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 'experimental'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:02:09 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140181&cid=t_116622_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F18%2Fu-k-researchers-launch-clinical-trial-of-mercaptopurine-6-mp-in-women-with-hereditary-breast-and-ovarian-cancer%2F A Cancer Research UK-funded clinical trial of a new drug for patients with advanced breast or ovarian cancer due to inherited BRCA gene mutations has been launched at the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre at the University of Oxford. A Cancer Research UK-funded trial of a new drug for patients with advanced breast or ovarian cancer [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140181 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:07:56 +0100 5140181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107602&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F07%2Fthe-sound-of-taste%2F It may come as a surprise to some that sight, touch, and smell have a big impact on how we taste — pleasure derived from food. It may come as an even bigger surprise that sound also affects how we taste. The pleasure we get from that crisp sound has been demonstrated when eating food including fruits, vegetables, and crackers. Generally, the crispier a food sounds the more we like it. How does sound affect the joy you receive from eating? As you eat, different foods make different sounds.  These sounds reach your inner ears through two routes.  First, there is the common way, via air disturbances that travel from your mouth out into the surrounding air and then around to your ears.  Second, there is bone conduction: mechanical vibrations conducted through your teeth, jaw, mandibl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107602 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:58:39 +0100 5107602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096204&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-perspective-of-the-clinical-trial-that-you-need-to-know%2F2011.08.04 There are big companies like Quintiles that run clinical trials around the world. There are local clinics that specialize in clinical trials and make a lot of money at it. There are, of course, pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers who depend upon the results to gain marketing approval for new products. People in all those groups know a lot about trials. But the perspective that counts is the view from you and me – patients. Most of us do not enroll in clinical trials. We don’t want to get too up close and personal with anything “experimental.” And often our doctors never tell us about available trials anyway since it can be a lot of paperwork for them. Given that most people don’t enroll in trials and new science is delayed because of it and also because most people ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096204 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:00:38 +0100 5096204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050720&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2Fthe-importance-of-correlational-studies%2F Correlation does not necessarily imply causation, as you know if you read scientific research.  Two variables may be associated without having a causal relationship. However, just because a correlation has limited value as a causative inference doesn’t mean that correlation studies are not important to science.  The idea that correlation does not necessarily imply causation has led many to de-value correlation studies.  However, used appropriately, correlation studies are important to science. Why are correlation studies important? Stanovich (2007) points out the following: “First, many scientific hypotheses are stated in terms of correlation or lack of correlation, so that such studies are directly relevant to these hypotheses…” “Second, although correlation ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050720 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:48:15 +0100 5050720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028454&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F13%2Fapproaches-to-knowledge-2-interview-with-nathaniel-b-jones%2F This is the second article of a two-part interview with Dr. Brian Jones.  Dr. Jones has a PhD in exercise science and is a full-time professor at the University of Louisville where he teaches both undergrad and graduate courses.  He approaches his classes from a scientific standpoint with an emphasis on critical thinking. In a nutshell, what is science?  Does science really prove anything? Science is a process. It is a system for evaluating information based on formulating a hypothesis, carefully testing that hypothesis through data collection and analysis, and revising the hypothesis. If the hypothesis withstands the researcher’s attempt to falsify it then it tentatively stands supported by the research. Nothing in science is ever truly “proven” correct. Scientific fa... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028454 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:25:51 +0100 5028454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734205&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F21%2Fa-snippet-of-psychologys-scientific-roots%2F Throughout the years, sometimes it seems that the public has been iffy about psychology and psychologists. Part of the problem is a lack of knowledge. Past surveys have shown that many people have no idea what psychologists even do. More recent research has found that the public largely views psychology in a positive light. But people still have a limited understanding of the discipline and don’t view it as a hard science. A 1998 survey revealed that both adults and college faculty viewed the physical sciences more favorably. They believed that psychology — along with sociology — led to fewer critical contributions to society and had less expertise than the physical sciences. How did psychology get this bad reputation? PsyBlog’s Jeremy Dean (which, by the way, is an aweso... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734205 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:01:13 +0100 4734205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615186&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F21%2Funderstanding-research-methodology%2F In order to fully appreciate and apply the knowledge that has been acquired through the scientific process, it is imperative to have a basic understanding of scientific research methodology. Methodology: scientific techniques used to collect and evaluate data. This is the first in a series of articles that will shed light on scientific research methods.  It is important to understand that all research methods play an important role in leading us to tentative conclusions concerning how things work in the observable universe.  But, it also important to realize different types of research should be interpreted and applied in a different manner. As an example, the primary goal of correlation research is prediction, while the primary goal of experimental research is explanation/understanding.