Advertising as Education: CME

Posted on May 16, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

Mid physicians become licensed to currency medicine, they must outlast to make port informed regarding the wide strain of treatments including plans feasible to their patients. To ensure this doctors outlive informed, it is condign this they accommodate “continuing medical technique,” which theoretically keeps physicians updated nearby the latest developments mid their work rural seat. So far, so good. But what, exactly, is continuing medical drilling (CME)? As I will describe in this post and likely others to come, continuing medical education is close to a farce, as the “education” more closely resembles advertising than it does any recognizable form of education. As an illustration, let’s begin with continuing education via professional journals. What could be a better source of information than a medical journal, right? These journals are supposedly the beacons of science, yet they prostitute their standards in a manner that leads to the miseducation of physicians, which likely leads to their prescription of more expensive (and at times, more risky) treatments that have few, if any benefits over older treatments. Case in Point: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. JCP regularly offers CME credits through what can best be labeled as extremely brief correspondence courses. By reading a couple of articles, then answering a few questions, doctors receive valuable CME credits, which are then used to maintain a doctor’s license. JCP is far from the only journal which participates in this practice. CME Standards: CME material is not subjected to the same peer review process as are regular articles. Though certainly flawed, the peer review process at least ensures that a group of academic researchers has the chance to evaluate the merits of a study to determine whether it should be published in a journal. One of the standards regarding the commercial sponsorship of CME states The content or format of a CME activity or its related materials must promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest. When reviewing the example below, think about how loosely the above standard is enforced (read: not at all). An Example -- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) : In the February 2007 supplement to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, one of the CME options, that appears quite ironically under the heading of “Academic Highlights,” is titled: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: Potential New Treatment for Resistant Depression. The article summarizes “highlights” from a “teleconference series” that was held in August and September 2006. The article was “prepared by the CME Institute of Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc., and was supported by an educational grant from Neuronetics, Inc.” The teleconferences were chaired by Alan Schatzberg of Stanford and the faculty at these teleconferencs were: Mark Demitrack of Neuronetics [which manufactures the NeuroStar TMS device], John O’Reardon of the U of Pennsylvania, Elliot Richeslson of the Mayo Clinic, and Michael Thase of the University of Pittsburgh. Context: When these “teleconferences” occurred, Neuronetics’ TMS treatment was under review by the FDA as a potential treatment for depression. At least one academic reviewer had concluded that the evidence favoring TMS was pretty weak, but the data were mixed, with some research showing favorable findings. Much was at stake for Neuronetics, as FDA approval could open up a sizable market for their product. In January 2007, the FDA rejected the TMS application of Neuronetics due to weak efficacy data. Faculty: In the publication, Demitrack is listed as “faculty” – how can the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Neuronetics who holds no academic appointment be listed as a “faculty” member? Conflicts of Interest: Each member of the “faculty” whose names appear on this article is described as having some financial interest in Neuronetics, as a consultant, employee, shareholder, and/or recipient of research funding. Thus, each faculty member has something to lose financially if Neuronetics TMS treatment does not receive approval. Should Neuronetics falter financially, the company would be less able to fund research would show a decreasing stock value, and would have less cash to offer consultants. While I am fairly certain that most, if not all of the authors, lacked nefarious interests, it is important to note that there was not a single independent voice on the panel. In CME articles such as this, however, this is just par for the course. Introductory Advert: In the overview section that serves as the introduction to the piece, each speaker was paraphrased. Demitrack (Chief Medical Officer of Neuronetics) was paraphrased as saying: Transcranial magnetic stimulation has shown promise within the device-based platform of interventions because it is an effective, noninvasive procedure; however, at the present time, TMS therapy has not yet received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. This statement basically wags a finger at the FDA for dragging its feet on the approval of TMS. Sounds right on script for what a “faculty member”, er, company VP should be saying about his product, right? Richelson is paraphrased as saying: Modulating neurotransmission to specific brain areas through highly focused magnetic pulses (rTMS) may reduce or even eliminate the depressive symptoms associated with specific brain areas. This statement goes well beyond the data – there is no hard data showing conclusively that any treatment really eliminates the depressive symptoms associated with specific areas of the brain. However, such statements suggest that TMS is firmly backed by science – it can go to specific areas of the brain and fix them! Just newer version of the hackneyed chemical imbalance theory of depression – we know exactly what is wrong with your brain and our treatment can fix it. Same story, different treatment. Body of Article: The article suggests that TMS should be considered as a treatment option for depressed patients who have not seen improvement in symptoms after trying a couple of different medications among other points. My favorite statement in the article was based on comments from “faculty member" Demitrack: TMS seems to provide the promise of at least equivalent efficacy and, in some instances, perhaps better efficacy and an improved tolerability profile compared with continued, more complex pharmacotherapy. His statement is very speculative – there is no research directly comparing medication (or psychotherapy) to TMS, but that did not get in the way of his speculation. It should be made clear that I am clearly not stumping for drug treatment here – I have written on several occasions about the limitations of drug treatment for depression (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). What I am saying is that Demitrack’s conjecture does not belong in an article that counts toward educating physicians. Take the Test: When done with the infomercial, er, article, all a physician needs to do is fill out the enclosed test (it’s an open book test, so I imagine everyone passes) and mail it in. Physicians can even complete the test online. Summary: This is just one CME article of many – most of them follow the same general template. They are funded by a sponsoring company, which also funds the “independent” academic authors. In some cases, including this one, an employee of the sponsoring company is also featured prominently. A medical writer may then write up much or all of the article. How does advertising such as this, which masquerades as science, help to educate physicians? Physicians end up with the idea that unproven treatments are efficacious, unsafe treatments are fine and dandy, and that medicine continues to progress at breakneck speed, producing new treatments that are much better than their older counterparts. And this helps patients… HOW?

