Update: February 05, 2008

MEDICAL DOSES

By Pam Eastlick for THE DEEP on line

Welcome to The Deep science and technology column where we cover topics from the deep sea to deep space and beyond.

THE SPREAD OF BONEBREAK

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are predicting a dire consequence from global warming (see, I can’t do one of these articles without at least mentioning it!); the spread of dengue fever into the mainland US. Dengue was previously confined to the tropics but it’s becoming a serious problem along the U.S.-Mexico border and in our sister colony, Puerto Rico. So far, dengue has occurred only sporadically and its impact on the mainland US has been small, but dengue tends to occur in explosive epidemics and efforts to control the populations of mosquitoes that transmit dengue have fallen short of their goal. "Widespread appearance of dengue in the continental United States is a real possibility," the NIH scientists wrote in their commentary. "Worldwide, dengue is among the most important reemerging infectious diseases with an estimated 50 to 100 million annual cases...[and] 22,000 deaths." Public health officials need to take the threat seriously, the scientists assert, because no specific treatments or vaccines for dengue are available. Dengue is caused by any of four related viruses transmitted to humans by the mosquitoes Aedes albopictus (nicknamed the Asian tiger mosquito) and Aedes aegypti. First seen in the United States in 1985, A. albopictus was first seen in the U.S. in 1985 and has now been found in 36 states, while A. aegypti has been found in several southern states. Experience elsewhere in the world shows that where these mosquitoes go, the disease usually follows. Most people infected with a dengue virus have no symptoms or a mild fever. Those who do get sick sometimes experience minor bleeding, such as from the nose or gums, and frequently develop a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes and in joints and muscles (hence the name ‘bonebreak fever’, and a rash. Sometimes the disease leads to leakage of blood plasma out of the circulatory system and into tissues, causing blood pressure to drop. Recognizing the threat to public health posed by dengue, NIH allocated $33.2 million in fiscal year 2007 for nearly 60 dengue research projects, including basic research on dengue, DHF and DSS; projects to develop vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for the disease; and clinical trials of vaccines. Perhaps its widespread occurrence on the mainland will draw enough attention to dengue that this ancient scourge will finally be eliminated in other parts of the world: like here . . . . .
The NIH is funding the search for new drugs to cure dengue. Did you ever wonder where all that money that the federal government pours into drug research goes? A surprising new study may give you answers you don’t like!

DRUG MONEY

A new study by two York University researchers estimates the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spends almost twice as much on promotion and advertising as it does on research and development, contrary to the industry’s claims. The researchers’ estimate is based on the systematic collection of data directly from the industry and doctors during 2004, which shows the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24.4% of its sales dollar on promotion, versus 13.4% for research and development. These percentages are based on annual domestic drug sales of 235 BILLION DOLLARS. The study is important because it provides the most accurate image yet of the promotional workings of the pharmaceutical industry.

The authors examined the 2004 reports of IMS Health (IMS) and CAM Group (CAM), two international market research companies that provide the pharmaceutical industry with sales/marketing data and consulting services. IMS obtains its data by surveying pharmaceutical firms, while CAM surveys doctors, which explains important discrepancies in the data they provide. The researchers used 2004 as the comparison year because it was the latest year in which information was available from both organizations. Using the data from both firms, the authors arrived at $57.5 billion for the total amount spent on pharmaceutical promotion in 2004. The industry spent approximately $61,000 in advertisements per physician during 2004. The authors focused their study on the United States because it is the only country in which information is available for all of the major promotion categories, and it is also the largest market for pharmaceuticals in the world, representing approximately 43% of global sales and global promotion expenditures. The study’s findings supports the position that the U.S. pharmaceutical industry is marketing-driven and challenges the perception of a research-driven, life-saving, pharmaceutical industry.
Hmmmm, why am I not surprised? And in another instance of perhaps false advertising.

