Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Required reading for anyone who eats food.

It used to be that only biochemists needed to know what transfats are.  Now the expectation is that the averaage layman is familiar with biochemistry.  This wonderful book has a fold out map that gives you all the different food groups and the compounds within them (hint:  high fructose corn syrup is not an essential nutrient).

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Adrenal support

One of the funnest things about Women to Women is that they don't really ask if you're a woman when you sign up for their newsletter.  So I periodically get emails telling me my estrogen is likely to be out of balance.  That may be, but I'm personally more interested in my testosterone.  This discussion of adrenal covers both sexes.  I don't find the 24 hour testing terribly accurate, and the conventional approach is either a snapshot blood test (almost always "normal") or a 24 urine collection.  I use a much quicker in the office test.

Here's W to W's rundown on adrenal fatigue.  http://www.womentowomen.com/adrenalfatigue/effectsofhighcortisol.aspx?id=1&campaignno=adrenalfatigue&adgroup=ag1adrenalfatigue&keywords=adrenal+fatigue

Monday, June 14, 2010

Council of Europe Sees Conflict of Interest in Swine Flu Pandemic Experts

What are we to think when the very people who were screaming about the swine flu pandemic were on the payrolls of the drugs manufactured to stop the pandemic?  The word "conspiracy" is one the WHO has been talking about. 
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/340/jun03_4/c2912

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Internal Medicine: What's Really Happening

Among the things I love about Harrison's is the addressing of basic medical philosophy.  Here is a quote from the introduction to oncology (Cancer Treatment).  "The dictum primum non nocere is not the guiding principle of cancer therapy.  When cure of cancer is possible, cancer treatments may be undertaken despite the certainty of severe and perhaps life threatening toxicities.  Every cancer treatment has the potential to cause harm...the guiding principle of cancer treatment should be primum succerrere, "first hasten to help." (p.514)

Yes!  The conflict I see played out in patients is a confusion between harm and treatment.  Never have I heard an oncologist explain both the nature and the practical side effects of their treatments better.  It would be wonderful to have this philosophy clarified, not because it's wrong, but because it would make it easier for patients to make quick decisions about their care.  Yes, there will be side effects, but we need to
work fast.  For those of you who don't know Harrison's is a standard medical text, interesting only to medical geeks like myself.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

If you think you can't, read this.

Let's see...mountain climber to world education expert without any schooling.  Pretty impossibly true.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones

Just when you think you've "got" one of the stories or koans, there's another layer.
A book of nonsense that has been passed on from master to student because maybe we're all full of nonsense.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?

I think the next time someone does this sort of mockup, they should hire a doctor to go through the mechanics of zombiehood.  It just seems inconsistent.  Although the collaborator attempts to replicate Austen's prose, I found myself relishing her sparring of manners all the more.  An interesting idea, and it did get me to go back to my classic.  But even the new, improved version with lots of mayhem simply adds in more grating references to swords and threats.  I did become used to the zombies as I progressed, and there is some sweet justice meted out to those who cross Elizabeth. 

Friday, June 4, 2010

A Wiser Man Than I.

A theoretical physicist gone monk.  A funny man with a wise sense of humor.

1000 Awesome Things

If you want something non-denominational, non-religious and uplifting, here's some happy fluff.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Beyond Self Sabotage

Most of us improve in one area of our lives and then blow it in another area.  Among the amazing things in this book is the claim that he hasn't had a fight with his wife in twelve years.  His concept of "the upper limit" of comfort is extremely useful.