Archives: 3/2006

not funny

It’s April Fool’s Day Somewhere

by Nicholas Genes on Mar 31, 2006 • 12:00 pm

not lazy disabled Its April Fools Day <i>Somewhere</i>
We were crestfallen when we learned we wouldn’t be running any April Fool’s Day gags this year (we could, of course, but that would require posting on Saturday). But we’re happy to bring you someone else’s gag, making its way across the continents and internets today. It’s laziness research from a man named Leth Argos! Get it? There’s more on Motivational Deficiency Disorder, or MoDeD, via BMJ:

Neurologist Leth Argos is part of the team that has identified the disorder, which can be diagnosed using a combination of positron emission tomography and low scores on a motivation rating scale, previously validated in elite athletes. “This disorder is poorly understood,” Professor Argos told the BMJ. “It is underdiagnosed and undertreated.”
Professor Argos is an adviser to a small Australian biotechnology company, Healthtec, which is currently concluding phase II trials of indolebant, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist. Although still unpublished, the preliminary results from the company’s phase II studies are promising, according to Professor Argos: “Indolebant is effective and well tolerated. One young man who could not leave his sofa is now working as an investment adviser in Sydney.”

Interestingly, the disease-mongering conference they refer to is real — The Disease-Mongering conference features talks on pharmaceutical marketing, the media’s complicity, and one intriguing presentation called “Old Age is Fatal” … Some googling reveals that MoDeD was invented for the conference:

Professor Henry outlines a scenario that will form the basis of an educational exercise. He has created a new ‘disease’ – Motivational Deficiency Disorder (MoDeD), a previously unknown, but surprisingly common condition. Professor Henry says Professor Leth Argos will present data on the prevalence, social impact and treatment of this exhausting new disorder. “Linked with this, a public relations company will demonstrate how a disease is ‘managed’, how it is promoted into the community and will explain all the steps and techniques involved in this process,” he says.

Let’s see how many people diagnose themselves with MoDeD this weekend.

Society

Cell Phones and Brain Tumors:Swedish Study Shows Link

by Nicholas Genes on Mar 31, 2006 • 11:09 am

cell rads Cell Phones and Brain Tumors:Swedish Study Shows Link
Ugh. Doctors everywhere next week are going to have to field questions about this cell-phone study, which contradicts almost every other report and notes a link between mobiles and brain tumors:

The Dutch Health Council, in an overview of research from around the world, last year found no evidence radiation from mobile phones and TV towers was harmful. A four-year British survey released in January showed no link between regular, long-term use of cell phones and the most common type of tumor.
However, researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life said they looked at the mobile phone use of 905 people between the age of 20 and 80 who had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and found a link.
“A total 85 of these 905 cases were so-called high users of mobile phones, that is they began early to use mobile and, or wireless telephones and used them a lot,” the study said.
“The study also shows that the rise in risk is noticeable for tumors on the side of the head where the phone was said to be used,” it added.

The Swedes adopted cell phones before the rest of us, but then again, older analog phones had a habit of stopping ventilators and causing planes to fall from the sky (new ones don’t).
And it’s worth noting: when it comes to cancer and radiation, we have never seen a Swedish study that didn’t find a link.
A good overview of the cell phone / cancer controversy is available at Wikipedia.

Neurology

Truth Phone: Drinking and Dialing

by Nicholas Genes on Mar 31, 2006 • 10:38 am

truth phone Truth Phone: Drinking and Dialing
Our friends at We-Make-Money-Not-Art are covering the Takeaway Festival of DIY-Media in London. Among the novelty devices featured is this mobile phone with a breathalyzer built-in:

Not being able to see them, it’s hard to judge others’ emotions over the mobile. This model makes phone calls only if one is intoxicated, ensuring nothing but communication from the drunken heart.

There was a time when a cell phone / camera combination seemed strange, so perhaps phones like this are a glimpse into the future. The thing is, we’d much rather prefer a phone that blocks drunk calls (and we think our ex-girlfriends would, too).
More from WMMNA…

in the news...

