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Monthly Archives: April 2010
Consult A Doctor, Inc. Names Retail Clinic Pioneer, Douglas Smith, M.D. as Chief Medical Officer
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TinyPay.me – Sell Whatever You Want Very Easily – KillerStartups.com (blog)
TinyPay.me - Sell Whatever You Want Very Easily KillerStartups.com (blog) All you have to do is choose a title for your ad, include a description, upload media like photos and/or videos and set down the location. ... |
Homeopathy – Failing Randomized Controlled Trials Since 1835
I’m sad to say that this is the last day of World Homeopathy Awareness Week. We’ve tried to give homeopathy its due honor, providing it the attention its practitioners clearly desire, while continuing to cover pertinent news in the world of homeopathy and providing a somewhat more sober, rational discussion of it on our homeopathy reference page.
Of course, most of this has not been news in the literal sense of the word. There hasn’t been anything truly new in homeopathy since its invention (no, not discovery; discovery implies that something actually exists to be found) by Hahnemann in 1796.
Well, perhaps that’s not quite fair. As our knowledge of reality (medicine, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, etc) has steadily improved, homeopathy’s plausibility has dwindled to the point of being indistinguishable from the roundest of numbers (0). And I suppose the recent contortions of logic, abuses of legitimate science, and pure magical thinking put forth to protect homeopathy from the relentless assault of science are far more impressive than that laid out by Hahnemann. So that’s news of a sort.
There’s also homeopathy’s long and rich tradition of abject failure in randomized controlled trials to consider. The overwhelming mountain of evidence showing homeopathy to have no effect beyond placebo is impressive and definitive. That’s data Hahnemann didn’t have, so that’s news too.
Each of these properly conducted studies and analyses demonstrates the scientific method’s utility to help us understand reality and protect us from our own delusions, but frankly, at this point they are about as exciting and useful as proving that the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning. News? Not so much.
Nuremberg’s Less Famous Trial
I found myself wondering how far back this trail of negative trials goes; how long we’ve been having the identical argument. Pubmed’s earliest mention of homeopathy was in 1906, and the first RCT I found in its database was in 1980. However, the oldest double-blind RCT of which I found record was conducted in 1835 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, and subsequently described in an editorial in 2006 entitled “Inventing the randomized double-blind trial: The Nuremberg salt test of 1835.” Though the trial has its flaws, it was of sufficient quality to satisfy my historical curiosity with a thoroughly depressing answer: 175 years.
The local physicians and public health officials of Nuremberg held an understandably dim view of homeopathy, and as it gained popularity in Nuremburg they became more vocal, and more public, in their opposition:
Von Hoven accused homeopathy of lacking any scientific foundation. He suggested that homeopathic drugs were not real medicines at all and alleged homeopathic cures were either due to dietetic regimens and the healing powers of nature, or showed the power of belief. He called for an objective, comparative assessment by impartial experts. If, as he expected, homeopathic treatment proved ineffective, the government would need to take drastic measures to protect the lives of deceived patients.”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Nuremburg’s resident homeopath Karl Prue’s defense should as well:
[Prue] pointed out that even children, lunatics and animals had been successfully cured. Based on Hahnemann’s assertions, he challenged Wahrhold/von Hoven to try the effects of a C30 dilution of salt on himself. The odds were 10 to 1, he claimed, that his opponent would experience some extraordinary sensations as a result – and these were nothing compared to the much stronger effects on the sick.”
Eventually a trial was designed and agreed upon by both parties to test the effect of a 30C dilution of salt. The trial design was surprisingly good, as it was:
- Randomized: participants had an equal chance of being in either the control or experimental group
- Controlled: participants not given the experimental therapy were given an indistinguishable and inert placebo
- Blinded: participants didn’t know if they received the homeopathic dilution or placebo
- Double-blinded: the experimenters didn’t know which participants received the homeopathic dilution or placebo, as the placebo and homeopathic dilution were prepared and the vials containing them randomized and coded by people independent from the experimenters.
