Ok, I know I'm a few hours early, since the BCS title game is tonight. But, hey, I'm probably one of the few people in the country picking the Buckeyes to win this game. So, I wanted to go on record now. So, I'll either be the target of the naysayers. Or, I'll revel in the spoils - depending on tonight's result. BTW, Travis always has good thoughts on (pretty much) anything sports related (especially football). Good Luck to Jim Tressel and the boys tonight in New Orleans. Go Bucks!
Blog
Dr. A Show returns next week!
I'm happy to announce that just like David Letterman, I have reached an agreement with the writer's guild and we will be returning with all new shows beginning next week. hehe
I have to admit that I have missed doing my radio show for the past three weeks or so. But, now, I'm feeling recharged and refreshed. It's 2008 and I'm ready to hit the ground running with all new shows - all new antics - all new fun - and all new entertainment for you the Doctor Anonymous listener.
Our guest will be Dr. Nick Genes. You may remember him as he was on Show #13 back in November talking about the tremendously popular medical blog carnival called Grand Rounds.
Nick is also part of Medgadget and we will be talking about The 2007 Medical Weblog Awards sponsored by ScrubsGallery.com. The finalists have already been announced and voting will begin on Tuesday, January 8th.
Join us Thursday, January 10th, 2008 at 9pm Eastern Time for The Doctor Anonymous Show. Who knows what else we'll talk about? You'll have to tune in to find out....
As you can see, I'm really starting to embrace using video blogging again. Thanks so much for visiting my vblog site and leaving comments. Also, check out my video promo for the show below (say that three times fast). Have a great weekend everybody!
Most drug samples don't go to uninsured
Here's a study you'll find very interesting. The conventional wisdom (some would call pharmaceutical spin) is that free drug samples go to the poor and uninsured. Well, researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Cambridge Medical Alliance will publish a study in the February edition of the American Journal of Public Health which shows the contrary (Boston Globe).
Less than one-third of all people who received samples in a 32,000-person, nationally representative survey had low incomes, and less than one-fifth who got the free drugs were uninsured at any point in 2003.Of course the pharmaceutical industry is calling this a flawed study - Duh! Now, don't get me wrong. The industry does some good things. There are some drug reps in my area who have gone out of their way to make sure some of my uninsured patients get the prescription meds that they require. I've also had many of my patients take part in pparx. I mean in 2004, approximately $16.4 Billion free samples were given out. However, the researchers also had these interesting findings...
Insured people with better access to medical care were more likely to see their doctors in offices, rather than hospital emergency rooms or hospital clinics. Patients who saw their doctors in offices were more likely to be given free drug samples.To me, free drug samples are a two-edged sword. On the one hand, for my uninsured and economically disadvantaged patients, these samples are a kind of life line. And, in the economically troubled times of the community which I live, the young and healthy people are leaving to find work - which leave the older and sicker population. I know some offices around here who do not accept samples, and I understand their reasoning. But, that has to be tough on their patients."That finding suggests that the samples were a marketing tool and not a safety net because the poor and uninsured patients were not finding their way to where the samples were," [lead author, Dr. Sarah] Cutrona said.
On the other hand, when patients know we have samples of a particular medicine, their persistence on asking for samples can get frustrating at times - especially if I know they have insurance, a decent prescription plan, and know that they can afford to get the medication. It's not for me to judge, but it seems to me that samples for some people are a convenience rather than a necessity.
So, were/are samples a marketing tool? That's an interesting debate to have. I understand both sides of it, and I know people will leave comments probably on both sides of the issue. Our office continues to accept drug samples - along with its benefits and potential perils. What do you think? Are free drug samples a good thing or not?
USA: We're Number Two!
As Americans, we always pride ourselves in being Number One. Well, this time, it's probably better not to be the best. According to the Associated Press, a study was published today stating that the Brits are the biggest fans of fast food in the world - with the USA coming in second place.
"The results show there's a world of people who cannot deny themselves that hamburger or extra piece of pizza, but probably make themselves feel better by washing it down with a diet cola," [said Steve Garton of polling body Synovate, who produced the survey jointly with the BBC.]I am so disappointed in us as Americans. Did they poll high school and grade school students in this country? How about people who attend sporting events? I know that we can do better than 45 percent. Now, looking in the mirror, I admit I enjoy fast food every once in a while. And, I also admit that part of my New Year's "thing" is to try to cut back a little bit. So, I'm part of Fast Food Nation - but, I don't wanna be....In terms of fast food, 45 percent of Britons agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up" ahead of 44 percent for Americans and Canadians at 37 percent.
Cocaine vaccine
Ok, I'm no music pundit, but this is one of the best Clapton songs - EVER! After you finish watching the SIX and a half minute live version above (including what seems to be a five minute guitar solo), you may proceed with the rest of this post hehe....
