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 'follow'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:53:35 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086172&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Foverwhelmed-ers-continue-to-rise-to-the-challenge%2F2011.07.31 Last night I was contacted by a physician in the local urgent-care.   I like him, and we made polite, but brief, conversation.  ‘So, are you guys busy?’ I gave him the status report.  ‘Well, yeah.  We have about 25 people waiting to be seen the waiting room is full and every patient room is full.  Also, we just received a gun-shot wound to the head by EMS.’ ‘Wow, sounds terrible!  So, here’s what I need to send you…’ What he sent was, in fact, reasonable.  A young woman with signs and symptoms of meningitis (who was treated earlier in the day for and upper respiratory virus…with Amoxicillin, of course.) She needed a lumbar puncture, which I performed and which was  negative. But I had this thought.  I could probably have said, (more…) *This blog ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086172 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 21:00:39 +0100 5086172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028544&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FwKz9SlXCSVs%2F Tonight I happened to eavesdrop (the beauty of Twitter) on a Twitter conversation between Bobby Ghaheri, MD (@DrGhaheri) and Chad Peterson (@hosewater2). Dr. Ghaheri is an ENT/Facial Plastic Surgeon and Dr. Peterson is a hockey loving urologist. I loved their twitter exchange about email and Twitter follow up with patients, so I’m posting it here for others to comment on. UPDATE: Since there’s a problem with pulling in the tweets automatically from Twitter, here’s what was said: DrGhaheri Bobby Ghaheri, MD I use email and Twitter to follow-up on my patients. #hcsm hosewater2 Chad Peterson @DrGhaheri I don’t use email or twitter with patients. Just encourages unnecessary undocumented interactions. Is twitter HIPaa certified? DrGhaheri Bobby Ghaheri, MD @hosewater2 I ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028544 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 05:39:14 +0100 5028544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968491&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhospitalization-vs-discharge-when-is-one-the-preferred-option%2F2011.06.25 I received a call recently from an emergency room (ER) physician about a patient who presented there with rectal bleeding. Does this sound blogworthy? Hardly. We gastro physicians get this call routinely. Here’s the twist. The emergency room physician presented the case and recommended that the patient be discharged home. He was calling me to verify that our office would provide this patient with an office appointment in the near term, which we would. We had an actual dialogue. This was a refreshing experience since the typical emergency room conversation of a rectal bleeder ends differently. Here’s what usually occurs. We are contacted and are notified that the patient has been admitted to the hospital and our in-patient consultative services are being requested. In other words, we ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968491 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4968491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592532&cid=t_106091_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCc5NbTKqPmo%2F Do you remember the IMPACT study published in 2009? It was a randomized clinical trial with healthy older adults that compared a computer-based cognitive program that trains audi­tory pro­cess­ing (Brain Fitness Program, Posit Science) with educational video programs (control group). People who used the program improved in the trained tasks, which was not that surprising, but there was also a clear ben­e­fit in audi­tory mem­ory, which wasn’t directly trained. A 2011 paper reports the 3-month follow-up results of the IMPACT study. The 487 participants in the original study were 65 and older. Training was 1 hour a day, 4 to 5 days a week, for a total of 40 hours in 8 to 10 weeks. There was no contact with the researchers between the initial training study and the follow-up study. T... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592532 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:26:01 +0100 4592532 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512619&cid=t_106091_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Ffacilitating-mutual-support-group-participation%2F If a healthcare or social service provider suspects that a patient or client has a substance use disorder (SUD), the provider should ensure that the client receives formal treatment. Once the client receives formal treatment—or if he or she refuses or cannot afford treatment— the provider’s next step is to facilitate involvement in a mutual support group.Matching clients to treatment based solely on gender, motivation, cognitive impairment, or other such characteristics has not been proved to be effective.Clients who are “philosophically well matched” to a mutual support group are more likely to actively participate in that group. Thus, the best way to help a client benefit from mutual support groups is to encourage increased participation in his or her chosen group.Professional ... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512619 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:43:00 +0100 4512619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294555&cid=t_106091_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fdenver-screening-criteria-blunt-cerebrovascular-injury%2F Blunt cerebrovascular injury (i.e., damage to the carotid and/or vertebral arteries) is an increasingly recognized entity in trauma and the Denver Screening Criteria have been developed to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. The screening signs and symptoms of BCVI include: Focal neuorlogical deficit Arterial hemorrhage Cervical bruit in a patient less than 50 years of age Expanding neck hematoma Neurological exam inconsistent with head CT scan Cerebrovascular accident on follow-up head CT not seen on initial head CT. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294555 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 05:21:14 +0100 4294555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3806022&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fs3_divSIb8U%2F Last week, the FDA issued one of those surprise product approvals by giving a thumbs up to a generic version of Lovenox, a widely used bloodthinner sold by Sanofi-Aventis, much sooner than most people expected (see here and here). The move is something of a game-changer for the pharmaceutical industry and so we spoke briefly with Jonathan Pan, a senior associate at the Scientia Advisors consulting firm, about the implications… Pharmalot: Why is this approval such an important development? Pan: Well, it’s a $4 billion product for Sanofi-Aventis. That’s one reason it’s important. The second reason is the active ingredient is an extremely complicated molecule – a macro molecular that wraps around itself – which means it’s hard to characterize and hard to manufacture. So it r... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3806022 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:35:24 +0100 3806022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746740&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F7-under-the-radar-healthcare-changes%2F2010.07.12 Kaiser Health News proves its value once again with an under-the-radar story covering some items you won’t see in many other news sources. An excerpt: “…several lesser-known provisions also take effect in coming months that could have a lasting impact on the nation’s health care system. These provisions include eliminating patients’ co-payments for certain preventive services such as mammograms, giving the government more power to review health insurers’ premium increases and allowing states to expand Medicaid coverage to low-income adults without children. While these changes might not have gotten at lot of attention, they could help build support for the law in the run-up to the contentious mid-term elections.” Their list: • Prevention For Less... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746740 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:00:29 +0100 3746740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726770&cid=t_106091_147_f&fid=39202&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnicolaziady.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F05%2Fnew-report-on-what-women-want-from-the-web-report%2F Men have been asking for years and I have finally found the answer … logic included, lads! I came across a new report from Unicast on “what women want … from the web” published this June. It concluded that 95% of women plan to go online and 62% respond to online advertising. Women between 18 and 24 use the web more than any other age group for all activities – except keeping up to date with the news! 53% compared to 67% overall. Can you believe it? The Unicast study reported that women who visit blogs notice online advertising more. While this age group accounts for just 13% of all women who read blogs regularly it shows females are potentially more open to advertising from relevant sources of information that they trust. This group is also more receptive to o... Nicola Ziady blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726770 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:21:48 +0100 3726770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658934&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fexclusive-mediabistro-com-founder-laurel-touby-on-making-millions-marriage-and-moving-forward%2F Laurel Touby and husband Jon Fine at the Webutante Ball in NYC, June 8, 2010 A former freelance writer, Laurel Touby came up with the idea for her influential media company, Mediabistro.com, in 1994, and in 2007, sold it for a cool $23 million. (She didn’t pocket all of that, though.) Just back from an eight-month international sabbatical, Laurel took some time out to answer our 11 questions about marriage, making more money than her husband, and moving on after major success. Long before you sold Mediabistro (the company you founded) for many millions of dollars, did you care who made more money, you or your then-boyfriend? I would love to say that it didn’t matter, because I’m an emancipated woman who went to Smith College. But, it was nice to know that he could pay his part of... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658934 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:30:40 +0100 3658934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581848&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2F3ZEk2ayeasg%2Fhow-social-proof-can-help-you.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581848 Wed, 19 May 2010 19:00:00 +0100 3581848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3552243&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpatient-follow-up-what-doctors-can-learn-from-dentists%2F2010.05.11 I have to give my dentist credit. He and his staff know when I am due for a cleaning and call me to schedule an appointment without fail. They also call to remind me the day before an appointment. Many dentists, I understand, do similar kinds of things for their patients. As a patient, I like being reminded — it’s a great service. I also like the fact that someone’s looking out for me. From a business perspective it makes a lot of sense as well. Fewer “no shows,” more cleanings, more billings, and so on. It’s too bad that more physicians don’t routinely follow up with their patients, particularly when it really counts. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Mind The Gap* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3552243 Tue, 11 May 2010 14:33:07 +0100 3552243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511778&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FS_rvf1h3hFg%2F Top of the morning to you. Another shiny day here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where another cup of stimulation is brewing. What will today bring? Meetings and deadlines, no doubt. To help you cope, here are a few items to jumpstart the process. We hope your day goes and do stay in touch… Icahn Wants To Fix A ‘Broken’ Genzyme (Reuters) EU Legislators Want Internet Drug Sales Regulated (PharmaTimes) Swine Flu Lifts Glaxo Profits (Reuters) Medco Gains On New Clients (Associated Press) Merck KGgA Profit Beats Estimate (Bloomberg News) Pfizer Hopes For New Biotech Drugs (The Wall Street Journal) $$ Coffee pix thx to chichcacha flickr creative commons (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511778 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:49:11 +0100 3511778 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262546&cid=t_106091_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F02%2Forthopedic-surgeon-dr-john-keeve-discusses-time-board-usns-comfort%2F Dr. John Keeve of Washington state has been operating on severely injured Haitians and says enthusiasm for their work must be tempered by the realization that many patients will lack all semblance of badly needed follow-up care. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262546 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:49:03 +0100 3262546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3239847&cid=t_106091_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2F04%2Fa-wish-list-for-a-pain-management-programme-2%2F After coming up with some of the content and structure for a programme, and discussing the need for a stable clinical team with effective skills in group-based CBT and an applied behavioural focus, today I thought I’d add in something about selecting, assessing and follow-up that’s required. I get absolutely frustrated with reading and hearing about interventions that are either not required to furnish, or don’t consider outcomes – both psychometric questionnaire results (thought to indicate change in the ‘real world’) and real world outcomes.  The art of making sure that what we do makes a difference, and knowing how to do this well seems to be quite lost on many clinicians and it really frustrates me.  I’d find it professionally unsatisfying if... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3239847 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:51:36 +0100 3239847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916296&cid=t_106091_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalheroes.com%2F30-dental-pros-follow-twitter%2F More and more people (or Tweople, technically) are making the decision to engage in the Twitter conversation these days. Some people simply join to update friends regarding their daily activities, others use it as a social network, and another group utilizes Twitter for business purposes. Whatever the reason may be, Twitter’s reach is undeniable. Some companies have replaced their corporate website address with their Twitter address on advertising materials. Major news networks are engaging with viewers via Twitter live on the air. I’ve even had a number of people provide their Twitter username in their e-mail signatures. I could go on and on. If you have not yet taken the leap to join Twitter, I would caution you to evaluate whether doing so will be beneficial for you. Many p... Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916296 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:27:26 +0100 2916296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2772615&cid=t_106091_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalheroes.com%2F30-dental-pros-follow-twitter%2F More and more people (or Tweople, technically) are making the decision to engage in the Twitter conversation these days. Some people simply join to update friends regarding their daily activities, others use it as a social network, and another group utilizes Twitter for business purposes. Whatever the reason may be, Twitter’s reach is undeniable. Some companies have replaced their corporate website address with their Twitter address on advertising materials. Major news networks are engaging with viewers via Twitter live on the air. I’ve even had a number of people provide their Twitter username in their e-mail signatures. I could go on and on. If you have not yet taken the leap to join Twitter, I would caution you to evaluate whether doing so will be beneficial for you. Many p... Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2772615 Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:27:26 +0100 2772615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2470013&cid=t_106091_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F06%2F10%2Fchronic-disease-management-follow-up-and-support-needs-from-diabetes-is-this-a-model-for-pain%2F Self management for chronic pain is not the only area in which self management has been introduced. Heart disease, obesity and diabetes are all very commonly managed with a combination of biomedical and self management strategies. While reviewing different ways to provide support for people who have newly developed coping strategies, I have found a fairly limited number of studies directly examining varying options for providing follow-up. This paper by Fisher, Brownson, O’Toole and Anwuri (2007), while not an empirical study itself, does draw on the experiences of fourteen self management programmes for diabetes management that have been studied under the auspices of the Diabetes Initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in St Louis, Missouri. I’m not suggesting that pa... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2470013 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:29:23 +0100 2470013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2453039&cid=t_106091_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fmedco-cfo-sees-generic-insulin-by-2013.html This isn't meant to be a primer on the role of the Pharmacy Benefits Managers (or PBMs), but few people realize just how massive the role of the PBM really is in today's healthcare reform debate. These companies know the score when it comes to the drug costs, prescription and usage patterns and the outlook on where things are likely to be going.The Role of the PBM in the U.S. Healthcare "System"PBMs are probably one of the biggest players in the U.S. healthcare field that most people have at best, only a hazy idea of their role in managing the cost of healthcare. For people with chronic medical conditions, they may know these companies as the mail-order companies they're forced to order 90-day supplies from. Increasingly, however, many healthcare plans are placing caps on prescriptions fil... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2453039 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:00 +0100 2453039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211489&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpostpartum-blues-and-depression%2F Everyone expects the postpartum period to be a joyful happy time welcoming the newborn home and into the family. Unfortunately, however, many women will experience either short or long-term mood disturbances in the year after giving birth. In fact, at least 40-80 percent of women experience postpartum blues, which is a short-term, transient condition characterized by mild, but often rapid, mood swings from elation to sadness, accompanied by tearfulness, crying spells, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and insomnia. Symptoms typically peak on the fifth postpartum day, and fortunately usually resolve within two weeks without treatment other than support and reassurance. It is important for women experiencing the blues to get adequate rest and sleep, which may require additiona... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211489 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:04:51 +0100 2211489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2200579&cid=t_106091_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F02%2F19%2Fnotes-on-my-goal-setting-and-follow-through-session-part-1%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths Notes On My Goal Setting And Follow Through Session Part 1 For those of you who missed my CHADD Vancouver talk on goal setting and follow through last Tuesday, one of the people who was at the meeting, Richard, has taken notes on it and added some of his thoughts and posted part one of 2 parts on his blog Just a Gwai Lo He’ll be adding part 2 later, including the ADHD coaching part. It’s a good post. Check it out and leave a comment on the post if you wish. Tweet This Post  (Source: Adult ADD Strengths) Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2200579 Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:35:31 +0100 2200579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182598&cid=t_106091_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F02%2F12%2Fpetes-chadd-vancouver-talk-feb17%2F Post from: Adult ADD Strengths I’ll be Doing a Goal Setting and Follow Through Session at CHADD Vancouver Feb 17th On Tues Feb 17th, I’ll be doing a presentation at CHADD Vancouver (Children and Adults with ADHD), an international ADHD support group that has monthly meetings in Vancouver. Topic: Get organized, set goals, and actually follow through. It will be an interactive presentation. Bring along one very specific goal that you’ve been having trouble with, we’ll try and help you get some traction on it. Will be doing a short sample session of ADHD coaching of one person on a very specific goal (i.e., not just “get more organized”, but get organized in this very specific concrete situation/context for this purpose.) Date: Feb 17th Time: 6.30-8.30pm L... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182598 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:40:40 +0100 2182598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2150750&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2009%2F02%2Fit-is-odd-that-rush-limbaugh-is-the-most-infuential-person-in-the-rep-party-because-he-is-just-so-fu.html WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On Thursday, Rush Limbaugh, the moral and intellectual leader and most influential person in the Republican Party in the United States, wrote in the august op-ed pages of The Wall Street Journal, the acknowledged epicenter of right-wing thought, that President Obama should adopt a bipartisan solution to address the president's economic stimulus plan -- or as Limbaugh refers to it, "porkulus." Limbaugh proposes that because the Democrats got roughly 54 percent of the votes to the Republicans' 46 percent, the stimulus package should be allocated along his definition of ideological lines, i.e. 54 percent towards infrastructure improvement and 46 percent toward tax breaks for Limbaugh and his friends. He writes, "Fifty-three percent of American voters... I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2150750 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:35:23 +0100 2150750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2115590&cid=t_106091_109_f&fid=35044&url=http%3A%2F%2Fadultaddstrengths.com%2F2009%2F01%2F19%2Fwas-your-new-years-resolution-a-wish%2F Many people make “New Year’s Resolutions” that are more like vague wishes but they don’t call them that. I’m going to lose 10 lbs, I’m going to drink less/exercise more/be more positive etc Nothing wrong with a wish, but just saying you’re going to do something in the new year with out a strategy or plan to do it will usually lead to nothing other than disappointment. People forget that a wish or an idea is the first important step, but it’s a beginning, not a complete solution. Not much power behind a resolution if you have no strategy or plan. Putting that strategy or plan to paper or computer makes it more real, especially if you schedule follow up to go along with it. For those of you who have trouble with New Year’s resolutions, yo... Adult ADD Strengths blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2115590 Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:54:14 +0100 2115590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2084355&cid=t_106091_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbeating-cancerthis-time%2F I’m off to see my oncologist for my regular three month follow-up this morning. It’s funny, I can’t remember any appointment or meeting unless I write it down, but I never forget the oncologist appointment, so that one I rarely write down, although I do get the times mixed up but never the day. The only thing that is a bit of a nuisance is that the office is busy and since these follow-up appointments take maybe 15 or 20 minutes, it doesn’t seem worth the 20- to 30-minute wait to see the doctor. Oh well, they’ve stuck with me this long, I’m sure I can weather the inconvenience. After almost five years since starting treatment, I am feeling pretty confident. I am told my risk of cancer spreading gets lower as time goes by and I am pretty sure that I won&#... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2084355 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:50:40 +0100 2084355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027779&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F479597413%2F The drugmaker is hosting its annual R&D briefing for Wall Street analysts and fund managers, where surprises are usually not on display. This time, however, Merck execs are saying they want to establish a new unit to make generic biotechs, which some calls biogenerics, biosimilars or follow-on biologics, although there are subtle differences between these terms. In any event, the basis for the effort is Merck’s acquistion of GlycoFi, a biotech bought two years ago for its proprietary glyco-engineering technology. The move represents what Merck execs are caling a “significant” opportunity since so patents on so many big-selling biologies are scheduled to expire through 2017. Merck’s first follow-on biologic is for anemia, with plans to in 2012, and another five ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027779 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:11:13 +0100 2027779 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1981289&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F458346037%2F This topic may have fallen off the radar screen amid the presidential election and the recession, but the rising cost of biologics continues to be a problem. And the Federal Trade Commission wants to shape the discussion before Congress and the FDA proceed with a framework that will permit drugmakers to create and market lower-cost versions. So, at 8:30 am EST today, the FTC will conduct a workshop organized into five panels to discuss the following issues: the price and market share effect of entry by both biosimilar and biogeneric drugs, the likely competitive effects of reference product regulatory exclusivity, biotechnology patent issues, the likely competitive effects of follow-on biologic regulatory incentives, and the patent resolution process. The FTC, you may recall, wrote a lette... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1981289 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:22:29 +0100 1981289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833423&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F402967745%2F The prices of specialty meds most commonly used by Medicare Part D beneficiaries to treat such maladies as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis have risen faster than inflation every year since 2004 and rose three times the inflation rate last year, according to a survey from AARP. “The skyrocketing cost of specialty drugs is especially tragic for those suffering from diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis,” John Rother, AARP’s executive vp of policy and strategy, says in a statement. “These drugs can provide comfort and hope to these individuals and their families. But even the most miraculous drug is useless if a person can’t afford to take it.” The survey, which covered 144 brand-name and generic meds, will be used by AARP in its battle to speed appro... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833423 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:07:22 +0100 1833423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809678&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2008%2F09%2Fbush-sued-for-diverting-millions-to-de-forestry.html Bush Officials Sued for Steering $350M to Forest Foundations SEATTLE, Washington, September 11, 2008 (ENS) - A coalition of conservation organizations filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Bush administration alleging that federal officials diverted $350 million from the public treasury to forestry foundations "dominated by the timber industry." The suit alleges that the administration violated federal appropriations law when, in September 2006, without any public process or congressional approval, the administration steered $350 million from Canadian lawsuit settlement funds to the foundations. The plaintiff organizations - the Forest Stewardship Council-US, Conservation Northwest, and the Center for Biological Diversity - say they filed the lawsuit because they are committed... I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809678 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:36:31 +0100 1809678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806604&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvirtual-colonoscopy-ready-for-prime-time%2F Virtual colonoscopy is an x-ray examination of the colon used to screen for cancer. It is also called CT colonography because the x-ray test used is a CT scan (also called computed tomography or CAT scan for computed axial tomography). Virtual colonoscopy is in the news because of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that compared the x-ray test to traditional colonoscopy and found comparable results in terms of identifying abnormal growths. But while the headlines will tout the positive findings, there are a few things you should know before undergoing one of these procedures. First off let me say that screening for colon cancer is an extremely important and life-saving yet underutilized undertaking that I’ve written about before, and which you should unde... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806604 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:29:44 +0100 1806604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1790244&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2008%2F09%2Fpalin-flunks-charlie-interview----doesnt-even-know-what-the-bush-doctrine-was.html  I knew Charlie Gibson when he hosted GMA and I was there, and I know him to be an upright, honest and always fair interviewer. So I found this disturbing. A letter I received from the folks at MoveOn. Dear MoveOn member, This week, Governor Sarah Palin sat down for her first media interview since she became the Republican nominee for vice president. She also gave a speech about Iraq. Both of these episodes revealed a scary picture of the person John McCain chose to be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Can you help spread the word? First, Palin set off alarm bells with her Iraq speech. The Washington Post wrote, "Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks...a view once promoted by Bush administration officials [that] has since been rejected ... I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1790244 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:41:16 +0100 1790244 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1779892&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmany-colon-cancer-patients-dont-get-proper-follow-up%2F After surgery for colon cancer, you are still at risk, both for cancer recurrence and for development of another new colon cancer. Because of this it’s important for colon cancer survivors to be followed closely and monitored carefully. But new research has found that many such survivors aren’t getting the proper follow-up care. And it looks as though the fault lies more with the doctors than it does with the patients. If you or someone you love is a colon cancer survivor, it’s important to know the guidelines for follow-up in order to ensure you’re getting the right tests. In the study, published online in the journal Cancer on September 8, 2008 - only 40 percent of colon cancer survivors who were followed for three years had all the right doctor visits and tests. But since 92 per... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1779892 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:05:55 +0100 1779892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739487&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F377447735%2F Lost amid the presidential campaign, the sour economy and other sobering distractions over the past few months, the advent of follow-on biologics continues to lurk in the background as a significant issue that can be expected to regain attention sooner than later. Biologics, of course, are expensive - costing tens of thousands of dollars and up annually. But there is no approved regulatory framework allowing biotechs to develop and market follow-ons, although three bills are lingering in Washington. A Congressional Budget Office report found the cost of a Senate bill, if enacted, would reduce total expenditures on biologics by $25 billion between 2009 and 2018. Now, the Federal Trade Commission is examining the issue with an eye toward sorting out competitive issues, incentives and patents... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739487 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:21:17 +0100 1739487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1735760&cid=t_106091_167_f&fid=37833&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition.edublogs.org%2F2008%2F08%2F26%2Fparents-influence-children-eating%2F Parents are one of the greatest influences on their children’s eating habits. This has been confirmed in a new study published this summer. According to researchers at Washington University in St. Louis parents who providing fruits for snacks and serving vegetables at dinner can shape a preschooler’s eating patterns for his or her lifetime. Researcher Debra Haire-Joshu, Ph.D., a professor at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work found when parents eat more fruits and vegetables, so do their children. On the other hand, when parents eat and give their children high fat snacks or soft drinks, children learn these eating patterns instead. I firmly believe if we teach our children how to make healthy choices, about good health, nutrition and being active; these will help th... Nutrition and Wellness Biology 50 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1735760 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:01:58 +0100 1735760 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1713872&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2008%2F08%2Fthe-alarming-dead-zone-in-the-gulf-of-mexico----thanks-to-pesticide-run-off.html I filed this under Extremely Stupid People to Follow because whoever in the EPA (and the people in the Whitehouse and Congress who oversee it) is responsible for allowing this to happen is incredibly and tragically short-sighted and stupid.   By Allan ChernoffCNN Senior Correspondent   GULF OF MEXICO (CNN) -- Fisherman Terry Pizani turns his captain's wheel with a mournful expression on his face. Far below, the fishing grounds off the Louisiana coast where the 63-year-old has made a living for five decades have become an aquatic graveyard known as a "dead zone." Fisherman Terry Pizani's shrimp catch is not as plentiful because of the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone." "You don't see nothing," he said. "Usually you see bait fi... I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1713872 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:19:21 +0100 1713872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1618146&cid=t_106091_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F334210005%2Flose_talents_abroad_or_certify.html  It’s no secret that secondary schools stunt teen talents and universities often lack intelligent actions that business craves. Nor is it surprising that disillusioned seniors seriously suspect they are over the hill and simply stop developing their brain’s peak potential. Increasingly workers vent about problems at work … while organizations struggle against staff who hate their work, and competitors who move their most successful operations abroad. It's no wonder we see absenteeism and financial loss on the rise here in the US. The talent shrinkage in our country will continue to tighten the public purse due to conflicts that follow.The time for innovative thinking has never been greater, in order to turn away from criticism generated by so... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1618146 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:36:59 +0100 1618146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606130&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F331710557%2F In doing so, Insmed apparently becomes the first US company to demonstrate bioequivalence for a follow-on biologic. The next step is for the drugmaker to meet with the FDA in hopes of receiving a green light to proceed with a Phase III study for its INS-19 which, like Neupogen, would combat neutropenia, a common side effect of chemotherapy. Neupogen, by the way, is a $1 billion seller. A Phase I trial involving 32 patients receiving either a dose of Insmed’s INS-19 or Amgen’s Neupogen found that the way the two biologics interacted with the body was statistically indistinguishable, while the concentration of G-CSF (G-CSF stimulates the production of white blood cells) for the two products were identical, according to Insmed. Here’s the statement. Two years ago, the FDA approved O... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606130 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:02:22 +0100 1606130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546986&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F320500932%2F The Congressional Budget Office has released its long-awaited assessment of the cost of a Senate biogenerics bill and found that the legislation, if enacted, would reduce total expenditures on biologics in the US by $25 billion between 2009 and 2018. Over that 10-year period, savings would equal roughly 0.5 percent of national spending on prescription drugs, valued at wholesale prices. Moreover, the bill would reduce budget deficits - or increase surpluses, depending on your point of view - by $6.6 billion over the same period. A few other CBO calculations: Direct spending by the federal government would decrease by $46 million over the 2009-2013 period, and by $5.9 billion over the 2009-2018 period; most of those savings would accrue to the Medicare program. Federal revenues would increa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546986 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:48:53 +0100 1546986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512100&cid=t_106091_113_f&fid=34603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fginasmith.typepad.com%2Fgina_on_gina%2F2008%2F06%2Fwhy-i-hate-war-and-what-it-does-to-people---and-now-their-pets.html This is ungodly awful.I wonder who cried when that puppy went down. I wonder how many attrocities this guy saw before he felt he had to do this to this tiny animal. If the military, as the say, makes you a man, they've made this one into a sadistic, nasty and spoiled little girl. CNN) -- The U.S. Marine Corps has disciplined two Marines over a videotape that showed a Marine throwing a puppy over a cliff, the military said Wednesday. YouTube.com removed the video for violating the Web site's terms of use. Officials did not specify the role that each man played in the incident, which received international attention after a video of it appeared on YouTube.com March 3. Lance Cpl. David Motari is being processed for removal for his role, the Marine Corps said, and Sgt. Crismarvi... I'm Gina Smith blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512100 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:34:40 +0100 1512100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1396426&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F276992439%2F One of these days, biosimilars will become available in the US. Of course, that depends on when Congress gets around to deciding on how these meds should be approved and regulated. Right now, there are three proposals floating around Congress, which are being fought over, primarily, by generic drugmakers, biotechs, insurers, large employers and consumer groups because the meds usually cost thousands of dollars a month per patient. Given the dickering over the complexities of the issue and the fact that this is an election year, which is likely to slow congressional movement, the US market is likely to take off slower than other markets, according to Kalorama Information. Nonetheless, the research firm posits that biosimilars will still hit $5.8 billion by 2012 if one bill or another actual... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1396426 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:00:39 +0100 1396426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1307753&cid=t_106091_134_f&fid=35152&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsstrumello.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Frep-eshoo-decries-congressional.html What would you say to a Congresswoman who behaves like a hypocrite? Well, California's 14th District (an area I'm very familiar with, having lived in the district for nearly a decade during the 1990's) House Representative Anna Eshoo deserves just such a rebuke today. Ms. Eshoo, who was on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors when I resided in Foster City, represents the district where many biotechnology firms and venture capitalists are based, encompassing much of Silicon Valley and stretches up the San Francisco Peninsula.Just what has she done? Well, she has sponsored legislation aimed at "cleaning up the House" which she claims is to restore the confidence of the American people in their government. Sounds convincing so far. One of the key elements in her proposed legislation aims... Scott's Web Log blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1307753 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:45:00 +0100 1307753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1233330&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F235193140%2F After nearly a decade of resisting, biotech companies want a law passed this year that lets generic drug companies sell cheaper copies of their medicines. Biotechs, of course, have never had the competition from generics that brand-name drugmakers face when patents expire. While the FDA lacks authority to approve generic biotechs, several bills introduced in Congress during the past year would change that, the Associated Press writes. Biotech companies say they are ready for that change - so much so that their main trade group is making the legislation a top priority in 2008. And the Bush administration recently said it supports that aim. The shift comes as election-year politics are expected to turn Washington away from biotech’s interests. Many political observers expect Democrats ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1233330 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:01:15 +0100 1233330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1222431&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F233143829%2F The debate over generic biologics, which some call follow-on biologics, just took an interesting turn. Although the White House budget would give the FDA new funds to approve such drugs, various companies remain frustrated with the lack of a sanctioned FDA-approved pathway, which is needed before copycat versions of these expensive meds can be developed and sold in the US. So one drugmaker is turning to YouTube to press its point. Late last week, Insmed corraled one of its scientists, Mike Coleman, to offer a researcher’s view of the value of generic biologics. With his low-key, matter-of-fact delivery; youthful demeanor and standard-issue white laboratory coat, Coleman makes for an unusual lobbyist. But Insmed, which has projects under way to develop several generic biologics, is ba... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1222431 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:43:17 +0100 1222431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909239&cid=t_106091_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F286469542%2Ftubal-reversal-pregnancy-statistics.html Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Mission Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is the only medical facility specifically for tubal ligation reversal surgery. We provide the most detailed information about tubal reversal available from any doctor, hospital, or medical institution. This blog post describes how we are able to do this. Electronic Patient Database Keeping track of patients following [...] (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909239 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:59:12 +0100 1909239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064935&cid=t_106091_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F193952051%2Fsurprising_news_from_neuroscie.html Would you agree that people tend to be hardwired to follow the golden rule? If this question intrigues you, you'll likely also be curious about new research that shows surprising results related to your brain and to ethical actions. Interestingly,  neuron pathways open to support you whenever you do something altruistic. At least that’s what Dr. Donald Pfaff discovered recently. In Pfaff’s new book, The Neuroscience of Fair Play, he shows how selfless acts swing into action from the same neural connections that fired to help up raise children with care.Dr. Pfaff shows how this nurturing neural circuitry seems to spring into action to help us help others. How so?Pfaff explains how ethics, fairness and care work from the brain’s perspective.Neurobiologically, ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064935 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 17:15:48 +0100 1064935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909249&cid=t_106091_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F286469552%2Fwhy-choose-us.html Our Tubal Reversal Center is Unique Dr. Berger is the only physician in the country with a practice that is specifically limited to tubal reversal surgery. That is the only procedure performed here with Dr. Berger performing four reversals each day, five days a week. We have a high staff/patient ratio with one or [...] (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909249 Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:42:38 +0100 1909249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=883877&cid=t_106091_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F158515595%2F In a teleconference chat yesterday afternoon with a few bloggers, Jim Greenwood spent some time sharing the BIO point of view on the pressing matters of the day - follow-on biologics legislation, patent reform legislation and the FDA reform bill, which is otherwise known as PDUFA. Here are some excerpts…. FDA Reform: We think we’ve done pretty well…We’re not happy that Congress included $250 million in PDUFA fees after we spent last year negotiating with Congress…But PDUFA expires in 12 days and morale at the FDA is not good. If Congress doesn’t grant a temporary extension, it’ll be another morale killer. They (FDA staffers) really do start thinking about other offers, since government doesn’t pay.” Follow-on Biologics: This is “... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=883877 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 11:14:22 +0100 883877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848313&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F09%2F07%2Fhow-are-children-surviving-cancer%2F Filed under: Childhood CancersHow are children surviving cancer today? Better than ever before. Some childhood cancer patients, now in their young adult years, are expecting to reach milestones in their lives others before them never would have reached.Today, 1 in 1,000 young adults in the United States is a childhood cancer survivor. In the 1970s, the chance a child would outlive leukemia or lymphoma was 25 percent. Today, it's 80 percent. That's better than most adult recovery rates.As recovery rates rise, a new frontier is on the horizon -- follow-up for these young people as they age. You see, the very treatments that saved these individuals may cause them complications later in life. It's not yet clear what happens when kids live 20 to 30 years beyond diagnosis. But teams at St. Jude ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848313 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100 848313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=743276&cid=t_106091_125_f&fid=34819&url=http%3A%2F%2Fflapsblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D5289 Thanks to Kate @ Electric Venom for this great community of bloggers: The bloggers below all participate in the Do_follow project. By commenting at these blogs, you’re not only helping build a blogosphere community, but you’re also receiving a link back to your site with your comment. (Blogs that disable the “do_follow” tag — and that’s [...] (Source: FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog) FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=743276 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:04:09 +0100 743276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=735492&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F7%2F15%2Fto-fix-health-care-fix-america-first.html Brian Klepper Been to see Sicko yet? If you haven't, I'd urge you to go right out and see it. The audience in my very conservative Southern community was riveted and clapped at the end, and everyone I've traded notes with has told me their audience clapped too. While it has its flaws, its central argument – that America's health care system is clinically and financially failing a large and growing percentage of our people – is compelling and undeniable. By the way, the movie is NOT about how the system is failing the uninsured, but how it is failing those of us in the mainstream with insurance.Sicko's has several powerful themes. One is that American health care is like it is because our leaders favor their contributors rather than voters. It's true. It's unlikely we can f... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=735492 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:23:09 +0100 735492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=714009&cid=t_106091_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F04%2Ffree-teleconference-follow-up-testing-what-you-need-to-know%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Cancer events, Services, Cancer SurvivorsLiving Beyond Breast Cancer will hold a free teleconference, Follow-up Testing: What You Need to Know, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Thursday, August 16. Speaker Virginia F. Borges, MD, will discuss follow-up testing after initial treatment, including follow-up testing guidelines, insights into future tests, the uses or limitations of screening tests and the emotional impact of follow-up testing. She also will explain the need for routine follow-up for other treatment-related health matters, creating a plan to monitor overall health and the role of follow-up tests for women with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. Dr. Borges is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colora... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=714009 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 714009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=682488&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F18%2Fif-it-ducks-then-its-a-quack.html Today I saw Constance Congdon's adaptation of Moliere's 17th century play, "The Imaginary Invalid" and was rolling in the aisle with laughter.  But, as in all things humorous, there is an underlying, stinging veracity that makes you ponder, seriously, the very topics that have made you laugh.First, some pictures, and then, the prologue to this wonderful play:               And now, back to the prologue of the play:"We are doctors come to warn you of the phonies out to harm you, could your guru be a schmuck?  If it quacks, then it's a duck!Your guru scoffs at your queries, and all his precious theories won't stand up to some flack?  If it ducks, then it's a quack! (Quack!)If you are... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=682488 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 00:49:36 +0100 682488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674821&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F14%2Fthe-cognitive-dissonance-of-conflicted-care.html Here is the first post of new TDWI writer, Brian Klepper, PhD -- a different kind of doctor, true, but one who knows the health care industry inside and out.  Dr. Klepper is the Founding Director of the Center for Practical Health Reform, a broad-based non-partisan effort to re-establish stability and sustainability to American health care.  He is also an independent health care analyst. Here you go:  The cognitive dissonance of conflicted careA few days ago the New York Times ran yet another article exploring the deep financial conflicts in oncology drug prescribing. This one described two facts.First, even though Medicare has limited the profits of oncologists who prescribe drugs, Medicare’s total cancer care expenditures keep rising because oncologists have fou... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674821 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:11:47 +0100 674821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674824&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F11%2Favandia-fda-and-the-assault-on-science.html Yesterday we highlighted the background for the failure of the FDA alert physicians and patients to the dangers of Avandia, a diabetes drug marketed by GlaxoSmithKline. We ascribed the sorry state to which the FDA has sunk to the system whereby the drug industry funds a major portion of the new drug examination process. This allows them to gain faster examination and approval of their drugs. Just as important, the insidious influence of money “buys” them the loyalty of the agency’s management. Today, the New York Times  published an article titled “Potentially Incompatible Goals at FDA.”  Here are some choice quotes, with my comments in italics. · “A series of drug-safety scandals has led many on Capitol Hill to question whether the Food... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674824 Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:43:20 +0100 674824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674825&cid=t_106091_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2007%2F6%2F10%2Favandia-glaxosmithkline-and-bullying-or-how-did-we-get-into-.html I have to admit that when the Avandia story unfolded I considered writing a strong defense of the researchers who toil anonymously in the bowels of drug companies for years on end, dedicating their life careers to bringing out a drug that may save millions of lives and improve the health and quality of life of literally billions. I have been there, albeit not with a mammoth drug company, but rather with a smallish biotech company endeavoring to develop immune-based treatment for cancer. The pressures are enormous; a company invests hundreds of millions of dollars in development of a drug, and one wrong decision can sink the whole project. Preliminary data come in from the lab or the clinic that don’t look good; what do you do? Call for a screeching halt? Rationalize and ignore? None ... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674825 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 04:57:31 +0100 674825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=547787&cid=t_106091_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmetastaticlivercancer.org%2F2007-04-17-cancer-treatment%2Fyour-special-gift-if-you-leave-a-cancer-comment%2F Thanks to Colleen from GeekySpeaky, from now on each approved cancer comment you leave on my site will be spidered by the search engines. Yes, if you comment on my site, you will get more visitors because: other people will read your link in the comment and go have a look the search engines will read your [...] (Source: Metastatic liver cancer) Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=547787 Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:16:35 +0100 547787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=513011&cid=t_106091_137_f&fid=35371&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthecaregiver.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Falzheimers-reading-room-weblog-myriad.html Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN) (www.myriad.com) announced today that it presented additional results of its completed Phase 2 follow-on study of Flurizan™ in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), held March 1-4, 2007 in New Orleans.Read the release in its entirety at The Alzheimer's Reading Room Weblog (Source: CareGiver, The) CareGiver, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=513011 Tue, 06 Mar 2007 00:46:00 +0100 513011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=464813&cid=t_106091_111_f&fid=34711&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmillinersdream.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fweekend-update-21707.html Interesting discussion going on here, thanks to Shamhat who posed the original question. Join in!***** ***** *****I found out I was licensed on Saturday morning last week, a week ago today. I had proctored the night before, for my colleague in her childbirth class way out on Whidbey Island Wednesday night, the 7th. I firmly believe it the perfect night before a big test. I was distracted, doing something I love, and with a dear friend.After her class, about 10 p.m. I headed to the ferry termimal 10 minutes away. I caught the 10:30 P.M. ferry from there to Mukilteo and drove to Renton that night, arriving and locating the test site (I thought.) I drove the few blocks and then checked into the hotel nearby, where I'd made a reservation the day before, about 11:30 p.m. Coming home and then he... Milliner's Dream blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=464813 Sun, 18 Feb 2007 04:00:00 +0100 464813