Epocrates Adds Disease Information

<p> In the right hand column of this blog, I have included a quick research box for drugs from Epocrates.  You can also use the link to the website now to obtain disease diagnosis information as well. The link is right next to the personal health record information.  BD  </p> <blockquote><a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="96" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJndJ4qwHTI/AAAAAAAAIa8/Q2d7_1zKga0/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244" /></a>Epocrates, best known for its online drug reference database, now also offers physicians free access to disease diagnosis and treatment information via the Internet. The San Mateo, Calif.-based company developed the service, Epocrates Online, in partnership with BMJ Group, the London-based publisher of the British Medical Journal. Epocrates Online offers peer-reviewed content, prepared by physicians with the guidance of BMJ Group, that's integrated with Epocrates drug database. </blockquote> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:19cfc8ec-b0f5-4250-a289-a85ebffc45c2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Epocrates" rel="tag">Epocrates</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Disease" rel="tag">Disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Diagnosis" rel="tag">Diagnosis</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a></div> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/reference_content26738-1.html?ET=healthdatamanagement:e541:120588a:&st=email&channel=decision_support">Epocrates Adds Disease Information</a></p>

Epocrates Adds Disease Information

In the right hand column of this blog, I have included a quick research box for drugs from Epocrates.  You can also use the link to the web...

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Patient Who Needed Heart And Kidney Transplant Borrowed Time With Heart Assist Device

<p>A <a href="http://www.thoratec.com/medical-professionals/vad-product-information/heartmate-xve-lvad.aspx">medical device</a> buys a man more time until transplant organs were available.  His organs were causing heart failure and the transplant <a href="http://www.thoratec.com/medical-professionals/vad-product-information/heartmate-xve-lvad.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="177" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJnawKrA9OI/AAAAAAAAIa4/krsjGhUamR0/image%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="169" /></a>enabled his heart to continue working and now he's doing fine with both a heart and kidney transplant.  Without the pump he probably would not have survived long enough for the transplant organs to become available.  BD</p> <p>  Seven years after Joaquin Lucio's kidneys shut down, he had a heart attack and was taken to a Los Angeles area hospital where doctors performed an angioplasty to clear his coronary arteries. He also was suffering from idiopathic congestive heart failure - a condition in which the heart becomes weak and enlarged - and a special pacemaker was implanted to provide support.</p> <blockquote> <p>The HeartMate XVE (also referred to as HeartMate I) is one of the most widely used left ventricular assist devices in the world. With its low thromboembolic risk, the HeartMate XVE can be used for either Bridge-to-Transplantation or Destination Therapy (chronic support for those ineligible for cardiac transplantation.)</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/117357.php">Patient Who Needed Heart And Kidney Transplant Borrowed Time With Heart Assist Device</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:3b77bd10-4fa6-4354-9673-e874102930b2" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Transplant" rel="tag">Transplant</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Kidney" rel="tag">Kidney</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Surgery" rel="tag">Surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical%20Devices" rel="tag">Medical Devices</a></div>

Patient Who Needed Heart And Kidney Transplant Borrowed Time With Heart Assist Device

A medical device buys a man more time until transplant organs were available.  His organs were causing heart failure and the transplant ena...

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Ear-A-Round headsets keep tabs on cows, make farming easier

<p> I post a lot of information relative to medical devices, but can't we just leave the cows alone!  This gives a whole new meaning to bringing <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJnY5QAl8vI/AAAAAAAAIaw/bHVQiCwnijU/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJnY7OWWEJI/AAAAAAAAIa0/KBLFCa7ZjOM/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="111" /></a>in the cows.  </p> <p>I'll take an Australian shepherd any day.  BD</p> <blockquote>In no way are we insinuating that farming is ever "easy," but a new headset designed for cows could make cattle herding a much less stressful experience. The Ear-A-Round headsets are the product of a project involving the USDA and MIT, and essentially, the GPS-infused devices would transmit stereo sounds directly in a bovine's ears in order to guide and direct his / her movements. </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/06/ear-a-round-headsets-keep-tabs-on-cows-make-farming-easier/">Ear-A-Round headsets keep tabs on cows, make farming easier - Engadget</a></p>

Ear-A-Round headsets keep tabs on cows, make farming easier

I post a lot of information relative to medical devices, but can't we just leave the cows alone!  This gives a whole new meaning to bri...

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Drugs for Death, Not Life

<p> Stories like this are sad indeed.  It comes back to the dollar and someone playing "God" to determine who gets treatment and who does not.  Granted personalized medicine tests will help in time, not only from the actual treatment side, but from the information side of things as well.  Right now, the patient has the prescription from her physician, denied from the insurance company, so evidently the physician feels it will help.  Does her doctor not know best?  If it were me, I would be with the doctor all the way as the payment side of things takes a very non human approach and runs statistics only, which does not really concern anyone, of course, <strong><u>unless it is YOU.</u></strong>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJnVuIprwEI/AAAAAAAAIak/uMT_D0e2Sz8/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="126" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJnVuwjc8AI/AAAAAAAAIao/pIUJrIa8HDE/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="109" /></a>A second point here, where is all the money going for cancer research?  We are spending the money and we do not have tests yet that can give us the additional information, so are we also denying some valuable research information in this process as well?  I would say yes as the gathering process is alive, moving and shaking every day.  Wouldn't the FDA on one hand perhaps want some additional information to be added to the new Sentinel data system from a patient such as this?  Good question. </p> <p>So, in short, someone is making a very economic decision here and forgetting the value of human life as we once knew it.  I say that as the value of life as we have known it, is deteriorating around us in more ways than one.  Physicians are humanitarians, there to help advise and potentially save our lives; however can they function in the way they believe and are trained in medical school, I think not, and that is a shame.  Read any physician's blog out there and you can't miss it.  </p> <p>Humanitarians or bean counters, who will win the battles?  Are we slowing becoming a society of decision makers that decide who are the <strong>"throw away people"?</strong>  <strong>Yes, that is an ugly term,</strong> but that is what is happening today.  You can potentially work to save a life if one feels it is economically feasible?  Also, there is still plenty of money in the till for the <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/07/wellpoint-settles-calif-lawsuit-and.html">insurers to set up shop in China,</a> again, at the expense of providing health care here in the US, so they will undoubtedly have all the same types of issues to look forward to in time.  </p> <p>Everyone loses here, especially the patient, and everyone wonders why nobody wants to buy insurance?  Healthcare and the insurance business are far from being on the same track.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The news from Barbara Wagner's doctor was bad, but the rejection letter from her insurance company was crushing. Barbara Wagner Barbara Wagner (Paul Carter/Register-Guard) The 64-year-old Oregon woman, whose lung cancer had been in remission, learned the disease had returned and would likely kill her. Her last hope was a $4,000-a-month drug that her doctor prescribed for her, but the insurance company refused to pay. What the Oregon Health Plan did agree to cover, however, were drugs for a physician-assisted death. Those drugs would cost about $50.</p> <p>"The reason is that hospice care, where most patients are at the end of life is relatively inexpensive," Anne Martens, spokesman for Washington's Death With Dignity Initiative, told ABCNews.com.</p> <p><strong>"My reaction is pretty typical," he told ABCNews.com. "I am sick and tired of the dollar being the bottom line of everything. We need to put human life above the dollar."</strong></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5517492&page=1">ABC News: Oregon Furor: Drugs for Death, Not Life</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:67f86540-083f-48d0-984f-b5d146d24fc1" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cancer" rel="tag">Cancer</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prescriptions" rel="tag">Prescriptions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Drugs" rel="tag">Drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health%20Insurance" rel="tag">Health Insurance</a></div>

Drugs for Death, Not Life

Stories like this are sad indeed.  It comes back to the dollar and someone playing "God" to determine who gets treatment and who ...