- Well Powered: the trial contained enough participants so that if, as Prue claimed “the odds were 10 to 1… to experience some extraordinary sensations” that it could detect a difference between the two groups.
- Transparent: The design, hypothesis, methods and outcomes were agreed upon beforehand and explained in detail to all participants, conducted publicly (in a literal Pub in fact; these people were full of good ideas), results were published quickly, and any deviation from protocol was acknowledged.
Of the 54 people they managed to enroll, 50 completed the study three weeks later by reporting what, if any, “extraordinary sensations” they had experienced following ingestion of their vial. 5 people reported sensations in the homeopathic group, 3 in the control, which was statistically insignificant. Homeopathy had failed the first of many RCTs.
I am not putting this trial forward as the final (though perhaps it could be considered one of the first) nail in homeopathy’s coffin. The trial design had areas of potential bias, most notably that the symptoms which qualified as “extraordinary” are not well defined (though a glance at the homeopathic proving of “Natrum Muriaticum” or “table salt” provides some insight into this particular problem), and the fact that it relied upon participants to honestly report all symptoms; a hostile or imperceptive set of participants could easily confound the study. Nevertheless, on the whole it was solidly designed and executed, particularly when one considers that this is one of the first double-blind, randomized controlled trials ever documented.
Time To Move On
Here we are in 2010, 175 years after the first of legion negative RCTs of homeopathy, yet it persists with the same tired old arguments. Is there anything to gain from investing more time, money, resources, and ignoring the highly dubious ethics of subjecting human subjects to a trial that has no hope of benefiting them or humanity, just to prove one more time that homeopathy is an utter failure? No, and here’s why.
I look at the current debate surrounding homeopathy, and I see three primary groups. The first accepts the last two centuries of scientific progress and evidence and concludes that homeopathy is a delusion unworthy of further study. They don’t need another trial.
The second believes in homeopathy in spite of the gargantuan volume of evidence; further evidence will do nothing to change their minds. They don’t need another trial.
The final group is comprised of people who are unaware of the nature of homeopathy or the evidence that already exists. This final group requires exposure and education; they require World Homeopathy Awareness Week (SBM edition). They don’t need another trial.
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Why has Obamacare become a TEA Party issue? – Big Government (blog)
Why has Obamacare become a TEA Party issue? Big Government (blog) If I can figure out how to do the YouTube upload thingy, I'll load it and let you know. The Huffing-paint Post / Media Murders crowd is really in high gear ... |
New med school to adopt revolutionary preventive medicine curriculum – Ha’aretz
New med school to adopt revolutionary preventive medicine curriculum Ha'aretz The new medical school planned in the Galilee is to include several innovative, cutting-edge study programs such as preventive medicine, ... |
Study: Insurance Companies Invest in Fast Food – CBS News
 CBC.ca | Study: Insurance Companies Invest in Fast Food CBS News The Harvard Medical School's Dr. Wesley Boyd, an author of the study, finds it ironic that these firms would invest nearly $2 billion in companies that sell ... Study: Insurance companies hold billions in fast food stockCNN Harvard Docs to Insurance Companies: Drop the Big MacsWall Street Journal (blog) New study reveals health, life insurers' $1.8 billion stake in fast foodMedill Reports: Chicago Psychology Today (blog) -MedPage Today -newjerseynewsroom.com all 35 news articles » |
Eggs keep coming!
Hello Puffins - Mediterranean Gull introducing itself to the locals (by Mark Breaks)
Pair bonding Kittiwakes (by Mark Breaks)
Chiffchaff's on the moveThursday 15th April comments:
The (reasonably) fine weather continued although with a slight chill in the air as the light wind was moving in from the north (which was bringing volcanic ash from Iceland apparently!). The breeding seabirds continued to come and go, with Shags well settled, Guillemots laying eggs but the real stars; the Puffins, continued to remain elusive (on occasions). However the major discovery of the day was the first Ringed Plover eggs of the year, on the beach on Inner Farne. The number of Sandwich Terns in the evening roost continues to increase daily (as shown below) and the first Arctic Tern will only be days away.
