The Saatchi bill won’t find a cure for cancer, but it will encourage charlatans
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Maurice Nathan Saatchi, Baron Saatchi is an advertising man who, with his brother, Charles Saatchi ("‘why tell the truth when a good lie will do?), became very rich by advertising cigarettes and the Conservative party. After his second wife died of cancer he introduced a private members bill in the House of Lords in 2012. The Medical Innovation Bill came back to the Lords for its second reading on 24 October 2014.
The debate was deeply depressing: very pompous and mostly totally uninformed. You would never have guessed that the vast majority of those who understand the problem are a...
Source: DC's goodscience - October 24, 2014 Category: Science Authors: David Colquhoun Tags: business CAM cancer Cancer act Saatchi Bill alternative medicine antiscience badscience Source Type: blogs
ALS and the ice bucket challenge: A matter of priorities
The ALS Association, and the British version, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, have made boatloads of money off of the ice bucket challenge. Originally the idea was that a person would challenge another person to donate money for ALS research and if they hadn’t done so in 24 hours, they would dump a bucket of ice water over their head. It turns out that people like dumping ice buckets over their heads (at least this summer) and posting video clips of it and also like donating money to ALS research. So that’s how it goes now.
Continue reading ...
Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your on...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 9, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Janice Boughton, MD Tags: Conditions Neurology Source Type: blogs
The Ice Bucket Challenge
Well, it finally happened. This week my wife, Caryn, squealed with delight as she watched our mutual friend’s video calling me out in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
I was standing in a warm shower on a cold and rainy morning thinking of my first cup of hot coffee and a fresh-from-the-dryer cozy towel when she told me.
I must admit that I figured it was only a matter of time before someone on social media figured it was a good idea to challenge me.
This morning I suited up, wrote the check, and took my ice like a big boy.
Some people in the MS community have reached out and said we should start something like this for M...
Source: Life with MS - August 29, 2014 Category: Other Conditions Authors: Trevis Gleason Tags: multiple sclerosis ALS ms research Source Type: blogs
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and viruses
Many people have a new awareness of the disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge initiated by the ALS Association. Fewer might know that retroviruses have been proposed to play a role in the development of the disease.
I previously summarized a 2008 paper on ALS in a piece called Retroviruses and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sera from some ALS patients had previously been shown to contain elevated levels of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme found in retrovirus particles. In the 2008 paper, RNAs encoding this enzyme were reported in the brains of ALS patients, and thei...
Source: virology blog - August 24, 2014 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information als ALS association amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Ice Bucket Challenge motor neuron disease retrovirus viral Source Type: blogs
Dr. Peter Cummings Challenges Neuropathologists to Ice Bucket Challenge
Peter Cummings, MDDr. Peter Cummings has challenged his neuropathology colleagues to take the ALS ice bucket challenge. The good doctor dumps a bucket of ice water on his head in this video. If you are unfamiliar with the viral phenomenon of the ice bucket challenge, here's a New York Times article describing it. Now, grab a bucket! (Source: neuropathology blog)
Source: neuropathology blog - August 19, 2014 Category: Pathologists Tags: motor neuron disease neuropathologists Source Type: blogs
Muscle Fibres and the stretch reflex
BSCC Physiology 012
Question:
Please explain the components of a muscle spindle and the sequence of events involved in producing a stretch reflex
Examiner explanation:
+ Show: Drawing and explanation in real-time video/audio
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Muscle Fibres and the stretch reflex
When a muscle is stretched it contracts.
The stimulus that initiates the reflex is the stretch of the muscle, and the response is contractio...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - August 12, 2014 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Jason Scop Tags: Basic Science Physiology muscle spindle stretch reflex Source Type: blogs
Mystery Solved: Which Patients Are Good Candidates For Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation?
Occupational Therapy Environment, Saint Luke's Hospital, WA
For most physicians who practice inpatient medicine, acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities are mysterious places with inscrutable admissions criteria. This is partly because physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) has done the poorest job of public relations of any single medical specialty (Does anyone know what we do?), and also because rehab units have been in the cross hairs of federal funding cuts for decades. The restrictive CMS criteria for inpatient rehabilitation have resulted in contortionist attempts to practice our craft in an environmen...
Source: Better Health - June 16, 2014 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Policy Health Tips 60% Rule Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Acute Rehab Admissions Coordinator Admissions Criteria Admissions Guidance ARF ARU Case Manager CMS Hospitalists Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation PM&R Rule Source Type: blogs
Are You Really That Gullible? Take The Test Now!
