Shahram Ahari, who spent two years selling Prozac and Zypraxa for Eli Lily, told a Senate Committee that his job involved "rewarding physicians with gifts and attention for their allegiance to your product and company despite what may be ethically appropriate."
Ahari claimed that drug companies often hire former cheerleaders and ex-models, as well as former athletes and members of the military, even if they have no background in science. "On my first day of sales class, among 21 trainees and two instructors, I was the only one with any level of college-level science education," said Ahari.
During their five-week training class, Ahari was taught sales tactics, including how to exceed spending limits for important clients, how to be generous with free samples to leverage sales, how to use friendships and personal gifts to foster a "quid pro quo" relationship, and how to exploit sexual tension.
Ahari claims that he's heard stories about sales reps helping to pay the cost of a doctor's swimming pool, or taking a doctor to a nightclub where a hostess was paid to keep him company.
Sources:
* ABC News March 12, 2008
18 March 2008
The Danger of Excessive Childhood Vaccinations
By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D.
In 1976, children received 10 vaccines before attending school. Today they will receive over 36 injections. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control assured parents that it was safe to not only give these vaccines, but that they could be given at one time with complete safety.
Is this true? Or are we being lied to on a grand scale?
The medical establishment has created a set of terms, which they use constantly to boost their egos and firm up their authority as the unique holders of medical wisdom -- the mantra is “evidence-based medicine”, as if everything outside their anointing touch is bogus and suspect.
A careful examination of many of the accepted treatments reveals that most have little or no scientific “evidence-based” data to support it. One often repeated study found that almost 80 percent of medical practice had no scientific backing.
I find it interesting that there exist an incredible double standard when it comes to our evidence versus theirs. The proponents of vaccination safety can just say they are safe, without any supporting evidence what-so-ever, and it is to be accepted without question.
Yet, let me, or anyone else, suggest that excessive vaccination can increase the risk of not only autism, but also schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases, and they will scream like banshees – Where is the evidence? Where is the evidence?
When we produce study after study, they always proclaim them to be insufficient evidence or unacceptable studies.
More often than not, they just completely ignore the evidence. This is despite the fact that we produce dozens or even hundreds of studies that not only demonstrate the link clinically and scientifically, but also clearly show the mechanism by which the damage is being done -- even on a molecular level. These include cell culture studies, mixed cell cultures, organotypic tissue studies, in vivo animal studies using multiple species and even human studies. To the defenders of vaccine safety -- our evidence is never sufficient and, if we face reality -- never will be.
The Autism Disaster: Is it Man Made?
In the early 1980s, the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000 births. By 2005, the incidence had leaped to 1 in 250 births, and today it is 1 in 150 births and still climbing.
One of the strongest links to this terrible set of disorders was a drastic change in the vaccine programs of the United States and many other countries, which included a dramatic increase in the number of vaccines being given at a very early age. No other explanation has been forthcoming from the medical elite.
In this paper I shall present evidence, some of which has not been adequately discussed, that provides a connection between excessive vaccination and neurodevelopmental disorders.
I urge you to read Dr. Blaylock’s full-length article, The Danger of Excessive Vaccination During Brain Development: The Case for a Link to Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Mercola.com exclusive, for a in-depth understanding of how childhood vaccinations can damage your child’s brain, resulting in autism.
In 1976, children received 10 vaccines before attending school. Today they will receive over 36 injections. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control assured parents that it was safe to not only give these vaccines, but that they could be given at one time with complete safety.
Is this true? Or are we being lied to on a grand scale?
The medical establishment has created a set of terms, which they use constantly to boost their egos and firm up their authority as the unique holders of medical wisdom -- the mantra is “evidence-based medicine”, as if everything outside their anointing touch is bogus and suspect.
A careful examination of many of the accepted treatments reveals that most have little or no scientific “evidence-based” data to support it. One often repeated study found that almost 80 percent of medical practice had no scientific backing.
I find it interesting that there exist an incredible double standard when it comes to our evidence versus theirs. The proponents of vaccination safety can just say they are safe, without any supporting evidence what-so-ever, and it is to be accepted without question.
Yet, let me, or anyone else, suggest that excessive vaccination can increase the risk of not only autism, but also schizophrenia and neurodegenerative diseases, and they will scream like banshees – Where is the evidence? Where is the evidence?
When we produce study after study, they always proclaim them to be insufficient evidence or unacceptable studies.
More often than not, they just completely ignore the evidence. This is despite the fact that we produce dozens or even hundreds of studies that not only demonstrate the link clinically and scientifically, but also clearly show the mechanism by which the damage is being done -- even on a molecular level. These include cell culture studies, mixed cell cultures, organotypic tissue studies, in vivo animal studies using multiple species and even human studies. To the defenders of vaccine safety -- our evidence is never sufficient and, if we face reality -- never will be.