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615186 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:43:47 +0100 4615186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489674&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhelp-fight-the-nih-budget-cuts%2F2011.02.17 Many of my regular readers may know that biomedical research in the United States is largely funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Please see this message from Dr. William Talman, president of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), about proposed spending cuts to the NIH budget. Grant funding from the NIH is already hard to come by, and the proposed budget cuts will make it even harder. Whether you are a scientist, a student, or a member of the public interested in the future of science and medicine, I join with Dr. Talman in asking you to call your congressional representatives and ask them to oppose HR1. Also, if you have a blog I’d ask you to repost Dr. Talman’s call to action so that your readers can join in. Dear Colleague, For months t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489674 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:00:50 +0100 4489674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464497&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftickle-liposuction%2F2011.02.11 Liposuction (aka “lipo”) is plastic surgery’s “gimmick procedure” having had more angles applied to it than a child’s toy. But there’s money to be made in fat reduction, so the gimmicks will just keep coming. Enter “tickle” lipo, a new technology superimposed on the liposuction game. In this newer version of the basic liposuction technique, the cannula — the instrument used to remove the fat — vibrates like a whip inside your fatty layers. This supposedly helps remove the fat more evenly and with less pain. Tickle lipo looks like a hybrid between two other forms of lipo already on the market: Power-assisted liposuction (PALS) in which a motorized cannula breaks up the fat, and ultrasonic liposuction in which sound waves do it. Will tickle l... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464497 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:00:59 +0100 4464497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304917&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F03%2Ftestimonials-arent-real-evidence%2F Testimonial evidence exists for pretty much any claim that has ever been devised — alien abductions, demon possessions, miracle medical cures and the like. One needs to look no further than the dietary supplement industry to see the influence of testimonials.  In fact, testimonials are probably the key marketing tool for the supplement industry.  Medicine, psychology, and the beauty industry, to name a few, often refer to testimonials in an effort to show the efficacy of their products or treatments.  It is not uncommon for people to make decisions based on testimonials that conflict with scientific evidence — giving more weight to the testimonial. This is a mistake because testimonials are not real evidence. Placebo Effect “Placebo” is derived from a Latin word... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304917 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:59:30 +0100 4304917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4298670&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F29%2Fcalories-in-disguise%2F Low-carb proponents claim that eating a low-carb diet enhances weight loss irrespective of caloric content.  Low-fat proponents often make the same claim.  Many other advocates of special diets make similar claims: It’s not calories, it’s something else causing weight loss. In support of their diet’s efficacy, proponents often cite their own successes or the success of other followers. However, they often fail to acknowledge that many other people lose weight following radically different weight-loss plans.  And never mind the scientific research, as it provides evidence that all successful weight loss programs share a common characteristic: create a calorie deficit on a consistent basis and weight loss follows. Calorie Defined A calorie is a unit of energy. It is the amount ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4298670 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:20:17 +0100 4298670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4253200&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F12%2Fdo-your-panic-attacks-ever-grow-rosy-in-retrospect%2F Photo Credit: gavinmusic The other night, I found myself obsessively listening to a unique crowd-sourced brand of music at OneHelloWorld. OHW is — well, think Postsecret, but for your ears. The site’s creator (who doesn’t identify himself by name) asks the world to call his phone and leave a three-minute narrative voicemail. Then, he creates a musical composition for the background that’s inspired by the content of your message. (“Call it a soundtrack for your thoughts,” the site describes it.) The result? An intriguing amalgam of personal stories and instrumental melodies. The completed tracks are moving. Some are inspirational; some are depressing. Always one to take part in the novelty of experimental projects on the internet, I called OHW’s ph... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4253200 Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:06:16 +0100 4253200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186940&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F20%2Fvideo-dan-dennett-%25e2%2580%259cfree-will-responsibility-and-the-brain%25e2%2580%259d-the-project-on-law-and-mind-sciences%2F For a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Dan Dennett at Harvard Law on ‘Free Will, Responsibility, and the Brain’,” “Interview with Professor Joshua Greene,” “Daniel Dennett on the Situation of our Brain,” “Dan Dennett on our Interior Situation,” “Bargh and Baumeister and the Free Will Debate,” “Bargh and Baumeister and the Free Will Debate – Part II,” “The Death of Free Will and the Rise of Cheating,” “Clarence Darrow on the Situation of Crime and Criminals,” “Person X Situation X System Dynamics,” “Situation” Trumps “Disposition” – Part I & Part II,” “The (Unconscious) Situation of our Consciousness – Part I, Part II, Part III, & Part IV” and “Coalition of the Will-less.” (Source: The ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186940 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:01:59 +0100 4186940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4001714&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvideos.videopress.com%2FaaN5YT8i%2Fjoshua-greene-plms-interview-on-moral-judgment-and-normative-questions_dvd.mp4 From The Project on Law & Mind Sciences at Harvard Law School (PLMS): Here is an outstanding interview of Joshua Greene by Harvard Law Student Jeff Pote. The interview, titled “On Moral Judgment and Normative Questions” lasts just over 58 minutes. It was conducted as part of the Law and Mind Science Seminar at Harvard. Bio: Joshua D. Greene is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. He received his A.B. at Harvard University in 1997 where he was advised by Derek Parfit. He received his PhD in Philosophy at Princeton University in 2002 having written a dissertation on the foundation of ethics advised by David Lewis and Gilbert Harman. From 2002 to 2006, when he began at Harvard, he studied as a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton in the Neuroscience of Cogn... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4001714 Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:01:50 +0100 4001714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3891722&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F23%2Fvirtue-ethics-and-the-situationist-challenge%2F We commonly describe people’s behavior in terms of character traits such as honest, courageous, generous, and the like.  Furthermore, we praise and reward those who display virtuous character traits and we look down upon those who exemplify vices such as dishonesty, cowardice, and stinginess.   That virtue ethics captures this aspect of our everyday moral practices—i.e., our tendency to describe human behavior in terms of dispositional traits that give rise to virtues and vices—is purportedly one of its chief selling points.  On Aristotle’s intuitively plausible view, for instance, being properly habituated, morally speaking, makes it more likely that one will engage in the right behavior, under the right circumstances, and for the right reasons.  Moreover, not only does havin... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3891722 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:01:12 +0100 3891722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858220&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F12%2Fthomas-nadelhoffer-on-neuroscience-philosophy-and-law%2F From The Project on Law & Mind Sciences at Harvard Law School (PLMS): Below is a fascinating and enlightening 51-minute interview of Thomas Nadelhoffer by Harvard Law Student Brian Wood.  The interview, titled “Developments in Neuroscience and their Implications for Criminal Law,” lasts just over 51 minutes.  