Really? REALLY? Are you REALLY that gullible? I spent hundreds of hours searching the internet trying to find the perfect link for people wondering whether that shocking story they read on Facebook or Twitter was really true. You know those people. They believe anything. They are the ones who respond with emotional lability when everyone else understands the humor and satire. Yes stranger, if you're reading this, I'm probably talking about you. You probably landed here because of some link suggesting an incredible story that nobody believes is true, except you and your gullib...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - February 9, 2014 Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Tamer Mahrous Source Type: blogs
Effect of mindfulness meditation on brain-computer interface performance
Authors: Tan LF, Dienes Z, Jansari A, Goh SYAbstract. Electroencephalogram based Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) enable stroke and motor neuron disease patients to communicate and control devices. Mindfulness meditation has been claimed to enhance metacognitive regulation. The current study explores whether mindfulness meditation training can thus improve the performance of BCI users. To eliminate the possibility of expectation of improvement influencing the results, we introduced a music training condition. A norming study found that both meditation and music interventions elicited clear expectations for improvement on t...
Source: Positive Technology Journal - November 28, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Tags: Brain-computer interface Mental practice & mental simulation Source Type: blogs
Critical Care Compendium update
LITFL’s Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Currently there are almost 1,500 entries with more in the works… Some pages are more developed than others, and all the pages are being constantly revised and improved. Links to new references and online resources are added daily, with an emphasis on those that are free and open access (FOAM!).
These pages originated from the FCICM exam study notes created by Dr Jeremy Fernando in 2011, and have been updated, modified and added to since. As such will be particularly us...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - November 17, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Doctors Authors: Chris Nickson Tags: Critical Care Compendium Education eLearning Emergency Medicine Featured CCC LITFL collection Source Type: blogs
What is the worth of a nurse?
Really.
Im not talking metaphorically here, Im talking….put your money where your mouth is.
Sharn McNeill is an inspirational emergency department nurse from St George ED.
She was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of motor neurone disease known as ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). A disease disease which usually has a life expectancy of three to five years from diagnosis.
Sharn is attempting to raise money to undertake a cutting-edge stem cell treatment in the United States.
Cost: $500,000.
So. What is the worth of this nurse?
I always try to quickly get to a place of acceptance and gratitude. I feel blessed...
Source: impactEDnurse - August 25, 2013 Category: Nurses Authors: impactEDnurse Tags: ectopics Source Type: blogs
Raising Palliative Care Awareness Through Film Screeenings
(Ed. - Can you believe it another new author! Please welcome Paul Tatum @doctatum, a family medicine physician board certified in geriatrics and palliative care who practices medicine in at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Paul is no stranger to blogging and also posts at Geripal. Please welcome him to Pallimed! - Christian)
When I strike up conversation on the airplane and discussion turns to palliative medicine, the response tends to be either one of a blank stare and question about what is palliative medicine or a knowing smile and a ready story about how hospice and palliative medicine made a ...
Source: Pallimed: A Hospice and Palliative Medicine Blog - May 1, 2013 Category: Palliative Carer Workers Authors: Paul Tatum Source Type: blogs
Extras
10 eye-catching studies that I didn't get the chance to report on in full:
How do our brain hemispheres cooperate to avoid false memories?
The psychological benefits of refusing to apologise.
What's the fastest speed at which a face can be recognised?
Exploring the transitional process from receiving a diagnosis to living with motor neurone disease
"Power gets the job" Boost your interview chances by first remembering a time you were in a position of power.
Forget the Mozart effect, listening to Vivaldi boosts mental alertness.
Using fMRI to decode people's dreams (see here for a calm assessment).
How stress affect...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - April 24, 2013 Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Christian Jarrett Source Type: blogs
L300 Neurostimulation System for Foot Drop Cleared for Kids in U.S.
The FDA has granted Bioness (Valencia, CA) clearance to make available for kids with foot drop from upper motor neuron pathologies like cerebral palsy, brain injury, and stroke, the same L300 neurostimulation system that was cleared for adults in the spring of 2011. The L300 uses a below-the-knee electronic muscle stimulation cuff to contract muscles in the leg. To synchronize, a little sensor is placed in the shoe that detects movement and talks to the cuff via a wireless connection. In addition, a wireless remote is used to configure and tune the system for individual needs and comfort levels.The system can be used eithe...
Source: Medgadget - January 28, 2013 Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Gene Ostrovsky Tags: Rehab Source Type: blogs
USMLE Questions – Characteristic Disease Findings
The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) is designed to emphasize knowledge of clinical scenarios and clinical pearls, even on Step I. Listed below are some commonly encountered disease findings and characteristics.
Feature
Disease
45, X chromosome
Turner’s syndrome
5-HIAA increased in urine
Carcinoid syndrome
Aganglionic rectum
Hirschsrpung’s disease
Apple-core sign on barium enema
Colon cancer
Arched back (opisthotonos)
Tetanus
Argyll-Robertson pupil
Syphilis
Ash leaf on forehead
Tuberous sclerosis
Auer rods
Acute myelogenous leukemia
Austin Flint murmur
Aortic regurgitation...
Source: Inside Surgery - January 18, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Editor Tags: Surgpedia USMLE diseases findings VMA water hammer pulse Source Type: blogs