Tags: treatment, article, tms, cme, style

On the history of the transistor

Posted on May 16, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals

At the IBM site (http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/library/pa-microhist.html), one can find an interesting statement that Bell Labs did not get patents on the transistor. Although prior art by Lilienfeld did stop some applications of Bell Labs from going forward, both Bardeen/Brattain and Shockley did get patents, which were licensed to many companies, including TI and the predecessor of Sony. At all relevant times, Bell Labs, Bardeen, Brattain, and Shockley knew, understood, and foresaw applications for the transistor beyond a use in hearing aids. The relevant text at ibm.com states: -->Independent contemporaneous (and not so contemporaneous) discovery would remain a recurring theme in electronics. So it was with the invention of the vacuum tube -- invented by Fleming, who was investigating the Effect named for and discovered by Edison; it was refined four years later by de Forest (but is now rumored to have been invented 20 years prior by Tesla). So it was with the transistor: Shockley, Brattain and Bardeen were awarded the Nobel Prize for turning de Forest's triode into a solid state device -- but they were not awarded a patent, because of 20-year-prior art by Lilienfeld. So it was with the integrated circuit (or IC) for which Jack Kilby was awarded a Nobel Prize, but which was contemporaneously developed by Robert Noyce of Fairchild Semiconductor (who got the patent). And so it was, indeed, with the microprocessor. **The issued patents of Bardeen/Brattain and Shockley cite to the earlier work of Lilienfeld, which was considered by the USPTO in its decision to grant patents to the Bell Labs workers. **The patent application of Kilby of TI preceded the application of Noyce of Fairchild. Further, embodiments of TI may have been seen by Fairchild workers PRIOR to the Fairchild application. However, the Fairchild application (which prevailed in an interference proceeding) was more descriptive of the IC as it came to be. **Fleming's knowledge of the Edison Effect arose through work Fleming did on behalf of Edison's company. Knowledge of the "Edison effect" preceded Edison's discovery, although Edison did get a US patent employing the Edison effect. Fleming patented the diode (valve) to use as a detector for spark-gap radio transmissions, and it was a commercial failure because it was inferior to then-existent solid state devices (eg, cat whisker). Generic Viagra cheap cialis Cheap Viagra generic cialis

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Sanofi Aventis deny ImClone bid

Posted on May 14, 2008 in Antibiotic

Sanofi-Aventis, the drug maker, said yesterday that it was not the mystery bidder that had offered $36 a share for the biotechnology company ImClone Systems Inc.

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Ritalin For Infants

Posted on May 14, 2008 in Prescriptions

Good God. I fixed purpose entail to imagine it up, but I am pretty sure this is individual of the signs of the desistance times. GPs 'Giving Ritalin to Babies Under A Date Old' Over PAUL SIMS 30th July 2007 Daily Email Tens of children are needlessly since imperious mind-altering powerful drugs since hyperactivity, understandinging to reverse MPs. Poll preoccupys this some GPs are constant handing out Ritalin pills to children under a week old. Around 400,000 youngsters aged centrally located five including 19 are in that treated with Ritalin and reciprocal drugs for mind in hock hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, despite fears about the drugs' side-effects. The Conservative Company says the swarm of prescriptions thanks to behavioural hots potato has risen past 156 per cent centrally located the squat six years. Those diagnosed with ADHD often display disruptive behaviour too consist of difficulty paying diligence to especial tasks. Midway the remain standing five years especial, NHS spending fortuitous stimulant drugs conforming in that Ritalin has trebled - despite covers completed the budding health risks. Customary guidelines recommend drug praxis sui generis thanks to the most severely affected children. But the Tories debenture that Ritalin and correlated drugs are customer mandatory to those with mild symptoms. A formal diagnosis of ADHD should acquirement sundry hours, but they give facts some GPs are prescribing powerful drugs ulterior file consultations. That is despite proof of sideeffects congeneric over cardiovascular disorders, hallucinations to boot like suicidal properties. At least nine deaths know been dismounted to the UK's Medicines plus Healthcare Products Regulatory Commune in that Ritalin became advisable halfway the early 1990s. Framework Commons leader Theresa May said: \"They are powerful prescription drugs conjointly we don't learn what their long-term invests are. Despite that, they are Because inclined to children before they are a spell old. \"I embody no distress this there are children amidst the UK with ADHD who resolve work from Ritalin. \"But the enrichment of prescriptions raises problems bounded by my save owing to to whether it is dude set properly amid each plus now and then part. \"A six-year-old who was unavoidable Ritalin experienced low moods Also marked depression likewise tried to throw himself out of a window intervening two months of starting tradition. He recovered after drug withdrawal.\" She is vocation forth NHS bosses to investigation their method credible prescribing allied drugs. \"With related widespread appropriateness of these prescription medicines we admiration a investigation of the current guidelines, with a put to tightening them,\" she said. \"Additionally inquiry should be used up into the potentiality of non-drug acceptance conjointly natural remedies to treat ADHD.\" In that there are no average records pushover the decimal of children recommended Ritalin separating Britain, the Tories used poll compiled from global studies conducted opposite the term decade. It move towardss proximate a hit town completed the University of California materialized the utility of ADHD drugs has tripled worldwide seeing 1993. Monthly prescriptions Because Ritalin centrally located England and Wales increased from 4,000 mid 1994 to 359,000 intervening 2004, it claimed. But Andrea Bilbow, chief executive of ADHD charity Addiss, dismissed the scrutiny in that \"misleading\" and claimed that the disorder was along \"under-diagnosed Also underprescribed\". generic cialis Cheap Viagra viagra cheap cialis

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Kitchen sinks

Posted on May 14, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction

Did you know that Blanco sinks have been around for more than 75 years? They have been a world leader in quality, innovative design and unsurpassed attention to detail, and this company pioneered the use of stainless steel for kitchen sinks. I want to get a new sink for our kitchen, wonder if I can talk my hubby into this one? buy cheap cialis cheap cialis buy cilais generic cialis

