Former Associate Dean of Continuing Medical Education at Stanford Essentially Acknowledges Undisclosed Conflict of Interest in Recent Tobacco Control Paper
Yesterday, I discussed a paper published online ahead of print in the journal Tobacco Control which blasts electronic cigarette companies and a consumer vaping advocacy organization for creating "knock-off" advertisements that urge smokers to quit by switching to vaping instead. The senior author of the paper - Dr. Robert Jackler - is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.One of my main criticisms was that in the paper, Dr. Jackler states that he has no conflicts of interest, but his curriculum vita reports having received grant funding from the Pfizer Corporation...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - April 14, 2016 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Vaping Opponent Attacks E-Cigarette Companies for Urging Smokers to Quit; Hides Conflict of Interest
A paper published online ahead of print in the journal Tobacco Control blasts electronic cigarette companies and a consumer vaping advocacy organization for creating "knock-off" advertisements that urge smokers to quit by switching to vaping instead. The senior author of the paper - Dr. Robert Jackler - is a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.There are two sets of advertisements in question. Both are parodies of anti-smoking ads by government health agencies.The first is a parody of the Australian government's "Stop Smoking Start Repairing" campaign. These are advert...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - April 13, 2016 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
The Problem of Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in Tobacco Control: How It Works and Why We are So Hypocritical
This article was originally submitted for publication on January 25, 2014.A major premise of the article is that addressing early nicotine withdrawal symptoms is critical in promoting successful smoking cessation. The article concludes that: "the neurocognitive effects of abstinence may be a target for smoking cessation."Specifically, the article suggests that: "the smoking cessation medication, varenicline [Chantix], has been shown to alleviate cognitive deficits following 72h of abstinence (Patterson et al., 2009)."The Patterson article demonstrated the effectiveness of varenicline [Chantix] in improving mood and cogn...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - February 29, 2016 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Mock Test 13
In this study, cangrelor was discontinued 1-6 hours prior to surgery, while aspirin was continued throughout the perioperative period. Bridging with cangrelor did not increase major bleeds prior to surgery, though minor bleeds, mostly ecchymosis at venipuncture site, was higher. P2Y12 assay documented sufficient platelet inhibition corresponding to levels required for anti thrombotic effect [1]. Cangrelor is awaiting approval and more large scale trials regarding the use of bridging are needed.
Reference
1. Angiolillo DJ et al; BRIDGE Investigators. Bridging antiplatelet therapy with cangrelor in patients undergoing ...
Source: Cardiophile MD - February 7, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology MCQ DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Source Type: blogs
DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Mock Test 5
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Source: Cardiophile MD - January 20, 2016 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology MCQ DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Featured Source Type: blogs
Yet Another E-Cigarette Study Draws Conclusions that are Unsupported by the Actual Data; This Time, Researchers Claim Vaping Can Cause Car Crashes
This study actually did not find any impairment of motor function in the vaping subjects. Their motor performance was actually better than at baseline. The reason why the authors concluded that there is motor "impairment" is that the observed test scores among the trace alcohol vapers improved more. But this makes little sense because in all the previous studies using the same test (the Purdue Pegboard Dexterity Test), there was no change in the scores of subjects receiving a placebo, while subjects receiving alcohol suffered a significant reduction in their scores. Thus, the results of this study do not provide a solid ba...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - January 13, 2016 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
New JAMA Article Offers Irresponsible Medical Advice to Physicians About Smoking Cessation
An article published yesterday online in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine (JAMA Internal Medicine) advises physicians to discourage their patients from trying to quit smoking using electronic cigarettes.(See: McMillen RC, Gottlieb MA, Winickoff JP. E-Cigarettes -- The roles of regulation and clinicians. JAMA Internal Medicine. Published online August 31, 2015. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.4436.) Arguing that "e-cigarettes primarily emit a toxic aerosol," and that "the use of e-cigarettes as well as conventional cigarettes may actually frustrate cessation attempts," the article concludes t...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - September 1, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration Acknowledges that Chantix Causes Suicide But Allows it On Market, While Banning E-Cigarettes with No Known Adverse Effects
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has publicly acknowledged that Chantix causes suicide, and that the family members of patients taking this drug must carefully watch their loved ones to make sure that they don't kill themselves. Nevertheless, the TGA apparently has no problem allowing Chantix to stay on the market. Moreover, the Administration has not even required that a black box warning be placed on the drug's packaging.At the same time, the TGA has banned electronic cigarettes, another effective smoking cessation tool, despite the absence of any evidence that it causes substantial adverse side ef...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - July 22, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
