Medical Science On-line Open Peer Review Journal

Lab Notes

2007-10-08T20:54:00.000-04:00

We're back!! The major restructuring of the all the medical sites has begun. More than a year of regulatory research, and the development of a new global healthcare concept, will be the final outcome. This includes a global IRB to ensure patient safety, an expanded CI Medical Science Institute, and a retooled medical clinic (http://med-clinic.org). We have stepped in to the next generation of medical science through a whole series of new "beyond the radar" medical science research.

Lab Notes

2006-04-08T01:52:00.000-04:00

A second lab is being developed this year. A sleep lab is being moved from the research bench to clinical study. Our goal is to develop methods of dealing with sleep disorders where drug interactions and side-effects prevent medical prescription.

Lab Notes

2006-03-24T16:22:00.000-05:00

This week has been a big week, after restructuring, work has begun on a new food lab to study the biochemistry of food in the body. It's well know that toxins in the environment pass through the food chain, but it's time to connect the last piece of the puzzle - humans. Toxins in the environment do have an effect in the body, the question is how much damage is being done, by what and at what levels. This study, with the new lab, will be indepth studying cancers and carcinogens, mutations and genetic engineering (natural and unnatural), tissue generation and regeneration, and anything else that can be done. Like all labs at Delta R&D, Inc. and The Cybernetics Institute - Medical Science, the exploratory research method will be used, allowing the research to dictate the direction.
[Immunology] The weather has change significantly, shortening the winter flu season, and there has be no respiratory infections (flus, Hantavirus, etc.) in single patient clinical studies. Candidates for the study, were screened for high risk of infection. Candidates worked outdoors (or were outdoors significantly) and/or worked in areas in which rodents were present. Subsequently, the improvement has not been limited to air borne infections, seasonal allergies have also significantly improved with no need for medication. Work has begun to expand the clinical study to a larger number of patients.

Lab Notes

2006-03-10T15:45:00.000-05:00

Major restructuring is still going on, but should be complete by the end of March. Restructuring is required to add in new labs, organize library files and system (as it grows) - in general to provide new capacity for growth and new research.
[Immunology] March, April and the first few weeks of May form the second half of the flu season. This means that June 1, 2006 will provide two full flu seasons of vastly improved immunity to the flu.
[Clinical] Work has begun on a new patient portal that will take about six months to complete.

Lab Notes

2006-03-04T15:24:00.000-05:00

While we got going again in January, there hasn't been all that much to report - in a weekly report. So, The Lab Report, which was The Weekly Lab Journal, has been simply renamed, Lab Notes. The goal is know to publish general information and lab notes. This will provide a greater degree of transparency and information on progress between paper publications. In fact, this is what you are seeing. Not polished science, but raw exploration as it happens. This publication allows the public and other scientist to look at the lab notes, see the mistakes, problems and progress.
[Immunology] Work continues here with a few adjustments. It has been found that although a good base mechanism for dealing with air borne infection has been found, minor adjustments will be required as the immune system develops and changes. The body and immune system is more dynamic than previously expected.
[Clinical] Its been found that Crestor has a significant interaction with some patients with bowel disorders. Adverse reactions with Crestor and the Advil have been observed, and dealt with successfully by removing the patient from Crestor.

Medical Clinic and Research Update

2006-01-01T01:45:00.000-05:00

Hi,

If you've recently tried our links, you'll know we are down. We are currently in the process of switching ISPs and expect to be operational again by January 15, 2006 .

Thank You for your patience.

Dr. Daniel Carras PhD, DMSc, MD

The Lab Report

2005-12-16T20:22:00.000-05:00

[Immunology] - The project was scheduled to start earlier, but complication in single patient studies forced the delay. The problem is the manner inwhich infections adjust and adapt to the bodies immunity. For example, under typical flu's and colds, hot orange juice or lemon aid (with honey) is often recommended as a curative. While. most cold medicines (OTC - over the counter) don't act directly on the infection but work to alleviate the symptoms. Under more severe infections like SARS, Hatavirus and Bird Flu the infections are actually promoted by the standard approach. What appears to happen is that the fatal infections don't just occur, but incubate as a small population among common infections adapting to the environment. Then when the fatal infections become the main population, we tend to treat it as the common. This is what occurred with SARS. SARS had actually arrived in Toronto three years earlier as a severe flu or cold. People who were infected were sick for long periods of time with frequent re-occurances. The infection periods (pre-SARS) we up to one month in length with re-occurances frequent. It appears that people don't see the development stage of fatal infections because they look just like a serious cold. This is what happen with SARS, the pre-SARS stage (which began three years prior) was dismissed (at the time) as a serious cold - but not fatal. The same pattern may occur with bird flu, with a serious flu/cold appearing x years prior to the fatal bird flu's actual arrival.
[Neurology] - Using indications from gi system reprogramming, other clues to neurological reprogramming are being looked at. This includes addiction, physical and psychological. Physical addictions (like nicotine and heroine or even caffeine) are some neurochemical stimulants that the brain can become dependent on. Physical addiction appears to occur when a regular supply of a neurochemical becomes available replacing the bodies natural neurochemical. The added neurochemical becomes a needed substitute for the naturally occuring neurochemical. Indications of neurochemical reprogramming comes from smokers who quit - cold turkey. These smokers (former smokers) are able to reprogram their dependency on nicotine. The question for other neurochemical what method and means are available for such reprogramming and what indications does this have on reprogramming Parkinson's or MS.
[GI Science] - Neurochemical stimulants are also at the center of a number of gi hypersensitivity problems. These include additives like caffeine and nicotine, and natural stimulants like adrenaline. Many business type people describe coming out of high stress events as being on an adrenaline rush. In these same situations gi problems like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn's, Colitis, Illitis, and Anusitis are all examples of lower gi hypersentivity. Further, these all exist in people in high stress environments. Patients treated here all came in after surgery, after other treatments failed. The goal here is to use tissue regeneration and neurochemical reprogramming to resolve problems where surgery has failed.
[Osteo Science] - For several years experiments in bone growth have been underway. This includes methods of increasing bone density, resolving cartilage and joint pain/injury issues. It's become clear that weight baring activity - even something as simple as walking, can be used to resolve many osteo problems. This includes resolving knee injuries. It's been found that, using a program of walking and knee exercises, knee injuries (some requiring surgery) can be resolved. The key is developing a physiotherapy type program that allows the body to heal the knee injury. There are also indications that this same type of physiotherapy program can be used on arthritic joints.
[Cardiology] - After working with patients in a single patient clinical studies, the bodies regenerative properties have been found here as well.

MEDICARE SCHMEDICARE - The Passionate Eye CBC

2005-12-12T22:36:00.000-05:00

Monday, December 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld

Is one tier Medicare a myth? Have we been saluting its founder, the 'Greatest Canadian' Tommy Douglas as an emperor who really has no clothes?

As the country heads toward an election in which our health care system promises to be an emotional issue, Medicare Schmedicare takes the highly unorthodox stance that two tier health care is already here and thriving. Medicare Schmedicare offers viewers an inside look at private health care clinics across Canada - where $1,250 can get you immediate access to a doctor.

Filmed in private clinics in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto Medicare Schmedicare jumps into the Medicare debate-outlining the various health services that have become privatized in Canada. It compares the waiting times for patients who opt for private services versus those who anxiously line up with their health cards.

Medicare Schmedicare was written and directed by Gemini award-winning filmmaker Robert Duncan and produced by Carolyn Schmidt for International Documentary Television in association with the CBC.">CBC.ca - Program Guide - Passionate Eye: "MEDICARE SCHMEDICARE
Monday, December 12 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld

Is one tier Medicare a myth? Have we been saluting its founder, the 'Greatest Canadian' Tommy Douglas as an emperor who really has no clothes?

As the country heads toward an election in which our health care system promises to be an emotional issue, Medicare Schmedicare takes the highly unorthodox stance that two tier health care is already here and thriving. Medicare Schmedicare offers viewers an inside look at private health care clinics across Canada - where $1,250 can get you immediate access to a doctor.

Filmed in private clinics in Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto Medicare Schmedicare jumps into the Medicare debate-outlining the various health services that have become privatized in Canada. It compares the waiting times for patients who opt for private services versus those who anxiously line up with their health cards.

Medicare Schmedicare was written and directed by Gemini award-winning filmmaker Robert Duncan and produced by Carolyn Schmidt for International Documentary Television in association with the CBC."

