Author Archives
In short, I review clinical research on an almost daily basis. What I post tends to be articles that are relevant to the readers in addition to some curiosities that have intriguing potential.
As a hobby, I truly enjoy the puzzle-solving play that statistics and programming as in the python language bring to the table. I just do not enjoy problem-solving, I love problem-solving and the childlike inspiration and exploration of that innocent exhilaration of discovering something new.
Enjoy ;-)
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Fish show autism-like gene expression in water with psychoactive pharmaceuticals
Results may suggest environmental trigger for autism, but only in genetically predisposed individuals Psychoactive medications in water affect the gene expression profiles of fathead minnows in a way that mimics the gene expression patterns associated with autism spectrum disorder in… Read More ›
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The real culprit behind hardened arteries? Stem cells, says landmark study (NC)
Berkeley — One of the top suspects behind killer vascular diseases is the victim of mistaken identity, according to researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, who used genetic tracing to help hunt down the real culprit. The guilty party… Read More ›
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For Some Men, Propecia’s Sexual Side Effects May Be Long-lasting
By CARRIE GANN, ABC News Medical Unit | Good Morning America Kevin Malley was almost 30, and he was starting to lose his hair. He went to his doctor to see if there was a way to keep from going… Read More ›
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Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity
Obese children show greater exposure than nonobese children to a phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastics in some children’s toys and many household products, according to a new study, which found that the obesity risk increases according to the… Read More ›
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Controversial vaccine trial should never have been run in India, researchers say
Research published today in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine raises further questions about a trial of HPV vaccines in India. The trial, which has now been halted and is the subject of an investigation by the Indian… Read More ›
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Big Tobacco knew radioactive particles in cigarettes posed cancer risk but kept quiet
Big Tobacco knew radioactive particles in cigarettes posed cancer risk but kept quiet Tobacco companies knew that cigarette smoke contained radioactive alpha particles for more than four decades and developed “deep and intimate” knowledge of these particles’ cancer-causing potential, but… Read More ›
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Merck Accused of Faking Mumps Vaccine Data
Couthouse News Service Site 27 JUN 201 PHILADELPHIA (CN) – Merck has known for a decade that its mumps vaccine is “far less effective” than it tells the government, and it falsified test results and sold millions of doses of… Read More ›
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Roche under investigation by UK watchdogs
Drug giant probed for not disclosing 15,000 patient death reports: Roche under investigation by UK watchdogs after 80,000 ‘adverse reactions‘ By Jo Macfarlane PUBLISHED:16:48 EST, 7 July 2012 | UPDATED:08:20 EST, 8 July 2012 One of the world’s biggest drug… Read More ›
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Researchers find MSG use linked to obesity
CHAPEL HILL – People who use monosodium glutamate, or MSG, as a flavor enhancer in their food are more likely than people who don’t use it to be overweight or obese even though they have the same amount of physical… Read More ›
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Overdiagnosis poses significant threat to human health
International conference: Preventing Overdiagnosis Overdiagnosis poses a significant threat to human health by labeling healthy people as sick and wasting resources on unnecessary care, warns Ray Moynihan, Senior Research Fellow at Bond University in Australia, in a feature published on… Read More ›
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Understanding the links between inflammation and chronic disease (NC)
Early exposure to microbes reduces inflammation related to chronic disease later EVANSTON, Ill. — American parents may want to think again about how much they want to protect their children from everyday germs. A new Northwestern University study done in… Read More ›
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Study pinpoints effects of different doses of an ADHD drug; Finds higher doses may harm learning
MADISON – New research with monkeys sheds light on how the drug methylphenidate may affect learning and memory in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The results parallel a 1977 finding that a low dose of the drug boosted cognitive… Read More ›
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How antipsychotic medications cause metabolic side effects such as obesity and diabetes
LA JOLLA, Calif. — In 2008, roughly 14.3 million Americans were taking antipsychotics—typically prescribed for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a number of other behavioral disorders—making them among the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. Almost all of these medications are… Read More ›
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Fake drug sales are increasing on the Internet and turning up in legitimate supply chains
Major review contains wealth of international facts and figures Criminal gangs are increasingly using the internet to market life-threatening counterfeit medicines and some have even turned up in legitimate outlets such as pharmacies, according to a review led by Dr… Read More ›
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Common flame retardant linked to social, behavioral and learning deficits
