Sunday, November 20, 2005

Trial lawyers blocking avian flu bill

ATLA blocking avian flu bill:

" The Washington Post's Jeffrey Birnbaum reports: "Legislation that would pour billions of dollars into the production of vaccines against avian flu and other pandemic diseases is threatened by the trial lawyers' lobby, which objects to proposed limits on lawsuits against drug manufacturers. "

All in the name of protecting patients, I'm sure.

[Via PointOfLaw Forum]



Sunday, October 9, 2005

The Cervical Cancer Vaccine

The Well Timed Period offers some (well referenced) Q's and A's about the cervical cancer vaccine:

"Q: Why do we need to vaccinate the population at large?
Q: Why are the vaccine trials focused on preferentially vaccinating young women?
Q: Why are HPV 16 and 18 the target of Merck's vaccine?
Q: Are the researchers working on the HPV vaccine aware of potential barriers to its acceptance?
"

She concludes:

" The HPV vaccine is an extremely significant development because it offers tremendous possibility in helping reduce the incidence of abnormal Pap smears, cervical cancer, and genital warts in the United States as well as worldwide. "


Thursday, July 7, 2005

We are all Britons

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[Shape of Days]



Thursday, May 26, 2005

Face-Lift Played Major Part in Woman's Death

Face-Lift Played Major Part in Woman's Death, City Finds - New York Times:

You may remember the story several weeks ago about an Irish citizen who died the morning after a face lift in a plastic surgeon's office in New York. I've kept a Google Alert on this subject and this popped up today:

" An investigation by the New York City Medical Examiner's Office has concluded that the death of a 42-year-old Irish woman earlier this year was caused in significant part by face-lift surgery she underwent in the Manhattan office of a doctor who has repeatedly been sued for malpractice. "
Not much (any) detail. Maybe more will come out soon.

[Via ]



Thursday, May 19, 2005

Neuromuscular blocker binders around the corner?

Organon is working on the first of a new class of drugs called selective relaxant binding agents (SRBA). The first drug, called Org 25969, is about to enter phase three trials in the US. These drugs can supposedly reverse neuromuscular blockade at any depth of neuromuscular block by binding the neuromuscular blocker.

Though this news release and the Organon website are short on details, this site has the scoop:

"The novel concept of using a ring-shaped cyclodextrin to engulf a neuromuscular blocking drug is fascinating.2 Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides which are recognised to encapsulate lipophilic molecules such as steroids. They are water soluble and well tolerated biologically. Org 25969 consists of eight such sugar molecules in a ring, the outside of which is hydrophilic, and the inside, hydrophobic. The size and shape of the ring is designed to produce a cavity into which a neuromuscular blocking drug such as rocuronium will tightly fit. Org 25969 is capable of forming a binary host – guest complex of high affinity with rocuronium, for two of its externally charged side-chains react with the quaternary nitrogen groups of the muscle relaxant. It is able to encapsulate all four steroidal rings of rocuronium within its lipophilic cavity. This encapsulation or chelation reverses the effect of rocuronium, by preventing its access to the nicotinic receptor and promoting its dissociation from it."

[via Medical News Today]



Saturday, April 2, 2005

DOJ Subpoenas Issued to Orthopedic Companies

Via Medgadget: DOJ Subpoenas Issued to Orthopedic Companies:

" A press release by Stryker

Stryker Corporation (NYSE: SYK - News) announced today that it has received a subpoena from the United States Department of Justice requesting documents for the period January 2002 through the present as follows: "any and all consulting contracts, professional service agreements, or remuneration agreements between Stryker Corporation and any orthopedic surgeon, orthopedic surgeon in training, or medical school graduate using or considering the surgical use of hip or knee joint replacement/reconstruction products manufactured or sold by Stryker Corporation."

Based on an initial conversation with a Department of Justice representative, the Company understands that similar requests have been or will be directed to other companies in the orthopaedics industry. Stryker intends to fully cooperate with the Department of Justice regarding this matter.
Something major is going on. Any ideas?"

Only the rampant attempts to influence orthopedic surgical residents and their attendings with dinners, trips to 'schools' to teach techniques, golf games, and on, and on.



Thursday, February 10, 2005

Coming To A School Near You: Super Size Me

" What happens when a man eats nothing but McDonald's food for 30 days? It's a lesson that schoolchildren across the country are about to find out.

Morgan Spurlock, director and star of "Super Size Me: A film of epic proportions," is releasing an edited version of the film for classrooms. The school version of the Academy-Award nominated film is scheduled to be released after the Feb. 27 Oscars (news - web sites) ceremony. "

Um. Can we show it in hospital waiting rooms?

[via Yahoo News]



Wednesday, February 2, 2005

FDA Approves Generic Fentanyl Patch

FDA Clears the Way for Generic Versions of Transdermal Patches to Treat Chronic Pain

" The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Mylan Technologies, Inc., for the first generic version of Alza Corporation's Duragesic Patch (Fentanyl Transdermal System) used to treat patients suffering from severe chronic pain that cannot be managed with alternative analgesics. When applied to the skin, this patch technology delivers fentanyl, an opioid pain medication that is slowly absorbed into the body through the skin providing pain relief for up to three days (72 hours).

The agency's approval is expected to provide patients with access to a lower cost alternative of this pain management system. At the same time that FDA approved Mylan's generic product, it acted on several citizens' petitions requesting that FDA deny or delay approval of the product." "

[Via Science Blog - Science News Stories]



Sunday, January 30, 2005

A Momentous Day

The Fox News headline sums it up rather well: "A New Dawn of Democracy".

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Iraq, our thoughts and prayers are with you--especially today. Let Freedom Ring!



Wednesday, December 29, 2004

New Genetic Test May Prevent Drug Interaction

New Genetic Test May Prevent Drug Interaction:

A new DNA microarray test called the AmpliChip Cytochrome P450 Genotyping Test analyzes abnormalities in the gene coding for Cytochrome P450, the liver enzyme involved in metabolizing many drugs. The hope is that testing for the abnormality will allow better use/selection of drugs in these patients. As the list of cytochrome P450-metabolized drugs is long and includes NSAID's, inhaled anesthetics. Are we looking at a standard pre-op test? Perhaps. Polymorphism at this gene may explain some of the bell-shaped curve we see in responses not only to anesthetics, but to many commonly prescribed drugs. What we need now are outcome studies...and to be patient.

More information about genotyping in general is here (thanks, Google).

[Via WebMD Health Headlines]

Donate to Doctors Without Borders

We've been talking about how best to donate to relief efforts after the tsunami. As I write this, the Doctors Without Borders web site is redirecting to a search page, but you can still reach the donation page directly.

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Other choices for helping out are detailed here.

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