The 12 Most Surprising Medical Facts

0 »
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

baby boy in diaper with toothbrush

At least one of these facts will be so surprising that you’ll never forget it.  There’s some weird stuff going on.

1) Chewing gum is a valid medical treatment with research papers written and clinical trials run for its use in treating ileus.

2) DBCP is a pesticide that was used on over 40 crops in the United States until 1977.  It turns out it can, at fairly low doses, make men sterile.

3) Some medical schools don’t require Doctors to promise that they should “first, do no harm” to patients anymore.

4) Researchers let hundreds of black men suffer from untreated syphilis for 40 years.  The poor men had no idea why they were sick and trusted that the researchers were giving them the best healthcare possible.

This “Tuskgee syphilis experiment” only ended in 1972.

Maybe there was a reason for number 3?

5) They sometimes say that they don’t make men like they used to.  Turns out that might be true.

In the old days, men would make 20 million sperm on ejaculation.  Some studies have shown that number has dropped by half to “just” 10 million.  This has absolutely nothing to do with number 2.

6) You might not know that cows are known for being animals that chew food, swallow it, then spit it back up to be eaten again.  That’s weird enough.  But here’s the kicker.

It turns out that people can do the same thing.  It’s a condition called “rumination.”  And the best part?  A possible treatment for rumination consists of chewing gum.

7) A handful of Botulism toxin can kill millions of people.

8) A central tenant of toxicology is that anything whatsoever can be poisonous if given at high enough levels.  That includes water.

9) Plato, a famous Greek philosopher, believed that being scared could cause birth defects.

10) Half of the studies into some antidepressants show that they are no more effective than placebo.  Companies aren’t required to report studies that show their med doesn’t work when seeking FDA approval.

11) For a long time, Doctors wouldn’t wash their hands or instruments.  They could go from operating from a patient with a fatal infectious disease to using the same instrument on you.

The first Doctor to realize that this was a problem decided to do something and made those he knew start washing their hands.  Fatality rates plummeted.  But get this.

When the Doctor decided to make public his idea – that Doctors should wash their hands – the reaction wasn’t good.

It ended with him beaten and thrown into an insane asylum, where he died.  People don’t like being told that their bad habits are killing someone else.

12) Thalidomide has been described as being the cause of the worst health failure of the entire 20th century – it was a medication that caused thousands of children to be born with serious birth defects like having minute flippers for arms.

One woman at the FDA had a bad feeling about Thalidomide and stopped it from entering the US.  She was a hero.

Yet recent events have shown that Thalidomide might be a useful medical treatment after all.  Thalidomide is now a standard treatment for leprosy and some types of cancer.

You might like:

20 Fun Facts about Alcohol

The 10 Worst Diseases Ever

Tags: , ,
general interest

List of New Cancer Drugs

0 »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
a cancer cell

As follows, here is a list of new cancer drugs that show especial promise.

Herceptin or trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody to the HER2 receptor and a recent innovation in breast cancer treatment.  In those who have the mutation specific to it, Herceptin can work impressively well.  At $100,000 per year of treatment, however, it comes at a cost.

Sutent or Sunitinib is an interesting new medication that disrupts the activity of multiple tyrosine kinases.  More non-specific than many other similar medications, it has shown significant efficacy for treating renal cancer as well as a back-up for gastrointestinal stromal cancer.

Erbitux is an antibody to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, which means it has similar activity to other medications discussed here.  It may play a role in treating colorectal cancer and was recently discovered to increase by 20% objective survival when used in head and neck cancers, the first successful, new treatment in 30 years.

Arimidex and Femara are members of the aromatase inhibitors.  Very recent studies have shown their superior efficacy to the traditional treatment of tamoxifen for preventing breast cancer recurrence in post-menopausal women.  Best of all, Arimidex is about to go off patent.  That said, it is important to note that we do not know as much as we’d like about their long term side effects compared to tamoxifen.

Tarceva or erlotinib is a new treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.  It is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is fairly specific for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor.  In terms of efficacy, however, it is not that great.  It may work best in patients who have a mutation in the EGF receptor, which may mean genetic tests to guide use.

