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The right moves may prevent injury
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This excerpt from a recently published book on women’s sports injuries has been presented as a freestanding article by the Denver Post. This article itself excerpts a slightly longer section of the book that appeared in The Washington Post. The article provides an excellent overview of exercises and techniques designed to reduce risk of female athletes’ knee injuries, particularly tears to the ACL. It provides valuable background about the biomechanics that may contribute to females’ higher risks compared to men. It delivers mixed results job in making clear that the program is being studied, and that it has not been proven effective. Some related research is sketched in the background. The presented excerpt has three flaws: While the report makes clear that the exercises under study have not been proven effective, its presentation is extremely enthusiastic. It implicitly endorses the technique even as it states it is uNPRoven. It fails to seek insight from a credible source who is not convinced these techniques are useful, or who proposes other methods of reducing injury risk. The story also would have been more useful if it had included takeaways aimed at coaches, athletes and players: If you want to introduce this type of program to a local team or group, how would you proceed? Having said that, it’s important to emphasize that this is a book excerpt. Under typical contracts with publishers, the excerpt may not be altered by the newspaper. Therefore the essential journalistic choice is to publish or not publish–and to select an excerpt that, when presented outside the context of the book, is coherent and valuable to readers. This excerpt does indeed provide value and reads well as an independent text. But we don’t know if the book itself elsewhere provides the more skeptical, dispassionate perspectives that are missing from this publication. When publishing an excerpt an editor does have the opportunity to add staff reporting, however, in sidebars or companion pieces. Some of the excerpt’s deficiencies–an excess of enthusiasm, a lack of skeptical perspective and a lack of takeaway–could have been ameliorated by doing so.
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false
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"The article is about a set of exercises and techniques, not a commercial program with a price. All of the ""evidence"" provided to support this idea is anecdotal, and the story doesn’t emphasize this. Indeed, the rarity of the injury demands that a large study would be needed to quantify any potential benefit. This isn’t mentioned in the article. The fact that few injuries have occurred may be due to multiple possibilities – chance, the intervention, the mere fact that they’re being followed, etc. The possiblity that the training techniques and warmup exercises could increase injury risk, or could have no benefit, is not mentioned. The article is about an ongoing study, not published results. It refers to smaller, related studies but does not suggest they are conclusive. But the story allows the expert to repeatedly say that these techniques should be the standard warmup, without providing evidence to support that. The story states: ""In the season before entering Beutler’s program, team members suffered two knee injuries, both of them meniscus tears that required surgery. They have had no significant knee injuries in the 18 months since."" That is an observation, not a research finding. Only by studying this regimen compared to ""usual"" warmup exercises can one say whether the new alternative is better or worse. In effect, the expert is saying that current exercises are insufficient and that these are better. No evidence for benefit or harm is provided. The article does nothing to overstate the severity or frequency of female athletes’ knee injuries, or to oversell the techniques that may reduce injury risk. Having said that, it would have been useful to state plainly that ACL tear is less common but more serious than most sports-related knee injuries. The excerpt quotes the researcher who is conducting a study (and is a participant in a second study), a coach of one of the teams whose players are getting the training and one player who has used the techniques under study. It would have been useful to interview a coach and/or researcher who does not believe the techniques are useful or recommends a different approach. The article suggests that a variety of regimens is used to reduce injury use, but it does not detail them. Given the fact that the regimen under study itself is not described in detail, nor presented as something that has been proven effective, the article rates satisfactory under this criterion. The article describes a warmup and practice routine that may reduce female athletes’ risk for knee injuries, particularly tears of the ACL. But a coach or player interested in adopting a routine like this would not know where to turn for assistance. The article makes clear that many female athletic programs are using similar techniques to reduce risk of knee injury, but that their efficacy is unknown. This is a book excerpt, so there is no press release associated with this report."
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8533
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War-ravaged Yemen confirms first coronavirus case, braces for more.
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Yemen reported its first coronavirus case on Friday as aid groups braced for an outbreak in a country where war has shattered health systems and spread hunger and disease.