It was conducted the Law and Mind Science Seminar at Harvard (taught by Situationist Editor Jon Hanson). Bio: Situationist Contributor Dr. Thomas Nadelhoffer was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He has earned degrees in philosophy from The University of Georgia (BA), Georgia State University (MA), and Florida State University (PhD). Since 2006, he has been an assistant professor of philosopy and a member of the law and policy faculty at Dickinson College in Carl... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858220 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:01:05 +0100 3858220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742286&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F10%2Fwhy-we-like-to-keep-busy%2F Do people like to keep busy for no reason? Or is being idle okay with most of us? Psychological researchers (Ysee et al., 2010) set to find out. In two experiments with college students, researchers discovered that we can be happy doing nothing at all and remaining idle. But given even the slimmest of reasons to be busy doing something, and most people will opt for doing something over nothing. The researchers also found that people were happier when they were busy, even if they were forced into busyness. How can people be happy being busy, if that busyness serves no purpose? In the first experiment, researchers had 98 students fill out surveys individually, and then gave them a choice before filling out a second survey 15 minutes after completing the first — they could drop off the... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742286 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:30:19 +0100 3742286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3501683&cid=t_116622_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F04%2F23%2Fparp-inhibitor-olaparib-benefits-women-with-inherited-ovarian-cancer-based-upon-platinum-drug-sensitivity%2F Olaparib (AZD2281), a new type of cancer drug known as a “PARP inhibitor,” produced promising results in patients with platinum-refractory, platinum-resistant, and platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer linked to an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation. A new type of cancer drug — known as a “PARP inhibitor” — produced promising results in patients with ovarian cancer linked [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3501683 Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:38:57 +0100 3501683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3424923&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F03%2F31%2Fjoshua-greene-to-speak-at-harvard-law-school%2F On Thursday, April 1st, the HLS Student Association for Law and Mind Sciences (SALMS) and the Harvard Graduate Mind, Brain, and Behavior (MBB) Steering Committee are hosting a talk by Joshua Greene called “Moral Cognition and the Law.” Joshua Greene is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at Harvard University. He studies emotion and reason in moral judgment using behavioral experiments, functional neuroimaging (fMRI), and other neuroscientific methods.  The goal of his research is to understand how moral judgments are shaped by automatic processes, such as emotional gut reactions, and controlled cognitive processes, such as reasoning and self-control. The event will take place in Pound 101 at Harvard Law School, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Free Burritos! For ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3424923 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:01:25 +0100 3424923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3411133&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F03%2F26%2Fwelcoming-dr-daniel-tomasulo-to-ask-the-therapist%2F I’m please to introduce our first male therapist — Dr. Daniel J. Tomasulo — to join our Ask the Therapist team, a feature we’ve been running for the past 5 years here on Psych Central. Daniel J. Tomasulo, Ph.D., TEP, MFA is a psychologist, psychodrama trainer and writer on faculty at New Jersey City University and formerly a visiting faculty member on fellowship at Princeton University. He has been in private practice for more than 25 years and works with individuals, couples, and groups, specializing in the use of psychodrama. He developed The HealingCrowd.com, a research and training site devoted to the use of action methods in group psychotherapy. His memoir, Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist’s Memoir, is his most recent book (Graywolf Press) and chr... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3411133 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:24:37 +0100 3411133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881206&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F11%2Fa-loved-ones-photo-helps-reduce-your-pain%2F Previous psychological research has demonstrated that the mere presence of a loved one — a partner, family member or friend — can help reduce one’s subjective experience of physical pain (for instance, during a medical procedure), versus experiencing similar pain while alone. This research has been replicated over the years in various settings and in such a way as to suggest that this indeed might be a causal relationship. That is, the presence of a loved one actually helps reduce our feelings of pain. What is this same phenomenon could occur without a loved one being present? Would a photo suffice to also help reduce pain? Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (Master et al., 2009) designed an elegantly simple laboratory experiment to find out. They ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881206 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:09:34 +0100 2881206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790301&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F13%2Fthe-situation-of-being-forced%2F From Youtube: Experimental philosophers take on one of philosophy’s most revered figures, Aristotle, by seeing if ordinary people agree with Aristotle’s conclusions about when one is forced to do something and when one does it freely. * * * * * * For a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Video Introduction to Experimental Philosophy” and “Quick Introduction to Experimental (Situationist?) Philosophy.” (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790301 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:01:12 +0100 2790301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660780&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F01%2Fbargh-and-baumeister-and-the-free-will-debate%2F From Googlevideo: “John A. Bargh, Ph.D., professor at Yale University [and Situationist Contributor], speaks during a symposium at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Convention in Tampa, FL. This special keynote session was titled “What Social Psychology can Tell Us about the ‘Free Will’ Question.” * * * * * * From Googlevideo: Roy Baumeister of Florida State University speaks at the same event about the usefulness and complexity of consciousness and human culture. * * * * * * To read a sample of related Situationist posts, see “The Death of Free Will and the Rise of Cheating,” “Interview of Eric Kandel,” and “Coalition of the Will-less.” (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660780 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 04:01:41 +0100 2660780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523488&cid=t_116622_122_f&fid=34736&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FChannelN-PodcastsPoweredByOdiogo%2F%7E3%2FdCIym58cVSs%2Fquestions-about-freedom.html Experimental philosophy of freedom Wonderful experimental philosophy video illustrating a question posed by Aristotle about voluntary vs. involuntary moral choices. While host Ram Neta explains, it’s acted out in front of a screen then sea storm backgrounds and other imagery is keyed in. Simple, fun, and nicely edited too. I also liked the burning armchair logo and riot grrrl music, and they’re probably the only philosophy professors with a MySpace profile, wiki, blog and YouTube channel. The Experimental Philosophy Society is net-savvy. While there’s some debate about whether the logo makes them seem less serious in the academic world, I