Richard Franki

Median compensation for psychiatrists in group practice increased 4.6% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Psychiatrists’ income rose from $191,267 in 2009 to $199,996 in 2010; median income for all specialists was $356,885, an increase of 9.5% from 2009. Primary care physicians saw their compensation rise from $191,401 in 2009 to $202,392 in 2010 – almost 6%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, psychiatrists’ median compensation has risen by 7.5%, while income for all specialists has gone up by 11% and primary care physicians’ income has increased by 18%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers. The MGMA lists highlights of the survey in its In Practice blog.

Median compensation for psychiatrists in group practice increased 4.6% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Psychiatrists’ income rose from $191,267 in 2009 to $199,996 in 2010; median income for all specialists was $356,885, an increase of 9.5% from 2009. Primary care physicians saw their compensation rise from $191,401 in 2009 to $202,392 in 2010 – almost 6%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, psychiatrists’ median compensation has risen by 7.5%, while income for all specialists has gone up by 11% and primary care physicians’ income has increased by 18%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers. The MGMA lists highlights of the survey in its In Practice blog.

Median compensation for psychiatrists in group practice increased 4.6% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Psychiatrists’ income rose from $191,267 in 2009 to $199,996 in 2010; median income for all specialists was $356,885, an increase of 9.5% from 2009. Primary care physicians saw their compensation rise from $191,401 in 2009 to $202,392 in 2010 – almost 6%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, psychiatrists’ median compensation has risen by 7.5%, while income for all specialists has gone up by 11% and primary care physicians’ income has increased by 18%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers. The MGMA lists highlights of the survey in its In Practice blog.

Median compensation for internists in group practice rose 4.2% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Internists’ income rose from $197,080 in 2009 to $202,393 in 2010, while median income for all primary care physicians was $202,392 in 2010, an increase of 5.7% from $191,401 in 2009. Median compensation for all specialists rose from $325,916 to $356,885 – about 9.5%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, internists’ median compensation has risen by 13%, while overall primary care income has gone up by 18% and income for all specialists has increased by about 11%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers.

Median compensation for internists in group practice rose 4.2% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Internists’ income rose from $197,080 in 2009 to $202,393 in 2010, while median income for all primary care physicians was $202,392 in 2010, an increase of 5.7% from $191,401 in 2009. Median compensation for all specialists rose from $325,916 to $356,885 – about 9.5%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, internists’ median compensation has risen by 13%, while overall primary care income has gone up by 18% and income for all specialists has increased by about 11%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers.

Median compensation for internists in group practice rose 4.2% from 2009 to 2010, according to a survey conducted by the Medical Group Management Association.

Internists’ income rose from $197,080 in 2009 to $202,393 in 2010, while median income for all primary care physicians was $202,392 in 2010, an increase of 5.7% from $191,401 in 2009. Median compensation for all specialists rose from $325,916 to $356,885 – about 9.5%, the MGMA reported.

Since 2006, internists’ median compensation has risen by 13%, while overall primary care income has gone up by 18% and income for all specialists has increased by about 11%.

The 2010 edition of the annual survey, conducted among MGMA members and nonmembers, includes data from 2,846 group practices representing 59,375 physician and nonphysician providers.

H1N1: What Would Bacteria Do?

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria, he noted, “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

What is the meaning of life? Nature or nurture? These questions may never be answered, but Australian researchers have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–83). Although average pain scores were lower for women (0.91) than men (1.64), scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. This release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus™ promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

The survey shows that 98.9% of “Americans” like Santa Claus™ just the way he is. “It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch the CEO elf.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard the accounting elf among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States) during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

H1N1: What Would Bacteria Do?

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria, he noted, “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

What is the meaning of life? Nature or nurture? These questions may never be answered, but Australian researchers have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–83). Although average pain scores were lower for women (0.91) than men (1.64), scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. This release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus™ promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

The survey shows that 98.9% of “Americans” like Santa Claus™ just the way he is. “It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch the CEO elf.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard the accounting elf among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States) during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

H1N1: What Would Bacteria Do?

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria, he noted, “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

What is the meaning of life? Nature or nurture? These questions may never be answered, but Australian researchers have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–83). Although average pain scores were lower for women (0.91) than men (1.64), scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. This release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus™ promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

The survey shows that 98.9% of “Americans” like Santa Claus™ just the way he is. “It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch the CEO elf.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard the accounting elf among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States) during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

H1N1: The Bacteria Edition

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news. … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria have been around a long time—about 4 billion years longer than humans. Prof. Ben-Jacob said they “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on Earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

Some questions may never be answered, but researchers at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–3). Scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

'Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. Please note that this release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

NORTH POLE — A majority of “Americans” believe that Santa Claus™ is an overall positive influence on children, according to new survey findings.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

“It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch, the CEO elf. “Let's see Dr. Grills travel around the world in one night on a bicycle.”

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard, the accounting elf, among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States, its territories, or possessions). Interviewing was completed during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

H1N1: The Bacteria Edition

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news. … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria have been around a long time—about 4 billion years longer than humans. Prof. Ben-Jacob said they “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on Earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

Some questions may never be answered, but researchers at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–3). Scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

'Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. Please note that this release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

NORTH POLE — A majority of “Americans” believe that Santa Claus™ is an overall positive influence on children, according to new survey findings.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

“It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch, the CEO elf. “Let's see Dr. Grills travel around the world in one night on a bicycle.”