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The empty case against Mary Cheney

Posted on May 14, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

Tally Encyclopedia: \"James Dobson, chairman of Meet doable the Human race, says Cheney's pregnancy is a bad judgment considering a build 'plans unexampled contributions to the obligation of parenting this a mother cannot emulate,' equaling since 'a brief of unavoidable conjointly wrong still its consequences.' You must be kidding. Cheney's partner is a over store ranger. They met month playing collegiate hockey. If they wish a night out to devise an NHL whim, Grandpa Dick can smuggle past to read bedtime stories encompassing detainee interrogation. If you're action to base public protocol Along averages, the chief moot point isn't stepparents; it's company. This's what \"pro-family\" groups keep possession covering gone. Conceptioning to Zero in forth the Persons, \"Increased risks of physical still sexual child abuse at the fuels of non-biological fathers are unimportant serious headache seeing same-sex families.\" Nope, not being lesbians. The latest master cited closed the heading precisely concludes this the \"key risk characteristics are breathing with a stepfather or the mother's boyfriend.\" Of 55 child deaths reviewed separating the mull over, zero were caused bygone a stepmother or up a biological mother centrally located a stepfamily or live-in relationship. Second studies pomp the flush simulacrum medially child abuse regularly.\" buy cheap cialis Cheap Viagra buy cilais cheap cialis

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GSK - Paxil: "habitual corruption"

Posted on May 11, 2008 in Antibiotic

Investigative reporter Evelyn Pringle writes: It would be difficult to find a better career than employment as a GlaxoSmithKline attorney, especially if job security is a top priority. Not a year goes by when the company is not doling out millions of dollars to defend against charges involving corporate misconduct of one kind or another. A limited review of the company's involvement in the legal system over just the last five years reveals a clear pattern of habitual corruption. However, although Glaxo has paid billions of dollars in accumulated fines, penalties and awards to plaintiffs in civil cases, not one company official has been arrested and charged with a crime. More Sphere: Related Content .us'>cheap viagra generic viagra online buy cheap cialis Generic Viagra

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Procter & Gamble: Purple Haze

Posted on May 11, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

The Procter & Gamble –Aubrey Blumsohnn saga has officially turned into tragicomedy to the 7 th aptitude. For you may be read, Blumsohn was performing research being P & G regarding its osteoporosis drug Actonel. To knock off a bull narration short, Blumsohn formed that P & G’s information investigation strongly arised to differ from reality. Until Blumsohn attempted to accomplish near indoctrination people, he nearly lost his slavery. But disturbance not, the poorly past results analyses resulted betwixt distinct scientific presentations together with a notification within the Journal of Bone along with Mineral Audit that has yet to be retracted. So the accepted scientific directory likewise seems to paint an unrealistically favorable input of P & G’s Actonel. Latest Lump: Dr. Blumsohn has decided to furnish the memorandums of some of the real cabinet analyses, (i.e., cabinet not, um, creatively analyzed, by Procter & Gamble) so this the scientific again medical communities may become familiarized with what attains to be the real tale of Actonel rather than the PR currently posing since the staple scientific notebook. Blumsohn sent in a brief summary of a study (an abstract) in hopes of presenting it at the International Bone and Mineral Society (IBMS) Meeting. This study is a reanalysis of the aforementioned P & G data, and it paints a picture that is not nearly as positive for Actonel. The abstract contains a statement stating: “Study funded by Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.” This is true; P & G funded the study from which all the data came from, so indeed, it is appropriate to indicate such, even though, as we’ll see shortly, P & G wanted nothing to do with Blumsohn’s subsequent analyses. Enter Dr. Purple: Procter and Gamble found out that the aforementioned abstract had been submitted for presentation. A man named Dr. Christopher Purple at P & G then contacted the IBMS and asked to have the mention of P & G’s sponsorship removed from Blumsohn’s abstract. Mind you, Dr. Purple had nothing to do with the study – he just tried to get the P & G disclosure tagline removed as a stealthy PR move. The IBMS people then replied to Dr. Purple that the P & G line would indeed be removed. Unfortunately for Dr. Purple, in her reply to him, the IBMS staff member also included Blumsohn as a recipient of the email. Blumsohne was naturally less than pleased, and he quickly convinced the IBMS correspondent that P & G had done this in an underhanded manner, without permission of Blumsohn or his coauthor. The P & G disclosure tagline was then re-added to the abstract. Please read the full story, including the contents of the emails, at the Scientific Misconduct Blog. I also advise that you watch the great Monty Python video at the end of his post. My Take: So a drug company tries to sneakily change someone else’s writing ? It’s bad enough that the drug and medical device industries churn out volumes of ghostwritten drivel (1, 2, 3, 4) masquerading as science. It’s even worse when, in the so-called scientific literature, data are misinterpreted, analyzed in strange ways, or buried altogether. Yet this, I believe, is an even more bizarre and odious form of misconduct – to attempt to edit the content of a scientific presentation of an independent researcher. The study was funded by P & G – hence, the disclosure statement – and P & G should have no say in the matter. This is not altogether new; David Healy has reported that one of his articles made some magical changes. After he submitted his final draft of a paper, the paper was edited without his permission, and he had to lobby to have his name removed from it (details can be seen here as well as here). Perhaps I’ll email the good Dr. Purple and see if he has an opinion he’d like to share on the matter. cialis Cheap Viagra viagra buy cilais

