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 'human'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:54:16 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181901&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fwhy-a-hurricane-filled-me-with-gratitude%2F Like much of the East Coast, New York City was hit by Hurricane Irene. On Saturday, we checked our flashlights, loaded up on food, filled the bathtub, and hoped for the best. We were extremely lucky. The hurricane didn’t affect us much — we didn’t even lose power. And I’m very, very grateful for that. The hurricane was a good reminder about gratitude. For one thing, it reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for that it seems a bit preposterous that I need to remind myself to be grateful — but I do. When life is taking its ordinary course, it’s so easy to take everyday life for granted. Also, the hurricane made me much more mindful of how much I love my apartment and my city, and how safe and secure I generally feel. It’s a sad foible of human nature that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181901 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:53:47 +0100 5181901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174651&cid=t_107655_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Feuropean-anatomical-collections-network-initiative%2F Great initiative! Elena Corradini at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) and Marek Bukowski at the Museum of the Medical University of Gdansk (Poland) are proposing a European Anatomical Collections Network. Elena and Marek’s idea is to launch a joint European program for the preservation, handling, and availability of anatomical collection based on contemporary best practice in the field (the image to the right is from one of our temporary anatomical exhibitions in 2008): They are going to present the project at the UMAC (University Museums and Collections) meeting in Lisbon in September, but as a starter they would like curators of anatomical collection around Europe to respond to a survey, with questions like: Type of collection (anatomical and/or pathological and... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174651 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:09:38 +0100 5174651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174620&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fscientists-study-the-shape-of-the-nose-and-its-relationship-with-climate%2F2011.08.28 The basic function of the human nose is to warm and humidify the air before it reaches the lungs. Because of the wide variation of human habitats from the polar cold and dry air to the equatorial hot and humid weather, one would expect the nose to accommodate to these climate extremes accordingly through evolutionary pressures. In essence, logically one would expect the nose to change shape to enhance time that air is in contact with the warm and moist nasal interior in cold and dry climates compared to the opposite environmental extreme. German scientists evaluated this hypothesis through (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Fauquier ENT Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174620 Sun, 28 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100 5174620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159832&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FMZZz09zPr9Q%2F Despite strong endorsements from public health officials, teenage vaccination rates for the HPV vaccine are trailing the other two vaccines recommended for teens and pre-teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The two vaccines approved to combat the human papillomavirus are Gardasil, which is sold by Merck, and Cervarix, which is sold by GlaxoSmithKline. To be specific, coverage was 49 percent for one dose of HPV vaccine; 63 percent for MenACWY, which protects against meningococcal meningitis; and 69 percent for the TDP vaccine, which guards against tetanus, diptheria and pertussis. Meanwhile, coverage increases for Tdap and MenACWY vaccines grew 13.3 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively. For girls who received the recommended three doses of HPV vaccine, covera... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159832 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:25:02 +0100 5159832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158889&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008255.html In an approximate 5 year cycle the warming of the surface water in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean during the El Niño-Southern Oscillation causes changes in weather including shifts in rainfall and temperatures. For 90 affected tropical countries these climate changes cause societal stress that up the risk of civil war. In the first study of its kind, researchers have linked a natural global climate cycle to periodic increases in warfare. The arrival of El Niño, which every three to seven years boosts temperatures and cuts rainfall, doubles the risk of civil wars across 90 affected tropical countries, and may help account for a fifth of worldwide conflicts during the past half-century, say the authors. The paper, written by an... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158889 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5158889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159836&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAhQvJIfu6qE%2F Concerns about conflicts of interests are all the rage these days. The FDA is debating whether to loosen rules over complaints that an insufficient number of experts are available for its advisory committees. And the National Institutes of Health just issued new rules covering academics who receive federal funding for their research and also have ties to industry (see here and here). As it turns out, the US Department of Health & Human Services, which oversees both agencies, has its own problems with conflicts. A new report by the HHS Office of Inspector General found most conflict-of-interest waivers issued two years ago were not documented as recommended in federal ethics regulations and only a minority of waivers were signed and dated by HHS employees receiving them. These waivers... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159836 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:12:11 +0100 5159836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159220&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fthe-situation-of-human-rights%2F Ryan Goodman, Derek Jinks, Andrew Woods,  have recently posted their chapter, “Social Science and Human Rights“   (forthcoming in their edited book, “Understanding Social Action, Promoting Human Rights,” Oxford University Press, 2012) on SSRN * * * Over the last twenty years, the social scientific understanding of human behavior has taken a significant leap forward. Important advances in several fields have increased the complexity and accuracy of prevailing models of individual actors, group dynamics, and communication. Unfortunately, too few of the key insights of that scholarship have been incorporated into the theory or practice of human rights promotion. In this project, we collect research from a broad set of disciplines and analyze its implications for hu... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159220 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:01:00 +0100 5159220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159555&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1061-Biology-101-a-kidney-is-not-an-organism.html But apparently Dr. Robert Blake, and many other people nowadays, do not understand the difference.  Blake recently wrote an opinion letter insisting that science does not know when human life begins.  The fact that a new genetically distinct organism identifiable by his or her own unique DNA is created at fertilization is not important.  Blake argues that same DNA is in every cell in our body and so the cell created at fertilization, the zygote, is no different than say a skin cell.  They totally ignore the fact that a skin cell is just a cell and a zygote is an organism that self directs toward more mature stages like embryo, fetus, baby, child and so on.  A skin cell will never do that on its own.  I have heard the argument more and more that fertilization i... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159555 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:29:50 +0100 5159555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159633&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fa-letter-to-canadians-from-the-honourable-jack-layton%2F August 20, 2011 Toronto, Ontario Dear Friends, Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159633 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 04:43:59 +0100 5159633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140111&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1058-No-Such-Thing-as-Potential-Life.html Potential is a great adjective meaning "existing in possibility."  It is useful for describing nouns such as "opportunity", "benefit" or "risk."  But it is not an adjective that can be used in the biological sense with the noun "life." Unfortunately, it is used exactly in that manner.  We have all heard that a human embryo not human life, only "potential" human life.  But in biology there is only life or non-life.  Either an organism is living or non-living.  There is no "potential" life.  So an living human embryo is human life, period.  I found this great quote from Dr. C. Ward Kischer, emeritus professor of Human Embryology at the University of Arizona, that explains:No human em... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140111 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:10:29 +0100 5140111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139635&cid=t_107655_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fnhs-commissioning-board%25e2%2580%2599s-people-transition-policy%2F Title: NHS Commissioning Board’s People Transition Policy Scan or click to download ‘NHS Commissioning Board’s People Transition Policy’ The Skinny: Dear Colleague letter from Sir David Nicholson about the People Transition Policy, published on Thursday 28 July, developed specifically for the NHS Commissioning Board. Publisher: DH Published: 02/08/11 Size: 2p. Filed under: Ooops Missed Category! Tagged: Commissioning, Grey Literature, Health service staff, Human Resources, NHS Circulars, Staff (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139635 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:28:34 +0100 5139635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5130669&cid=t_107655_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F15%2Fequity-and-excellence-liberating-the-nhs-managing-the-transition%2F Scan or click barcode to download 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS - Managing the Transition' Title: Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS – Managing the Transition The Skinny: Dear Colleague letter giving an update on transition arrangements with a particular focus on the new commissioning system and providing answers to some frequently asked questions on the Health and Social Care Bill. Particularly relating to: Current performance and planning for 2011/12 Developing the new commissioning system Progress on other aspects of the transition It also refers to the imminent publication of the [download id="8"]. This guidance has been developed to help retain those staff fulfilling business critical roles to sustain business continuity during the transition. Sca... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5130669 Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:17:33 +0100 5130669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125968&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgEUN4aYZF2A%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Acucela hired Michelle Carpenter as senior vp for regulatory affairs and development operations. Most recently, she executive director for regulatory affairs at Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences. Before that, she was vp of regulatory affairs at Oculu... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125968 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:11:41 +0100 5125968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118613&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FR7dzspykaNU%2F By Michael F. CannonThe debt deal was none too kind to ObamaCare. Here’s more bad news for this misguided law: Kansas becomes the second state (after Oklahoma) to return to the federal government one of ObamaCare’s lavish “Early Innovator Grants.” Coming from Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius’s home state, that’s gotta hurt. The latest ObamaCare eruption shows the law could cost $50 billion more per year than advertised. If anyone but the government sold you something like this, we’d put them in jail. Many of the same Democrats who said it wasn’t a benefit cut when ObamaCare ratcheted down the price controls that government uses to pay health care providers now say it is a benefit cut when states do that. Kansas Retur... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118613 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:21:48 +0100 5118613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107630&cid=t_107655_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Ff1LdsDd7wdc%2F I was getting my son’s physical for school the other day and the doctor talked to us about HPV.  What is it?  HPV, or humanpapilloma virus, is a very common sexually transmitted virus.  In fact, it is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States today.  More than half of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives.  The good news is that there is now a vaccine called Gardasil to protect you from this sometimes deadly virus.  Gardasil use to be given only to young women, but now it is recommended for girls, ages 11-26 AND males, ages 9-26.  It is important to note that the vaccine is given before any sexual contact, because once someone is infected, the vaccine might not work as well or might not work at all.  Women with the v... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107630 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0100 5107630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107731&cid=t_107655_123_f&fid=39036&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpediatricinc.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F07%2Fexit-interviews-before-they-exit%2F Exit interviews are done when an employee is leaving the organization. The intent of the interview is for the employer to gather data for improving working conditions and retaining employees. Theoretically, I understand why one would want to do exit interview. But I don’t understand why one would wait until the employee is leaving to ask their opinion. Seems to me that at that point, it is too late. Asking employees exit interview type questions while employees are working at your practice can also be a good tool to gather employees’ feedback on their work experience in and effort to improve working conditions and retain employees. Examples of exit interview type questions that can help one get a sense of how employee perceive working at your practice. For example: What is most satisfy... Pediatric Inc blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107731 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:46:28 +0100 5107731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103315&cid=t_107655_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F08%2F05%2Flatina-week-of-action-for-reproductive-justice%2F This week, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and other organizations have been observing the second annual Latina Week of Action for Reproductive Justice: This year’s theme is Caminamos: Justice for Immigrant Women. We’re inviting everyone to join us in moving toward a brighter future for immigrant women and their families. Mean-spirited enforcement, workplace exploitation, and the criminalization of basic rights like education and health care are just a few of the challenges that have forced immigrant women into the shadows and ignored the crucial, positive role we play in our communities. Action items for the week include calling for a review of the 287(g) program and online discussion on the theme, “what’s the real problem behind the targeting of ... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103315 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:27:53 +0100 5103315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077868&cid=t_107655_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FbVs7OP1xH_I%2F In recent years, we have witnessed the beginnings of a revolution in education.  Technology has fundamentally altered the way we do many things in daily life, but it is just starting to make headway in changing the way we teach.  Just as television shows like Sesame Street enhanced the passive learning of information for kids by teaching in a fun format, electronic games offer to greatly enhance the way kids and adults are taught by actively engaging them in the process. The Entertainment Software Association estimates that sixty-seven percent of American households play video or computer games [1].  They are especially popular among young males, with a recent study of teenagers by researchers at Yale reporting that 76.3% of male (and 29.2% of female) teens play video games [2].  These... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077868 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:36:31 +0100 5077868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077677&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FALvR_OSUX_w%2F The following is a guest post from blogger and writer Amanda Kidd. She is a regular follower of healthy living her health guide includes all the health related topics. Amongst all she likes to write on sexual health a lot: Sexual urge or the libido is a natural phenomenon in men and women alike. It is widely believed and understood that couples enjoy intimacy more in their young age rather than in matured stage of their lives. Though apparently this may be a well accepted notion and may also look very true, the research indicates otherwise. Sexual urge in older women, or middle aged women, is a subject of immense interest and research amongst the scientists and researchers all over the world. What happens to the sexual drive of a woman when she crosses the threshold of 30 and enters into t... