'Chimera' protein could lead to drug treatments for chronic pain - ScienceDaily
Scientists have manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that could be used to treat neurological disorders such as chronic pain and epilepsy.A team of 22 scientists from 11 research institutes, including Dr Enrico Ferrari from the University of Lincoln, UK, created and characterised a new molecule that was able to alleviate hypersensitivity to inflammatory pain.The work is featured on the cover of the October 2013 issue of the scientific journal Bioconjugate Chemistry.Dr Ferrari joined the School of Life Sciences in October last year from the Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge,...
Source: Psychology of Pain - October 30, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs
New Wrinkle for Old Drug It’s not just for smoothing laugh lines. Botulinum toxin may have the potential to ease OA pain.| Arthritis Today Magazine
Widely used by doctors to soften forehead wrinkles and reduce uncontrollably sweaty armpits, researchers now are exploring botulinum toxin as a potential therapy for osteoarthritis (OA) pain.
Although botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, Myobloc) has been studied since the 1950s, recent studies on its use in osteoarthritis pain suggest it could be a new analgesic option for a group of patients that's been hard to treat.
"The Botox story is very intriguing," says David Felson, MD, professor of medicine and epidemiology at Boston University. "It isn't just muscles. It can paralyze nerves. Just like celeb...
Source: Psychology of Pain - October 30, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Source Type: blogs
Big Pharma’s Expansion Into Emerging Markets - a tale of bribery and
corruption
The drug industry is faced with two big challenges: First, declining prescription drug sales, especially in the United States, and second, losing patent protection for many profitable drugs. To make up for these down drifts, the industry is relying increasingly on new markets such as China and Africa. That expansion, however, is tainted by unsavory commercial practices.The Economist Intelligence Unit projects $166 billion in drug sales in China by 2017, making it a natural market for companies looking for further growth.In Africa, the size of the market is still small. However, the rapid growth of many big cities offers in...
Source: PharmaGossip - October 15, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Despite Critics Dismissal - Off Label Prescribing May Benefit Patients
Over the past several years, the federal government and law enforcement agencies have increasingly investigated and prosecuted large pharmaceutical and medical device companies for off-label marketing. Various media outlets have covered these settlements and cases and others have even conducted their own investigations (e.g., ProPublica.
Consequently, a recent article from the Pacific Standard, written by Ford Vox, a rehabilitation physician at Shepherd Center, addressed an investigation conducted by The Washington Post that looked into off-label prescribing. Vox, who treats survivors of acquired brain injury and sp...
Source: Policy and Medicine - October 9, 2013 Category: Health Medicine and Bioethics Commentators Authors: Thomas Sullivan Source Type: blogs
Medical Mispronunciations and Misspelled Words: The Definitive List.
Hearing medical mispronunciations and seeing misspelled words are an under appreciated joy of working in healthcare. Physicians often forget just how alien the language of medicine is to people who don't live it everyday. The best part about being a physician is not helping people recover from critical illness. The best part is not about listening and understanding with compassion and empathy. Nope, the best part about being a physician is hearing patients and other healthcare providers butcher the language of medicine and experiencing great entertainment in the process. Doctors c...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - October 2, 2013 Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Tamer Mahrous Source Type: blogs
Turning 60 Soon...Yikes Or Yay?
I've tried it all...creams, lotions, potions, Botox, denial...you name it. Turning 60 is something you just have to face head on. Gird up your loins and just do it!Contributor: Sandy GreenPublished: Sep 19, 2013 (Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content)
Source: Most Recent Health Wellness - Associated Content - September 19, 2013 Category: Other Conditions Source Type: blogs
Top 5 Foods to Help You Sleep Better and Stay Healthier
Many adults today suffer insomnia. If not that, they rarely have a restful night's sleep. They are usually restless, cannot seem to find a comfortable position to sleep in, and are easily distracted by odd sounds that are common at night. There are also people who get enough hours of sleep, and yet they wake up tired, sluggish, and wanting to crawl under the covers again.
The usual solutions are to get a prescription from a physician (for those who are diagnosed to be insomniacs), and to change the bed for a moderately softer mattress—preferably, ones stuffed with memory foam. Pillows that are too soft or too hard are a...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - September 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Adana Baro Tags: health and fitness self improvement diet insomnia productivity tips sleep sleep better Source Type: blogs
GlaxoChinaGate contd. - All aboard the Botox gravy train!
By LAURIE BURKITT in Beijing And CHRISTOPHER M. MATTHEWS in Washington
BEIJING—GlaxoSmithKline GSK.LN PLC employees in China are said to have organized an all-expense-paid trip in May for a group of doctors to tour the scenic river town of Guilin, one of China's premier tourist destinations. The goal: Get Chinese doctors to begin prescribing the company's Botox medication, according to an anonymous tipster who alerted company executives.