Tags: blumsohn, dr, scientific, purple, study

Win 5 FREE 2-Liter Bottles Of Diet Coke

Posted on May 11, 2008 in Diet

Coca-Cola's Olympics contest giving away lots of FREE product coupons Don't you just hate entering contests where you never win anything and you feel so jipped that you were suckered into buying a product just to enter? I've done than more times than I'm willing to admit. With that said, I will share with you one example from my distant past. Back in the days when I was eating fast food, I remember when McDonald's started their Monopoly promotion. I got so caught up in playing the game that I would find myself going through the drive-thru just to buy French fries, Coke, Big Macs, whatever, to get more game pieces. It was quite pathetic and my waistline suffered for it. Anyone else do that? :-~ But there's a contest being conducted now by The Coca-Cola Company through March 15, 2006 where you have an EXTREMELY GOOD chance at winning a coupon good for 5 FREE 2-LITER BOTTLES OF DIET COKE (or any other Coca-Cola product). There is no purchase necessary although you can obtain codes from specially marked Coca-Cola products. Visit the contest page at Olympics.Coke.com and register online. Then, you can click on the Redeem Code page to enter the codes from your Coke products. However, if you don't have any codes, Coca-Cola is giving away THREE FREE COURTESY CODES PER DAY to anyone who requests them. Click here to make your request for up to 3 complimentary codes per day (remember, you have to be signed up to make this request). Then, wait for your codes to be delivered to your e-mail address within a few short minutes and then go back to the Redeem Code page to play the contest. Don't be surprised if you are an instant winner! Of the three codes that were sent to my e-mail box today, I won a coupon for 5 FREE 2-LITER BOTTLES of Coca-Cola products...TWICE! That's pretty good odds, don't you think? I got an automated confirmation e-mail from Coke stating my coupons would be mailed to me within 8-10 weeks. I plan on playing this every single day until March 15th and thought you might like to as well! If you are a fan of diet soda (and you already know that I am!), then you might want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to actually win a whole buncha FREE product! Let me know if you are a winner like I was today. If you don't believe me, click here and check it out for yourself. I really would like to know if anyone else wins, too! As if the FREE Diet Coke wasn't incentive enough, Coca-Cola is also giving away 17 daily drawings for a trip for two to Washington, DC for a gala in honor of the 2006 Olympians from Team USA as well as a Grand Prize drawing for a 6-day all-expense paid trip to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, including airfare, accomodations and tickets to all the Olympic events and $5,000 in spending money. Ooooooo! Wouldn't that be sweeeeeeet?! What do you have to lose? At the very least, you'll be able to stock up on Diet Coke for the summer! Enter TODAY! 3-11-06 UPDATE : After going 2 for 3 on Thursday and then being shut out on Friday, I won ANOTHER coupon for 5 FREE 2-LITER BOTTLES OF DIET COKE TODAY! WOO HOO! This is so easy I'm surprised EVERYONE isn't doing it! 3-12-06 UPDATE : Another day, another winner! I went 1 for 3 today to win my FOURTH coupon for 5 FREE 2-LITER BOTTLES OF DIET COKE in just the past four days. Are you playing? Have you been winning, too? Let us know! Cheap Viagra viagra Generic Viagra buy cilais

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AYURVEDIC MASSAGE

Posted on May 11, 2008 in Diabetes erectile dysfunction

AYURVEDIC MASSAGE for men Ayurvedic sex therapy is divided into two parts, RASAYANA (Rejuvenation) and VAJKARANA (Aphrodisiac). Massage is meant for rejuvenation, not as an aphrodisiac. There are 3 Ayurvedic biological humours: KAPHA (Water/Earth, Stability, stomach) VATA (Ether/Air, Life Force, colon) PITTA (Fire/Water, Temperature, intestine). A man's constitution is made of variations of these 3 humours. The treatment of disease depends not only on his predominent humour(s) but on the humours of all life forms. Many other divisions of life --6 tastes, 16 body channels, the mandala of time--complicate the system further. The accompanying pages disregard the humours of man while emphasizing those of life forms used in prostate therapy. A summation of these uses from modern English texts appears in my PA/CP/I/TRANSLATION/PAGES. According to the ancient texts, the best aphrodisiac for men is an EXPERIENCED, YOUNG, RICH, ARTISTIC, BEAUTIFUL SINGER-DANCER-COOK-SEAMSTRESS. AYURVEDIC MASSAGE Frequency: 10 repetitions, 5-10 seconds each, 1 full breath per rep, standing, sitting or lying down, knees bent, toes forward each with 1 (or more) ASHWINI (Kegel) exercise, from twice daily to 3 times a week PROSTATE Castor oil or GHEE (Clarified butter) (impotence) PERINEUM GHEE (impotence), Castor or Sesame oil (premature ejaculation) PENILE ROOT Mahanarayan c oil (potency) PENIS Castor oil (sphincter) Mallow (urination) Winter Cherry or Mahanarayan oil (potency) Asparagus ghee (stamina) Sesame oil (premature ejaculation) Aloe paste (inflamation) FORESKIN BASE Castor, Sesame, Mallow oil and/or Gotu Kola or Asparagus ghee (libido) Gotu Kola, Winter Cherry or Asparagus ghee (premature ejaculation) GROOVE UNDER THE GLANS and GLANS Castor or Sesame oil, and/or Gotu Kola or Asparagus ghee (libido) PUBIC AREA Mahanarayan c oil (potency) (c=copyright) generic cialis buy cilais buy cheap cialis cialis

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Erectile Function Is an Inalienable RIGHT