The (reasonably) fine weather continued although with a slight chill in the air as the light wind was moving in from the north (which was bringing volcanic ash from Iceland apparently!). The breeding seabirds continued to come and go, with Shags well settled, Guillemots laying eggs but the real stars; the Puffins, continued to remain elusive (on occasions). However the major discovery of the day was the first Ringed Plover eggs of the year, on the beach on Inner Farne. The number of Sandwich Terns in the evening roost continues to increase daily (as shown below) and the first Arctic Tern will only be days away.
Sandwich Tern roost counts on the Farnes in April:
3rd – 6
4th – 26
6th – 75
10th – 94
13th – 128
14th - 131
3rd – 6
4th – 26
6th – 75
10th – 94
13th – 128
14th - 131
Interestingly, the Mediterranean Gulls remain including at least one second-summer bird lingering in the large Black-headed Gull colony. Otherwise it’s quiet on the migration front with just a smattering of passerines.
Magazine Ranks USD Medical School in Top 10 – KCAU
Magazine Ranks USD Medical School in Top 10 KCAU The magazine's "America's Best Graduate School's 2011" guide ranks USD's medical school 10th, tied with West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and ... |
The dangers of opponents of science-based medicine
Michael Specter, author of Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives, on the danger of science denial:
Given that more than half of the video is devoted to discussing vaccine denialism, supplements, and HIV/AIDS denialism, I think Spector’s talk is quite appropriate for this blog. Perhaps the best quote in Specter’s entire speech is this: “When you start down the road where belief in magic replaces evidence and science, you end up in a place where you don’t want to be.”
Unfortunately, for more and more of the population, it seems, when it comes to vaccines and “alternative” medicine that’s exactly where they’re going. They don’t want to be there, but unfortunately they won’t realize it until there there. They might not even realize it even then.
Unfortunately, society will.
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Stunning, Deserted Corralito Beach on Espiritu Santu Island, La Paz, Mexico
La Paz, Mexico is a land of stunning contrasts, where reddish limestone cliffs soar above crystalline turquoise seas and golden sunsets burnish deserts dotted with sentinel-like cardon cactus, elephant trees and thorny chollas. Nowhere is this beauty more astonishing than Espiritu Santo Island, a protected nature preserve at the northern tip of the Bay of La Paz in Baja California’s Sea of Cortez.
Corralito Beach on Espiritu Santo Island near La Paz, Mexico
On this island paradise, where cliffs meet sea and sky meets desert, astonishingly beautiful beaches have formed. Some of the better known include Punta Lupona, Playa Dispense, Playa San Gabriel, Ensenada de Pescadores, Candelero, Playa Ballena, Mesteno, and Playa Partido, but I was destined for a lesser known cove that the locals call Corralito Beach. I hopped out of the boat into thigh-high water, waded to shore, and climbed to the upper edge of the beach. As the boat vanished into the distance I surveyed my surroundings. Not a soul was to be seen and the only evidence of civilization was a flimsy shelter on a distant spit of sand, used occasionally by fishermen who camp on the island.
Rocky arms wrapped around the precious cove; on the left, a volcanic massif glittered in shades of black and red, while a limb of cactus-strewn desert jutted on the right. Between the two swept an exquisite white beach of powdery sand unmarred by footprints other than my own. Beyond the blinding white sand stretched the most gorgeous turquoise sea I have ever seen, with a coral reef within easy swimming distance.
The view from Corralito Beach on Espiritu Santo Island
I spent the better part of an hour snorkeling the reef before splaying on the beach to soak up some rays while enjoying a delicious box lunch. I was sad when the boat returned to pick me up, but happy to learn that camping is possible with a permit. Someday I will return with cooler, tent and sleeping bag and stay until I have had my fill of the amazing serenity at Corralito Beach.
