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 'health science'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:06:57 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181796&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-ut-austin-finally-getting-its-long-awaited-medical-school%2F2011.09.02 The headline is disingenuous: yes, there’s a Med School headed for Austin. Congrats, Brackendridge! Kinda amusing tale after the quote: Lawmakers and local leaders are hopeful a plan unanimously adopted at Thursday’s University of Texas System Board of Regents meeting means they could finally get what they’ve long been waiting for: a new medical school. One of the elements of the plan outlined by Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa is to “advance medical education and research in Austin.” Even before Thursday’s meeting ended, state Sen. Kirk Watson issued a press release reading between the lines, calling for the creation of a flagship health science center and medical school in Austin. “Within the next 30 days, I plan to offer a path – and a challenge for our community – to bu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181796 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:10 +0100 5181796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862925&cid=t_427876_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYGVnVGNyT4k%2F Hello, everyone, and top of the morning to you. A lovely day is emerging here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, although this will be a busy one as we prepare for those meetings and deadlines. We know you relate, so please join us for a cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Rain Forest Nut. Or grab a bottle of water if you prefer. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits from around the world, such as it is. Hope your day is swell and you achieve your goals. See you later… SEC Expected To Act On Whistleblower Program (Washington Post) Deaths In Pfizer Arthritis Drug Trial Are Under A Microscope (Reuters) Vertex And Its Small, But Experienced Sales Force (Dow Jones) Watson Pays $562M For Generic Drug Developer (Reuters) Bayer and J&J’s Xarelto Prevented Repeat Strokes In Analys... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862925 Wed, 25 May 2011 12:02:24 +0100 4862925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4780284&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F05%2F03%2Fhealth-affairs-briefing-reminder-environmental-challenges-for-health%2F Tomorrow, on Wednesday,  May 4, Health Affairs will hold a Washington D.C. briefing in connection with its first ever issue on environmental health. National environmental health and policy experts will discuss the state of environmental health and its future, and will present new research in the field. The briefing and Health Affairs issue on environmental [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4780284 Tue, 03 May 2011 16:30:33 +0100 4780284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753650&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=35747&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthaffairs.org%2Fblog%2F2011%2F04%2F26%2Fhealth-affairs-briefing-environmental-challenges-for-health%2F Amid the ongoing debate over restructuring health care and implementing health reform, other factors that could affect health usually get far less attention.  One, the recently enacted $1.6 billion cut in the budget of the Environmental Protection Agency for fiscal 2011, could impair the agency’s ability to enforce rules governing clean air and water. Also [...] (Source: Health Affairs Blog) Health Affairs Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753650 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:59:40 +0100 4753650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684489&cid=t_427876_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fusability-key-ehr-adoption If you build or create something, wouldn't you take into account ease of use? It is unfathomable then that most EHR vendors do not systematically conduct EHR usability testing, according to Jiajie Zhang, who is overseeing a federal research project on the science of EHR usability in the SHARP program. No sticky read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684489 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:14:16 +0100 4684489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626835&cid=t_427876_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FL1d65XzpRt4%2F Musings on the point of equipoise for investigating and discharging chest pain patients in light of a new paper in the Lancet describing a rapid rule-out protocol for acute coronary syndromes (the ASPECT trial). (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626835 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:55:13 +0100 4626835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570607&cid=t_427876_113_f&fid=34625&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FNeilVerselsHealthcareItBlog%2F%7E3%2Fci3mKyd-Tpc%2F Leave it to those in the ivory tower of Modern Healthcare to screw up something as simple as an unscientific poll about who should be the next national coordinator for health IT.  The poll lists a whopping two dozen names, ranging from the obvious—Dr. John Halamka, Dr. Paul Tang, current deputy national coordinator Dr. Farzad Mostashari—to the dark horse—Dr. Robert Hitchcock of T-System, Paula Gregory of the “Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicince” (sic)—and even a few laughable listings. For one thing, Dr. David Brailer is on the list. The first national coordinator (2004-06) left Washington because he wanted to be with his family in San Francisco. He’s currently running a $700 million equity investment firm and couldn’t possibly want to get back in... Neil Versel's Healthcare IT Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570607 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:35:02 +0100 4570607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318337&cid=t_427876_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FbYYKshUIGYU%2F Almost immediately after finishing ‘Time to publish then filter?’ – a post that highlighted a recent editorial in the BMJ outlining the need for an effective system of post-publication peer review — I came across this in the Annals of Emergency Medicine: Millard WB. The Wisdom of Crowds, the Madness of Crowds: Rethinking Peer Review [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318337 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:00:17 +0100 4318337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318339&cid=t_427876_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2F0tiVhrUcz-0%2F An editorial in the BMJ by Schriger and Altman highlights the failings of the peer review process and the need for effective post-publication peer review. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318339 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:40:30 +0100 4318339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4196997&cid=t_427876_86_f&fid=38272&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaikaspoetnik.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F23%2Fimplementing-twitter-in-a-health-sciences-library%2F Twitter describes itself as “a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” [2]. The “answers” are equally simple, because the tweet (that what is being “said”) must fit in 140 characters. The tweet does not only [...] (Source: Laika's MedLibLog) Laika's MedLibLog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4196997 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:15:27 +0100 4196997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3899658&cid=t_427876_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F08%2F25%2Fdrawing-pain%2F The pain drawing has to be one of the more ubiquitous assessment tools around. There are many versions of outlines of naked bodies on which a person can scribble, colour, and write to indicate to treatment providers exactly where they feel their pain, and to a certain extent, some of the sensory features of that pain. But – how many of us use that drawing for anything other than ‘Oh so that’s where you feel it?’ Schott, in this truly interesting paper, discusses pain maps – not a term I’d come across before – and traces the history of pain maps as well as discussing some of the problems with it – and concludes that pain maps can contribute something quite unique to our understanding of the person’s experience, but at the same time, ackn... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3899658 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:05:42 +0100 3899658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683961&cid=t_427876_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FM32MyPH8T1w%2F Just a short note and congratulations to Dr. Francis Collins for being confirmed as director of the National Institutes of Health. Francis Collins is new NIH director According to the Associated Press, Collins was confirmed by the US Senate yesterday via voice vote (say “aye” or “nay”), so I’d have to say this was an even easier confirmation than Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who took her oath today from Chief Justice Roberts as the first Hispanic justice of the US Supreme Court after a non-event of hearings. Collins is a familiar face and name at the NIH, having been one of the prime-movers of the human genome project as head of the Human Genome Research Institute for 15 years. He also authored the controversial book “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief ” ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683961 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:40:00 +0100 2683961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2067679&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F5ZMkWnSt7HQ%2F Seems a pity that, on seeing the words “top 10 unfounded health scares,” the first thing I thought about was……….vaccines and autism. Many speak of a “debate” about an alleged vaccine-autism link and that there’s a “controversy” brewing here, but it’s a false controversy. 2008 saw the publication of more studies refuting a link, and yet there’s been a call for more studies—-among the $1 billion in research initiatives noted in the Strategic Plan of the IACC is an item about the “different health outcomes in vaccinated, unvaccinated and alternatively-vaccinated groups”—so it’s not as if this particular topic is going to go away. Sometimes, one starts to wonder, will this particular topic eve... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2067679 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:41:50 +0100 2067679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990901&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35127&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthefamilyvoyage.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Flung-cancer-in-northern-ireland.html This may be off topic, but I wanted to highlight an interesting article on lung cancer research in last Friday's Belfast Telegraph. The paper seems to run a decent health section, with fewer credulous reports than the average regional rag, at least since they stopped publishing nutropath Jan de Vries self-publicising nonsense. (Miche, what was it he charged for a 5 minute consult, during which he was abrupt and dismissive, and insisted that you buy one of his many books and herbal concotions?)The paper edition carried a photo of the researcher quoted, and damned fine he looked too (biased...moi?) It's always good to read positive stories like this, and hopefully people in the region will have more hope for a better and longer life with lung cancer thanks to the drug trials now taking place... The Voyage blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990901 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:30:00 +0100 1990901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984965&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FzJHFMdRw6TM%2F Towards the end of a review of Dr. Paul Offit’s book Autism False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure in today’s Washington Times, Malcom A. Kline writes: This writer recently heard a social worker warn the parents of autistic children to avoid certain doctor’s offices “where 90 percent of the children come out with an autism diagnosis.” What is even less widely known, though, is the degree to which the autism spectrum has expanded on the other end — the more severe cases. Now what’s going on at those “certain doctor’s offices”? Is it that said doctor is particularly attentive to parents seeking an autism diagnosis for a child, as they know that such a diagnosis can come with more services? Is there some&#... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984965 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:50:14 +0100 1984965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914719&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FEJPiVH7UjvA%2F For the past two weeks something’s been up with Charlie’s teeth, or so we think. He’s been chewing the string on his sweatshirt and his shirt and poking a finger into his mouth (on the upper right side, I think) and just dabbing at some parts of his teeth with his toothbrush (still brushing the fronts). This has certainly been the Year of Losing Teeth; there’ve been more than a few times when, after a fretful, unsettled day, Charlie has been found with a bloody tooth in his fingers. After a check-up in August, Charlie’s dentist noted that he was right on schedule to be losing so many teeth. This latest instance of possible-pain-in-the-mouth has been going on for awhile so Monday afternoon I found myself calling the dentist’s office and felt most fortunat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914719 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:19 +0100 1914719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1879950&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FRbXr5m2pLdA%2F “For families struggling with autism finding the latest treatments is a top priority,” begins an October 14th WCBStv story about “a controversial approach” that “is making headlines” (which, of course, has nothing to do with the actual efficacy of said approach). The approach is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the doctor is Dr. James Neubrander, whose website refers to autism as the “treatable untreatable disorder!.” A hyperbaric chamber will set you back $21,000, WCBStv notes. Dr. Neubrander says that HBOT treats “decreases inflammation” and somehow altars the brain chemistry of autistic children and, while there’s no studies to back it up, he says: “No, the studies are not there, but it doesn’t invalidate what we... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1879950 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 18:00:45 +0100 1879950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852673&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLf2mTLC7NHo%2F While the evidence refuting a vaccine/mercury link to autism continues to pile up, a connection between them seems to have become lodged in the public consciousness, as the recent survey on attitudes about autism from Florida of Institute of Technology suggests. One case that has attracted a particular lot of attention was that of a girl from Georgia, Hannah Poling. Back in March, it was reported that the government had conceded that Hannah’s “pre-existing mitochondrial disorder…. was ‘aggravated’ by her shots.” This decision was widely, widely discussed and the question repeatedly raised about how common mitochondrial disorders are in autistic children. One study cited was a 2007 article, Epidemiology of autism spectrum disorder in Portugal: prevalence, clinical charac... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852673 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:28:52 +0100 1852673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851058&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FtilxUiiWrWI%2F It’s Day 3 of the Science Blogs Book Club on Dr. Paul Offit’s Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure. Dr. Offit has been posting and responding to questions (yesterday he noted that “anti-vaccine forces have taken the autism story hostage,” and I agree). Kev of Left Brain/Right Brain writes about how autism has become a secondary concern, Orac posts about framing vaccines, and I have a post up about mercury rising and falling and Lyn Redwood. You can also read other reviews of Dr. Offit’s book in the Kansas City Star and on the LA Times Booster Shots blog. The Rocky Mountain News gives the book an A- and notes that “Offit’s sarcasm and brow-beating of those he disagrees with is grating - this book will... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851058 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:26:56 +0100 1851058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1785762&cid=t_427876_86_f&fid=34446&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweblogs.elearning.ubc.ca%2Fphysio%2F2008%2F09%2Fphysiotherapy_and_exercise_as.php A landmark study from the University of Western Ontario has found that one of the most common and widely performed knee operations is ineffective and doesn't provide significant benefits for osteoarthritis patients. A Randomized Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee (New England Journal or Medicine) News Stories: Therapy for arthritic knees often as effective as surgery: study (CBC Health News) Arthroscopic knee surgery ineffective: study (Globe and Mail) (Source: UBC Physio Info-blog.) UBC Physio Info-blog. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1785762 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:04:15 +0100 1785762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1782712&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-U8-z3qll9s%2F This study, the authors said, adds 1q21.1 as a chromosomal locus to the growing list of structural variants that might eventually be included in genetic screening panels for people with developmental delays or neuropsychiatric diagnoses. “Clinical diagnosis in patients with these lesions may be most readily achieved on the basis of genotype rather than phenotype,” as the study’s authors conclude. The study both shows the “importance of rare structural variants in human disease” and also reveals some of the challenges, namely: First, large samples of patients and controls are required to show that a specific variant is pathogenic. Although there have been several reports of patients with 1q21.1 deletions in studies of specific diseases, our study shows that rec... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1782712 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:13:31 +0100 1782712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1768739&cid=t_427876_86_f&fid=34446&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweblogs.elearning.ubc.ca%2Fphysio%2F2008%2F09%2Fphysio_news_stroke_exercise_re.php Stroke survivors show improvements from exercise says a recent CBC health news item. People who have suffered a stroke may benefit from walking on a treadmill years after the brain injury, according to a RCT published in Stroke Abstract: Treadmill Exercise Activates Subcortical Neural Networks and Improves Walking After Stroke. A Randomized Controlled Trial The full-text will be available soon in the PABC eLibrary’s LWW Total Access Journal Collection. (Source: UBC Physio Info-blog.) UBC Physio Info-blog. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1768739 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:13:33 +0100 1768739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723505&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlrNkIfRAqqQ%2F Measles cases are at their highest level in a decade, and is looming dread of autism at least partially responsible for this? There is a myth about vaccines and autism out there; the myth arose after a certain British doctor published a certain study linking the MMR vaccine to autism. A number of the authors of this study have since signed a formal retraction about the results of the study and the doctor is now accused of alleged ethical violations regarding his research and faces being struck off the registry to practice medicine in the UK. It was also found that the doctor (yes, it’s Andrew Wakefield) had been paid £400,000 by lawyers trying to prove that the vaccine was unsafe. Vaccines don’t cause autism and are not behind the rise in autism cases. Study after study disput... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723505 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:29:44 +0100 1723505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1720392&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FCMVyfgFq-Ck%2F The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) coordinates research and efforts pertaining to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). On August 11th, the National Institute of Mental Health issued a Request for Information (RFI): Priorities for the IACC Services Subcommittee for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek input from Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) stakeholders including individuals with ASD and their families, autism advocates, State officials, scientists, health professionals, therapists, educators, and the public at large about what they consider to be high-priority issues and concerns surrounding services and supports for children, youth, and adults with ASD. The IA... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1720392 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:00:52 +0100 1720392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1713982&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FUyZJm72zRB8%2F Gluten-free doesn’t have to mean flavor-free: the ultimate guide to wheat-less eating trumpets a recent post on Epicurious. Who don’t you know (sister-in-law, aunt, close friend from college) who hasn’t noted to you, “I’ve been going gluten-free and I feel so much better….”. As long as my son’s been diagnosed, the gluten-free casein-free diet has been touted as a potential “treatment” for autism. Once we were fanatics; now he has the occasional bun with his hot dog and I pack his lunchbox with sushi and spring rolls and other gluten-free casein-free eats. And I keep finding more and more gluten-free items in the local grocery stores and hear about more and more people trying “the diet,” which was most recently promoted... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1713982 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:00:20 +0100 1713982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1700792&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1XY7bQPuvD0%2F Is the media addicted to controversy—as in the notion that the MMR vaccine could be linked to autism—and is this potentially seriously damaging to people’s health? So Peter Wilby asks in today’s Guardian: Nearly all journalists aspire to emulate two stories: the Watergate scandal, which brought down a US president; and the thalidomide scandal, which, after years of campaigning and legal battles, forced a multinational giant to eat humble pie… In regard to autism, one might speak of: Vaccinegate? MMRgate? CDC/Big Pharma/name your government agency or large drug company gate? Or, simply, Autismgate? Wilby notes some familiar topoi in discussions about autism and vaccines, and parent accounts about how vaccines affected their children: For the press……... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1700792 Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:32:25 +0100 1700792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1686315&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHRN9YTOznOo%2F In light of this discussion, consider statement from Bad Astronomy (a blog for Discover Magazine): …….antivaxxers are potentially the Number One health hazard in America ????!????!!!?!?????! Or maybe Bad Astronomy’s statement could just be punctuated with a plain old, definitive, period. Tags: amanda peet, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Baby, bettelheim, child rearing, disabilities blog, disability, Health, immunization, infant, measles, mercury, mmr, Parenting, paul offit, pdd-nos, prophet, Science, shots, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1686315 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:20:46 +0100 1686315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646056&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F342832548%2F As the July 28th American Medical News notes, Vaccine-autism link unsupported by science, but theory lives on. Victoria Stagg Elliott reports on the Autism One conference that was held last May in Chicago; not only were many of the conference sessions about immunization issues, but, even when these were not the main focus, “the notion that some aspect of vaccines may play a role in autism was evident.” The American Medical News article includes a table of 2-year-olds in England who received at least one dose of MMR, and the number of cases of measles and mumps reported. Measles, it is noted, is now considered “endemic,” though the number of children being vaccinated is rising again: In 1995-96, 92% of children received the vaccine and there were 112 measles cases an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646056 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:26:58 +0100 1646056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640186&cid=t_427876_86_f&fid=34446&url=http%3A%2F%2Fweblogs.elearning.ubc.ca%2Fphysio%2F2008%2F07%2Fsummer_time_and_the_gyno_spa.php Nothing like old news. Admit it. We all fall behind sometimes...especially in the summer - especially here in BC where summer seems too short. So, I’m daring to even mention a couple of interesting articles I came across few weeks ago. Apparently, we’re in the slow season for sports injuries (and slow blog posts). According to the New York Times “Summer Sports Are Among the Safest”, and that snowboarding accidents are higher than the rate for summer pastimes like boating, camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, and water-skiing — combined. Is this true? Does this mean sports physios get a little rest over the summer? Meanwhile...get me to a physio, my snowboarding injury is still haunting me! Ok. This one really caught my eye: A Spa for Those Women Concerned About ... UBC Physio Info-blog. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640186 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:27:13 +0100 1640186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1551449&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F321622032%2F Ever since March when the government conceded that vaccines had “aggravated” a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder and led to symptoms of autism in a 9-year-old girl, Hannah Poling, whether there’s any link between mitonchondrial disorders and autism has been under questions. Is there a “subpopulation of mitochondrial autism“?, Hannah Poling’s father, Dr. Jon Poling has asked. Researchers at Medical Neurogenetics have said they have found evidence of a genetic link and mitochondrial disease. Anecdotally, I’ve heard parents of autistic children seeking out tests for mitochondrial disorders. In the June 28th New York Times, Gardiner Harris (who has previously reported on vaccines and autism) writes about a meeting on Sunday in Indianapolis that feder... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1551449 Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:54:56 +0100 1551449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392540&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F275891063%2F According to an April 22nd Scientific American piece about the case of Hannah Poling—the 9-year-old Georgia girl whose “pre-existing mitochondrial disorder…. was ‘aggravated’ by her shots” according to a concession by the federal government and who was awarded a settlement: “….. scientifically, from the documents presented in the vaccine court, the Polings did not make a case that deserved compensation.” Here’s why their case did not deserve compensation, as noted by Nikhil Swaminathan in Scientific American: Hannah’s disorder is likely due to a rare mutation in her DNA. Most of the DNA responsible for mitochondria is inherited from mothers, because mitochondrial genes are carried in the egg but not sperm. Salvatore DiMauro, a mitochondria ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392540 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:30:55 +0100 1392540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389078&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F274558590%2F In an op-ed entitled Foul Shots in yesterday’s New York Post, Robert Goldberg charts what could be called the rise and fall of the MMR vaccine. The MMR was developed by microbiologist Maurice Hilleman, “saved millions of lives around the world,” and—in one press conference in 1998—was said to be linked to digestive problems in children and to have caused them to become autistic, and so began what seems to be a steady erosion in public faith about vaccines. Wakefield’s claims have been discredited; he has been accused of medical ethics violations and faces being struck off the medical record. Goldberg, the vice president of The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest in New York City, wryly notes: And so April, Autism Awareness Month, becomes not a nob... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389078 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:49:28 +0100 1389078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1338053&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F261290073%2F Paul A. Offit, chief of the infectious diseases division of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, writes this about the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and the case of Hannah Poling in an op-ed in today’s New York Times: Now, petitioners need merely propose a biologically plausible mechanism by which a vaccine might cause harm — even if their explanation contradicts published studies [my emphasis].In 2006, for example, Dorothy Werderitsh claimed in the vaccine court that a hepatitis B vaccine had triggered an autoimmune response in her brain that led to multiple sclerosis. Two large studies had clearly shown that hepatitis B vaccine could neither cause nor exacerbate multiple sclerosis, but the court ruled in favor of Ms. Werderitsh, elevating a hypothesis above e... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1338053 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:51:11 +0100 1338053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1286284&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F247495365%2F In the wake of the concession by the government in the case of a 9 year old girl whose underlying, rare mitochondrial disorder was “aggravated” by vaccines, CBS News has reposted an article that was originally published last June, Autism: Why The Debate Rages by investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. Attkinson offers seven reasons as to why—-as scientific evidence refuting a vaccine-autism link continues to increase—”anyone [is] even still debating the possibility of a link between vaccines and autism.” In particular, she notes that, while government officials and agencies (such as the CDC), mainstream scientists, and non-profits who dispel any vaccine/autism link, may not have direct ties with pharmaceutical companies who manufacture vaccines, th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1286284 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 19:33:21 +0100 1286284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965484&cid=t_427876_107_f&fid=39265&url=http%3A%2F%2Fanimacules.