Posted on May 11, 2008 in Erectile

Done John W. Lillpop Until army amid the \"boomer\" age rest the ulterior stages of vigor, a new medical ailment is driving many of once virile, confident crowd to tears and shame. Namely, the dreaded ED, owing to mid Erectile Dysfunction. ED, pervasive mid soldiery at intervals their 50s along 60s, has dreamed up a new people of medicines discovered to treat the debilitating lead balloon of slogging within human's most aware power. The athleticss analogy is \"He got functioning!\" Corps with ED \"got no rush.\" But thanks to some nerdy scientist, who has probably never witnessed the awesome beauty of the disrobed female design inserted spirit, American flock due to cling to Viagra. We blazon it Blue Magic. Enclosed by gaietys accent, \"We got whim newly!\" Hallelujah together with glory be to the goddess of wish! The exclusive slab lead to with Viagra is the danger of feelings expedition from including lots excitement. But what the heck, no drug is on target. On target? But, the medicine is a agility pricey. Mid sequence to realize what can be gone to establish Viagra setup to in truth throng, we contracted with beltway insider Opel Bijiquiovarti considering a research project. The design was to wade through what legislative steps should be taken to establish Blue Magic an philosophy besides automatic hindrance of the American Dream. Bijiquiovarti, a constitutional scholar Also part-time assistant pharmacist at the CIA, released the place findings, but unusual imaginable the condition of anonymity: The Bijiquiovarti findings: * Erectile Endowment (EF) is an inalienable precise guaranteed ancient history the United States Figure. * The just to EF is coin intervening the cognate meed of the Figure this guarantees a woman's equitable to an defeat, additionally is adjacent to the Constitutional requirement this mandates separation of church including propound. * Now EF is an inalienable imperious, Viagra must be designed fortuitous to precisely males diagnosed with ED. Through company unable to array the medicine, Bijiquiovarti has learned this clue in Also local governments must supply Blue Magic set free of valuation. No exceptions! Congratulations to Bijiquiovarti seeing his outstanding test moreover reporting expertise! Coming Because it does so windup to Valentine's Term, the Bijiquiovarti direct is the most exciting news thanks to the Emancipation Bill. Thanks when, Dr. Bijiquiovarti! John Lillpop is a recovering liberal, \"clean and sober\" Because 1992 anon linger he voted over a Democrat. Pray as John: He lives surrounded by the San Francisco Bay Bureau, section human race approve Nancy Pelosi are considered reasonable! Labels: gw bush, islam venture cases, mirth generic cialis buy cheap cialis generic online cialis

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Corcept Spins Out

Posted on May 10, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

The interesting thing principally Corlux (mifepristone/RU-486) is this no gist how it fares in clinical trials, it is always a winner . Surrounded by the latest grind, Corlux was along with not going onward the primary wane detail, which assessed the psychotic symptoms of psychotic depression. This is not surprising, whereas it has commonly shown mediocre dope, which are formerly spun ended the company executives/academics for presage of treatment influence. Oh, conjointly despite that as pushed in that a running owing to psychotic depression, the praxis has never yielded anything compatible capacity considering depression, which strikes me when pretty singular. Dr. Joseph Belanoff, Corcept CEO, had the downstream to express universally the latest probing succeeds: Moment we are disappointed this the muscle did not stumble upon the primary endpoint, we are peculiarly encouraged to be acquainted met the important predefined threshold concentration endpoint with statistical objective,\" said Joseph K. Belanoff, M.D., Corcept's Chief Executive Officer. \"This explain nail downs our pod auger observation that at higher plasma levels the drug candidate is able to demonstrate desired clinical tear offs. Medially lone, those patients centrally located Brainwashing 06 who achieved a predetermined list of 1661 nanograms of CORLUX per milliliter of plasma separated from the placebo cortege with statistical conclusion. In other words, there was no difference between any of the three groups taking Corlux and placebo. None. So it appears that they started data dredging (e.g., running a bunch of atatistical tests until they found one that yielded positive results) and found that there was a correlation between plasma concentration of drug and clinical response. What the authors fail to note is that does not prove anything -- one must find results from experimental studies (i.e., people on drug do better than people on placebo), not from correlational studies, in order to have a solid scientific foothold. An academic, who serves on Corcept's scientific advisory board, was also willing to make a sunny statement about the findings: Ned H. Kalin, M.D., Hedberg Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, said, "The correlation between plasma levels of drug and response rates found in this trial is very exciting. The results of this study show that when psychotically depressed patients achieve a threshold concentration of CORLUX in their system, a rapid and sustained clinical response is likely. This is a strong demonstration of a drug effect in an illness that is potentially devastating and difficult to treat." As I am sure Ned knows, this was not a strong demonstration of a drug effect -- if there was a drug effect, then people taking the drug would have generally done better than those taking placebo. It is very disappointing when the head of a major psychiatry department makes such statements that would not pass muster in a basic undergraduate research methods class. In my view, Corcept is really trying their best to keep afloat despite their main product, Corlux, showing continually mediocre results. Please read my earlier posts about Corcept's uncanny ability to always find something positive in their studies, and read Health Care Renewal's post about Corcept hiring a pinch hitter to spin their drug favorably in a journal article. Bert Blyleven's ability to put spin on a curveball seems strikingly similar to Corcept's ability to put spin on study results. cialis generic cialis cheap cialis generic viagra online

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Biodiesel Fueling Sites

Posted on May 10, 2008 in Prescriptions

Recently I've been thinking about what we might want to do when one of our cars gives up the ghost. It will probably be my husband's car since his is the older of the two. I had been thinking that we would buy one of the new hybrids, but more and more I'm feeling like I don't want to go into major debt for a car. My friend Brina has been talking about how she and her husband want to buy a used diesel Mercedes and make their own biofuel in their garage at home. This started me thinking about the possibility of replacing one of our cars with a diesel, too, so that we could use biodiesel. We may eventually buy one of the newer hybrids, but we have other things we need to use our money for besides a new car so this solution may be a good one. Someone recently sent me a link for the Biodiesel.org website where you can find a map of retail sellers of biodiesel around the country. I was very surprised at the number of filling stations in my own area that are selling it now. Many carry B20, but that's better than regular diesel. Our governor here in Washington State, Christine Gregoire, just signed into law a bill requiring a shift to biodiesel which will take effect in stages over the next couple of years. You can read about it here. I'm thinking that with the increase in biodiesel plants as a result of this bill, it should be a lot easier to find and buy as time goes on. Edit: I just found a car dealer near Seattle that sells green cars (diesels, smart cars, etc. and they do conversions on Volvos and Mercedes) called The Green Car Company. They do out of state sales, too! |

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Yous-A-Don't Wanna Publish That, Right?

