ppp 02-04-2008

Quote of the day: Preach not to others what they should eat, but eat as becomes you, and be silent.
Epictetus (55 AD - 135 AD)

Fat Tuesday (AKA Mardi Gras) is early this year. It marks the last day before ASH WEDNESDAY and the beginning of Lent. Because LENT is a period of FASTING and prayer an ingenious way of preparing the household was established. All of the fat and sugar in the house were collected and glorious confections were made and consumed. To make the fast easier, no more fat or sugar was purchased until toward Easter time. "…and lead us not into temptation…" was taken seriously. According to custom, the party is to stop at the stroke of Midnight. So why was a fast established in the first place? Some would say that if we can make ourselves "give up" good things on a voluntary basis then it will be easier to avoid temptations that are bad for us. In other words, "to be free from, to be free for". This should help me in my family version of "THE BIGGEST LOSER" competition with my sons which ends about mid May. Hopefully I'll be able to develop some good habits that will carry on after Lent... at least long enough to not gain anymore weight.

ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Happy as a clam"

pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience.

A forty city tour over 5 years sounds like a marathon rock tour but HHS has already embarked. They are urging doctors in large and small practices to convert their patient record system to an electronic format. I expect that the will first use the carrot system and reward those who do. Next comes the stick part where they refuse to reimburse physicians who do not. We will see.

If someone “kicked the bucket” it does not just mean that he died… it means he committed suicide. Back when wash bucket were made of wood or metal and strong enough to hold the weight of a person they were used as a platform. The rope was strung and the person kicked the bucket away to complete the deed. Appears that the FDA has found a link between increased suicidal ideation and anticonvulsants and wants to warn physicians.

If someone can find a more efficient way to provide services than the government and makes money at it, you can bet that Congress will think that they are paying them too much.

4) Chinese maker of American RU 486 injured or killed over 200 adults last year in China.

The state-owned pharmaceutical manufacturer in China who makes the American abortion pill, RU486, is in trouble. It made tainted cancer drugs that reached and injured Chinese citizens. Pfizer refuses to buy ingredients from them due to quality concerns. Several shipments to the USA have been seized because they were unapproved drugs or mislabeled. While everyone is saying that RU486 is made in a different plant, the company remains tainted. Calls for increased FDA inspections have gone unanswered.

In a move toward full disclosure, John McCain released medical records showing that he takes Vytorin, aspirin and occasional allergy medicine. I wonder what prescription drugs would show up on the profiles of the other candidates and what might show up in urine

Lindane kills lice. Lindane often requires a second application to kill all newly hatched lice from the first body inhabitants. Lindane is a toxic substance that is only available via prescription, from a doctor who can weigh the risks vs benefits. California bans the use of lindane shampoo. Michigan and Minnesota are considering a ban too… until legislators get lice or scabies.

Heparin from one manufacturer has caused twice the ADRs in one month than are normally reported annually. Lot numbers and details are in the link.

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