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true
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Health News
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The news of the laboratory-confirmed case came after a nationwide ceasefire prompted by the virus pandemic began on Thursday. A Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi movement said it would halt military operations for two weeks, though the Houthis have yet to follow suit. A 60-year-old Yemeni man was diagnosed in the southern oil-producing region of Hadhramout, an area controlled by Yemen’s internationally-recognised government, the supreme national emergency committee said. Spokesman Ali al-Walidi told a news conference the man, who works in the small port of Ash Shihr, was in stable condition at a quarantine centre. Authorities have ordered the closure of Ash Shihr port for a week for deep cleaning and instructed workers there to isolate themselves at home for two weeks, according to a directive seen by Reuters. They have also imposed a 12-hour nightly curfew in Hadhramout starting from 6:00 pm on Friday. The governors of neighbouring Shabwa and Al Mahra ordered the sealing of their borders with Hadhramout as of Friday. If the virus spreads in Yemen, the impact would be “catastrophic”, its U.N. humanitarian coordinator Lise Grande had told Reuters, as the health status of at least half the population is “very degraded” and the country does not have sufficient supplies or facilities. “This is one of the biggest threats in the past 100 years to face Yemen,” Grande said in a statement on Friday. “It’s time for the parties to stop fighting each other and start fighting COVID together.” The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was providing support to Yemen’s health ministry. “We are following the case and its contacts to assess the level of exposure,” Yemen representative Altaf Musani said. WHO recently told Reuters it was working to provide Yemen with the ability to test thousands of patients. It has already provided 500 testing kits. Some 37 health facilities have been dedicated as isolation units. Yemen’s five-year-long war has killed more than 100,000 people and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Only half of its hospitals are fully functional and 18 million people do not have access to proper hygiene, water and sanitation, the International Rescue Committee says. Cholera, dengue and malaria are rife. Around 80% of Yemenis, or 24 million people, rely on humanitarian aid while millions live on the brink of starvation and are vulnerable to disease. Al-Walidi earlier told Reuters that quarantine centres had been set up in Hadhramout, Al Mahra and Aden in the south. He said the government committee was requesting ventilators, oxygen tanks and hospital beds from the WHO in coordination with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center to be divided between areas under control of the Saudi-backed government and those held by the Houthi movement. The Houthis, who ousted the Saudi-backed government from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014, control most big urban areas. They have set up a quarantine centre at a Sanaa hospital and one in Sanaa Airport. The United Nations is trying to set up virtual talks among the warring parties to discuss a permanent truce, a coordinated coronavirus response, humanitarian and economic confidence-building steps and the resumption of peace negotiations. Yemen relies heavily on imported food, fuel and medicines. The World Food Programme said on Thursday it would halve the aid it gives to people in Houthi-controlled areas from mid-April after donors cut funding over concerns that Houthi authorities were hindering aid deliveries. The WFP feeds more than 12 million Yemenis a month, mostly in Houthi areas. Houthi authorities have complained about mismanagement of aid programmes by international bodies. A U.S. State Department official told reporters in a teleconference on Thursday that the onus was on the Houthis. “We encourage them to, one, join the ceasefire; and two, to end their problematic humanitarian practices,” said David Schenker, assistant secretary for Near Eastern affairs. (Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser.) (This story has been refiled to remove repeated paragraphs at end of first section)
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31911
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President-Elect Donald Trump appointed Kanye West to a cabinet position.
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Kanye West said that he would not be pursuing a presidential run, and did not say that he had been offered any cabinet position. Circulating claims to the contrary were either fake news, or misconstrued claims from outlets outside the United States.