The Autism Disaster: Is it Man Made?
In the early 1980s, the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000 births. By 2005, the incidence had leaped to 1 in 250 births, and today it is 1 in 150 births and still climbing.
One of the strongest links to this terrible set of disorders was a drastic change in the vaccine programs of the United States and many other countries, which included a dramatic increase in the number of vaccines being given at a very early age. No other explanation has been forthcoming from the medical elite.
In this paper I shall present evidence, some of which has not been adequately discussed, that provides a connection between excessive vaccination and neurodevelopmental disorders.
I urge you to read Dr. Blaylock’s full-length article, The Danger of Excessive Vaccination During Brain Development: The Case for a Link to Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Mercola.com exclusive, for a in-depth understanding of how childhood vaccinations can damage your child’s brain, resulting in autism.
Meat Packer Admits Slaughter of Diseased Cows
At first, Steve Mendell, president of the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company, denied under oath that his company had apparently introduced sick cows into the hamburger supply. But then he grudgingly admitted it was the case.
Mendell said, “I was shocked. I was horrified. I was sickened,” by video that showed employees kicking or using electric prods on “downer” cattle that were too sick to walk.
Mr. Mendell first told lawmakers that sick animals were not slaughtered for food, so no safety issue existed. But he retracted the statement when shown a second video in which a “downer” cow was shocked and abused by workers trying to move it to the “kill box.” They finally shot it with a bolt gun and dragged it by a chain to the processing area.
Sources:
* New York Times March 13, 2008
Mendell said, “I was shocked. I was horrified. I was sickened,” by video that showed employees kicking or using electric prods on “downer” cattle that were too sick to walk.
Mr. Mendell first told lawmakers that sick animals were not slaughtered for food, so no safety issue existed. But he retracted the statement when shown a second video in which a “downer” cow was shocked and abused by workers trying to move it to the “kill box.” They finally shot it with a bolt gun and dragged it by a chain to the processing area.
Sources:
* New York Times March 13, 2008
Breast-Feeding Curbs Type 2 Diabetes
Breast-fed babies are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes when they reach adolescence, according to recent findings.
The researchers used a subset of data from a larger study. Their analysis included 80 subjects with type 2 diabetes who were matched to more than twice as many control subjects who were free of the disease.
The breast-feeding rate was lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The protective effect was in large part attributable to the ability of breast-feeding to moderate childhood weight.
Sources:
* Reuters March 13, 2008
The researchers used a subset of data from a larger study. Their analysis included 80 subjects with type 2 diabetes who were matched to more than twice as many control subjects who were free of the disease.
The breast-feeding rate was lower in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The protective effect was in large part attributable to the ability of breast-feeding to moderate childhood weight.
Sources:
* Reuters March 13, 2008
Antibiotics Are No Good for Sinusitis
About 90 percent of people with sinusitis are prescribed antibiotics. But an analysis of nine trials has shown the drugs make no difference, even if the patient has been ill for more than seven days.
Sinusitis is very common, with 1 to 5 percent of adults diagnosed every year. It can cause high temperature, pain and tenderness in the face and forehead, and a blocked or runny nose.
It had been thought that a lengthy illness of this type could indicate a bacterial, rather than viral, infection -- which could presumably be cured with antibiotics. But the research showed that 15 patients would need to be treated before even one would be cured with antibiotics.
Sources:
* BBC News March 14, 2008
Sinusitis is very common, with 1 to 5 percent of adults diagnosed every year. It can cause high temperature, pain and tenderness in the face and forehead, and a blocked or runny nose.
It had been thought that a lengthy illness of this type could indicate a bacterial, rather than viral, infection -- which could presumably be cured with antibiotics. But the research showed that 15 patients would need to be treated before even one would be cured with antibiotics.
Sources:
* BBC News March 14, 2008
11 March 2008
Major New Discovery to Predict Colon Cancer Earlier
An easily overlooked colon abnormality turns out to be likely to turn cancerous. It is more common than had previously been thought.
Generally, doctors search for polyps, abnormal growths that stick out from the lining of the colon. But another type of growth is both more dangerous and harder to see because it is flat and similar in color to healthy tissue.
It takes a trained and vigilant eye to see these growths, and special techniques to remove them.
Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, causing about 52,000 deaths a year. It is one of the few cancers that is totally preventable if precancerous growths are found and removed.