NO, I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING

Psychologists at Harvard University have developed a new method to study ESP (extrasensory perception) that, they argue, can resolve the century-old debate over its existence. According to the authors, their study not only illustrates a new method for studying such phenomena, but also provides the strongest evidence yet obtained against the existence of ESP. The scientists used brain scanning to test whether individuals have knowledge that cannot be explained through normal perceptual processing. Nearly half of the adults in the United States believe in the existence of ESP, which includes telepathy (direct knowledge of another person's thoughts), clairvoyance (direct knowledge of remote events), and precognition (direct knowledge of the future). People commonly report unexplained knowledge of a loved one's death or a telephone caller's identity, for example, and attribute this knowledge to paranormal mental processing. The U.S. government lent credence to such claims when it revealed that it had spent millions of dollars recruiting and training psychic spies during the Cold War. (Was Nancy Reagan’s astrologer among them?) Furthermore, research studies have been reported that appear to support the existence of ESP, including an influential series of experiments at Cornell University. These studies, however, gave little insight into the mechanisms -- normal or paranormal -- that produced the anomalous results. Perhaps more telling, others failed to replicate these results. To develop a better test of ESP, the authors decided to develop a new method, which directly addressed the presumed source of ESP: namely, the brain. They argue that because the brain enables perception and stores information -- even events people don't consciously perceive or information they can't consciously remember -- it can offer a much more comprehensive test for ESP than self-report or behavior. To study whether or not ESP exists, the researchers presented participants with two types of visual stimuli: ESP stimuli and non-ESP stimuli. To present stimuli telepathically, the researchers showed the photographs to the participants' identical twin, relative, romantic partner, or friend, who was seated in another room. To present stimuli clairvoyantly, the researchers displayed the photographs on a distant computer screen. And to demonstrate precognition, the researchers showed participants photographs again in the future. There was no difference in the two types of stimuli. Does this conclusively prove that ESP does not exist? No, you can’t affirm the null hypothesis. But at the same time, some null results are stronger than others. This is the best evidence to date against the existence of ESP. Perhaps most important, this study offers scientists a new way to study ESP that avoids the pitfalls of past approaches. And now for some good medical news.

IT DIDN’T HURT, MOMMY

A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina have recently used two-photon polymerization to create hollow needles so fine patients wouldn’t feel them piercing their skin. Clustered together on a patch, these microneedles can deliver drugs or draw blood as efficiently as standard hypodermic needles. Until recently, the most promising products to lessen the pain of injection had been stainless steel and titanium microneedles. Unfortunately the metal microneedles are prone to break on impact with skin. These researchers used organically modified ceramic hybrid materials. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but creating really small needles that don’t hurt sounds like a really good idea to me! And now for some news about one of the drugs you just may be taking.

IS AN ASPIRIN A DAY REALLY GOOD FOR YOU?

Ten years after the FDA issued recommendations about the use of aspirin for people who have had heart attacks or are at risk for them, it may be a good time to talk to your doctor about the aspirin you're taking. University of Kentucky heart disease researchers say that nearly a quarter of a million Americans each year may be hospitalized with bleeding complications caused by needlessly taking a daily dose of an adult-sized aspirin rather than a baby aspirin to prevent a heart attack or stroke. They found that the commonly prescribed 325 mg adult tablet may be more than many people need each day. The study found that doses higher than a baby aspirin, 75 to 81 mg, are no better at preventing cardiovascular events long-term and are associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Even in patients with diabetes, who may be more difficult to treat, they found no large-scale studies that support higher doses of aspirin. Aspirin is the most-used drug in the world. More than 50 million people, or 36 percent of the adult population in the United States, consume 10 to 20 billion aspirin tablets each year to protect their hearts from clots, which are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. “Patients should check with their doctor to be sure, but there is almost no one who needs to take more than 81 mg of aspirin a day for protection from heart attacks,” one of the researchers said. As someone who bleeds like a stuck pig on a 325 mg daily dose, I say “Amen” to the latest research! And speaking of the latest research.

WHO SAYS SCIENTISTS DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR?

Scientists at University College London have discovered how two proteins interact in embryos to control when different organ systems in the body start to form, deepening our understanding of the development of the brain and nervous system and expanding our knowledge of stem cell behavior. The scientists describe a sequence of reactions that take place when vertebrate embryos are only a few hours old that together act as a timing mechanism, temporarily preventing the development of neural cells (cells that go on to form the brain and nervous system). This gives a head start to other cells in the embryo that will go on to create the body's internal organs and skin, and prevents the nervous system from developing prematurely. So where does the sense of humor come in? The scientists named their two new proteins BERT and ERNI. So here’s to BERT and ERNI and all those wonderful scientific researchers! Cruise on over to the Deep Website at www.thedeepradioshow.com to learn more about medicine and many other topics. Enjoy!