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false
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Junk News, donald trump, kanye west, satira tribune
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A 13 December 2016 meeting between President-elect Donald Trump and hip-hop artist Kanye West led to immediate rumors that the entertainer had been offered or appointed to a position in the new administration’s cabinet. West had made controversial comments at a November 2016 concert stating that he “would have” voted for Trump — if he had voted at all. West and Trump expressed mutual admiration and gamely posed together after the meeting (but took no questions): In some versions, Trump was said to have appointed West as his vice president, but that job was already taken by Mike Pence: US President elect, Donald Trump has announced that rapper Kanye West will become the vice president of the United States of America. “I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Kanye West as my Vice President. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.,” Donald Trump tweeted. Early this week, Kanye West visited Donald Trump and the media had been left guessing as to the real reason why West visited at that moment he (West) did not reveal the reasons for his visit. Analysts have said the pick might be a way for Donald Trump to fix his reputation as a racist and show the people that he is a reformed man. One political analyst who works for the CNN said “This is a huge political stunt. Here Donald is basically telling people that, listen, I do not hate black people. I will make one of your own vice president to prove it.” Fake news outlet Satira Tribune mocked West’s hospitalization, which was widely attributed in news reports as related to post-traumatic stress and exhaustion. Satira Tribune asserted Trump appointed West as his “Mental Health Advisor”: President-elect Trump has appointed artist Kanye West as his Mental Health Advisor. The position does not need to be voted on by Congress but the decision has left many people confused. “He’s not a doctor, first of all,” said Brian Williams. “Second, he’s a bit of a nutcase. Just because he seeked mental health care doesn’t qualify him to advise the president.” A third story, which was more easily recognizable as fabrication, came from The Beaverton. This particular article was clearly inspired by West’s infamous September 2005 off-script remarks during a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser: After a meeting this week, followed by a flurry of rumours and speculation, U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump has named Kanye West as Secretary of Caring About Black People. Both Trump and West agreed that the American musician was “tremendous” and uniquely qualified for the newly created position, considering West’s proven ability to discern whether sitting American Presidents cared about black people or not. “Honestly, it’s a relief,” said Trump … “When I was thinking about what it was going to be like being President, I was worried I would have to spend several minutes each day caring about black people. Thinking about how poor they are, being sad that they were being murdered by police. Now I have an incredible secretary who will do that for me.” West was also enthusiastic about the appointment, saying, “Normally getting a job as part of a Presidential cabinet would be weird for a guy like me, but there are so many other super-rich crazy people in this thing that I think I’m going to fit right in.” West sent several tweets after the meeting providing further details: I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
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33250
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"Teenagers are daring one another to a 72-hour challenge (or ""Game of 72""), during which they disappear for several days."
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Most articles referenced an individual parent (not police) claiming teenagers were daring one another to “go missing for 48 hours.” References to the challenge were made primarily by social media users and news sites, and we were again unable to find any examples of teen participation on the platforms via which they purportedly “dared” each other to disappear. Most October 2017 articles about the “game” linked back to the poorly supported BelfastLive item, and once again “warnings” were disseminated by parents and tabloids — not police.