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard, the accounting elf, among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States, its territories, or possessions). Interviewing was completed during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

H1N1: The Bacteria Edition

Physicians who oppose H1N1 vaccination are in the minority, but their position is supported by an unlikely ally—bacteria, said Prof. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a physicist at Tel Aviv University. “Unlike our health authorities, bacteria would never panic. Bacteria don't follow the media or watch cable news. … And based on what we've seen in bacterial colonies, I know they would be suspicious committing to swine flu shots,” he said in a statement released by the American Friends of Tel Aviv University. In a recent study, Prof. Ben-Jacob and his associates explored the decision-making processes of bacteria (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009;106:21027–34). Bacteria have been around a long time—about 4 billion years longer than humans. Prof. Ben-Jacob said they “don't take risks like we do, and the results have paid off. They are supersuccessful, more than any creature on Earth. They wouldn't abuse the stock market and would never invest beyond their means. I am also pretty sure most would not rush to get the flu shot.”

Duh-partment of the Obvious

Some questions may never be answered, but researchers at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia, have put a few minds at ease by uncovering the least painful way to remove a Band-Aid. The 65 subjects rated the pain of quick removal at 0.92 on a 1–11 scale, compared with 1.58 for slow removal (Med. J. Aust. 2009;191:682–3). Scores were higher in those with more body hair, according to

www.dailytelegraph.com.au

'Twas the Day After Christmas

This press release is intended for physicians and analysts/investors. Please note that this release may not have been issued in every market in which santaCLAUS Inc. operates.

NORTH POLE — A majority of “Americans” believe that Santa Claus™ is an overall positive influence on children, according to new survey findings.

In his analysis “Santa Claus: A Public Health Pariah” (BMJ 2009;339:b5261), Dr. Nathan Grills said that the current image of Santa Claus promotes obesity, drinking and driving, speeding, and a general unhealthy lifestyle. Dr. Grills of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, suggested that Santa should slim down, stop eating all the goodies people leave for him, and swap his reindeer for a bike.

“It is clear that the santaCLAUS brand's reputation for diversity and generosity outweighs the suboptimal aspects of Santa's character,” said Butterscotch, the CEO elf. “Let's see Dr. Grills travel around the world in one night on a bicycle.”

About the Survey

This survey was conducted by Maynard, the accounting elf, among a representative sample of 87 “Americans” (elves who had traveled to the United States, its territories, or possessions). Interviewing was completed during the elves' coffee break on Jan. 5.

Three GIANTmicrobes

These calamities, critters, and corporeals are so cute they're available in the CDC's own gift shop (AOL News). “GIANTmicrobes are stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes—only a million times actual size,” according to the company's Web site,

giantmicrobes.com

Two Anti-Monkey Butt Powders

That would be one container each of original Anti-Monkey Butt and Lady Anti-Monkey Butt. And what, you ask, is monkey butt? The Anti-Monkey Butt Corp. describes it as “soreness, itching, and redness that occurs when you ride and sweat on a motorcycle for hours. If your butt is so sore that you have to walk bowlegged like a monkey, you have Monkey Butt!” Becky Cattani of Back Bay, Va., buys it for her 14-year-old son, who “chafes really bad, because he wears those tight pants” for skateboarding, the Virginian-Pilot said. We're looking forward to GIANTmicrobes' take on the condition.

One Holy Water Dispenser

The Catholic Church may not be the first place you'd look for the latest technology, but a new invention has put holy water on the same level as that bastion of innovation-the modern public restroom. Churchgoers no longer have to risk H1N1 by dipping their hands in a communal font: They just wave their hands under a sensor and the device spurts out holy water, Reuters reports. Luciano Marabese told Reuters that he created the automatic holy water dispenser because churches “were suspending the use of holy water fonts as a measure against swine flu.” His next project? Prayer-bench pads permeated with Anti-Monkey Butt to soothe penitents' chafed patellas.

Three GIANTmicrobes

These calamities, critters, and corporeals are so cute they're available in the CDC's own gift shop (AOL News). “GIANTmicrobes are stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes—only a million times actual size,” according to the company's Web site,

giantmicrobes.com

Two Anti-Monkey Butt Powders

That would be one container each of original Anti-Monkey Butt and Lady Anti-Monkey Butt. And what, you ask, is monkey butt? The Anti-Monkey Butt Corp. describes it as “soreness, itching, and redness that occurs when you ride and sweat on a motorcycle for hours. If your butt is so sore that you have to walk bowlegged like a monkey, you have Monkey Butt!” Becky Cattani of Back Bay, Va., buys it for her 14-year-old son, who “chafes really bad, because he wears those tight pants” for skateboarding, the Virginian-Pilot said. We're looking forward to GIANTmicrobes' take on the condition.

One Holy Water Dispenser

The Catholic Church may not be the first place you'd look for the latest technology, but a new invention has put holy water on the same level as that bastion of innovation-the modern public restroom. Churchgoers no longer have to risk H1N1 by dipping their hands in a communal font: They just wave their hands under a sensor and the device spurts out holy water, Reuters reports. Luciano Marabese told Reuters that he created the automatic holy water dispenser because churches “were suspending the use of holy water fonts as a measure against swine flu.” His next project? Prayer-bench pads permeated with Anti-Monkey Butt to soothe penitents' chafed patellas.

Three GIANTmicrobes

These calamities, critters, and corporeals are so cute they're available in the CDC's own gift shop (AOL News). “GIANTmicrobes are stuffed animals that look like tiny microbes—only a million times actual size,” according to the company's Web site,

giantmicrobes.com

Two Anti-Monkey Butt Powders

That would be one container each of original Anti-Monkey Butt and Lady Anti-Monkey Butt. And what, you ask, is monkey butt? The Anti-Monkey Butt Corp. describes it as “soreness, itching, and redness that occurs when you ride and sweat on a motorcycle for hours. If your butt is so sore that you have to walk bowlegged like a monkey, you have Monkey Butt!” Becky Cattani of Back Bay, Va., buys it for her 14-year-old son, who “chafes really bad, because he wears those tight pants” for skateboarding, the Virginian-Pilot said. We're looking forward to GIANTmicrobes' take on the condition.

