jo – Sons of John Cougar Mellencamp 4. Jermajesty – Son of Jermaine Jackson 5. Kyd – Son of David Duchovny and Tea Leoni 6. Messiah Ya’majesty – Son of T.I. (rapper) 7. Phoenix Chi – Daughter of Melanie Brown (Spice Girls) 8. Pirate – Son of Jonathan Davis (Korn) 9. Poppy Honey and 10. Daisy Boo – Daughters of Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef) Post from: BlissTree More Celebrity Baby Names That Almost Count as Child Abuse (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463557 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:03:30 +0100 3463557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366170&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fblisstree-video-of-the-day-women-in-the-world-conference%2F Last weekend, Tina Brown and the Daily Beast hosted the “Women in the World” summit in New York City. The three-day conference brought together more than 300 female leaders in their respective fields including Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Queen Rania of Jordan, Meryl Streep, Barbara Walters, and Katie Couric, to talk about women’s stories and possible solutions to problems facing them in the 21st century. In our video of the day, Diane Sawyer discusses the conference with Tina Brown here. For more info and videos from the conference, go to The Daily Beast. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366170 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:36:50 +0100 3366170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362595&cid=t_111236_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fc2Er4Un11H0%2F Oscar Wilde, as famous for his witty quips as for his plays and novels, once said, “The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It’s never of any use to oneself.” Although we can take Wilde’s maxim with a grain of salt, he makes a good point in his usual ironic way. Listening to advice is difficult because, simply put, it’s very often wrong. On the other hand, you could be given good advice that holds generally, but it’s not applicable to your specific situation. Or, what’s worse, you’ve been given some good advice, but it’s not what you want to hear. You don’t listen, and then you make the very mistake you could have avoided by listening to the advice you asked for in the first place. While there are no definite rules for listening to advice, here are ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362595 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:11:51 +0100 3362595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346446&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F_2rkEyE6Yn4%2F By David Boaz“Michael Foot, a bookish intellectual and anti-nuclear campaigner who led Britain’s Labour Party to a disastrous defeat in 1983, died [March 3],” reported the Associated Press. He was 96. Foot personified the socialist tendency in the Labour Party, which Tony Blair successfully erased when he won power at the head of a business-friendly, interventionist “New Labour.” Yet Foot remained a respected, even revered, figure. “Michael Foot was a giant of the Labour movement, a man of passion, principle and outstanding commitment to the many causes he fought for,” Blair said Wednesday. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Blair’s partner in creating “New Labour,” praised Foot as a “genuine British radical” and a “ma... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346446 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:40:51 +0100 3346446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338207&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGvaC7NUSIfA%2F By Chris EdwardsI’ve long raised concerns about the rapidly rising costs of federal worker pay and benefits. Despite the obvious acceleration of federal compensation above private compensation in recent years, federal unions have continued to claim that federal workers suffer from a giant “pay gap,” which is currently supposed to be 26 percent. Unfortunately, the pay gap mythology has been spread by Washington Post reporters, one recently writing, “The budget answers critics … who say federal civilians earn much more than private-sector workers… [G]overnment figures indicate that federal employees are underpaid by 26 percent compared with their counterparts in similar position in the business world.” The Post is generally a great paper, b... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338207 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:23:22 +0100 3338207 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3275761&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Funiversity-president-but-no-longer.html A frequent topic on Health Care Renewal is how leaders of not-for-profit health care organizations now frequently value their "margin," that is, revenue generation more than mission.  (One good example here shows how medical school leaders value faculty most for how much money they bring in, rather than the quality of their teaching, research, or patient care.)  "Masters of the Universe" as Leaders of Academic MedicineAs we have cast about for reasons behind this important and unfortunate transformation, we noticed that many of the members of the boards of trustees of some of the most prestigious universities that house medical schools, medical schools, and teaching hospitals seemed to be leaders in the finance industry. The importance of that finding became more relevant after t... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3275761 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:48:00 +0100 3275761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262647&cid=t_111236_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=3193695&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FnJVNHsWpUU0%2F By David BoazScott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts seems to reflect some of the trends David Kirby and I note in our new study, “The Libertarian Vote in the Age of Obama,” released today. We wrote, “Libertarians seem to be a lead indicator of trends in centrist, independent-minded voters. If libertarians continue to lead the independents away from Obama, Democrats will lose 2010 midterm elections they would otherwise win.” That seems to have happened in Virginia, New Jersey, and now Massachusetts. Young voters, whom we examine in the study, also seem to have moved sharply in Massachusetts from heavy support for Obama in 2008 to slightly less strong support for Brown this week. Using our strict screen based on American National Election Studies data, we find t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193695 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:06:56 +0100 3193695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193699&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsqDVlmlp3sU%2F By Chris MoodyIn this new video, Cato’s David Boaz and John Samples evaluate what Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts means for Democrats and Republicans in the near and far term. Samples and Boaz contend that Tuesday’s election sent a message to Democrats that they have clearly overreached, but Republicans need to be careful and realize that they’re still not very popular either. Watch: John Samples is the author of the forthcoming book, The Struggle to Limit Government, available soon at the Cato store. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193699 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:50:34 +0100 3193699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193704&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FYz_ec0PK9tY%2F By Ilya ShapiroJosh Blackman and Lyle Denniston offer some thoughts on the effect of Scott Brown’s Massachusetts earthquake on the looming retirement of — and the nomination of a replacement for — Justice John Paul Stevens.  Josh and Lyle both latch onto the idea that Brown’s providing the 41st vote to sustain a potential Republican filibuster could cause President Obama to nominate someone more moderate than would be the case if the Democrats had maintained their super-majority.  Lyle goes on to speculate that both Obama and Senate Democrats, looking to this fall’s election, will generally want to tack right in the face of an emboldened GOP and impatient electorate. I think this sort of analysis is a misapplication of otherwise correct political analysis ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193704 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:03:19 +0100 3193704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193706&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTNAsiNzS9LI%2F By Roger PilonToday, Politico Arena asks: The message from Massachusetts What now for the Democratic agenda? My response: Listening to Scott Brown’s long, barely scripted acceptance speech last night, you had the refreshing sense that you were listening to an ordinary American, not to some political cut-out.  Here’s a guy who campaigned in a pick-up truck with over 200,000 miles on the odometer, who listened to the voters and understood that they wanted not simply to block tax hikes but to lower taxes (and the last thing they wanted was for their taxes to pay terrorists’ lawyers bills!), who understood that even worse than the health care bill now before Congress were the back-room deals that brought it about, who’s served proudly for 30 years in the National Guard — in shor... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193706 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:22:12 +0100 3193706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189122&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FY_VQGZwj3pQ%2F By David BoazI have some thoughts on Obama after one year at npr.org: Happy anniversary, Mr. President. Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts is a rude ending to a year marked by falling poll ratings and growing opposition to his signature policy initiatives…. President Obama has several models to choose from: He could reverse his tax-spend-and-regulate policies and hope for the same economic and political results that Reagan achieved. He could, like Bill Clinton, recognize the political obstacles to his sweeping ambitions and learn to work with Republicans on modest reforms. He may well end up like Lyndon Johnson, with an ambitious domestic agenda eventually bogged down by endless war. But I don’t think his wished-for FDR model — a transformative agenda that is both p... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189122 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:19:05 +0100 3189122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189124&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fa5cqYbJxWzM%2F By Neal McCluskeyYesterday, I wrote about President Obama’s proposal to extend the Race to the Top program, this time letting school districts completely bypass state governments and apply directly to the feds for funding. I pointed out that the proposal was one among several troubling signs that Obama intends to put Washington fully — and, of course, unconstitutionally — in charge of American education.  