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false
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Crime, 48 hour challenge, 72 hour challenge, game of 72
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Examples: [Collected via e-mail and Facebook, June 2015] Game of 72, a new facebook game encouraging kids to leave home for 72 hours? Just received it on a news item on my Facebook page. Origins: The growing encroachment of social media into every area of life hasn’t necessarily led to a rise in foolish teenage behavior, but it does seem to be fueling misguided parental ideas about how teenagers conspire to spend their free time. The idea that dangerous social media challenges are popular seems to be on the upswing. The ice bucket challenge of mid-2014 may well have inspired the increase in social media challenge fads; but parental fears of largely non-existent practices such as “rainbow parties,” vodka-infused tampons, bedbug smoking, and ‘beezin preceded it. In 2015, anxious parents feared that the paracetamol challenge would inspire their children to overdose on over-the-counter painkillers; and in the same vein, the 72-hour challenge (also known as the “Game of 72”) prompted concerns that kids were participating in a pointless and dangerous social media fad. In April 2015, the Daily Mail published a thinly-sourced article titled “Parents left terrified by cruel new ‘game’ on Facebook that sees children dare each other to vanish for 72 hours without telling relatives.” As with other panics of similar nature, the article breathlessly described a “game” that sounded of no real interest to teens whatsoever and included scant evidence that participants were actually undertaking the purported challenge: An alleged Facebook game which sees children dare each other to vanish without a trace for up to three days is spreading panic among parents in France. The dare, dubbed the ‘Game of 72’, involves teenagers challenging each other to disappear without a word to their families for 12, 24 or 72 hours. Authorities have been alerted to the game after a 13-year-old girl from northern France went missing for three days. So far, police say, the only evidence is dozens of panicked Facebook posts being shared by parents, warning each other about the game, and Emma’s testimony, to suggest the challenge exists. That article referenced France’s The Local, whose original article (also published on 29 April 2015) was far plainer in describing what was in all likelihood a classic urban legend of the crime-warning variety. The article admitted that the “Game of 72 could even be more of a hoax than an actual phenomenon” but went on to say that the “fact that officials are taking the incident seriously is perhaps unsurprising given France’s troubling history when it comes to dangerous social media crazes”: News of the latest challenge came after a 13-year-old girl from northern France who went missing for three days finally turned up safe and well at her home at the weekend. The girl, named Emma in the French press, reportedly refused to tell police or her parents where she had been or whom she had been with, but simply said she had taken on a dare through Facebook called ’12, 24, 72′ or ‘Game of 72’, as it is also known. The Facebook challenge, meanwhile, has left authorities baffled — not least because they’ve been unable to actually find examples of it online. Rather, they’ve uncovered plenty of panicked postings from parents who are eager to warn each other about the game. This one below says “Attention Danger!” and warns of “another stupid game doing the rounds on the net”. It tells parents to explain to their children that its better to fail the dare rather have “something tragic happen to them.” The fact that a 13-year-old girl in France named Emma disappeared for three days at some point in April 2015 has been proffered as the sole piece of evidence documenting that the “Game of 72” is a real phenomenon. But there’s just one problem — that story involving Emma didn’t check out, according to police: Francois Perain, the prosecutor in Valenciennes, the district where the incident took place, [said] that the game “seems to be an excuse”. “Actually we think that Emma joined up with someone when she ran away, and that was the main reason for her running away,” he said. “Everything points to the fact that the game (which may be imaginary) is the explanation that Emma gave as the reason why she ran away, and to protect the person she met. That person is currently being looked for by the police,” he said. Aside from that discredited story, the only evidence such a “challenge” had occurred consisted of ping-ponging warnings among French parents on social media sites issued after the fact. No one was even sure if the kids participating were hiding for 12, 24, or 72 hours. It took about a week for the Game of 72 to make its way to North America, but by that point a “small number” of “temporary disappearances in Europe” had stolen French Emma’s thunder: Halton police are warning parents to talk to their children about a dangerous new “game” allegedly making the rounds on social media known as the Game of 72. It encourages young people to disappear and stay hidden for 72 hours without contacting friends or family, said police. The Game of 72 is being blamed for a small number of temporary disappearances in Europe, but so far, no missing person cases have been attributed to it in Canada or the U.S., according to media reports. Even so, the game had Vancouver police worried enough to issue a warning about it earlier this week. (“Possibly one, maybe not” is indeed a very small number, and it should be noted that a social media challenge is a far better excuse to one’s parents than “I snuck out and was