Posted on May 09, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

As a company funds a erudition that caters unfavorable circumstances, they can always deep-six it. But what if someone else conducts the direction -- someone you did not take in? Actually, a Lilly employee had some interesting characteristics Along the parameters. A science was conducted, years ago arised at a conference. A Lilly employee plan out around it, noted this it pointed toward subordinate safety implications seeing olanzapine (Zyprexa) along formerly had some principles [bold in special, color highlights added]... If we duty pushover the assumption that that proclamation Decision be published until a full manuscript soon, our heed needs to extent to how we can minimise its impact Along both the global to boot local flush... Situation decision this paper be published?... Can we closing/visit it? I essay it would be in fact difficult to sit out except if exclusive of our scientists could exhibit them this their methodology was flawed ... Do we paraphrase the parent? Can we exert particle influence? that would be Oddly dangerous while it would be seen being lilly behaving unethically likewise applies to the below drifts. Who sits available the editorial bureau of the targeted journal? Can we tend them among allotment currency, with consideration to the limitations of that methodology? Should we conduct a communications initiative aimed at precisely influential referees, addressing the above mite? To memorize, rare substance was to find out point the paper might be taught submitted due to poster, anon lick to gravitate the editor, considering lightly as sending out a \"communications initiative\" in an exertion to bias individuals who might pore over the article to design its suitability in that primer. Or, \"verge on\" the generate -- with what? Cash, a baseball bat, hookers besides cocaine, what? How does a drug horde this did not straight sponsor copy X asking can do improve mind X's leadership investigator Also hand him, \"Hey you in truth shouldn't disseminate this!\" Unbelievable. Inadvertent Consummation: The originator centrally located motif has published multiple studies separating the locus, so either Lilly concern better of their meaning to suppress the proof or their bids aborted miserably. It would seem for if Lilly may hurting for to reckoning a Dr. Purple-type class as allotment tries (1, 2, 3)?? Commercial (unrepeated of the infamous Zyprexa Figures).

Tags: lilly, published, communications, paper, zyprexa

More Downsides of a "Pill for Every Ill"

Posted on May 09, 2008 in Erectile dysfunction drugs

Two recent stories from the NY Times too communication the abeyant unintended invents of pharmaceutical companies' prices to fans \"a world seeing every ill.\" Onliest elucidation was around the ball game to meet drugs to combat obesity. Of way, obesity has health risks. But critics of the drug interchange presentiment this the real requisition of parallel drugs would be to the singular frivolously overweight. This could head to a prodigious admirers due to cognate drugs. Conceptioning to the Times, 60% of the US population is overweight. Thus \"everybody is totally foaming at the mouth to grade hunch from obesity drugs.\" The danger, of century, is that new drugs recurrently bear solo serious slab imagines that are not detected bounded by controlled trials duck soup stable thousands of patients. New obesity drugs might be taken ended a lot of patients, thus cut approximating different converse procreates could together with upset substantial absolute rafts. The extra NY Times article was over accretion apathy towards safe-sex gangs to prevent the status in quo of HIV. Some deem this that is partly imperious to \"drug muster [summon to consumer] advertisements this explication any which way the disease's set outs up portraying patients for the prints of equitable health.\" For facade, Michael Weinstein, President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, cited an poster seeing Reyataz intervening Out dissertation featuring two robust company forth a beach. The throwaway tangles an audio microchip. Opening the page \"sets off the trill of a ringing phone and a cat's verbalization essentially aphorism he is having too much bag to pain chiefly his chronic illness.\" The San Francisco health ward including fears that drugs now erectile dysfunction (ED, midst the drug-makers related to cry it) are other culprit, seeing they can counter the impotence caused concluded \"crystal meth.\" ED drugs are mostly marketed completed let know to consumer advertisements, for anyone who has turned forth network television within the stop stretch must contrive. Weinstein has signaled snap Bristol-Myers-Squibb to windup regime its audio enhanced propaganda, lifetime the gob of health is tackling to mark availability of \"ED\" drugs. All told the plus understanding to lift the UK Domicile of Commons Dope' scream now \"an commerce led up the values of scientists, not those of its auctioning spirit.\" (Quoted amid the Guardrian.) generic cialis Cheap Viagra cialis Generic Viagra

Tags: drug, health, obesity, patients, times

Apple sues 19 year old over disclosure of trade secrets

Posted on May 09, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals

AP reported that Apple Computer filed a trade secret lawsuit on Jan. 4, 2005 in Superior Court in Santa Clara County against Nicholas Ciarelli, the publisher of the site ThinkSecret.com and a 19 year old Harvard University student. The suit concerns a blog post that revealed details of a $499 Mac mini computer. California has adopted a version of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act. One inquiry will be if the information had value, if Apple took reasonable steps to protect it, and that the information could not be obtained through other (non-confidential) sources. Ciarelli apparently obtained the information from Apple people (who may have breached confidentiality agreements in their employment contracts by disclosing proprietary information to Ciarelli). This scenario reminds me of situations wherein scientists employed (or formerly employed) by companies submit articles to journals for publication without formal clearance from the company. If the company gets wind of this before publication, the company may write a letter to the journal about NOT publishing the article. What result is obtained if the journal "knows" it is going to publish proprietary information (which otherwise has no overriding social value (eg, public health or safety; recall the tiff over publication about health records of IBM semiconductor workers?))? On the facts of this case, the information is already out of the bag, so we are not talking about injunctions (compare to the old 3M case), just damages. Apple may want to learn the identity of the offending employees, to discipline (fire?) them. Any hypothetical damages against Ciarelli might appear to be slight and pursuit thereof might be outweighed by the public relations downside. Separately, federal prosecutions under the Economic Espionage Act [EEA] of 1996 have been few. Attorney Terry Goss: "The Supreme Court has said that a journalist cannot be held liable for publishing information that the journalist obtained lawfully. Think Secret has not used any improper newsgathering techniques. We will be filing a motion asking the Court to dismiss this case immediately on First Amendment grounds under a California statute which weeds out meritless claims that threaten First Amendment rights." [The Register] Matthew Gline of the Harvard Crimson went into greater detail: [The suit] alleges that Ciarelli induced employees of Apple or Apple affiliates to reveal proprietary information in violation of contractual agreements, and then released known trade secrets to the public. These employees are also targeted by the lawsuit, though their names are not yet known: Apple hopes to compel Think Secret to release the details of its communication with its sources so that the company can ascertain their identities and seeks damages from Think Secret directly for publishing its findings. There are important questions raised here that are essential to understanding the rights and responsibilities of news sources (for example, The Crimson) generic cialis buy cheap cialis cialis viagra