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Britain clears first oral antibiotic for Over the counter sale

<p> The UK he is certainly leaving the way in allowing consumers the ability to begin purchasing some drugs over-the-counter.  This antibiotic is primarily for the use of Chlamydia and ulna longer require prescription to be purchased over the counter.  The UK appears to be encouraging more self-medicating as time goes on.  BD</p> <p> </p> <p>LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has given the green light for an oral antibiotic to be sold without prescription for the first time, in a move that pushes back the barriers to self-medication.  Patients aged 16 years and over will be able to buy the <strong>azithromycin</strong> pill, sold as Clamelle by Icelandic drugmaker Actavis, to treat chlamydia, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Wednesday.</p> <p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080805/hl_nm/britain_antiobiotic_dc;_ylt=AvcK.qfTnr.Kir_tBDO4A5TVJRIF">Britain clears first oral antibiotic for OTC sale - Yahoo! News</a></p>

Britain clears first oral antibiotic for Over the counter sale

The UK he is certainly leaving the way in allowing consumers the ability to begin purchasing some drugs over-the-counter.  This antibiotic ...

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The CAVEman 4D visual system - Visual Genomics

<p> The program uses just plain old Java, but add this technology with <strong>sequencing information and with the 4D applications,</strong> studies can be virtually conducted to see how a medication would react with selected settings.  Its resolution is scaleable to 100,000,000 pixels and more by using more than one projector per wall, and that is big.</p> <p>It has applications with genomics, pharmaceuticals and imaging.  The idea is to have diseases to be watched and studies done in 4D to obtain a greater data base of information.  As this develops and is fed a selected array, it appears the progress from start to later development might be observed visually throughout the entire system.  This could certainly answer many potential questions and give some additional sources for cures as a study would progress and allow for a visual roadmap for further comparisons.  BD   </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.visualgenomics.ca/index.php?Itemid=194&id=111&option=com_content&task=view"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="326" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJkRev2X-PI/AAAAAAAAIag/JAh69uMijYU/image%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="541" /></a>Calgary, Alberta, Canada -- The University of <a href="http://www.visualgenomics.ca/index.php?Itemid=207&id=120&option=com_content&task=view">Calgary's Sun Center of Excellence for Visual Genomics</a> is home to the CAVEman project. The project aims to create visual maps of information about diseases that have a genetic component, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. Using an immersive virtual reality environment <a href="http://www.4dbioinformatics.ca/demos/">called the CAVE,</a> the research team will integrate a high-resolution digital atlas of a human body with medical data related to specific diseases. The final result will be a next-generation 4D (space and time) visual system to "see" disease processes and the effects of interventions, such as drugs, on these processes. </p> <p>From the technical standpoint, the CAVEman software is written in Java and emphasizes complete portability across visualization devices, from simple laptops to sophisticated CAVE installations. Its goal is the development a complete Java 3D-enabled anatomical atlas of the human body, and create a generic data mapping mechanism between the atlas and biomedical patient data.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bioopticsworld.com/display_article/335843/131/none/none/FEATI/The-CAVEman-4D-visual-system">Bio Optics World Magazine Articles, The CAVEman 4D visual system</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:2e81b545-2802-49c8-a6ab-81eb3ee7a6d1" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biomed" rel="tag">Biomed</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Research" rel="tag">Research</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Virtual%20Reality" rel="tag">Virtual Reality</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Disease" rel="tag">Disease</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/pharmacogenomics" rel="tag">pharmacogenomics</a></div>

The CAVEman 4D visual system - Visual Genomics

The program uses just plain old Java, but add this technology with sequencing information and with the 4D applications, studies can be vir...

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FDA To Advertise Fake Blood Pressure Pill

<p> Is this a new low?  Well in reality it's more or less an effort to see how many people actually read or just rely on television for their <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJkLu9OANRI/AAAAAAAAIaY/lRrxr3cKDeI/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="78" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJkLvxIJCaI/AAAAAAAAIac/gBrUVMXqcEg/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="126" /></a>healthcare information via ads.  A more prudent patient today with having Internet access might be made aware of the drug, but would go to the lengths of at least a 5 to 10 minute reading session on the web, so I wonder if the advertisements will also lead to a 'fake" Internet site to make consumers aware of the fact that this is a fake?  Also, what is it going to cost the FDA for the advertising spots?  Sounds like a strange way to spend money for information.  BD</p> <blockquote>Why? So the agency can determine whether the images in the ads actually distract consumers from paying attention to required safety warnings. After the ads run, the FDA plans to survey 2,400 consumers who 40 years and older to gauge their responses. The FDA intends to create several ads for the fictitious high blood pressure drug using different images and text on the screen while a narrator reads risk info. Some visuals will focus on benefits to determine if that diverts attention from safety warnings, Bloomberg News writes, adding participants will be asked questions about the ads and their attitudes toward what will appear to be a new med.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/fda-to-advertise-fake-blood-pressure-pill/">FDA To Advertise Fake Blood Pressure Pill // Pharmalot</a></p>

FDA To Advertise Fake Blood Pressure Pill

Is this a new low?  Well in reality it's more or less an effort to see how many people actually read or just rely on television for the...

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Doctors oppose health plan - Massachusetts

<p> The problem is still money, even with the skimpiest of plans, residents still cannot afford the insurance.  At this point, it's no wonder why a growing number of physicians would second the motion for a national health plan, they want to get paid too and the stipulations and contracts get more confusing and restrictive all the time.  A few years ago, this was not the case, but as data queries qualify and more information is available, the less insurance affordability is available.  BD</p> <blockquote>The Massachusetts healthcare program widely seen as a test case for universal health coverage in the US faces mounting opposition from doctors who say the reform is failing. More than 250 physicians in the state have signed an open letter warning that the healthcare plan, which was signed into law in April 2006 by Mitt Romney, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, is already proving fiscally unsustainable.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9c74c006-625f-11dd-9a1e-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1">FT.com / Companies / Drugs & healthcare - Doctors oppose US health plan</a></p>

Doctors oppose health plan - Massachusetts

The problem is still money, even with the skimpiest of plans, residents still cannot afford the insurance.  At this point, it's no wond...

