Neuroscience
I spent some time this evening reading thoughtful, well-reasoned critiques of a few recent medical studies. On his blog, Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience, Steven Salzberg describes 5 problems about the recent report that Cresor can result in "a 'dramatic risk reduction' in heart attack risk for men."
In Serious doubts about new study of statins and heart disease, Salzberg summarizes the studies: "[they] claimed that people with normal cholesterol levels could get significant health benefits [by taking Crestor]. If true, [these two studies] impl[y] that millions more people should start taking statins to protect themselves against heart attacks." He adds "[t]his new finding is rife with problems, despite the breathless news reporting about it" and goes on to describe 5 of them:
If you like that post, you might like these:
For the socially networked: I found this blog through my FriendFeed buddy Jean-Claude Bradley, who follows Lars Juhl Jensen, who linked to Salzberg's blog.
- Noise Increases The Risk Of Having A Heart Attack
Too much noise, such as the sound of passing traffic, can increase the risk of heart attack in men by 50 per cent and in women by up to threefold. That’s according to a team of German researchers who interviewed 4,115 hospital inpatients, about half...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Simvastatin Clinical Trial In Alzheimer's Disease
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin to treat Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2011 Aug 9;77(6):556-63 Sano M, Bell KL, Galasko D, Galvin JE, Thomas RG, van Dyck CH, Aisen PS Abstract BACKGROUND: Lowering cholesterol is associated...
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The New England Journal of Medicine has made available on its website prepublication versions of the results of a large study relevant to aging, neuropsychological changes in aging, and the onset of dementia. It has also made available in the same format...
- Ultrasound And Tpa Combined Treatment For Stroke
This evening, the CBC news show The National reported on a study newly published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Part of the CBC website report follows, followed by a link to the study's abstract:Ultrasound may improve stroke treatment CBC ...
- Outcome Of Fda Meeting About Exanta
The Associated Press reported this evening about today's FDA meeting (see yesterday's post: Forthcoming Meeting...): FDA Panel Urges More Studies of Stroke Med By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (copyright) Filed at 8:51 p.m. ET WILMINGTON, Del....
Neuroscience
Deconstructing Scientific Articles
I spent some time this evening reading thoughtful, well-reasoned critiques of a few recent medical studies. On his blog, Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience, Steven Salzberg describes 5 problems about the recent report that Cresor can result in "a 'dramatic risk reduction' in heart attack risk for men."
In Serious doubts about new study of statins and heart disease, Salzberg summarizes the studies: "[they] claimed that people with normal cholesterol levels could get significant health benefits [by taking Crestor]. If true, [these two studies] impl[y] that millions more people should start taking statins to protect themselves against heart attacks." He adds "[t]his new finding is rife with problems, despite the breathless news reporting about it" and goes on to describe 5 of them:
- "Both studies were funded by AstraZeneca, the drug company that sells Crestor," although Salzberg is quick to add that this is clearly disclosed in both articles.
- The lead author of both studies is Paul Ridker, who owns the patent on the primary test for C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and he stands to benefit financially if more people are tested for CRP. Again, Salzberg calls this only eyebrow-worthy, as this is clearly stated in both articles.
- Although it suggests that a seven-variable method is more predictive than the traditional five-variable model, "the Circulation study didn’t report separately on the effect of CRP and family history of heart disease."
- "[T]he NEJM [New England Journal of Medicine] study actually reports a very small benefit: ... you’d have to treat 95 people for 2 years with statins to prevent 1 heart attack."
- "The patients in the NEJM study were randomly divided into two groups, treatment (Crestor) and placebo [and] there are 3 critical variables where the two groups are not identical."
If you like that post, you might like these:
- New members for Vioxx Hall of Shame In which Salzberg updates his list of medical researchers who had been paid by Merck to conduct studies of Vioxx (October 2008).
- NIH halts chelation study after patients die Reporting on a Medscape Journal of Medicine article that reports on the halting of the NIH's Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT). (Sept. 2008)
- And what else is acupuncture good for? Reporting on a Yahoo! News headline " 'Unclear whether acupuncture helps fertility' " (July 2008)
For the socially networked: I found this blog through my FriendFeed buddy Jean-Claude Bradley, who follows Lars Juhl Jensen, who linked to Salzberg's blog.
- Noise Increases The Risk Of Having A Heart Attack
Too much noise, such as the sound of passing traffic, can increase the risk of heart attack in men by 50 per cent and in women by up to threefold. That’s according to a team of German researchers who interviewed 4,115 hospital inpatients, about half...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Simvastatin Clinical Trial In Alzheimer's Disease
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin to treat Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2011 Aug 9;77(6):556-63 Sano M, Bell KL, Galasko D, Galvin JE, Thomas RG, van Dyck CH, Aisen PS Abstract BACKGROUND: Lowering cholesterol is associated...
- Donepezil, Vitamin E, And Mild Cognitive Impairment In Aging
The New England Journal of Medicine has made available on its website prepublication versions of the results of a large study relevant to aging, neuropsychological changes in aging, and the onset of dementia. It has also made available in the same format...
- Ultrasound And Tpa Combined Treatment For Stroke
This evening, the CBC news show The National reported on a study newly published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Part of the CBC website report follows, followed by a link to the study's abstract:Ultrasound may improve stroke treatment CBC ...
- Outcome Of Fda Meeting About Exanta
The Associated Press reported this evening about today's FDA meeting (see yesterday's post: Forthcoming Meeting...): FDA Panel Urges More Studies of Stroke Med By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (copyright) Filed at 8:51 p.m. ET WILMINGTON, Del....