Olaparib is a PARP inhibitor that works to prevent cells from repairing damage to their DNA.  (Note that it’s not a nib).  As many chemotherapies work by causing DNA damage in some form, this medication may increase the efficacy of traditional treatment.  Olaparib is being especially investigated for use in women with BRCA1 or 2 mutations who have more aggressive cancer than normal.

Gleevec or imatinib is commonly viewed as one of the most exciting new medications because it is highly effective for treating CML, chronic myeloid leukemia, as well as possibly other cancers.  Gleevec was hailed as a victory for scientific research because it was discovered by systematically screening chemicals for effectiveness in targeting cancer-related pathways.

While CML is somewhat rare, Gleevec comes at a very high cost, raising the question of corporate greed.

Tags: , , ,
cancer, medication

The 14 Weirdest Medical Facts I Know

1 »
Friday, November 27th, 2009

cute-dog

As follows are some of the weirdest medical facts I’ve encountered.

1) It is possible for a girl at the age of puberty to have a penis and balls pop out of her “vagina.” Turns out she was a he all along.

2) You can have half of your brain removed and still be functioning. Half your brain just sliced out, and you’re still alive and healthy. Weird, huh?

3) At one point, the US set up stations along the border with Mexico and made immigrants take baths in gasoline. With explosive results. Literally. (A prisoner after being doused in gasoline decided to light a cigarette.)

4) The fastest killing natural disease I’ve heard of can kill you within several hours of exposure to it.

5) A common treatment for bone cancer is to pump in toxic chemicals that completely wipe out the entire body’s immune system. Why doesn’t this kill the patient? Because after their immune system is wiped out, replacement cells are pumped in. Risky? Yep.

6) Breast implants don’t always stay put. I’ve seen pictures of a woman where her implant migrated up to her shoulder then started pushing out of her skin. Ew!

7) The same medication which it is a felony to distribute, which is classified as being the “most addictive,” induces euphoria and possibly paranoia and psychosis, we give to our kids, hardly thinking about it. The med? “Speed,” amphetamine, or “Adderall.”

8) On the amphetamine subject, we produce and distribute more than 1,000 kg of methamphetamine (also known as “crystal meth”) legally per year.

9) Researchers let hundreds of black men suffer from untreated syphilis for 40 years.  The poor men had no idea why they were sick and trusted that the researchers were giving them the best healthcare possible.

This “Tuskgee syphilis experiment” only ended in 1972.

10) Blue skin syndrome, otherwise known as “smurf syndrome.” Not really, but this condition, where your skin turns blue is a bit of a medical mystery.

11) Someone being treated for cancer had their fingerprints disappear. Pretty cool, but the process by which it happened – severe blistering – must have been pretty tough.

12) Anyone who is kept in solitary confinement can become psychotic. The reason that’s so weird is as follows – it means that you, even if you’re in perfect health, could become psychotic (start seeing things that aren’t there, for instance) if someone locked you in a room for a week.

Now that’s pretty freaky. And yet it is still legal for us to stick prisoners in solitary confinement for years. Torture, anyone?

13) Capgras syndrome. People who have this believe that important people in their lives have been abducted and replaced by identical appearing impostors.

14) Then there’s Cotard’s syndrome, where someone walks around thinking that they are actually dead.  Why, if they believe that, they continue to eat is a mystery to me.

Tags: , ,
general interest

Top 15 Investigative Blogs in Healthcare

4 »
Monday, August 31st, 2009
an award for investigative blogging in health

It’s hard to find blogs that are well written and interesting.  And it’s easy to find blogs that try to throw dirt at the establishment.

But blogs that are well written, based off solid sources, and actually finding things that drug companies would rather us not know?  They’re a rare species.

The 15 blogs that follow win our Investigative Blog in Healthcare Award – the Health Muckraker Award – for their excellence in uncovering issues in HealthCare.

1) Neuroskeptic

Neuroskeptic looks at important issues in neurological medicine and analyzes them thoroughly and skeptically.  This blog’s level-headedness combined with its sharp analyses and points make it a winner for investigative blogging, and place it at number one on this list.