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Scanhub Cost-Effective Document Scanning, Imaging, and OCR Services

<p> Welcome to my new advertising client.  <strong><a href="http://www.scanhub.com/index.html">Scanhub</a> </strong>is a service that every office going from paper to and EHR or EMR could certainly use.  One of the real benefits is the simplicity of their pricing.  Scanhub has been used by many EMR companies as a partner to help get the initial transition done!  All files are indexed and can be linked to an EHR as well.  <strong>They also cater to hospitals and offer financing as well.</strong>  BD  </p> <p><a href="http://www.scanhub.com/index.html"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="69" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJjEVMuDx8I/AAAAAAAAIaQ/P-RitOhax5E/image%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="204" /></a>When talking to Scanhub,<strong> be sure to mention the Medical Quack for some special pricing provisions.</strong>  A section on Scanhub will be located in the right hand resources column for reference at any time.  Click here for the <strong><a href="http://www.scanhub.com/document-scanning-faq.html">FAQ page</a></strong> for more information.  BD</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Affordably transform your patient paper records into information that you can use and access anywhere and anytime. We deliver quality scanning solutions to transform your paper documents into digital files. Some of our benefits include: HIPAA compliant We are a Healthcare IT company and have been performing various IT services for healthcare constituents since 2000. We are extremely conscientious in protecting personally identifiable information, and only allow restricted access to team members who need to process the services. 300dpi scanning We provide high quality scanning services using top of the line scanners and the latest in scanning technology that results in better resolution, and better OCR capabilities.</strong></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><strong>Our basic document scanning services include:<a href="http://www.scanhub.com/index.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="365" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJjEYOkt-sI/AAAAAAAAIaU/1Qtp7Rz6XlM/image%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="193" /></a> </strong></p> </blockquote> <ul> <li>Quote Preparation,</li> <li>Document transportation,</li> <li>Document prepping,</li> <li>Document scanning,</li> <li>QA control post-scanning,</li> <li>Client sample proofing,</li> <li>Optical Character Recognition (OCR),</li> <li>Data load onto client hard drive,</li> <li>Delivery of client hard drive,</li> <li>Document shredding.</li> </ul> <blockquote> <p><strong>Other add-on products and services include:</strong></p> </blockquote> <ul> <li>Client STAT file priority processing,</li> <li>Document re-delivery to client,</li> <li>Document management software or search applications,</li> <li>Software training,</li> <li>Hardware (Server).</li> </ul> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.scanhub.com/index.html">Scanhub Cost-Effective Document Scanning, Imaging, and OCR Services</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:44c43751-ac49-4fc4-9791-67134b303dcf" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Document%20Managment" rel="tag">Document Managment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EMR" rel="tag">EMR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/EHR" rel="tag">EHR</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical%20Charts" rel="tag">Medical Charts</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/OCR%20Services" rel="tag">OCR Services</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Document%20Scanning" rel="tag">Document Scanning</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Paper%20Charts" rel="tag">Paper Charts</a></div>

Scanhub Cost-Effective Document Scanning, Imaging, and OCR Services

Welcome to my new advertising client.  Scanhub is a service that every office going from paper to and EHR or EMR could certainly use.  One...

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Mutant 300# Man-Mouse Hybrid Escapes UW Lab

<p> <strong>This is very funny!  With all the genomics news of late, this had to happen!  Good spoof!</strong>  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJi3HezpcmI/AAAAAAAAIaI/Vi6jH2GssLo/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="187" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJi3JyUYp_I/AAAAAAAAIaM/GZ1IDzuQVWw/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="186" /></a>Disaster struck the U District Monday, as a 6-foot, three-hundred-pound man-mouse hybrid escaped from containment at the University of Washington's Comparative Genomics Center (CGC) and rampaged through the neighborhood, leaving a trail of  terrified children and weirded out adults in its wake. It was awful, said U District resident Penny Orting. <strong>It just came out of nowhere and started waving its hands all over the place, slowly walking toward the children& and they just stood there, paralyzed with fear</strong>.<a href="http://nakedloon.com/sci-tech/2008/08/04/mutant-man-mouse-hybrid-escapes-uw-lab/"></a></a></p> </blockquote> <p>The genetic abomination is the result of ten years of study at the CGC. A secret project codenamed “Icy Smoke Emu” was funded by $82 million obtained through an innocuous-looking line-item for “test vials” in the biology department’s annual budget.</p> <p>Students and U District neighbors have long suspected that the CGC has been performing experiments that can only be described as a terrible affront to nature<strong>, but until Monday accusers lacked any proof.</strong></p> <p>As of noon, the creature was still on the large.  It was last seen in the vicinity of Children’s Hospital, where it snuck up on a crowd of thirty recovering cancer patients between the ages of four and eight, then disappeared into an alley.</p> <p><a href="http://nakedloon.com/sci-tech/2008/08/04/mutant-man-mouse-hybrid-escapes-uw-lab/">Mutant Man-Mouse Hybrid Escapes UW Lab | The Naked Loon</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:4e3a4e48-4e62-45d3-921c-cf9bb4daa0ed" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Spoof" rel="tag">Spoof</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/humor" rel="tag">humor</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pharmacogenomics" rel="tag">Pharmacogenomics</a></div>

Mutant 300# Man-Mouse Hybrid Escapes UW Lab

  This is very funny!  With all the genomics news of late, this had to happen!  Good spoof!   BD    Disaster struck the U District ...

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FDA wants surveillance net for orthopedic devices

<p> Recently the FDA has been in the news with their new and upcoming Sentinel surveillance software to derive additional information about drug reactions and other pertinent data and now it looks as though the process will be extended to to the use of orthopedic devices, knees and hips at the top of the list.  Hopefully there will be some information regarding the "squeaking knees" we have read about.<img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SIj9P_nkLTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/aMAtC1YcAlA/fda1_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" />  Nobody wants a device recall once it has been implanted, knee, hip or other medical device.  BD  </p> <blockquote><em>The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a program that would query public and private databases to help study the efficacy of orthopedic implants. FDA will issue a request for quotations next month in an effort to identify companies that could evaluate orthopedic implant registries for participation in the program. The program is part of the broader Sentinel Initiative FDA launched earlier this year. The broader effort is intended to monitor and provide early warnings of potential problems with FDA-approved medical products.</em> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.govhealthit.com/online/news/350502-1.html?GHITNL=yes">FDA wants surveillance net for orthopedic devices</a></p>

FDA wants surveillance net for orthopedic devices

Recently the FDA has been in the news with their new and upcoming Sentinel surveillance software to derive additional information about dru...

