I’ve never previously run multiple posts on one story, but this proposal to vastly expand the use of statin drugs is an alarming development. Articles in the popular press are treating the “JUPITER” study as a new silver bullet to prevent heart disease, but the medical debate appears to be more robust. An article in today’s Medical [...]
Archive for November, 2008
Debate Heats Up Over Vastly Expanding Statin Use
Posted in Uncategorized on November 12, 2008 |
Skimp on Prevention, Spend $500,000 Per Patient on Crestor, and Decrease Heart Attacks and Strokes
Posted in Uncategorized on November 11, 2008 |
This is a follow-up to the last post, about AstraZenica’s “paradigm-shifting” plan to lower the heart attack and stroke rate. This article addresses the costs entailed in what appears to be a powerful advertising rollout. Bottom line for the overall health care system: half a million per person, $10 billion a year added to the nation’s health [...]
In Research, the Questions You Ask Strongly Influence the Answers You Receive
Posted in Uncategorized on November 9, 2008 | 1 Comment »
A new research study funded by pharmaceutical giant AstraZenica and carried out by researchers at a hospital that receives royalties from the use of a blood test for inflammation (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) has shown that in those with inflammation, statin drugs will reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes. Because this group includes seemingly healthy people whose cholestrol [...]
Small Amounts of Caffeine Linked to Low-Birth-Weight Babies
Posted in Uncategorized on November 4, 2008 |
This should be considered evidence, not proof. Nonetheless, A cup or more of coffee daily during pregnancy is enough to increase the risk of delivering a low-birth-weight baby, researchers here reported. Pregnant women who drank one to two cups of coffee a day (100-200 mg caffeine/day) increased the risk of fetal growth restriction by 20%, [...]
Number of Medicated Youths in U.S. Jumps
Posted in Uncategorized on November 3, 2008 |
The underlying question is how this can be prevented. More and more U.S. children are being given drugs to fight chronic conditions such as asthma and hyperactivity, according to a study published on Monday. From 2002 to 2005 prescriptions for medicines to treat type-2 diabetes doubled, asthma medications rose by more than 46 percent, medicines [...]
Eggs and Full-Fat Dairy Increase Heart Failure, While Whole Grains Are Helpful
Posted in Uncategorized on November 3, 2008 |
Not much of a surprise here, but the evidence continues to mount. From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, reported in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Whole-grain foods included oatmeal or grits, whole-grain cold cereal, and whole-grain or dark bread. On the other hand, a greater intake of [...]
Children Who Eat Peanuts Early and Often Have Less Peanut Sensitivity
Posted in Uncategorized on November 3, 2008 |
This is a true surprise. Contradicting conventional wisdom, a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology finds that children who start eating peanuts or peanut butter at an early age and keep eating them, are 5.8 times less likely to develop peanut sensitivity. “Our findings raise the question of whether early and frequent [...]
FDA Inspections Rare in China, Now World’s Largest Drug Manufacturer
Posted in Uncategorized on November 2, 2008 |
One of the biggest questions about globalization is whether it is a race to the bottom or a rising tide that lifts all boats. China is now the world’s largest drug manufacturer and the regulatory agencies charged with inspecting pharmaceutical plants in Europe and North America perform few inspections there. The regulatory culture in China is, [...]
In Praise of Herb Gardens
Posted in Uncategorized on November 1, 2008 |
Here in the Midwest, we are reaching the time of year when the first frosts cull the living plants from our gardens. Our herb garden, with its parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, along with lemon grass, tarragon, and basil, is quickly winding its way toward winter. This article from Tampa, Florida (where they grow herbs year [...]