Make sure to check out his fascinating article on Neurogenesis and Antidepressants.

2) Before You Take That Pill

Doug Bremmer is a doctor taking a stand against the market power of big pharma.  His blog analyzes medical fiascoes and controversies with wit and depth.  He is an authority in his field and it shows; you can clearly tell that he knows what he’s talking about.

Make sure to see his recent article on ghost-writing in medical research.

3) Furious Seasons

Philip Dawdy has dug up tons of dirt that makers of psychological drugs don’t want you to know and have simply tried to repress.  From analyzing abuse of Seroquel to discussing the downsides of antidepressants, he’s helped patients understand much better the risks of the meds they’re taking.

His work is helping expose things that we have a right to know.

Make sure to see his famous compilation of the Zyprexa documents.

4) Scientific Misconduct Blog

Another doctor blogging about the darker side of medicine.  This blog is marked by a higher intellectual tone and careful analysis/arguments.  Dr. Blumsohn makes sure to look at issues that are important to doctor behavior and catches issues that people not so involved with the field might miss.

Importantly, he doesn’t attack harder than he has to, and he’s willing to post in defense of the good stuff, like vaccines.

Make sure to see his post on the anti-vaccine meme.

5) Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry: A Closer Look

Sharp, sharp posts attacking the many problems in psychological medications.  Powerful criticism with occasional big picture posts.  Some important issues raised by the blog include antidepressant efficacy and excessive marketing.

Make sure to see the posts on Abilify.

6) Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma

Dr. Brody focuses on pharmaceutical issues and develop.  He is very analytical and likes looking at issues in depth and bouncing ideas off his readers.  While incisive and sharp, his analysis tends to be slower and less “headline”-y than some of the others.  Which doesn’t make them less useful; their impact just takes a little longer.

Make sure to see his analyses of antidepressants.

7) The Carlat Psychiatry Blog

Dr. Carlat’s blog has won some impressive awards – and for good reason. His articles are excellently written. They’re in depth, sarcastic at times, and digging up stories for the general public to see what’s going on.

Check out the blog. Almost any post from it is worth a read.

8) Alison Bass

This blog isn’t popular enough. It’s well written, comprehensive, and makes an impact with strong arguments and discussions. Allison covers the crucial problems facing medicine today like overprescribing and lack of safety information for many popular drugs.

Make see to see her article on conflicts of interest in statin research.

9) Chemical Imbalance.org

Chemical imbalance is another blog focused on the controversies around psychiatric medications.  They are specifically aimed at analyzing the chemical imbalance theory of depression and mental illness as well as a general goal of looking at the problems of psychology.

They take pride in presenting balanced posts.

Make sure to see their analyses of problems with clinical publishing.

10) Medical Consumerism

An excellent blog produced by multiple authors from the University of Minnesota.  Very high quality writing that overviews other sources and a wide variety of interesting topics important to health care and medicine.  It isn’t dedicated to exposes but manages to raise important and thought provoking questions.

Because it’s mostly analysis of other sources, we’ll skip the recommended post.  Just check the blog out!

11) Pharma Marketing

John Mack blogs about the marketing tactics of pharmaceutical companies and provides analysis of their ethics.  Key issues he focuses on include exploitation of consumers and selling benefits while downplaying costs.  He’s good enough at what he does to be quoted by the New York Times.

Make sure to see his article on whether disclosure is enough in medical publishing.

12) Eye on FDA

Mark Senak writes about many different issues in health care and has a healthy skepticism and quick wit. As the name implies, he’s mainly focused on evaluating FDA policy and their ethical and business implications. Important topics he covers include monitoring safety and the darker side of the decisions that the FDA makes.

Make sure to read his post on the transparency of the FDA blog.

13) The Health Media Watch

Christine is a teacher of ethics at NYU, and she combines her deep understanding of ethics with analysis of health news and policy. Hard hitting posts include calling out a lack of disclosure in funding of clinical studies and sloppy reporting on Parkinson’s disease.

