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 'complex'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:57:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159008&cid=t_171355_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FA_Uef_POJIA%2F "VT or not VT? That is the question..." you muse. Then your patient Bill says "A shock, a shock, my kingdom for a shock"... (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159008 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:08 +0100 5159008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984560&cid=t_171355_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Flupus-drug-approved-cost%2F It was just recently announced that Benlysta, a lupus drug, was approved by the FDA, making it the first lupus drug approved by the group in 50 years. But out of this approval, we noted something shocking. A statement issued by the FDA. “In approving the drug, the agency said the findings suggested but didn’t definitively show that some patients had a reduced likelihood of severe flare-ups, a painful characteristic of the disease.” as per the Washington Post. (1)(2)(3) What this means is that this drug is not really effective.  Otherwise why would FDA say that it did not definitely show benefits? As a matter of fact the FDA held up the approval for some time because it wasn’t clear about the benefits of the drug. The next question is: if it is not clear about benefits, th... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984560 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:15:35 +0100 4984560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975942&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-june-28-2011%2F Sometimes when I’m in need of a little inspiration, I head out for a short walk. Today, as I meandered through the tree lined path of my apartment complex, I found it. I kept ending up in the direction of a beautiful fountain. The sound of the water as it sprung up in the air like fireworks and then gently falling as it lapped softly against the rocks was soothing. I thought about what the water represented, that regardless of whether it was thrust up in the air or moved gracefully to the bottom, it was the same unchanged substance. I realized that no matter what you did to it, the water was still water flowing in a fountain. The same could be said about you. You may have emotions that carry you from the highest mountain peaks to the valley lows, but you are at the core that unchange... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975942 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:11:39 +0100 4975942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775373&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIn343nt1Z4k%2F By George Scoville Habeas corpus applies to anyone, citizen or not, in custody under American law, no matter what President Bush and President Obama decree. House Republicans’ cuts to the Department of Education, which will spend over $70 billion next year, didn’t even amount to $1 billion. “Regardless of whether Pakistan gets its way, its impudence in pushing Afghanistan to abandon America exposes the real balance of power in the region.” “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to refer to a government whose intelligence service assists military efforts by al Qaeda and the Taliban against U.S. troops in Afghanistan as an ‘ally.’” Here are five ways to cut military spending today without changing our strategic focus: Monday Links is a post f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775373 Mon, 02 May 2011 14:29:08 +0100 4775373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723769&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008035.html In response to the BP Macondo Deepwater Horizon oil well blow-out and resulting 87 days of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico 2 consortiums of oil companies and formed 2 companies to develop devices that can be brought on after a blow-out to cap a run-away well within a couple of weeks of a blow-out. 10 major oil companies (e.g. Exxon and COP) that account for 70% of the oil pumped in the Gulf put up $1 billion to fund the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) to create what are called capping stacks. Some of these stacks are ready for deployment. A separate group of oil companies founded Helix Well Containment Group which has developed their own capping stacks.... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723769 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4723769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592336&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007969.html In Technology Review Kevin Bullis highlights nuclear reactor design improvements that would cut the risk of cooling system failures. The latest nuclear reactor designs could help avoid the overheating and explosions that have occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan following the powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck on Friday. Newer reactor designs propose the use of passive cooling systems that would not fail after a power outage, as happened in Japan, as well as other novel approaches to managing reactor heat. Passive systems are key in my view. Human operators make mistakes and active systems can get damaged when you most need them. According to a Bloomberg report the Japanese reactors had back-up generators designed to withstand... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592336 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4592336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460009&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34817&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshrinkwrapped.blogs.com%2Fblog%2F2011%2F02%2Fsimplifying-complexity.html Studying complex systems and the failure of complex systems is fascinating in and of itself, but it has become a more serious discipline in the last few years and understanding how complex systems fail is increasingly relevant to our understanding of our increasingly complex world.  