The Lab Report

2005-12-10T16:10:00.000-05:00

[Immunology] - The main project coming online is the Bird Flu Immunity Development Project. The goal here is, before the Bird Flu pandemic arrives in North America, to develop means to improve survivable and add immunity from future threats. Current efforts, in single patients studies have been successful in increasing the bodies immunity to serious flu's (SARS type flu's). Current results have seen a reduction in days of infection from 14 days to 4, with only 1 day of a mild fever. The goal, now, is to duplicate this in a large population of patients. This currently applies to flu (in general, SARS, and Hantavirus).
[Neurology] - Of the two schools of thought, the softwired brain, is the least popular, but it and only it holds the possibility of cures for neurological disorders. In our many years of research into tissue regeneration, the elusive goal of brain tissue regeneration has been seen- even though it was just a glimpse. Over the last 10 plus years, hints that brain tissue regeneration has shown itself, although very briefly. The first key being explored is the reprogramming capacity of the nervous system. Many disorders including cardiac and gi disorders are centered in the nervous system. Reprogramming the system can alleviate or eliminate the problem. This has led to insights that reprogramming my be possible with Parkinson's and mild cases MS.
[GI Science] - In continuing work in gi reprogramming, it became obvious that there were multiple triggers to gi hypersensitivity. One trigger, temperature, reveals itself in an old camping gag. Dunking a sleeping camper's hand in a warm water will cause him to urinate. This is an example of a temperature trigger causing bladder activity. This temperature trigger is a factor of many hypersensitivity problems, including incontinence problems. Here, the temperature sensitivity of both the bladder and kidney can become overly sensitive - causing frequent (and often uncontrollable) urination and defecation.
[Osteo Science] - The tissue regeneration project has had an effect here too. Many athletes and individuals (particularly the overweight) have knee problems requiring surgery. The goal here was to learn to use the bodies regenerative abilities to resolve knee and osteo problems. Todate, it has been possible to resolve knee problems without surgery, joint stiffness, and to eliminate a hairline fracture in a tooth.

Weekly Lab Report

2005-10-11T01:38:00.000-04:00

The Medical Science Fund is a new means of paying the medical costs. If the goal is to create a free medical system, and donations cannot generate enough capital, then other means must be sought. This is the function of the Medical Science Fund, find the means to pay for pandemics, disease and trauma care from natural disaster, an aging population, an obese youth and much more.

Work continues in both medical studies and clinical studies.
1. [medical clinic]
2. [Immunology] It appears that the flu season is going to begin early, as serious concern over the spread of avian flu increases.
3. [Neurology] More coming next week
4. [GI Science]
  1. More coming next week

Weekly Lab Journal

2005-09-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

This week it was time to start paying the bills. In the United States medical bils are either paid privately or by the government (via taxes). Elsewhere, under the social medical system, the government pays the bills. Under both systems (which are failing) more and more people can't get the medical help they need. Under the socialist system - there aren't enough doctors and a shortage of both equipment and medicine. Under the American private system, it's too expensive and many people can't afford it. This means a new way of paying the medical bills needs to be found. We have begun to introduce a new method of paying the bill under the new site; http://medsci-funding.cybernetics-institute.org .

Work continues in both medical studies and clinical studies.
1. The work at the medical clinic continues.
2. We're waiting for the allergy season to finish and the flu season to really begin.
3. [Neurology] Neurology is at the center of so many problems and is, in fact, one of the major keys to tissue regeneration. It's through neurochemical stimulation (via both natural and artificial method) that the triggers to the glands that control growth and growth hormones can be induced to regenerate tissue in the body. Anyone who exercises or has undergone major surgery knows of the pain associated with healing. Pain is the neurological signal for both damage and healing. Pain is felt when a part of the body is damaged and pain continues until the damage can be repaired. The pain is triggered by nerves that exist in every part of the body. GI hypersensitivity (see below) is a result of damage to a part of the gi system. However, there is also damage to the nerves that send the signals to the brain. This is the(medical) cause of paralysis (quadraplegic and paraplegic). However, there are other neurological functions that can be interupted or disrupted. For example, alcoholics lose control of bowel function, both urinating and deficating on themselves. Heroine, and other such physically addictive drugs, cause major neurological disruption during the high, but once addicted becomes the primary neurological control chemical. The evidence for such physically addictive drugs, is the withdrawal symptoms - this includes nicotine.
4. [GI Science]
  1. Hypersensitivity and food triggers - One of the triggers appears to be food. Exactly how food triggers hypersensitivity is not understood, but from research it's been shown that not only do certain types of food trigger hypersensitivity, but certain amounts as well. For example, in one patient (who had gi hypersensitivity) there was also a lactose trigger. Milk products triggered hypersensitivity, with one exception - a small bowl of natural yogurt actually helped, but when he (he is the pronoun to man the human, not the gender) had more than the small bowl, the lactose hypersensitivity returned. Such amount triggers exist along side, food triggers like eggs, potatoes, spices, fish. It appears that sulphur and ammonia compounds in these foods trigger gi hypersensitivity. Although how and why are still not full understood - yet.

Weekly Lab Journal

2005-09-23T14:07:00.000-04:00

This week was kind of a slow week, much of the work was behind the scenes and has not made it to the web - yet. As such, there was no new content added to the website(s).

Work continues in both medical studies and clinical studies.
1. The work at the medical clinic continues.
2. We're waiting for the allergy season to finish and the flu season to really begin.
3. [Neurology and Osteology] A project, that has been underway for several years has enter a new phase. Using extreme physical endurance training (based in martial arts) we have been looking at into the adaptation to pain levels and pushing the bodies limits of physical endurance. Project phases have included weight training, climate adaptation (including adaptation to extreme cold, -30°F), long distance hiking (5 hours straight) and more. Each phase lasted for at least a year to demonstrate adaption over two placebo periods [a placebo period lasts about 6 months]. This new phase combines all elements of each phase. In the previous phases, physical adaptation to extreme environments and physical environments improved the bodies ability to regenerate tissue - even grow. Climate adaptation revealed much about the body's metabolicmechanism . While, weight training and hiking (beyond what is normal or average) demonstrated the ability to increase bone mass [in density, width and length]. The goal of this next phase is to refine the understanding of tissue regeneration and the conditions required to help the body to regenerate tissue.
4. [GI Science]
  1. Food Allergies (non-fatal) -[Lactose intolerance] Is a very common food allergy that strikes (generally) people starting their late 20's. It appears, as the body's metabolic rate changes from 20 to 30, lactose intolerance is one result. Essentially, the lactose intolerance allergy causes a hypersensitivity in the GI system.
  2. Hypersensitivity - (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crone's, Colitis, etc.) It appears that hypersensitivity can be controlled, but it's very difficult because there are so many triggers, getting every trigger is almost an impossibility. It's definitely not an immediate cure, but one that may take years - even then, it may sporadically occur.

Weekly Lab Journal

2005-09-16T05:54:00.000-04:00

This week was kind of a slow week, much of the work was behind the scenes and has not made it to the web - yet. As such, there was no new content added to the website(s).

Work continues in both medical studies and clinical studies.
1. The work at the medical clinic continues, dealing with medical problems - online - but with the same quality as if it were a traditional medical clinic. The goal is to ensure the same standards and quality as in any hospital or medical clinic.
2. Clinical research has now begun to show the dynamic environment of the body in which infections exist. Among the standard treatments for disease, good record keeping (taking proper scientific measurements) can mean the difference between successful treatment of a disease or failure (and even death of the paitent). This new standard of bringing medical records into the standard of proper scientific measurement, is a must across all clinical standards and pathologies.
3. Our osteo sciences studies has taken the step into the next phase of research into impact and weight-bearing exercise on bone tissues - including issue of bone density, bone growth (in adults), possible repairs for patients with osteo diseases.
4. In our GI clinical studies, it was realized that gi problems come in many forms and are very difficult to diagnose. If a patient comes and complains of a bowel or intestinal problem - how do you know what's causing the problem!
  1. Infections - Intestinal infections are the most common cause of gi problems. Most are not that serious (painful) but not serious, with the key issue being to maintain proper hydration.
  2. Food Allergies (non-fatal) - are another cause of gi problems. Typically, they produce problems similar to that of an infection. Here is were good record keeping is important. An infection occurs irregularly - an allergy occurs regularly.
  3. Hypersensitivity - (Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crone's, Colitis, etc.) This (these - although it's really just one medical problem that occurs in multiple places in the GI and has many different aspects) particular medical problem is a very difficult problem to deal with. Many go with the problem unresolved for years. The problem is that hypersensitivity can be triggered in many different ways and in different sections of the gi. For example, a spastic colon is hypersensitivity of the colon, while acid reflux disease is hypersensitivity of the esophagus. While, stress seems to be the primary factor in hypersensitivity, there are also other factors such as food. Different foods have different effects on the gi system. Another factor is temperature. The old camp prank, a wrist in warm water causing the person to urinate, is an example of temperature sensitivity of the bowel, kidney and bladder. In clinical practice, yet another factor has been identified, the balance between adrenaline (wake-state neurochemicals) and melatonin (sleep-state neurochemicals). More on GI hypersensitivity next week.