Study highlights the interaction between epigenetics and genetics and exposure to a flame retardant in mice Mice genetically engineered to be susceptible to autism-like behaviors that were exposed to a common flame retardant were less fertile and their offspring were… Read More ›
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Deer antlers inspire a new theory on osteoporosis
The loss of manganese could mean that calcium does not stick to bones and could cause osteoporosis. This is the new theory put forward by researchers at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) in Spain after studying deer antlers. The… Read More ›
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Bacteria in the gut of autistic children different from non-autistic children
The underlying reason autism is often associated with gastrointestinal problems is an unknown, but new results to be published in the online journal mBio® on January 10 reveal that the guts of autistic children differ from other children in… Read More ›
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High fructose consumption by adolescents may put them at cardiovascular risk
Evidence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk is present in the blood of adolescents who consume a lot of fructose, a scenario that worsens in the face of excess belly fat, researchers report. An analysis of 559 adolescents… Read More ›
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Study examines link between vaccinations and exposure to compound widely used in food packaging
CHICAGO – Elevated exposures in children to perfluorinated compounds, which are widely used in manufacturing and food packaging, were associated with lower antibody responses to routine childhood immunizations, according to a study in the January 25 issue of JAMA. “Fluorine-substituted… Read More ›
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CU School of Medicine researchers look at effects of 2 common sweeteners on the body
CU School of Medicine researchers look at effects of 2 common sweeteners on the body AURORA, Colo. (Jan. 23, 2012) – With growing concern that excessive levels of fructose may pose a great health risk – causing high blood pressure,… Read More ›
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First link between potentially toxic PFCs in office air and in office workers’ blood
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists are reporting that the indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances released by carpeting, furniture, paint and other items. Their report, which documents a link between levels… Read More ›
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Are diet soft drinks bad for you?
New study finds potential link between daily consumption of diet soft drinks and risk of vascular events Individuals who drink diet soft drinks on a daily basis may be at increased risk of suffering vascular events such as stroke, heart… Read More ›
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Monsanto GMO Seeds Use to Further Expand Within US
Mike Barrett Natural Society December 30, 2011 While genetically modified foods are continually being banned in other countries, the US is slow to follow the very necessary trend. The USDA has chosen to step back and give Monsanto even more… Read More ›
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Glucosamine causes the death of pancreatic cells
EEV: Repost 2010 Study, that slipped past our prior research reports Contact: Jean-François Huppé jean-francois.huppe@dc.ulaval.ca 418-656-7785 Université Laval This release is available in French. Quebec City, October 27, 2010—High doses or prolonged use of glucosamine causes the death of pancreatic… Read More ›
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Radioactive cheese grater case shows lack of oversight
Who is in charge of protecting Americans from products made from radioactively tainted metal? The answer: No one. Officials with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the U.S. Department of… Read More ›
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JAMA editor-in-chief comments on Pfizer lawsuit
In an editorial published early online today, JAMA Editor-in-Chief Catherine D. DeAngelis, M.D., M.P.H., and JAMA Editorial Counsel Joseph P. Thornton, J.D., write about a recent court ruling regarding litigation involving JAMA and the Archives of Internal Medicine (AIM) “that… Read More ›
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Study shows why synthetic estrogens wreak havoc on reproductive system
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine now have a clearer understanding of why synthetic estrogens such as those found in many widely-used plastics have a detrimental effect on a developing fetus, cause fertility problems, as well as vaginal and breast… Read More ›
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Review of group-based cancer trials reveals flaws in studies’ design and analysis
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study reviewing 75 group-randomized cancer trials over a five-year stretch shows that fewer than half of those studies used appropriate statistical methods to analyze the results. The review suggests that some trials may have reported… Read More ›
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Ads for SSRI antidepressants are misleading, say researchers
Consumer ads for a class of antidepressants called SSRIs often claim that depression is due to a chemical imbalance in the brain, and that SSRIs correct this imbalance, but these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, say researchers in… Read More ›
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A Common Microbe Could Help To Trigger Alzheimers
A COMMON microbe could help to trigger Alzheimer’s disease, say researchers in the US. If true, their controversial claim could turn the multimillion-dollar field of Alzheimer’s research on its head and force a rethink on how to prevent the… Read More ›
Engineering Evil 