THE WEATHERVANE
Russell T. Stodd MD, Contributing Editor

Russell T. Stodd MD

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TALKING ON THE CELL PHONE IN THE BATHROOM IS CONSIDERED MULTI-TASKING.
Researchers from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden studied the incidence of brain tumors from 1974 (the introduction of wireless devices) until 2003. They targeted a study group of 60,000 in a population with a high prevalence of mobile phone exposure. Reporting in the December 3, 2009 Journal of the National Cancer Institute, they found no cell phone-related increase in brain tumors during that 30-year period. The American Cancer Society chimed in with “Looking at most studies as a whole, no link between cell phones and tumor development has been found.” The real threat to bodily injury and death, which is cell phone distraction while operating a motor vehicle or any other activity, was not discussed. See below.

IF YOU WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN.
A very interesting study reported in Live Science came from Western Washington University in Bellingham. A student who was skilled at riding a unicycle dressed in a clown suit and rode around the campus square. Subsequently, about 150 mostly student-age people walking on the square were asked if they had seen a clown riding a unicycle. 71% of people walking in pairs gave affirmative replies, 51% of those walking alone responded that they had seen him, but only 25% of those talking on their cell phones saw the “clown on the unicycle.” Obviously, there are factors related to conversing on a cell phone which distracts one’s attention while performing some other function, even something as simple as walking.

CARS DON’T KILL PEOPLE. PEOPLE AND DRUGS DO.
For many years the number one cause of injury-related deaths in the United States has been traffic accidents, and it still is. But the interesting point according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) is that now drugs are the leading cause ahead of motor vehicle crashes in sixteen states. In 2003 only eight states listed drug-induced deaths ahead of auto deaths. Using death certificates the CDC researchers counted 45,000 deaths from auto crashes and 39,000 from drug-induced causes in calendar year 2006. Experts are surprised by the shift in numbers and believe driving is becoming safer, but the use of prescription and non-prescription drugs is rising. The drug death rate roughly doubled from the late 1990s to 2006. 90% are listed as sudden death due to drug overdose, and the balance caused by organ damage from long-term drug abuse. It’s not about black market stuff, either. Cocaine and heroin continue to be significant, but over half the opiate related deaths are from prescription painkillers, commonly methadone, Oxycontin and Vicodin.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION WAS TYRANNY, BUT IT WAS A LOT CHEAPER.
Always searching for a mechanism to add tax money to our government coffers, Senator Harry Reid, Democrat majority leader, wanted to include a 5% tax on elective cosmetic medical procedures in the Senate’s version of the health overhaul bill. Because the definition would include Botox, the anti-wrinkle neuro-toxin, the issue has been named the “Botax.” Leading makers of breast implants and other appearance related products lobbied hard against the proposal. Allergan Inc. and Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. told congressmen that the tax would hurt soccer moms more than it would the upscale Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills clientele. The American Medical Association came out against the tax and stated that it would be the first federal tax on a medical procedure. First federal levy yes, but as we all know in our beloved Hawai‘i physicians have been collecting state tax on all forms of medical care for longer than most of us have been alive. This senate proposal would make cosmetic medical care taxed at over 9% here in paradise. Sometimes being lovely isn’t worth the money. Anyway, conservative Nevada voters appear ready to dump Harry for several reasons.

YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN UNLESS YOU’RE A TEENAGER.
For unexplained reasons the teenage “choking game” is increasing in frequency. Variously called the pass out game, fainting game and blackout game, the phenomenon produces a euphoric sensation by temporarily depriving the brain of oxygen. Game players from age seven to twenty-one allow another person to apply hands, neckties, belts, ropes or other ligature to pressure the major vessels in the neck and cut off oxygen. Some may engage in self- choking as a solitary activity. It should be emphasized that this practice is intended to produce sexual pleasure although few participants recognize the inherent danger of serious brain injury or death. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that about one-third of practicing pediatricians were unaware of the activity. Few physicians reported actually discussing it as health guidance for adolescent children.

HONESTY PAYS, BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR THE DRUG INDUSTRY.
The marketeers in the pharmaceutical industry seem to have no conscience about how they do business. This time it is a 34 page complaint filed in federal court against Johnson and Johnson alleging that J&J illegally paid “tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks” to Omnicare Inc. to buy their medicines and recommend their use to nursing homes. Omnicare acts as a middleman to process prescriptions, distribute medicines and manage insurance coverage. A primary anti-psychotic blockbuster J&J drug, Risperdal, is under scrutiny by the feds for aggressive marketing often for off-label use to children and the elderly. Omnicare’s purchase of J&J drugs tripled to $280 million in a recent five-year period. In the same vein Eli Lilly & Co. agreed to pay the government $1.4 billion last year for off-label promotion of its anti-psychotic Zyprexa, and AstraZeneca PLC is preparing to pay $520 million for its similar pushing of Seroquel. If physicians engaged in similar deliberate misbehavior they would get fined, might lose their medical license or even face jail time.

YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE NEW MISTAKES.
All the foofaraw surrounding proposed health care legislation has gone on the shelf for the nonce because of the surprising election in Massachusetts. The American Medical Association leadership effectively shot itself in the foot by signing on with the administration plan when many rank and file members disagreed. Nationwide, voters are angry about loss of jobs, the administration using humongous amounts of taxpayers money to bail out Wall Street, conniving insurance companies and foolish automakers. President Obama and his advisors apparently failed to recognize that focusing on major health care change is not a big time issue with voters. Many politicians are already planning strategy to avoid being sent back home in the fall election.

IN THE BLUE LAGOON WE SAW MORE THAN HER EYELASHES.
Allergan Inc. wants to sell a cosmetic compound called Latisse to spread on the eyelashes. “Look who’s growing longer, fuller, darker lashes,” as Brook Shields flashes her eyelids for all to see on television screens. Unfortunately, the compound may also cause unwanted non-eyelash hair to grow on eyelids and skin, and pigmentation may occur to lids and even the iris. Latisse users are at risk for contracting bacterial keratitis as well. The Food and Drug Administration wants Allergan to provide appropriate patient warnings. Since the compound has both cosmetic and drug action, a new term “cosmeceutical” has been coined.

HEY, DOC! THE PRETENDERS ARE HERE AGAIN.
Some common sense still prevails in the California Office of Administrative Law which rejected a proposal that would have expanded the scope of practice of psychologists and potentially all other health care pretenders. The rules could have allowed non-physician practitioners to admit hospital patients, perform medical examinations, place patients in restraints, complete medical records and coordinate care.

MANY PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING WITH A BOMB UNDER THE SPARE TIRE.
In Longview, Washington, a 17 year-old lad decided to light his cigarette while siphoning gasoline from a car. The resulting conflagration caused burns over 30% of his body. A fire department lieutenant noted, “fumes from the gas and the match decided to catch fire.” As Homer Simpson would say -- DUH!

ADDENDA
- Data collected on athletic injuries from 1982 to 2007 revealed that two-thirds of serious athletic injuries or deaths among young women in sports were suffered by cheerleaders.
- Thirty-four is the average age of a woman getting breast augmentation. 90% of women wait until after they have borne children. (Is breast-feeding and sagging a factor?)
- A Polish woman is suing a hotel in Egypt because she claims her teenage daughter became pregnant from a stray sperm in a mixed-sex swimming pool.
- All men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner.
- Everyone is a pacifist between wars. It’s like being a vegetarian between meals.
- Discourage inbreeding. Ban country music.


Aloha and keep the faith — rts

Editorial comment is strictly that of the writer.