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New York City Hospitals Create Outcry in Foreign Deal

<p> Originally posted about this last month.  <a href="http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/bordering-on-solution-nurses-from.html">Something similar is also going on in Los Angeles.</a>  </p> <p>Will there be any training left in the US in time?  BD  </p> <p>New York City’s Health and <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/hospitals/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier">Hospitals</a> Corporation has signed a 10-year, $100 million contract with a profit-making medical school in the Caribbean to provide clinical training for hundreds of students at the city’s 11 public hospitals.</p> <p>The unusual deal, proposed by a member of the corporation’s board who has long worked for the Caribbean school, has been met by an outcry from New York <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medical_schools/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier">medical schools</a> fearing that clerkship slots will grow scarcer and that they might have to increase tuitions to compete.</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/nyregion/05grenada.html?_r=1&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin">New York City Hospitals Create Outcry in Foreign Deal - NYTimes.com</a></p>

New York City Hospitals Create Outcry in Foreign Deal

Originally posted about this last month.  Something similar is also going on in Los Angeles.   Will there be any training left in the US ...

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Maker of Defective Digitek Recalls All Generic Drugs Made at New Jersey Factory

<p> Digitek, as you may or may not remember was found to contain twice the amount of active ingredient in the tablets earlier this year.  The list is below as published by the FDA.    The recall is being conducted for retailers to return their products currently.  It sounds like we are having issues here as well as those in other countries with quality assurance.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><em><strong><u>Actavis Totowa,</u> the maker of defective Digitek tablets, has announced a recall of all generic drugs manufactured at its plant in Little Falls, New Jersey</strong>. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) notice, the recall was prompted by an inspection at the facility which revealed that operations did not meet the FDAs standards for good manufacturing practices. Actavis Totowa is asking pharmacies, hospitals and retailers to return the affected prescription medications.<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJib7X8t5VI/AAAAAAAAIaA/-R75fQ60OYQ/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="131" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJib8lPkyrI/AAAAAAAAIaE/ReZe29GMqqM/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="123" /></a></em></p> <p>Amantadine 100mg capsules </p> <p>Meperidine & Promethazine capsules </p> <p>Amibid DM ER tablets</p> <p>Meperidine HCl 100 mg and 50 mg tablets</p> <p>Amibid DM tablets</p> <p>Methenamine Mandelate 0.5 g and 1.0 g tablets</p> <p>Amidrine capsules</p> <p>Mirtazapine 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg tablets</p> <p>Amigesic 500 mg caplets and 750 mg caplets</p> <p>Mirtazapine OD tablets, 15 mg, 30 mg and 45 mg</p> <p>Amitex PSE tablets</p> <p>Multi-ret Folic 500 mg tablets</p> <p>Bellamine S tablets</p> <p>Multi-vita-bets 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg FL & FE tablets</p> <p>Betaxolol 10 mg and 20 mg tablets USP</p> <p>Multi-vita-bets 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg FL tablets</p> <p>Buspirone HCL 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 30mg tablets</p> <p>Naltrexone 50mg tablets</p> <p>Carisoprodol & Aspirin tablets</p> <p>Oxycodone & Acetaminophen 5/500mg capsules</p> <p>Carisoprodol, Aspirin & Codeine tablets</p> <p>Oxycodone HCl 5 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg tablets</p> <p>Carisoprodol 350mg tablets</p> <p>Oxycodone HCl 5 mg capsules</p> <p>Chlordiazepoxide w/ Clidinium Bromide capsules</p> <p>Pentazocine & Acetaminophen tablets</p> <p>Chlorzoxazone 250mg</p> <p>Pentazocine & Naloxone tablets</p> <p>Cilostazol tablets 100mg</p> <p>Phenazopyridine HCl 100 mg and 200 mg tablets</p> <p>Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate 500 mg, 750 mg and 1000 mg tablets</p> <p>Phendimetrazine Tartrate 35mg tablets</p> <p>Cyclobenzaprine HCL 5 mg and 10 mg</p> <p>Phentermine HCl 37.5 mg tablets</p> <p>Dexchlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg and 6 mg tablets</p> <p>Phentermine HCl 15 mg, 30 mg and 37.5 mg capsules</p> <p>Dipyridamole 25 mg, 50mg, and 75 mg tablets</p> <p>Prenatal Formula 3 tablets</p> <p>Glyburide 1.5 mg, 3.0 mg and 6.0 mg tablets</p> <p>Prenatal Plus 27 mg FE tablets</p> <p>Guaifenesin & Codeine Phosphate tablets</p> <p>Prenatal Rx tablets</p> <p>Guaifenesin & Phenylephrine tablets</p> <p>Quinaretic 10mg/12.5mg, 20 mg/12.5 mg and 20 mg/25 mg tablets</p> <p>Guanfacine 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg HCl tablets</p> <p>Rifampin 300mg capsules</p> <p>Hydrocodone & Homatropine tablets</p> <p>Sodium FL 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg tablets</p> <p>Hydromorphone HCl tablets</p> <p>Tizanidine HCl 2 mg and 4 mg tablets</p> <p>Hydroxyzine 10 mg, 25 mg and 50 mg tablets</p> <p>Trimethobenzamide 300mg capsules</p> <p>Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.125 mg SL</p> <p>Trimipramine Maleate 25mg, 50mg, 100mg capsules</p> <p>Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.375mg SR tablets</p> <p>Trivita 1 mg FL tablets</p> <p>Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.125 mg (oral) tablets</p> <p>Ursodiol capsules, 300mg</p> <p>Isradipine 2.5 mg and 5 mg capsules</p> <p>Vitacon Forte capsules</p> <p>Loxapine 5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg capsules</p> <p>Vitaplex Plus tablets</p> <p>Meclizine Chewable 25 mg tablets</p> <p>Vitaplex tablets (FC)</p> <p>Meloxicam 7.5 mg and 15 mg tablets</p> <p>Yohimbine HCl 5.4 mg tablets</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/3565">Maker of Defective Digitek Recalls All Generic Drugs Made at New Jersey Factory</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ae7d8881-8437-4835-b9f8-12974e76d6da" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/FDA" rel="tag">FDA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medications" rel="tag">Medications</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prescriptions" rel="tag">Prescriptions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Drugs" rel="tag">Drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Recalls" rel="tag">Recalls</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Generic%20Drugs" rel="tag">Generic Drugs</a></div>

Maker of Defective Digitek Recalls All Generic Drugs Made at New Jersey Factory

Digitek, as you may or may not remember was found to contain twice the amount of active ingredient in the tablets earlier this year.  The l...

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Panel Urges End to Screening For Prostate Cancer at Age 75

<p> The same could be said for many tests that are conducted, as you almost need to look at the quality of life at this age and determine is the cure worth the effort.  As long as insurance compensation will pay for those who do want the procedure, then it should be an individual decision on the part of the patient.</p> <p>One other development that might lend some additional information is the development of a test through genomics that would help determine treatment outcomes from the start.  BD  </p> <blockquote>In a move that could lead to significant changes in medical care for older men, a national task force on Monday recommended that doctors stop screening men ages 75 and older for prostate cancer because the search for the disease in this group was causing more harm than good.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/research/05prostate.html?ex=1375675200&en=1ef479becbb3da27&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink">Panel Urges End to Screening For Prostate Cancer at Age 75 - NYTimes.com</a></p>

Panel Urges End to Screening For Prostate Cancer at Age 75

The same could be said for many tests that are conducted, as you almost need to look at the quality of life at this age and determine is th...