Cui Lihua, a physician at Beijing's Bo'ai Hospital, was one of the more than 30 doctors invited on a three-day tour that included a trip to Elephant Hills and Seven Stars Park, a...
Source: PharmaGossip - August 18, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Pharma Peeps: Stop Trying to Separate Your Personal and Professional Identities on Social Media Sites
Are you one of the pharmaceutical executives who have a Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn account? If so, you probably have disclaimers such as the following as part of your profile (taken from this list: "Pharma Social Media Twitter Accounts"):"Marketing with sanofi-aventis US. These tweets are my opinion alone and not the opinion of any organization with which I am affiliated." -- @ABoyle129"Director, Social Media for Bristol-Myers Squibb, former journalist and co-author: How to Say It: Marketing with New Media. Opinions and tweets here are my own." -- @alisonwoo"passionate on healthcare. changing world w/ social innovation...
Source: Pharma Marketing Blog - August 14, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Tags: ePharma Pioneer Club social media Twitter Source Type: blogs
GlaxoChinaGate contd. - GSK scandal dangles prospects of real medical
reforms - China Economic Review
Wednesday, July 31, 2013China’s pharma crackdownChinese doctors have come a long way in the past half century. The barefoot, barely trained physicians of Mao-era China would hardly recognize the rapidly evolving image of a playboy with a stethoscope gallivanting on sex-fueled vacations.The slow and painful probe into UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline's China business has stirred such wild notions.According to reports, GSK has been bribing Chinese doctors to prescribe its products such as Botox and a number of antidepressants. The illicit funds, some US$450 million, were reportedly channeled through Chinese travel agencies,...
Source: PharmaGossip - August 3, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Business As Usual? Glaxo Employees Confess To Bribery In China
The drama that has become GlaxoSmithKline operations in China took a more serious turn as authorities say several senior executives, who are being investigated for alleged bribes and tax-related violations, have confessed to the crimes, according to the Xinhua News agency, citing a statement by China’s Ministry of Public Security.
The statement describes their alleged offenses as “serious economic crimes” for purportedly offering large bribes to government officials, medical industry associations and foundations, hospitals and doctors in hopes of expanding the market for Glaxo drugs and to raise prices. The bribes we...
Source: Pharmalot - July 11, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
China security ministry says GSK executives confess to crimes
BEIJING (Reuters) - Executives of British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline Plc in China have confessed to charges of bribery and tax law violations after initial questioning by Chinese police, China's security ministry said on Thursday.The company is suspected of offering bribes to government officials, medical associations, hospitals and doctors to boost sales and prices, the ministry said in a statement on its website.GSK is also suspected of using fake receipts in unspecified tax law violations, the ministry said."After initial questioning the suspects have admitted to the crimes, and the investigation is ongoing," the Minist...
Source: PharmaGossip - July 11, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: insider Source Type: blogs
Why Do We Find Vulnerability Attractive?
This guest article from YourTango was written by Andre Moore and Dr. Lisa Kaplin.
Both men and women find vulnerability attractive in a partner, for many different reasons.
“She said,” from Dr. Lisa Kaplin:
Women truly do find vulnerability in men attractive for so many reasons. When men are vulnerable they allow their partners into their lives. Their partner feels closer to them, which then leads to improvement in every aspect of the relationship.
Vulnerable men teach women something about themselves that allows women to understand them better and to be available to them in a way that isn’t likely withou...
Source: World of Psychology - July 8, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: YourTango Experts Tags: General Men's Issues Psychology Relationships Women's Issues YourTango Boyish Charm Emotional Life Emotional Vulnerability Find Article Guest Article Intimate Partner Likelihood Machismo Many Different Reasons Masculinity M Source Type: blogs
Glaxo Probes Sales Practices For Marketing Botox In China
As part of the expansive internal investigation into its sales practices in China, GlaxoSmithKline is probing whether doctors were paid pribes for prescribing Botox and encouraged more than a dozen employees to use private e-mail to mask their activities, The Wall Street Journal writes. The allegations are apparently from the same tipster that prompted the drugmaker to launch the initial review into its Chinese staff.
Glaxo sales staff were allegedly instructed by their managers there to use personal e-mail addresses to discuss marketing plans for Botox, which the drugmaker has the rights to market in China as part of a...
Source: Pharmalot - July 8, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
Glaxo Probes Sales Practices For Botox Marketing In China
As part of the expansive internal investigation into its sales practices in China, GlaxoSmithKline is probing whether doctors were paid bribes for prescribing Botox and encouraged more than a dozen employees to use private e-mail to mask their activities, The Wall Street Journal writes. The allegations are apparently from the same tipster that prompted the drugmaker to launch the initial review into its Chinese staff.
Glaxo sales staff were allegedly instructed by their managers there to use personal e-mail addresses to discuss marketing plans for Botox, which the drugmaker has the rights to market in China as part of a...
Source: Pharmalot - July 8, 2013 Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: esilverman Source Type: blogs