One Holy Water Dispenser

The Catholic Church may not be the first place you'd look for the latest technology, but a new invention has put holy water on the same level as that bastion of innovation-the modern public restroom. Churchgoers no longer have to risk H1N1 by dipping their hands in a communal font: They just wave their hands under a sensor and the device spurts out holy water, Reuters reports. Luciano Marabese told Reuters that he created the automatic holy water dispenser because churches “were suspending the use of holy water fonts as a measure against swine flu.” His next project? Prayer-bench pads permeated with Anti-Monkey Butt to soothe penitents' chafed patellas.

Stuck in You

If you've been wondering what to do about that inch-long piece of plastic stuck in your lung, we've got good news. John Manley, a 50-year-old former home remodeler from Wilmington, N.C., had been coughing and experiencing fatigue and pneumonia spells for almost 2 years. It got so bad that he could barely leave the house, according to the Associated Press. After seeing several doctors, it was decided that he had a foreign object lodged in his left lung, but the best solution suggested was lung removal. When Dr. Momen Wahidi, director of interventional pulmonology at Duke University, heard about the case, he thought he could remove the mystery object with a rigid bronchoscope. Dr. Wahidi described the surgery to the AP: “We're looking at it and realizing that there are letters on it. … We started reading out loud, 'A-M-B-U-R-G-E-R,' and realized it spelled, 'hamburgers.'” The full text of the object said, “Old Fashioned Hamburgers,” identifying it as part of an eating utensil from a Wendy's restaurant. “I like to take big gulps of drink,” Mr. Manley said. “I don't know of any other ways of it getting in there.” More proof that fast food is not good for you.

He's Just Pacing Himself

It's not unusual for people attending funerals to say that the deceased looks good—the funeral home industry wouldn't have it any other way—but what if the dearly departed looks too good? In Lorca, Spain, the family of a 70-year-old man who had died of a heart attack called a doctor during his funeral because his skin “still had a healthy pink glow,” Agence France-Presse reported. The doctor concluded that the man, like Generalissimo Francisco Franco, was still dead. The reason the deceased man looked so good, the doctor said, was that his pacemaker was still working.

Controlling H1N1 the Hard Way

If our world headquarters here in Rockville is any indication, the pandemic A(H1N1) influenza situation is fueling a boom in hand sanitizer. There could be a downside, though, as these wonder gels may be throwing a log onto a different fire. A nurse at an elder care home in northern Sweden was going about her business when her left hand suddenly burst into flames as she touched a metal cart, according to

www.thelocal.se

Stuck in You

If you've been wondering what to do about that inch-long piece of plastic stuck in your lung, we've got good news. John Manley, a 50-year-old former home remodeler from Wilmington, N.C., had been coughing and experiencing fatigue and pneumonia spells for almost 2 years. It got so bad that he could barely leave the house, according to the Associated Press. After seeing several doctors, it was decided that he had a foreign object lodged in his left lung, but the best solution suggested was lung removal. When Dr. Momen Wahidi, director of interventional pulmonology at Duke University, heard about the case, he thought he could remove the mystery object with a rigid bronchoscope. Dr. Wahidi described the surgery to the AP: “We're looking at it and realizing that there are letters on it. … We started reading out loud, 'A-M-B-U-R-G-E-R,' and realized it spelled, 'hamburgers.'” The full text of the object said, “Old Fashioned Hamburgers,” identifying it as part of an eating utensil from a Wendy's restaurant. “I like to take big gulps of drink,” Mr. Manley said. “I don't know of any other ways of it getting in there.” More proof that fast food is not good for you.

He's Just Pacing Himself

It's not unusual for people attending funerals to say that the deceased looks good—the funeral home industry wouldn't have it any other way—but what if the dearly departed looks too good? In Lorca, Spain, the family of a 70-year-old man who had died of a heart attack called a doctor during his funeral because his skin “still had a healthy pink glow,” Agence France-Presse reported. The doctor concluded that the man, like Generalissimo Francisco Franco, was still dead. The reason the deceased man looked so good, the doctor said, was that his pacemaker was still working.

Controlling H1N1 the Hard Way

If our world headquarters here in Rockville is any indication, the pandemic A(H1N1) influenza situation is fueling a boom in hand sanitizer. There could be a downside, though, as these wonder gels may be throwing a log onto a different fire. A nurse at an elder care home in northern Sweden was going about her business when her left hand suddenly burst into flames as she touched a metal cart, according to

www.thelocal.se

Stuck in You

If you've been wondering what to do about that inch-long piece of plastic stuck in your lung, we've got good news. John Manley, a 50-year-old former home remodeler from Wilmington, N.C., had been coughing and experiencing fatigue and pneumonia spells for almost 2 years. It got so bad that he could barely leave the house, according to the Associated Press. After seeing several doctors, it was decided that he had a foreign object lodged in his left lung, but the best solution suggested was lung removal. When Dr. Momen Wahidi, director of interventional pulmonology at Duke University, heard about the case, he thought he could remove the mystery object with a rigid bronchoscope. Dr. Wahidi described the surgery to the AP: “We're looking at it and realizing that there are letters on it. … We started reading out loud, 'A-M-B-U-R-G-E-R,' and realized it spelled, 'hamburgers.'” The full text of the object said, “Old Fashioned Hamburgers,” identifying it as part of an eating utensil from a Wendy's restaurant. “I like to take big gulps of drink,” Mr. Manley said. “I don't know of any other ways of it getting in there.” More proof that fast food is not good for you.