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Helicos Gets Second Order for Sequencing System - Personalized Medicine

<p> More sequencing machines ordered, one more step for personalized medicine, which is growing quickly.  Illumina, located in California is another manufacturer in the news lately.  BD  </p> <blockquote>NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) Helicos BioSciences said today that it has received an order for its Helicos Genetic Analysis <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJiIQihQiQI/AAAAAAAAIZ4/zHNOMncFo6o/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJiITdK0OaI/AAAAAAAAIZ8/jddLdakbW-4/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="181" /></a>System from an unnamed cancer research center in the US. The order is the second for the firms flagship DNA sequencing platform since its launch earlier this year. The first customer, genomics services firm Expression Analysis, purchased a Helicos GAS in February.  </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.genomeweb.com/issues/news/148604-1.html">GenomeWeb News: Helicos Gets Second Order for Sequencing System; Inks Alliance with Uppsala University</a></p>

Helicos Gets Second Order for Sequencing System - Personalized Medicine

More sequencing machines ordered, one more step for personalized medicine, which is growing quickly.  Illumina, located in California is an...

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InterMedi - Collaborative Intelligence for Biomed with Publications, Affiliations, and Social Networking...

<p>Social networks have come to the biometric business.  The interface combines both social aspects as well as the research end of things.  This makes it easy to find projects, affiliations, and to see how else has publications through the "<strong><a href="http://www.bioforge.be/intermedi/fight.php">fight" screen</a></strong>.  You can also add the widget to emails or to a web site to help others locate either yourself or your publications.  Hubmed does a good job with RSS feeds, but this appears to mine and bring it all together with names and faces.  BD  </p> <p> </p> <p><em><b><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgHsgt8tKI/AAAAAAAAIZk/EUl35UQhPdA/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="65" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgHtVSx_iI/AAAAAAAAIZo/HgvfS-dxXXw/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="199" /></a></b></em>InterMedi is a set of tools aiming at connecting biomedical researchers together helping them to find information about their previous <a href="http://www.bioforge.be/intermedi/widget.php"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="73" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgHt7tNQhI/AAAAAAAAIZs/lkCA95YUiBo/image%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="114" /></a>works, collaborators and affiliations. The remarkable fact is that no information is required! Our intelligent software knows how to combine information already available on the web, specially on the <a href="http://www.pubmed.com/">Pubmed</a> database, to provide meaningful information. </p> <blockquote> <ul> <li><em><b><em><b><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgHwzs7BXI/AAAAAAAAIZw/xk98MrNocOc/s1600-h/image%5B22%5D.png"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="250" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgHzLC93kI/AAAAAAAAIZ0/2FCmwO2eUZo/image_thumb%5B13%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="367" /></a></b></em>Single Search:</b> Based on co-authoring of Pubmed publications, find someone's collaborators, publications, affiliations. </em></li> <li><em><b>Fight:</b> Who's got more publications? Who's got more collaborators? When did this fight reach its climax? </em></li> <li><em><b>Get in touch:</b> Who's between you and someone else? </em></li> </ul> <p><em><b></b></em></p> <p><em><b>Limitations of Pubmed:</b> while being the most complete database of biomed publications, it has a major drawback: it is just publications-centered, not people centered. Even <strong><a href="http://www.hubmed.org/">Hubmed,</a></strong> which is a re-engineering of Pubmed do not cover the people aspect. However the connection between people is an essential element for future collaboration, for knowing who works in the same area as who, etc. </em></p> <p><em></em></p> <p><em><b>Limitations of social networks:</b> Every member of any social network knows it, the "friend" or "contact" status doesn’t always reflect a real-life situation. Maybe in your LinkedIn or Facebook profile, you have "friends" and "contacts" you never saw once in your life. A tool centered only on true relation between people is welcome.</em> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.bioforge.be/intermedi/home.php">InterMedi - Collaborative Intelligence for Biomed</a> </p> <p>Hat Tip:  <a href="http://scienceroll.com/2008/08/03/intermedi-collaborative-intelligence-for-biomed/">Science Roll Blog</a></p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ec169617-6de6-4c9b-8291-4b42dd6a3601" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Biomed" rel="tag">Biomed</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Research" rel="tag">Research</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Social%20Networks" rel="tag">Social Networks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Affiliations" rel="tag">Affiliations</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pubmed" rel="tag">Pubmed</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hubmed" rel="tag">Hubmed</a></div>

InterMedi - Collaborative Intelligence for Biomed with Publications, Affiliations, and Social Networking...

Social networks have come to the biometric business.  The interface combines both social aspects as well as the research end of things.  Thi...

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The Microsoft Health Users Group Conference - August 26th and 27th, 2008

<p>   Technical events and training, plus a tour of the Microsoft campus, just looking at the itinerary it looks to be a couple pretty full days!  Follow the links for additional information and to register.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><em><a href="http://www.healthvault.com/"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="47" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgAfRdwcxI/AAAAAAAAIZY/yluqh04Mv2E/image%5B26%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="158" /></a>Would you like to get the latest scoop on HealthVault and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/amalga/default.mspx">Microsoft Amalga?</a> How about a sneak peek at future health solutions using Microsoft Surface? Would you like to see how some of the world's leading healthcare organizations are improving <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/amalga/default.mspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="41" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgAf1dzIrI/AAAAAAAAIZc/Yh39kwBJP3M/image%5B23%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="97" /></a>workflow collaboration and delighting patients with Microsoft Unified Communications? Or how about an opportunity to see a clinical user interface built with Microsoft Silverlight? Would you like to see how <strong>Microsoft Dynamics CRM</strong> can improve patient loyalty and satisfaction?   Bill Crounse, MD   Senior Director, Worldwide Health</em></p> </blockquote> <p>The Microsoft HUG Tech Forum 2008 will be held at the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond, WA on August 26-27. <br />The fall conference offers attendees an inside glimpse of Microsoft, with a behind-the-scenes look at Microsoft Corp. and insight into upcoming Microsoft healthcare technologies. The experts behind Microsoft's product development will demonstrate the latest tools, resources and solutions for building next generation applications. <br />The conference will feature two days of networking, examples of healthcare IT best practices and educational sessions focused on <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/07/30/get-your-golden-ticket-here-the-microsoft-health-users-group-conference.aspx"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="74" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJgAguXLc3I/AAAAAAAAIZg/Pyr8buxYGV4/image%5B28%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="128" /></a>Microsoft's IT solutions for the healthcare industry.</p> <p>Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:00 AM - Wednesday, August 27, 2</p> <p>008 3:00 PM <br />Pacific Time Zone</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/healthblog/archive/2008/07/30/get-your-golden-ticket-here-the-microsoft-health-users-group-conference.aspx">HealthBlog : Get Your Golden Ticket Here: The Microsoft Health Users Group Conference</a>  </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:936576bf-43da-4870-9443-b652a0987ca8" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Microsoft" rel="tag">Microsoft</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Amalga" rel="tag">Amalga</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HealthVault" rel="tag">HealthVault</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/HIMMS" rel="tag">HIMMS</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health%20IT" rel="tag">Health IT</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a></div>

The Microsoft Health Users Group Conference - August 26th and 27th, 2008

   Technical events and training, plus a tour of the Microsoft campus, just looking at the itinerary it looks to be a couple pretty full day...

