Month: April 2020

The p-hackers toolkit

P-hacking is a common and persistent problem in research, with impacts on the scientific literature, reporting, and practice in medicine. But what is it, really?

/ April 30, 2020

Stroke in COVID-19 Patients

A case series of five patients with COVID-19 and young strokes sparks many questions.

/ April 29, 2020

Chaga Tea

Chaga tea is made from a mushroom that rots birch trees. Health benefits are claimed on the basis of folk medicine, but there isn't a shred of scientific evidence.

/ April 28, 2020
Hydroxychloroquine

Hydroxychloroquine and the price of abandoning of science- and evidence-based medicine

Based on anecdotal evidence early in the pandemic and then-unreported clinical trials, followed by hype and bad studies by French "brave maverick doctor" Didier Raoult, antimalarial drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine became the de facto standard of care for COVID-19, despite no rigorous evidence that they worked. A steady drip-drip-drip of negative studies has led doctors and health authorities to rethink and backtrack,...

/ April 27, 2020

The Wisdom of Third Molar Removal

In the Olden Times (ten or so years ago), the indication for third molar (aka “wisdom teeth”) removal was the presence of wisdom teeth. Now, oral surgeons are rethinking things.

/ April 24, 2020

FDA issues new CBD safety warnings, calls for more research to guide regulation

The FDA recently warned the public about CBD health risks and urged further research. Meanwhile, special interest groups are pressing Congress and the FDA for quick action to allow CBD in dietary supplements and other consumer products.

/ April 23, 2020

No – COVID-19 Is Not Just a “Bad Flu”

By any measure, COVID-19 is more than just a bad flu season, which is pretty bad to begin with.

/ April 22, 2020

Fixed Dose Combination Drugs: Consensi Is a Bad Example

Consensi combines two drugs for high blood pressure and osteoarthritis. That doesn't make sense, and it costs $12,000 a year more than taking the individual components.

/ April 21, 2020
COVID-19 denial and antivaxxers

COVID-19 pandemic deniers and the antivaccine movement: An unholy alliance

Deniers of the severity of COVID-19 as a disease and pandemic have increasingly teamed up with the antivaccine movement, emulating their rhetoric, conspiracy theories, and tactics. The effect on public health is likely to be disastrous.

/ April 20, 2020
Prescription Drugs

More drug shortages due to COVID-19

COVID-19 is worsening a long-standing problem: Drug shortages

/ April 16, 2020