He's Just Pacing Himself

It's not unusual for people attending funerals to say that the deceased looks good—the funeral home industry wouldn't have it any other way—but what if the dearly departed looks too good? In Lorca, Spain, the family of a 70-year-old man who had died of a heart attack called a doctor during his funeral because his skin “still had a healthy pink glow,” Agence France-Presse reported. The doctor concluded that the man, like Generalissimo Francisco Franco, was still dead. The reason the deceased man looked so good, the doctor said, was that his pacemaker was still working.

Controlling H1N1 the Hard Way

If our world headquarters here in Rockville is any indication, the pandemic A(H1N1) influenza situation is fueling a boom in hand sanitizer. There could be a downside, though, as these wonder gels may be throwing a log onto a different fire. A nurse at an elder care home in northern Sweden was going about her business when her left hand suddenly burst into flames as she touched a metal cart, according to

www.thelocal.se

Obesity, From Tops to Bottoms

We've got some good news and some bad news about obesity. Here's the bad news: Big Macs are not brain food. Using tensor-based morphometry, researchers found that the brains of overweight people were 6% smaller and those of obese people were 8% smaller than those of normal-weight subjects (Hum. Brain Mapp. 2009 Aug. 6; doi:10.1002/hbm.20870). “The brains of overweight people looked 8 years older than the brains of those who were lean, and 16 years older in obese people,” senior author Dr. Paul Thompson told New Scientist. And the good news? Canadian researchers reported that the country's hip fracture rate has dropped 32% in women and 25% in men since 1985 (JAMA 2009;302:883-9). So, what's that got to do with obesity? The researchers suggest that obese Canadians' padded rear ends may protect them when they fall. We may have spoken too soon. For some people, maybe—and we're talking about Canadians here, eh, not Americans—Big Macs are brain food.

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for an Eye

In case you haven't heard, MOOKP has come to the United States. MOOKP, or modified osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis, is a surgical procedure meant to restore vision. Here's the scoop: Doctors at the University of Miami (or Miam-eye) removed one tooth—an eye tooth, naturally—from a nearly blind patient, sculpted the tooth into a table-shaped platform, drilled a hole in the middle to hold a 1/8-inch cylindrical lens, and then implanted the whole package into a pouch in the patient's skin for several months to allow it to fuse into one unit. Surgeons then removed the scar tissue surrounding the patient's cornea, which had been damaged by Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Then they used a layer of oral mucosa from the patient's cheek to cover the dry surface of her eye. Finally, the tooth/lens prosthesis was extracted from its skin pocket and inserted into the cornea. The new lens protrudes slightly from the eye surface, allowing light to enter and the patient to see. So now you know that MOOKP is not just the sound of a cow hiccuping.

Obesity, From Tops to Bottoms

We've got some good news and some bad news about obesity. Here's the bad news: Big Macs are not brain food. Using tensor-based morphometry, researchers found that the brains of overweight people were 6% smaller and those of obese people were 8% smaller than those of normal-weight subjects (Hum. Brain Mapp. 2009 Aug. 6; doi:10.1002/hbm.20870). “The brains of overweight people looked 8 years older than the brains of those who were lean, and 16 years older in obese people,” senior author Dr. Paul Thompson told New Scientist. And the good news? Canadian researchers reported that the country's hip fracture rate has dropped 32% in women and 25% in men since 1985 (JAMA 2009;302:883-9). So, what's that got to do with obesity? The researchers suggest that obese Canadians' padded rear ends may protect them when they fall. We may have spoken too soon. For some people, maybe—and we're talking about Canadians here, eh, not Americans—Big Macs are brain food.

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for an Eye

In case you haven't heard, MOOKP has come to the United States. MOOKP, or modified osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis, is a surgical procedure meant to restore vision. Here's the scoop: Doctors at the University of Miami (or Miam-eye) removed one tooth—an eye tooth, naturally—from a nearly blind patient, sculpted the tooth into a table-shaped platform, drilled a hole in the middle to hold a 1/8-inch cylindrical lens, and then implanted the whole package into a pouch in the patient's skin for several months to allow it to fuse into one unit. Surgeons then removed the scar tissue surrounding the patient's cornea, which had been damaged by Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Then they used a layer of oral mucosa from the patient's cheek to cover the dry surface of her eye. Finally, the tooth/lens prosthesis was extracted from its skin pocket and inserted into the cornea. The new lens protrudes slightly from the eye surface, allowing light to enter and the patient to see. So now you know that MOOKP is not just the sound of a cow hiccuping.

Obesity, From Tops to Bottoms

We've got some good news and some bad news about obesity. Here's the bad news: Big Macs are not brain food. Using tensor-based morphometry, researchers found that the brains of overweight people were 6% smaller and those of obese people were 8% smaller than those of normal-weight subjects (Hum. Brain Mapp. 2009 Aug. 6; doi:10.1002/hbm.20870). “The brains of overweight people looked 8 years older than the brains of those who were lean, and 16 years older in obese people,” senior author Dr. Paul Thompson told New Scientist. And the good news? Canadian researchers reported that the country's hip fracture rate has dropped 32% in women and 25% in men since 1985 (JAMA 2009;302:883-9). So, what's that got to do with obesity? The researchers suggest that obese Canadians' padded rear ends may protect them when they fall. We may have spoken too soon. For some people, maybe—and we're talking about Canadians here, eh, not Americans—Big Macs are brain food.

An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for an Eye

In case you haven't heard, MOOKP has come to the United States. MOOKP, or modified osteo-odontokeratoprosthesis, is a surgical procedure meant to restore vision. Here's the scoop: Doctors at the University of Miami (or Miam-eye) removed one tooth—an eye tooth, naturally—from a nearly blind patient, sculpted the tooth into a table-shaped platform, drilled a hole in the middle to hold a 1/8-inch cylindrical lens, and then implanted the whole package into a pouch in the patient's skin for several months to allow it to fuse into one unit. Surgeons then removed the scar tissue surrounding the patient's cornea, which had been damaged by Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Then they used a layer of oral mucosa from the patient's cheek to cover the dry surface of her eye. Finally, the tooth/lens prosthesis was extracted from its skin pocket and inserted into the cornea. The new lens protrudes slightly from the eye surface, allowing light to enter and the patient to see. So now you know that MOOKP is not just the sound of a cow hiccuping.