At the time, I didn’t realize how right I was. When I was writing yesterday I was basing my comments on documents from the White House’s website and hadn’t yet read the details of what went on at the President’s photo-op announcing the proposed extension. I sure wish I had: At the dog-and-pony show, the President just came right out an... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189124 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:22:40 +0100 3189124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189277&cid=t_111236_123_f&fid=38598&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricsnow.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F01%2Fsenator-elect-scott-brown-and-health-care-is-he-right%2F Sitting here in my home office in Massachusetts today, I’m not surprised State Senator Scott Brown won late Senator Ted Kennedy’s seat…his momentum has been brewing for weeks and yesterday’s results should not have come as a surprise to anyone in Massachusetts or across the country. This is clearly a day of reflection for some old time Massachusetts residents. Many still want to hold on to that old belief that Massachusetts is firmly Democratic. Given that there are more Independent voters than either Democrats or Republicans, that’s clearly no longer the case and this election has proven that we’re becoming a nation of people concerned more about ideas, concepts and how we live over politics…finally! One of Brown’s cornerstone messages was ... Dr. Gwenn Is In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189277 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:37:03 +0100 3189277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189405&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAcTMc1F4e3c%2F In what was considered a very unlikely outcome just three weeks ago, Scott Brown, a little-known Repubilcan state senator, has defeated Democrat Martha Coakley to fill the Senate seat that was held by Ted Kennedy in the overwhelmingly Democratic state of Massachusetts. Brown won 52 percent of the vote, much of which came from suburbs ringing Boston, according to various reports. This will leave the Democrats in Congress scrambling to complete the health care reform legislation because the Democrats will lose the 60 votes needed to thwart a Republican fillibuster. Brown has vowed to oppose the legislation. One option for Democratic leaders in Congress: have the House pass the bill approved by the Senate, but without any changes. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189405 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:53:17 +0100 3189405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189125&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FDw56D1PGUYE%2F By David BoazAround the world over the past decade, longstanding and stultifying power elites have been toppled by what came to be known as the “color revolutions” — notably the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, and hopefully the Green Revolution in Iran. Now the political elites in Boston and Washington have been rocked by the Brown Revolution. Pundits have been describing a possible Brown victory in terms like “canary in the mine,” “depth charge,” “shock waves,” “nuclear explosion,” “full freak-out,” and “angels will weep and the Charles River will run red with blood.” Political scientist Raymond La Raja said a Democratic loss would be the first shot in what could be a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189125 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:25:26 +0100 3189125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3101066&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FErvcBYlFz9k%2F The deal resolves allegations the drugmaker “deliberately inflated” the price of its Albuterol asthma med and other drugs, causing California’s Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program to overpay millions of dollars in pharmacy reimbursement, according to California attorney general Jerry Brown. “With healthcare costs spiraling out of control, it’s unconscionable that a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company deliberately inflated its drug prices to cheat California’s public healthcare system out of millions of dollars,” Brown says in a statement. “This is a company that made more than $12 billion in profits last year, yet still raided the pockets of California taxpayers.” The case began with a lawsuit filed by a whistleblower against several drugmakers... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3101066 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:37:18 +0100 3101066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059819&cid=t_111236_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F1-zIraMoooo%2F Our inaugural SharpBrains Summit continues to grow momentum – here goes a quick update. New Speakers: Thomas M. Warden is Assistant Vice President and Leader of Allstate’s Research and Planning Center (ARPC). He helps sets ARPC’s research agenda and manage its execution by 60-member ARPC staff, leading the development of significant innovations that contribute to Allstate’s profitable growth. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Dr. Laurence Hirshberg directs the NeuroDevelopment Center and serves on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior of the Brown University Medical School as Clinical Assistant Professor. The NeuroDevelopment Center is one of the 20 research sites worldwide participating in the largest study ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059819 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:28:53 +0100 3059819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056927&cid=t_111236_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2FVuQ1-brLakI%2F Before I get into the post I want to ask you a quick question. What do you want from The Discomfort Zone? I have now written in excess of 500 posts on life coaching, self development and random nonsense going back over 3 years. Yet as another year draws to an end I’ve been wondering whether I’m giving people what they want. The reason being that I’m really struggling to come up with areas that I have never touched on. Of course I can deliver new slants and reintroduce topics as new readers come onboard, but I have to feel like I’m adding value. I’ve started asking for guest posters on topics I don’t feel qualified to talk about it. With that in mind I have posts coming up in the new year on EFT, time management, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but what else are you interested... Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056927 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:12:36 +0100 3056927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2977574&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fn9EXinVDdso%2F There are five of them - Harvard University, Yale University, Brown University, the University of Pennsylvania and Boston University - will release a pledge to encourage companies to give poor countries better access to drugs and medical products based on discoveries made on their campuses, Bloomberg News reports. Their promise is supposed to guide how drugs developed by scientists at their universities are licensed to companies, a Harvard spokesman tells Bloomberg, adding that the schools signed their pledge after campus student groups pushed for policies to make new drugs available at low cost to poor patients. The statement commits the schools to make “vigorous efforts” to promote global access to drugs through licensing strategies, Bloomberg writes. For example, the schools will w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2977574 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:42:32 +0100 2977574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2901743&cid=t_111236_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fk9HbWp6aCX8%2F MaRS (a Toronto-based innovation center) has just announced the Ontario Innovation Summit: The Business of Aging to “feature some of the world’s top experts focused on the many issues that the aging of the global population poses for communities, governments, academic and healthcare institutions, and businesses.” Topics: - Innovation in an Age Friendly Society: Interconnected Challenges and Opportunities - Rethinking Technology & Community: Optimizing our Economic Contributions and Enhancing Quality of Life - Maintaining Autonomy: The Brain Fitness Movement - Public Policy Impact: Putting Innovation to Work across the Continuum of Aging - Commitment to Action The conference will host special keynote appearances by the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, and Dr... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2901743 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:11:01 +0100 2901743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796622&cid=t_111236_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflapsblog.com%2F2009%2F09%2F15%2Fbill-clinton-to-endorse-san-francisco-mayor-gavin-newsom-for-california-governor-republicans-cheer%2F San Francisco Mayor Gavin “Whether You Like it or Not” Newsom Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner must be dancing this morning. Former President Bill Clinton is backing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for California governor over state Attorney Gen. Jerry Brown, potentially upending next year’s Democratic race to succeed Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. Clinton’s decision to appear on Oct. 5 alongside one of his wife’s top backers in her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination comes at a critical time for the San Franciso mayor: Although Newsom has built a substantial Facebook and Twitter following among younger voters, Brown, a former two-term governor, has raised more than twice as much money as he has. Clinton’s trip to California next month... FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796622 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:57:09 +0100 2796622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2751886&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFr2fYFB1Lzk%2F A further chapter in Britain’s economic suicide comes from Tax Notes International today (subscription only): In a move apparently aimed at lowering their tax bills, major U.K. sports bookmakers William Hill and Ladbrokes plan to relocate their sports betting operations to Gibraltar, according to media reports. The move by William Hill was announced on August 4 and was subsequently followed by Ladbrokes’ announcement on August 6. The moves are projected to cost the U.K. Treasury millions of pounds in tax revenue, according to an August 6 report on www.guardian.co.uk. The departure of these sports betting firms, particularly if other sports bookmakers follow, could put the U.K.’s entire online gambling market (the largest legal betting market in the world) beyond the reac... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2751886 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:22:36 +0100 2751886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2737696&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FyPNJcGHYRgM%2F A Bloomberg story on one cause of the ongoing British economic disaster under Prime Minister Gordon Brown: Andrew Wesbecher moved to London from New York in 2006 to sell software to banks and hedge funds. This month he joined the exodus of American expatriates fleeing high taxes and the city’s shrinking financial industry . . . Americans are heading home as Britain plans a 50 percent tax rate for those who earn more than 150,000 pounds ($248,000) a year and employers cut benefits for workers living abroad, reducing the allure of London. That comes a year after the U.K. said foreigners who have lived in the country for more than seven years must pay 30,000 pounds annually or give up the special status that shields overseas income from British taxes. Since the 1980s, London has boomed as a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2737696 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:30:19 +0100 2737696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601989&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fgovernment-rules-on-masturbation.html News is slow to reach this still very wet corner of North Wales, and so I am grateful to an NHS BLOG DOCTOR reader for drawing my attention to an hilarious document, entitled Pleasure, which has been produced by NHS Sheffield.For too long, say the authors, experts have concentrated on the need for safe sex and committed relationships. “Together with your five portions of fruit and veg a day and 30 minutes of physical activity three times a week, what about sex or masturbation twice a week?”Much hilarity amongst the medical profession, but the Archbishop is not amused. This is just more New Labour top-down micromanagement. Is there no part of our private lives in which they will not interfere? Too silly words. Twice weekly masturbation? How precisely does Gordon Brown propose to enforce... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601989 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:25:00 +0100 2601989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556306&cid=t_111236_134_f&fid=35187&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDiabetesDaily%2F%7E3%2F18rxdn03yf4%2Fwhat-a-great-visual.php My friends from "across the pond", Tim and Alison, blog at Shoot Up or Put Up, and it is one of my favorite blogs to read.  Tim has this really awesome sickly twisted sense of humor, and much of what Alison posts really resonates with me.  When I read Alison's recent post "Not even a spoonful", I just knew that I would have to post about it.  Please, go take... (Source: Diabetes Daily) Diabetes Daily blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556306 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:32:41 +0100 2556306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469907&cid=t_111236_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bmj.com%2Fcgi%2Fdata%2Fbmj.b2030%2FDC1%2F1 A new cognitive test for detecting Alzheimer's disease is quicker and more accurate than many current tests, and could help diagnose early Alzheimer's, dementia, or mild cognitive impairment. Researchers at the Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England have developed a new test for Alzheimer's and dementia. Test Your Memory (TYM) is a short, on paper, test that can detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage. The quiz takes about 5 minutes to administer.The TYM is comprised of ten simple tasks including: the ability to copy a sentence, how items relate to each other, simple math, and the ability to recall.In a clinical trial involving 679 people, the TYM detected 93 percent of people with Alzheimer's.This compares with 52 percent for the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). The MMSE is the t... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469907 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:56:53 +0100 2469907 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458083&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fbaron-and-barrow-boy.html Unelected leaders :  the "sinister minister" and the "business czar"The British Constitution is (largely) unwritten and, unlike the American Constitution, it is not entrenched. The British legislature, the Queen in Parliament, remains supreme. In theory, an Act of Parliament could be passed tomorrow taking us out of the EC, abolishing the Act of Settlement, even abolishing the monarchy. The beloved political doctrine of the separation of powers has little reality in the UK. The executive controls the legislature and, with a working majority and the veiled powers of patronage, can pass any legislation it wishes. Do not underestimate the influence of patronage. There would have been no feminist diatribe from Caroline “give the girls a job” Flint if she had been offered the Home Office.O... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458083 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:51:00 +0100 2458083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458084&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fpeter-hain-you-cant-keep-good-man-down.html Peter Hain MP, Secretary of State for WalesAm I missing something here? Has Peter Hain just slipped unnoticed back into the Welsh Office? Is this the same Peter Hain who has the distinction of being the first Cabinet Minister to be driven out of office by revelations made by a blogger? Peter Hain was under the spotlight for er…creative use of MPs’ expenses and allowances long before such scandals became fashionable and common place.Guido had it all.Now Peter Hain is back in office. The same office. Does Gordon Brown think that people have forgotten? It was only January of this year.Peter Hain is due to apologise to the House at 3.30pm via a personal statement. Will he try to claim his reputation and integrity are untainted?Don’t think so Peter. After all, paying your 80-year-old moth... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458084 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:26:00 +0100 2458084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458085&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fben-bradshaw-nhs-and-bbc.html Ben BradshawThere was widespread relief in the NHS today when it was announced that Ben Bradshaw has given up his health portfolio to become Commissar for Kulture. Bradshaw was second only to Patricia Hewitt in terms of the hatred he engendered amongst those of us who work in the NHS. He was unsympathetic. He did not listen. He was consistently economic with the truth. The Guardian reports that, in his new role, which will include responsibility for broadcasting, he intends to "hit the ground running."It does not look good for the BBC. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458085 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:56:00 +0100 2458085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458086&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fcaroline-flint-has-hissy-fit.html Two days ago in “The girlies are taking over” we looked at the way that the pendulum of sexual equality has swung so far in medicine that, before long, female doctors will outnumber their male counterparts.Despite the best efforts of the preposterous Harriet Harperson there is no such thing as the “girlie fast track” in politics. Truly successful female politicians such as Barbara Castle and Margaret Thatcher came up the hard way. No quarter was asked, nor was it given.Today’s “righteous indignation” from Caroline Flint is tainted with hypocrisy. Last night, when the prospects of a Cabinet job were still (she thought) dangling in the air, Caroline Flint was openly supportive of Gordon Brown. Today, when she did not get the job that she thought she deserved, out came the sexis... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458086 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:33:00 +0100 2458086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458087&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fandy-burnham-gets-health.html There were scary rumours around this morning that Caroline Flint was going to get health. Instead, it's to be Andy Burnham, a man who cut his healthcare teeth with Particia Hewitt.Andrew Neil is an excellent interviewer. He cuts to the quick far more quickly than Paxman and Humphreys and does so without causing offence. And why were doctors so dissatisfied with the NHS changes despite the large sums of money thrown at them? Because top-down micro-management, protocols and target culture sapped morale, stifled professional autonomy and failed to deliver better care for the patients.Burnham may be the short serving Health minister of modern times. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458087 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:27:00 +0100 2458087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452455&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fold-amstrad-will-not-save-gordon-brown.html The old Amstrad 1640 (the upmarked 1512) was my first real computer. It must be nearly 25 years since I bought it. I loved it. Two disc drives, but no hard disc. Who needed data storage then? After a few months I bough a 32 megabyte card. I used Wordperfect. I had a dot matrix printer. It all worked well and Alan Sugar deservedly made his fortune. I do not know what Alan Sugar does now, except appear on The Apprentice. More "theatre of cruelty" television. Britain's got Talent in a suit. I do not watch it.The Amstrad 1640 is yesterday's computer, and Alan Sugar, television star though he may well be, is last year's entrepreneur. He won't be able to save Gordon Brown and his appointment to whatever he has been appointed to may grab a headline, and may appeal to watchers of The Apprentice, b... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452455 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:55:00 +0100 2452455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441184&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMZ79FXn6S2M%2F Daniel Hannan, the British Member of the European Parliament who gained fame with his devastating critique of Gordan Brown, has been equally trenchant in criticizing the excesses of the European Union.  On his blog he explains the latest self-serving intricacies of voting in the upcoming election for the European Parliament: How many MEPs will be elected a week on Thursday? Wait! Come back! I’m going somewhere with this! I realise the issue might not sound intrinsically sexy but, believe me, it demonstrates everything that’s wrong with the Brussels system. Bear with me and you will see how flagrant is the EU’s contempt for the ballot box — and for its own rule book. Had the European Constitution Lisbon Treaty been ratified, there would have been 754 MEPs in the nex... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441184 Wed, 27 May 2009 12:42:53 +0100 2441184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2408590&cid=t_111236_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fart-of-persuasion.html In an ideal world I would send my children off to school each day with a nutritious, organic, salt free, home made, preservative free, high fibre, low fat perfectly balanced lunch and snack. However, I don’t or rather I don’t live in an ideal world and I send my children to school with a bunch of junk. I send my little darlings to school with a bunch of junk on the off-chance that given a less than perfect setting, they may just eat a mouthful or maybe two. Lunch times are noisy and busy and over stimulating and just about everything is more interesting or testing than eating, which is pretty low down on their personal agendas.Whilst neophobia has been banned from our lives following the 5 year food campaign, it is not a total success. With persuasion and patience he does indeed eat a ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2408590 Fri, 15 May 2009 06:59:00 +0100 2408590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405132&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fexpenses-scandal-decisive-leadership.html This is impressive and decisive leadership from David Cameron. Action not words. Action not consultations. The MPs expenses scandal is one of the most difficult problems a party leader has ever faced. It is hard to know what more he could have done. A full and frank apology. No prevarication.  Conservative MPs instructed to pay back all excessive claims immediately or face the sack. Dr Crippen is impressed. Heavens, even the DK is impressed.Compare it with this:and then thisThen chose your leader. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405132 Tue, 12 May 2009 21:53:00 +0100 2405132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367431&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fmessage-for-gordon-brown.html These spoof videos have done the rounds but still amuse, and this one was never more relevant. A few weeks ago NHS BLOG DOCTOR held a light hearted pole to find the Ten most popular reasons why Gordon Brown should go. Events have move on a pace since then. Now it is serious.Iain Dale and Guido draw my attention to a new petition on the Number 10 website:We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to resign.Guido has spoken to Civil Service types who confirm that under the rules of the petition service this petition is valid and permissable since it is non-partisan. It has already attracted hundreds of petitioners in support. Something tells Guido this could be big, really big. Over two million people watched Dan Hannan on YouTube crush Gordon in a speech. If half of them can be bothered... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367431 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:12:00 +0100 2367431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364986&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fpension-fund-scandals-payment-agents.html As we get closer to graduation season for most institutions of higher education, another story about the leadership and governance of higher education, involving an institution housing a prominent medical school, has come into view, albeit indirectly. Let me try to explain this complex story, which on its surface has something to do with the ongoing financial crisis, but nothing to to with academia, by quoting, as usual, from media coverage.We start with an article from the New York Times last week:The man leading the Obama administration’s efforts to restructure the auto industry has been described in Securities and Exchange Commission documents as having arranged for his investment firm to pay more than $1 million to obtain New York State pension business.Although he is not named in th... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364986 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:43:00 +0100 2364986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2356942&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fnhs-consultants-secret-pay-rises-brown.html Consultants were busy last week hoping to play their cards right as they filled in their forms to apply for more points. The great and the good were chasing bronze, silver, gold and platinum awards. Points and prizes? What are we talking about? This is what is generally known as "the merit award" system or, to give it its full pompous title, the "clinical excellence awards" as given out by the ACCEA, the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards. This is the corrupt, scandalous, old-school-tie, old-boy network method that is used to give favoured consultants a back-door pay rise.As Brucie would say, “points make prizes” and there are lots of Brucie bonus prizes available for consultants who do play their cards right. Being male, Anglo-Saxon and working in a main line special... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2356942 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:15:00 +0100 2356942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353791&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fwhat-is-wrong-with-gordon-brown.html This video is doing the rounds at the moment. It was recommended to me by my ageing Greek friend but it was probably Fraser Nelson in The Spectator who first commented on it.I would recommend watching it with the sound turned off at first. Concentrate on the facial expressions. Then take a look at Fraser Nelson's analysis, and watch it again. Look for the COMIC PAUSE, the VANISHING GRIN, THE SHOULDER SHIMMY, the HAND PUSH, and the POWER SHRUG in which the arms and hands join the shoulders in an upward burst.  And there is lots more. My particular favourite is the facial expression at 1.57 before he steels himself to say the dreaded words "Harriet Harman".  You are more likely to hear an actor naming the Scottish Play.Maybe this new, "improved" Gordon Brown was designed by Damien McBride'... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353791 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:01:00 +0100 2353791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348539&cid=t_111236_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F18%2Fwhen-is-it-okay-to-hug-your-therapist%2F To hug or not to hug a client — that is the question that can haunt therapists. When a client is so distraught and you have no more words to offer, is physical contact a good idea? Glen O. Gabbard, M.D., Brown Foundation Chair of Psychoanalysis and professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, doesn’t seem to think so. In an April 2008 Psychiatric Times article, he talked about the trouble therapists can find themselves in if they do not follow American Psychological Association (APA) ethical and legal guidelines. Transference, in which therapy clients transfer feelings—positive or negative—for someone in their past to someone, such as a therapist, in their present—can help small transgressions, such as physical contact (including hugs) or... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348539 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:13 +0100 2348539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347871&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6754 Activating brown fat is said to be a new potential weight loss method for adults. The human body needs fat to function properly. According to recent studies brown fat is identified as being good fat and white fat is known as bad fat. Too much white fat can cause health issues such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.read more | digg story from the Malaysian Medical Resources Activating Brown Fat May Help Adults Lose Weight Naturally (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347871 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2347871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347977&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fgordon-brown-to-conscript-teenagers.html I am grateful to my ageing Greek friend for drawing my attention to this:Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to ensure every young person has done 50 hours of voluntary work by the time they are 19 years old. Mr Brown said a promise to bring in compulsory community service would be a part of his next election manifesto.BBCOnwards and upwards, comrades. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347977 Mon, 13 Apr 2009 07:58:00 +0100 2347977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347981&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Flabour-partys-answer-to-jeffrey-archer.html News of the World"The Prime Minister has accepted Mr McBride's resignation. Neither he nor anybody else in Downing Street had knowledge of these emails. It is the Prime Minister's view that there is no place in politics for the dissemination or publication of material of this kind, which is why it is right that Mr McBride and Mr Draper decided not to publish this material."Earlier in the day, ex Home Secretary Charles Clarke blasted McBride, saying he had brought shame to the Labour party, adding: "Damian McBride has no place in Downing Street."News of the World via GuidoLet us not forget that McBride was working in Downing Street. He had a senior position. He was conspiring with Draper to launch a viscious smear campaign against Conservative Shadow Cabinet Members and, to boot, Samantha C... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347981 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:15:00 +0100 2347981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347982&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fanother-blog-triumph.html Another triumph for Guido.The appalling Damien McBride has been utterly discredited and, any second now, will be falling on his sword.Those not interested in political rough-and-tumble may not have been following Guido’s remorseless pursuit of these appalling Labour Party apparatchiks. The main stream media has, as always, tried to stay aloof from what they have dismissed as a internecine blog war between Guido, Iain Dale and Derek Draper.  It was far more than that. Derek Draper was dishonest with an overinflated c.v. but both he and Damien McBride had the Prime Minister’s ear. McBride was playing a major role in an underhand Labour Party smear campaign that was to be directed, with Draper's help, against leading members of the Conservative Party. And Nadine DorriesThe power of the i... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347982 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:10:00 +0100 2347982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307013&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fthings-can-only-get-better-comrades.html It was All Fool's Day when our practice introduced the rejigged surgery times to enable us to snaffle another wedge of taxpayer's money for offering more appointment time to our patients. Note carefully, comrades, that I say "more appointment time" not more appointments.Our early morning, walk-in surgeries, starting at 7.15, have always been popular, particularly for those who work a distance from the practice area. These appointments have always been unbookable, walk in on the day. The government insists that we should make the appointments bookable in advance, and that the appointments must be ten minutes in duration. Good news, comrades. We have done that. I thought you might like to see our three day mini audit.36 pre-bookable appointments rather than 48 walk-in appointments14 pat... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307013 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:53:00 +0100 2307013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284360&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FFztv6-O7GOE%2F Speaking at a Cato forum Tuesday, Dr. Donald Abrams, director of Clinical Programs at the University of California Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, discussed the science behind medicinal marijuana, and explained why the drug should be allowed for patients who suffer from a variety of symptoms. After the event, Abrams spoke with Caleb Brown for Wednesday’s Cato Daily Podcast, explaining the promise of marijuana as medicine: One of the reasons I am in favor of people using the plant is because… we no longer have a health care system in the United States, we have a disease management system, and it is very expensive largely due to pharmaceuticals. If there is a plant that is a medicine that people can grow for themselves in their own backyard then I think we can really go a long... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284360 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:38:35 +0100 2284360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2263800&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fryfj2Ue6cjE%2F President Obama’s stimulus plan included about $8 billion for “high-speed rail” projects throughout the country. But what Obama has in mind isn’t anything like the Japanese trains that have been clocked at over 300 miles per hour, says Cato Senior Fellow Randal O’Toole in Thursday’s Cato Daily Podcast. At best, it’s “moderate-speed rail,” and won’t include an interconnected network that will allow passenger transportation from coast to coast. For more on American rail projects, check out O’Toole’s Policy Analysis, High-Speed Rail: The Wrong Road for America. (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2263800 Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:16:37 +0100 2263800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260417&cid=t_111236_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F09%2Fgps-should-suspect-ovarian-cancer-in-all-women-with-distended-abdomen-uk-researchers-warn%2F “GPs [General Practioners] should suspect ovarian cancer in all women presenting with abdominal distension, [U.K.] researchers have warned.  The primary care study found it was an important enough symptom on its own to warrant further investigation.  Researchers linked seven symptoms to ovarian cancer with many commonly present as much as six months before diagnosis, and [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260417 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:23:31 +0100 2260417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182455&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fdestruction-of-nhs-dentistry-fat-cats.html William Kelly : leading British Dental SurgeonTony Blair admitted failure late last month when challenged in the Commons by Liberal Democrat MP Mark Hunter. He conceded that a pledge made in 1999 to ensure within two years access to an NHS dentist for all regardless of where they lived had not been realised. "It has been a real problem. I entirely accept that," the Prime Minister said.sourceIt has not got any better since Gordon Brown took over. Today we learn that as many as six million British citizens have now resorted to DIY dentistry. Of those trying DIY dentistry,26% have tried to pull a tooth using pliers12% have tried tying a piece of string to a door handle.30% admitted to attempting to whiten their teeth with household cleaning products.11% admitted to included using household gl... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182455 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:40:00 +0100 2182455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167712&cid=t_111236_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2FCAIJslFGq0M%2F Postia placenta genome is now published in early edition of PNAS.   Brown rotting fungi are import part of the cellulose degrading ecology of the forest as well (hopefully) providing some enzymes that will help in the ligin to biofuels process. Brown rotters break down cellulose but cannot break down lignin or lignocellulose while white rotters (like the previously sequenced Phanerochaete chrysosporium) are able to break down the lignin.  This fungus was chosen for sequencing as it is another potentially helpful fungus in the war on sugars (turning them into fuels) including recently published Trichoderma reesei and 1st basidiomycete genome Phanerochaete (all incidentally with the Diego Martinez as first author - go Diego!). It is also helpful to contrast the white and brown rotters t... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167712 Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:29:42 +0100 2167712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2144498&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fpreventative-medicine.html click to enlargeMovin’ Meat is an ER doctor on the West Coast of America (you know, like Mark), and is responsible for drawing my attention to the entertaining but surely entirely fictional picture above.Here's the odd thing.  You notice in the above graphic (obtained via DKos) there is a blurb titled "Defense Accessories," which reads in part, "Bottles of the President's blood kept on board in case he needs an emergency transfusion."Um, really?  Full story in : This is cool, and a little odd All sounds a bit silly, particularly as there will (as a nurse points out in the comments - and do skim down for the one on dear old OJ) be O Negative (the universal donor blood) available at any hospital near you. Still, the security services will do anything they can to protect Mr Obama. Meanw... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2144498 Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:12:00 +0100 2144498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2110588&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2F1-million-ceo-for-27-million.html From the Seattle Times comes a story of how top executives in biotechnology may be paid for lack of performance,Even in a disastrous year on Wall Street, Cell Therapeutics stood out in 2008. Its stock price dropped 99.25 percent.But the cash-strapped Seattle biotech's top five executives had reason to celebrate Dec. 31: That day they were awarded year-end bonuses totaling more than $1 million.Chief Executive James Bianco, who has run the company since founding it in 1992, was awarded a $487,500 bonus to supplement his $650,000 salary and other perks.Cell Therapeutics' eight board members, who include Bianco, chose to pay 75 percent of the bonuses in cash, and will decide March 1 whether 'the company is sufficiently liquid to pay the remaining amount.' In other words, the board wasn't certa... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2110588 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:37:00 +0100 2110588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2788693&cid=t_111236_101_f&fid=38968&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpoconoparamedic.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fin-case-anyone-forgot.html Merry Christmas, everyone. I'll be working. (Source: Pocono Paramedic) Pocono Paramedic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2788693 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:31:00 +0100 2788693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2055804&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Ften-reasons-why-gordon-brown-must-go-as.html Two weeks ago, I listed 50 fairly recent videos, all in the public domain, each illustrating a reason why Gordon Brown should go. Which best showed our beleaguered prime minister in his true light? Which were the most telling? Which were the most amusing? I asked readers to vote for their ten favourite videos. You may review all fifty here, but the decision has now been made. The results are now in. The votes have been counted. Perhaps not surprisingly the top two positions went to recent videos. I was sad that my own favourite, Gordon’s Presidential Nightmare, only came in at Number 7. Perhaps it is a little too long but I still find it a source of joy; our best Parliamentarian on sparkling form. And so, here are the “Top Ten reasons why Gordon Brown must go” chosen by the readers ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2055804 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:35:00 +0100 2055804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052843&cid=t_111236_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F7p89AgRLPnY%2F I can’t prove it right now, but I’m more and more thinking that Charlie may well have perfect pitch. Though without a piano or cello teacher (I’ve followed a few leads, but with no luck, yet), Charlie has still been practicing, and has often asked to “play cello” in the later afternoon, before he and I go on our usual walk. Last week, after I took the cello out of its case, a few strums on the strings revealed that it was really out tune. As in, really, the D way way too low, the G unidentifiable, the C low, and loose. With Charlie saying “play cello,” “play cello,” I turned the pegs, just a bit, but with the memory of how I once broke a string on my viola still fresh, I was very hesitant. Charlie kept asking to play and so I brought th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052843 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:00:12 +0100 2052843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2048809&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F12%2Fprofessor-tony-brown%2F Congratulations to Anthony (Tony) F T Brown on his new appointment as the first Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Queensland, School of Medicine. Professor Brown shares his evidence based critical care lecture series with the wider medical community through this blog. Prof Anthony F.T. Brown (MB ChB, FRCP, FRCS(Ed), FACEM, FCEM) is a senior [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2048809 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:45:02 +0100 2048809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047803&cid=t_111236_129_f&fid=36036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Flife-with-crohns%2Fkelly%2Fthe-colors-of-your-poop-and-what-it-means%2F There are many things that you can learn about the status of your