Photo Credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel of Hole In The Donut Travels
Even quirky Republican Ron Paul ties Obama in 2012 match-up
by James Fryar
It has been said often, that anyone in the US can aspire to be president. Today’s Rasmussen Poll is a clear indication that this is in fact the case.
Pit maverick Republican Congressman Ron Paul against President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up, and the race is – virtually dead even.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of likely voters finds.
Obama with 42% support and Paul with 41% of the vote. Eleven percent (11%) prefer some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided.
While I tend to find Paul a quirky character, I find myself more often in agreement with him than against. Apart from his weaknesses in foreign policy, mainly in the area of defense I tend to find him pretty sound. It’s a pity he seems to follow the leftist garbage line that the US is somehow an ‘empire’.
The poll though has him well within any margin of error. I doubt he could maintain the momentum in a real election with the rough and tumble of politics, but it must be a very disquieting time for Democrats when one of the most unlikely guys in Congress can be a threat to them.
It seems clear that if the Republicans can put up a genuinely fiscally conservative socially tolerant libertarian Republican in 2012, Obama is a goner. The slogan, “A second term for Jimmy Carter” will have been realized.
Editor's Note - Jim Fryar is a true Blue Collar Republican. He's an oil rig worker in south central Australia. He's also a member of the Australia Libertarian Society. His blog is Real World Libertarian. He covers the International Libertarian movement.
Even more praise for Rand Paul’s Pro-Defense libertarian stance
From Eric Dondero:
Reason Magazine (print issue) currently has a front page spread on Rand Paul and his US Senate race in Kentucky. In an on-line version, Reason points out Paul's differences with his famous father on foreign policy and defense issues.
(I am quoted in the magazine article, as well as noted in the on-line version.)
Reason Foundation, Opposing Views "The Son Also Rises; Ron Paul's Son, Rand Paul, Makes Big Impression":
What set Ron Paul apart from most Republicans, though, was his passionate opposition to the Iraq war and to the GOP’s interventionist foreign policy. Here Rand Paul is careful to tailor his arguments in ways that appeal to more conventional conservatives. The only section of his campaign website that deals at length with the war appears under the heading “National Defense.”
"Defending our Country is the most important function of the federal government," Paul says on his website. “When we are threatened, it is the obligation of our representatives to unleash the full arsenal of power that is granted by and derived from free men and women.”
Says Rand Paul campaign manager David Adams: "What people are seeing is that despite what our opponent says, Rand is actually very strong on national defense. He believes in doing what it takes to keep the American people safe and secure."
This careful messaging has helped Rand win the mainstream conservative support that eluded his father’s Republican presidential campaign. The biggest example is the endorsement of former Alaska governor and 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who said she was "proud to support great grassroots candidates like Dr. Paul..." has helped him appeal to Republicans who wanted to read his father out of the party in 2008, such as Erick Erickson of the activist conservative blog RedState.
The libertarian Republican activist Eric Dondero, a disgruntled former staffer of the elder Paul who contemplated a primary challenge against him, praises Rand Paul as a “pro-defense libertarian.” At the same time, dovish Ludwig von Mises Institute President Lew Rockwell is politely supportive—though not effusive—on his website, despite regarding much of the Republican primary electorate to which Rand must appeal as "red-state fascists."
Tea Party favorite Rand Paul wins Jim Bunning’s backing
No to Bailouts, No to Government Takeover of our Economy, No to Wasteful Spending
The headline in USAToday:
Jim Bunning endorses Tea Party favorite to replace him
The Statement from Senator Bunning's office:
In the United States Senate, Kentuckians need a strong, principled conservative to stand up to the liberals and establishment politicians that run Washington. Kentucky needs a conservative who will say no to bailouts, stop the government takeover of our economy, end wasteful spending, and bring down our national debt. And Kentucky's families need a conservative who believes in traditional values and the rights of the unborn. In 2010, there is only one such conservative running for the United States Senate -- Dr. Rand Paul.