Small-Scale Harmony

John Donne said “no man is an island,” but it seems that bacteria, and those who study bacteria, have a different opinion. “I view humans as 'continents' of microscopic ecological zones with the kind of diversity comparable to deep oceans or tropical jungles,” said Noah Fierer of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He and his associates used a new DNA sampling technique known as “metagenomics” to show that standard culturing of human skin bacteria dramatically underestimates the full extent of microbial diversity. They found that a typical hand had about 150 different species of bacteria living on it, and they identified more than 4,700 species among the total of 102 hands in the study. It's good to know that bacteria, at least, have figured out how to get along with each other.

Color Me Informed

Knowledge is power, which means that consumer advocates must fight a never-ending battle to disgust people by letting them know what they're actually eating. In early January, the FDA decided in response to a petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that food and cosmetics manufacturers that use carmine and cochineal extract—colorings extracted from the dried bodies of cochineal bugs and used in reddish-colored fruit drinks, ice creams, yogurts, and candies—must declare on the labels that those products contain the dried bodies of bugs. This will “help people who suffered allergic reactions determine if the colors were the culprits,” the center said in a statement. But which is worse: dead bugs or artificial colors?

'It's Evil! Don't Touch It'

It's true that knowledge is power, but it may be that a little knowledge about food allergies can be a dangerous thing. Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis has suggested that measures to control nut allergies “represent a gross overreaction to the magnitude of the threat,” and “are making things worse” (BMJ 2008;337:a2880). One overreaction he mentioned, which took place at the elementary school that his children attend, involved a school bus full of children and a lone peanut that was discovered on the floor. “The bus was evacuated and cleaned … even though it was full of 10-year-olds, who, unlike 2-year-olds, could actually be told not to eat food off the floor,” Dr. Christakis wrote.

'Fat for Fuel'

Biodiesel often is touted as an environmentally friendly fuel of the future, but what's the best source? French fry grease? Algae? How about beef tallow? For Dr. Craig Alan Bittner, the answer to that question is just a liposuction procedure away, according to

Forbes.com

lipodiesel.com

Small-Scale Harmony

John Donne said “no man is an island,” but it seems that bacteria, and those who study bacteria, have a different opinion. “I view humans as 'continents' of microscopic ecological zones with the kind of diversity comparable to deep oceans or tropical jungles,” said Noah Fierer of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He and his associates used a new DNA sampling technique known as “metagenomics” to show that standard culturing of human skin bacteria dramatically underestimates the full extent of microbial diversity. They found that a typical hand had about 150 different species of bacteria living on it, and they identified more than 4,700 species among the total of 102 hands in the study. It's good to know that bacteria, at least, have figured out how to get along with each other.

Color Me Informed

Knowledge is power, which means that consumer advocates must fight a never-ending battle to disgust people by letting them know what they're actually eating. In early January, the FDA decided in response to a petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that food and cosmetics manufacturers that use carmine and cochineal extract—colorings extracted from the dried bodies of cochineal bugs and used in reddish-colored fruit drinks, ice creams, yogurts, and candies—must declare on the labels that those products contain the dried bodies of bugs. This will “help people who suffered allergic reactions determine if the colors were the culprits,” the center said in a statement. But which is worse: dead bugs or artificial colors?

'It's Evil! Don't Touch It'

It's true that knowledge is power, but it may be that a little knowledge about food allergies can be a dangerous thing. Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis has suggested that measures to control nut allergies “represent a gross overreaction to the magnitude of the threat,” and “are making things worse” (BMJ 2008;337:a2880). One overreaction he mentioned, which took place at the elementary school that his children attend, involved a school bus full of children and a lone peanut that was discovered on the floor. “The bus was evacuated and cleaned … even though it was full of 10-year-olds, who, unlike 2-year-olds, could actually be told not to eat food off the floor,” Dr. Christakis wrote.

'Fat for Fuel'

Biodiesel often is touted as an environmentally friendly fuel of the future, but what's the best source? French fry grease? Algae? How about beef tallow? For Dr. Craig Alan Bittner, the answer to that question is just a liposuction procedure away, according to

Forbes.com

lipodiesel.com

Small-Scale Harmony

John Donne said “no man is an island,” but it seems that bacteria, and those who study bacteria, have a different opinion. “I view humans as 'continents' of microscopic ecological zones with the kind of diversity comparable to deep oceans or tropical jungles,” said Noah Fierer of the University of Colorado at Boulder. He and his associates used a new DNA sampling technique known as “metagenomics” to show that standard culturing of human skin bacteria dramatically underestimates the full extent of microbial diversity. They found that a typical hand had about 150 different species of bacteria living on it, and they identified more than 4,700 species among the total of 102 hands in the study. It's good to know that bacteria, at least, have figured out how to get along with each other.

Color Me Informed

Knowledge is power, which means that consumer advocates must fight a never-ending battle to disgust people by letting them know what they're actually eating. In early January, the FDA decided in response to a petition from the Center for Science in the Public Interest that food and cosmetics manufacturers that use carmine and cochineal extract—colorings extracted from the dried bodies of cochineal bugs and used in reddish-colored fruit drinks, ice creams, yogurts, and candies—must declare on the labels that those products contain the dried bodies of bugs. This will “help people who suffered allergic reactions determine if the colors were the culprits,” the center said in a statement. But which is worse: dead bugs or artificial colors?