Weekly Lab Journal

2005-09-09T04:01:00.000-04:00

After about a month redesigning the journal, we're back with this new feature. This feature allows the reader to peek inside the lab journal and see the work, as it progresses. A kind-of reality TV view of medical science. The goal for ordinary people, interested in medical science, to see what really goes on and the volume of work done by a researcher/scientist.

As for our website, as content grows, the site is split into sections (sub sites) specific to that content. To this effect;
1. The free public healthcare being developed under the department of health section of the medical science site has now become; The Good Samaritan Online Medical Clinic
2. The donation section has now become The Medical Science Fund
1. medsci-health.cybernetics-institute.org
2. medsci-irb.cybernetics-institute.org

Work continues in both medical studies and clinical studies.
1. The general healthcare medical and clinical study was moved into full clinical use and will be monitored for the next 5 years. To ensure quality and progress is maintained, updates and progress reports will be posted to the journal every quarter, starting with the end of third quater (the end of September 2005).
2. The infectious diseases study now has two phases; the medical study phase and clinical study phase. The air borne infectious disease is in clinical study with good results in improving immune response. Non air borne infections are still in medical study. While there has been no flu infections, there have been mouse exposure infections (occured after accidental exposure to mouse urine) that have been treated successfully, along with a clear display of improved immune response (fever did not go above 99 - 0.02 degrees above normal).
3. The allegery study, has also produced excellent results - so far. No medication required and no significant reactions. General air borne allergen response response time was under 5 minutes. The longest (but mild - watery eyes and sneezing) reaction lasted only 5 minutes after field exposure to rag weed on a hike. Reaction, after walking through field, did nots top the hike. Reaction types;
  1. mild - short term does not affect work or activity
  2. mild(Rx) - A more serious reaction requiring medication to stop (control) the reaction, but not disabiling.
  3. periodic(Rx) - the type of reaction requires periodic medication (up to a week in length)
  4. continous(Rx) - reactions are continuous and requires medication for the full allergy season (spring, summer, fall)
  5. serious(Rx) - although taking medication all season, allergies persist and are disabling.
  6. fatal(Rx) - requires medication (epi pen) to prevent death
4. The Osteo science study has produced good results in clinical practice. Our prognosis of recovery of a hip replacement surgery was very accurate. Many such surgeries require secondary and tertiary surgeries due to improper recovery and physio pace. Patients expectations of recover can push the patient to re-injure the muscle and as such, require more surgery to repair the muscle damage. Other issues include patient compliance, keeping the patient focused on proper recover is difficult to achieve and all patients will deviate from the doctors perscription - particularly patients with medical knowledge. These patients will, properly and improperly, self-medicate themselve. Meaning they will alter the doctors medication perscription, as they see fit.

Weekly Lab Journal - Introduction

2005-09-07T09:09:00.000-04:00

Beginning this Friday, a new weekly feature of the journal, The Weekly Lab Journal. Every week, readers are given a glimpse into the lab work that is currently going on.

In each week's post;
1. Any medical website updates
2. Planned worked for the website(s)
3. Medical & Clinical study updates
4. Interesting links.

Week 12 - Open Forum - Monday

2005-08-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

The open forum, which will be posted Monday, Wednesday and Friday (as needed) will allow for the smooth transition of discussion. Forums are designed to provide a leisurely paced medical science forum (or conference). Comments, suggestions, and input from the general public is welcome.

Week 11 - Open Forum - Monday

2005-07-25T23:56:00.000-04:00

Beyond Neurology and Physiology - Part 1

2005-07-14T16:27:00.000-04:00

This seems like an oximoron, but evidence is showing up that there is more beyond neurology and physiology. Both fields of study take the view that all existance is real and physical. Neurology, has long held the view that all though functions reside within the brian and behaviors are just chemical functions of the brain. To prove the "reality" of neurology, neurologist turn to the physiology of the body to demonstrate the correlation between body function and the brain. For example, when an arm moves, there is a section of the brain that controls this fuction. Elementary neurology, at the very beginning of the field (via disection and experimentation) much of the body's movement was mapped to the brain. Further, disection revealed various structures of the brain and the connetion of the brain to the nervous system, via the brain stem. The most basic of which is the hemispherical structure of the brain - specifically the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. Beyond this, there is the fore, middle and hind sections of the brain. As see in the image on the right [http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html , Harvard Medical School Whole Brain Atlas] .

This image on the right, is a modern image of what's been studied from early on. Images below, are the ones that dominated neurology from it's earliest times. Gray's Anatomy, published in 1918, is widely recognized as the standard atlas of the human body. The first image is a diagram of left eye as it connects to the optic nerve. Here, it was obvious (to the medical scientists) that the eyes weren't the windows of the soul. Further, they found that (in comparitive anatomy) that human anatomy related to animal anatomy. This meant, that with a shortage of human bodies to experiment on, they could use animal bodies instead. Then with the few bodies they did have - donated by the person who had died - they could compare anatomical structure and function.

Early medicine looked much like it was described in the book "Frankenstien". Human bodies were experimented on just like animal bodies. The search was for the soul, the spark of life and ultimately God. However, as they experimented, all the ever found was the physical components of the human body. A body constructed just like that of an animal. As experimentation continued, ideas of how the brain formed and where the mind was, became a very hot topic. However, a collection of well formed brains were off-limits. You couldn't experiment on the healthy - so they turned to the sick. The was the beginning of the asylums (which are now often the settings for horror stories). Here, the sick could be experimented on - for their own good of course. The sick, however, showed no physiological symptoms of their illness and previously it was considered a sickness of the soul. The practioners of curing the soul were - psychologists and studied the field of psychology. (Psycho [commonly pronounced as s-eye-ko, and as see-ko by the Greeks] is the Greek word for soul, so the psychologist is the person who studies the soul and psychology is the study of the soul (the field of study). As the studies grew, the concept of the brains connection to the soul became a focal point. They first found that this illness was hereditary and not contagious. They found, as the collection of people with the soul sickness grew, they had whole families. This meant that soul sickness wasn't contagious (an illness caught) but hereditary (they were born with it). This was good news because hereditary traits like hair, eyes, etc. can be studied - medically.

Here, the psychologist (who just studied the soul), now became the medical scientist - the psychiatrist. The attention of these new medical scientist began with the interest in the bumps on the heads of those with soul sickness. This confirmed, for them, that the soul sickness was in the head and a condition of the nerves and nervous system. They knew from animal experiments that animal brains and limbs responded to electric shock - so to cure patients with a nervous condition (previously a soul sickness) - they started shocking them in a procedure that became known as shock therapy. In experiments, patients seemed to respond positively to shock therapy. However, it didn't last so a series of shock treatments were often perscribed. (These are the origin of the blood-curdling screems heard in horror stories set in asylums.) Further, this was the definitive proof needed for them to make the conclusion that it was the brain responsible for the nervous condition and not the soul.

Week 9 - Open Forum - Monday

2005-07-11T02:40:00.000-04:00

Week 7 - Open Forum - Friday

2005-07-01T23:45:00.000-04:00

The open forum, which will be posted Monday, Wednesday and Friday, will allow for the smooth transition of discussion. Forums are designed to provide a leisurely paced medical science forum (or conference). Comments, suggests, and input from the general public is welcome.

More Fudge in Science: NASA Tweaking Shuttle Safety Data

2005-06-30T21:37:00.000-04:00

from Associated Press
date: April 22, 2005

NEW YORK — Internal NASA documents obtained by a newspaper suggest that the agency is playing down the dangers posed by shuttle debris so it can continue to send astronauts into space.