Make sure to see her hilarious spoof post on drug advertising

14) Health Care Renewal

The many authors off this blog are dedicated to “addressing threats to health care’s core values.” They have an academic slant and take on very important issues like corruption, transparency, and un-reported dangers. They’ve been around for a while, and have done some great work.

Make sure to check out their recent coverage of the Pfizer $2.3 billion fine.

15) Mental Dimensions

I love this site.  It has some great articles and some wonderful analyses.  One of the bigger problems with it, is that it doesn’t post enough.  But when it does, it’s worth it.

Make sure to see it’s article on addiction and SSRIs.

If you found this article useful, I’m happy.  Thanks for reading!

Tags: , , , , , ,
general interest

50 More Ways to Make Friends

1 »
Sunday, August 16th, 2009

test

A lot of people really liked my post 50 Ways to Make Friends.

Many of my posts here are a bit too technical, and don’t get much response.  But it felt really good to write something that helped people.

So I decided to write another 50 Ways to Make Friends.

I hope this list of ideas and ways to make or improve friendships is just as useful!

1) Wear funny shirts

This is number one because it’s amazingly effective. Funny shirts help get conversations started in a wide variety of settings. Plus they can be quite cool.

2) Ask someone to show you their photos

People love sharing their photos. It can be Facebook photos or real ones; either way, they’ll like you a lot for asking.

3) Be eager to learn new things

Most people are experts in a certain field or area. Ask about their expertise!

They’ll be glad to share. You’ll learn something new while starting a new friendship. Pretty awesome.

4) Self promote a little

Don’t be ashamed to talk about the cool things going on in your life.

5) Remember things

Conversations are made a lot easier when you remember stuff already talked about.

6) Throw a party or event

A great way to reinforce old friendships, make new ones, and just have fun is to throw a party. You can make it a potluck to save money.  There are tons of possible variations and themes for you to consider.

7) Know what you shine at

Do things that you enjoy.  You’ll have fun and so will the people you’re hanging out with.  Conversely, don’t do things that bore the heck out of you.

8) Don’t be afraid to share

People have big hearts. If something is going on in your life, most people would love to help.

9) But hold back a little

Some things are private for a reason. This applies both to you, and to the people you’re talking to. Don’t dig too hard for juicy information.

10) Start a band!

Not for everyone, but starting a band is a great way to have fun.

11) Meet in public places

If you meet with your friends in public, like a coffee shop, your conversation might attract potentially cool strangers. Works especially well in college settings.

12) Have a way to get in touch

If you met someone and want to be friends, have a way to stay in touch!

13) Cook with friends

For some, inviting friends over to cook some complicated dishes is a great way to socialize. Plus you can eat the yummy food (or pretend to eat it while eating take-out pizza) while watching a fun TV show.

14) Accept invitations

Make it your habit to say “yes” when invited to a social event.

15) Be friendly

A bit obvious, but important. Even when you feel crappy, force yourself to be polite and friendly.

16) Don’t judge people

It’s easy to judge people. But you’re probably just as screwed up in different ways. No one does well in the spotlight.

17) Spread yourself out

Have a few close friends. Having just one very close friend has its positives, but can backfire.

18) Join a religious community

19) Help people out

As Jordan from Scrubs put it, “Helping someone move is great! It’s like oral sex. You do it once, and they owe you for the rest of their lives.”

Less cynically, it’s great to help your friends. And it’ll pay back when you need help.

20) Join an alumni organization

21) Compliment people

If someone does a great job, or just does something cool, let them know!  Everyone likes being appreciated.

22) Be a good conversationalist

This link has some good advice on how to be a good conversationalist.

23) Practice!

Practice being social. The more you try, the better and more natural it’ll become.

24) You’ll get rejected

Along the way, you’ll get rejected every now and then. Or maybe a lot of times. It’s ok. You’ll get there.

25) Be patient

Friendships take time to develop.  Patience!

26) Use mnemonics to remember names

When you meet someone, try to come up with an association of their name to help remember it.

