SOME REALLY NICE PICTURES

The World's Cutest picture

 The World's most beautiful picture

 

 Almost the World's cutest picture

 

A picture that makes me kind of sad

 

Trapped inside by foul weather and gloom, I have been passing time by actually reading all of the ridiculously expensive Wall Street Journal that appears in my driveway each morning.   Normally I just read the front section, then search for a sports story – and then quickly cast the whole thing in my recycle box while feeling vaguely guilty for wasting so much money and so many trees.  However, today I discovered something that may be of interest to many of you, especially those among you who are certain that Big Pharma is ripping us off.  It is a Journal  blog, named “Pharmalot”, which deals with all manner of stuff regarding big drug companies.  Today’s column is a discussion of why some people say it cost an average of $2.7 billion to bring new drugs o market, and why lots of people feel that’s baloney.  It’s worth reading, if you have time to burn.  To read Pharmalot, just request it under that name on Google.

The main reason for this blog is to post some nice pictures to tide you over while I’m in transit.



SOME ENJOYABLE BIOLOGY

Reading to Simon Hunsinger

 

Last week’s paper edition of The Economist contained three bio-related articles that you might enjoy.  The first is a painless discussion of how simple prokaryote cells (e.g., bacteria) may have evolved into the more complex eukaryotic cells that make up us and nearly everything else.  The second asks you to review your heartfelt but perhaps unreasoning distrust of GMO foods, and the third answers that age-old human question: “Which is more complicated the brain or the testicle?”  You may have to “join” the Economist to see these articles but don’t despair – it is easy, and free.

Here are the web addresses:

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21630959-how-complex-cells-evolved-mystery-new-idea-may-come-close

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21630961-biggest-study-so-far-finds-gm-crops-have-large-widespread-benefits-field

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21630958-new-chart-bodys-composition-balls-and-brains

It is very cold in Bellingham these days, and my shingles give me an excuse to stay inside and watch football.

 



SAGE ADVICE FROM THE AARP (of all places)

Where the heck is this?

Looks like the Appalachians, but was she ever there?

 

From time to time over the last several years I have mulled over the collateral problems that arise from attempts to detect various cancers in their early – usually most curable – stage.  At first glance, early detection would seem to be an unmitigated blessing - it saves lives.  And it would be an unmitigated blessing if these “early warning” tests were 100% reliable, but of course they’re not.  False positives are inevitable (these are human procedures, after all), and false positives almost inevitably give rise to needless worry and expense.  Sometimes these collateral difficulties can be so severe that august bodies like the USPSTF recommend against the procedure except under special circumstances (see my first prostate cancer blog:

http://ljb-quiltcutie.blogspot.com/2012/03/for-men-only-prostate-cancer-wars.html

 and a good many – probably too many – follow-ups).  Because of these cautions, any advice that can lower costs and reduce anxiety is welcome.  So – AARP brings you this piece of wisdom, courtesy of Linda’s sister Carolyn.   All women should read it; you never know when it will come in handy.

8. Follow-up ultrasounds for small ovarian cysts

Many women receive repeated ultrasounds to verify that ovarian cysts have not become cancerous, but current research says that these tests aren't necessary. For one thing, premenopausal women have harmless ovarian cysts regularly. For another, about 20 percent of postmenopausal women also develop harmless cysts.

"The likelihood of these small simple cysts ever becoming cancer is exceedingly low," says Deborah Levine, chair of the American College of Radiology Commission on Ultrasound and a professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School.

In postmenopausal women, only cysts larger than 1 centimeter in diameter need a follow-up ultrasound. For premenopausal women, who typically have benign cysts every month when they ovulate, cysts smaller than 3 centimeters aren't even worth mentioning in the radiologist's report, says Levine.

Here is the link:  http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2014/choosing-wisely-medical-tests-to-avoid.3.html

The quotation above is #8 on this list, but the other 9 are worth reading, too.

My shingles are better, and the Seahawks pulled it out.



DIET REARS ITS UGLY HEAD

Us, somewhere warm

A long time ago

As you know, I am a little skeptical about the role of diet in health, and especially in cancer prevention (& cure).  Maybe I should do some serious  reconsideration.

I say this because three articles published recently make a good case for the role of a “good” diet in the prevention of epithelial ovarian cancer.  They were “retrospective” statistical studies, based on very large data sets.  By “retrospective” is meant that a group of people are followed over many years, via questionnaires, lab tests, etc., and when they finally die (or funding for the study runs out!), the investigator traces back to see how each life was led, and what resulted.  Thus, say 100,000 women were followed for fifteen years.  Of these, 300 died of ovarian cancer.  These 300 are: “matched” with 300 women who didn’t contract the disease – “matched” in the sense of similar age, race, ethnic background, economic circumstances, etc..  Then the question is asked: “Is there a conspicuous lifestyle difference between the two groups?”  Or something like that.  Inevitably, fancy statistics are applied. 

So, what are the results?   Well, it appears that diet does matter.  The “flavonoids” in black tea come in for special commendation.  They also are found in citrus fruit.  Fats, refined grains, and alcohol are to be cast into outer darkness – except for red wine, which is good.   The advice, in a nutshell (and I quote):  “In any case, your best bet is probably to maintain a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

Here are the articles”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/16/us-ovarian-cancer-diet-idUSKCN0I52TP20141016

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284535.php

http://www.medicaldaily.com/ovarian-cancer-risk-drops-diet-rich-citrus-fruits-and-tea-308147

Just so you know: The Seahawks are trailing, and my shingles still hurt like hell.



MORE TIME AND MONEY SHOT TO HELL

Cairo, central market

You could get lost in there and never be seen again!

 

Here is a depressing little article about ovarian-cancer drugs:

http://news.yahoo.com/amgen-ovarian-cancer-drug-fails-improve-overall-survival-145137227--finance.html

It is depressing because it failed, and even more so that it aimed so low.  The goal was to extend “progression-free survival” to a statistically significant degree.  No mention of overall survival, no mention of cure.  More money , time and talent  down the rat-hole.