So, a vaccine against cocaine. Hmmmm... It is currently in clinical trials right now and researchers have asked the Food and Drug Administration permission to perform a larger trial to continue its progress to possible clinical use. The theory is similar to other vaccines - researchers place an inactive cocaine molecule on a protein so that the body can form antibodies against cocaine. So, when cocaine is ingested, the antibodies gobble them up so they cannot reach the brain for their addictive effect. (AP)
[FDA] Approval would mark a breakthrough in the treatment of cocaine addiction, which now mostly involves psychiatric counseling and 12-step programs. It presumably would be the final clinical hurdle before the vaccine — more than a decade in the making — might be approved for treatment. But one expert warns against expecting too much.Who knows, this vaccine may not go anywhere. Certainly, it is years before there's even a possibility that it could be used as any kind of treatment in the real world. However, it is an intriguing possibility that one day, someone in a voluntary cocaine treatment program would be receiving a shot - and hopefully increase the change of sobriety. Fascinating...."Addiction vaccines are a promising advance, but it's unlikely any treatment in this field will work for everyone," said Dr. David Gorelick, a senior investigator at the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Still, if they prove successful, they will give those working in drug addiction an important option."
Medpundit hangs it up
Early on when I was first considering starting my own blog, I began reading Medpundit. I could be mistaken, but I think this blog stopped and started again in the past couple of years or so. Well, the final post was last night.
Year's End, Blog's End: I've been making my annual year end inventory - deciding what to keep and what to toss. It's become obvious in the past several months that this blog is one of the things that it's time to toss. This will be the last post for Medpundit. Truly. Wishing you all the best in 2008 and the years beyond.For what it's worth, thanks Medpundit for being a positive influence on me as a blogger and to the medical blogosphere in general. You will definitely be missed.....
Mental Health Court
With the new year, comes new opportunities to help kids. In the Cleveland, Ohio area, there is going to be a new program starting in the juvenile justice system. It is called Mental Health Court and the goal here is to focus on kids getting help instead of primarily focusing on their crime. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
In this way, kids with mental illness can be kept from getting a criminal record - if they chose to get help. It has been well documented in the past that "dual diagnosis" or the diagnoses of substance abuse and mental illness is common. In a study done in preparation for this program, they found the following in juvenile crime offenders:
26 percent of males and 52 percent of females screened had a severe mood disorder, such as bipolar disorder or depression.The pilot program is voluntary and will be starting out with 12 kids. A care team is created to see what services the child will need. The intensive program starts with weekly meetings. And, if they are compliant with the program - like taking their medications and attending school - the frequency of the meetings will taper off.63 percent of the kids had had both a mental health and a substance abuse problem diagnosed.
I would imagine that a program like this is not unique. But, I'm all for trying to find other ways to keep kids out of the criminal justice system - particularly those with mental illness. I live in a part of the state where there is very little funding for mental illness health care. When this happens, as this article describes, the only other alternative people have is calling the police for immediate action when the mental illness worsens. Hopefully, programs like this will show positive results.
Grand Rounds
All the way from South Africa, Grand Rounds 4.15 is now up and running at the blog called Other Things Amanzi. This general surgeon has a fabulous blog. And this week, has probably the most pictoral GR in a while. I feel like I'm on safari. Thanks so much for including my post this week.
one of my favourite bloggers (and 'radio' hosts), doctor anonymous, discusses medical myths even doctors believe. but is it doctors that say they believe these myths or is it a myth that doctors believe them? take a look.If you don't know what Grand Rounds is, it is a weekly compilation of the best posts from the medical blogosphere that moves to different sites each week. And, who doesn't like reading about medicine and science? Next week, Grand Rounds moves to the site called pathtalk.
Happy New Year 2008: Part Deux
For those of you who have known me for a while (like a year), you know that I attempted video blogging about a year ago and did not have the best experience. Now, with a new year comes new opportunities. Or, maybe I'm just stubborn. Either way, I've decided to try this video blogging thing out again.
Yes, I know, this makes me a lot less anonymous. Oh well. People who listen to my radio show live already know that I have a live video stream (sometimes). I guess I could consider changing my blogger name, and my blog name, and my radio show name. What would I change it too anyway? There's a thought. But, when it comes down to it, I think people would keep calling me "The Blogger Formerly Known as Doctor Anonymous" - remember Prince (or that unpronounceable symbol?)
I've been watching this great site called Viddler. One of the cool things about it is the ability to give "timeline" comments during the course of the video. (To make comments on the Viddler site, you have to register. It's pretty easy to register. Thanks to Dr. Val for already leaving a Viddler comment!). Anyway, when I'm saying something, you can just place your comment anywhere in the midst of the clip - kind of like real-time commenting.
So, let me know what you think. I kind of like the B&W look to the video. Although, I think I have to work on the sound a bit. The sound is a tad bit on the low side for my taste. And the lighting - I should stop nitpicking. Anyway, give me some feedback here or on my Viddler site. Happy New Year 2008!
Happy New Year 2008
Just like last weekend, I'm taking a few blog days off this weekend. So, in advance, I'd like to wish everyone out there in blog land, a Happy New Year 2008! (Youtube video above)
This was my first calendar year of blogging, and I cannot believe that I have been blogging (off and on) for the past year and a half. Thanks to all of your out there who stop by and actually read what I have to write.
Thanks also to all the support that you have given to my radio show. I see big things for the show in 2008. And, hopefully, you'll be there to share those moments with me. Be safe this weekend, and I'll talk to you next week. Happy New Year!