The New York Times reported Friday that the documents by engineers and managers for the space agency show at least three changes in the statistical methods used in assessing the risks of debris like ice and insulating foam striking a shuttle during launching.

One presentation said lesser standards must be used to support accepting the risks of flight "because we cannot meet" the traditional standards, according to the newspaper.

The Times said there is debate within the agency about whether the changes are a reasonable reassessment of the hazards of flight or whether they jettison long-established rules to justify getting back to space quickly.

Debris was blamed for the disintegration of the shuttle Columbia (search) as it was returning from space in February 2003.

Experts who have seen the documents told the Times that they do not suggest that the shuttle Discovery (search) — scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on May 22 — is unsafe.

Shuttle systems engineering manager John Muratore, the author of one of the documents along with a colleague, told the Times he's "never jiggled a number" in his 25-year career and that the engineering challenge is enormously complex.

Earlier this month, Muratore openly acknowledged that even marshmallow-size pieces of insulating foam from the fuel tank could doom the space shuttle under the worst circumstances. He told reporters it is a risk NASA and the nation must accept for flights to resume anytime soon, and that it would take a total redesign of the tank to completely eliminate foam loss.

Paul A. Czysz, emeritus professor of aerospace engineering at St. Louis University (search), who read the documents at the Times' request, said they did not demonstrate that the shuttle is too dangerous to return to space or that NASA is stinting on efforts to make it safer.

To achieve a profound safety improvement, he said, NASA would need to replace the shuttle fleet, which was designed in the 1970s, with an entirely new vehicle.

But Czysz, who spent some 30 years with NASA contractor McDonnell Douglas, likened the statistical shifts to moving the goal posts at a football game.

"I was amazed at how they were adjusting every test to make it come out right," he said.

Muratore told the Times the statistical process was not meant to move any goal posts.

A call by The Associated Press to Johnson Space Center (search), where Muratore works, was not immediately returned Friday.

NASA officials maintain that the shuttle is safer than it has ever been because of changes made after the Columbia disaster, and they have long acknowledged that not all debris risk can be eliminated.

Week 7 - Open Forum - Monday

2005-06-27T19:02:00.000-04:00

Assessing Funding Models - Charities Part 1

2005-06-24T01:36:00.000-04:00

If you're wondering, why spend so much time on funding? Simple, funding is the key to research and the research that can be done. If funding fails in the middle of research, years of work can be lost. Work that often represents a scientist's life and dedication. This is why funding and answering the funding question is so important. Scientists spend much of their time worrying about funding, and all their research is centered around it. Few understand the cost and risk of medical research. The TV Channel CNBC, a channel dedicated to finance and economics, produced an estimate that a new medical discovery task (on average) 10 years and $1 billion. Further, size does not provide any certainty of discovery. In fact, most discoveries come from small innovative operations - who succeed against all odds. Now, with increasing medical concerns, new medical discoveries and the funding that supports it, is more important than ever. This means that a good funding model is key.

There are essentially three funding models; 1) government, 2) charities, 3) drug companies/for profit medicine. We are going to start with the second, and most visible - charities. Everyone has heard of, or has been called by, a charity asking for money for medical research. Almost every disease has a charity. The more popular the disease the more attention and money it gets. This is why charities hold fundraising drives and events, to bring attention to their medical issue. We have already taken a brief look at some of the largest medical charities. These large charities like the American Heart Association and the Canadian counter-part are large enough they can hold city halting events - like runs and walks. Corporations line up to sponsor these events, because it's good public relations to be seen doing good and supporting a good cause. However, when the annual reports of these charities are reviewed, you see that at most only 30% and as little as 10% actually goes research. To provide a better look, I compiled a list of 20 charities and looked for their annual reports and/or financial information. Of the twenty large charities collecting money (their annual report listing finances and income in the thousands, for example 20,000 list is really 20,000,000) only one reach 56%, and one 29% four were as low as 10%, and half had no financial information. This produced an average of only 10%, of the income collected by large medical charities, actually is spent on medical research.

Week 6 - Open Forum - Monday

2005-06-20T23:06:00.000-04:00

This change in the open forum, which will be posted Monday, Wednesday and Friday, will allow for the smooth transition of discussion. Forums are designed to provide a leisurely paced medical science forum (or conference).

Week 5 - Open Forum

2005-06-18T01:28:00.000-04:00

This is an open forum that will last until next Friday. The public may post discuss any medical issue.

For researchers posting critical review to count as publishing please include full identity information. Anonymous comments and post will not count as critical review.

The Hidden Perils of Social Medicine

2005-06-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

These leaks, in turn, contaminate soil and groundwater, posing health risks to those who live nearby or drink the water. Such health risks can range from nausea to kidney or liver damage or even cancer. As a result, some communities have closed their drinking water wells. A recent news report illustrates the problem. A school in Roselawn, Indiana, discovered that the children had been using and drinking water with nearly 10 times the EPA-recommended safe level of MTBE. I understand that an investigation is trying to determine whether the MTBE came from a nearby tank and whether it is a factor contributing to the children’s nosebleeds and other reported health problems. [Mr. John B. Stephenson, Director of Environmental Issues, U.S. Government Accounting Office 441 G Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20548]

Nosebleeds in children are a common occurance, and there is no data to suggest an abnormal increase due to a hidden chemical cause. So these studies, which are just suggesting a possible problem (with no real data) use very lose and general terms. The "concerns" are generated by environmental charities who need a cause to raise money. This sound very cynical, but after a study of several major medical charities, the statement is unfortunately true.

Studies done on the American Heart Association, the American Stroke Association, the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society found that of the total annual income (based on their annual reports), the ADA scored the highest with spending only 20% of their income on research. The AHA and ASA, which are the same charity scored the lowest with only 10% of their income going to research. Ten other medical charities were also checked and none scored above 20%.

This means that a bulk of the funding comes from the NIH and drug companies. In this amount, the NIH and drug companies must support the medical systems of every country with a social medical program. In Canada, for instance, many medical scientists are supported by grants from the NIH, because the Canadian government has no money to fund it (or so it's claimed). The fact is that socialist Europe requires the American free enterprise medical system to exist.

If the Dems get in and create a social medical system in the US (as the United States of America becomes the United Socialist States of America) - who are they going to turn to - to develop their medicine?

Week 4 - Open Forum

2005-06-10T17:16:00.000-04:00

This is an open forum that will last until next Friday. The public may post discuss any particular medical issue.

For researchers posting critical review to count as publishing please include full identity information. Anonymous comments and post will not count as critical review.

The Puzzle (Random Walk) Method

2005-06-09T00:47:00.000-04:00

Much is made of the term "The Scientific Method", as if it's a divinely ordained process of thought. What is taught in school and the public sees, is the outdated, "classical" scientific method. In the classical method, much was made of this recipe for truth. It fits in with the idea that the world and all knowledge is logical and rational. The idea that was inherited in the world of education. However, if one examines the history of scientific development and the development of scientific theory, the reality is fair from the concept of The Scientific Method. The irony is, although the scientific method is presented as the method of science, a little known concept from quantum physics - the random walk - is the method that actually worked.

The scientific method sets out to control thought and theory, backed by control experiments designed to show the validity of a theory. Essentially, come up with a "scientific" idea, design an experiment to show this "scientific" idea. This is what's taught and what's behind all "scientific" awards and prestige. Here are portions of a section on The Scientific Method, from the University of Rochester,

II. Testing hypotheses

As just stated, experimental tests may lead either to the confirmation of the hypothesis, or to the ruling out of the hypothesis. The scientific method requires that an hypothesis be ruled out or modified if its predictions are clearly and repeatedly incompatible with experimental tests. Further, no matter how elegant a theory is, its predictions must agree with experimental results if we are to believe that it is a valid description of nature. In physics, as in every experimental science, "experiment is supreme" and experimental verification of hypothetical predictions is absolutely necessary. Experiments may test the theory directly (for example, the observation of a new particle) or may test for consequences derived from the theory using mathematics and logic (the rate of a radioactive decay process requiring the existence of the new particle). Note that the necessity of experiment also implies that a theory must be testable. Theories which cannot be tested, because, for instance, they have no observable ramifications (such as, a particle whose characteristics make it unobservable), do not qualify as scientific theories.