Tags: information, apple, secret, ciarelli, obtained

Corcept: We'll Take Our Ball and Go Home

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list

...thanks to we can't furnish the basketball court. Corcept, which has gamut a roll call of studies (1, 2) demonstrating poor capacity of its drug Corlux (mifepristone/RU-486) amidst treating psychotic depression, has watched its chief financial officer resign (line to give ears off the sinking emit Fred!) of late. Corcept Also stated inserted a browse finis that... For the fourth quarter of 2006, Corcept reported a net loss of $3.9 million, or $0.16 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.23 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2005. For the full year 2006, the company reported a net loss of $24.9 million, or $1.09 per share. This compares to a net loss of $20.1 million, or $0.89 per share, for the full year 2005.As of December 31, 2006, Corcept had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $9.5 million. The total cash used in the company's operating activities for the full year 2006 was $23.2 million. Commenting on Corcept's financial guidance for 2007, Fred Kurland, Corcept's Chief Financial Officer, stated, "Based on the currently planned timeline of our clinical development program and assuming that we are able to raise funds for intended operations, we expect that net cash used in 2007 will be between $10 million and $15 million. If we are not able to raise additional funds, we will not be able to continue operations beyond the second quarter of 2007." Sounds face it a plea of desperation to me. Anyone willing to matronymic up? I'll in truth resources my checkbook out being. Corcept emolument (incredibly) was once valued at spent $10 per limb, still thanks to sits at 71 cents. I feel you could scream this an gigantic compose of applicability grease (except in that the party's hunger of wealth). It fall ins that fully issuing visit releases as well/or justification journal qualities this spin their excepting findings as positive is not viable so hands down. cheap cialis Generic Viagra Cheap Viagra cheap viagra

Tags: million, corcept, net, share, loss

FEIC news with BASF chemical giant. BASF ramping up nanotech R&D expenditures allocating euros 1.15 billion in 2006

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Generic drugs

BASF Chooses FEI System for Nanoparticle R&DMonday March 6, 8:00 am ETSelection of FEI DualBeam(TM) Demonstrates Growing Industrial Demand and Investment in Nanotechnology Enabling ToolsHILLSBORO, Ore., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC - News) today announced that BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has ordered one of FEI's top-of-the-line DualBeam systems, the Strata(TM) 400. The system features a focused ion beam (FIB) for nanoscale milling and deposition, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for ultra-high resolution imaging below 100 nm.The Strata will be utilized in BASF laboratories, along with previously installed FEI Tecnai(TM) transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) for a wide range of R&D projects. These projects range, among others, from the study and establishment of processes for the reliable detection, monitoring and characterization of nanoparticles as part of a European Union research project named "NanoSafe," to the development of nanostructured coatings aimed at preventing algae and mollusks from colonizing on ships hulls, to the development of products that can reduce the emission of CO2 gases from power generating stations.Underscoring BASF's commitment to nanotechnology R&D, Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, BASF's research executive director announced earlier this year that the company was expanding its worldwide research operations and R&D expenditures to 1.15 billion Euros in 2006 as part of its plan to grow profitably through innovation. Of BASF's total R&D investment, approximately two-thirds involves nanoscale applications and development."We are very excited about the interest and investment in nanotechnology being expressed by private industry around the globe," said Matt Harris, vice president of worldwide marketing for FEI Company. "We are seeing significant companies making considerable investments in tools and applications that enable nanoscale exportfolios and maintaining their competitive edge."Globally, government spending on nanotechnology development is projected to reach approximately $5.0 billion (U.S.) in 2006 while private investment by various industry sectors is expected to rise to nearly $6.0 billion in the same period.About BASFBASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a partner to virtually all industries, BASF's intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. In 2005, BASF had approximately 81,000 employees and posted sales of more than euro 42.7 billion. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA), New York (BF) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.About FEIFEI's Tools for Nanotech(TM), featuring focused ion- and electron-beam technologies, deliver 3D characterization, analysis and modification capabilities with resolution down to the sub-Angstrom level and provide innovative solutions for customers working in NanoResearch, NanoElectronics and NanoBiology. The company's products for NanoResearch address a robust set of applications including 3D materials analysis and characterization, defect analysis, and process development and control. With R&D centers in North America and Europe, and sales and service operations in more than 40 countries around the world, FEI is bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of leading researchers and manufacturers and helping to turn some of the biggest ideas of this century into reality. More information can be found on the FEI website at: http://www.feicompany.com .Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains forward-looking statements that include statements about increased industrial demand for nanotechnology tools, projections about projected overall spending in nanotechnology, growth in industrial spending for nanotechnology and a tool sale. Factors that could affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in government or private-sector spending on nanotechnology, decreased demand for nanotechnology tools or cancellation of the order described. Please refer to our Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information on these factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. FEI assumes no duty to update forward-looking statements. Levitra

Tags: nanotechnology, statements, forward, basf, spending

Brad Pitt and Angelina adopt a 4th child and Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson split, and so does Jessica Simpson and a real sexy actor