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077677 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:50:58 +0100 5077677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077688&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-pharmacogenomic-tests-help-to-improve-public-health%2F2011.07.29 Adverse drug events are a serious public health problem. Consider the following facts: an estimated 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more; 700,000 emergency department visits and 120,000 hospitalizations are due to adverse drug events annually; $3.5 billion is spent on extra medical costs of adverse drug events annually; at least 40% of costs associated with adverse drug events occurring outside hospitals can be prevented. How can genomics help? Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic variation as a factor in drug response, affecting both safety and effectiveness. The intended applications of pharmacogenomics research include identifying responders and non-responders to medications, avoiding adverse events, optimizing drug dose and avoiding unnece... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077688 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:00:10 +0100 5077688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077678&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2F5hHFowu-r40%2F On June 9, 2011, sanofi-aventis U.S. announced the “sanofi-aventis U.S. Innovation Challenge: Data, Design, Diabetes” at the National Institute of Health’s Health Data Initiative Forum. The challenge, which launched on July 1, integrates open data with a human-centered view into diabetes, and will award $220,000 in total prize money. The challenge is designed for fast learning, so that innovators can create the needed service solutions for people living with diabetes. It brings together the richness of open data sets made available on healthdata.gov, the values of human-centered design, and the leading edge methodology of the top innovation accelerators. Until July 31st, innovators can submit their concepts on www.datadesigndiabetes.com.  In early August, an independent panel of exp... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077678 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:30:17 +0100 5077678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069555&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fivf-science-and-pseudscience.html Medicine is not an exact science. It’s not possible for us to predict what the outcome of an IVF cycle is. While we are very good at making embryos in the lab, once we transfer the embryos into the uterus we still cannot predict which embryo will become a baby & which one won’t. When an IVF cycle fails , especially after the transfer of Grade A embryos, the first question the patient is going to ask is - Why did the cycle fail? When this happens , a lot of doctors become very defensive because they feel the patient is blaming them for the failure. This is why they are reluctant to tell the truth , which is - We really don’t know because we don’t have the technology to be able to answer this question. This is the honest scientific answer ! After all, human reproduction is an ine... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069555 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:05:00 +0100 5069555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062500&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FdI34cgVq2EI%2F After two decades during which complaints have mounted over various aspects of clinical trials, the US Department of Health & Human Services has issued a proposal that would, presumably, better protect clinical trial subjects. There are various suggestions, but include improving consent forms for participants and mandating the use of a single institutional review board for multi-study sites. “The current regulations governing human subjects research were developed years ago when research was predominantly conducted at universities, colleges, and medical institutions, and each study generally took place at only a single site,” the HHS states in its proposal, which indicates comments can be submitted for 60 days as of July 25 - which is today - according to an HHS spokeswoma... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062500 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:16:58 +0100 5062500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051233&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F_Ne7ygGc-0w%2F Faced with being banned from doing business with such federal healthcare programs as Medicare and Medicaid, Forest Laboratories ceo and president Howard Solomon recently retained former US Senator John Breaux as a lobbyist. The Louisiana pol is now a senior counsel with the Patton Boggs law firm, which has a large healthcare practice (see here). His lobbying registration form was filed on June 14, two months after the Office of Inspector General of the US Department of Health & Human Services notified the drugmaker that its 83-year-old executive was facing exclusion (read this). The Hill first reported Forest hired Breaux. Last year, Forest pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and made a $313 million payment that included $164 million in criminal penalties, and signed a corporate ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051233 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:48:51 +0100 5051233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051238&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbCFE16uqAmc%2F And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. As you know, this is our welcome signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is modest - a dip in the pool, an evening of soccer with one of the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Given the heat, a few indoor activities may be in order. How about an air-conditioned drive in the country or a movie marathon (if you avoid paying for more than one flick, you have a bargain). You could take a trip to the mall and spur the economy. Or you could stay home and turn on the telly for updates on the debt talks. Whatever you do, have a good time and stay cool. See you soon… Bristol-Myers Buys Amira Pharmaceuticals For Up To $475M (Xconomy) Merck And Simcere Pharmaceutical Form Joint Venture (China Daily) Ex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051238 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:44:20 +0100 5051238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050713&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Fthe-5-types-of-girlfriends-you-need-in-your-life%2F In her classic book, Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh articulates the process of gathering girlfriends. She writes, “I shall ask into my shell only those friends with whom I can be completely honest. I find I am shedding hypocrisy in human relationships. What a rest that will be! The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.” Girlfriends are as unique as the shells Lindbergh describes in her pages. Some have the gift of empathy and compassion, while others challenge us in ways that lead to growth; some friends listen, while others dole out smart advice. Women need different kinds of friendships at different points in their lives. I have compiled these five types of girlfriends, drawing from the examples in Robert Wick’s book, Bounce: Living the Res... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050713 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:36:13 +0100 5050713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050780&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fhow-vitrifying-ivf-embryos-helps-to.html Fresh or frozen embryos – which are betterView more presentations from Aniruddha Malpani. (Source: The Patient's Doctor) The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050780 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 02:47:00 +0100 5050780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036232&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteamwork-and-good-communication-make-everything-better%2F2011.07.16 What? Just what am I talking about? Give me a minute. More and more people are telling me too often they are encountering doctors who 1) don’t look them in the eye 2) don’t listen to them 3) don’t touch them or get anywhere near them and 4) stay focused on their a) computer b) smartphone or c) iPad. More of us are saying we are “mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore” just like the character in the movie “Network” years ago. We find another doctor. I am happy to report that an increasing number of the gray haired doctors who run medical schools are agreeing with us. Doctors need to be better communicators. They need to celebrate human contact rather than devote themselves to only technology and leading edge science. The professors also want tomorrow’s doctors to ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036232 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:00:48 +0100 5036232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029209&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FIeHKxZD7Sj0%2F And so another working week is about to draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda includes another installment in the ‘Let’s-See-Them-Before-They-Die‘ concert series, hanging with the short people and catching up on some sleep. And you? Perhaps this is a chance to mow the lawn or read an e-Book? Maybe you want to ponder the future without a debt deal in Washington? Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. Catch you soon… Valeant Pharma To Buy Janssen Dermatology Portfolio (Associated Press) FDA Questions Safety of Experimental Bristol & Astra Diabetes Drug (Reuters) Eric Cantor And PhRMA Fight Drug Discounts In Debt Deal (Politico) Novartis To Cut 550 Manufacturing Jobs In The UK (The Argus) Obama Camp M... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029209 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:16:02 +0100 5029209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029314&cid=t_107655_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fg3VB_LkUyH0%2F It’s a fact that when we are born we have become yet another member of the human race. But at the same time we have entered a long distance event, not a 100-meter sprint, also called the human race Our competitors? Ourselves – and our last performance. So let’s delve a little deeper into how you can position yourself, all your life, to win your human race. 1. Know You There are so many human beings living on planet earth who are trying either to live their lives like someone else or trying to fill a role that has been ‘expected of them’ by others. This is why it is imperative that you make a study of you. Ask yourself these questions: Who am I? What are my gifts and natural talents? What do I love doing? Wherein lies my passion? What was I born for? Whom can I effectively se... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029314 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:38:18 +0100 5029314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028518&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Ffinally-pregnant-after-frozen-et.html Here's a heartfelt success story from one of our patients.I think our journey to IVF started like for most couples. First, we got married and were perfectly content childless. Then, we started thinking about when to have kids and soon decided that “now” was the right time. After a few months, I started to read more and more on the internet about the fertile days, printed out ovulation calendars, and made temperature charts. Finally, I bought one of those electronic ovulation kits and invested quite some money in these gadgets. Well, but that still didn’t make me pregnant.My gynecologist said everything was fine, apart from two fibroids, but that shouldn’t matter. My husband, reluctantly, had his sperm tested and it seemed fine, too. So why did it not work?I tried a few rounds of cl... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028518 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 02:55:00 +0100 5028518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028710&cid=t_107655_122_f&fid=37835&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iqscorner.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwmf-human-cognitive-abilities-archive.html The free on-line WMF Human Cognitive Abilities (HCA) archive project had a MAJOR update today. An overview of the project, with a direct link to the archive, can be found at the Woodcock-Muñoz Foundation web page (click on "Current Woodcock-Muñoz Foundation Human Cognitive Abilities Archive") . Also, an on-line PPT copy of a poster presentation I made at the 2008 (Dec) ISIR conference re: this project can be found by clicking here.Today's update added the following 29 new data sets from John "Jack" Carroll's original collection.  We now have approximately 40% of Jack Carroll's original datasets archived on-line.PIMS01/PIMS02  Pimsleur, P., Stockwell, R. P., 7 Comrey, A. L. (1962). Foreign language learning ability. Journal of Educational Psychology, 53, 15-26. PEDU01 &nbs... Intelligent Insights on Intelligence Theories and Tests (aka IQ's Corner) blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028710 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:36:00 +0100 5028710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028157&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0mz-qkeeVw4%2F By Gene HealyMy Washington Examiner column this week is on the final flight of the Space Shuttle, and what looks to be the withering away of the manned space program. In 2004, President Bush announced plans for a moonbase and an eventual Mars mission. But last year President Obama effectively cancelled the moonbase, and has exhibited little desire to liberate Mars. That’s good news, I argue: “We are retiring the shuttle in favor of nothing,” Michael Griffin, Bush’s NASA administrator, wailed to the Washington Post recently. Here, as usual, “nothing” gets a bad rap. I’ll be “in favor of nothing” until the advocates of federally funded spaceflight can come up with an argument for it that doesn’t make me spray coffee out my nose. NAS... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028157 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:36:37 +0100 5028157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028520&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F07%2Fwhen-things-go-wrong-in-ivf-cycle.html There are lots of hopes riding on an IVF cycle - and every patient thinks in their heart of hearts that the cycle is going to work for them . This is why when something goes wrong, patients are often extremely upset and frustrated , and will often take out their anger both on themselves & on the doctor. Unfortunately IVF is a biological process and no matter how competent your doctor, sometimes bad things do happen. IVF obeys Murphy’s law which clearly states , Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. This is why it’s important to be prepared and have realistic expectations. Every IVF cycle has multiple moments of truth. Think of it like a series of hurdles, and you need to cross all of these in order to reach the finish line. You can trip up on any one of these hurdles.Taking a ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028520 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:02:00 +0100 5028520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008698&cid=t_107655_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.beautyramp.com%2F Nisha Thomas: Get the bestMaximize the benefits of your hair color. Coloring your hair, in a different shade, is an easy and great way to look stylish. The latest hair dye products available in the market, no longer ruin your hair; instead they make your hair look healthy, shiny, and presentable. Coloring your hair is no longer considered expensive and exclusively meant only for celebrities. You can also plan to go trendy with a change in your hair color. You can even do it at home yourself, if you know the right color and methods of doing it. But if you have inhibitions, you can, of course, get it professionally done. Follow these few tips mentioned below and you would know what to do for that perfect hair color: 1. Choose the color which suits you Selecting the best color is the most... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008698 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:25:52 +0100 5008698 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008310&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F05%2Fa-quick-shot-of-happiness-thanks-to-winston-churchill%2F One of the great joys of my life was writing my biography of Winston Churchill. What a pleasure it was to write that book! I had so many complicated things (both praise and blame) to say about Churchill, and the problems of biography, and human nature, and I felt that I managed to express them all — to my own satisfaction, anyway. When I feel a little blue, I often console myself by thinking of some of my favorite passages of Churchill’s writing. So many examples stand out in my mind. One, for instance, is the extraordinary eulogy to Neville Chamberlain. Another is a passage from Their Finest Hour, the second volume in Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II. Of a visit to a very poor London neighborhood that had been devastated by the Blitz, he wrote: Already litt... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008310 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:12:27 +0100 5008310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008269&cid=t_107655_107_f&fid=34860&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.corporeality.net%2Fmuseion%2F2011%2F07%2F05%2Fthe-role-of-medical-museums-in-contemporary-medical-education%2F We have just submitted an application for a major new gallery based on our anatomical and pathological specimen collections — and the in-house discussions are already becoming vigorous. How to find conceptually interesting ways to display cancer tumours, conjoined twins, and twisted torsos? What’s the balance between spectacular engagement and ethical concerns? How to make the historical collections of the macroanatomical past work together with the microanatomical and molecular collections of present biobanks? During the next couple of years we will embark on a more detailed planning process — we will engage medical experts, medical historians/sociologists, museum colleagues and the general public in a discussion about the best ways to build such a gallery and ho... Biomedicine on Display blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008269 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:00:46 +0100 5008269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992991&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrcQNRvANhJM%2F Once again, the vaccines for thwarting HPV, notably Merck’s Gardasil, are causing a stir. In the latest dust up, the California Catholic Conference is urging state residents to contact their legislators to oppose a bill that would remove parental consent for vaccinating children 12 and older against sexually transmitted diseases. Although California law already allows children 12 and older to consent to treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without involvement from their parents, the proposed bill would expand that right to immunizations (read the bill here). In an action alert, the bishops’ group warns parents that “minors do not have adequate judgment to make a decision about a vaccine that as of January 15, 2011, had 21,171 adverse reactions and 91 deaths report... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992991 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:10:17 +0100 4992991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984442&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2Fff8Oq-VAK_A%2F Health is where we live, play, work and pray — and also where we moisturize. Eucerin is working to create a Skin Savvy Nation. Welcome, health consumers, to the Eucerin Skin Health Cost Calculator, a tool that quantifies the financial impacts of skincare habits by estimating the life-cycle costs and benefits those skin health habits would have. The Calculator takes the consumer through a battery of questions together which yield a “skin score.” These include personal health habits such as not smoking, using skin-protecting moisturizer on a daily basis, and staying out of the sun. Eucerin gauges the cost of poor skincare at $400 billion a year in the U.S., about $400 per capita for each American. This is part of Eucerin’s PR campaign called the “Skin First Movement,” in wh... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984442 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:09:26 +0100 4984442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975829&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FRiV-GAJmBbo%2F By Michael F. CannonHere we have the spectacle of a former Republican Health and Human Services secretary getting rich by helping states implement ObamaCare. Leavitt Partners (among other consultants) is helping states create the law’s health insurance “Exchanges.” Or the non-ObamaCare-compliant health insurance Exchanges that will by law become ObamaCare-compliant Exchanges.  Via Politico: More than $300 million in exchange grants has already flowed into the states since the Affordable Care Act passed. That number will grow exponentially in the coming months, as states move from the initial steps of passing exchange legislation to the more lucrative task of setting them up. For health consultants and information technology vendors, it’s already shaping up to be a gold mine&#8... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975829 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:41:55 +0100 4975829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975972&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fanother-happy-patient-from-malpani.html We had been married for 10 years. We had our careers, home, and friends everything going for us. Just one thing made us feel incomplete, especially me, not having a child of our own. Initially we felt it will happen after 6 months, a year. Then we took treatment. We had hopes. But all the hopes kept dying year after year. What was worst was when elders and relatives kept asking us about when we were planning to have a baby. That pressure was unbearable. But after 10 years I was coming to terms with the fact that I would be childless.We kept reading about the latest developments of science in this field in newspapers and kept tabs of the most successful doctors in the field. But we were afraid of the costs involved and that kept us from approaching them. But then we read some articles abou... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975972 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:52:00 +0100 4975972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4976230&cid=t_107655_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Make Up TipsHighlight the beauty of your skin with these make up tips. To get the perfect makeup it is necessary to apply a make up which matches your skin tone. Dark skinned people have more pigment in their skin, which makes it look darker. Skin tone could be either but what matters most for the skin is to look and feel healthy. Let us see what matters when it comes to selecting a makeup for dark skinned people. 1. Foundation: For such skin type this is perfect to use creamy and liquid foundation because they are water based foundation. Always choose a foundation which is darker than your skin tone as it will create an illusion of perfect skin covering the skin well. Apply powder to skin to get that perfect touch. It gives an even look to the skin.2. Eye makeup: For t... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4976230 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:36:07 +0100 4976230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968764&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1035-What-is-the-Catholic-view-on-Embryo-Adoption.html It has been estimated that there are as many as half a million frozen IVF embryos in fertility clinics across the United States waiting to continue their lives.  Some are abandoned or forgotten.  What should be done about them?  The Catholic Church resoundingly opposes using human embryos for research.  Embryos are human organisms with value simply because they are human and to destroy them in research, even if the goal is a proposed good, is morally unacceptable.Embryo adoption has been proposed as a way to give the half a million Americans on ice a chance at completing their lives.  Embryo adoption would entail thawing these "surplus" embryos and implanting them into the uterus of a woman willing to gestate them.  Snowflakes is an adoption program by Nightlight Christian ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968764 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:36:56 +0100 4968764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968936&cid=t_107655_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Make up 4Apply moisturizer as it binds the moisture to the skin giving it a smooth look. Different skin tones demand different make up. Use these few handy tips before applying the makeup and then you are ready to dazzle for the world! 1. Moisturizer Don’t forget to apply the correct moisturizer as it binds moisture to the skin giving it a smooth look. Moisturizer makes your skin soft, silky, and lively. It acts as base for the makeup you are about to put on. 2. ConcealerIt is applied to give a flawless complexion to the skin. It hides all unwanted spots and dark circles on the skin. The concealer should always be selected according to the skin type. Concealer appears gray or ashy on dark complexioned people. So, they can opt for golden or orange undertones to balanc... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968936 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:54:13 +0100 4968936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952842&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnpo-allows-medical-professionals-to-get-feedback-on-rare-health-problems%2F2011.06.21 Human Health Project is  a non-profit organization funded by donations aiming at giving feedback on medical cases uploaded by medical professionals. Here is the description: The Human Health Project began in California in 2006 as a non-profit organization when its founder, Dr. Phil Harrington, M.D., decided to create a platform for medical professionals to discuss rare and unusual health problems. The idea came from personal experience – for three years he went from doctor to doctor and struggled to find a diagnosis for his own illness. Even with access to modern healthcare and a background in medicine, the answers were still elusive, and the process was frustrating. For someone without the same access to healthcare, such as a patient in a developing nation, the challenge would have bee... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952842 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:00:39 +0100 4952842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953026&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhy-were-my-embryos-of-such-poor.html While a good IVF clinic is good at making good embryos, sometimes we will encounter patients whose embryos are all of poor quality.What's a poor quality embryo ? This is one which divides slowly ( for example, one which has only 4 cells on Day 3) ; or one which has a lot of fragments. ( This is why you must ask your clinic for photos of your embryos, so you have documentation of the quality of your embryos ! )Why does this happen - and what can you do about it if it happens to you ?Remember that there are only 3 variables which influence embryo quality - eggs; sperm and the lab. This means that poor quality embryos could only be because of the 3 following reasons:poor quality eggs;poor quality sperm; ora poor quality labSurprisingly, experience has shown us that the sperm are not important... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953026 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:00:00 +0100 4953026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952989&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F19%2F10-tips-for-new-fathers%2F If you are a new dad, guess what research shows is one of the best things you can do to bond with your new baby and make your marriage stronger? Change his diaper. Yep… Becoming a new father can be a daunting task, but there are ten things to keep in mind that will help you, your new baby, and your marriage. 1. Time and tolerance. The most important thing you can do is simply spend time with your newborn.  Serious research about fatherhood is only a scant 30 years old, and what we know is that the more time fathers spend with their infants the better. Researchers in the early years of father-infant bonding couldn’t find fathers spending enough time with their infants to study them.  In other words, dads weren’t spending an adequate amount of time with their baby to even start... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952989 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:29:58 +0100 4952989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953029&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhat-is-empty-follicle-syndrome-why.html At the end of the egg collection, the first question every patient wants to know is - How many eggs did you collect, doctor ?Egg retrieval is usually a very straightforward procedure, and we usually get at least one egg from each mature follicle ( more than 18 mm in size) . This is why we expect to collect at least as many eggs as there are mature follicles . However, sometimes, much to the doctor's chagrin and the patient's dismay, sometimes we do not get any eggs at all. This is not common, but let's examine why this happens , and what we can do about it.Technically, if we do not collect any eggs at all , this condition is called " empty follicle syndrome( EFS) ". Sadly, this term is abused and misused by many IVF doctors, who are happy to make this "diagnosis" and blame this condition w... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953029 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4953029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934396&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fwhat-is-empty-follicle-syndrome-why.html At the end of the egg collection, the first question every patient wants to know is - How many eggs did you collect, doctor ?Egg retrieval is usually a very straightforward procedure, and we usually get at least one egg from each mature follicle ( more than 18 mm in size) . This is why we expect to collect at least as many eggs as there are mature follicles . However, sometimes, much to the doctor's chagrin and the patient's dismay, sometimes we do not get any eggs at all. This is not common, but let's examine why this happens , and what we can do about it.Technically, if we do not collect any eggs at all , this condition is called " empty follicle syndrome( EFS) ". Sadly, this term is abused and misused by many IVF doctors, who are happy to make this "diagnosis" and blame this condition w... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934396 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:26:00 +0100 4934396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934329&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Fwe-need-better-filters-smart-alerts%2F When I review the research and write about the intersection of human behavior and technology, I’m constantly amazed by how far we’ve come. In just 5 years, social networks have become not only “all the rage,” but also a must-have for a significant portion of the U.S. population. In just 10 years, video online went from a mess of different, incompatible formats to YouTube and its competitors, revolutionizing the way many people engage with entertainment online (and to a lesser extent, information). In just 15 years, the Internet and technologies it has enabled has transformed not only many people’s workplaces, but the very connectedness and relationships we have with others. Let that sink in for a few minutes. In just 15 years, a set of technologies has started... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934329 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:48:03 +0100 4934329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934046&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F008139.html You are a mutant. Don't deny it. Accept your role in the mutant horde. Each one of us receives approximately 60 new mutations in our genome from our parents. This striking value is reported in the first-ever direct measure of new mutations coming from mother and father in whole human genomes published today. For the first time, researchers have been able to answer the questions: how many new mutations does a child have and did most of them come from mum or dad? The researchers measured directly the numbers of mutations in two families, using whole genome sequences from the 1000 Genomes Project. The results also reveal that human genomes, like all genomes, are changed by the forces of mutation:... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934046 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4934046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911572&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F07%2Fhow-our-intuitions-deceive-us-an-interview-with-daniel-simons%2F In 2004 Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris received the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology, awarded for “achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think,” for the experiment that was the inspiration for their popular book, The Invisible Gorilla, and website. Daniel Simons is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois. His research focuses on the limits of human perception, memory, and awareness, and he is best known for his research showing that people are far less aware of their visual surroundings than they think. We recently sat down with Simons to talk about his current work. In celebration of the June 7th release of the paperback edition of The Invisible Gorilla you guys are starting a charity campaign. Ple... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911572 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:16:55 +0100 4911572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893555&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2Fmy-therapist-wont-stop-yawning-in-session%2F Psychotherapy is often described as an art as much as it is a science. The professional relationship between a therapist and their client can be a tricky one. Especially when it comes to bad habits of either the therapist or the client. One of these bad habits is especially frustrating to clients — a therapist’s constant yawns during session. People often read into a yawn far more than what is usually meant — or not meant — by the behavior. Part of the problem is yawning itself — we don’t really know why people yawn in the first place. So a person often will assume the worst — “I’m boring him with what I’m talking about.” But that’s often not the case. The only thing we know for certain about why humans yawn is that t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893555 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:14:56 +0100 4893555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883811&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1026-United-States-backward-in-its-embryo-research-policies%2C-but-not-why-you-think%21.html How many times have you heard that other more "enlightened" countries in Europe and around the globe do not have such ridiculous, science-hating, draconian policies regarding research using human embryos as the United States?  I could not possibly recount endless comments I have read all over that bemoan that the United States is sooooo far behind everyone else because we are not as "progressive" as other countries in ripping apart embryos and using them for the stem cell gold inside.  If you believed everything you read on the Internet, you would think that it is an embryonic free-for-all everywhere else in the world and every country except the United States will benefit from cures and Americans will not.  