If the predictions of a long-standing theory are found to be in disagreement with new experimental results, the theory may be discarded as a description of reality, but it may continue to be applicable within a limited range of measurable parameters. For example, the laws of classical mechanics (Newton's Laws) are valid only when the velocities of interest are much smaller than the speed of light (that is, in algebraic form, when v/c <<>> 10^-8m). A description which is valid at all length scales is given by the equations of quantum mechanics.

[Introduction to the Scientific Method, http://teacher.nsrl.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html ]

This is a scientific method common to physics, where hypotheses leads experimentation - designed to confirm hypotheses. However, they do allow for experimental "failure" where an experiment fails to show the hypotheses. The problem, is that bias (that favors the hypothesis) often creeps in to experiment limiting the value of the experiment as the validation of hypothesis. The result historically, scientific advancement has come in the face of scientific ignorance. Data that was labeled a erroneous and discarded, showed the way to a new understanding. The result, over history has been, the random walk is the primary method of science and knowledge.

The random walk was developed as a concept for the probability. It views the collection of data, as a random walk, with no absolute path, just a probability or trend. The example of which would be the collection of climate data, which todate fair exceeds the abilities of the best models to predict. However, I've found an analogy to the random walk - the puzzle (1500 pieces or more). These very large puzzles are fair more difficult to construct than the smaller puzzles, and the random walk effect occurs with this large of a task. The random walk is represent by organizing the pieces of the puzzle so you can begin a process of trial and error to determine which pieces fit. In this, there is no way to predict where in the puzzle you'll begin or what section of the puzzle will come together first. Ironically, this same method can be applied to science, as shown in the last few articles. Here, in science pieces are not provided, but have to be found, examined and the assembled into a picture. This is the basics of the new random walk method.

A Look at the ACS Puzzle and Beyond

2005-06-08T15:14:00.000-04:00

This is the last piece of the Association/Society/Foundation puzzle that we will look at. We currently have enough to make a general assessment of the piece that we have. This last piece was a little unusual in that the 2004 Annual Report of the American Cancer Society did not have any financial information and when the financial information was found is was in a unaudited consolidatd statement and only for 2003. There was no financial information for 2004. There was the standard section for the public, a section for healthcare providers and a section for researchers. Much of the 2004 annual report was "forward looking" (just like in the others), it wasn't until you see the consolidated financial statement that we see what has actually gone into research. After looking through the document I found the two numbers needed; 1. the total revenue and 2. the total expendature on research. The total revenue was listed as (for 2003) $836,296,000 and the total expendature on research was listed as $130,952,000, meaning of the total amount spent only 16% was spent on research. They list administation costs at 20% an the rest 64% as "education and promotion".

The question that remains to be answered, is why so little on research and so much on education and promotion. Education and promotion seem to be the main function of these associations, societies and foundations. The question here is how effective have these "charities" been and could more be done. There seems to be an association, foundation or society for every disease. This means that there is a clear roadmap to follow in exploring what's been done, a puzzle that will tell us what's left to be done in the puzzle of medical science.

Week 3 - Open Forum

2005-06-03T12:41:00.000-04:00

This is an update of the weekend forum, except this forum will last until next Friday.

For researchers posting critical review to count as publishing please include full identity information. Anonymous comments and post will not count as critical review.

End of Week Links of Interest

2005-06-03T12:33:00.000-04:00

1.

2. NIH Library

3. DC Prinicples Free Access to Science

A Look at the ADA Puzzle

2005-06-02T00:27:00.000-04:00

We saw in the article on the AHA (American Heart Association) that the medical science puzzle is not a single puzzle, but a puzzle made of other puzzles. We moved to look at the ASA (American Stroke Association) puzzle, which was actually part of the AHA puzzle. Now, we are going to examine the ADA (American Diabetes Association). Our examinations, are still only preliminary, just enough to get a general picture. This general picture will provide further direction for research. This is a type of research, that was very briefly touched on in Quantum Physics, with the introduction of the "random walk". From this concept, which held the view that true science cannot be predicted only observed and explored, it could be said (or equated) that the "random walk" was the same as single frame (picture) in a movie, or a single piece in a puzzle. This means that while you can't predict what's going to occur, you can find enough pieces to produce a general picture (or trend). It's this process that saw the amazing developments in astronomy, physics, computer science, and the space program. However, from our initial pieces that we have found (of the medical science puzzle) this method does not exist here.

To examine the ADA, we will go to the same point that we did for the AHA and ASA, the annual report.

1. The prevalence of diabetes has never been greater, and the American Diabetes Association continues to rise to meet the growing challenges that go along with diabetes research, information and advocacy. The steady growth of the Association’s Research Program is exemplified by three different targeted grant projects that were initiated in FY04. These projects include the largest annual grant that the Association has ever awarded, focusing on obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as the two largest grants ever given to individual researchers, focusing on islet cell transplantation in type 1 diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy. [Page 4, MESSAGE FROM THE VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP]

2. We live in a nation where more than six percent of the population — 18.2 million people — have diabetes, and the number is on the rise. As the challenges that diabetes presents continue to increase, the American Diabetes Association will be there, fighting to prevent and cure this devastating disease. [Page 5, message from the CEO]

3. In Memory and Recognition of GAIL PATRICK....As a tribute to Ms. Patrick, the American Diabetes Association established the Gail Patrick ADA Innovation Award. This prestigious award will go to the highest scoring innovation application from our two grant cycles each year in perpetuity. The award will provide $50,000 per year for two years to the researcher for developing an idea that could have major impact on diabetes research and the Association’s efforts to cure diabetes. [page 11]

4.
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES (in thousands of dollars)
Public Support and Other Revenue
a. [2004 annual report]
Total Revenue $208,198
Expenses - Research $47,472 (23% of the total income)

These four pieces will give us a good general picture. From pieces 1 and 2, the point to an increase in diabetes. Pieces 1 to 3, are forward looking along with the rest of the document. Yet we see a research expendature similar to (although twice that of) the AHA and ASA (combined research expendature was only 20%). This places the same funding pressures on researchers, as described in the article, "Science is no Place for Fudge". The vast majority of its funds are spent on professional and public information, education, and promotional programs. This brings the same issue as seen in the AHA and the ASA - why do MD's need these "education" programs? However, we will look at this question of MD education and qualication, in a later article. For the next direction we will take a clue from the final report and look at the American Cancer Association (ACA).

A Look at the ASA Puzzle

2005-05-31T09:18:00.000-04:00

We saw in the article on the AHA (American Heart Association) that the medical science puzzle is not a single puzzle, but a puzzle made of other puzzles. As such, our analysis lead us to look at the ASA (American Stroke Association) and the ADA (American Diabetes Association) which will will examine in the next article. Our examinations, at this point, are only preliminary, just enough to get a general picture.

The place to begin, is where we found the best in formation about the AHA, on the website under about us. Here we find a history, and find two points of interest.

1.

1997. The Stroke Division was formed as a result of a recommendation made by the Stroke Positioning Task Force. The Stroke Division is a cross-functional work group with representatives from all of the key work process groups operating throughout the American Heart Association National Center. (i.e., Consumer Health Marketing, Communications, Advocacy, Scientific Meetings, and Research)

The purpose of the Stroke Division was to help the American Heart Association increase its strategic focus in stroke and maximize and integrate stroke messages through all appropriate American Heart Association programs, products and services.

Next, the American Heart Association's national Board of Directors considered changing the corporate name to include stroke, but chose instead to change the name of the newly created Stroke Division. American Heart Association volunteers and market research supported this decision.

1998. The Stroke Division was renamed the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. This change was made to:

Elevate the name to match the organizational commitment to stroke.
More closely align the Stroke Division?s programming activities with the American Heart Association?s newly established goals and strategies hierarchy.
Reinforce stroke as a priority among the general public, internal staff and volunteers.
Increase recognition among the general public that the American Heart Association is the organization to turn to for information about stroke.
Increase the American Heart Association?s ability to marshal resources at all levels to achieve of the long-range stroke impact goal.

1999. The Bugher Foundation made a major commitment to stroke research with the American Stroke Association by committing $7.5 million over an eight-year period. The American Stroke Association focused its energy on developing or revising more than 40 programs, products and services relating to stroke. One such product, the Acute Stroke Treatment Program, was launched to give hospitals the tools needed to implement primary stroke centers.

