Year: 2020

JAMA NOTES

Dr. M. Listens

Article on Alleged Illegal Practices of some Pharmaceutical Companies  

JAMA  November 17, 2020  Volume 324  November 19   Page 1995

In this issue three Doctoral Researchers hailing from the Colleges of Business at the University of Carolina at Charlotte, the San Francisco State University in San Francisco and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. reported on their study of the activities of many Pharmaceutical firms which they labeled as illegal and which incurred money fines.

The companies were financially penalized to an amount reported as allegedly totaling $33 Billion. This spanned the period from 2003 to 2016. The types of activities they considered in their study included , bribery, environmental violations. producing adulterated or unapproved drugs, kickbacks, monopoly etc.  Glaxo-Smith headed the list with 27 penalties, Johnson and Johnson was 2^nd with Bayer 3^rd on the list. There were 26 firms studied and 22 had received penalties for some type of infraction. Details of the study can be seen in the “Letters” on the pages in the article cited above.

JAMA NOTES

JAMA September 22/29 2020 Volume 324 Number 12 page 1125

COVID-19 and mRNA Vaccines – First Large Test for a New Approach

Jennifer Abbasi

This article offers new hope for the earlier release of a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 viral epidemic. In it she speaks of the progress on a new pathway using mRNA. This pathway has been in research for a while , perhaps as early as 2002 when the RSC ( Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) was first recognized. Since this new way to achieve results differs from the older track, it seems that it can be processed faster and does not have the same problems that have been encountered with vaccines using eggs or cells. The government program of OPERATION WARP SPEED has been a major help is traveling this new route. There is much optimism over this new approach.

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING

LYRICS BY: JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

SCORE BY : J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON (BROTHER)

Lift ev’ry voice and sing,

Til earth and heaven ring

Ring with the harmonies of Liberty

Let our rejoicing rise,

High as the list’ning skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling seas.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has brought us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on ’til victory is won.,

Some time ago the FDA published the following article about IBS……. (Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome)……. A summary of it is included for your information and / or interest.

JAMA 16 July 2019 Volume 322, Number 3

NEWS FROM THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Feyza Sancar PhD

Cranial Nerve Stimulator for Adolescents With IBS

IBS is a chronic but sometimes painful disorder that often presents in childhood. This article speaks of a new device that is now on prescription for children between 11 and 18 years of age. Apparently it is similar to devices now available for use in opiate dependency cases. It is thought perhaps, that travel between the gut and brain is what ends up causing the stomach pain.

The power source for this device is by battery and the object is placed behind the ear and maintained for a few days. This is kept on for a few weeks. For this study there were no serious problems noted.

Have you heard these two?

Until the lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.     African Proverb  

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

JAMA NOTES

11. Dr. M Comments

Looks like a new drug may coming down the pipeline for those with Peanut allergies.

.JAMA 3 March 2020  Volume 323 Number 9  pg 817

There is a new drug being sold as Paliforzia tha is geared toward youngsters subject to peanut allergies.  It will be an oral drug in powder form.  It will have to be supervised by a physician in the office just in case of a possible adverse reaction.  Clinical trials are in process.  A Rebecca Voelker MSJ, in the above referenced article, reported this .                

Dr. M. Comments

1. Well who knew??  Maybe those Temperance Women were right all along.  There is a short article in the following issue of JAMA regarding this topic

JAMA  25 February 2020    Volume 323   Number 8  page 700

 ALCOHOL -RELATED MORTALITY INCREASES MAY STILL UNDERESTIMATE THE TOLL.

 No specific author is given on this article but in essence it cites information from a study by individuals at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This article says that between 1999 and 2017 alcohol related deaths increased almost 30 per cent.. It also said the deaths of these substances along with or in combination with other drugs were the cause of approximately half of these deaths. This was true for all but the youngest and oldest age groups.   

JAMA 2 July 2019 Volume 322 Number 1 Page 30

TANEZUMAB FOR PAINFUL OSTEOARTHRITIS

Jeffrey N. Katz MD MSc

New medications and therapeutics are always in progress and research continues. This article by Jeffrey Katz MD in the edition of JAMA cited above, makes comments on a new pharmaceutical currently in the pipeline.

The topic being discussed is that of osteoarthritis , a condition in which the pain and deterioration of the joints can be significant and eventually disabling.

He comments on the benefits and drawbacks of a new medication called TANEZUMAB. It is not currently available but is one of many approaches constantly sought for alleviating this common yet disabling malady.

In our world today, the gene pool might need a little chlorine. (smile)