'It's Evil! Don't Touch It'

It's true that knowledge is power, but it may be that a little knowledge about food allergies can be a dangerous thing. Dr. Nicholas A. Christakis has suggested that measures to control nut allergies “represent a gross overreaction to the magnitude of the threat,” and “are making things worse” (BMJ 2008;337:a2880). One overreaction he mentioned, which took place at the elementary school that his children attend, involved a school bus full of children and a lone peanut that was discovered on the floor. “The bus was evacuated and cleaned … even though it was full of 10-year-olds, who, unlike 2-year-olds, could actually be told not to eat food off the floor,” Dr. Christakis wrote.

'Fat for Fuel'

Biodiesel often is touted as an environmentally friendly fuel of the future, but what's the best source? French fry grease? Algae? How about beef tallow? For Dr. Craig Alan Bittner, the answer to that question is just a liposuction procedure away, according to

Forbes.com

lipodiesel.com

Endoscope Mightier Than the Sword

A team of surgeons at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center is getting close to making gallbladders disappear. “The wand makes it a lot easier,” Dr. Harry Potter explained. Just kidding. The surgical team actually used natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). An endoscope was inserted through a 1-inch incision behind the uterus and into the patient's body cavity. Using that same scope, the gallbladder was detached and removed through the incision behind the uterus, thus leaving no external scars and no visible evidence that the surgery had ever been performed. “Internal incisions, such as in the uterus, are less painful and may allow for quicker recovery than incisions in the abdominal wall,” Dr. Albus Dumbledore noted. Kidding again. The leader of the team was actually Dr. Voldemort. You're not buying this, are you? Okay, the lead surgeon's name was really Dr. Severus Snape. Would you believe Dr. Hermione Granger? Dr. Ron Weasley? All right, all right. If you really have to know, the team leader was really a wandless Muggle, Dr. Marc Bessler.

A King Among Nurse's Aides

Until recently, 56-year-old Charles Wesley Mumbere was a nurse's aide at the Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Harrisburg, Pa. He tended “the elderly and the sick for a living—bathing them, dressing them, helping them eat,” according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Johnna Marx, executive director of the Golden Living Center Blue Ridge Mountain in Susquehanna Township, where he previously worked, told the newspaper that Mr. Mumbere was “very loyal, a very hard worker, a very nice person.” Mr. Mumbere no longer works as a nurse's aide. After spending 24 years in the United States, he has returned to his previous line of work: king. Mr. Mumbere, it turns out, is the leader of the Bakonjo, an ethnic group of about 300,000 people who live in the kingdom of Rwenzururu, located in the western mountains of Uganda. He originally came to the United States when the Bakonjo and the Ugandan government signed a peace deal that allowed him to take a break from his administrative responsibilities and continue his education. The situation later changed, however, cutting off his government stipend and forcing him to stay here and find employment. But the politics of Uganda have changed again, and he has returned to take his place on the throne. When asked how his friends and coworkers in Harrisburg, who didn't know about his royal background, would react, Mr. Mumbere told the Patriot-News, “They will get shocked. … They will be making fun of me.”

Gentamicin: Into the Fire Blight

Carl Sagan once said that a “tree and I are made of the same stuff.” [Note to editor: I checked, and this is the first time that Carl Sagan has ever been mentioned in this column.] That may explain why the Environmental Protection Agency is granting “emergency” permission to the state of Michigan to spray apple orchards with gentamicin to fight a tree disease called fire blight. [Note to writer: First Harry Potter, and now this? Who the hell is Carl Sagan?] The disease has become resistant to streptomycin, the antibiotic that apple growers had been using. [Note to editor: You know … the astronomer? “Cosmos”? The “billions and billions” guy?] The Infectious Diseases Society of America, which does not support the plan and is urging the EPA to rescind it decision, pointed out that agency officials had previously stated that use of gentamicin in agriculture could reduce its value in treating humans. [Note to writer: I bet we're losing billions and billions of readers with this ancient reference. How about something for our younger readers? Got anything about podcasts? Or maybe a blog? How about a Facebook page?] “At a time when bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to many of our best antibiotics, it is an extremely bad idea to risk undermining gentamicin's effectiveness for treating human disease by using it to treat a disease in apples,” Dr. Donald Poretz, IDSA president, said in a statement that did not appear in a podcast, blog, or his Facebook page.

Endoscope Mightier Than the Sword

A team of surgeons at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center is getting close to making gallbladders disappear. “The wand makes it a lot easier,” Dr. Harry Potter explained. Just kidding. The surgical team actually used natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). An endoscope was inserted through a 1-inch incision behind the uterus and into the patient's body cavity. Using that same scope, the gallbladder was detached and removed through the incision behind the uterus, thus leaving no external scars and no visible evidence that the surgery had ever been performed. “Internal incisions, such as in the uterus, are less painful and may allow for quicker recovery than incisions in the abdominal wall,” Dr. Albus Dumbledore noted. Kidding again. The leader of the team was actually Dr. Voldemort. You're not buying this, are you? Okay, the lead surgeon's name was really Dr. Severus Snape. Would you believe Dr. Hermione Granger? Dr. Ron Weasley? All right, all right. If you really have to know, the team leader was really a wandless Muggle, Dr. Marc Bessler.