The first point tells us that the ASA is a division of the AHA and how it emerged from the AHA and became the ASA. The second tells us it's function, from which the last line causes my the most problems. As with the AHA, we see a large chunk of their work (and expenses) goes into these professional services. What troubles me, and is the primary question that comes to mind. Why aren't the MDs learning (being trained) in medical school? Further, it calls into question the standard(s) of licensing for MDs. The reason being, it seems to be falling to the AHA, the ASA and other such organizations to properly train MDs.

The next issue comes from the fact the 2004 annual report reviewed for the AHA, is also for the ASA, this means that the research funds are (with all things being equal) just 50% of the total for each area. The minimal 20% of the income that is used for research must be shared between both cardiology research and stroke research - leaving only 10% for each. This is actually a substantial decrease in the total funding available. This creates the environment described in the journal Science and in the past article (in this journal) Science is noPlace for Fudge that produces the problematic "forward-looking" research. Research that produces favorable reports for those who provide the funding. This is demonstrated by the recent concerns about the drug Crestor. Richard H. Karas, M.D., Ph.D., director of preventive cardiology and the Woman's Heart Center at Tuft-New England Medical Center, wrote a paper issuing a warning about the safety of the drug Crestor The paper, was published in the AHA journal Circulation, by Elliott Antman, M.D., of Harvard Medical School, director of the coronary care unit at Brigham and Woman's Hospital in Boston and a Circulation senior associate editor. Who admitted "fast tracking" the paper to publication. Further, the author was found, on CNBC, to have been funded by a group with interests in a class action lawsuit against AstraZeneca, the maker of Crestor. Who, promptly produced medically backed arguments of itsown.

Open Forum for the Weekend of May 28

2005-05-27T13:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome to this weekends (long weekend - Friday to Monday) Open Forum.

Suggested Topics

1. How should research institutes alter their funding formula to prevent problems highlighted this week.

2. What's your concern about research "fudge"? - dangerous fraud or "no biggy"?

3. The Crestor issue

Known Pieces of the Medical Science Puzzles - Part 3

2005-05-26T07:56:00.000-04:00

Here is yet one more "forward looking" statement. An honorable one, that no one would really question.

"We are driving toward a 25 percent reduction in coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by the year 2010. This is an ambitious goal — but attainable. We’re seeing lives saved along the way, and we see the drive culminating in 2010 with an additional 192,000 lives saved in that year alone. » How are we getting there? » The answer begins with organizational effectiveness. We are focused on the areas of greatest impacton heart disease and stroke. We’re disciplined to say “NO” but willing to take prudent risks. " [Page 7, letter from CEO]

It's backed by their only other statement of science in the report.

"Research — discovering scientific truth ....... Scientific inquiry is the starting point for medical advances and improved patient treatment. Good science has the potential to reduce the physical and financial cost of heart disease and stroke. It also confirms our credibility as a voluntary health organization and is central to our professional and public education initiatives. That’s why we enthusiastically help investigators begin their careers while also supporting established researchers’ ongoing scientific projects. ...... We have a research program nationally and at each of our 12 affiliates. We gave 1,057 new awards in 2003–04, representing an investment of more than $130 million. We also continued to offer scientists and physicians unique professional growth opportunities through our 13 scientific councils and three interdisciplinary working groups." [Page 11]

The problem is that good science, no matter how good, has both risk and the need for self-criticism. Something that is lacking in the new AHA voluntary health organization. While there is a promotion on the amount they spent on ("invested" in) research, they neglect to state how much they didn't spend on research (40% of their income at a minimum). Their enthusism to "help investigators begin their careers while also supporting established researchers' ongoing scientfic projects" - is muted when a new funding formula, that meets all the concerns pointed out in the journal Science, is presented. This means that unless science research meets their standards, no funding is provided. If fact, the AHA no longer pro-actively seeks new scientists, but has place barriers to is now restricted reseach investment (just 20% of their income).

The question that needs to be asked, is one of the lacking self analysis. An analysis that will begin at the public website - where we see;

1. " Could you be the next face of stroke? Each year there are 700,000 new and recurrent strokes. For each of these 700,000 faces of stroke there are many more who feel the effect as a family member or friend of a stroke survivor. Find out now if you or a loved one is at risk for stroke and take action now."

2. Statistics from the AHA Heart and Stroke 2005 update;

a. "Yearly totals of out-of-hospital death (ICD/9 codes: 390–398, 402, and 404–429) in people ages 15 to 34 rose from 2,719 in 1989 to 3,000 in 1996. Alarmingly, though the numbers are very small, the death rate increased by 30 percent in young women. Death rates were also higher among young African Americans than among Caucasians. (Sudden Cardiac Death in U.S. Young Adults, 1989–96, CDC, 2001)" [Page 6]

b. "Age-adjusted death rates for Diseases of the Heart from 1990 to 1998 declined 15 percent for non-Hispanic whites, 11 percent for non-Hispanic blacks, 17 percent for Hispanics, 14 percent for Asian or Pacific Islanders and 8 percent for American Indians or Alaska Natives. In 1998 the rate for non-Hispanic blacks was 2.8 times the rate for Asian or Pacific Islanders. (Healthy People 2000, Statistical Notes, No. 23, CDC/NCHS, Jan. 2002)" [Page 6]

c. "Among adults age 18 and older, the prevalence of 2 or more risk factors increased from 23.6 percent in 1991 to 27.9 percent in 1999. It increased significantly for both men and women and for all race, ethnic, age and education groups. (BRFSS, CDC/NCHS, Arch Intern Med 2004;164:181–8)
— Among persons with 2 risk factors in 1999, the most common combination was HBP and high cholesterol (23.9 percent).
— Among those with 3 risk factors, the most common combination was HBP, high cholesterol and obesity (32.5 percent).
Among those with 4 risk factors, about 43 percent had the combination of HBP, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking. Another 40 percent had HBP, high
cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. These risk factor combinations were also the most common combinations in earlier years."

From this brief review of statistics, problems quickly arise - (a) supports (c), but (b) contradicts (c). The problem is that the statistics are confusing and "adjusted", but are showing a worsening problem, not the promoted improvement. What is actually occuring, will have to be studied further. To do this we will have to go to the source of statistics. While it appears that the statistics come from a variety of sources, there is a common source - the CDC. However, for now, the general picture provided by these pieces is a picture of serious problems and failure. This means that the puzzle of the AHA has to be added to the "to-do list".

Known Pieces of the Medical Science Puzzles - Part 2

2005-05-25T13:26:00.000-04:00

As we can see, there are known pieces of the medical science puzzle. This means that the question is no longer, if there are known pieces of the puzzle, but what are they and how do they fit together. This, in turn, leads to the question, are there any gaps in the picture. However, the complexities are already beginning to show. The one piece of the American Heart Association is turning into a puzzle, itself. This kind of gives the indication that the medical science puzzle may have no easy edges to use as a guide, but instead is a composition of other puzzles. If this is the case, an understanding of the larger medical science puzzle can be derived (extrapolated) from the American Heart Association puzzle.

From the pieces collected, in part 1 of this article, we can see that the American Heart Association is large enough to cover the medical science area of cardiology. We also see, that the general overview (picture) of the AHA (American Heart Association) is one of a scientific society that evolves into a social agency. A serious issue raised in the article, Science is No Place for Fudge [Dr. Daniel Carras, PhD, DMSc, MD[Defending] - Week 1 Vol 0 of this journal] . This article introduces the scientific issues occurring in the medical science community, and we see the AHA evolve right into these problems. The question here is what has been the effect?

The answer requires further investigation and the best place to start, in the AHA puzzle, is the final 2004 Annual Report. The first question was, how far has the AHA evolved? We find that (on page 2) that the AHA had a total income of $652,921,542 and spent only $132,655,795. Here's where the fudging begins, they have their research expenses listed as 23.7%, but when calculated against the total income, the research expenses only can up to about 20%. So where did the "23.7% come from? It's the research expenses calculated against total expense, not the total income - it's a "forward-looking" adjusted result. It places the best possible look on the evolution of the AHA. Promotion can be seen as any activity to present the image of the AHA. Here the total expenditure was, ($200,912,662 - public education, $81,033,906 - fund raising) $281,946,568 or 41% at a minimum, and $387,635,033 or 59% - if you consider the promotional value of ($66,540,327 - professional edu & training and $39,148,138 - community services).

So what's happened to the science that the AHA relies on?