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First Double-Arm Transplant Is a Success

<p> It may be 2 years though before the nerves grow in to place, so I would guess he would have a couple slings until everything grows back, <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJf5vo0RSzI/AAAAAAAAIZQ/YOvl_KUhFP4/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJf5wVUgY8I/AAAAAAAAIZU/U2_FHtTxsqQ/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="121" /></a>miracle surgery though.  Hand transplants have worked with feelings of hot and cold, so it will be interesting to follow this one.  BD  </p> <blockquote>A 54-year-old German farmer who lost his arms in an accident six years ago has just received two new arms in the first double-arm transplant operation ever performed (pictured is one of his new arms). A team of German doctors spent 15 hours grafting two arms from a recently-deceased teen donor onto the man's shoulders. </blockquote> <p><a href="http://io9.com/5032531/first-double+arm-transplant-is-a-success">Transplants: First Double-Arm Transplant Is a Success</a></p>

First Double-Arm Transplant Is a Success

It may be 2 years though before the nerves grow in to place, so I would guess he would have a couple slings until everything grows back, mi...

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Overworking husbands drive working wives back into the home, study finds

<p> Interesting swing how things are going backwards...well a bit...with all the information flying at us today, sometimes it takes 2 to put it all together, especially with demanding jobs and positions that require a lot of travel or 60 hours a week or more.  BD  </p> <blockquote>Americans work longer hours than ever. That not only hurts women's careers but also widens the gender gap and threatens to trigger a resurgence of the traditional homemaker/breadwinner family structure in dual-earner households, says a new Cornell study. Presented Aug. 1 at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting in Boston, the study found that "Women whose husbands work long hours are more likely to quit their jobs," said Youngjoo Cha, a Cornell doctoral candidate in sociology who expects her Ph.D. in 2010. "<strong>Yet men's careers are not impacted when their wives put in long hours."</strong></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news137082837.html">Overworking husbands drive working wives back into the home, study finds</a></p>

Overworking husbands drive working wives back into the home, study finds

Interesting swing how things are going backwards...well a bit...with all the information flying at us today, sometimes it takes 2 to put it...

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FDA Puts $50,000 Cap on Conflicts in Advisory Hearings

<p> After conflict of interest stories last year with <strong><a href="http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/thelifesciencesblog/archives/145170.asp">Provenge</a></strong> and a diabetes drug a set of rules is in the making.  Also in the news this week was a blog about how prostate drugs and treatment news is being reported today, with <a href="http://blog.lib.umn.edu/schwitz/healthnews/137418.html">NBC taking a bit of a beating.</a>  BD  <img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SIj9P_nkLTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/aMAtC1YcAlA/fda1_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" /></p> <blockquote><em>The FDA has finalized some new rules of the road for its committees of expert advisers to bolster the publics confidence in their advice. A significant thrust is a clampdown on conflicts. The new rules bar the participation of an expert, if that person, their spouse or minor child has conflicting financial interests of more than $50,000. Until now, the FDA has screened committee members for conflicts of interests.</em>  </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/08/04/fda-puts-50000-cap-on-conflicts-in-advisory-hearings/">Health Blog : FDA Puts $50,000 Cap on Conflicts in Advisory Hearings</a></p>

FDA Puts $50,000 Cap on Conflicts in Advisory Hearings

After conflict of interest stories last year with Provenge and a diabetes drug a set of rules is in the making.  Also in the news this wee...

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Handheld Electronic Tongue Can Determine Wine Grape Variety And Vintage

<p> Ok, this disappoints me, no more wine tasting and an electronic tongue?  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfwkUWktiI/AAAAAAAAIZI/3vONUsmdnok/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="132" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfwlDPumwI/AAAAAAAAIZM/zqp-wBu84pM/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="102" /></a>BD  </p> <blockquote><strong>You no longer need a snooty wine expert to</strong> identify a 74 Pinot Noir from Burgundy a handheld electronic tongue devised by  European scientists will tell you the grape variety and vintage at the press of a button. Designed for quality control in the field, the device is made up of six sensors which detect substances characteristic of a certain wine variety. Components such as acid, sugar and alcohol can be measured by this detection, and from these parameters it can determine the age and variety of the wine.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/handheld_electronic_tongue_can_determine_wine_grape_variety_and_vintage">Handheld Electronic Tongue Can Determine Wine Grape Variety And Vintage | Scientific Blogging</a></p>

Handheld Electronic Tongue Can Determine Wine Grape Variety And Vintage

Ok, this disappoints me, no more wine tasting and an electronic tongue?  BD  You no longer need a snooty wine expert to identify a 74 Pi...

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Aetna "Take your Pill" Lottery...

<p> <strong>How bad do the insurance companies want the patients to take their medications?</strong>  Well enough to try a pilot program with an electronic umbilical cord to tie the patient to a device.  It doesn't say exactly how the device will work, but I am guessing once you remove a pill, it will make note, but who knows, it might be a little more sophisticated than that, nothing surprises me today.  I would think this is targeted at chronic illnesses whereby pills are taken every day.  There's a message telling you how much you would have won if you miss one...interesting, so one more electronic device to deal with.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfu0gyjW1I/AAAAAAAAIZA/AolJp3NW0KQ/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="92" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfu1P3iNlI/AAAAAAAAIZE/jNa8U6MWLBg/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="101" /></a> <em>Aetna, through its nonprofit foundation, is funding research to find out whether a daily lottery with cash prizes will help improve patients' medication adherence. The Aetna Foundation last fall gave researchers a $400,000 grant to fund a study at the University of Pennsylvania that will use prizes of $10 and $100 as rewards for taking medication as prescribed.</em></p> <p><em>1-in-10 chance of winning $10 every day they take their medication and a 1-in-100 chance of winning $100. Each day a text message will tell a subject whether he or she has won the lottery, or, if the dose wasn't taken, whether he or she would have won.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/08/04/bisc0804.htm">AMNews: Aug. 4, 2008. Aetna tries paying patients to take their meds ... American Medical News</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:0f946a9b-0781-4641-9009-0a8abcf4edf7" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Aetna" rel="tag">Aetna</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medical%20Devices" rel="tag">Medical Devices</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pills" rel="tag">Pills</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prescriptions" rel="tag">Prescriptions</a></div>

Aetna "Take your Pill" Lottery...

  How bad do the insurance companies want the patients to take their medications?   Well enough to try a pilot program with an electronic um...

