ppp 05-26-09

Quote of the day:

It is not unseemly for a man to die fighting in defense of his country.

Homer (800 BC - 700 BC), The Iliad

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This poem was penned in 1915 after a particularly bloody battle by a physician in the Canadian armed service. A complete history of the poem is included in the website below.

I hope you take the time to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Alternatively, you could thanks those in the armed services now for their present sacrifices in leaving behind friends, family and comfort so we can live freely.

pps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow. “ a speech therapist who obviously listens to the “oldies” station.

ppps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that

The “user fees” that the FDA charges to drug companies to make the process run faster will be going up again. Acting commissioner feels impelled to explain the rise. I can do it in two words: Mo’ Money!

The rate of amputations in diabetics taking Tricor (fenofibrate) was down by 47% compared to those not taking the drug. Does not appear to be related to blood lipid levels. With 1 in 10 diabetics requiring at least one amputation this is a real positive although the drug did not reduce the rate of heart attacks in the study mentioned.

Doctors at the WFMC (World Famous Mayo Clinic for you non-gophers) have calculated that Manic Depression is the costliest chronic disease… more expensive that heart disease, diabetes, or asthma alone. It was only when patients had both coronary artery disease and diabetes did care cost beat mania.

Lithium carbonate, used to treat manic depression since 1949, may be going up in price as the world looks to lithium batteries to replace fossil fuel in powering automobiles. Drug is mined in Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and China.

The Canadian nuclear reactor that produces most of the world’s supply of the radioactive compound, Cobalt 60 (used to treat cancer patients) went off-line due to a heavy water leak. This down time will produce a world wide shortage that will last about 30 days. About 76,000 people a day will be affected! Article talks about other radiopharmaceutical too.

The use of “statins” (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Etc) can reduce the incidence of a second stroke by 37% in patients who have already had one stoke. Second strokes usually result in more damage and mortality so prevention is important. Deaths over 10 years were reduced by 57%.

Sadly the website, Pharmalot, has folded “after 2 glorious years” on January 5^th of 2009. Sorry I was late to this story… I was busy writing the Prattle. His last entry and access to his archives are contained on the site.

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