Gum Benefits to be Studied

by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 31, 2006 • 12:43 am

32556436 Gum Benefits to be StudiedMedpundit notes a push by Wrigley Company to shed a scientific light on medical benefits of gum chewing by establishing the Wrigley Science Institute.
From the press release:

“The emerging science behind these benefits supports what we’ve heard anecdotally from consumers for years, and further study could substantially change the way people use gum as part of their everyday lives,” said Surinder Kumar, Wrigley’s Chief Innovation Officer.
The new Wrigley Science Institute (WSI), the first organization of its kind focused on advancing the research and understanding of the benefits of chewing gum, will be headed by WSI Executive Director Gilbert A. Leveille, PhD. One of the world’s most respected nutrition and food science professionals, Leveille will lead an advisory panel of top scientists from around the globe, including researchers from the U.S., the U.K., and China. The inaugural meeting of the WSI Advisory Panel was recently held in Chicago at Wrigley’s new state-of-the-art Global Innovation Center.
In 2006 alone, the Wrigley Science Institute expects to support at least 10 groundbreaking research studies. This new research includes three to four studies in the U.S. and U.K. to investigate the potential role of chewing gum in appetite control and weight management, three studies in the U.K. and Asia to study the role chewing gum may have in increasing focus and concentration, and three studies in the U.S. and U.K. to assess how chewing gum may help reduce stress. Each research study will be conducted using state-of-the-art methodology in its respective field and researchers will likely complete the studies and present findings in late 2006 or 2007.

The press release…
Gum Benefits page @ Wrigley …
Flashbacks: Bacteria Fighting Chewing Gum For Soldiers; Chewing Gum Speeds Recovery After Laparoscopic Surgery

Space Medicine

Breast Implants Banned in the Final Frontier

by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 31, 2006 • 12:01 am

140pxJordan Breast Implants Banned in the Final FrontierVirgin Galactic, currently in preparatory stages for its inaugural commercial space flight scheduled for 2008, has decided to rule out prospective cosmonauts who are status post boob job. Sky News quotes Virgin Galactic spokesperson Will Whitehorn:

“We’ve discovered there may well be issues with breast augmentation.”
“We’re not sure whether they could stand the trip – they could well explode.”

Too bad for spectators. Our prediction: more implants are to follow.
Virgin Galactic website…
(hat tip: The Jawa Report)

Medgadget Exclusive / Society

American Medical Association: No Doctors Day Celebrations?

by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 30, 2006 • 12:27 pm

This is a total hoot. Medgadget goes to the American Medical Association’s website and sees nothing in regards to Doctors Day 2006: no dedicated page, no press release, nothing. Our very own Dr.O, who is due for AMA membership renewal, calls AMA’s media relations offices in Chicago and in Washington, D.C. The reply he gets from Brenda Craine, Director of Media Relations, is that AMA has no statement to the fact that there is a Doctors Day holiday and there is no evidence of any celebrations by the AMA. And that’s that.
The AMA website…
Flashback: Medgadget and medical blogs battle AMA in Urgent Action Needed!

Dermatology / OTC

Blown Away by Triton

by Nicholas Genes on Mar 30, 2006 • 3:33 am

triton sm Blown Away by Triton

We’re going to call the Triton Luxury Body Dryer a medgadget, because they claim blow-drying your body is more hygienic than towels. And because the pretty lady and the letters falling from the sky amused us (Triton’s demo movie actually has a few moments that are NSFW, although, as they say, can be “great fun.”)
This abstract is the best literature we could find that gave support to Triton’s claims, but it’s about hand-drying, and it compares air to paper towels. Also, this paper suggests the act of towel-drying stimulates immune cells. But then again, the Triton spokeswoman looks very healthy.
More from Triton, UK…

in the news...