"(1)In organizations, one good decision can produce far-reaching benefits. Our renewed focus on “putting passion into action” is a perfect illustration. Emphasizing the personal impact of cardiovascular diseases has created new excitement and energy for our cause, which has led to new opportunities and a host of new achievements. » Our passion for reaching others was evident when Go Red For Women debuted and put a red spotlight on the long-neglected issue of women and heart disease. Our Women’s Primary and Secondary Prevention Guidelines received widespread coverage as a result. Go Red For Women continues as a year-round campaign that will be renewed each February. ... (2) To increase our impact in emergency care, we’re evolving our very successful local Operation Heartbeat and Operation Stroke initiatives into new efforts that focus on improving Emergency Medical Services infrastructure statewide. (3) Our commitment to improving heart and stroke education, care and services remains unwavering; now we’re focusing more efforts on advocacy, strategic alliances and Get With The Guidelines–Coronary Artery Disease and Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, two proven quality improvement initiatives. These programs help hospitals establish protocols and follow guidelines in treating and discharging patients to reduce future cardiovascular events. » (4) We’re also passionate about serving customers, including the researchers and scientists who are so vital to our association. To better meet their needs, we launched an enhanced membership program. Now members have an array of new services, including greater access to scientific information and better networking opportunities. » (5) It’s been said that what you give comes back to you. That’s certainly been true this year. The more we’ve shown our passion for serving our constituencies, the more they’ve responded by supporting our cause. This year our fund-raising revenues rose a remarkable18 percent over last year. " [Page 6, letter from Chairman of the Board and President]

(1) is a statement of hope, which in itself is not bad, but the actual results are - lacking. In fact, much of the statements throughout the 2004 annual report, are of the "forward looking type. The only stats provided is the year over year financial increase. The only statement, (4) from the above, that mentions the "science" that their success depends on - view the scientists and research as customers, not as an integral part of the AHA - which is no longer a scientific organization, but a social agency. Much of the report reads just like the warnings of scientific integrity stated in the journal, Science.

Open Forum for the Weekend of May 21, 2005

2005-05-20T06:21:00.000-04:00

Known Pieces of the Medical Science Puzzle - Part 1

2005-05-19T05:35:00.000-04:00

We have already seen three pieces of the medical science puzzle, which points us to a problem in funding and fudging scientific results. So the next place to look for pieces are the foundations that fund medical research.

The American Heart Association - The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.The mission statement was affirmed by the Delegate Assembly at its meetings of June 1993, June 1996 and June 1999. The mission statement undergoes a formal review process every third year.
The following is the current mission statement of the American Heart Association. [Mission statement from the website.]
1. A brief history
2. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishes Circulation for the American Heart Association
3. Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press® assists in the publication of Circulation Online
4. Journals are restricted access via subscription only.
5. 2004 Annual Report [Final]

Science is No Place for Fudge

2005-05-18T04:56:00.000-04:00

Consider the following three pieces found in the February 4th 2005 issue of the journal, Science.

Many scientists are aware of the subtle influences on their own scientific conduct, but many are others are not. Sydney Brenner, the joint winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine, delightfully described a slide in which data points were scattered very close to a straight line - but a large mysterious black object lay in one corner. By degrees, the onlooker realizes that the object is a thumb placed over a data point far away from the straight line.

Social psychologists and sociologists have long been aware of the subtle ways in which bias can creep into research. The behavior of their subjects sometimes results not from the effects of experimental manipulation, but merely from the attention paid to them by the experimenter. Much evidence suggests that experimenters often obtain the results they expect to obtain, partly because they unwittingly influence the outcome of the experiment.

3.
The reality of prejudice or theoretical conformism in scientific work emphasizes that a considerable job of educating many members of the scientific community is still needed. That kind of awareness becomes all the more necessary when issues of funding and promotion are at stake. Some notorious cases have demonstrated just how ferocious ca be the pressure from commercial funders to ignore good scientific practice. A well known example was the shameful treatment at the University of Toronto of Nancy Olivieri, who published data uncongenial to the drug company that funded her.

These three pieces point to a picture of serious problems in the picture of medical science. A picture that shows the pressure to alter scientific findings, not to mention errors and theoretical bias built into the experiment.

Collecting Pieces

2005-05-17T07:05:00.000-04:00

I described the new process of medical science (bringing medical science from the classical structure to a modern structure) as being like a puzzle, only in this puzzles the pieces have to be found. A friend asked me, "How do you known when you've found a piece"? The problem is that there is no simple answer, but it can be illustrated via my work in Cardiology.

The first step is to ask what has been done in Cardiology. This simple general survey was done via a search of the internet to find out who was out there and what they were doing. This yielded a wealth of information on the pharmaceutical advances in medicine for cardiology. This information was contradicted by articles in the journal Science, such as in the January 7 2005 (Vol. # 307) Page 19, Fighting Arrhythmias . An article that described the positively project drugs do little or nothing to reduce the risk of arrhythmias in cardiac patients. A piece that demonstrates that not only more work needs to be done, but areas of viable research are going undone. In short, there are holes in the current picture of medical science.

Open Forum for the Weekend of May 14, 2005

2005-05-13T02:13:00.000-04:00

Here's your chance to tell us what's on your mind! What medical science and healthcare issues are important to you.

The Next Step

2005-05-12T00:58:00.000-04:00

The drug failures of Vioxx, celebrex, bextra, and the numerous other failures between Nov/Dec 2004 and March 2005, and the conflicts of interest problems at the FDA underscores the need for independent research. The issue has been furthered, by repeated articles in the journal Science, warning of research reports being skewed to produce favoriable (or at least optimistic) results to secure funding from "review" based granting foundations. Everyone knows of the these foundations, who don't actually do the research that they raise funds for. Private foundations, societies and associations, have become a major source of funding other than the NIH, FDA and other such government agencys. They raise money for research, that researchers compete for. Conflicts of interest are supposed to be eliminated, by the "peer review" process, but many "reviewers" compete for grants themselves. It's these conflicts of interest that cause the ethical questions raised innumerous articles in the journal Science.

Here are just some of the problems that have arisen;

1. medical care costs have risen,

2. leaving 5 million Canadians without a family doctor

3. An increase in the health insurance (OHIP) premium.

4. in the US nearly 30 million people are without health insurance

5. health care costs have caused large companies like GM to issue earnings warning.

6. failures of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies like the FDA.

The 5 million Canadians without a family doctor (due to a shortage of GP's) is a significant issue, because many politicians are looking to Canada as a solution to the medical crisis in the US. Few Canadians understand where their medical system comes from, or how long it takes to ensure that the medicine that they are getting (or want) is safe for public use. Most Canadians only notice the shortfalls when there is a specific need or emergency - like SARS. The reason is that most medical science is hidden behind gilded walls seen only by the appointed doctors, who's rule was absolute. However, now they are viewed as elitists by a political system that prefers nurse pratictioners. This shortage of doctors has pushed health care costs up, but it's only aminor factor.

The major factor in the raise in medical cost, has been the amazing developments of medical science and medical technology. The pharmaceutical and biotech industry has spent billions since the 1970's developing the medicine and technology (under the regulatory guidance of the FDA and NIH) that we began to see in the 1990's. Technology and medicine that was supposed to bring future generations a longer lifespan and better health.

However, was not to be, the problems of healthcare cost and conflicts of interest - even with the regulatory bodies of the FDA and NIH - isjust the tip of the iceberg.

1. There are ever increase numbers of drug resistant strains of infections (CDC & WHO - Center for Disease Control & the World Health Organiztion),

2. The AHA (the American Heart Association) has conituned to reported an increase in heart disease, and project that heart disease will start in men as young as 30 (it was 45 in the 1970's and 80's)

3. The ADA has reported a continual increase in diabetes

This along with reported increases in asthma , cancer, severe allergies (peanuts, etc), gi disorders and neurological disorders. The irony here is that despite all of the medical improvement, future generations will be facing a decrease in life span! This means our children will be dying younger. This is a very serious problem because all and any solution will come from medical research. And currently, the only avenue being explored is the pharmaceutical and surgical avenue, at theexpense of other valid medical science avenues.