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F06%2Fone-step-forwards-and-two-steps-back%2F So it seems that Bush and company have decided that they are no longer forcing much of their AIDs money to go into abstinence only campaigns. Instead they now require ‘justification’ if less than 50% of money doesn’t go into abstinence or faithfulness campaigns, which may sound reasonable but it will depend in my view on how stringent they are (and what conditions they stick on that). The ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful and use Condoms) campaign in Nigeria showed this can be a very effective approach, but preaching abstinence and faithfulness alone is utterly worthless for doing much of anything. If this is just another way of enforcing more money into going into campaigns that clearly don’t work well rather than sensible sexual education and prevention campaign (and t... Animacules blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965484 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:02:27 +0100 3965484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1239283&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2F237102192%2Fscience-money-influence.html According to the NYT, a memo critical of the role of the Gates Foundation's increasing role in global health research and policy was recently released to the media. The World Health Organization's... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Women's Bioethics Blog) Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1239283 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:13:49 +0100 1239283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1121951&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2007%2F12%2F30%2Fsperm-power%2F Ever wonder where the little guys get all their energy ?                          Well, you are not alone. Scientists at Cornell University have recently been exploring the nature of sperm power with the possibility of harnessing this sperm energy to use on nano-robots. Huh! Sperm driven robots! Get real! Remember the saying ‘fact is often stranger that fiction.’ Well, here’s the facts… Apparently the microscopic sperm cells use a “…kind of dual-engine system to generate their energy. Organelles in a sperm cell’s midsection provide one part of its battery power, while a second process occurring in the long, spindly tail gives it an additional boast. It’s during this second process, known as glycosis, that ATP enzymes d... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1121951 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 06:04:54 +0100 1121951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1080378&cid=t_427876_131_f&fid=34990&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fepigeneticsnews%2F%7E3%2F197144629%2F One of the postdocs here in the Skinner lab, Dr. Ramji Bhandari, has started a blog related to his area of expertise, Sex Determination Research. Ramji is new to blogging and decided to get his feet wet with a number of relevent abstracts, which will be a nice resource for those interested in sex determination. Cautious forays into open science continue. Dr. Rosie Redfield of the University of British Columbia is a vocal supporter, and recently explained her philosophy in blogging about her current experiments and encouraging her lab members to do the same. Also, Pedro Beltrao is testing the use of Google Code as a management system for conducting an open science experiment involving domain family expansion. The Pump Handle, a blog that provides editorials and commentary on emerging trends... Epigenetics News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1080378 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:00:47 +0100 1080378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1068720&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F194756285%2F Giving autistic children psychiatric medications is a not uncontroversial topic; giving children—young children—such medications is equally controversial. The December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatryhas issued guidelines for the use of psychiatric medication in preschoolers. The guidelines were issued by the Preschool Psychopharmacology Working Group which (as noted in the December 4th Science Daily) includes “clinicians and researchers in early childhood psychiatric disorders, psychopharmacology, general and behavioral pediatrics, neurodevelopmental processes, and clinical psychology.” The guidelines were created to address the phenomenon of more and more preschool-aged children taking stimulants, antidepressants and ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1068720 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:03:29 +0100 1068720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1067807&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F194445218%2F When you hear the word “treatment,” what does it mean to you? Something medical or, more specifically, biomedical? Or do you see “treatment” in reference to autism as a word that encompasses the full range of approaches that can be tried to help an autistic child develop and learn? “Treatment” might then refer to education and different educational methodologies to teach kids who need different learning styles. Or to behavioral and psychosocial therapies? Or do you prefer not to use the word “treatment” at all? At last Friday, 30 November’s IACC meeting, “treatment” was one of four research domains to be considered in developing a Strategic Plan for research for autism. Developing the plan involves the creation of workgrou... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1067807 Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:31:49 +0100 1067807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1022531&cid=t_427876_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F184107607%2F Could this become a trend? Yesterday, you may recall that we wrote about the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is putting the finishing touches on a conflicts-of-interest policy to create guidelines for distributing samples. Now, the University of Texas Health Science Center will enact a new policy on Jan. 1, in which doctors and med students will have to refuse any gifts from the pharmaceutical industry. “Gifts, no matter how small, maybe have the potential, subliminally even, to affect a decision that a clinician might be making,” Robert Clark, UTHSC assistant vice president for clinical research, tells a San Antonio television station. “What is the very best thing for this particular patient in terms of the drug I’m going to prescribe or the device ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1022531 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 13:20:56 +0100 1022531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012393&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F181262480%2F Alternative treatments for autism abound, from nutritional supplements to special shots to craniosacral therapy to hyperbaric oxygen therapy to holding therapy, to name a few. November is Complementary and Alternative Medicine Month and Science Blogs considers homeopathic “remedies,” including Abel PharmBoy on Homeopathy is NOT herbal medicine and Respectful Insolence on A Real Death by Homeopathy. Sometimes it seems that one hears so much about such “alternative” treatments” that one starts to feel that just doing “the basics”—let’s say, school, speech, OT, some physical therapy—is not enough. In further honor to this month, here is a description of some real snake oil. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012393 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:30:21 +0100 1012393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=950913&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F169997688%2F There were no celebrity autism mother TV appearances last week and things were somewhat “normal” (a rather loaded word here, as regards autism and disability: what is “normal”……), though sobering. Worry, WorryA 11-year-old boy is bullied as he gets off the schoolbus—and the attackers videotape it. Autism and Genetics and the EnvironmentOn the age-old question of nurture and, or vs., nature. Sister charged with failing to provide the necessities of lifeTiffany Pinckney was found in a basement on a soiled rug and weighing 84 pounds. Her sister, Allison Cox, is on trial. Who pays for what? (3): In this case, the state of New YorkThe Supreme Court rules in favor of a former Viacom exec who sued the city of New York to pay for his learning disabled so... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=950913 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:16:26 +0100 950913 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=907102&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F161818425%2F A new study published in the September 27th New England Journal of Medicine does not support a link between early thimerasol exposure and neuropsychological deficits in children. Epidemiologist William V. Thompson, PhD, of the CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases and others, conclude that: Our study does not support a causal association between early exposure to mercury from thimerasol-containing vaccines and immune globulis and deficits in neuropsycological functioning at the age of 7 to 10 years. 1047 children between the ages of 7 and 10 were administed standardized tests assessing 42 neuropsychological outcomes (autism spectrum disorders were not assessed). The children were from four HMOs that participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=907102 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 06:01:38 +0100 907102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=870468&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F156219514%2F Autism caused by nasal spray? (One assumes it is not this type of nasal spray.) A Kentucky man spanks an autistic child who goes into his yard? A correlation between teenage pregnancy and autism? I’d rather hear about fewer speculative causes of autism—-as for the spanking by the neighbor, enough said. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=870468 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:41:30 +0100 870468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=869548&cid=t_427876_131_f&fid=35008&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceroll.com%2F2007%2F09%2F13%2Fbizarre-medical-experiments%2F I’ve never thought experiments like these below could be done on this planet. I thought we’re better. Maybe I was too naiv. A list of many more similar experiments will be published in the book, Elephants on Acid this November. You can buy it from Amazon. Why should we talk about these? Probably to know what not to do in the future… The Milgram experiment: Milgram told subjects they were participating in an experiment to determine the effect of punishment on learning. One volunteer (who was, in reality, an actor in cahoots with Milgram) would attempt to memorize a series of word pairs. The other volunteer (the real subject) would read out the word pairs and give the learner an electric shock every time he got an answer wrong. The shocks would increase in intensity by f... ScienceRoll blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=869548 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:53:53 +0100 869548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=843785&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F152726331%2F Since my son was diagnosed with autism some eight and a half years ago I—like many parents—-have tried to stay as well informed as I might about treatments, therapies, programs. (Not that we have wanted to try out many of the “treatment protocols” we have read about.) So on reading a BizWire press release entitled New Techniques to Reverse Autism, I wondered what would it be now, a special diet, HBOT, a sauna, a special new technique, a technological device, wrapping a child in refrigerated wet blankets. There is something somewhat new about these “new techniques,” developed by the non-profit “Santa Monica, California based HOEFFLIN I6S Child Education Institute (”I6S”),” whose President is a plastic surgeon, Steven M. Hoefflin, M... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=843785 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 23:49:07 +0100 843785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=832576&cid=t_427876_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fksdescartin.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fmedical-networking%2F   There is a social networking site for physicians and for those who are in the health research. Membership is given by invitation. It is called Within3.   It is similar to the professional networking site called LinkedIn. (Source: the story of healing) the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=832576 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:40:15 +0100 832576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=776151&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F139831395%2F Mercury rising: Parents of autistic children are mounting a vicious campaign against scientists who refute the link between vaccines and autism is an article in the August 1st Nature Medicine. Writer Virginia Hughes “takes the temperature of the escalating debate”—and finds things have risen to, indeed, a fever pitch as those who are “against mercury” and specifically, “against mercury” in the form of thimerasol in vaccines, and who (like the Moms Against Mercury) protest against those they see as the arch-enemy: (1) Scientists like Paul Offit, Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), who has been referred to as a “devil” and a “TERRORIST&#82... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=776151 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:51:22 +0100 776151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=774183&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F139831395%2F Mercury rising: Parents of autistic children are mounting a vicious campaign against scientists who refute the link between vaccines and autism is an article in the August 1st Nature Medicine appears. Writer Virginia Hughes “takes the temperature of the escalating debate”—and finds things have risen to, indeed, a fever pitch. Here is the full text: In June 2006, on the first day of the summer meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, more than 100 protesters crowded the sidewalks outside the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Organized by a nonprofit called Moms Against Mercury, the mob was made up mostly of people who believe that thimerosal-a mercury-based vaccine preservative-is responsible for the dramatic rise in auti... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=774183 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 05:56:35 +0100 774183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=771648&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F139395210%2F New advances in studying the eye tracking patterns of infants may lead to a new way–yet another new way?—to diagnose autism and language delays in young children, according to the July 31st New York Times. The Times reports on research from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute: Researchers found that babies who look at their mothers’ mouths “have stronger language abilities” by the time they are three. Also noted is research by Professor Ami Klin director of the autism program of the Yale Child Study Center; he and Warren Jones have published an online paper in Developmental Science about a 15-month-old autistic girl whose “viewing patterns showed her to be driven by the physical attributes of what she was seeing rather than the social context.” Tiny vi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=771648 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:52:43 +0100 771648 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=743357&cid=t_427876_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F135133800%2F “Geckel” is a new adhesive material that combines elements of gecko and mussel adhesion: While geckos are notable for being able to move up vertical surfaces and to keep moving upside down, their adhesive ability lessens in water—-which is precisely where mussels show off their sticking power. Geckel is said to function “like a sticky note and exhibit[s] strong yet reversible adhesion in both air and water.” Notes the July 18th Science Daily about research by two Northwestern University biomedical engineers that appears in the July 19th Nature: “The geckel material should be useful for reversible attachment to a variety of surfaces in any environment,” said Phillip B. Messersmith, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern’s McCormic... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=743357 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:46:53 +0100 743357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=547407&cid=t_427876_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Freporting-science-who-is-interested-who.html Blogs that covers scientific or medical matters frequently criticise both the inadequate and uninformed coverage of these issues in mainstream media while despairing at the ready coverage given to (say) anti-scientific or pro-CAM topics. Too often, science or health journalists seem to reproduce a press release about a study uncritically and make no attempt to check the underlying science, hypotheses or results of the studies or trials. We rely upon journalists of various media to read and understand studies that are of general interest and to report upon them accurately. However, as Goldacre expresses it, although:newspapers like to fantasise that they are mediators between specialist tricky knowledge and the wider public...I wouldn’t be so flattering. In fact, if you have access to the... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=547407 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:16:00 +0100 547407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=517802&cid=t_427876_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F106249533%2F Children are born scientists. A friend of mine and her four-year-old son, Lilian and Sean, were experimenting with straws and water. When he made a huge mess on the floor (of course!), she scolded him and they had this enlightening conversation. Sean: You shouldn’t scold me. Lilian: Why not? S: Because I’m a scientist. L: So what it you’re a scientist? Why can’t I scold you? S: Because scientists know everything. Let’s have some applause for the little scientist! That’s a great comeback for every occasion. Tags: science, scientists, children, kids, funny, humor (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=517802 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 08:44:04 +0100 517802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486427&cid=t_427876_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F102152261%2F Finding information on science and health can be daunting. Results are overwhelming if you type in a keyword that is too general. But even if you know the specific keyword phrase that will get you the most targeted results, it can be hard to sift through and determine which link will yield the best information. Search engines for specific niches are available. Two have been developed in the area of science and health - Medstory.com and Healia.com. (See my previous review of Medstory.com.) They both have their strengths and weaknesses which I have reviewed in this screencast demonstrating with a search for the serotonin receptor 2c gene.* *I’m not sure why the uploaded Google Video screencast is such poor quality and why the last millisecond got truncated when the original file is fi... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486427 Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:20:46 +0100 486427