You could believe that, but it isn't true.The only restrict... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883811 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:11:54 +0100 4883811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4882969&cid=t_107655_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FIkvedTW5RBY%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Roger Hendrix, Rachel Katzenellenbogen, and Harmit Malik Vincent and guests Rachel Katzenellenbogen, Roger Hendrix, and Harmit Malik recorded TWiV #135 live at the 2011 ASM General Meeting in New Orleans, where they discussed transformation and oncogenesis by human papillomaviruses, the amazing collection of bacteriophages on the planet, and the evolution of genetic conflict between virus and host. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #135 (63 MB .mp3, 97 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Papillomavirus E6 proteins (Virology) Diversity of mycobacteriophages (PLoS One) Adaptive evol... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4882969 Sun, 29 May 2011 18:57:32 +0100 4882969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852843&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F-miUoPAPrsM%2F By George Scoville Please join us this Wednesday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern for a Policy Forum with former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, “Limiting Government: What Washington Can Learn from Minnesota,” with opening remarks from Cato founder and president Edward H. Crane. Governor Pawlenty received an “A” grade on Cato’s biennial “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors: 2010,” by Cato director of tax policy studies Chris Edwards. Complimentary registration is required of all attendees by noon Eastern tomorrow, Tuesday, May 24–seating is limited and not guaranteed. If you cannot join us in person, please join us on the web for a live video stream of the event. Washington’s use of tax dollars to strong-arm states into ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852843 Mon, 23 May 2011 14:23:45 +0100 4852843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848101&cid=t_107655_133_f&fid=35452&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphictruth.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fthats-just-so-takei.html BTW, the Gay Agenda is, and always has been, to join the United Federation of Planets to get access to all them hot Andorians. (Source: Graphictruth) Graphictruth blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848101 Fri, 20 May 2011 19:36:00 +0100 4848101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848154&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FkTurjNnKuyc%2F And so another working week will soon draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our modest agenda includes yardwork, hanging with assorted short people and another installment in the ‘Let’s-see-them-before-they-die‘ concert series. And you? Anything special in the pipeline? How about curling up with a good e-book? Or a dinner with a favorite someone? Or maybe just a walk in the park? Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. See you soon… FDA Approves J&J HIV Med For Combo Use (Reuters) EU OKs Bloodthinner From Pfizer And Bristol (Associated Press) EMA Approves Glaxo And Human Genome’s Benlysta For Lupus (Reuters) Pfizer Truck Robbed On Way To CVS (Securing Pharma) AstraZeneca To Eliminate 135 Jobs In Massachus... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848154 Fri, 20 May 2011 11:39:57 +0100 4848154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848028&cid=t_107655_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FKu2UJfCTGwo%2F Katherine Rourke, on my sister site EMR and EHR, wrote an interesting piece on Adding Genomic Info to the EMR. Here’s a short excerpt from the post. You should go and read the rest of the post as well. As the author notes, some specialties have already begun to tailor drug treatments to individual patients based on their genomic profile. For example, DNA sequencing of tumors in non-Hodgkin’s and Mantle Cell lymphoma can lead to personalized cancer vaccines that can produce great results, notes writer Gerry Higgins of the NIH. Such data can also be used for a growing number of clinical situations, such as tailoring Coumadin doses to specific patients and providing psychiatric patients with the appropriate drug. I’d been meaning to write about genomics and EMR for a while and ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848028 Tue, 17 May 2011 18:27:02 +0100 4848028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841444&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FkShohBnGGMw%2F By Ian VasquezA new World Bank working paper by Jean-Pierre Chauffour (author of the Cato book, The Power of Freedom: Uniting Human Rights and Development) finds that freedom is the root cause of development. In contrast to economic, political and civil freedoms, Chauffour finds that “beyond core functions of government. . . the expansion of the state to provide for various entitlements, including so-called economic, social and cultural rights, may not make people richer in the long run and may even make them poorer.” Freedom vs. Entitlements is a post from Cato @ Liberty - Cato Institute Blog (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841444 Tue, 17 May 2011 16:03:28 +0100 4841444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841449&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FN95MFU-TZlQ%2F By Christopher PrebleThe news media is abuzz with speculation about what President Obama will say in an address this Thursday at the State Department. The topic is the Middle East, and White House Press Secretary Jay Carney explained, “we’ve gone through a remarkable period in the first several months of this year…in the Middle East and North Africa,” and the president has “some important things to say about how he views the upheaval and how he has approached the U.S. response to the events in the region.” The speech, Carney hinted to reporters, would be “fairly sweeping and comprehensive.” If I were advising the president, I would urge him to say many of the same things that he said in his June 2009 speech in Cairo, this time with some timely references... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841449 Tue, 17 May 2011 13:44:14 +0100 4841449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820843&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FiNiaIFEqVdE%2F National Women’s Health Week is a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. It brings together communities, businesses, government, health organizations, and other groups in an effort to promote women’s health. The theme for 2011 is “It’s Your Time.” National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages them to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Those steps include: Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week Eating a nutritious diet Visiting a h... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820843 Fri, 13 May 2011 13:20:01 +0100 4820843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820854&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftips-for-physicians-dealing-with-difficult-colleagues%2F2011.05.12 Recently I attended a CME course entitled “Dealing with Difficult Colleagues.”  It was part of my medical malpractice company’s risk management series to teach physicians/nurses how to lessen our risk of being sued. This lecture was given by Linda Worley, MD who is a psychiatry professor at UAMS.  She is a good speaker, easy to understand, engages the crowd, and knows her subject. My only complaint would be that it focused only the “angry” or “frustrated” physicians who exhibit unprofessional behavior and did not include the ones whom you suspect might be difficult due to impairment (illness, drugs, alcohol). Difficult colleagues can impact a team (in office, OR, or hospital) by creating low morale, high staff turnover, inefficiency, decreased patient satisfaction, increase... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820854 Thu, 12 May 2011 21:00:00 +0100 4820854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820922&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Funderstanding-research-methodology-5-applied-and-basic-research%2F In conclusion, I will leave you with the words of Keith Stanovich: [I]t is probably a mistake to view the basic-versus-applied distinction solely in terms of whether a study has practical applications, because this difference often simply boils down to a matter of time.  Applied findings are of use immediately.  However, there is nothing so practical as a general and accurate theory. (2007, p.107) References Stanovich, K. (2007).  How to Think Straight About Psychology: 8th Edition.  Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Photo by Helen Cook, available under a Creative Commons attribution license. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820922 Thu, 12 May 2011 19:55:10 +0100 4820922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813255&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FQDY0pPdVFzs%2F By Michael F. CannonUSA Today reports on a new Obama administration study: On average, uninsured families can pay only about 12% of their hospital bills in full. Families with incomes above 400% of the poverty level, or about $88,000 a year for a family of four, pay about 37% of their hospital bills in full, according to the Department of Health and Human Services study. Oy, where to begin? This is pre-existing conditions all over again.  In the hope of saving ObamaCare from the gallows, the Obama administration is blowing a real but relatively small problem way out of proportion. The best data indicate that the problem of the uninsured not being able to pay their medical bills is real but relatively small.  “Uncompensated care” for the uninsured accounts for just 2.8 percent of he... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813255 Tue, 10 May 2011 21:59:25 +0100 4813255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803258&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F05%2Fafter-ivf-2-ww.html We normally do a blood test for HCG 2 weeks after the embryo transfer to find out if the embryos have implanted and if the cycle has been successful or not.This can be a very long 2 weeks , and many women will start doing pregnancy tests 5 days after the embryo transfer.The problem is that even if the embryo has implanted and you are pregnant, the embryo produce such small quantities of HCG for the first few days after it implants ( remember that it's just a microscopic ball of about hundreds of cells or so at this time), that it's not possible to detect this HCG in the blood . To be able to detect the HCG in the urine will take even more time, which is why you need to be patient.Of course, many patients will cheat :) - and this is an email I got from a patient today. A picture is worth a ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803258 Tue, 10 May 2011 12:37:00 +0100 4803258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803203&cid=t_107655_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fyou-are-more-virus-than-human.html – Viruses have been a part of our lives for so long, in fact, that we are actually part virus: the human genome contains more DNA from viruses than our own genes. Meanwhile, scientists are discovering viruses everywhere they look: in the soil, in the ocean, even in deep caves miles underground. A Planet of Viruses by Carl Zimmer, out now. Selected from the latest science stories to hit DB’s virtual desktop @sciencebase. Related Posts:Turkish H5N1Bird Flu Between PeopleCoughing and splutteringBird Flu TestPox Virus Undressed to Make its EntryYou are more virus than human is a post from: Sciencebase Science Blog (Source: Sciencebase Science Blog) Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803203 Mon, 09 May 2011 15:17:36 +0100 4803203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794898&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-6-2011%2F I took a few days off last week basking in the glow of a rare and beautiful sunny sky in Portland, Oregon. It felt like heaven. I almost forgot what it felt like to really live, to have the kind of day I think Leonardo da Vinci is talking about when he said, “As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.” And it didn’t take much to make me feel that way. Just a bike ride near the water, dinner with friends, a trip to the zoo with my nephew. But in comparison to the daily grind, the to-do lists that never get finished, the endless amount of tasks that pile one atop the other, the feeling of just being for the sake of being was pure bliss. I realized that what was so sublime about the experience was that I was completely living in the moment.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794898 Fri, 06 May 2011 10:45:55 +0100 4794898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4771211&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F30%2Fthe-freudian-problem%2F Excluding pop psychologists, (such as Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew or Wayne Dyer) Sigmund Freud is probably the most well known name associated with psychology (at least to the lay public).  In Frank Sulloway’s book, Freud: Biologist of the Mind, the author notes, “Few individuals, if any, have exerted more influence upon the twentieth century than Sigmund Freud.” (Shermer, 2001, p.203). A 1981 survey of chairpersons of graduate psychology found that the respondents considered Freud the most influential figure in the history of psychology (Davis, Thomas, & Weaver, 1982).  But times have changed. “[I]f all the members of the American Psychological Association [APA] who  were concerned with Freudian psychoanalysis were collected, they would make up  less than 10 percent of the membersh... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4771211 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 16:00:59 +0100 4771211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762936&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAEspvdtrmw4%2F Less than a month after the FDA refused to approve the Gardasil vaccine for preventing HPV in women ages 27 to 45, Health Canada has gone in the other direction and issued an endorsement. Although Canada is a smaller market than the US, the approval is a notable step for Merck, which has been counting on a larger demographic target to boost sorely needed vaccine revenue. In the US, Merck has been repeatedly frustrated in trying to widen the market for Gardasil. Last year, the FDA postponed a decision about approval for women ages 26 to 45 after Merck had submitted additional data. The submission was made after the agency three years ago refused to approve the vaccine for this same age bracket and, instead, sought data on a 48-month study (back story). In Canada, Gardasil is now approved to... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762936 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:32:43 +0100 4762936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762937&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fhg7QGCQONN0%2F Hello, everyone. Another busy day is about to unfold here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, as we prepare for a round of meetings and deadlines. To cope, we are our brewing our mandatory cup of stimulation - we continue to favor Wild Mountain Blueberry this week. Meanwhile, here are some items to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Par Pharma Pays $153M To Settle Pricing Lawsuits (Reuters) Sanofi-Aventis Profit Falls Due To Generics (Bloomberg News) More US Women Are Using The Morning After Pill (Reuters) Roche Wins FDA Approval For HPV Diagnostics Test (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Profits Get A Lift From Tax Breaks (Pharma Times) Merck Hepatitis C Drug Wins FDA Panel Backing (Boston Globe) Australia Delays Subsidies For Some Medicines (Australian Broadc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762937 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:49:06 +0100 4762937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4742468&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F22%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-22-2011%2F Happy Earth Day! And Happy Early Easter! We’ve got lots to celebrate as tomorrow is also our new monthly, “Ask the Therapist Live event” on Facebook. Here are the details: When? Saturday, April 23 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm ET (11:00 am – 1:00 pm PT). What? Our Live event is your chance to “Ask the Therapist” your questions on everything from career to relationships. Who? Our therapists from the Ask the Therapist page, me and you! Where? Facebook. Read below for more information on how to join our Psych Central Ask the Therapist group to participate in tomorrow’s event. How? Ask your question as a Facebook update and our therapists will respond in the comments. This time I created an Psych Central Ask the Therapist group, which will help keep thin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4742468 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:05:41 +0100 4742468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734204&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F21%2Fi-am-the-most-important-person-you-know%2F I am not a narcissist, but I am the most important person you know. When I’m talking to you. When you read an essay or article of mine. When you’re in a meeting with me. When you’re sharing a meal or a drink with me. In olden days — like 10 years ago — we would call this “attention.” We would say, “Oh, look, you’re paying attention to what I’m writing” or “It’s nice of you to pay attention when I’m talking.” And yes, I know how important your social network is to your fragile ego, your delicate self-esteem. That you need to understand and be reassured that nothing more important is going on in your world. That you’re not going to dump me in mid-conversation for a potentially better conversation ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734204 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:39:20 +0100 4734204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709258&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F04%2Fpremature-ejculation-sexual-self-esteem.html Most infertile men have poor sexual self-esteem. As it is , they feel inadequate because they cannot get their wife pregnant. On top of this, if they cannot perform in the bedroom, this makes a bad situation even worse.Sexual problems are as common in infertile men as they are in fertile men. Premature ejaculation is the commonest male sexual problem. It is very distressing , because it makes the man feel inadequate and inferior.Remember that there is an evolutionary advantage to being a premature ejaculator and this seems to be hard-wired in our genes ! in the past ,wen who could have sex quickly could get lots of women pregnant quickly, and spread their genes far and wide !This is primarily a psychological problem ; and in many men is the result of behaviour which is learned as a teenage... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709258 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:03:00 +0100 4709258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696608&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FPkaC9qB_l8c%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI’m not a big fan of the IRS, but usually I blame politicians for America’s corrupt, unfair, and punitive tax system. Sometimes, though, the tax bureaucrats run amok and earn their reputation as America’s most despised bureaucracy. Here’s an example. Earlier this year, the Internal Revenue Service proposed a regulation that would force American banks to become deputy tax collectors for foreign governments. Specifically, they would be required to report any interest they pay to accounts held by nonresident aliens (a term used for foreigners who live abroad). The IRS issued this proposal, even though Congress repeatedly has voted not to tax this income because of an understandable desire to attract job-creating capital to the U.S. economy. In oth... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696608 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:46 +0100 4696608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693511&cid=t_107655_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2F6-most-common-stds-in-men%2F Image via WikipediaThe 6 Most Common STDs in MenMany recovering alcoholic or addicted men can remember the alcohol and drug induced sexual activities that may have exposed them to STDs. Recovery, for me, means healthy living in all aspects of my life. Prevention of gaining or giving STDs is one of these practices.You can prevent STDs. Here’s how.Italians called it “the Spanish disease.” The French dubbed it “the English disease.” Among Russians, it was known as “the Polish disease.” Among Arabs? “The disease of Christians.”No one wanted to claim it, and with good reason. The disease, syphilis, begins by causing crusty sores in private places. After hiding out in the body for years, it can emerge to drive people insane and then kill them.Syphilis is just one of more than a... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693511 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:23:32 +0100 4693511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693333&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F08%2Fthe-forbidden-fruit-in-relationships%2F A long-term, stable romantic relationship with a committed, caring partner has many psychological benefits, which we know from the oodles of psychological research published about them. So it’s a good thing to try and protect one’s relationship from external influences. One of the most difficult to recover from and damaging influences is cheating. If cheating will harm a relationship (and cheating appears to be one of the primary reasons cited in many, if not most, relationship breakups), what can be done to minimize it? After all, isn’t it human nature — and the nature of temptation — to constantly look for desirable alternatives? One of the ways people look to protect their long-term relationship is to simply remain inattentive to those alternatives. Researc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693333 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:30:13 +0100 4693333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693272&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FgCEly6uUjxk%2F By David BoazThe government of China finally confirmed that it has detained the artist Ai Weiwei. Meanwhile, Evan Osnos writes from Beijing for the New Yorker about China’s “Big Chill”: Step by step—so quietly, in fact, that the full facts of it can be startling—China has embarked on the most intense crackdown on free expression in years. Overshadowed by news elsewhere in recent weeks, China has been rounding up writers, lawyers, and activists since mid-February, when calls began to circulate for protests inspired by those in the Middle East and North Africa. By now the contours are clear: according to a count by Chinese Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, the government has “criminally detained 26 individuals, disappeared more than 30, and put more than 200... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693272 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:59:05 +0100 4693272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684762&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxvsJhjRYHqc%2F In a setback to Merck, the FDA has refused to approve the use of the Gardasil vaccine for preventing HPV in women ages 27 to 45, a market the drugmaker has been counting on to boost sorely needed vaccine revenue. In a brief statement, Merck says prescribing info was updated to indicate Gardasil has not demonstrated to prevent HPV-related cervical cancer in women older than 26. The drugmaker has been repeatedly frustrated in its quest to widen the market for Gardasil. Last year, the FDA postponed a decision about approval for women ages 26 to 45 after Merck had submitted additional data. The submission was made after the agency three years ago refused to approve the vaccine for this same age bracket and, instead, sought data on a 48-month study (back story). The vaccine is already approved ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684762 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 22:11:21 +0100 4684762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664229&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F31%2Fhistory-of-a-suicide-an-interview-with-jill-bialosky%2F Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jill Bialosky, author of the new book History of a Suicide: My Sister’s Unfinished Life, in which she brilliantly weaves together her sister’s inner life and brings an awkward but essential topic of discussion out of the shadows. 1. If you could have readers leave with one piece of truth about suicide, what would it be? Jill: Suicide is a multi-faceted, complex event and though there may be a present catalyst that triggers it, ultimately it is a psychological drama that happens within the mind of a suicidal individual resulting from intense inner pain. This is a theory developed by Dr. Edwin Shneidman, one of the leading figures in the study of suidiology and it is the one theory that makes sense to me. We must recognize the inner pain ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664229 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:24:08 +0100 4664229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653317&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fet392xf2v9Y%2F By Malou InnocentTonight, to sell the illusion of America's "limited military action" in Libya's civil war, President Barack Obama insisted that America had a moral imperative to intervene militarily, implying he will do so wherever foreign leaders commit atrocities against their people. This latest mission in the name of "humanitarian imperialism" is extremely dangerous. In fact, if all goes well in Libya, it might be just as bad as if we fail. Consider, for instance, if I walked through a wall of fire and came out the other side unharmed. Although I came out safe and sound, my decision to walk through the wall of fire was still misinformed. My good outcome was simply one among a host of potentially terrible outcomes. After all, if I were to walk through that wall of fire again and... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653317 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:01:33 +0100 4653317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658352&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007993.html The US military is funding research to predict who will get sick when suddenly transported to high altitude locations (e.g. by parachuting onto a mountain). The latest round of research will try to verify an earlier round that identified 6 genetic variants that appear to predict who will do worse at high altitude. Robert Roach, who directs the Altitude Research Center at the University of Colorado, performed a similar test last year, taking 28 research subjects to a simulated altitude of 16,000 feet by putting them in a special chamber that mimics the effect of a low-oxygen environment. A blood test, screening for those six genetic elements, was able to predict with 96% accuracy which of the 28 would fall... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658352 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4658352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4653290&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007993.html The US military is funding research to predict who will get sick when suddenly transported to high altitude locations (e.g. by parachuting onto a mountain). The latest round of research will try to verify an earlier round that identified 6 genetic variants that appear to predict who will do worse at high altitude. Robert Roach, who directs the Altitude Research Center at the University of Colorado, performed a similar test last year, taking 28 research subjects to a simulated altitude of 16,000 feet by putting them in a special chamber that mimics the effect of a low-oxygen environment. A blood test, screening for those six genetic elements, was able to predict with 96% accuracy which of the 28 would fall... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4653290 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4653290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642588&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FeM2gzPgZi_c%2F Women experience differences in their health care services and outcomes. The fact sheet, Healthcare Quality and Disparities in Women: Selected Findings, summarizes key findings from the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports related to health care for women. Related posts:Update From Haiti: Despair Sets In And Women Consider Suicide The Society for Women’s Health Research: A Case Study of Advocacy for Women Disruptive Women on the Radio…with Real Women on Health (Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care) Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642588 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:42:36 +0100 4642588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642052&cid=t_107655_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FsCXkxV-UUWQ%2F Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Michelle Ozbun On episode #126 of the podcast This Week in Virology, virologist Michelle Ozbun and the TWiV team review the biology of human papillomaviruses. Click the arrow above to play, or right-click to download TWiV #126 (69 MB .mp3, 96 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, by email, or listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode: Human papillomavirus page at CDC Human papillomavirus vaccines page at CDC A better test for HPV (pdf) Human papillomaviruses and malignancy (review) Should smallpox stocks be destroyed? (poll at virology blog) TWiV on Facebook Letters read on TWiV 126 Weekly Science Picks Michelle –... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642052 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 15:43:44 +0100 4642052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636491&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.drmalpani.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fhow-many-weeks-pregnant-am-i.html Many IVF patients get very confused about how the doctor calculates the age of their pregnancy( = gestational age, in medical jargon). Logically, shouldn't it be from the day of the embryo transfer ? After all, it's only after the embryos are transferred that a woman can be considered to be pregnant !However, doctors are not always logical, and we usually use the menstrual age when talking about the length of the pregnancy. This is because obstetricians usually see women who have got pregnant after having sex in their bedroom. Very few of them will know the exact date they ovulated , which is why we use the menstrual age in clinical practise. This does not change just because you have had an IVF pregnancy - the clinical rules remain the same !This creates a lot of confusion in patient's mi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636491 Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:47:00 +0100 4636491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4631520&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F24%2Fgot-regret-the-top-10-american-regrets%2F Americans share a lot of the same regrets in life — lost love, family spats, missing a career or educational opportunity. So says new research out of Northwestern University from a telephone survey conducted by researchers on 370 American adults. The researchers asked people to describe one regret in detail, with the rationale that whatever regret they described would be the one that is most memorable. Regrets based on inaction were held on to longer over time, versus those based upon some action the person took. So what are the top ten regrets held by Americans? The Top 10 American Regrets Here are the subjects that survey respondents most commonly described they held the greatest regrets about: Romance, lost love – 18.1% Family (e.g., family arguments) – 15.9% Educati... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4631520 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:26:00 +0100 4631520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611003&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWXsonFvU_bM%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that MTI Information Technologies, which provides marketing services to healthcare providers, hired Brian Tvenstrup as sr vp of business analytics. Previously, he headed analytics for First Equity Card, a commercial lender to small businesses, and w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611003 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:03:11 +0100 4611003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600795&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FfXx2YtVF-qo%2F More clinical trials may be run overseas, but work has not dried up in the US. In fact, a robust Phase I industry continues, but there are concerns since many volunteers supplement their incomes by enrolling in trials as often as possible. Consequently, sponsors and investigators worry data will be skewed by people who enroll too soon after participating in other trials. Patient advocates, meanwhile, worry about the risks participants may face from exposure to some meds and follow-up care. And so once again, the notion of a national Phase I clinical trial registry is being raised. The latest call for action comes from a pair of physicians who published a commentary piece this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In their view, a registry is long overdue in the US in ord... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600795 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:01:29 +0100 4600795 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600537&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fregenerative-medicine-and-printing-human-tissue%2F2011.03.16 Dr. Anthony Atala, director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, returned to TED 2011 a couple weeks ago to give updates on his breakthroughs in regenerative medicine. In addition to explaining the process of growing bioengineered organs, valves, and tissues, he also demonstrates how he’s using printing technology to fabricate body parts and even print skin tissue directly onto a patient’s wound. Other highlights of the talk include a live demo of a kidney-shaped mold being printed on the TED stage, and a reunion with a young patient who was one of the first recipients of a bioengineered bladder from Dr. Atala’s lab. Be sure to also check out Dr. Atala’s talk from TEDMED 2009… Additional... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600537 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:08 +0100 4600537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592394&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-treatment-for-lupus%2F2011.03.15 Lupus, an autoimmune disease, [recently] turned up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It cropped up, also, on the first page of the New York Times business section, and elsewhere. Scientific American published a nice online review just now. The reason is that the FDA has approved a new monoclonal antibody for treatment of this condition. The drug belimumab (Benlysta), targets a molecule called BlyS (B-lymphocyte Stimulator). The newspapers uniformly emphasize that this drug marks some sort of triumph for Human Genome Sciences, a biotech company that first reported on BlyS in the journal Science way back in 1999. BlyS triggers B cells to produce antibodies that in patients with lupus tend to bind and destroy their own cells’ needed machinery, causing various joint, lung... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592394 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:36 +0100 4592394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4577908&cid=t_107655_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fbest-vs-worst.html No further rigors, no idea what the source was. Slightly worried I'm harbouring something nasty... but declined investigation so I guess I have to lie in my own bed.Increasingly find myself gripped by malaise, and dark feelings of hopelessness, which is somewhat self-indulgant considering my situation versus how it could be.Anyway, blame that for this post.In general, I have a low opinion of humanity. Essentially, I don't think we're as far removed from the beasts as we like to think we are. Left to our own devices, I think most people will happily crap on their fellow man, if it's to their own advantage.Altruism, generosity seem to me to be the exception.La Belle Fille firmly believed quite the opposite; she does have a bright shining soul though. She may be right.I suspect my job biases ... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4577908 Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:51:00 +0100 4577908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575056&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Frobotic-pharmacy-prepares-350000-doses-of-medication-without-a-single-error%2F2011.03.11 The University of California-San Francisco (UCSF) has made a significant announcement that could be a watershed moment for how medications are given to hospital patients in the United States. In a typical hospital setting, patients are receiving many different types of prescription medications — ranging from mundane vitamins to more intense drugs such as chemotherapy. In the thousands of times medications are given to patients, and with the high number of humans handling the process of organizing and giving the medications, human error is bound to occur. And medication errors can be life threatening — especially if related to a chemotherapy agent. UCSF wants to make the rate of error for medication administration to be zero. In order to do this, they are using robot technology ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575056 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:00:25 +0100 4575056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570545&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-helpful-vitamin-chart%2F2011.03.10 Lately I’ve been worrying about Kevin’s refusal to eat broccoli, and wondering what exactly is so good about those green bunches of roughage. In browsing the Web for more detailed information on the matter, I found a helpful vitamin chart. This table comes from the HHS–sponsored National Women’s Health Information Center — a good spot to know of if you’re a woman looking online for reliable sources. It’s a bit simple for my taste. In the intro, we’re told there are 13 essential vitamins our bodies need. After some basics on Vitamin A — good for the eyes and skin, as you probably knew already — the chart picks up with a quick review of the essential B vitamins 1, 2 ,3 ,5 ,6 , 9 and 12 (my favorite), followed by a rundown on Vitamins C, D, E, H (that would be biotin) and ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570545 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:00:54 +0100 4570545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570531&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FBIcjiB8MLAc%2F By Tad DeHavenSpending at the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be an estimated inflation-adjusted 43 percent higher this year compared to just a decade ago. The following chart shows the dramatic rise in USDA spending from fiscal 1970 to the president’s projection for fiscal 2011: Most folks probably think of farm subsidies when they think of the USDA. However, farm programs only account for 19 percent of total USDA outlays. The vast majority of USDA spending, 69 percent, goes to food subsidies: food stamps, school breakfast and lunch programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). In fact, spending on food stamps alone this year will account for roughly half of total USDA spending. Why aren’t these programs housed at the Department ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570531 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:04:19 +0100 4570531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570762&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FP1ew3fxxnEE%2F Every so often, a new approval generates significant attention. And the FDA endorsement of Benlysta, the first new treatment for lupus in 56 years, is one of those moments. The injectable med, which will be marketed by Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline, is forecast to generate at least $2 billion in annual sales thanks to a $35,000 price tag, despite cautionary language for certain patients. The med, which will actually about cost $40,000 in the first year, will become available later this month. There is no REMS requirement or Black Box warning, which heartened Wall Street. Nonetheless, insurance reimbursement remains somewhat fuzzy. Meanwhile, Human Genome Sciences agreed to conduct another clinical trial in African-American lupus patients. Here’s why… “As expec... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570762 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:40:03 +0100 4570762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570763&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNmT5C8tDVOY%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. A spot of rain is falling on the Pharmalot corporate campus, but our spirits remain sunny thanks to the Morning Mayor, who would always say: ‘Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift.’ So while you tug on the ribbon, please join us for a cup of stimulation and help us scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… FDA Approves First New Lupus Drug In 56 Years (Associated Press) Vertex Moves Ahead With Epilepsy Drug (Boston Business Journal) J&J Hip Replacement Has 49 Percent UK Failure Rate (Bloomberg News) Epizyme And Eisai Form A Partnership (Boston Globe) FDA OKs Hospira Generic Of Taxotere Cancer Med (Reuters) Quintiles Eyes More Deals With Credit Facility (Outsourcing Phar... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570763 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:59:47 +0100 4570763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4552072&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F05%2F7-reasons-charlie-sheen-may-hate-alcoholics-anonymous%2F In one of the myriad interviews he gave over the last week, Charlie Sheen said clearly that he hates AA. A lot of people have trouble with Alcoholics Anonymous. AA is full of people and people can be messy and flawed. The human train wreck formally known as Charlie Sheen is a common sight in the AA meeting halls. The only difference between Mr. Sheen and other self-absorbed, delusional, frantic addicts is the size of the audience to which they rant. These people do not last long in AA. They mock the Fellowship and the 12 Steps (PDF) as too religious or simplistic. AA is beneath them. Here are a few possible reasons why Charlie Sheen might hate AA so much. Reasons Why Charlie Sheen May Hate AA He would have to admit he is powerless. He would need to embrace Humility. Deep tissue Change wo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4552072 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:13:27 +0100 4552072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545011&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F03%2F03%2Fmechanical-turk-to-the-rescue-of-psychology-research%2F One of the problems faced with psychology research — really, with all medical research — is finding enough appropriate subjects to study. Subjects have to be obtained in a way that is representative of the population as a whole for research findings to be generalizable. Which is a real problem, because as I noted back in August 2010, there are literally thousands of psychology studies based upon nothing more than a bunch of college students from a single campus at a university in the U.S. While young adults who are attending college may indeed help us understand some aspects of human behavior, you can’t just assume that the behaviors you observed in those studies apply to 60-year-old women and men too. Enter Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk service to the rescue. Can te... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545011 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:21:54 +0100 4545011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4545253&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FX-GEkqrtVrs%2F Some whistleblowers just won’t go away quietly. In his latest effort to bring his former employer to its knees, former Pfizer exec Peter Rost has filed a new lawsuit contending the drugmaker violated the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act by firing him after he told the feds about illegal marketing activities concerning the Genotropin human growth hormone. The move comes six months after a federal judge dismissed the whistleblower lawsuit that Rost filed against Pfizer, although a federal appeals court subsequently left the door open for Rost to file his latest action in a state court venue (see here). And so he is seeking a trial, which raises the tantalizing possibility that the long-running saga will finally get a public airing, and unspecified damages. For those who may... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4545253 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:30:11 +0100 4545253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532272&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fwhy-is-it-so-hard-to-make-sense-of-your.html HCG ( also known as beta HCG or just beta) is a very special molecule. It's unique in that it's produced only by the placenta ( very very rarely, it's also produced by some ovarian and testicular tumours). This means that for all practical purposes, it's found only in pregnant women and is therefore a very good marker for pregnancy.Since the HCG is produced by the placenta, the levels of HCG rise as the pregnancy develops, and there is very good correlation between the health of the pregnancy and the HCG level for the first few weeks of the pregnancy ( from about week 4 - week 7, as calculated from the LMP, last menstrual period).However , it can be hard to make sense of your HCG blood levels. Let's look at some of the pitfalls in monitoring your beta levels.Most patients naively assume th... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532272 Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:20:00 +0100 4532272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4532211&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-watson-and-the-7-human-qualities-of-an-ideal-physician%2F2011.02.28 After the computer known as Watson easily dispatched of the best two human Jeopardy! contestants in history, IBM announced that one of the first applications of their artificial intelligence technology would be in the medical field. We should soon expect virtual physician assistants in the exam room. At least one of my friends even speculated that the days of human doctors are numbered. Is it possible that machines will replace humans in the doctor-patient relationship? I doubt it. According to a study done by the Mayo Clinic in 2006, the most important characteristics patients feel a good doctor must possess are entirely human. According to the study, the ideal physician is confident, empathetic, humane, personal, forthright, respectful, and thorough. Watson may have proved his cognitive ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4532211 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:00:27 +0100 4532211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4527772&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F27%2Fthink-like-a-skeptic-part-2%2F I was a presenter at the JP Fitness Summit in Kansas City in 2009, where I spoke about the importance of exercising skepticism in your life, whether you’re a fitness expert or anyone else. You can read my first article on the topic here. Here are some additional notes from my lecture at that event. I hope to be able to help readers understand the importance of relying on logic and how to do this more often in everyday life, and, in essence, how to think like a skeptic. The Concise English Oxford Dictionary defines “logic” as the science of reasoning, proof, thinking or inference. In the structure of a logical argument, one or more premises leads to a conclusion (a conclusion that could be true even if the argument is invalid). To sharpen critical thinking skills, it is im... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4527772 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:06:22 +0100 4527772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525145&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2Fresistance-and-recording-history-through-music-in-palestine%2F Songs from a Lost Homeland, which originally aired on Al Jazeera English last year, is in the programming rotation again this weekend. Is there a song in the west right now with even a small percentage of the punch of these musicians? I hope you get a chance to see the entire documentary. There’s another [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525145 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 23:46:00 +0100 4525145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525146&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F26%2Fmusic-of-the-movement%2F One of the first activists’ songs that had any resonance for me was “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” (1961) and then “Give Peace A Chance” (1969). Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” (1963) was an anthem, if ever there was one, and I remember making a connection with “One Tin Soldier” in 1969. While grown-ups [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525146 Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:29:00 +0100 4525146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4522146&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F25%2F6-steps-to-living-a-good-happy-and-long-life%2F Compassion. Gratitude. Conscientiousness. Being humble. A little stress to keep you energized and motivated. Using common sense. Hanging out with the people that are doing healthy things. Having a stable relationship. You might think the secret to a long and happy life was hidden in a book or could be found by following that famous media guru, Oprah. The truth is, a long life and happiness are not obtained by doing extraordinary things or looking for that magical “dream job” (or dream spouse, for that matter). Research has shown — most recently by psychologists Friedman and Martin in The Longevity Project (2010) — that getting to a long life is really just a combination of simple, everyday things and an approach to life that some might say emphasizes a sense of resi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4522146 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:46:57 +0100 4522146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517356&cid=t_107655_151_f&fid=35805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwelvestepfacilitation.com%2Faa-videos-for-healthcare-workers%2F Alcoholics Anonymous produces many materials for education and training of professional workers. Here are three of the most common occupational groups that encounter alcoholics.AA Video for Healthcare ProfessionalsA.A. Video for Legal and Corrections ProfessionalsA.A. Video for Employment/Human Resources ProfessionalsRelated articlesCounseling and the 12 Steps of AA (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Peers Help Alcoholics in Many Ways (twelvestepfacilitation.com)AA and Treatment Work Better Together (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Mutual Aid Groups in Psychiatry and Substance Misuse. (twelvestepfacilitation.com)Alcoholics AnonymousRandom ArticlesAA DiversityRecovery from the Perspective of Addicted WomenAA and Recovery HousesWhat Are Drug Users Looking For?What is Brief-TSF? (Source: Twelve Step Faci... Twelve Step Facilitation.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517356 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:31:00 +0100 4517356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512378&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FhMJkfU3uRBc%2F By Jim HarperA fascinating enforcement action under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) shows what really matters in the world of privacy regulation. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has imposed a $4.3 million civil penalty against Maryland-based Cignet Health for violations of its regulations. HHS's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) found that Cignet violated 41 patients’ HIPAA rights by denying them access to their medical records, which they requested between September 2008 and October 2009. The penalty for these violations is $1.3 million. But Cigna's real crime was willful disobedience of the government. Who knows why, but according to the government: During the investigations, Cignet refused to respond to OCR’s demands to produce the record... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512378 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:22:02 +0100 4512378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512574&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F23%2Fas-libya-and-neighbours-seethe-cpt-reports-on-west-bank-demolitions-by-israel%2F CPTnet 23 February 2011 SOUTH HEBRON HILLS: Israeli military demolishes village of Amniyr Amniyr, South Hebron Hills, West Bank At 5:00 a.m. yesterday morning, the Israeli army, accompanied by members of the Israeli District Coordinating Office, arrived at the village of Amniyr and demolished five tent-houses, two cisterns and the village’s olive trees. The demolitions [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512574 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:08:57 +0100 4512574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507281&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-human-genome-turns-10%2F2011.02.22 The human genome has been around for a bit more than ten years, but on February 15, 2001, the first complete human genome sequence was published. This was nothing short of a revolution within medicine. Since then, great advancements have been made in our understanding of genetics and its associations with human traits and diseases. Nature is celebrating this tenth birthday with a special titled “Human Genome at Ten.” In it, multiple papers reflect on what we learned and discovered, what is still unknown, and what we can expect for the near future. Best of all, Nature has packaged the special in a free iPad app for everyone to read, which features interactive graphs, videos, and audio commentaries. Nature special: The Human Genome at Ten… iTunes link: Nature Human Genome S... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507281 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:00:52 +0100 4507281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507487&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1004-Dr.-Nathanson-also-did-not-BELIEVE-life-begins-at-conception.html Dr. Bernard Nathanson has died.  May he rest in peace.  Dr. Nathanson was a pro-abortion advocate personally responsible for 75,000 abortions who saw the light and became a pro-life advocate.  After I posted that Catholics don't believe that life begins at conception, I was pleasantly surprised to find this line in Dr. Nathanson's Confessions of an Ex-Abortionist: A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philosophical one, anything but a scientific one. Fetology makes it undeniably evident that life begins at conception and requires all the protection and safeguards that any of us enjoy....As a scientist I know, not believe, know that human life begins at conception. [emphasis mine] ... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507487 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:22:33 +0100 4507487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501585&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-physician-temps-needed-for-doctor-shortage%2F2011.02.21 The use of temporary physicians is rising, filling in until permanent physicians can be hired amid the ongoing shortage of doctors nationwide, a locum tenens firm has found. The company estimates between 30,000 and 40,000 physicians worked on a locum tenens basis in 2010. The survey, by Staff Care, polled hospital and medical group managers about their use of locum tenens. Eighty-five percent said their facilities had used temporary physicians sometime in 2010, up from 72 percent in 2009. Psychiatrists and other behavioral health specialists were the most sought-after specialty (22 percent of all requests), followed by primary care physicians, defined as family physicians, general internists and pediatricians (20 percent) and internal medicine subspecialists (12 percent). Hospitalists... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501585 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4501585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495379&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2Fawesome-task-or-perhaps-not-bridging-the-perspective-gap%2F Excerpts from my tweets (and a RT) from early this afternoon: Death by daily repression and near-starvation or death by desperate martyrdom via the State responsible? Your choice? #Bahrain #Libya #Yemen MD from #Bahrain: “Pls, pls, where is the #UN; we need the world; ppl are being killed in the streets!” Ambu’s BLOCKED frm #PearlRoundabout [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495379 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 22:06:06 +0100 4495379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495362&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1003-Catholics-dont-believe-life-begins-at-conception.html At one of my recent talks, a good friend of mine was asking a question when he said, "As Catholics we believe life begins at conception." I immediately interrupted him, a bit too zealously I think, and blurted "We do NOT believe life begins at conception.  We KNOW life begins at conception.  That is a scientific fact.  We BELIEVE that life has value and should be protected.  That is our faith."It seems this misconception is everywhere from non-Catholics to Catholics alike. Everyone says it, "Catholics BELIEVE that life begins at conception."  It is that very line that lets everyone who is not Catholic dismiss everything we have to say about stem cell research, cloning and reproductive technologies.  So please do not perpetuate this miscommunique.  As Ca... Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495362 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:56:33 +0100 4495362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489643&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fn2z-AbtOIDs%2F By Daniel J. MitchellForget the Magna Carta and the Constitution. Don't pay attention to the end of slavery. Ignore the defeat of the Nazis or the collapse of the Soviet Empire. If you want a real victory for humanity, European courts have ruled that people have the right to free soccer games on TV. Apparently, people are now "entitled" to anything that is "of major importance" to society. Isn't that just peachy? Europe is slowly collapsing under the weight of the welfare state. Nations such as Greece and Portugal already have reached the point of fiscal collapse. But rather than address these problems, the political elites at the European institutions have decided on a modern-day version of bread and circuses for the masses. Here's a blurb from the Financial Times. European countries are ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489643 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:52:05 +0100 4489643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4482918&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FQZm2DBHutow%2F If you have a Valentine’s Day hangover, here’s a little hair of the dog that doesn’t involve stale red frosting or half-eaten chocolates: A recent article published in Scientific American reveals what your brain looks like when you’re in love. Based on MRIs of people who described themselves as “experiencing maternal or unconditional love,” Syracuse University professor Stephanie Ortigue compiled data on that revealed a regions and pathways that release neurotransmitters and other chemicals in our brains — or a “passion network” — that enables the euphoric sensations we feel when we’re in love. Among the most interesting changes brought on by love are the increase of cortisol (a stress hormone) in our blood stream, increasing stress... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4482918 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:57:47 +0100 4482918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477672&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=34902&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurepundit.com%2Farchives%2F007907.html An article by John Markoff in the New York Times looks at the implications for an expected defeat of the best human Jeopardy players by an IBM Watson computer. IBM's chess-playing software has already beat the best human chess players. But Jeopardy is harder for a computer to play because the computer has to decipher the meaning of the English language question and find the answer in a large pool of information. The implications of progress in A.I. are being brought into sharp relief now by the broadcasting of a recorded competition pitting the I.B.M. computing system named Watson against the two best human Jeopardy players, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Watson is an effort by I.B.M. researchers to advance... (Source: FuturePundit) FuturePundit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477672 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4477672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477763&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-physical-and-metaphorical-heart%2F2011.02.14 Listening to NPR on Saturday morning I caught part of Scott Simon’s interview with brothers Stephen Amidon and Thomas Amidon, M.D. discussing their book “The Sublime Engine: A Biography of the Human Heart.” The interview touched on the story of the human heart in science and medicine, history, and culture:  It turns out that the classic red heart symbol we see almost everywhere around Valentine’s Day doesn’t look much like a real human heart at all. “Of all the theories about where that symbol comes from, my favorite is that it is a representation of a sixth century B.C. aphrodisiac from northern Africa,” says Stephen Amidon…”And I kind of like that history because it sort of suggests that early on, people sort of understood the conne... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477763 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:00:00 +0100 4477763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464495&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fselling-human-organs-for-transplantation-medical-ethics-in-handcuffs%2F2011.02.11 I have previously posted on the ethics of paying for organ donation. I find this notion to be ethically troubling, but I believe the issue deserves fair debate. In general, my belief is that a personal anecdote should not drive policy in medical ethics. There are many individual vignettes that are poignant and heartbreaking that tempt us to relax our ethical boundaries. For example, permitting us to harvest organs from folks who are “not quite dead,” would save lives, but society’s rights outweigh this benefit, in my view. For similar reasons, I resist efforts to relax the definition of death in order to increase the reservoir of available organs. If death is redefined as a result of a search for truth, then the process is ethically permissible. Participants in these discussi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464495 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:00:00 +0100 4464495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436900&cid=t_107655_135_f&fid=35247&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmyjourneywithaids.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F04%2Ffeeling-powerless-so-far-away-from-egypt-help-change-the-canadian-governments-response%2F Like so much of the world I have been transfixed on the dramatic events in Egypt, but feeling a little powerless to help – until I read about the Harper government’s response (which, I guess, we shouldn’t be surprised about)! What follows came from the Canadian Peace Alliance. Stephen Harper backs Mubarak’s ‘transition’ plan Contact [...] (Source: My journey with AIDS) My journey with AIDS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436900 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:07:26 +0100 4436900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433105&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-link-between-oral-sex-and-head-and-neck-cancer%2F2011.02.03 USA Today published a pretty accurate article regarding the rise of certain head and neck cancers with the increased popularity of oral sex and number of sexual partners. The factor that creates this link is the human papillomavirus (HPV) which is associated with tonsil and tongue cancer. Alcohol and tobacco use is more highly linked with such oral cancers, but HPV does appear to be an independent risk factor. A 2007 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that younger people with head and neck cancers who tested positive for oral HPV infection were more likely to have had multiple vaginal and oral sex partners in their lifetime. Having six or more oral sex partners over a lifetime was associated with a 3.4 times higher risk for oropharyngeal cancer — cancers of the base ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433105 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4433105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419110&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMslTvV7t6Rg%2F By Neal McCluskeySince its beginning, one of the primary drivers behind public schooling — government schooling — has been a desire to compel belief, whether in “American” values, God, the primacy of science, or myriad other things that some people have thought it essential for all people to accept. The result has been constant conflict that, rather than uniting diverse people — a companion goal of public schooling — has divided them.  And not only have crusades to force belief created ongoing conflicts, there’s generally been little evidence they’ve actually changed the targeted beliefs. So we’ve gotten all the downside of trying to force alterations to hearts and minds without actually changing them. Case in point, t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419110 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 19:43:39 +0100 4419110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419479&cid=t_107655_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2F0cqNLdfj7tg%2F They are coming for you. Demanding your attention. Everywhere you look, they’re there. They might be red and flashing, or green and sublime… but they are insidious. They will take your most precious resource and consume it entirely. I’m talking about DISTRACTIONS. It might be your web browser, it might be Facebook. The phone may start ringing and force you to answer. And then there is the king of all distractions… e-mail. Pop… you’ve got mail. Resist if you can… but you know you must see the latest joke, cute puppy picture, or heaven forbid… a free iPod deal!! So there is one answer, if you are ever going to get something done. Yes you know it’s coming Yes you were right… you must… TURN THEM OFF!! But then what… how do you get something done? It’s rather simple r... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419479 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:19:45 +0100 4419479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411524&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteleporting-the-dna-of-hiv%2F2011.01.28 Luc Montagnier received the 2008 Nobel Prize for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but now he’s come up with a more-than-strange theory. He thinks DNA can teleport from one tube to another via electromagnetic signals. Is this the so-called “Nobel disease?” French virologist Luc Montagnier stunned his colleagues at a prestigious international conference when he presented a new method for detecting viral infections that bore close parallels to the basic tenets of homeopathy. Although fellow Nobel prize winners — who view homeopathy as quackery — were left openly shaking their heads, Montagnier’s comments were rapidly embraced by homeopaths eager for greater credibility. Montagnier told the conference last week that solutions containing the DNA o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411524 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:35 +0100 4411524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411723&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCJkmCAQ7CCQ%2F Earlier this week, the US Department of Health & Human Services trumpted its track record in recovering $4 billion from investigations of healthcare fraud, some of which was made possible thanks to qui tam, or whistleblower lawsuits alleging violations of the False Claims Act (you can read the report here). Many drugmakers were targets and paid big fines, (back story) and the implication offered was that more such settlements are in the offing. But how many investigations are actually under way? The answer came just a couple of days later courtesy of US Senator Chuck Grassley, who referenced some data the HHS provided him in a Jan. 24 letter that was written in response to a request he made last month for a breakdown of the fraud probes. And so we now learn that, as of Jan. 4, there w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411723 Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:20:11 +0100 4411723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399826&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTU6O6Hd_s60%2F Another day, another letter to the FDA commish from a group of bipartisan US senators over the biologics debate. The latest missive comes from health committee chair Tom Harkin, John McCain, Chuck Schumer and Sherrod Brown, who are “extremely concerned about possible misinterpretations” of the biosimilars statute “that could further delay the availability of generic biologic drugs.” They are referring to a provision in the healthcare reform law that says generics can enter the market after a brand-name biologic has had exclusivity for 12 years. But earlier this month, a different group of senators - Orrin Hatch, Kay Hagan, Michael Enzi and John Kerry - wrote FDA commish Margaret Hamburg to urge a different interpretation that would favor brand-name drugmakers and biotechs. At issue... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399826 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 16:57:23 +0100 4399826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389187&cid=t_107655_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emergencyweb.net%2Flibrary%2Fmp3.php%3Ff%3Deits_epo33_neonatespart2.mp3 Welcome to the 3rd edition! The LITFL Review is your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peaks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care. Each week the LITFL team will cast the spotlight on the best and brightest from the blogosphere, the podcast video/audiosphere and [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389187 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 03:54:09 +0100 4389187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4386275&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F01%2F22%2Ffda-duped-into-approving-fake-product-for-human-testing%2F When a drug or a vaccine is approved for testing on humans we naturally expect all the paperwork to be thoroughly checked. We assume that background checks have been made and the doctors involved will have had their credentials investigated. To ensure that this task is undertaken correctly the FDA use the skills of Institutional Review Boards. IRB’s are committees designated by an institution to approve, monitor, and review biomedical and behavioural research. They approve all of the vaccines and drugs for use in human trials. The IRB committees are made up typically of medics, persons from the criminal justice, education, physiology, and public health. The primary purpose of such a review is to assure the protection of the rights and welfare of the human subjects. IRBs are a quality... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4386275 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:57:12 +0100 4386275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382798&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F21%2Fmore-skeptic-insights%2F In Kentucky, skeptics meeting are occurring on a regular basis.  Skeptics can thank Laurie Tarr for many of these meetings.  Tarr is the co-founder and co-director of Louisville Area Skeptics.  Recently, I had a chance to talk skepticism with Tarr. What is the mission statement of the Louisville Area Skeptics?  Why are you a skeptic? I created the Louisville Area Skeptics as an opportunity for people from Louisville and the surrounding areas to meet and share their love of science, their interest in critical thinking, and their skeptical worldview through social events and informal science presentations by professional scientists. I’ve been a skeptic since I was a young teenager and discovered the writings of Carl Sagan. Being a skeptic is a way for me to use science to evaluate ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382798 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 19:35:39 +0100 4382798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382950&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-uLkBowhkas%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Concert Pharmaceuticals hired James Shipley as chief medical officer. Previously, he was was senior vp of clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Endo Pharmaceuticals, and before th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382950 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:08:51 +0100 4382950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377789&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaVe4cHW2HSM%2F In a move that some may consider long overdue, more than a dozen of the most prestigious medical journals will consider requiring doctors who submit studies to disclose any payments received from hedge funds and other large investors. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the next annual meeting of The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, which is scheduled for June, according to a spokeswoman for the New England Journal of Medicine. The possibility follows ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest between researchers and the pharmaceutical industry and the extent to which undisclosed financial relationships may unduly influence medical research and, from there, medical practice. But the issue is also encompassing financial ties to large investors, given the growing... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377789 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:21:05 +0100 4377789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372048&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsynthetic-blood-via-artificial-cells-and-platelets-from-stem-cells%2F2011.01.19 There’s hema­tology news, times two (at least): 1. Progress in devel­oping syn­thetic red blood cells A University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill research group has created hydrogel par­ticles that mimic the size, shape and flex­i­bility of red blood cells (RBCs). The researchers used PRINT® (Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates) tech­nology to gen­erate the fake RBCs, which are said to have a rel­a­tively long half-life. The findings were reported on-line yes­terday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) (abstract available, sub­scription required for full text). According to a PR-ish but inter­esting post on Futurity, a website put forth by a con­sortium of major research uni­ver­sities, tests of the par­ticles’ ability to ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372048 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:00:47 +0100 4372048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361066&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F18%2Fhow-to-detect-lies-be-trusting%2F Humans can be an untrusting race. People are often very cynical about human nature, tending to think that strangers will happily lie to us if there is something in it for them. In a world filled with liars, lack of trust in others is often thought to be a sensible precaution. And to protect ourselves, we need to be suspicious of people we don’t know. Certainly we have an intuitive belief that people who are more suspicious of others’ motives are likely to be better at detecting lies. Or so Nancy Carter and J. Mark Weber found when they asked a group of MBA students whether people high or low in trust would be better at detecting lies in others (Carter & Weber, 2010). The results were as we’d expect: 85% thought low trusters are better than high trusters at lie detect... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361066 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:03:26 +0100 4361066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360961&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fhawc3g-lwJo%2F By Daniel J. MitchellI’m not a big fan of the Internal Revenue Service, but I try not to demonize the bureaucrats because politicians actually deserve most of the blame for America’s complex, unfair, and corrupt tax system. The IRS generally is in the unenviable position of simply trying to enforce very bad laws. But sometimes the IRS runs amok and the agency deserves to be held in contempt by the American people Let’s look at a grotesque example of IRS misbehavior. It deals with a seemingly arcane issue, but it has big implications for the US economy, the rule of law, and human rights. On January 7, the tax-collection bureaucracy proposed a regulation that, if implemented, would force American financial institutions to put foreign tax law above US tax law. Banks would be require... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360961 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:44:54 +0100 4360961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361084&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fpersistent-determined-infertile-nri.html Both my husband and I, born in India but raised almost entirely abroad (he in US, myself all over the world), met purely by chance in 2007 and got married soon after. I'm a career woman who got married very young and had put off having children when I became single again at 25. My husband had also married young and had 4 children, and found himself suddenly single again. After a whirlwind courtship and traditional Indian wedding, I was overwhelmed by gaining an instant family, but also felt a deep longing to experience motherhood for myself. However, I also had a complicated gynecological history and age was not on my side (I am 47), so did not share my husband's hopes that I would ever become a mother (other than through adoption). My husband and I tried one (very expensive) IVF cycle in ... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361084 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:59:00 +0100 4361084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4355772&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F16%2Fworld-of-psychology-one-of-top-50-blogs-of-2010%2F We, like most people, enjoy it when we receive recognition from others. Who doesn’t appreciate the occasional pat on the back? So to start our new year off right, we were kindly named one of the Top 50 Blogs — of the millions of blogs online today! — by Regator. Who is Regator? Regator.com is a website designed to help you find quality blog posts. It does this by using highly selective human editors to find well-written, topical blogs on more than 500 topics then a combination of semantic algorithms and user interaction to find the most interesting, timely, and noteworthy posts from those blogs. Regator provides you with tools to monitor keywords, find related content, view trends, keep track of favorites, and share with friends. If anyone should know a thing or two abo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4355772 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:38:30 +0100 4355772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338021&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F12%2Fintroducing-real-world-research%2F We all have theories about how the world works. And in psychology, researchers spend a lot of time testing these hypotheses to see how true they are. Wouldn’t it be cool to have someone who takes things from the real world and see what the research says about them? Indeed, I thought so too, so I’m happy to bring you Real World Research with Sophia Dembling. Sophia will blog here about what the research says about all sorts topics delving into human behavior, psychology, why we often feel the way we do after something happens — you name it. While the specific topic may vary, the focus will be on how research is applied to the real world. Sophia Dembling left the daily newspapers in 1994 to freelance and immediately took to the solitary lifestyle of the freelance writer. Sophia is auth... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338021 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:30:04 +0100 4338021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338182&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=34999&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marymeetsdolly.com%2Fblog%2Findex.php%3F%2Farchives%2F1001-Eggsploitation-the-fertility-industrys-dirty-little-secret.html Eggsploitation is a new documentary by the Center for Bioethics and Culture about the exploitation of woman's bodies for the lucrative fertility industry.  Check out the trailer and the website: (Source: Mary Meets Dolly) Mary Meets Dolly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338182 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:36:14 +0100 4338182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331238&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-cRjehpd63o%2F Good morning, folks. Another shiny day is unfolding here on the chilly Pharmalot corporate campus, where the dogs are barking and the short people are scrambling off to the school houses. As for us, we are downing a cup of stimulation - our flavor today is Golden French Toast - and hunting for interesting tidbits. Hear something fascinating? Do pass it our way. Meanwhile, here are a few items to help you along. Hope your day goes well… Eli Lilly And Boehringer Ink Diabetes Drug Deal (Reuters) Amgen Moves Three Cancer Drugs Into Late-Stage Tests (Bloomberg News) Neurosearch Cuts Workforce By 20 Percent (Reuters) Prozac May Speed Physical Rehab After Stroke: Study (HealthDay) Swine Flu Survivors Developed Super Flu Antibodies (Reuters) HGS Hopes To Bank Billions After Lupus Drug Launch... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331238 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:46:46 +0100 4331238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331239&cid=t_107655_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F25BnSsPy6VY%2F Next week, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments about a highly contentious issue in which hospitals and clinics want the right to file lawsuits against drugmakers, which they believe have overcharged by not offering discounts or reimbursements as part of what is known as the 340B program. This provides access to discounted prescription meds to healthcare entities certified by the US Department of Health and Human Services. However, the White House recently filed an amicus brief siding with the pharmaceutical industry over concerns that its administration will get mired in an unending number of lawsuits, even though this position is at odds with the notion that the 340B program is designed to ensure underprivileged patients get access to needed meds (read the brief here). “You can par... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331239 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:50:36 +0100 4331239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322636&cid=t_107655_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2FgRRZQti7WfU%2F New genomes from Microsporidia are on the way from the Broad Institute and other groups, and will be a boon to those working on these fascinating creatures. Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites of eukaryotic cells and many can cause serious disease in humans. Some parasitize worms and insects too. The evolutionary placement of these species in the fungi is still debated with recent evidence placing them as derived members of the Mucormycotina based on shared synteny (conserved gene order), in particular around the mating type locus.  There is still some debate as to where this group belongs in the Fungal kingdom, with their highly derived characteristics and long branches they are still make them hard to place.  The synteny-based evidence was another way to find a phyloge... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322636 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:24:01 +0100 4322636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314074&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Ftesting-for-pregnancy-after-embryo.html While all IVF patients understand with their heads that not every IVF cycle results in success, in their heart of hearts, every patient expects to get pregnant every time they do IVF ! This is why the 2ww after the embryo transfer can be so nerve-wracking ! Am I pregnant or not ? Have the embryos implanted or not ? The suspense during the 2ww can be even worse than the pain of the IVF injections !Most patients would love to have a test which will allow them to find out if they are pregnant immediately after the embryo transfer ! Have the embryos stuck or not ? Why can’t we do a pregnancy test and find out right now ? Even if I am not pregnant, at least it’s better to know than to be unsure.To understand why patients ( and their doctors ) still have to suffer through a 2 week wait to fi... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314074 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 03:04:00 +0100 4314074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314006&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhenrietta-lacks-and-her-immortal-cells%2F2011.01.05 If you like science, true history, and an engaging story, pick up the new book by journalist Rebecca Skloot, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and prepare for a great read. I knew nothing about the young black woman whose cells were taken back in 1951 by a scientist at Johns Hopkins Hospital and how those cells have revolutionized modern cell biology and research. The HeLa (named after HEnrietta LAcks) cells were taken as she lay dying on the “colored” ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital of aggressive cervical cancer at age 30. Everyone who studies basic cell biology has heard of HeLa cells because they were the first human cell line to be successfully grown in culture and they are alive today. HeLa cells were sent to researchers all across the globe and have been... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314006 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4314006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304945&cid=t_107655_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Fwhy-hcg-blood-test-is-better-than-home.html Blood tests for checking the beta HCG level are better than home urine pregnancy tests for the following reasons.1. They are more accurate , sensitive and reliable. A negative test ( HCG level of less than 10 mIU/ml) can reliably rule out a pregnancy with 100% accuracy. Urine tests are not as reliable or accurate. This is because they can have false negatives. A false negative is the situation when a woman is pregnant, but the urine pregnancy test comes back as negative. This can be because her HCG levels are low, so that they cannot be picked up by the urine test ( which becomes positive only after the blood HCG levels cross more than about 30-50 mIU/ml). Other reasons the urine test can be incorrectly negative is when it’s not done properly by the patient ( who is not an expert, after... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304945 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 03:57:00 +0100 4304945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304918&cid=t_107655_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F02%2Fwisdom-quotes-for-2011%2F Before I met Ronald Pies, M.D., professor of psychiatry and lecturer on bioethics and humanities at SUNY Upstate Medical University and professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, I did not know what a mensch was. I figured it has something to do with a short person. However, for Christmas this year I received a signed copy of Pies’s newest book, “Becoming a Mensch: Timeless Talmudic Ethics for Everyone,” and I decided that I would like to become a mensch, much like Dr. Pies, for whom I have the utmost respect. The American Heritage Dictionary defines mensch as “a person having admirable characteristics, such as fortitude and firmness of purpose.” His book is a fascinating collection of personal case histories, often based on composites of ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304918 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 13:22:12 +0100 4304918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302859&cid=t_107655_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-holidays-and-the-circle-of-life%2F2011.01.01 The holiday season is a time of both joy and sorrow. Tomorrow a childhood friend will be laid to rest — one of my favorite artists, Teena Marie, died unexpectedly two days ago and at least six other people have made their transitions as well. My own father died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve in 1981 leaving a great void in our family life. Why do people leave us during the holiday season? It has been said because they want to be remembered. While I lamented about all the transitions that occurred in the past two weeks, one of my best friends announced that she had a new granddaughter that was born on Christmas Day. She stated that this was part of the “life cycle” or “circle of life.” Her comments gave me reason to pause and reflect. (more…) *This blog p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302859 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:00:47 +0100 4302859