Category: Clinical Trials
What the New York Times gets wrong about puberty blockers for transgender youth
The New York Times recently published an article expressing grave concern about the use of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria in transgender adolescents. Unfortunately, the reporting ignored evidence and important context to weave a narrative portraying puberty blockers as far more risky than they actually are.
ASCO endorses “integrative oncology” quackery for cancer pain
Last week, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society for Integrative Oncology published guidelines for treating cancer pain. These guidelines endorsed quackery like reflexology and acupuncture. The infiltration of quackademic medicine continues apace in oncology.
The Beekeeper: Sentinel Chicken?
Bee venom. Will it help Andy's rheumatism? Doubtful
Medicare and Alternative Medicine
Medicare is paying for nonsense.
Aromatase inhibitors and acupuncture in breast cancer: Spinning a negative study, four years later
Four years ago, I wrote about an essentially negative study looking at whether acupuncture could alleviate joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors, a common treatment for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer. The study's back, and it doesn't look any more positive.
Study – For Lowering Cholesterol, Statins Work, Supplements Don’t
A study comparing a statin drug and six common supplements to placebo shows that only the drug lowers bad cholesterol.
Some Sepsis Stuff
Sepsis interventions. Some don't work and some don't work.
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t prevent transmission: Antivax disinformation goes viral again
Last week, antivaxxers were all over social media after Tucker Carlson touted a "revelation" that the phase 3 clinical trial used to support licensure of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine didn't examine its ability to block transmission as meaning that its inability to block transmission had been "covered up". It wasn't, and antivaxxers are ignoring everything we've learned over the last two years...
FDA Approves Controversial ALS Drug – Relyvrio
A close look a the FDA approval of Relyvrio.
The Polypill Comes of Age
The polypill is effective for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. By combining drugs in a single pill, it improves convenience and compliance.