CDC Lying About Financial Conflicts of Interest and Failing to Disclose Big Pharma Funding When It Releases Statements About E-Cigarettes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes a multitude of recommendations regarding the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases and adverse health conditions. Many of these recommendations involve the promotion of specific pharmaceutical products, such as antibiotics, vaccines, or smoking cessation drugs.For this reason, it would seem important that the CDC remain independent of any corporate influence and that the agency not accept funding from corporations, especially from Big Pharma.In fact, the CDC claims to have no financial interests or other relationships with any manufacturers of commercia...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - June 11, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
IN MY VIEW: American Lung Association Would Rather Have Smokers Die than Switch to Electronic Cigarettes
In one of the most absurd and irresponsible positions I have ever seen taken by a public health organization, the American Lung Association recently updated a public statement that urges smokers not to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking. The two major reasons given for this advice are:1. That the American Lung Association is "concerned about the potential health consequences of electronic cigarettes."2. That the American Lung Association is concerned about "the unproven claims that they [e-cigarettes] can be used to help smokers quit."The American Lung Association's advice to smokers is as follows:"The American Lung Associat...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - June 4, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Smoking cessation therapy – Cardiology MCQ
Which of the following is not used in smoking cessation therapy
a) Varenicline
b) Bupropion
c) Nicotine gum
d) None of the above
Correct answer: d) None of the above
Bupropion is well tolerated and has been shown to be safe even in the immediate post myocardial infarction period for smoking cessation therapy [1]. Even though some cardiovascular side effects for Varenicline has been suspected, the benefit of smoking cessation has been considered to be higher than any risk induced by it. Nicotine gum and other nicotine replacement therapies have been widely used as an aid to smoking cessation.
Eisenberg MJ et al. Bupropi...
Source: Cardiophile MD - May 24, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Prof. Dr. Johnson Francis, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP Edin, FRCP London Tags: Cardiology MCQ DM / DNB Cardiology Entrance Source Type: blogs
Why is the American Cancer Society Promoting Cancer by Favoring Real Cigarettes Over Fake Ones?
According to an article published in The Hill, the American Cancer Society (ACS) is discouraging smokers from quitting or trying to quit using e-cigarettes, claiming that vaping impedes, rather than aids smoking cessation.The ACS was quoted as stating: “Every bit of delay is a new opportunity for the tobacco industry to hook new people on nicotine and get in the way of helping tobacco users quit."At least one chapter of the ACS has gone even beyond discouraging smokers from trying to quit. The New York chapter has actually called for a ban on the sale of electronic cigarettes (to anyone, not just kids)!According to the...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - April 23, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Study Blows Out of the Water the Claim that Substantially Reducing Cigarette Smoking Has No Health Benefits
One of the most dramatic effects that has been observed in a large proportion of e-cigarette users who are not successful in quitting completely is a substantial reduction in the amount of cigarettes that they smoke. In fact, studies have shown that a solid majority of e-cigarette users are successful either in quitting or in reducing their cigarette consumption substantially. By substantially, I mean reductions around the order of 75% to 90% or higher.A key argument used by e-cigarette opponents to demonize these products is that these huge smoking reductions have no health benefits because unless you quit completely, you...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - February 27, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Tomorrow's SRNT Annual Meeting: Brought to You by Pfizer
Tomorrow marks the start of the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) in Philadelphia. According to the 2015 meeting program, a major purpose of the conference is: "Through scientific exchange, integrate current research with implications for clinical practice." Specifically, a major focus of the conference is discussing recommendations for the treatment of smoking addiction, including the use of drugs such as Chantix and newer alternatives such as electronic cigarettes.In fact, there will be at least 12 presentations on the use of Chantix for smoking cessation. In addition, there ...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - February 24, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
Washington Governor Asserts that Smoking May Be No More Hazardous than Vaping
According to a "fact sheet" on electronic cigarettes put out by the office of Washington governor Jay Inslee, cigarette smoking may be no more hazardous than using a product which merely heats nicotine and propylene glycol, contains no tobacco, and involves no combustion.According to the policy brief:"“Vaping” may not be safer than smoking traditional cigarettes."What is the reasoning behind the governor's proclamation that smoking is no more hazardous than vaping?"E-cigarettes emit more than water vapor."The policy brief goes on to state that:"Former smokers and new smokers may be attracted to e-cigarettes because of ...
Source: The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis and Commentary - February 19, 2015 Category: Addiction Source Type: blogs