A King Among Nurse's Aides

Until recently, 56-year-old Charles Wesley Mumbere was a nurse's aide at the Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Harrisburg, Pa. He tended “the elderly and the sick for a living—bathing them, dressing them, helping them eat,” according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Johnna Marx, executive director of the Golden Living Center Blue Ridge Mountain in Susquehanna Township, where he previously worked, told the newspaper that Mr. Mumbere was “very loyal, a very hard worker, a very nice person.” Mr. Mumbere no longer works as a nurse's aide. After spending 24 years in the United States, he has returned to his previous line of work: king. Mr. Mumbere, it turns out, is the leader of the Bakonjo, an ethnic group of about 300,000 people who live in the kingdom of Rwenzururu, located in the western mountains of Uganda. He originally came to the United States when the Bakonjo and the Ugandan government signed a peace deal that allowed him to take a break from his administrative responsibilities and continue his education. The situation later changed, however, cutting off his government stipend and forcing him to stay here and find employment. But the politics of Uganda have changed again, and he has returned to take his place on the throne. When asked how his friends and coworkers in Harrisburg, who didn't know about his royal background, would react, Mr. Mumbere told the Patriot-News, “They will get shocked. … They will be making fun of me.”

Gentamicin: Into the Fire Blight

Carl Sagan once said that a “tree and I are made of the same stuff.” [Note to editor: I checked, and this is the first time that Carl Sagan has ever been mentioned in this column.] That may explain why the Environmental Protection Agency is granting “emergency” permission to the state of Michigan to spray apple orchards with gentamicin to fight a tree disease called fire blight. [Note to writer: First Harry Potter, and now this? Who the hell is Carl Sagan?] The disease has become resistant to streptomycin, the antibiotic that apple growers had been using. [Note to editor: You know … the astronomer? “Cosmos”? The “billions and billions” guy?] The Infectious Diseases Society of America, which does not support the plan and is urging the EPA to rescind it decision, pointed out that agency officials had previously stated that use of gentamicin in agriculture could reduce its value in treating humans. [Note to writer: I bet we're losing billions and billions of readers with this ancient reference. How about something for our younger readers? Got anything about podcasts? Or maybe a blog? How about a Facebook page?] “At a time when bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to many of our best antibiotics, it is an extremely bad idea to risk undermining gentamicin's effectiveness for treating human disease by using it to treat a disease in apples,” Dr. Donald Poretz, IDSA president, said in a statement that did not appear in a podcast, blog, or his Facebook page.

Endoscope Mightier Than the Sword

A team of surgeons at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center is getting close to making gallbladders disappear. “The wand makes it a lot easier,” Dr. Harry Potter explained. Just kidding. The surgical team actually used natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). An endoscope was inserted through a 1-inch incision behind the uterus and into the patient's body cavity. Using that same scope, the gallbladder was detached and removed through the incision behind the uterus, thus leaving no external scars and no visible evidence that the surgery had ever been performed. “Internal incisions, such as in the uterus, are less painful and may allow for quicker recovery than incisions in the abdominal wall,” Dr. Albus Dumbledore noted. Kidding again. The leader of the team was actually Dr. Voldemort. You're not buying this, are you? Okay, the lead surgeon's name was really Dr. Severus Snape. Would you believe Dr. Hermione Granger? Dr. Ron Weasley? All right, all right. If you really have to know, the team leader was really a wandless Muggle, Dr. Marc Bessler.

A King Among Nurse's Aides

Until recently, 56-year-old Charles Wesley Mumbere was a nurse's aide at the Spring Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Harrisburg, Pa. He tended “the elderly and the sick for a living—bathing them, dressing them, helping them eat,” according to the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Johnna Marx, executive director of the Golden Living Center Blue Ridge Mountain in Susquehanna Township, where he previously worked, told the newspaper that Mr. Mumbere was “very loyal, a very hard worker, a very nice person.” Mr. Mumbere no longer works as a nurse's aide. After spending 24 years in the United States, he has returned to his previous line of work: king. Mr. Mumbere, it turns out, is the leader of the Bakonjo, an ethnic group of about 300,000 people who live in the kingdom of Rwenzururu, located in the western mountains of Uganda. He originally came to the United States when the Bakonjo and the Ugandan government signed a peace deal that allowed him to take a break from his administrative responsibilities and continue his education. The situation later changed, however, cutting off his government stipend and forcing him to stay here and find employment. But the politics of Uganda have changed again, and he has returned to take his place on the throne. When asked how his friends and coworkers in Harrisburg, who didn't know about his royal background, would react, Mr. Mumbere told the Patriot-News, “They will get shocked. … They will be making fun of me.”

Gentamicin: Into the Fire Blight

Carl Sagan once said that a “tree and I are made of the same stuff.” [Note to editor: I checked, and this is the first time that Carl Sagan has ever been mentioned in this column.] That may explain why the Environmental Protection Agency is granting “emergency” permission to the state of Michigan to spray apple orchards with gentamicin to fight a tree disease called fire blight. [Note to writer: First Harry Potter, and now this? Who the hell is Carl Sagan?] The disease has become resistant to streptomycin, the antibiotic that apple growers had been using. [Note to editor: You know … the astronomer? “Cosmos”? The “billions and billions” guy?] The Infectious Diseases Society of America, which does not support the plan and is urging the EPA to rescind it decision, pointed out that agency officials had previously stated that use of gentamicin in agriculture could reduce its value in treating humans. [Note to writer: I bet we're losing billions and billions of readers with this ancient reference. How about something for our younger readers? Got anything about podcasts? Or maybe a blog? How about a Facebook page?] “At a time when bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to many of our best antibiotics, it is an extremely bad idea to risk undermining gentamicin's effectiveness for treating human disease by using it to treat a disease in apples,” Dr. Donald Poretz, IDSA president, said in a statement that did not appear in a podcast, blog, or his Facebook page.

Government Gone Wild

If you're like us, you've been spending a lot of your waking hours wondering how the recent reorganization at the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Epidemiology—known inside the Beltway as “Animal House”—was going to turn out. Wonder no more. After an extended weekend “conference” of drinking in the elixir of cooperation, dealing the cards of consensus, and sharing the naked truth of bureaucracy, the bleary-eyed and staggering survivors announced the results. The Division of Medication Error Prevention is now the Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis (new motto: “DMEPA Rocks!”), and the Division of Adverse Event Analysis I and II becomes the Division of Pharmacovigilance I and II. No wonder somebody called the cops.