27) Do something you love

28) Be a social activist

Get involved with social activism groups.  You’ll make a difference in the world while hanging out with like-minded people.

29) Have fun!

You’re an adult now for the vast majority of the time.  But when you’re with friends, you can be anything you want to.  So let loose a little – have fun!

30) Start a study group

Find a subject you and some friends would like to learn, then start a group to study it together.  Topics can range from web design to writing.

31) Stay in touch with those you meet/know

If you like someone and want to stay friends with them, try to see them at least 1-2 times a year.  For a good friend, it should be a lot higher, of course.

32) Be positive

Don’t complain, whine, gossip, et cetra.

33) Travel with friends

34) Get a pet!

Having a pet is pretty much like having a friend.  But of course, having a pet opens a whole new community to you.

35) Be there

When your friend needs help, give it.  Remember what’s really important in life.

36) Don’t give up

37) Make friends at work

38) Treat people like they’re important

39) Show that you like someone

It’s okay to show that you are friends with someone or think they’re cool. People like to know they’re valued

40) Go for drinks with someone

This one is a bit intense, but getting drinks with someone is a really powerful way to get to know them better. Just keep it in moderation.

41) Do something beyond the call of duty

42) Surprise your friends

Do something nice for a friend for no reason.  They’ll probably do the same for you.  Before you know it, both of your lives will be a bit more interesting.

And even if they don’t return the favor, you’ll feel good for having done something nice.

43) Go dancing

44) Practice basic hygiene

It’s hard to make friends when your breath smells like a dragon!

45) Ask people about their families

46) Know about body language

Body language is a tricky subject. But if someone suddenly starts tapping their foot, or crosses their arms, it’s possible you hit a sore spot. Don’t obsess over body language, but know the basics.

47) Relate to people in their way

48) Tell people about cool things!

49) Value the friends you have

Your friends are, flaws and all, a pretty awesome bunch.  Value what you’ve got!

50) Share useful sh*t like this list!

That’s right.  Studies show that sharing lists like this one not only wins you tons of new friends – it also makes you more attractive.

You might like:

24 Simple Life Tips

Do Antidepressants Really Work?

I hope this list was able to inspire some thoughts or give you a useful idea or two.  If so, please stumble or share it in some capacity to pay it forward =).

Tags: , , , , ,
self-improvement

20 Facts About Antidepressants

8 »
Sunday, August 9th, 2009
test

1) 1/10 people in America are currently taking an antidepressant (AD)

2) Michael Jackson was reportedly taking Zoloft and Paxil when he died.  Antidepressants have been shown to contribute to heart disease.

3) Luvox was being taken by a shooter in the Columbine High School shootings.

4) We have no idea how antidepressants actually work

5) Effexor’s side effects include vomiting and nausea, while Zoloft is associated with diarrhea

6) Almost all of the new ADs work similarly well (or badly) – the only significant difference is what side effects they have

7) ADs can cause extreme anger in some people, and there are many lawsuits against AD drug companies for resulting violence

8) Prozac is the best recognized AD with the most references to it in music and popular culture

9) Anna Nicole Smith’s son was taking Lexapro when he died

10) Paxil is one of the hardests ADs to quit.

11) ADs can be extremely hard to quit.  Withdrawal, which is a very common problem, can involve “brain zaps” and general horrible feelings.

12) Some antidepressants work only 50% of the time.  Placebo?  That works about 30%.  Big difference?

13) Remeron has been linked to immune system failure

14) Antidepressants can cause suicidal thinking in children and perhaps adults

15) Celexa is used in autistic children who have OCD-like behavior, but it doesn’t seem to help

16) Antidepressants can possibly cause birth defects

17) Tricylcic antidepressants are poisonous and can be deadly if an overdose happens

18) The SSRIs (including Zoloft and Prozac) cause sexual dysfunction in most people who take them

19) Kids as young as two have been put on antidepressants

20) Wellbutrin very often causes extreme anxiety and can rarely make the taker lose touch with reality

21) Bonus: Women who take antidepressants are at a 45% increase risk of having a stroke.

You might like:

Do Antidepressants Work As Promised?