Joseph Tainter takes the position that complex societies start to fail when the marginal returns on increased complexity in solving societal problems peaks and starts to diminish; it is all down hill from there.  More and more resources are devoted to shoring up a system that is becoming more and more inefficient in addressing the needs of the population.  Two stories today bring up the issue of complexity and how it impacts problem solving.  Dinocrat links to articles discussing (some i... ShrinkWrapped blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460009 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:05:54 +0100 4460009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436751&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-twist-on-food-allergies-in-kids%2F2011.02.04 The current New Yorker unfolds an engaging story on childhood food allergies. As related by Dr. Jerome Groopman, there’s a shift in how some doctors think about how these conditions  are best managed and, even better — might be prevented. The article feeds into recent discussion that medical science, and even dogma, too-often turns out to be incorrect. Groopman interviews Dr. Hugh Sampson, director of the Jae Food Allergy Institute at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York: …“This increase in the incidence of food allergy is real,” Sampson said when we spoke recently. He cannot say what is causing the increase, but he now thinks the conventional approach to preventing food allergies is misconceived. For most of his career, he believed, like most allergists, that children are... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436751 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:00:01 +0100 4436751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302906&cid=t_171355_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1695 Axe Body Spray, is the best-selling deodorant spray on the market and the bane of households—nationwide.  Axe has an overpowering  smell – but that doesn’t mean that is smells good to women.  Women simply have a much better smelling apparatus than guys do.    Men have biology working against them as their noses that are 200 to 1,000 times less sensitive than a woman’s, plus oily skin holds scents much longer than dry skin. Androstenol (testosterone steroid) is the scent produced by fresh male sweat, and is attractive to females. Androstenone  (oxidized testosterone steroid) is produced by male sweat after exposure to oxygen and it is perceived as highly unpleasant by females.  So, men who believe that their ‘macho’, sweaty body-odor is attractive to women ar... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302906 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 19:09:04 +0100 4302906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294591&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007779.html This report tells the story from the perspectives of many participants. Worth reading. The result, the interviews and records show, was paralysis. For nine long minutes, as the drilling crew battled the blowout and gas alarms eventually sounded on the bridge, no warning was given to the rest of the crew. For many, the first hint of crisis came in the form of a blast wave. The paralysis had two main sources, the examination by The Times shows. The first was a failure to train for the... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294591 Sun, 26 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4294591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277816&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FEFJAtFg6yIg%2F By Christopher PrebleSpurred on by a new release of documents from the archives, the past few weeks have witnessed a renewed interest in the military-industrial complex (MIC), the term forever associated with Dwight David Eisenhower. Or, at least, that should be the case. Eisenhower – the West Point graduate, career military officer, and hero of World War II – was one of the first to ever use the phrase, in a televised Farewell Address to the nation on January 17, 1961. Over the years, however, the MIC has become a mantra for progressives and left liberals, usually used in tandem with an assault on private enterprise, writ large, or as part of an elaborate conspiracy theory that equates crony capitalism with market economics. The left’s capture of the term has ena... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277816 Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:44:08 +0100 4277816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133718&cid=t_171355_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2Ft1MpNMhgMOg%2F A 61 year old male walks up to the triage desk complaining of a funny feeling in his chest. He has had similar milder episodes in the past and has been investigated by his GP with no firm diagnosis being reached. He’s moved to Resus as he’s a bit pale and sweaty. His ECG is [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133718 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:26:27 +0100 4133718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031243&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmarketing-direct-to-e-patient%2F2010.10.04 Patients are the new darling of the medical-industrial complex. If you look around you will see patients advocating for one another. If you click a little closer you’ll find some with relationships to industry. It makes perfect sense that the manufacturer of a drug or medical device would want the blessings of our nascent cybercelebs. Some want genuine patient input.  Some, however, want to curry their favor. Chock up influence of the patient population as evidence of social health’s evolving maturity. A couple of questions: Will industry be required to publicly list monies used for sponsorship, travel and swag support of high profile patients in the social sphere? Should high visibility patients who serve as stewards and advocates disavow themselves of contact with pharma just as... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031243 Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:00:52 +0100 4031243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3972919&cid=t_171355_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FkSpobmoG0G8%2F A previously healthy 15-year old boy presents to ED with sudden onset of palpitations while playing sport. On arrival to ED he is alert and pain free with a good blood pressure. Can you interpret his ECG and prevent him from coming to grief? (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3972919 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:47 +0100 3972919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961845&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F12%2Fprozac-and-potatoes%2F In her national bestseller “Potatoes Not Prozac,” Kathleen DesMaisons offers a seven-step dietary plan for sugar-sensitive people like me. I’ve tried to implement her suggestions into my diet because, as a recovering drunk and depressive, sugar can throw me into an emotional mess that gets downright ugly. A diet rich in fiber and protein is crucial to my mental health — but for me, it’s Prozac AND potatoes. Here’s what DesMaisons proposes: Keep a food journal. The journal keeps you in relationship to your body. It reminds you of the connection between what you eat and how you feel. Maintain your blood sugar level. Stay steady and clear. Always have breakfast. Eat three meals a day at regular intervals. Eat brown things (whole grains, beans, potatoes, a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961845 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:32:51 +0100 3961845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3805993&cid=t_171355_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fweekly-report.html We spent the day today alone as a family.  My glasses came in yesterday, so I am able to drive, and I was just about giddy with the freedom of that when we drove out of the driveway this morning!  Amelia has had some difficulty with seizures in the last few days, so we headed to the pool.Music and water...the only two things that pull her out of the deep, long partial seizures.  A day in June was happily spent with my good friend Natasha, who gave us an impromptu private session of her wonderful music and motion class.  Her kids tagged along, and Amy had fun initiating a game of "chase" with Max during the banner-waving segment.  Today, we headed to the pool instead.God went before us, as usual, and we arrived to discover that it was a party day at the pool, comple... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3805993 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:55:00 +0100 3805993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3784471&cid=t_171355_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fwill-it-ever-stop.html The first hint of disaster came when the roof started leaking yesterday morning.  Again.  Last time, it was during a monsoon.  This time, just a regular old day of steady rain.  And this time it leaked all the way from the kitchen cupboards on the east wall all the way into the dining room.  The entire roofline.  My dad came over and helped me tarp it (scaling the roof is not a smart plan if you have double vision and may faint).  Didn't stop the leak.  The rest of the day was filled with the whir of the clothes washer as we went through scads of towels, and the hum of various fans and dehumidifiers as we attempt to dry out what is supposed to be DRYwall, along with whatever else got soaked in the process, like insulation and other expensive building... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3784471 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:57:00 +0100 3784471 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644565&cid=t_171355_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fsleep-helps-legendary-guitar-heros.html (Source: Sleep Education) Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644565 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:12:00 +0100 3644565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460136&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F174190%2F Complex Back Surgery: For Health or Money? The number of complex back surgeries on older adults has sharply increased in recent years, increasing Medicare costs for patients, but not necessarily improving back health. (via New York Times) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460136 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:00:17 +0100 3460136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971926&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F08%2Fnot-so-brady-4-rules-for-staying-together-when-you-remarry-with-kids%2F There’s a story … of a lovely lady … who meets her prince charming and the two of them with their six combined children live happily ever after. NOT! Having been Cindy Brady myself — if you changed my stepsister into a boy and fused my twin sister and I into one girl, then you have it: the perfect Brady family — I know that there are bigger problems in the house than Jan’s inferiority complex to Marsha, Peter’s near death experience with a tarantula in Hawaii, and Greg getting a tad chilled in the meat freezer at Sam’s Butcher Shop when he gets locked in there. (Yes, I watched a lot of TV as a kid.) The real issues? Peter hates Carol. He totally resents her because ever since she and her big hair came to stay, his dad isn’t around to ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971926 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:45:14 +0100 2971926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2954497&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpH5Xnpti8uA%2F National Public Radio’s All Things Considered ran a series on “The End of Privacy” all last week that’s worth a listen. They’re primarily concerned with the ways private companies have access to vast quantities of information about individuals in the digital age—something that civil libertarians have traditionally been less concerned about than government access, for many perfectly valid reasons.  