Cortex Matures Differently in More Intelligent People

by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 30, 2006 • 1:46 am

1325642 Cortex Matures Differently in More Intelligent People
Large study of MRI scans, seventeen years in the making, done by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), has shown that brain cortex of highly intelligent people matures differently than of their peers:

The researchers found that the relationship between cortex thickness and IQ varied with age, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, seat of abstract reasoning, planning, and other “executive” functions. The smartest 7-year-olds tended to start out with a relatively thinner cortex that thickened rapidly, peaking by age 11 or 12 before thinning. In their peers with average IQ, an initially thicker cortex peaked by age 8, with gradual thinning thereafter. Those in the high range showed an intermediate trajectory (see below). While the cortex was thinning in all groups by the teen years, the superior group showed the highest rates of change.
“Brainy children are not cleverer solely by virtue of having more or less gray matter at any one age,” explained Rapoport [Dr.Judith Rapoport at the NIMH and McGill University in Montreal -ed.]. “Rather, IQ is related to the dynamics of cortex maturation.”
The observed differences are consistent with findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging, showing that levels of activation in prefrontal areas correlates with IQ, note the researchers. They suggest that the prolonged thickening of prefrontal cortex in children with superior IQs might reflect an “extended critical period for development of high-level cognitive circuits.” Although it’s not known for certain what underlies the thinning phase, evidence suggests it likely reflects “use-it-or-lose-it” pruning of brain cells, neurons, and their connections as the brain matures and becomes more efficient during the teen years.
“People with very agile minds tend to have a very agile cortex,” said Shaw [Dr. Philip Shaw at McGill University in Montreal and NIHM -ed.]. The NIMH researchers are following-up with a search for gene variants that might be linked to the newly discovered trajectories. However, Shaw notes mounting evidence suggesting that the effects of genes often depends on interactions with environmental events, so the determinants of intelligence will likely prove to be a very complex mix of nature and nurture.

More in the NIMH press release…
More at the NYT…

Neurological Surgery

Medtronic RestorePRIME Neurostimulation System

by Tim Odell on Mar 30, 2006 • 12:53 am

ttp logo Medtronic RestorePRIME Neurostimulation SystemMedtronic Inc., has received FDA approval for their RestorePRIME™ Neurostimulation system.

Medtronic, the pioneer of neurostimulation technology, will initiate a targeted launch of the RestorePRIME System in March and April, followed by full market availability in May.
The RestorePRIME neurostimulator is a non-rechargeable device indicated to manage bilateral and complex pain in the trunk and/or multiple limbs that is associated with failed back surgery syndrome, post-laminectomy pain, unsuccessful disc surgery or degenerative disc disease, among others. It is designed specifically for patients with low to moderate energy requirements who need a broader range of neurostimulation coverage but prefer the improved convenience of a non-rechargeable system.
About the size of a stopwatch, the device is typically implanted under the skin of the abdomen and connected to two leads – thin wires with electrodes at the tips. Up to 16 electrodes deliver electrical pulses to the spine. Based on individual patient need, doctors can customize the positioning of the electrodes to deliver stimulation directly to the target area of the spine – and in doing so, block pain signals from reaching the brain. Additionally, to cover varying levels of pain, they can choose for their patients up to 32 program options, the broadest range of any non-rechargeable device on the market. Battery life is similar to that of other non-rechargeable devices, such as the Synergy(R) neurostimulator from Medtronic.
Patients can obtain information on Medtronic neurostimulation therapies at www.TameThePain.com or by calling 1-888-430-PAIN (7426). Information for clinicians about the new device is available at www.MedtronicRestorePrime.com

It’s interesting to see the specific URLs for patient and physician information. Following tamethepain.com redirects to a Medtronic internal site that’s designed to look a lot like its own entity. The site states “Tame the Pain is an advocacy and awareness campaign designed to improve chronic pain management by connecting people who have chronic pain with pain specialists.” In the world of marketing, this is direct-to-consumer at it’s finest – setting up a means of increasing patient awareness of treatment options and facilitating their treatment through “on board” physicians. By the way, “Tame the Pain” is copyrighted.

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