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Muscle Pain from Statins? Time for a genetic evaluation - Personalized Medicine

<p> This is good, a genomics test that can give some preliminary results on <u>whether or not statins will have an adverse effect before prescribing</u> them.  As the post states here, this is something that could certainly use some marketing to physicians.  <a href="http://thegenesherpa.blogspot.com/2008/08/muscle-pain-from-statins-time-for.html"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="231" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfi2M7IRiI/AAAAAAAAIY8/E9tn5RChno0/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="244" /></a></p> <p>Zocor at 40 mg is a very common dosage and there are many who complain about muscle pain from statins.  Over time the statins could have the potential of creating kidney failure, so one big step forward in genetic testing and knowing the side effects up front.   Read the entire article at the source and the complete write up in the <a href="http://www.nejm.org/">NEJM.</a>  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><em>In a wonderful demonstration of how successful genetic research on pharmacogenomics needs to be done. The SEARCH Collaborative Group successfully demonstrated the power of GWAS nested in other studies. This will be the hallmark of all great medication studies for the next 50 years. </em></p> <p><em>Imagine an Odds Ratio of 16 for developing statin induced myopathy!!! I was just talking to the founder of one of those sequencing companies worth billions of dollars about this the other day!!! <strong>Odds ratio of 16.9.  Statin Myopathy can cause kidney failure from rhabdomyolysis(muscle breakdown).</strong></em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://thegenesherpa.blogspot.com/2008/08/muscle-pain-from-statins-time-for.html">Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You: Muscle Pain from Statins? Time for a genetic evalutaion!</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:cd4f68e4-e219-4bbf-a92c-d3d4052fb0d3" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/DNA" rel="tag">DNA</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Statins" rel="tag">Statins</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Pharmacogenomics" rel="tag">Pharmacogenomics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prescriptions" rel="tag">Prescriptions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Genomics" rel="tag">Genomics</a></div>

Muscle Pain from Statins? Time for a genetic evaluation - Personalized Medicine

This is good, a genomics test that can give some preliminary results on whether or not statins will have an adverse effect before prescribi...

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First Patient-Specific Knee Resurfacing System on the Market

<p> This is a smaller knee implant that does not require as much shaving of the bone, resurfacing instead.  The site has some nice videos to show how it compares to a total knee implant.</p> <p>The products are FDA approved.  What is nice is that a CT scan is done and the image is uploaded to their imaging service, which uses the specifications to create the device, so it is a full custom fit from the start and the product is also suitable for young adults as well.  BD  <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfdSTnaK7I/AAAAAAAAIYw/iQ9mqZiR-5U/s1600-h/image%5B17%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="143" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfdTk192FI/AAAAAAAAIY0/WOpK_iYAN3Q/image_thumb%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="118" /></a></p> <blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.conformis.com/Physicians/ConforMIS-Patient-Specific-Implants/iDuo-Biocompartmental-Knee-Resurfacing-Device"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfdVC8qI4I/AAAAAAAAIY4/cJ8vtf7xzKA/image%5B18%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="221" /></a>BURLINGTON, Mass., Aug 04, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- <strong><a href="http://www.conformis.com/Physicians/ConforMIS-Patient-Specific-Implants/iDuo-Biocompartmental-Knee-Resurfacing-Device">ConforMIS, Inc.,</a></strong> a privately held orthopedics company that develops and commercializes minimally invasive medical devices for the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint damage, today announced the launch of the first and only patient-specific bicompartmental knee resurfacing implant on the market. The iDuo(TM) is the third in the line of minimally invasive, patient-specific implants.  </p> <p> <strong>ConforMIS has developed for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee, the most common reason for knee replacement surgery.  </strong></p> <p> </p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/conformis-inc-launches-first-patient-specific/story.aspx?guid=%7B1CD487D2-EDF7-407E-B24B-923E49831BEA%7D&dist=hppr">ConforMIS, Inc. Launches First Patient-Specific, Bicompartmental Knee Resurfacing System on the Market - MarketWatch</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:9d6103db-3266-48f6-9e0c-69810df2bd80" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Knee%20Surgery" rel="tag">Knee Surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Surgery" rel="tag">Surgery</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Orthopedics" rel="tag">Orthopedics</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Knee%20replacement" rel="tag">Knee replacement</a></div>

First Patient-Specific Knee Resurfacing System on the Market

This is a smaller knee implant that does not require as much shaving of the bone, resurfacing instead.  The site has some nice videos to sh...

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Prescription Data Used To Assess Consumers - No Privacy Unless You Pay Cash...

<p> This brings up one big issue, something I have been aware of for a while, collecting data for one purpose and being used for another, think this doesn't happen, think again.  When you sign up for health insurance, you sign you life away for all this data to be collected and reviewed for the process of qualifying for health insurance.  <strong>Ingenix is a division of United Healthcare and one company who does this with profits of over 1 billion last year.  </strong></p> <p>How do you stay out of the data bases, <strong>go pay cash,</strong> preferably for a $4.00 generic if available.  If you have a cholesterol problem and you are<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfKq-2bD7I/AAAAAAAAIYo/62QrMaFnxX8/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="128" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJfKryazCoI/AAAAAAAAIYs/Y-mLngLAdGY/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="138" /></a> taking a high dose, it will show up as well as any other prescriptions one is taking, so thus when you go to apply, if you have monthly bills in excess of $500.00 let's say for round figures, well what do you think the outcome might be?   </p> <p>The next step is developing the same type of service for labs, so where's the privacy?  Again, the only thing one can do is <strong>pay cash</strong> to keep the records private.  The information is easier to get and analyze as compared to medical records at present.  Health insurance is not only expensive these days, but it also costs you in the privacy department.  Where will the mined data go next and what about HIPAA revisions?  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p><em>Health and life insurance companies have access to a powerful new tool for evaluating whether to cover individual consumers: a health "credit report" drawn from databases containing prescription drug records on more than 200 million Americans.</em></p> <p><em>Ingenix, a Minnesota-based health information services company that had $1.3 billion in sales last year -- and Wisconsin-based rival Milliman -- say the drug profiles are an accurate, less expensive alternative to seeking physician records, which can take months and hundreds of dollars to obtain. <strong>They note that consumers authorize the data release and that the services can save insurance companies millions of dollars and benefit consumers anxious for a decision.</strong></em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080302077.html">Prescription Data Used To Assess Consumers - washingtonpost.com</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ba1159a5-a652-4f97-a33b-d8d6614470bd" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health%20Insurance" rel="tag">Health Insurance</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Prescriptions" rel="tag">Prescriptions</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Drugs" rel="tag">Drugs</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Cash" rel="tag">Cash</a></div>

Prescription Data Used To Assess Consumers - No Privacy Unless You Pay Cash...

This brings up one big issue, something I have been aware of for a while, collecting data for one purpose and being used for another, think...