But it’s worth noting how porous that distinction can be.  A 2006 survey by the Government Accountability Office found that just four government agencies—the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, State Department, and Social Security Administration—spent at least $30 million annually on contracts with information resellers like Choicepoin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2954497 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:24:52 +0100 2954497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862083&cid=t_171355_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F10%2Fretroviral-restriction-factors.html Over the course of the retrovirus replication cycle, viral cDNA is inserted into host chromosomal DNA to establish the provirus. This process results in a permanent insertion mutation in the host cell genome. Host cells have evolved intracellular factors that block the spread of retroviral infection. Some of these antiviral factors act prior to integration and therefore also block the mutagenic potential of infection. Several such factors have been identified, including Fv1, the APOBEC3 complex, and TRIM5. These host factors potently block HIV-1 and other retroviruses from establishment of the provirus. Here we will review current understanding of Fv1, APOBEC3, and TRIM5 proteins, with particular emphasis on TRIM5.Further reading: Retroviruses: Molecular Biology, Genomics and PathogenesisF... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862083 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:17:00 +0100 2862083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857450&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F03%2Fis-psychology-rotten-to-the-core%2F It’s not everyday you wake up and find your profession in midst of a holy war. Yet that seems to be what’s happening in the profession of clinical psychology. A new journal article to be published next month by Timothy B. Baker, Richard M. McFall, and Varda Shoham (2009) suggests that psychology is falling apart. Specifically, the researchers argue that graduate training programs for psychologists studying to become psychotherapists has taken a wrong turn and needs to be turned around before it’s too late. So what steps could be taken to fix the apparent problem? Funny you should ask, because not only do the authors have a prescription, they actually started implementing their prescription more than a year ago. Is Psychology Like Medicine? Baker et al.’s argument ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857450 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:27:58 +0100 2857450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634329&cid=t_171355_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F23%2Fnursing-times-2009-vol-105-no-28%2F Fade Fave: On why our children deserve a better deal on school nurses Fade Skinny: The Health Lives, Brighter Futures guidance proposes that each child with a complex condition should have a care plan. In schools, it is the responsibilty of the school nurse to ensure those looking after the child have a full understanding of the health issues and are trained to deal with them. School nurses are capable of training staff on medicine administration and the issues of the individual condition however they are stretched by having to deal with up to 20 schools.  The article recommends the increase in the number of school nurses who would work with Health Schools coordinators  to develop individual school health policies and provide ongoing support to teaching and support staff. A print copy of... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634329 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:43:52 +0100 2634329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2323428&cid=t_171355_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FsUBmhdE1fiY%2F When I tell people I used to research about the genetics of myopia (or nearsightedness),  one of the questions they ask is whether they’ll pass it to their children. And I tell them there are other factors, “interactions” we call them, between our genes and our environment that determine if certain genes will express and/or be passed to our children. Genes and Environment play roles in diseases. Image: Newscom For example, mutations in the brca1 gene are highly associated with very high risks of breast cancer. A brca1 (breast cancer 1; on chromosome 7) is one of the genes in the body that suppresses tumors, by repairing damaged DNA. A mutation or defect in the gene produces a protein that can not repair DNA in other genes. A person with brca1 mutations has up to 80% risk... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2323428 Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:00:17 +0100 2323428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267326&cid=t_171355_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fx5W3Q9jy1k8%2F Increased longevity has generated many questions and much interest in healthy aging and retirement lifestyles over the recent decades. As Americans become educated regarding lifestyle choices that contribute to both physical and mental health, the definition of healthy aging has expanded to include brain health. The notion of retirement as a time of withdrawal from society, to be spent on rest and repose reflected the thinking of a previous era when people expected shorter life spans. It is now known that the human brain benefits from environments rich in novel and complex stimuli, and that by actively participating in society and taking on personally relevant roles, people find meaning and purpose, which gives them a reason to get up in the morning and pursue new challenges. This year, th... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267326 Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:15:50 +0100 2267326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2235674&cid=t_171355_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F03%2F05%2Fyoutube-mirror-box-videos%2F I was just looking for a quick video on using mirror box for CRPS (Complex regional pain syndrome) - well I couldn’t find any on YouTube, but I did find a good few on use for stroke. Take a look at these and let me know what you think!  