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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 11-17-2008
Quote of the day: One cannot find peace in work or in pleasure, in the world or in a convent, but only in one's soul. W. Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965), The Painted Veil, 1925
Good morning ! Peace and quiet I left for my annual deer hunting trip on Nov 8. This is the first time that I have taken an entire week to commune with trees and all things that they surround. Between the preparation, actual hunting, and the processing I just ran out of time to post last week. I was able to have an adventure or two but most of those are stories for another time. I dropped my unloaded gun, barrel down from my tree stand so that the barrel stuck 12 inches into the mud. (I promise a safe hunt... not a stupid-free hunt) They next day the gun would not fire when I had a deer in my cross-hairs due to the previous incident. I guess I’ll just chalk it up to my newly discovered “catch and release” hunting technique. The hunting was still fun. Things will get back to “normal” next week. Until then, I hope that you enjoyed the peace and quiet as much as I did. =================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "It just doesn't get any better than this." My brother on opening day of deer season. pps. Please note that some of the links may not be up for very long and that you should capture or print anything that you may wish to keep. ------------
1) To catch a thief Earn a cool $1 by turning in a data thief who is threatening Express Scripts with the release of patient data unless ransom is paid. I expect that someone who knows something will step forward, not necessarily out of the goodness and kindness of their heart. FBI is on this one.
2) HPV vaccine prevents genital warts in males Look for approval of this vaccine (already approved for use in women) very soon. (of course there is always the “stump water cure”- Huck Finn. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_he_me/med_hpv_vaccine
3) Rescue inhalers must change Non-HFA asthma inhalers to be phased out by year’s end. The ozone layer will thank you. http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081110/hl_YF
4) Influenza vaccination reduces blood clots in those under age 52. This is a real benefit for those patients who are hospitalized or immobile because they are more prone to blodd clots due to inactivityThe real reason to get the flu shot is to prevent influenza but this is a nice, unexpected “side effect”. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/09/AR2008110901705.html
5) New cholesterol test is CRP That is C-reactive Protein elevations as a reason to start patients on high potency anti cholesterol drugs may be a needlessly costly practice. CRP could be evelavted by something as simple as gingivitis. Chew on THAT for awhile before you consider using statins in patients with no other risk factors of cholesterol elevations.
6) DTC spending down over 6% Now that the elections are over (for the most part) you would think that TV add time would be cheaper and more available. Drug companies have cut back on DTC advertizing for the second year in a row.
7) We all live in a yellow submarine Shades of Fantastic Voyage Batman… a miniature robot pill that acts like a submarine and can release medication at specific portions of the GI tract. AMAZING! http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/12/BU59142KNB.DTL
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve
Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2009 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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