From Mighty Mice to Mighty Humans
Filed in Clinical Trials, Personal Health, Research, November 30, 2007, 1:23 pm by Mariano DiFabioOn Tuesday, I wrote a post about studies that have been done by researchers that have, either accidentally or purposefully, modified mice to have extraordinary characteristics beyond those of their wild counterparts. In one study on metabolism, scientists modified the genes in their subjects to yield a mouse that displayed evidence of increased athletic [...]
Mighty Mice?
Filed in Research, November 27, 2007, 8:21 pm by Mariano DiFabioOne of my favorite cartoons as a youth was, “Mighty Mouse,” a story about a mouse who had transformed himself into a superhero during a dire time in his town, where cats ruled and bullied his friends into submission. He spent one night in a supermarket, cleaning himself with super soap, eating super foods [...]
Thanksgiving Lethargy?
Filed in General, November 24, 2007, 11:10 pm by Mariano DiFabioAs I sat and watched TV on Thursday night after a fantastic Thanksgiving meal, I contemplated Friday’s blog entry and decided not to do it because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Besides, upon awakening on Friday morning, I found myself in a haze, I presumed due to the amino acid tryptophan, something that our body [...]
Leveraging Marijuana for Medical Benefits
Filed in Research, November 20, 2007, 10:30 pm by Mariano DiFabioRarely does a drug elicit such a variety of responses as those associated with marijuana. Long defined as illegal for recreational use in this country, marijuana has a strange acceptance through its underground proliferation in the United States, yet few will publicly admit to using the drug, or at least in former President Clinton’s [...]
FDA Balancing Act
Filed in Clinical Trials, Legal, November 16, 2007, 10:55 pm by Mariano DiFabioThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come under a lot of scrutiny lately over safety concerns of approved drugs that were on the market but had to be recalled because of some serious adverse events reported by their customers. We can view mainly Merk’s Vioxx as the catalyst for this interest and examination [...]
This Year’s Flu Vaccine: A Shot in the Arm
Filed in Personal Health, November 13, 2007, 2:41 pm by Mariano DiFabioMy father-in-law is a medical professional…an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, actually, so he’s capable of prescribing and dispensing medication to our family. He’s got a gentle touch and is really good at what he does, and any time I’ve needed unsolicited advice, he’s been a perfect resource, his knowledge of drug interactions and current [...]
Massachusetts could be Top on Biofuel Push
Filed in Legal, Technology, November 9, 2007, 10:50 pm by Mariano DiFabioNot that I’m an advocate of getting all my news from one source, but one of the news sites that I make regular visits to is the Boston.com web site. Originally from a suburb of Boston, I try to keep up with what’s going on in Beantown, I follow local sports teams, and find [...]
Strengthening the FDA
Filed in Legal, November 6, 2007, 11:32 am by Mariano DiFabioTwo weeks ago, I wrote a post about a couple of major points in the history of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and how they redefined the responsibilities of the agency. These events set up the clinical trial process, and gave the FDA the authority to insist that consumable items be both safe and [...]
A Virtually Limitless Resource: The Ann Myers Medical Center
Filed in Personal Health, Sociology, Technology, November 2, 2007, 10:24 pm by Mariano DiFabioAs I walk up the steps of the medical building, a stone wall to my left is plainly evident with the photo of a silver-haired woman at the center. She lovingly holds a dog, showing her affection with a kiss, and a love for life atypical for someone who has experienced what she has. [...]