BTW If you’ve made a video on mirror box therapy in CRPS, or phantom, let me know and I’ll link to it. BTW you don’t always need the box - you can simply use a mirror… Enjoy! (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2235674 Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:55:01 +0100 2235674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2216533&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F25%2Fgreen-foods-for-your-mental-health%2F Midweek Mental Greening In these times of uber eco-consciousness, lots of people are more willing than ever to grab a tree and give it a squeeze. Many of us have accepted that bottled water is rarely the best option, public transportation beats a gas-guzzling SUV, and recycling is just plain responsible. Of course, not everyone’s on board with practicing environmentally friendly manners, and you can find some of the most biting controversy when you eavesdrop on a brawl conversation between a vegetarian and a meat eater. That’s right — these two groups argue about more than just animal rights and health concerns. On one hand, some people believe a vegetarian diet is actually “greener” for the planet (and yes, this is where global warming makes its re-entrance). E Magazine offe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2216533 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:30:44 +0100 2216533 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2097854&cid=t_171355_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Facademic-industrial-complex.html THE ACADEMIC-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEXAs we approach a new presidential inauguration, a look back to 1961 is instructive for those concerned with the interface between academic medicine and industry. Here are the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as he left the office of the presidency. He warned of the military-industrial complex:In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.Eisenhower’s basic insight was that national security is paradoxically threatened by an unchecked military-industrial complex be... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2097854 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:27:00 +0100 2097854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021541&cid=t_171355_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FuckVP16APj8%2F A new genetic syndrome was discovered in a group of families in Quebec with a common ancestor. The syndrome was named MEDNIK to describe the resulting phenotypes - mental retardation, enteropathy, deafness, peripheral neuropathy, ichthyosis, and keratodermia. The scientists found a new splice mutation in the AP1S1 gene, which encodes a subunit of a complex (AP) responsible for selecting which proteins move within the cell. A zebrafish knockdown model was used to study the loss of the gene’s function further. Injecting the affected larvae with a human normal AP1S1 mRNA restored some phenotypes. The study is published in PLOS Genetics. Tags: AP complex, Mednik, mutation, novel mutation, protein, quebecShare This (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021541 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:59:52 +0100 2021541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1951970&cid=t_171355_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FiBEQ6gEpCqQ%2F I chanced upon this article - Genetic testing under the microscope - in the Los Angeles Times of an interview with the President of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Angela Trepanier, and she presents an interesting perspective on the future of personalized medicine. In the near future, Trepanier says that genetic testing will become a routine part of healthcare. Right now, access to one’s genetic information can be had for at least $400, and one is able to find out which diseases and conditions your genetic makeup may be association with. But the company doesn’t offer any medical opinion or diagnosis, obviously. Trepanier asks rhetorically, "If your only source of information is the company selling the test, is that really the most credible source of informatio... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1951970 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:03:48 +0100 1951970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1939181&cid=t_171355_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwnOW4GD6YfQ%2F Early-onset type 1 diabetes may have less to do with certain genes causing inborn genetic errors, and more to do with normal genes behaving differently for those with the disease. To find out how certain twins get diabetes while the other does not, Stanford University scientists studied two types of mice models: Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with the gene variants that closely resembles a predisposing gene complex in humans (MHC), and another group of non-diabetic mice without the predisposing genes. The group found that clusters of genes were consistently expressed in the NOD mice in specific tissues at certain times. What is even more interesting is the gene expression "signatures" occurred before certain signs of diabetes were noticed, such as hyperglycemia. So if these pre-... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1939181 Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:00:35 +0100 1939181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1928160&cid=t_171355_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F03%2Fwelcome-to-monday%2F It’s not yet Monday here, it’s Sunday evening and I’m putting a quick post up now because Very Early In the Morning I’m going off to see the sunrise! Mad I know, but this is what happens in our household - the camera will be packed and I can almost taste the bacon and eggs on the beach now! So…I scoped out some things on Slideshare, and came up with this presentation on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It’s not overly technical, but summarises some of the newer material available on this very challenging pain problem. Assessment Of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Dr Candy Mccabe View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: assessment nbpa) Enjoy - and have a wonderful day!        (Source: HealthSkills Weblog) HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1928160 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:39:26 +0100 1928160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1920902&cid=t_171355_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F30%2Fthe-meaning-of-integrated-care-a-systems-approach%2F Conclusion: When we perceive health and social services as CASs we should gain more insight into the processes that go on within and between organizations and how top management, for example within a hospital, in fact executes its steering function. Posted in Access from Home, Access from Work, Complexity Science, E-Journals, Electronic Resources, Integrated Care   Tagged: Complex Adaptive Systems, Complex Tasks, Complexity Science, Integrated Care, Self-organization, Successive Adaptation    (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1920902 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:46:16 +0100 1920902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1845867&cid=t_171355_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F02%2Fcase-formulation-a-simplified-example-continues%2F My final post on case formulation illustrates the slightly simplified case study that I presented here. I will be simplifying his presentation again today, to make sure this post isn’t too enormous! Firstly, we identify the relatively stable phenomena: Pain-related anxiety and avoidance Work disability Depression Pain behaviours Selected biophysical contributing factors: Initial scaphoid fracture Complex regional pain syndrome type i Reduced range of movement and strength Central sensitisation Selected psychological contributing factors: Unhelpful beliefs about pain and activity Negative reinforcement from avoiding movements anticipated to be painful Catastrophising Nonadherence to treatment recommendations Anxiety/stress about financial situation and employment Selected socia... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1845867 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:02:18 +0100 1845867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841978&cid=t_171355_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F01%2Fcase-formulation-a-simplified-example%2F Over the past few days I’ve been posting about case formulation. While I’ve presented the abductive theory of method (ATOM) which is a process of inferring from phenomena to underlying causal mechanisms, it’s not the only way to develop a formulation.  I posted on some of the other ways formulations can be developed, and today I’m going to describe a simplified formulation to show how it can work in practice. Don’t forget that when I write about patients I make sure details that can identify the individual are changed - or I describe a composite of several patients. Robert is a 39 year old previously self-employed electrician who sustained a fracture of a his nondominant hand when he fell from a ladder two years ago.  This fracture developed into a complex r... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841978 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:43:29 +0100 1841978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746384&cid=t_171355_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Freal-gents.html Please scroll down for photo hunters /scavengersIronically, the health food campaign comes a cropper. Suddenly I am a jailor on death row with my life set to 24 hour egg watcher, anything to stop him from grabbing the salt cellar and emptying it down his gullet. Maybe it’s the shapeliness, or the pastel colours, but something has revived his need for sodium chloride. Inevitably my back is turned on one or other whilst I use my best extraction services. I spend an inordinate amount of time chasing him all over the house. As he runs he chants his new mantra, ‘you’ve got mail, you’ve got mail, you’ve got mail,’ with more animation and expression than I could ever have imagined. When I pin him down to pry open his grinning jaws and sniff for evidence, he responds with his alternati... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746384 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:31:00 +0100 1746384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1501498&cid=t_171355_132_f&fid=35624&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsuicyte.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F07%2Fturning-part-of-the-proteasome-on-its-head%2F I am a bit short on time, but I have seen that the Glickman paper on the proteasome base structure has finally appeared in print - this event should not go unnoticed. Before I begin to discuss the paper, I must admit that I haven’t really read it - I have heard Michael talk about this model at least three times, and had lengthy discussions with him and others during the Lake Garda meeting.  The new model, now published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, departs from the old dogma how subunits of the 19S proteasome regulator complex are arranged. Not surprisingly, reactions from the proteasome field are mixed. It is no coincidence that it took more than a year to get this story published. Before describing the new model, let me briefly recount the conventional wisdom on prot... Suicyte Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1501498 Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:13:19 +0100 1501498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439524&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F13%2Fadhd-and-consumer-reports%2F Attention deficit disorder is a classic example of the medicalization of mental disorders, where virtually everyone “believes” it is some sort of biochemical or brain disorder and so medications are the appropriate (and wildly popular) treatment choice. Medications are the right and appropriate treatment choice for ADHD; not because it is a medical disease, but because the research base is pretty strong in showing that they are effective. But if you can’t trust Consumer Reports to report accurately on this disorder (and other mental disorders), I’m not sure who you can trust anymore. A colleague recently referred me to the “Best Buy Drugs” section of Consumer Reports health website. So I took a look around and started at the beginning of the alphabet. S... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439524 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:15:38 +0100 1439524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221430&cid=t_171355_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F232842040%2F Conclusions The main findings were four: 1. In general, children’s thinking—from grade 1 to grade 5—was very complex and economical. Children very rarely asked a useless question and very rarely made a false inference. 2. Children worked together with enthusiasm and respect. They questioned each other’s thinking in ways that were considerate, and they supported each other’s learning by explaining how they arrived at their conclusions. This behavior would be a surprise to many teachers. How to explain what happened? Children were trusted to tackle very complex tasks rather than being spoon fed with the accompanying hidden message, “You are capable only of following the teacher’s instructions.” 3. Virtually all children were successfully engaged and it was often the case that... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221430 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 23:53:53 +0100 1221430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1082922&cid=t_171355_122_f&fid=35065&url=http%3A%2F%2Feideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F12%2Fwalking-and-chewing-gum-at-same-time.html Here's an interesting proposal from Just and Varma that tries to integrate what we know from fMRI studies about multitasking and complex problem solving. It discusses the interesting observation that at least in some cases, less brain work is used for solving two tasks at once, then the two tasks separately (underadditivity). They propose the following: 1. Each cortical area can perform multiple cognitive functions, and conversely, many cognitive functions can be performed by more than one area.2. Each cortical area has a limited capacity of computational resources, constraining its activity.3. The topology of a large-scale cortical network changes dynamically during cognition, adapting itself to the resource limitations of different corticalareas and to the functional demands of the task ... Eide Neurolearning Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1082922 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 08:01:00 +0100 1082922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=985816&cid=t_171355_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F10%2F28%2Fmore-sick-children-are-dying-at-home-at-that-is-a-good-thing.html by Pat SalberIt is always unbearably sad to learn about a child's death.  But for families with children living with complex chronic conditions, such as progressive neuromuscular diseases or cancer, it is something they must be prepared to deal with.   The miracles of modern medicine simply cannot cure every serious childhood illness.  Given that, what do we know about where these children die?  A recent study, led by Chris Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH and colleagues, published in JAMA (June 27, 2007) documented that increasingly these children are dying at home instead of in the hospital - and I believe that is a good thing, allowing both the child and loved ones the comfort and privacy we all want to have at the end of life.  Advances in techno... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=985816 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:56:32 +0100 985816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=909420&cid=t_171355_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Ftypical-kids.html I love them. They are so easy. You can upgrade yourself from the wicked witch of the west to superhero, with just a few words.I make a blunder. One of many. I promise the typical kids a play date without consulting the calendar in advance. I am distracted because I have an IEP coming up. Because I have a very important IEP coming up, everything else pales into insignificance. A promise to a child is never insignificant. Play date and IEP clash. I also reach the conclusion that I have mis-read Jane’s mother’s intent. I am emboldened. I shall be an American, a straight talking, take charge, kind of a guy.I remind myself that I am the worst judge of character in existence. I remind myself that I have a small circle of friends who know me well. I also have acres of acquaintances who accep... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=909420 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:34:00 +0100 909420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=868332&cid=t_171355_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F155920670%2Fbreaking_codes_to_explain_deci.html One worker joins Rotary as a way to give back to the community … but struggles to limit his drinks at company functions. Another worker’s caught stealing from the company coffers … but heads up a college fund for disadvantaged employees. A third worker loses his job because he lashes out at others.How do you make daily decisions and why do some people where you work, act against their own best interests?  Thanks to a recent study, reported today, we now have a vital clue to help decode the complex communication signals between your brain cells. What does it mean to you? Interestingly, researchers have begun to listen in on specific cell talk that enables the complex systems of the brain’s decision making operations. Check out the... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=868332 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:47:57 +0100 868332