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Payer Offers Patient Data on CDs

<p> This sounds like some of the data perhaps used for P4P being made available.  With the information on the patient prescriptions refills, etc, it tells all about whether or not a patient fills a prescription or note, unless they pay cash for the $4.00 generic brand, in which case that will <a href="http://www.healthdialog.com/hd/Core/Results/FinancialResults.htm"><img align="left" alt="image" border="0" height="111" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJe39LfL4hI/AAAAAAAAIYk/am5KRAhDfKg/image%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="146" /></a>not show up on the insurance company records, thus they are eliminating some co-pays on medications for chronic conditions so they can have it in the reporting process.  Twice a year these come out on CDs and no longer on paper, but in the family practice who might have time to digest and research all of this unless you are getting cut further on payments to a large degree of dollars.  If many patients are paying cash for generics at $4.00, the physician stands a good chance on getting dinged on not prescribing enough generic drugs.  BD   </p> <blockquote><em>The CDs indicate whether a patient is in need of a recommended test, procedure or treatment and offer confirmation of tests that have been completed, along with available results. Also included on the CDs is information about patient's "medication persistence," which indicates how often the patient fills their recommended prescriptions and obtains refills in a timely manner.</em></blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.healthdatamanagement.com/news/disease_management26704-1.html?ET=healthdatamanagement:e537:120588a:&st=email&portal=payers">Payer Offers Patient Data on CDs</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:f63cf9f9-57ee-4ea6-8523-8d09efa36322" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Health%20Insurance" rel="tag">Health Insurance</a></div>

Payer Offers Patient Data on CDs

This sounds like some of the data perhaps used for P4P being made available.  With the information on the patient prescriptions refills, et...

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Does Your CEO Get It? - Healthcare

<div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:ac3a671a-14f7-436f-b2a6-2a6d7fbcf552" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CIO" rel="tag">CIO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Healthcare" rel="tag">Healthcare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/CEO" rel="tag">CEO</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Technology" rel="tag">Technology</a></div> <p>  Good article about working together at the top levels.  I've been in places where the CIO is not lucky and has a difficult time with CFO budgets, and each incident I have seen comes from the lack of interest with technology from the top.  About a year ago I had a CIO, as he identified himself in healthcare beg to differ with me in the fact that he stated he was an "executive CIO" and that he had been a CIO at several companies and went on further to say that technology knowledge was not important to being a CIO.  Now that was a year ago, and I wonder if perhaps his comments might change by today's standards.  You can do a search to find the article on the blog.  Just from the readers here and others who link to this blog, I think there might be a real difference of opinion.(grin).  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>We interview CIOs all the time for both our traditional magazine-style stories and our one-on-one Web exclusives. These <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJezBDDuy_I/AAAAAAAAIYc/G90ThOxENK8/s1600-h/image7.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="97" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJezBiF5AiI/AAAAAAAAIYg/L2rBRbfpi8k/image_thumb3.png?imgmax=800" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" width="96" /></a>conversations are wide ranging, covering everything from leadership perspectives to implementation specifics. One of our favorite lines of questioning drills down on the CEOs they work for, to discover how the boss can contribute to, or hinder, CIO effectiveness.<strong> Because we usually talk to IT leaders that are finding some measure of success, its not surprising their CEOs are cast in a positive light. But not everyone is so lucky. </strong></p> <p><em>I'm sure some reading this column work for the (ital) other (end ital) type of CEO, the one that has you reporting to a tough-as-nails CFO who's got you on budgetary lockdown.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://healthcare-informatics.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=349DF6BB879446A1886B65F332AC487F&nm=&type=Blog&mod=View+Topic&mid=67D6564029914AD3B204AD35D8F5F780&tier=7&id=13B5899951EC4691B4FC6FF931A1DFE9">Does Your CEO Get It? | Blog | Healthcare Informatics</a></p>

Does Your CEO Get It? - Healthcare

Technorati Tags: CIO , Healthcare , CEO , Technology   Good article about working together at the top levels.  I've been in places whe...

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Medicare Expands List of 'No-Pay' Hospital Conditions

<p> These 3 new items could sure leave some questions on the table and issues could be cloudy.  These 3 should be evaluated on an individual patient basis and not an overall listing, after all one patient could be allergic to most medications used for blood clots as a simple example.  BD  </p> <blockquote> <p>The list of hospital treatments that Medicare wont pay for is growing, but not by as much as the feds initially suggested it <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJewYEEOs_I/AAAAAAAAIYU/qdzOU0vkqS0/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><img align="right" alt="image" border="0" height="84" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SJewZeqdEzI/AAAAAAAAIYY/JnOK__g0928/image_thumb%5B8%5D.png?imgmax=800" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-bottom: 0px" width="107" /></a>might. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said last year it would stop paying to treat certain complications it said were preventable with good care. (We described the initial list in this post.) Earlier this year, CMS said it could add nine more complications to the list. CMS said yesterday that after considering public comments, it was adding three conditions: </p> <ul> <li><strong><font face="Arial">Blood clots in patients after surgery for knee and hip replacements </font></strong></li> <li><strong><font face="Arial">Surgical site infections after certain elective procedures, including some orthopedic surgeries and bariatric surgery </font></strong></li> <li><strong><font face="Arial">Certain major problems that result from failing to control blood sugar levels after a patient is hospitalized</font></strong> </li> </ul> </blockquote> <p><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/08/01/medicare-expands-list-of-no-pay-hospital-conditions/">Health Blog : Medicare Expands List of 'No-Pay' Hospital Conditions</a> </p> <div class="wlWriterSmartContent" id="scid:0767317B-992E-4b12-91E0-4F059A8CECA8:cde2ce21-9c30-4a8a-adf4-c55cb2387464" style="padding-right: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-top: 0px">Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Medicare" rel="tag">Medicare</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Hospital" rel="tag">Hospital</a></div>

Medicare Expands List of 'No-Pay' Hospital Conditions

These 3 new items could sure leave some questions on the table and issues could be cloudy.  These 3 should be evaluated on an individual pa...

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Medical Quack is Back

<p>Sorry for the long week of no posts, working on things today and there should be some new stories up this evening.  Thanks once more to all my readers and thanks for your patience.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Barbara Duck  </p>

Medical Quack is Back

Sorry for the long week of no posts, working on things today and there should be some new stories up this evening.  Thanks once more to all ...

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House votes to treat tobacco as a drug

<p> <img align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/DucknetServices/SIj9P_nkLTI/AAAAAAAAIV8/aMAtC1YcAlA/fda1_thumb[2].png?imgmax=800" /> It sounds like the overburdened FDA could get a little busier in the future if the bill passes the Senate as well.  BD  </p> <blockquote>If the U.S. House gets its way, the FDA soon may have even more power--to regulate tobacco as a drug. Reps voted overwhelmingly to charge the agency with overseeing the tobacco industry, in spite of a veto threat by President Bush. It's a move long sought by anti-smoking advocates, and one lobbied for, as you may recall, by ex-FDA chief David Kessler.</blockquote> <p><a href="http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/house-votes-treat-tobacco-drug/2008-07-31?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FP0">House votes to treat tobacco as a drug - FiercePharma</a></p>

House votes to treat tobacco as a drug

  It sounds like the overburdened FDA could get a little busier in the future if the bill passes the Senate as well.  BD  If the U.S. Hou...

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