Month: April 2021
Adverse Events Linked to Pediatric “Alternative Medicine” in the Netherlands
A study out of the Netherlands documented pediatric adverse events associated with complementary and alternative medicine over three years. Thankfully there weren't a lot of kids harmed, but when there is no potential benefit from an intervention, even one is way too many.
Ivermectin is the new hydroxychloroquine
Ivermectin has been touted as a potential antiviral to treat COVID-19 infections. There is no good evidence it is effective.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine and Blood Clots
Reports of blood clots with the J&J vaccine are very similar to AstraZeneca, with a similar dilemma.
Lose Weight without Diet or Exercise? Where’s the Proof?
Can an obese person lose 52 pounds in 28 days without diet or exercise, by simply taking this pill? Yeah, sure! Pull the other one!
COVID-19 vaccines versus “purity of essence”
Antivaxxers frequently make the false claim that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines "permanently alter your DNA". These claims are really a concern about "impurifying" their "purity of essence".
“Quack Protection Acts” proposed in state legislatures
Laws protecting "complementary and alternative" health care providers from state regulation have been proposed in several state legislatures under the rubric of "health freedom". These "Quack Protection Acts" harm consumers.
Update on AstraZeneca Vaccine and Blood Clots
A link between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and a rare type of blood clots is now more likely, but the benefits of vaccination still outweigh the risks.
A New Medication to Combat Obesity
New study in The New England Journal of Medicine finds impressive evidence that weekly semaglutide injections produce clinically significant weight loss as well as many other benefits, approaching the improvements seen with weight loss surgery. Not a definitive answer to obesity, but a very encouraging step in the right direction. Science works.
Antivaxxers, COVID-19 vaccines, and “hacking the software of life”
Antivaxxers and COVID-19 conspiracy theorists were always going to spin conspiracies about COVID-19 vaccines. Unfortunately, some scientists have made it so much easier for them by having likened mRNA vaccines to "hacking the software of life" and being unclear on what gene therapy is.
The Residency Match is Broken
The National Resident Matching Program (Match), the program to align med school applicants with their preferred residency program, is broken and filled with disincentives. The fix might be easy.