Sources:
* New York Times March 5, 2008
Generally, doctors search for polyps, abnormal growths that stick out from the lining of the colon. But another type of growth is both more dangerous and harder to see because it is flat and similar in color to healthy tissue.
It takes a trained and vigilant eye to see these growths, and special techniques to remove them.
Colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, causing about 52,000 deaths a year. It is one of the few cancers that is totally preventable if precancerous growths are found and removed.
Sources:
* New York Times March 5, 2008
Why Fermented Soy is Better
Two new studies have show that fermenting soy dramatically reduces its potential allergenicity, and also increases the number of essential amino acids in soy products.
When soy products were fermented, immunoreactivity was reduced by as much as 99 percent, according to tests that compared the blood plasma reactions for both fermented and unfermented soy products.
Fermentation had also improved the essential amino acid composition in the soy products and produced new peptides that may be beneficial. This was attributed to partial digestion of large soybean peptides by enzymes secreted by the microorganisms used in fermentation.
Sources:
* Science Daily March 6, 2008
When soy products were fermented, immunoreactivity was reduced by as much as 99 percent, according to tests that compared the blood plasma reactions for both fermented and unfermented soy products.
Fermentation had also improved the essential amino acid composition in the soy products and produced new peptides that may be beneficial. This was attributed to partial digestion of large soybean peptides by enzymes secreted by the microorganisms used in fermentation.
Sources:
* Science Daily March 6, 2008
Food Quality Risks are Affecting the Global Food Supply Chain
A new study has shown the potential for contamination of globally sourced foods and proposes a conceptual framework of supply chain quality management.
The study utilized information from trends of U.S. food imports from China and subsequent recall events to highlight the inherent risks posed by global food supply chains. Problems arise when pursuit of profit is not held in check by regulatory forces.
The study argues that “adding on inspections and stricter regulations alone may be neither sustainable nor effective in the long run.” The authors suggest following a conceptual framework called the “6Ts” of supply chain quality management -- traceability, transparency, testability, time, trust, and training.
Sources:
* Science Daily March 6, 2008
The study utilized information from trends of U.S. food imports from China and subsequent recall events to highlight the inherent risks posed by global food supply chains. Problems arise when pursuit of profit is not held in check by regulatory forces.
The study argues that “adding on inspections and stricter regulations alone may be neither sustainable nor effective in the long run.” The authors suggest following a conceptual framework called the “6Ts” of supply chain quality management -- traceability, transparency, testability, time, trust, and training.
Sources:
* Science Daily March 6, 2008
Obese Girls 50 Percent Less Likely to Attend College
It is well known that a college education helps reduce the probability of obesity. But research now shows that obese girls are 50 percent less likely to attend college, which may put them in a downward spiral of obesity, health problems and low income.
The author of the study, sociologist Robert Crosno, said that, “Obese girls were less likely to enter college after high school than were their non-obese peers, especially when they attended schools in which obesity was relatively uncommon.”
The study looked at data for 11,000 adolescents from 128 schools. The goal of the research was to study how obesity predicts maladjustment. The study also found that obese girls had higher class failure and self-rejection.
Sources:
* The Business Shrink March 6, 2008
The author of the study, sociologist Robert Crosno, said that, “Obese girls were less likely to enter college after high school than were their non-obese peers, especially when they attended schools in which obesity was relatively uncommon.”
The study looked at data for 11,000 adolescents from 128 schools. The goal of the research was to study how obesity predicts maladjustment. The study also found that obese girls had higher class failure and self-rejection.
Sources:
* The Business Shrink March 6, 2008
4 March 2008
Dietary intake and the development of the metabolic syndrome: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.
The ARIC study is very interesting. This was a prospective study of nearly 9,500 middle-aged adults. About 40% of the subjects developed MetS. There was about a 15% higher incidence of Metabolic Syndrome in those eating a "Western diet" pattern (increased red and processed meats, fried food, soda, and refined grain products with low intakes of vegetables, fruits,whole grains, and fish. Eating 1-2 servings of meat per day was associated with a 20-25% higher risk of Metabolic syndrome compared with 1/4th serving per day. Eating fried foods each day was also associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome; the highest quartile of fried food intake was associated with 25% greater risk. Participants who drank 1 serving of diet soda a day had 34% increased risk of the MetS compared with those who did not drink diet sodas. A recent study from Framingham showed that there was a 56% increased risk for MetS among those consuming >1 diet soda a day. Dairy consumption afforded some protection. Persons in the highest quartile of dairy consumption had a 13% lower risk. --Roger S. Blumenthal, MD
Posted on 2008-02-24 12:12:22.577
Posted on 2008-02-24 12:12:22.577
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)