Month: October 2008
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The Plant Liberation Front
Gautam Naik covers an interesting development in Switzerland. Scientists there must now justify the ethics of genetic research on plants: Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with…
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Disaster—McCain’s health care plan will ruin us all
As a physician, I have a lot of politically conservative colleagues. Much of this stems from our experience with the government. The influence of Medicare helps set prices, which we are not at liberty to change, and affects how we practice. On the other hand, Medicare is usually pretty good at paying its bills—except when…
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A big problem for diabetics
I’ve written quite a bit about diabetes here and at my old blog, and I’ve explained to you how controlling blood pressure and cholesterol in diabetics prevents macrovascular disease, such as heart attack and stroke. I’ve also explained how controlling blood sugar prevents microvascular disease such as kidney failure and blindness. In type II diabetics,…
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Obesity and health—a quick primer
Still coughing and tired, so here’s another one I’m migrating from the old blog. –PalMD There has been much talk in the media over the last few years about the “obesity epidemic” in the U.S. This has led to a bit of a backlash among a small but vocal group of critics who don’t believe…
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It burns! It burns!
Yes, I’m still migrating posts from the old blog, but don’t worry, I’ll run out eventually. –PalMD So maybe homeopathy (the use of water to treat disease) isn’t strong enough for you. Maybe isn’t doesn’t have that certain…je ne sais qois…um…that sizzle. I have the solution for you! Just add another oxygen molecule! Water Pl+s!®…
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Worst. Paper. Ever.
Yesterday, we looked at how real science works; today, in a repost from my old blog, we look at some really bad science. –PalMD I’ve been meaning to touch on “Morgellons disease” (a form of delusional parasitosis) for a while, but haven’t figured out how to approach it. Thankfully, others have. In the first referenced…
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Exciting news on the HIV front
In my earlier post about HIV therapy (a post I strongly recommend), I wrote, “After entering a cell (never mind how for now), HIV needs to find a way to makes copies of itself, which requires DNA.” Because of some recently released data, it’s time to look at how HIV enters the cell, and to…
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A cup of…?
As I continue to fight the good fight against my first respiratory infection of the season, I will serve you a few portions of learnin’ from the old blog. –PalMD Cupping goes back millennia. In the U.S., the marks of cupping are often seen in immigrant communities, particularly those from Southeast Asia, and are often…
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Diabetic foot disease
As I continue to fight the good fight against my first respiratory infection of the season, I will serve you a few portions of learnin’ from the old blog. –PalMD We’ve spoken a bit lately of the micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Let’s see what that means in real life. One of the most…