Posted on May 06, 2008 in Impotence young men

Owen Wilson is not the sexiest single, but specially cute. I mean both company to boot women can handle him, to head at. If you go up to be amidst US: you can dream up a quiz. He is defend as. It seems. Public score: Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson count broken closed, a bringing up who perceives the pair tells General public. \"They're additionally friends,\" says the connecting, addition that the two resources well before Memorial Lastingness weekend. The shape of the breakup wasn't immediately known. Do you be cognizant, Owen Wilson is fully not sexy: dry run to Google probable his alias furthermore the patois \"sex\" or \"sexy\" including essay to evaluation Photos. You appetite not cater segment sexy Photos. I did not found slice. Following guy who is not this sexy while we could found is Brad Pitt. He is a okay chap, but smokes to much. I surmise he freeze the smoking. He additionally Angelina is going to optate a 4th child. The Sun: ANGELINA JOLIE is planning lesser extension to her rainbow mortals – that day an orphan boy from the Czech Republic. Reservoir, it’s always equitable to return a souvenir back from your travels, isn’t it? The Hollywood spark, centrally located Prague to film her latest movie Wanted, has been paying faultless visits to a Catholic condo surrounded by the centre of the city. More Angelina — who has already adopted nippers from Cambodia, Ethiopia together with Vietnam — has fallen enclosed by predilection with lone of the orphans. If we assessment to splitting pairs: Jessica Simpson more John Mayer embody gone their romance – additionally, Also that term for good. Possibly. \"It has been rocky again it had been rocky, again it checked in the perception of the road,\" a connecting vend to Mayer tells Public. \"It is definitely in that – the relationship has extinct.\" (From Public) But talking about sexy actors: Colin Farrell: Possibly Ireland's hottest cinematic export since Liam Neeson got his kilt off in Rob Roy, Colin Farrell enjoyed a generous helping of trans-Atlantic buzz for his work in Joel Schumacher's 2000 military drama Tigerland.

Tags: sexy, wilson, public, angelina, owen

Patent reform: on incentives for disposals at the USPTO

Posted on May 01, 2008 in Generic pharmaceuticals

In an article in 307 Science 1566 (March 11, 2005) [Patents on Human Genes], Jordan Paradise, Lori Andrews, and Timothy Holbrook of Chicago-Kent wrote: The USPTO could also revamp financial incentives to promote decisions based on the quality of the patents rather than their quantity. Currently, patent examiners are encouraged with monetary bonuses to grant patent applications, a policy that has the unsettling effect of rewarding examiners for quickly pushing patents through the patent office. Specifically, each patent examiner receives a salary bonus based on how many final allowances or rejections of a patent he or she authorizes. Because a rejection can be challenged and may not become final for quite some time, it is easier to receive a bonus by allowing patents. (citing to Merges, Berk Tech L J, 14, 577 (1999)). If examiners were rewarded for granting patents that adhered to patentability requirements (or were held accountable for issuing patents that do not adhere to the requirements), possibly measured by the number of awarded patents that were later upheld in litigation or reexamination procedures, the number of problematic gene patents might significantly decrease. There is the following response: The issue of whether patent examiners are more easily rewarded for "pushing patents through the patent office" is a combination of myth, misunderstanding, and misinformation. Notwithstanding the allegations that patent examiners just issue the applications to receive their bonus awards, not one shred of evidence has been produced to support this position. In fact, this myth is based upon a misunderstanding of the examiner award system. For any award to be received, the examiner must be satisfactory in quality. The Office has implemented a series of review processes that look at both rejected and allowed applications including the Office of Patent Quality Assurance, the in-process review program, the second-pair-of-eyes program, random Supervisor reviews, daily signing of work by the Supervisor, and periodic performance reviews by the Supervisor. If an examiner submits an action, either allowed or rejected, that is clearly improper and that action is reviewed, the examiner's work is sampled until it is determined that the error was an aberration or a pattern of errors is found. Should a pattern of errors be found, the examiner is subject a review process that may result in their removal from the Federal Service. Does it really seem credible that a number of examiners would put a "$100,000 job on the line" for a several thousand dollar award. If anything is true, examiners do all they can to avoid errors and the accompanying additional reviews of their work. Further, the statement "push patents through the patent office" evidences a lack of understanding that almost all patent examiners put extra effort into the allowance of an application. When an examiner can not reject a claim and feels that there should be "some prior art" on this concept, they regularly consult with their peers on whether they have seen such prior art or is that claim actually patentable. In fact, under your description the easiest allowance would be the first action allowance. This is where an examiner would receive both the first action and disposal credit for the same office action; a double count. The statistics show these to be smallest percentage of all first actions issued by the examiners. It is usually in these actions that the examiners may spend the most time of any action to be sure they have not missed some relevant information. The allegation is truly a slur on the professionalism of the USPTO examiners, as mindless drones just working for the money. Finally, the concept "push patents through the patent office" by allowing applications fails to take into consideration that after a first Office action that rejects all of the claims, the applicant may "abandon" the application. Whereas allowing an application takes time, including updating the search, considering the amendments, completing the allowance notice and other documents, to complete the credit for an abandonment takes only a few minutes. Accordingly, there is no easier way to get the credit and potential bonus than by finding the very best art that convinces the applicant that they should not proceed. Even assuming arguendo, that the applicant persists, the examiner is in the best position to conclude the prosecution in the next Office action. It is a complete examination on the first office action that is the easiest way to earn a bonus for the additional work. Finally, the proposal that examiners should be rewarded bonus money based upon the number of patents later upheld in litigation or on reexamination is just plain impractical. Litigation and reexamination proceedings are almost conducted years after the original patent is examined by the examiner. Additionally, the grounds upon which the patent may be invalidated or amended in reexamination may have nothing to do with the work by the examiner. It is hard to imagine an "incentive award system" for patent examiners to help with the Office workload that is premised upon a delay of many years and those outcomes. [the response is not by LBE] generic cialis cialis cheap viagra Cheap Viagra

Tags: patent, examiner, action, office, application

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