Joe hearts Sarah: Doesn’t agree with her on everything, but admits she’s got a huge following
Independent Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut on Sarah Palin, quoted in USA Today, April 13,"Lieberman: 'Everybody should listen' to Sarah Palin":
I think ... Sarah Palin for a lot of people has become a spokesperson. People worried that government has forgotten them, that it has grown too big, that the deficit is growing too large, and in some sense that we're not being as strong as we should be in the world — Governor Palin has spoken to those concerns as much as anyone.
I do disagree with her on some of the specifics that she has said, but I think anybody who underestimates Sarah Palin as a political force in America does so at some peril, because she is speaking for a lot of people out there.
Note - Palin has been a steadfast supporter of Israel. Late in the '08 campaign heavy internet rumors spread that she had a part Jewish ancestry on her mother's side. She never denied it. (Here's an article that delves into the question from Sarah Palin - 2008)
Texas GOP Run-offs: Party takes a Hard Right turn
LR FOLLOW-UP
From Eric Dondero:
Michael Q. Sullivan, our friend from Empower Texans, and a former co-worker of mine in the congressional office of Rep. Ron Paul, brings us some good news. A candidate we have been highlighting here at LR, a solid Rick Perry style "libertarian-conservative" (as he was described by the local media in Lubbock), has won his primary run-off election.
From Michael:
House District 84: In this open seat, John Frullo won a strong victory over Mark Griffin.
Given Lubbock's overwhelming Republican orientation, Frullo is virtually assured of being the next State Rep. for the area.
Frullo is a small businessman fiercely opposed to ObamaCare, and to federal mandates on the states.
MQS also reports:
In fact, six of the seven candidates we (Empower Texas) endorsed won last night! Here's a quick wrap-up of our winning endorsements:
-> House District 14: State Rep. Fred Brown (who earned our "Taxpayer Advocate" award) easily won re-election.
-> House District 52: Republican Larry Gonzales won a strong run-off victory, and now faces incumbent Dianna Maldonado in November.
-> House District 66: Van Taylor won big over Mabrie Jackson... but it may not be over here. Because incumbent Brian McCall resigned his seat, there will be a special election on May 8.
-> House District 83: Charles Perry easily defeated incumbent Delwin Jones, perennially one of the worst Republicans in the Legislature.
-> House District 149: Conservative Jack O'Connor won his run-off, ready to face Democrat incumbent Hubert Vo in November.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility EmpowerTexans.com
First at The Planet: Nehalem EX 4-Socket Servers
We pride ourselves on offering customers the widest selection of servers available in the industry, and today we’re extending that leadership by expanding our portfolio with 4-socket servers featuring Intel’s latest technology. The new Intel® Xeon® 7500 series processor was introduced just two weeks ago, and I am proud to say that through our deep partnerships with both Intel and Dell, we have some of the first units off the production line. The Planet is blazing a trail in the hosting industry, offering the latest technology and superior value – and that’s our commitment to customers.
So what’s all the fuss about the 7500 series?
The Intel Xeon 7550 is a 2.0 GHz processor with 18MB of cache that boasts eight cores. (Yes, you read that right … eight!) Housed in a 4-processor Dell™ PowerEdge™ R910 chassis, this server – packaged as the Quad Xeon 7550 – provides you with 32 cores. And if that’s not enough core density, when you enable Intel Hyper-Threading Technology, that count doubles to 64 cores in a single server. Include 2TB of bandwidth, 600GB SAS storage (2×300GB) and 32GB of RAM – expandable up to 2TB – and you have a package that takes on the most challenging workloads. Mission-critical, resource-intensive and virtualization applications are a breeze for this platform.