think it’s great for reaching wider audiences. But they’re not just about new media: read the paper accompanying this v... Channel N blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523488 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:52 +0100 2523488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398818&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F07%2Fsurprise-approval-of-fanapt-makes-stock-go-wild%2F Shares of Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Fanapt (iloperidone), surged today after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sprang a surprise drug approval for Fanapt for schizophrenia late yesterday. In afternoon trading today, the stock hit $10.00 a share, over 8 times what the stock was trading just a day earlier. It fell back to trading around $7.54 - $7.95 range at this time. The drug has a better safety profile in clinical trials than other atypical antipsychotics, which some analysts believe will help boost prescriptions when it goes on the market this summer. Of course, the safety profile may be overly optimistic, as it was for other atypical antipsychotics before they hit the market and reality set in (e.g., use on a more diverse population). Certainly the company could’ve... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398818 Thu, 07 May 2009 19:58:34 +0100 2398818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353864&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F22%2Fmood-and-moral-judgment-abstract%2F We recently encountered an interesting paper by Jeremy A. Blumenthal, “Does Mood Influence Moral Judgment?: An Empirical Test with Legal and Policy Implications” (29 Law and Psychology Review (2005)) on SSRN.   Here’s the abstract. * * * Despite recurring interest in the potential for affect to influence “rational” reasoning, in particular the effect of emotion on moral judgments, legal scholars and social scientists have conducted far less empirical research directly testing such questions than might be expected. Nevertheless, the extent to which affect can influence moral decisions is an important question for the law. Watching a certain sort of movie, for instance, can significantly influence responses to opinion polls conducted shortly after that movie. ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353864 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:01:59 +0100 2353864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2326616&cid=t_116622_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F07%2Fcnto-328-shows-promise-for-ovarian-cancer-in-small-clinical-trial-say-uk-scientists%2F British scientists have developed and clinically tested a drug that could prolong the lives of ovarian cancer patients. A clinical trial of the drug, codenamed CNTO328, has been carried out at the Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, which is part of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. … The drug is an [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2326616 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:04:22 +0100 2326616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2266683&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F03%2F15%2Fonline-dating-too-many-choices-may-be-bad%2F Could too many choices in online dating be a bad thing? According to some newly published research out of Taiwan, it may be. Marketing from online dating sites often suggests that having more choices is most beneficial, because you have more options from which to choose. But what they don’t say is that the more options you have, the more work you have to do to find profiles that actually match what you’re looking for. Larger doesn’t always mean better. The participants were 128 youths and adults from southern Taiwan (69 men, 59 women; ages 18 to 36 years) who had membership in online-dating Web sites, as determined on a screening questionnaire. Participants were assigned to view one of three profile groups — large (90 profiles), moderate (60 profiles), or small (30 ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2266683 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:01:08 +0100 2266683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260088&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fexperimental-man-debuts.html I am so happy to know David Ewing Duncan. Aside from him appearing on one of the CliniCasts last year (The day former president G.W. Bush signed GINA into law) he is a great writer and has been in the thick of the San Francisco Genome Scan Craze.David has been talking about gaining greater insight into one's health for quite a while now.....Finally he takes the time and puts his adventure into a book and a website.The Book, Experimental Man is already on sale at Amazon! He debuts this book next week in New York City. I will be at his book signing and wish I was at his Today Show interview!!!What is the Experimental Man? Well a brief read of this excerpt will give you some insight.David has been doing all sorts of experiments on himself. From Exposing himself to Mercury and Surviving (Take ... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260088 Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:11:00 +0100 2260088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200625&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F6hZf_SGbMRc%2F The potential and safety of using stem cells to treat diseases suffered a setback with the news of a botched experimental treatment of a human being. A teenage boy who received fetal stem cells developed brain cancer four years after the transplant, reports PLoS Medicine this week. The patient suffered from a recessive genetic disorder called ataxia telangiectasia (AT), an incurable rare disease that causes degeneration of the part of the brain that controls movement and speech. When the boy was 9 years old, his parents took him to Moscow to have experimental stem cell therapy. Russian researchers injected the boy with transplants of neural stem cells taken from the brains of aborted fetuses. Four years later, the donor stem cells inside the boy’s brain differentiated into a cancerous... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200625 Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:57:22 +0100 2200625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177819&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F02%2F11%2Fa-new-situationist%2F We are delighted to introduce a new Situationist Contributor: Professor Thomas Nadelhoffer. Thomas Nadelhoffer was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He later earned degrees in philosophy from The University of Georgia (BA), Georgia State University (MA), and Florida State University (PhD). Since 2006, he has been an assistant professor of philosopy and a member of the law and policy faculty at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During the upcoming year (2009-2010), he will be at the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind (U.C. Santa Barbara) as a MacArthur fellow in Law and Neuroscience. Professor Nadelhoffer’s main areas of research include moral psychology, the philosophy of action, free will, punishment theory, and neurolaw. He is particularly interested in research at... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177819 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:01:41 +0100 2177819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2170075&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F02%2F09%2Fthe-legal-brain%2F Johannes Haushofer and Ernst Fehr have a helpful review article, “The Legal Brain: How Does the Brain Make Judgments about Crimes?,” in Scientific American. Here’s an excerpt. * * * Imagine you are serving on a jury: the defendant is charged with murder, but he also suffers from a brain tumor that causes erratic behavior. Is he to be held responsible for the crime? Now imagine you are the judge: What should the defendant’s sentence be? Does the tumor count as a mitigating circumstance? The assignment of responsibility and the choice of an appropriate punishment lie at the heart of our justice system. At the same time, these are cognitive processes like many others—reasoning, remembering, decision-making—and as such must originate in the brain. These two facts lead... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2170075 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:57:33 +0100 2170075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2047631&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F487063196%2F Remember Jacob Gunvalson? He is the 16-year-old Minnesota boy who is terminally ill with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and he made headline earlier this year when a federal judge ruled that PTC Therapeutics must supply him with an experimental med, called PTC124 (back story). The decision underscored the furious debate over the right of dying patients to obtain meds not yet approved by the FDA. At issue in the Gunvalson case: the boy’s family contended that PTC led them to believe he could participate in a clinical trial, but the drugmaker went back on its word. For its part, PTC maintained no promises were made, and argued that allowing the teen to join the clinical trial would not be safe and would set a bad precedent that could hurt researchers. Well, the US Court of Appeals for ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2047631 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:22:54 +0100 2047631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011551&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F473714236%2F Once again, the TV drama makes a bid for being renamed Boston Pharmaceutical. In the latest episode of this dressed-up soap opera, a leading character at the Brahmin law firm played by William Shatner is diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer’s and wants to get an experimental Pfizer drug, which appears to be Dimebon. But Shatner is denied - his doctor won’t get the drug for him and the clinical trial appears to be closed. And so he goes to court, where the judge is sympathetic: “A patient, even a dying patient, has no constitutional right to an experimental treatment. Do I agree with that precedent? Not really.” Even so, she boots the case, which the US Supreme Court agrees to hear, although in real life, we know the court earlier this year refused this morning to revie... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011551 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:49:21 +0100 2011551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975948&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F20%2Fvideo-introduction-to-experimental-philosophy%2F Comedian Eugene Mirman explaining a famous study from the new ‘experimental philosophy’ movement. * * * For more on experimental philosophy, see “Quick Introduction to Experimental (Situationist?) Philosophy” and visit the blogs, Experimental Philosophy and The Garden of Forking Paths.        (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975948 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:01:18 +0100 1975948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924896&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F01%2Fthe-methodology-of-the-behavioral-analysis-of-law-abstract%2F This article examines the behavioral analysis of law, meaning the application of empirical behavioral evidence to legal analysis, which has become increasingly popular in legal scholarship in recent years. Following the introduction in Part I, this Article highlights four central propositions on the subject. The first, developed in Part II, asserts that the efficacy of the law often depends on its accounting for relevant patterns of human behavior, most notably those studied by behavioral decision scientists. This Part therefore reviews important behavioral findings, illustrating their application and relevance to a broad range of legal questions. Part III then argues that the behavioral approach is empirically driven, engaging in both the theoretical application of extant empirical findin... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924896 Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:01:08 +0100 1924896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883564&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F421862289%2F Fred Baron, a prominent Dallas trial lawyer who helped bankroll John Edwards’ presidential run and also paid for the former senator’s mistress to leave Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after the affair made national headlines, is dying of multiple myeloma. But money won’t buy the wealthy, 61-year-old Democratic Party fundraiser a medication that may improve his odds of living beyond the next few days - Tysabri, which is sold by Biogen. Despite a furious publicity campaign drummed up by his son, Andrew, Biogen refuses to make the medication available. Never mind that calls to Biogen ceo Jim Mullen were placed by various politicians - Bill and Hillary Clinton, Henry Waxman, Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, John Kerry - or their staffs. Oh yes, Lance Armstrong also rang. Mullen is resol... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883564 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:59:35 +0100 1883564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856099&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrWxVQ4HP7fU%2F Last month, three more patients treated with an experimental gene therapy reported improved vision. Add this to the first successful gene therapy for inherited blindness earlier this year and the science gets instant boost. Despite years of work and resources devoted to it, experimental gene therapy had very little proven success in clinical trials. Some of the factors preventing it from effectively treating disease are the problem with viral vectors and the host’s reaction to the foreign object, in this case a virus. In 1999, a young patient participating in an experimental therapy for ornithine transcarboxylase deficiency (OTCD) died when his immune response rejected the virus. Four years later, a patient developed leukemia-like conditions. This year’s clinical trials on the ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856099 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:30:01 +0100 1856099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825583&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F09%2F24%2Fis-the-research-any-good%2F Want to be a better consumer of social science research? Here’s a short crib sheet for determining the general legitimacy and generalizability of virtually any social science study. Keep in mind that this crib sheet is not going to be 100% accurate or relevant to apply to every study you might be reading about. But it’s a good short-hand guide to help get you started. What kind of research was it? The most robust, best studies employ an experimental group and a control group. Studies that leave out the control group are usually less useful than those that do. A survey is the least powerful type of research one can conduct, as it has no experimental or control group, but can be helpful for identifying trends or zero in on concepts or hypotheses that can be studied more in-dept... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825583 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:34:36 +0100 1825583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711742&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F08%2F18%2Ftop-ten-online-psychology-experiments%2F Hundreds of online psychology experiments are going on at any given time, many cool and amusing to take part in. They’re great for researchers due to the ease and low cost of finding subjects, and because of that, more data. There are drawbacks, though. The University of Essex’s Department of Psychology points out: “… factors may cause the data to become less clear, for example: everyone uses different types of computers and monitors; we can’t be sure they have understood the instructions properly and we have no idea who is actually doing the experiments.” Debate is ongoing but the popularity of online studies keeps growing too. By design these studies are ephemeral, disappearing from the web once a deadline is reached or enough data collected. In this Top ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711742 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:41:30 +0100 1711742 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625870&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F15%2Fthe-motivated-situation-of-morality%2F A recent story on MSNBC summarizes research indicating “why we’re all moral hypocrites.” Here are a few excerpts. * * * Most of us, whether we admit it or not, are moral hypocrites. We judge others more severely than we judge ourselves. Mounting evidence suggests moral decisions result from the jousting between our knee-jerk responses . . . and our slower, but more collected evaluations. Which is more responsible for our self-leniency? To find out, a recent study presented people with two tasks. One was described as tedious and time-consuming; the other, easy and brief. The subjects were asked to assign each task to either themselves or the next participant. They could do this independently or defer to a computer, which would assign the tasks randomly. Eighty-five percen... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625870 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:10:38 +0100 1625870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1544711&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D32 Stony Brook University Medical Center is launching a clinical trial examining the the infusion of stem cells to treat Crohn’s Disease.  If you are familiar with Crohn’s Disease, it is a life-altering disease that can eventually lead to removal of part of a patient’s intestines. It is hoped that this treatment will induce remission for patients who are no longer responding to existing regimens.  Crohn’s Disease has meaning for me personally because I have a friends who suffers from Crohn’s.  I have seen how he suffers and how he has lost opportunities because of months in the hospital, trying to control a flare-up of the disease.  If doctors can come up with a treatment to help these patients who will not respond to existing regimens, it will be a huge im... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1544711 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:11:23 +0100 1544711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526776&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F314597228%2F Should seriously ill Americans have access to experimental meds? A bill introduced in both the US Senate and the House would make that possible. Called the Access, Compassion, Care and Ethics for Seriously Ill Patients Act, the legislation would provide terminally ill patients with access to treatments prior to FDA approval. Co-sponsored by Sam Brownback, a Republican Senator from Kansas, and Dianne Watson, a California Democrat in the House, the legislation came about after the US Supreme Court this past January refused to review a ruling that terminally ill patients have no constitutional right to be treated with experimental drugs even if that means the patient will likely die before the medicine is approved. Last August, a federal appeals court sided with the FDA and decided the gover... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526776 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:59:48 +0100 1526776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1482576&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F31%2Fdan-dennett-on-our-interior-situation%2F (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1482576 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:38:15 +0100 1482576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478600&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D26 I just read an interesting article on banking the stem cells from baby teeth.  While I am a big believer in stem cells, I am somewhat sceptical of these companies that keep introducing new sources of stem cells and developing companies to bank these stem cells.  Cord blood is currently used to treat 70 different diseases so it seems reasonable to consider saving it just in case (especially since it would otherwise be thrown in the trash).  Baby teeth and menstrual blood (another source of stem cells) are currently not used to treat anything.  So, not only are you banking in case your child (or yourself) becomes ill, but you are also counting on scientists developing a succcessful treatment in that time.  As far as I know, there is currently no research exploring the treatment potentia... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478600 Thu, 29 May 2008 17:17:39 +0100 1478600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454775&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F294222743%2F The bill, which will be called the Access, Compassion, Care and Ethics for Seriously Ill Patients Act, would provide terminally ill patients with access to treatments prior to FDA approval. The legislation is being co-sponsored by Sam Brownback, a Republican Senator from Kansas, and Dianne Watson, a California Democrat in the House, who plan a Wednesday morning press conference in Washington DC. The effort comes after the US Supreme Court this past January refused to review a ruling that terminally ill patients have no constitutional right to be treated with experimental drugs even if that means the patient will likely die before the medicine is approved. Last August, a federal appeals court sided with the FDA and decided the government may deny access to drugs that have not gone through ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454775 Tue, 20 May 2008 11:43:40 +0100 1454775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389311&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F21%2Fmorality-and-religion%2F For a worthwhile discussion on the bloggingheads, check out this exchange between psychologist Paul Bloom and experimental philsopher Joshua Knobe. (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389311 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:07:01 +0100 1389311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1382620&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F272802959%2F When Jill Bracey Cowley was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer eight years ago, doctors told her she had two years to live. So she decided to take a gamble and try new drugs that hadn’t yet been approved. “They’ve utterly changed my life,” says Cowley, 70, who credits the treatments with enabling her to live long enough to welcome six grandchildren into the world, according to the Associated Press. Unlike most terminally ill patients, Cowley had the chance to try untested drugs. With the opening of a government-run network of experimental clinics this month, UK docs hope to offer millions of dying cancer patients the same chance. The network builds on cancer research centers established in 2002 to bring advances quickly to patients. Each center will receive $4 millio... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1382620 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:45:16 +0100 1382620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1321122&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F256148742%2F Tom Bruns, Martin Bidartondo and 250 others sent a letter to Science describing the current problems with fixing annotation in GenBank. There is an entertaining accompanying news article that interviews several people about the problem of updating annotation and species assigned to sequences in the database. In particular the problem for mycologists that many fungi found from metagenomic approaches are only identified through molecular sequences and having the wrong species associated with a sequence can be difficult when studying community ecology composition.  This problem is not limited to fungi by any means, but recent reports find as many as 20% of fungal Intergenic Spacer (ITS) sequences are mis-attributed to the wrong species. There's a nice quote in the news article from Ste... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1321122 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:29:19 +0100 1321122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1289343&cid=t_116622_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F09%2Fquick-introduction-to-experimental-situationist-philosophy%2F In 2006, Slate’s John Lackman wrote a fine introduction to the then-nascent movement within philosophy known as “experimental philosophy” or “X-Phi”: Philosophers have ignored the real world because it’s messy, full of happenstance details and meaningless coincidences; philosophy, they argue, has achieved its successes by focusing on deducing universal truths from basic principles. X-phi, on the other hand, argues that philosophers need to ask people what and how they think. Traditional philosophy relies on certain intuitions, presented as “common sense,” that are presumed to be shared by everyone. But are they? For example, can people be morally responsible for their actions if they don’t have free will? Many philosophers have assumed... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1289343 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:49:33 +0100 1289343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1204677&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffungalgenomes.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F02%2Fneurospora-speciation-through-experimental-evolution%2F Dettman, Anderson, and Kohn recently published a paper in BMC Evolutionary Biology on reproductive experimental evolution in two Neurospora crassa populations evolved under different selective conditions. This is a great study that complements work published last year in Nature on experimental evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations. Neurospora populations were evolved under high salt and low temperature and were started from either high diversity (interspecific crosses, N. crassa vs N. intermedia) or low diversity (intraspecific cross, two N. crassa isolates D143 (Louisiana, USA)and D69 (Ivory Coast)) as described in Figure 1. The experimentally evolved populations were then tested for asexual and sexual fitness (they were taken through complete meiotic cycle throughout the ex... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1204677 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:12:01 +0100 1204677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149831&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F216486922%2F The Supreme Court refused this morning to review a ruling that terminally ill patients have no constitutional right to be treated with experimental drugs — even if that means the patient will likely die before the medicine is approved, the Associated Press reports. Last August, a federal appeals court sided with the FDA and decided the government may deny access to drugs that have not gone through extensive testing and received FDA approval, a process that can take years and, sometimes, angering cancer patients who are frustrated by FDA decisions, such as the controversy over the Provenge prostate cancer vaccine. The Abigail Alliance for Better Access to Developmental Drugs and the Washington Legal Foundation sued the FDA in 2003, seeking access for terminally ill patients to drugs that ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149831 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:40:23 +0100 1149831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1126435&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F210019284%2F For the past year, Richard Miller has waged a public relations campaign to force the FDA to change its ways. As the ceo of Pharmacyclics, he is particularly frustrated that his little company’s cancer med was shot down last winter. Miller has refiled an application, but meanwhile, has latched on to an emotional issue for patients - and many investors - who want the FDA to view experimental meds differently than treatments for chronic illnesses. This view is shared by former FDA commish David Kessler, although a federal appeals court last summer ruled that dying patients don’t have a right to experimental meds not yet approved by the agency. As Miller sees it, though, the FDA has now errs too often on the side of caution, given the safety controversies of the past few years, a r... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1126435 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:01:56 +0100 1126435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909231&cid=t_116622_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F286469530%2Fhistory-of-tubal-reversal-surgery.html Tubal Reversal Scholarly Publications Early Experimental Studies in Animals In 1969, David, Brackett and Garcia (1) reported using microsurgical techniques for uterotubal anastomosis after removing the uterotubal junction from one side in 25 rabbits. Among 11 (44%) of the animals that became pregnant, fewer implantations occurred on the operated side than on the unoperated side. This showed [...] (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909231 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:18:47 +0100 1909231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979401&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F174998096%2F The evidence isn’t entirely clear yet, but the latest court filing by a non-profit group, which filed a lawsuit against the FDA for not approving the Dendreon prostate-cancer vaccine, indicates an NIH doc named Alison Martin (see picture) may have helped write the letter. Which mysterious letter? And why is it mysterious? For those who haven’t followed the Provenge controversy, we will repeat some background: After an FDA advisory panel last spring recommended full agency approval, a curious thing happened - two FDA panel members wrote the agency urging a go-slow approach, and the FDA shortly thereafter decided to delay approval. The behind-the-scenes machinations caused a firestorm - the two cancer docs received threats, cancer patients have rallied outside FDA offices, and a deb... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979401 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:42:09 +0100 979401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=935338&cid=t_116622_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F167182594%2F On October 3rd, University of Florida doctors treated their first patient in a new study that is evaluating stem cells and their exact role in regenerating blood flow to the heart. They are testing this new and experimental procedure in patients that continue to live with angina and severe heart disease despite all attempts of medicines and other treatments. Just how will the stem cells work? “The general idea is that by providing these cells of blood vessel origin, we hope to either generate new blood vessels from the growth of these implanted cells or stimulate the heart to regenerate new blood vessels from the cells that reside in it,” said study investigator Carl J. Pepine, M.D., chief of cardiovascular medicine at UF’s College of Medicine. “It’s not compl... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=935338 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:10:01 +0100 935338 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891918&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F159604183%2F The controversy prompted nearly 200 people to rally at FDA headquarters in Maryland early this week in hopes of convincing Congress to force the agency to revisit its unexpected decision last spring to delay approval of the Dendreon prostate-cancer vaccine. That followed an FDA advisory panel meeting in which a majority recommended approval, but in the interim, two panel members quietly wrote the agency to urge a go-slow approach. Since then, threats were made against those two doctors, a lawsuit was filed against the FDA, and there are allegations of conflicts of interest, which are now being probed internally by the FDA, sources tell us. At issue, though, is whether the FDA followed its own procedures properly and the larger debate over the use of experimental meds. Here’s the rece... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891918 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 19:51:43 +0100 891918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=886438&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F158982899%2F Earlier this week, nearly 200 people protested in front of FDA headquarters in Maryland against the agency’s decision to delay approval of Dendreon’s Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine and to agitate, in general, for greater access to experimental cancer meds. The gathering follows months of controversy over the FDA’s flip-flop on Provenge and subsequent controversy over a pair of agency panel members who last spring voted against approval and later wrote the agency urging caution. Since then, the FDA has begun probling allegations of conflicts of interest among panel members, according to sources who are familiar with this episode. Meanwhile, some patients - and Dendreon investors - have filed a lawsuit against the FDA, attempting to force the agency to make Provenge avail... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=886438 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:53:27 +0100 886438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=876183&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F157575612%2F The growing frustration with the agency over the issue of approving experimental meds, particularly for cancer, is prompting the kind of activism last seen two decades ago among AIDS patients. Even a few companies, such as Pharmacyclics, are openly resisting FDA decisions. The Abigail Alliance patient group plans to appeal a court ruling that experimental meds shouldn’t be given to the terminally ill. And controversy continues over the FDA flip-flop on approving the Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine. So several of the more vocal patient groups are joining together tomorrow at 10 a.m. EST to protest outside FDA offices in Rockville, Md. The event is being organized by A Right To Live, which has been active in criticizing the FDA’s handling of Provenge; the Abigail Alliance for Better Acc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=876183 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:25:15 +0100 876183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=864407&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F155114478%2F A heavy downpour is soaking the nation’s medicine chest at the moment. This prompts us to want to cozy up to our screen and take in the latest events. Here they are…. King Pharma’s Altace Patent Is Ruled Invalid (Yahoo/Reuters) Prescription Labels Geared Toward Pharmacies, Not Patients (Health Behavior News Service) UK Debates Whether Terminally Ill Should Get Experimental Meds (BBC) Novartis And Sanofi Gear Up For Analyst Presentations (Yahoo/Reuters) Trubion Pharma Shares Plummet On Study News (Yahoo/AP) Nabi BioPharma Sells Florida Ops To German Company (Washington Business Journal) Share / E-mail (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=864407 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:07:33 +0100 864407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=793787&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F143066132%2F This past week, a federal appeals court decided that terminally ill patients don’t have a constitutional right to experimental meds. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned last year’s decision by a smaller panel of the same court, which held that terminally ill patients may not be denied access to potentially lifesaving drugs. This is a hotly contested issue. FDA approval generally requires extensive testing that can involve years of trials and thousands of patients. But the Abigail Alliance for Better Access to Developmental Drugs and the Washington Legal Foundation sued the FDA in 2003, seeking access for terminally ill patients to drugs that have undergone preliminary safety testing in as few as 20 people. The ruling occurs amid a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=793787 Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:25:53 +0100 793787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=786018&cid=t_116622_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F141753872%2F That’s what a federal appeals court ruled today. Even if a terminally ill patient may likely be dead before a medicine is approved, they don’t have a constitutional right to be treated with experimental drugs, MSNBC reports. The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned last year’s decision by a smaller panel of the same court, which held that terminally ill patients may not be denied access to potentially lifesaving drugs, the network reports. But the full court disagreed, saying in its 8-2 ruling that it wouldn’t create a constitutional right for patients to assume “any level of risk” without regard to medical testing. “Terminally ill patients desperately need curative treatments,” Judge Thomas B. Griffith wrote for th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=786018 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:29:42 +0100 786018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=690000&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F22%2Ftraining-immune-system-to-kill-nasopharyngeal-cancer%2F Filed under: Throat Cancer, Clinical Trials, Research, Diets, Head and Neck cancerNasopharyngeal cancer is most prevalent in South China and kills one in every three victims. The disease is thought to be linked to diets rich in preserved foods, like salted fish. Scientists will soon test an experimental treatment for nose and throat cancer that will train the patient's own white blood cells to fight the disease. Some classes of T-cells have memory. Once these cells are taken from the patient and are exposed to invaders that they successfully fought off, they should launch the same response when they are re-introduced back into the patients own body. One of the researchers stated "We expect the T-cells to initiate a very aggressive inflammatory reaction and during the process, not only will... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=690000 Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 690000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=587877&cid=t_116622_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F03%2Fthought-for-the-day-another-round-of-coffee-cancer%2F Filed under: Leukemia, Colon and Rectal Cancer, Prevention, Liver Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Research, Daily newsMore on coffee -- a topic of panel discussion at the recent Experimental Biology 2007 meeting in Washington, DC, and subject of nearly 400 studies investigating consumption and cancer risk.Think about this:No one claims coffee is the new health food. And non-coffee drinkers are not encouraged to drink the beverage for their health. Yet the beverage is certainly losing some of its negative health image. But is it enough?Some say coffee protects against colon, rectal, and liver cancers (diabetes too). These same people recognize it also can increase the risk of leukemia and stomach cancer. Those at risk, like pregnant women and children, should limit their consumption.Like many conne... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=587877 Thu, 03 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 587877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486621&cid=t_116622_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffungalgenomes.org%2Fblog%2F2007%2F01%2Fexperimental-cooperative-evolution%2F A paper in Nature this week describes how a few mutations can alter the interactions between species in a biofilm from competitive to cooperative system. This is a great study that goes from start to finish on studying community interactions, looking at an evolved phenotype, and understanding the genetic and physiological basis for the adaptation. Acinetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas putida were raised in a carbon-limited environment with only benzyl alcohol as the carbon source. Acinetobacter can processes the benzyl alcohol, while P. putida is unable to. Acinetobacter takes up the bezyl alcohol and secretes benzoate that P. putida can then use as a carbon source. The research group propagated these in chemostats and looked at different starting concentrations of the organisms. They found t... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486621 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:33:16 +0100 486621