Category: Science and Medicine
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections: Lots of hype, no convincing evidence
Platelet-rich plasma injections are advertised as an expensive cure-all for sport injuries. The evidence, however, is consistently negative.
Electromagnetic healing devices for dogs: Studies show “Meh”
Does a pulsed electromagnetic field device work to help dogs recover from surgery? The answer is below. Spoiler alert: The answer is "probably not".
Hydrogen Water Is Not “the New Nutrient;” Health Claims Are Hype, Not Science.
A new fad, drinking hydrogen water, claims to provide all kinds of health benefits. The scientific evidence isn't there.
Vaccines in the News: The Good, the Bad, and the Imminent Loss of Our Measles Elimination Status
A quick recap of vaccine-related news from over the past several weeks.
There’s No Vaccine for HIV/AIDS, But There’s Truvada
Science has made great strides in understanding, treating, and preventing HIV/AIDS. We can hope for an AIDS vaccine, but meanwhile there is a pill that can markedly reduce the risk of becoming infected.
Vaping is Bad: Respiratory Illness, Banning Flavors, and Bad Behavior
Recent reports on the impact of vaping-associated respiratory illnesses are raising concerns about flavored e-cigarettes, and vaping in general. Adding to the problems are some rather draconian measures being implemented by some schools to "protect" students.
The Verdict is In: There is No Justice for Ezekiel Stephan
Ezekiel Stephan died from bacterial meningitis and his parents' failure to seek appropriate medical care in 2012, and now they have been acquitted after the Supreme Court of Canada ordered a new trial. It appears that there may be no justice for Ezekiel.
A British Teenager is Blind, But Not Because of Junk Food or “Fussy Eating”
A recent case report about a British teenager blinded by severe nutritional deficiencies resulted in widespread media coverage, much of which missed the point. He wasn't blinded by junk food and he wasn't just a fussy eater.
Chris Beat Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide to Making a Killing
Chris Wark has a new book out, with the unsurprising title of Chris Beat Cancer. It purports to be a guide to beating cancer. It's not.
One reason mouse studies often don’t translate to humans very well
Mouse models are often used as preclinical models of human disease, but the number of drugs that succeed in mice but go on to be approved as a drug for humans is only about one in ten. A new study comparing gene expression in the cells of human brains with those of mouse brains provides new insight into why.