But, don’t take my word for it — try it out for yourself. And, as with all servers from The Planet, you’ll receive our bundle that includes Symantec Endpoint Protection, 10GB of Storage Cloud and Parallels Small Business Panel, free of charge.
So what are you waiting for? The Quad Xeon 7550 is available now in virtual and private rack environments.
First in the industry to offer Intel’s 5600 series processor … CHECK.
First in the industry to offer Intel’s 7500 series processor … CHECK.
Stay tuned … who knows what we we’ll do next. 
-Mark
Related Posts:
Warren Redlich for NY Governor: I’d run for other office if that’s what Libertarian delegates want
NEW YORK POLITICS
On the Republican side, there's a wild race in the primary for the nomination. It includes Buffalo multi-millionaire and self-described Tea Party Patriot Carl Paladino, former Congressman Rick Lazio, and Democrat-turned-Republican Suffolk County Commissioner Steve Levy. Add Libertarian Party member and small-town city councilman Warren Redlich to the mix, who has said that he's also seeking the Republican line.
(NY candidates can seek dual and even multi-party lines, such as the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Worker's Party, ect...)
Now Redlich has made some news right here at Libertarian Republican. In the comments section in our article last night on his rival Kristin Davis, Redlich remarked:
It wasn't my idea to run for Governor. My original interest was in the AG race. I was asked by several people within the LPNY (including two former state chairs) to run for Governor instead.
If the LPNY chooses Ms. Davis, and wants me to run for another office, I'd certainly consider that.
With that said, I believe I'm a better candidate.
The Tithonus Error as Prospection Error
The Tithonus Error is the widespread and mistaken belief that extending the human life span will result in us being aged and decrepit for longer. This is not the case, however: engineered longevity can only be accomplished by repairing or reducing cellular and biochemical damage - which means you will be younger for longer. At In Search of Enlightenment, you'll find an examination of the roots of the Tithonus Error: "There is an irrational public predisposition to regard research on specific late-life diseases as marvelous but to regard research on aging, and thus all late-life diseases together, as a public menace bound to produce a world filled with nonproductive, chronically disabled, unhappy senior citizens consuming more resources than they produce. ... I am working on a new paper [that] examines how misperceptions about the present and future state of global health are themselves major obstacles to tackling aging. Because [imagined simulations of the future] are based on memories, medical research that proposes to eliminate a disease is much more likely to invoke hedonic experiences in our simulations then is a medical intervention that retards aging. ... our inability to make accurate, sensible simulations of what a future of retarding human aging would entail (for both the developed and developing world) is itself one of the greatest obstacles to prioritizing aging research. And this problem needs to be redressed."
View the Article Under Discussion: http://colinfarrelly.blogspot.com/2010/04/prospection-errors-are-obstacles-to.html
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/
Synthetic Biology and the Extracellular Matrix
From the University of Bristol: "Synthetic biology is about improving our ability to engineer biology, and to engineer biology you have to understand the underlying chemistry. ... We look at natural molecules and ask, 'How does nature do this?' And then we take those key features and build them into synthetic molecules to mimic the natural ones. ... Specifically, Woolfson is trying to capture features of the materials that hold cells together and which provide the environment to turn collections of cells into tissues such as skin, liver and networks of nerves. This 'glue' is called the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the ECM is made up of large, complicated molecules with lots of different chemistries, so Woolfson began to investigate whether it would be possible to build something similar to ECM, but out of much simpler and more chemically accessible materials. That was 10 years ago. Today he has developed nano-sized proteins that have been designed to 'self assemble' into long, spaghetti-like strings, which then become entangled to form a gel. ... The result is a hydrogel (a gel in which the liquid constituent is water) made up of these tiny, spaghetti-like strings of proteins which acts as a scaffold to support cell growth in much the same way as the ECM does."
View the Article Under Discussion: http://bristol.ac.uk/news/2010/6928.html
Read More Longevity Meme Commentary: http://www.longevitymeme.org/news/