10 Ways Scientists Lie About Drugs

What did you think about this post?

Tags: , , , , ,
medication

10 Ways Scientists Lie About Drugs

2 »
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
test

Does the FDA keep us safe?

Research into new medications is how we learn if they work and if they’re safe.  It’s the only protection we have against snake oil and worse.  But disasters like Thalidomide and Vioxx – not to mention the dozens of products recalled monthly – remind us that the FDA screws up every now and then.

That’s because drug companies often pretty much lie to get their drugs approved.  Here’s how.

1) Report results that didn’t happen

Amazingly enough, some drug companies take studies that show their product doesn’t work, and they report that it does!  This has happened at least 11 times with studies into antidepressants.

Another form of this is to write a conclusion that’s different from what the actual results show.  Because of time pressure, doctors don’t have time to actually read all the papers thrown at them, and often just read the abstract, which contains the pro-drug message like:  “Conclusion:  Fake drug has been shown to be safe and efficacious in treating extreme bladder discomfort.”

2) Use faulty statistics

There’s a reason Benjamin Disraeli said “there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.”  The sheer amount of ways to manipulate the data from studies by statistics is mind-boggling.  The simplest is to report that something is statistically significant when that doesn’t mean anything.

For instance, a drug can have a statistically significant effect on blood pressure – but that effect is tiny and meaningless.

3) Use inappropriate measuring systems

Some things are easy to measure, like someone’s height or weight.  Others, like mental states and attitudes, are a lot harder.  Psychological assessments range from solid to extremely shaky, like the infamous Rorschach blotch test.

Thank God no drug has been approved because of results of a Rorschach blotch test.  But drug companies always use the measuring system that puts their drug in the best light, even if it doesn’t mean it actually works.

4) Don’t use placebo

When you don’t test your treatment against placebo, absurd things happen.  Like the gastric freezing procedure to treat ulcers, which consists of putting a balloon full of frozen liquid into the stomach to cool it off.  It worked great – until it was tested against a placebo, or a fake treatment.

Guess what?  The placebo worked better.

5) Don’t test against other drugs

You’d have to be crazy to forget about testing against a placebo.  But what drug companies almost never do is test their drugs against other drugs that already exist.

Vyvanse, for instance, is a new medication for ADHD that is chemically identical to Dexedrine.  It’s a hell of a lot more expensive, so there’s no way that it’s ever going to be tested if it’s actually better to the treatment that already existed.

6) Ignore the FDA

This is by the far the stupidest thing a drug company can do.  You’d have to be crazy to ignore what the FDA tells you to do in testing your medication.  But that’s exactly what Sam Waksal did with the breakthrough cancer drug Erbitux.

They told him to conduct certain studies and change some of his protocols.  He didn’t.  The worst part is, Erbitux was a drug that could help treat cancer in some of the worst cases.  Then Sam was surprised when his drug was rejected!

7) Pressure patients to give the results you want

If you give patients a test at the start of the trial, like a mood inventory scale, and then again at the end of the trial, they won’t answer the same.  Their past experience biases how they respond the second time around.

Also, you can subtly pressure participants to give results you want by leading questions.

8)  Test it for short periods of time

Take a drug that needs to be taken for months if not years, like an anti-depressant.  Why not just test it for a few weeks?  Not only will you save money, you won’t have to learn about the nasty side effects caused by long term use.

Everyone wins, except the patients.

9) Test it on a few people

Who cares if your drug will be taken by millions?  Test it on only several hundred people.  That makes it even easier for you to run the test again if you are so unlucky as to get bad results.

10) Test it on people who’re different

Test your drug on people who are healthier than those who will eventually take it.  You’re almost guaranteed better results.

Prozac, for instance, while now used for dozens of reasons including pain management, was initially tested on mild-to-moderately depressed people – not people who were extremely depressed.  Stuff like that explains why antidepressants don’t work nearly as well as they’re supposed to.

You Might Like:

Eat Simpler, Be Healthier

50 Ways to Make Friends

Do you trust the drug companies?  Why or why not?

Tags: , , ,
controversial