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Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 04-24-2006
Quote of the day: When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half. Gracie Allen (1906 - 1964)
Birthdays Everyone has a birthday, the date on which they were born. Not everyone celebrates the anniversary. Some religious groups count the year but do not celebrate the occasion. The Chinese all celebrate on the same day… Chinese New Year. On this day everyone celebrates another birthday. A child is considered 1 year old at birth (they count gestation as life). A child born 1 month before Chinese new year is one but becomes “2 years old” with the new year. A lot of Americans make a big deal out of birthdays… looking forward to them until 21 and dreading them as we pass 30. While it is nice to receive attention one day a year, it is really only a day like any other. One way to look at birthdays is to imagine how old you would like to be before you die. I pick 93 as the age of my demise. With that in mind I know that I will have to go through each birthday to get to my goal. When each arrives I think to myself “So far… so good!” I may try something different next year by celebrating my 90th birthday…. completely out of order. I’ll then get to celebrate my 57th birthday when I’m 90. The FDA just had its 100th birthday. There have sure been a lot of drugs to pass through that institution since 1906. We have a lot to thank them for knowing that the next 100 years will bring about more innovation and the regulatory changes needed to assure the safety of the public. Happy birthday FDA…(you don’t look a day over 97)!
=================================================== ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Older!" (me).
pps. Occasionally, some of the links require FREE registration.... I'm sure you can handle THAT slight inconvenience. ------------
1) Recall of insulin syringes. MEDWATCH reports the recall of insulin syringes (manufactured by Boca Medical Products, Inc) due to bacterial contamination. Can cause infection and/or breakdown of the insulin being injected so as to affect the dose. Product was distributed to : FL, NY, MA, AL, SC, NC, CO, TX, MI, AR. For any question related to the case consumers should call 1-800-354-8460. http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/bocamedical04_13.html
2) Sicker people get better pharmaceutical benefit. Cigna started a plan whereby patients with diabetes, asthma and some other chronic conditions get a richer pharmacy benefit. Essentially, patients receive incentives to care for themselves. Don't think that this is out of benevolence….. keeping these patients on their conic medications will save a lot in medical care. Expect to see a lot more of this approach to drug therapy. http://www.pharmasentry.com/news/newsletter.cfm?linkid=B29E7D12%2DD608%2D4279%2DAA24FF8E30C9D6CE
3) WHO loves ya baby? Roche gave WHO 3 million courses of Tamiflu, the anti-influenza drug, This is to be used as a "rapid response stockpile" against any errant strains of influenza to prevent a pandemic. (Think bird flu). http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=332567&categoryid=9&newsletter=1
4) FDA says MJ is not a medicine Some have made claims for medical marijuana but the agency just says no. http://pharmalive.com/news/index.cfm?articleID=333415&categoryid=9&newsletter=1
5) E-Health gets snowed FDA moved closer to a nationwide electronic medical record for all of the US by adopting SNOWMED as the standard. This is like declaring English as the common language for the United Nations. Vendors can now use the same data set and should be able to communicate. With 10 years to the deadline, this decision couldn't come too soon. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01361.html
6) Choice neurons Neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (near your eyes) appear to be the ones involved with choices we make. Hope you make all the RIGHT choices this week!
7) Happy BD to the FDA One hundred years old on April 18th, 2006. I find it quite ironic that we share the same birthday…. No… I only LOOK 100. This also coincides with the 100th birthday of Jello! http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php3?tip_AttractionNo==3809
Have a SUPER-FANTASTIC week. Steve Disclaimer: "Pepin's Pharmaceutical Prattle" (AKA "The Prattle") is the property of PHARMWORKS, LLC and Steven M. Pepin, Pharm. D, BCPS. The opinions expressed are those of the bald-headed author. To start or stop any drug without the advice and supervision of your physician would be stupid. So don't do anything based upon what you read here without professional advice. To be added to or removed from the distribution list please e-mail your request to spepin@pharmworks.com . All insightful comments from readers are thoughtfully considered (the rest are callously discarded). Copyright 1998-2006 PHARMWORKS, LLC all rights reserved. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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