Since the primary source of the problem seems to centered around funding, we began by changing our funding formula. Our first step wasto create a medical science fund that has no middlemen - it's not a charity, foundation or society that simply collects money to be "used" in research, minus their administration costs. All funds generated go direct to research. The next goal, is to create a fully independent source of funds for research that will not cause the problems written about in the journal Science. A difficult prospect due to all the foundations, charities who also want funds from the public. As well, the message that foundations and charities offer is not the real view of the risk of medical research and the length of time required. This means that public donations are insufficient for the monthly funds required to keep a good research program going. As such, funds from public donations can only be a small part of the overall funds generated. Other avenues of revenue generations is being researched as the funding formula is redeveloped. However, the funding issues cannot overshadow the medical research.

This brings us to our next step, which is to bring the science back into medical science. Medical science, like most other sciences (except for physics), is stuck in theories and standards laid out in the 1800's. While physics has moved from classical physics (standards and views set in the 1800's) to modern physics, the rest of science is still under the classical standard. Under the classical standard, scientific knowledge was "absolute" and scientists were experts (for example Newton's Laws). Universities adopted the classical standard from which they taught and set their academic standards. However, in phyics, this view of science ended around the 1900 with Albert Einstein and was buried with the development of Quantum Physics (modern physics). It was found that knowledge of the universe (the focus of astronomy and physics) was far beyond the capacity of the human mind (something that contradicted the classical view) and was relative. The experiment that was supposed to support the classical view of physics became known as the ultraviolet catastrophe. In classical physics (and classical science) all knowledge was absolute and could be understood (and controlled) by the human mind. Experiments were supposed to be created to confirm what theory already understood. However, in physics, when they began to explore the particle structure of nature (molecules, atoms and sub-atomic particles) all the classical theories collapsed with the experiment that became known as the ultraviolet catastrophe. An experiment, that Einstein would take and build his theories of relativity around - which inturn would become central to the concepts known as Quantum physics, Super string theory and the physics work done here. From this point on, it would be experiments that lead theory in physics and astronomy. This standard lead to the space program, computers, computer technology and all medical and genetic technology.

However, this standard was never applied to any other field of science - until now. The changes in physics were buried - hidden - to prevent the collapse of the entire academic system. Further, because much ofphysics and astonomy (modern) was of extreme interest to government (because it was used to develop the atomic bomb), much of the standards in physics were classified. Hidden, by the government, from the general view of the public. This suited universities and academics just fine because, the reality of physics no longer threatened the classical view of the university and the other sciences. It's only been since the 1990's that the technology (and physics) of the cold war became declassified and used by the general public. Technology that brought in the technology for DNA analysis, computer technology (like that used in PET and MRI scanners), lasers for laser surgery, etc. .

It was the scientific standards of physics that pushed the successes in medical technology. This means that to resolve the problems listed above, and develop a better medical system for future generations, the standards of physics needs to introduced and applied to medicine. As such, we have begun the work necessary to take a research technic from astronomy, known as a general field survey, and apply it to medicine. This method is akin to building a large puzzle (between 2000 and 3000 piece puzzle). The more pieces of the puzzle you have put together, the clearer the picture becomes. However, as anyone who has built one of these large puzzles knows, this is not that simple. There is a lot of trial and error in matching pieces, a process that can easily take a month to complete. Astronomers have another problem, unlike a puzzle the pieces of the puzzle is not provide, nor is there really a picture. This is what the general survey does, it provides the general picture and provides hints as to what pieces need to be collected. More specific surveys are required to identify pieces.

In the application of this standard, we already have a good IT system in place and have been collecting the various pieces for about 6 years. In this time, it has become apparent that a proper general survey has never been done in medicine. The general picture developed from the pieces of the medical science puzzle, is that there is no general picture. There is no modern scientific structure, just the classical structure. However, this has been the focus of this institute to bring the pieces of the medical science puzzle, into a structure based on modern physics.

More Than You Think

2005-05-04T23:29:00.000-04:00

As stated, the drug failures of Vioxx, celebrex, bextra, and the numerous other failures between Nov/Dec 2004 and March 2005, and the conflicts of interest problems at the FDA underscores the need for independent research. The issue has been furthered, by repeated articles in the journal Science, warning of research reports being skewed to produce favoriable (or at least optimistic) results to secure funding from "review" based granting foundations. Everyone knows of the these foundations, who don't actually do the research that they raise funds for.

Here's the problem that has arisen, medical care cost has risen, leaving 5 million Canadians without a family doctor and an increase in the health insurance premium. As well, in the US nearly 30 million people are without health insurance and health care costs have caused large companies like GM to issue earnings warning. This at the same time as the failures of the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory bodies like the FDA. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are ever increasing numbers of drug resistant strains of infections, a reported increase in heart disease, an increase in diabetes, asthma , with cancer the list continuing to grow. Despite all of the medical improvement, the next generation will be facing adecrease in life span! This means our children will be dying younger.

Our first step was to create a medical science fund that has no middlemen (we're not a charity), there are no marketing people, only scientists. This means all funds (100%) go to research. Our next step will be to take a research technic from astronomy, known as a general field survey. It's akin to building a large puzzle (between 2000 and 3000 piece puzzle). This research will be integrated at our blog, http://ci-medicalscience.blogspot.com , were the public can give their views on issues in medical science.

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Independent Funding for Medical Science

2005-04-21T21:59:00.000-04:00

Medicare keep pushing taxes up and people off of health insurance. Due, primarily, to an increase in drug prices, which in turn, are due to the enormous cost and risk of the research and development of medication. To underscore the issue, even the Canadian free medical system is having major problems. Currently, there is a shortage of family doctors. There are lines to wait for specialists and to schedule surgeries. The Liberal government of Ontario raised taxes and the situation got worse. The federal Liberal government raised taxes and the situation got worse. It's an economic no brainer that a low/reduced tax environment produces a better economy - but unless there is an interest in medical research, the cost of supplying medicine to employees will continue to rise.

Serious tax reduction and tax elimination requires real commitment! The question is - "Is the commitment there? or Is it just talk? I've been working to reduce taxes for years, with no one seriously interested. I found that to really reduce taxes the social service talking points of the socialist democrats needs to be addressed. I have done this with a free online academic university (http://akadhmia.org), with competitive research programs like a medical science institute (http://medsci.cybernetics-institute.org) that is working on free public healthcare.

Our medical fund is fully independent and uses no tax funded grants or funds, all funds are generated privately. However, it's been very difficult because no one seems interested. This means that the next step is to offer contract services. To this effect we are offering outsourcing contracts to other IRBs, who need positions filed for only $1000/month . As well, we have begun offering marketing/sales/promotion services for the same amount. Much cheaper than the cost of standard employment options. The goal is to have multiple sources of income for the medical fund.

What happens in medical research affects everyone. The proof is the rise in the cost of medicare, and the cost of health insurance. One of the major issue affecting GM, Ford and other large companies and components of the Dow is the cost of health insurance. A cost based on the cost of medical research done by drug companies. This means that getting a good control of this issue (which can be done in the medical fund) means a better economy. A strong issue with Larry Kudlow of, Kudlow & Company on MSNBC, who has also been talking about "scraping" the tax code, and tax reduction. As I stated earlier, serious tax reduction and tax elimination requires real commitment! The question is - "Is the commitment there? or Is it just talk? There are options - Anyone interested?

Anyone interested in free public healthcare?

Larry, are you serious about tax reduction?

A Weighty Issue - All those studies

2005-04-20T23:46:00.000-04:00

Yet another study on weight has come up - as reported, By GINA KOLATA of the New York Times, Some Extra Heft May Be Helpful, New Study Says - Published: April 20, 2005

The weight numbers and the weight issues all have a certain degree flexibility. Much more than is currently seen by most reports (as this report shows). What this report doesn't show is the effects to looked for when being either under weight or over weight. For example, at what point, when under weight does the body start to consume itself. I personally know people, who were over weight, they began a pill and vitamin diet - they lost weight (a lot of weight) but they look more aged and gaunt. Something that I've seen in my medical studies, too much weight-loss accelerates aging. However, this has been rarely studied, what has been reported is the significantly reduce calorie diet of mice. Then on the opposing side, there has been little done outside the standard views of weight gain - with the exception of this study. Here's the contradiction - that any weight lifter knows, weight bearing exercise (which builds bone mass/density) increases the body's weight! The point, while this study is a good starting point - much more needs to be done.

Welcome to Medical Science for the Public

2005-04-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the new blog for the Cybernetics Institute - Medical Science.

Medical science is typically the domain of medical students, doctors and scientists. Here, however, we are open to the public. You see what medical researchers see. So what are your concerns? What are your issues?