health just by observing the color and texture of your poop and the frequency with which you go. All of you veteran Crohnies out there know exactly what I am talking about. For all of you newly diagnosed Crohn’s patients, I hope this will help you a little. And, everyone, please provide your insight as well! Brown Brown is the normal color of poop. There is a pigment called bilirubin that is formed when the red blood cells in the liver and bone marrow break down. This ends up (by a complicated process) in the intestines where bacteria begins to form and eat which turns the poop brown. When iron in the red blood cells combine with bilirubin, it turns brown and when the iron influenced bilirubin combines with the poop,... Life with Crohn's blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047803 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:47:51 +0100 2047803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013830&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F474816952%2F For the past month, a favorite sport among some Washington insiders and, certainly, the pharmaceutical world has been trying to figure out who will succeed the unflappable Andy von Eschenbach as FDA commissioner. Would it be the FDA’s own Janet Woodcock? Baltimore health commissioner Josh Sharfstein? Duke’s Robert Califf? Harvard’s David Blumenthal? Or maybe Cleveland Clinic’s Steve Nissen? Now, US Senator Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat, is nominating several candidates for the post and one of them is…. drumroll…. Peter Rost, the former marketing exec who is embroiled in a whistleblower lawsuit with Pfizer (look here) and gained notoriety for stumping in Washington DC - with Brown at his side - in favor of importing lower-cost drugs from Canada. Brown’s l... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013830 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:48:10 +0100 2013830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1998876&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fofficer-arrest-this-smirking-crook.html source : guidofawkes (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1998876 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:20:00 +0100 1998876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990666&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fencouraging-lower-standard-of-care.html The Jobbing Doctor talks, with frustration, about doing a “Gordon Surgery”. In other words, his practice has jumped through the hoops to get the extra money from the government for doing extended hours.I have been doing what I will call a “Crippen” surgery for several years. I started when Gordon was ensconced in Number 11 spending his day telling the inhabitant of Number 10 how to do his job. Now Gordon is in Number 10 spending his working day telling the inhabitant of Number 11 how to do his job.Nothing changes.My “Crippen” surgery runs from 6.00 pm until 8.00 pm, usually on Wednesday evening. I book 16 patients at seven and a half minute intervals. When I started in my current practice, the elderly partners (three over 65) all offered five-minute appointments. With all the e... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990666 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:44:00 +0100 1990666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1981236&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=36069&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrankiespeakingfrankly.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fgetting-excited-about-global-enterprise.html I never imagined I might feel some kind of connection with a speech given by Gordon Brown, but then I also never thought I would get excited about the president of the United States. Hey, just goes to show that even politics can turn up pleasant surprises!Here Gordon states that:- the principals of social action and enterprise should be linked;- 'free markets' should not mean 'value free markets';- markets should be underpinned by social purpose;- due to emerging markets the global economy will inevitably double over the next 20 years;- there will be massive oppotunities for enterprise and social action due to communication through the Internet, email and other such technologies.I couldn't agree more. In a time full of 'doom and gloom' I have my eyes completely focused on the future. Yes i... Frankie Speaking Frankly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1981236 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 08:38:00 +0100 1981236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964129&cid=t_111236_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fb-JG1JsBYEU%2F “Young, gifted, and autistic”: That’s how the November 16th Independent profile describes New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Pip Brown of Ladyhawke: recently, she revealed to a British newspaper that she has Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) which suddenly shifted media interest from her music to her autism……… But it’s not the story that the singer wants to be defined by. “I really regret talking about it,” she says. “There’s a kid with Asperger’s who wrote to me on MySpace, saying I was a liar. It was really hurtful. I was like, you have no idea what I’ve been through. Yeah, I’m a bit weird. I do weird things. I’ve been really wary since then.” Not that it shows. Brown is chatty, war... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964129 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:36:42 +0100 1964129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1948480&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F11%2Fbrown-snake-envenomation%2F Brown Snake Brown snake envenoming is the most common cause of death from snakebite in Australia. The hallmark of brown snake envenoming is a severe defibrinating coagulopathy. Brown snake venom contains procoagulants, cardiotoxins and a potent presynaptic neurotoxin (Textilotoxin).       Species Pseudonaja nuchalis: Western brown or gwardar Pseudonaja affinis: Dugite Pseudonaja textilis: Common or eastern brown snake Pseudonaja guttata: Speckled brown Pseudonaja [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1948480 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:19:05 +0100 1948480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1948482&cid=t_111236_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2008%2F11%2Fthe-browns-are-back-in-town%2F …as the warm weather returns so the basking angels of the scrub are out in force. In Western Australia we have just started to treat our first significant brown snake envenomations of the spring/summer period. In the first 5 cases combination treatment with FFP and CSL brown snake antivenom has [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1948482 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:52:42 +0100 1948482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947088&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fanother-barrier-to-social-mobility.html I really do not understand what is going on.This government, this Labour government, is introducing policies that David Cameron’s Tories would not dare suggest. Last week, it was the authorisation of “top up” payments for health care. Now it is an attack on the security of tenure traditionally enjoyed by council house tenants and it will be the underprivileged, the physically and mentally ill in particular, who will suffer in the name of weeding out the scroungers.So many of my patients live in the twilight world of benefit traps. Ben Goldacre will be taking a look at some of them on Radio 4 tonight at 8.00 pm. Some of my patients are unemployed and looking for work. A larger number of them are on incapacity benefit (full details of Incapacity Benefit here) . Some of those labelled a... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947088 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:13:00 +0100 1947088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825537&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fbrown-university-student-journalists.html This article provided confirmation that Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and the US Senate Finance Committee is, in fact, investigating Dr Keller and Brown University in connection with the controversy. It also included other original reporting, including an acknowledgement from GlaxoSmithKline Director of US Media Relationships Sarah Alspach that the company had provided the committee with full information about the compensation it gave Dr Keller.The second provided a quite clear explanation of the allegations about the manipulation of Study 329. This article also included results of an interview with Dr Jon Jureidini, the author of an article that dissected study 329, and suggested that it had been manipulated to enhance the apparent benefits of paroxetine, and diminish its apparent ris... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825537 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:33:00 +0100 1825537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826214&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F400853763%2F How’s this for school spirit? A pair of Brown University students have worked up a nicely done look back at the infamous professor. Keller, you may recall, is among the 30 or so physicians at two dozen universities the Senate Finance Committee is probing concerning disclosure of grants from drugmakers. The Brown psychiatrist is a controversial figure for his role in studying Glaxo’s Paxil antidepressant. Why? He was the lead author of an infamous study published in 2001 in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry that Paxil was “generally well tolerated and effective for major depression in adolescents.” Study 329 was used to widely promote the pill, which became a huge seller, but was plagued by ghostwriting charges, and results were worse tha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826214 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:35:18 +0100 1826214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1769138&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F383216828%2F Under pressure from an ongoing US Senate investigation, the National Institutes of Health last week sent reminders to universities that “proper stewardship of Federal funds includes ensuring objectivity of results by protecting federally-funded research from compromise by FCOI,” or financial conflicts of interest. The August 25 e-mail was written by Norka Ruiz Bravo, the NIH deputy director for extramural research, who last March told The New York Times that “for us to try to manage directly the conflict-of-interest of an NIH investigator would be not only inappropriate but pretty much impossible.” She added that “I think (the system) is working to the extent that people are being honest and I think most people are honest.” Honesty aside, the Senate Finance Co... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1769138 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:38:08 +0100 1769138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677332&cid=t_111236_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2FAoJTtMKZbUo%2F Soak your brown rice and eat it up! Researchers have found that a compound that is beneficial among brown rice consumption among diabetics is triggered to activate again after being submerged in water. Up to now we knew that brown rice was good for diabetics but did not understand exactly how and why this process took place. Germinated brown rice’s ability to help diabetics lower their blood sugar has been shown but how it works remained unknown. New research, published online in the Journal of Lipid Research, shows the growth factor acylated steryl glucosides or ASG, helps normalize blood sugar and enzymes that are out-of-whack in diabetes. Knowing this will allow us to manufacture this compound and sell it as such in order to benefit even more diabetics. Personally I love brown ri... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677332 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 19:48:33 +0100 1677332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655670&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F345833615%2F The ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee wants the National Institutes of Health to revoke grants to academic scientists who fail to report financial conflicts of interest to their institutions, the Iowa Senator tells The Chronicle of Higher Education. His remarks come after targeting Harvard University, Stanford University and the University of Cincinnati, because some academics underreported their own financial interests in research projects supported by the NIH. Institutions are required by federal regulation to report the existence of those conflicts to the agency. Grassley is seeking info from 20 other institutions about financial conflicts among their scientists, including Brown University’s Martin Keller, and the American Psychiatric Association. Since 1995, an N... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655670 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:01:05 +0100 1655670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652555&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F344936804%2F First, Sherrod Brown goes after Pfizer over its outsourcing and the extent to which it purchases active pharmaceutical ingredients from such countries as China. Now, the Democrat from Ohio, wrote Merck to ask how the drugmaker guarantees the safety of pharmaceutical ingredients and its finished meds. In explaining his reason, Brown cites a January 9 interview with Merck’s Richard Spoor, senior vp of global procurement, who said the drugmaker is “moving in the direction of externally sourcing approximately 35 percent of the overall manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, formulated pharmaceuticals, sterile products, vaccines, and packaging by 2010..This would represent a two-fold increase over what we currently source from external manufacturers.” So Brown wa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652555 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:58:04 +0100 1652555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1626165&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=36939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscientific-misconduct.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fcrooked-academics-and-universities-that.html It's all very well blaming pharmaceutical companies for the decrepit state of integrity in medicine.The chief villians remain our academic institutions and medical leadership. They have colluded with and have acted as apologists for commercial scientific fraud. They have tolerated the telling of lies by senior academics. They have encouraged the prostitution of medicine. They have allowed abuse of the most fundamental safeguards of science. Most importantly, they have set terrible examples for our students.Last week I posted a copy of my letter to the new Dean of Medicine at Brown University, Professor Ed Wing. The letter was about scientific integrity at Brown, the problem of Professor Martin Keller, and the silence over Brown's treatment of Professor David Kern.I have not had a response.... Scientific Misconduct Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1626165 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:43:00 +0100 1626165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1622999&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F335299832%2F Among the 30 or so physicians at two dozen universities that the Senate Finance Committee is probing concerning disclosure of grants from drugmakers is Martin Keller, a psychiatrist at Brown University who is a controversial figure for his role in studying Glaxo’s Paxil antidepressant. The committee, according to sources familiar with the investigation, sent a letter to Brown as part of its investigation. We are awaiting a reply from Brown and will update you shortly. In recent weeks, the committee has acknowledged focusing on three academic psychiatrists - Harvard University’s Joe Biederman, Stanford University’s Alan Schatzberg and the University of Cincinnati’s Melissa DelBello. Last week, Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the committee, also asked the Am... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1622999 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:09:11 +0100 1622999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1593775&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fgordons-feast.html Families facing spiralling shopping bills were told by Gordon Brown yesterday to stop wasting food, as a government report said that Britons were throwing away groceries worth more than £1 billion a year. The Cabinet Office inquiry into food policy, ordered by Mr Brown soon after he became Prime Minister, accuses families of wasting an average of £420 a year on food, The Times has learnt.Mr Brown reinforced its message yesterday, calling on people to stop throwing food away as he travelled to the G8 summit in Japan. “If we are to get food prices down, we must do more to deal with unnecessary demands, such as by all of us doing more to reduce our food waste,” he said. (The Times)Quite right too, Prime Minister, says Dr Crippen. But what, you may ask, is the Prime Minister eating on hi... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1593775 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:24:00 +0100 1593775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1583157&cid=t_111236_150_f&fid=36939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscientific-misconduct.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fdean-edward-j-wing-and-integrity-at.html One thing will be obvious to anyone who has spent time looking at scientific misconduct and academic bullying. Publicly known instances tend to aggregate within particular institutions.It may be a denominator effect. "Bad apples" might arise in productive institutions with a large number of apples. Ineffective (or corrupt) leadership might also permit fraud and bullying. Unprincipled leadership is also associated with sham investigation and attempted cover-up, which in turn precipitates public discussion.True "bad apple" aberrations never leave an institutional stain. The fraud of Jan Hendrik Schön did not alter the reputation of Bell Laboratories. Other so called "bad apple" cases are nothing of the sort. The fraud of John Darsee at Harvard, or Vijay Soman at Yale involved collusion of l... Scientific Misconduct Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1583157 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:12:00 +0100 1583157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1560774&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fhow-long-before-british-baby-dies-of.html Greetings comrades and good news as we join together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our glorious health service. Our esteemed leader is continuing the work of the late Comrade Bevan. Meanwhile Comrade My Lord Darzi has produced a health care plan for the next sixty years. Every local soviet will commission comprehensive wellbeing and prevention services personalised to meet the specific needs of all our comrade patients.We continue to focus on the immunisation of our children. There is no shortage of vaccine. All children will be immunised on time. Appropriate supplies of vaccine have been despatched. Any comrade doctors who have received too many vaccines are free to ask for a reduction in their allocation.Meanwhile, back at the coal face, Dr Crippen is trying to advise the two prac... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1560774 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:55:00 +0100 1560774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526330&cid=t_111236_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F314709790%2F Electrical pollution linked to autism in children? Actually, you already heard of this latest idea about what causes autism here. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, brown university, Cause, david kirby, disabilities blog, environment Parenting, Family, family blog, mercury, pdd-nos, pollution, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526330 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:54:53 +0100 1526330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522225&cid=t_111236_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F312652186%2F Just as he announced that he would be addressing the House of Lords in the UK earlier this month (an event attended by 1 MP, 4 Lords, and some others), so journalist David Kirby has noted that he will be speaking in June at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island; New York University Law School; and Northeastern University in Boston (he lists the times and dates on the Huffington Post). The event at NYU Law School is hosted by Mary Holland, Esq., who is the Director of the LLM Lawyering Program at NYU Law School, and the event at Northeastern is hosted by  Richard Deth, Ph.D., professor of Pharmeceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. Ms. Holland also blogs about the Autism Omnibus proceedings on the Age of Autism website, and Professor Deth, who has done research on autistic c... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522225 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:26:28 +0100 1522225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1481820&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fpolitics-of-envy.html My father in law lives in London. He is into his eighties now but still fit and active. He has a bus pass which he uses frequently. Occasionally, when he wants to get somewhere specific in a hurry, he takes a taxi. He has just received a letter from the Mayor of London telling him that as he has paid to use a taxi, he can no longer use the buses.Too silly for words. Equally silly are the cases highlighted in this morning’s papers of NHS patients who, having decided to pay for some private drugs, are being thrown out of the NHS.Jack Hose, 71, from Bournemouth, whose entitlement to health service care was withdrawn by the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust because he chose to pay for a drug that is not normally funded by the state. Hose has been billed by the... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1481820 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 08:56:00 +0100 1481820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480639&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fpalliative-care-and-polyclinics.html Waiting at the polly clinicAn interesting post from the, as ever, excellent Michelle Tempest, psychiatrist and author of “The Future of the NHS”. She talks of the recent by-election, of the excision of "a necrosing, fungating, pungent mass" and of the fact that Gordon Brown is beyond cure and in need only of palliative care. In “No thank you, Mr Balls” we looked at the absurd top-down micro-management that makes GPs less available to patients, and that is tell us exactly how to spend each minute of each day.Meanwhile, the Polyclinics approach. Designed by a surgeon and a focus group, the Polyclinics are portrayed as offering all things to all people. A Polyclinic will be opening a couple of miles away from my practice. Unlike some of my colleagues I am not in the slightest worried.... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480639 Sat, 31 May 2008 13:57:00 +0100 1480639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451738&cid=t_111236_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflapsblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D6989 Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., looks out on a sea of supporters at a campaign rally on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008 The Obama Quote of the Day: “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,” Obama said. “That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen,” he added. Barack Obama sounds alot like Jerry Brown around 1976: “This is an era of limits, and we had all better get used to it.” But, instead of referring to government as Brown did Obama is referring to the aspirations of American lifestyle. So, Senator Obama, what exactly did you mean? Do... FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451738 Mon, 19 May 2008 04:05:19 +0100 1451738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451757&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fwhat-is-wrong-with-prime-minister.html Teenage train-spotterThere is much medical gossip at the moment as to the correct diagnosis of Gordon Brown's problem. Yes, it has got that bad. Some have suggested an autism spectrum disorder and much consideration has been given to the possibility of Asperger's Syndrome. Well, he would be in good company:Sir Keith Joseph, the father of Thatcherism whose free market principles are still followed to some extent by Tony Blair, had a form of autism that is reflected in his political philosophy, a psychiatrist believes. The former Conservative education secretary, who was Mrs Thatcher's mentor in the 1970s and 1980s, had Asperger's syndrome, a condition that renders sufferers unable to interpret social situations or to empathise with other people, according to Michael Fitzgerald, professor of... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451757 Sun, 18 May 2008 15:25:00 +0100 1451757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1409685&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Flies-damn-lies-and-gordon-brown.html I am still trying to recover from the Prime Minister’s brazen effrontery on this morning's Today programme.  I was listening to it whilst reading the Times. You may “listen again” here.   The juxtaposition of Prime Ministerial lies and the real news is breathtaking. Unusually, Gordon Brown did admit to something short of papal infabillity on the question of how the abolition of the 10p tax rate was handled but, for the rest, it was a Panglossian tissue of lies.Secret tax adds £200 to the cost of family carsThe Treasury admitted to The Times last night that it was quietly abolishing the exemption for older cars from the highest rates of vehicle excise duty. This means that owners of larger cars bought since March 2001 will find that their road tax will rise steeply from next Apri... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1409685 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:18:00 +0100 1409685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1375055&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fdumbing-down-out-of-hours-service.html New Labour out of hours HCPOver ten years ago I was heavily involved in setting up a GP co-operative to rationalise and manage the out of hours on call committment. We had active support from the government including access to and meetings with both Norman Lamont and Virginia Bottomley. The co-operatives were a cost efficient method of ensuring that patients received quality out of hours care form local experienced family doctors.We started our co-operative from nothing. I remember when I and one other colleague opened the first bank account with a float of a couple of thousand pounds raised by approaching other local GPs. We drew up a business plan and approached the bank manager for help. We needed to rent premises, buy or rent half a dozen cars, purchase expensive radio equipment and ab... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1375055 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:27:00 +0100 1375055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1356040&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fthree-year-pay-cut-for-nurses.html Silencing the nursesGordon Brown has put an 8% payrise on the table for the nurses. Brilliant. 8% sounds good doesn't it, particularly if you forget to divide it by three.The proposed deal would give over a million staff an increase of 2.75% from April, followed by further increases of 2.4% in 2009/10 and 2.25% in 2010/11.It is a con. In real terms, this is another big pay cut. Gordon Brown will quote figures to prove it is not, but the figures are from the land of Gordon Brown make believe. The REAL inflation rate is higher, well above 3% a year. Wat Tyler has a graph showing the real figures. Take a look here. There is another agenda. Gordon Brown wants to be re-elected in 2010. He does not want bad publicity from angry nurses during the election campaign. DON'T BE FOOLED. Do not accept ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356040 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:55:00 +0100 1356040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1352710&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fnhs-safe-is-in-gordon-browns-hands.html Half a pound of tuppenny rice,Half a pound of treacle.That’s the way the money goes,Pop goes the weasel.Up and down the City road,In and out the Eagle,That’s the way the money goes,Pop goes the weasel.Every night when I go outthe monkey’s on the table.Take a stick and knock it offPop goes the weasel.Within seconds of arriving in office, Gordon Brown and Ed Balls mounted a stealth raid on UK pension funds. The effects of that are still working their way through.  A little later Gordon went down to the bank vaults and sold off a huge tranche of British gold. The asset stripping is to continue.  Gordon Brown has realised that the NHS owns a lot of real estate, particularly in London.“Don’t worry” said a government spokesman “we will not lose our hospitals because once we have ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1352710 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:28:00 +0100 1352710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1351998&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fobesity-is-surgery-answer.html The dieter's trousersMany truly obese people are searching for a quick answer to their problems. Sadly, there isn't one. Ultimately, it is all down to calorific balance. Slimming is big business. Very big business. Put "diet" into Google and you get more hits than if you put in "bible". The drug industry has moved into slimming in a big way. In my view, the drugs they produce are rubbish; possibly dangerous rubbish. Bariatric surgery is always an option. Have a band put round your stomach so that it is physically impossible to eat big meals. For the right patient, it can be dramatically effective. But it has to be combined with life-style changes and, in particular, exercise. For the wrong patient it will not work. Banding will not stop the truly determined persevering with booze and li... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1351998 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 08:49:00 +0100 1351998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1351999&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fgordon-brown-and-anger-management.html Gordon Brown to target anger managementDr Crippen was perplexed when last week, for no apparent reason, the lack of facilities within the NHS for anger management received some unexpected publicity. One always fears another government initiative, another target.One in four says they worry about how angry they sometimes feel and 64% think people in general are getting angrier. But most people would not know where to seek help. Mental Health Foundation chief executive Dr Andrew McCulloch said: "In a society where people can get help for depression and anxiety, panic, phobia, eating disorders and a range of other psychological and emotional problems, it seems extraordinary that we are left to fend for ourselves when it comes to an emotion as powerful as anger. (BBC)The reason for the sudden i... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1351999 Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:25:00 +0100 1351999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1349480&cid=t_111236_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fgordon-brown-is-not-listening.html The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is an independent expert body that advises government on drug related issues in the UK. It was established under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and its current Chair is Professor Sir Michael Rawlins.Look at the list of members here. It is an impressive roll call of expertise. The council has deliberated and decided to advise against the reclassification cannabis. It seems that the Prime Minister is going to ignore that advice. He brings no personal specialist expertise to the subject and is acting only on the dictates of his dour, unimaginative personality.He has form on ignoring expert opinions.The debacle of MMC and MTAS last year left thousands of highly trained young doctors demoralised. Some are unemployed. Some are in the wrong jobs.... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1349480 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:04:00 +0100 1349480