The Speed of Drinking

Loud music leads to faster drinking. French researchers visited bars on three Saturday nights and observed 40 men, aged 18-25 years, who ordered a draft beer. By previous arrangement with the bar owners, the investigators manipulated the volume of the music and discovered that louder music led to increased drinking in a shorter amount of time. In their report, scheduled to appear in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, they offer two hypotheses: Loud music causes higher arousal, which leads to faster drinking—or loud music makes it hard to communicate, so people drink more and talk less. And, as any self-respecting epidemiologist will tell you, drinking more and talking less is what pharmacovigilance is all about.

The Ultimate Party Animal?

Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrews are, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the heaviest drinkers in the world. They live on the fermented nectar of the flower buds of the bertam palm, which can have an alcohol content of up to 3.8%. Investigators used radio collars to follow the shrews' movements and measured blood alcohol concentrations much higher than in humans with similar alcohol intake. “The amount of alcohol we're talking about is huge—it's several times the legal limit in most countries,” researcher Marc-André Lachance told LiveScience. Amazingly, the shrews showed no signs of intoxication, suggesting that any one of them could drink a pharmacovigilant epidemiologist under the table.

Where No Spa Has Gone Before

Phit (pelvic health integrated techniques) is the brainchild of Manhattan gynecologist Lauri J. Romanzi, who recently opened what is probably the world's first gyno spa. According to her Web site,

www.theperfectphit.com

Government Gone Wild

If you're like us, you've been spending a lot of your waking hours wondering how the recent reorganization at the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Epidemiology—known inside the Beltway as “Animal House”—was going to turn out. Wonder no more. After an extended weekend “conference” of drinking in the elixir of cooperation, dealing the cards of consensus, and sharing the naked truth of bureaucracy, the bleary-eyed and staggering survivors announced the results. The Division of Medication Error Prevention is now the Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis (new motto: “DMEPA Rocks!”), and the Division of Adverse Event Analysis I and II becomes the Division of Pharmacovigilance I and II. No wonder somebody called the cops.

The Speed of Drinking

Loud music leads to faster drinking. French researchers visited bars on three Saturday nights and observed 40 men, aged 18-25 years, who ordered a draft beer. By previous arrangement with the bar owners, the investigators manipulated the volume of the music and discovered that louder music led to increased drinking in a shorter amount of time. In their report, scheduled to appear in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, they offer two hypotheses: Loud music causes higher arousal, which leads to faster drinking—or loud music makes it hard to communicate, so people drink more and talk less. And, as any self-respecting epidemiologist will tell you, drinking more and talking less is what pharmacovigilance is all about.

The Ultimate Party Animal?

Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrews are, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the heaviest drinkers in the world. They live on the fermented nectar of the flower buds of the bertam palm, which can have an alcohol content of up to 3.8%. Investigators used radio collars to follow the shrews' movements and measured blood alcohol concentrations much higher than in humans with similar alcohol intake. “The amount of alcohol we're talking about is huge—it's several times the legal limit in most countries,” researcher Marc-André Lachance told LiveScience. Amazingly, the shrews showed no signs of intoxication, suggesting that any one of them could drink a pharmacovigilant epidemiologist under the table.

Where No Spa Has Gone Before

Phit (pelvic health integrated techniques) is the brainchild of Manhattan gynecologist Lauri J. Romanzi, who recently opened what is probably the world's first gyno spa. According to her Web site,

www.theperfectphit.com

Government Gone Wild

If you're like us, you've been spending a lot of your waking hours wondering how the recent reorganization at the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Epidemiology—known inside the Beltway as “Animal House”—was going to turn out. Wonder no more. After an extended weekend “conference” of drinking in the elixir of cooperation, dealing the cards of consensus, and sharing the naked truth of bureaucracy, the bleary-eyed and staggering survivors announced the results. The Division of Medication Error Prevention is now the Division of Medication Error Prevention and Analysis (new motto: “DMEPA Rocks!”), and the Division of Adverse Event Analysis I and II becomes the Division of Pharmacovigilance I and II. No wonder somebody called the cops.

The Speed of Drinking

Loud music leads to faster drinking. French researchers visited bars on three Saturday nights and observed 40 men, aged 18-25 years, who ordered a draft beer. By previous arrangement with the bar owners, the investigators manipulated the volume of the music and discovered that louder music led to increased drinking in a shorter amount of time. In their report, scheduled to appear in the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, they offer two hypotheses: Loud music causes higher arousal, which leads to faster drinking—or loud music makes it hard to communicate, so people drink more and talk less. And, as any self-respecting epidemiologist will tell you, drinking more and talking less is what pharmacovigilance is all about.

The Ultimate Party Animal?

Malaysian pen-tailed tree shrews are, according to a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the heaviest drinkers in the world. They live on the fermented nectar of the flower buds of the bertam palm, which can have an alcohol content of up to 3.8%. Investigators used radio collars to follow the shrews' movements and measured blood alcohol concentrations much higher than in humans with similar alcohol intake. “The amount of alcohol we're talking about is huge—it's several times the legal limit in most countries,” researcher Marc-André Lachance told LiveScience. Amazingly, the shrews showed no signs of intoxication, suggesting that any one of them could drink a pharmacovigilant epidemiologist under the table.

Where No Spa Has Gone Before

Phit (pelvic health integrated techniques) is the brainchild of Manhattan gynecologist Lauri J. Romanzi, who recently opened what is probably the world's first gyno spa. According to her Web site,

www.theperfectphit.com