scared to come home” or “I ran away and changed my mind.”) At around the same time, scattered police departments began to warn parents about the terrifying new craze: On 7 May 2015, Mic published an article that cast doubt on whether the 72-hour challenge was a genuine teen fad or media invention. And much like the February 2015 rumor of measles parties, it seemed news outlets reached to find “evidence” of police concern about the purported trend: “We never issued a warning about the game as has been reported,” Constable Brian Montague, a spokesman for the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), said. “We responded to questions about it from media and unfortunately they turned it into a warning from police.” The VPD was featured in a recent news story about the fad, which included an interview with an online awareness expert. “The game’s popularity shows that parents need to stay up to the minute on their kids’ computer habits,” the story reads. On the contrary, Montague told Mic, the department hasn’t come across any instances of the game in Vancouver. “I am not even aware of any confirmed examples in Canada,” he said. A lack of any confirmed incidents whatsoever and a corresponding absence of any social media chatter (aside from people wondering why kids would undertake the 72-hour challenge) didn’t discourage news outlets from advancing the rumor once again in June 2015: A new online challenge dares kids to go missing for 3 days. What parents need to know about #Gameof72 at 6:03 on #GMR8 — Symphonie Privett (@sprivettKAIT) June 17, 2015 In a thread published by Kathy Sweeney of Southeastern Missouri television station KFVS, numerous users speculated that multiple reported disappearances were linked to the game. Sweeney claimed a “Facebook page” was “encouraging” kids to participate (but appeared to be unable to produce a link to it) and reiterated the unsupported assertion that the “game” had first appeared in Europe: There’s even a Facebook page dedicated to it — please share to warn other parents! … Not sure but it apparently already made the rounds in Europe. As BBC Trending blogger Mike Wendling observed about the “Game of 72”: For a “game” that is supposedly catching on all over the world, there’s scant chatter about it on social media. Only a few hundred tweets have been sent about the “game” — most referencing news articles. Facebook searches in English and French throw up relatively few hits — and again, most link to media reports. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, which runs the UK’s best-known helpline for children, told Trending that they haven’t received any calls about the “game”. Some of the coverage of the “game” compared it to other trends such as neknomination — the viral challenge where people were egging friends on to complete a dangerous and/or drinking-related stunt. But whereas neknomination was a real thing — as were other potentially dangerous games such as the “cinnamon challenge” — the “game of 72” appears to be nothing more than a lost-in-translation rumour. Variations: In October 2017, readers spotted a resurgence of stories about a purported social media challenge, virtually identical to the “Game of 72” and dubbed the “48-hour challenge”: Ref: 72-Hour Challenge – Facebook missing hoax This one is doing the rounds again but as the 48-hour challenge. Much of the British tabloid media is reporting it, linking back to the above article on Belfast Live, quoting an unnamed Co Derry woman. Curiously there is no mention of this on BBC News website, presumably because it won’t stand up! I’d be interested to hear if this one is also believed to be a hoax. Hi. Please cam you investigate the story run in UK media yesterday on Facebook “game” encouraging kids to go missing for 48 hours. Orginally reported by Belfast Live facebook page and then reported as fact by most UK papers yesterday. Obviously fake news. Notably, the tale developed a new twist as it spread again. Although the 2015 scare implied the challenge was an example of teenagers upsetting their parents deliberately, the October 2017 version included a detail about how parental discomfort was measured in social media mentions and rewarded with advancement in the game. The 16 October 2017 BelfastLive article reported: However, the 48-Hour Challenge has a distinct twist. Every mention the missing teen gets on social media increases their score. This means frantic parents asking Facebook followers for help only add to the “game”. One Co Derry mum whose child disappeared recently said: “This is a competition and it’s sick. The anxiety it left our family in is unspeakable. “My child and others left Co Down and Co Antrim and were found 55 hours later in Ballymena. “I was terrified they were dead or would be raped, trafficked or killed. But these kids just think it’s funny. There was not even a moment of remorse when my child was taken into police custody and when the police brought my child home, I could see posts of selfies from the police car. “I’ve been told my child and friends are in the lead in this competition because they managed to vanish for 55 hours before they were discovered. “It was just terrifying and my child, who is 14, doesn’t seem to get it. They need a wake up call but I’m worried what that would be.” BelfastLive quoted an unnamed parent (not police) about a single purported instance of the game being played by teenagers in Northern Ireland, reiterating the legend in detail but offering no information about how anyone involved learned the teen’s disappearance had anything to do with a social media game. The woman said she had “been told” that her child was “in the lead,” but didn’t say or wasn’t asked how she came by that information. Moreover, after claiming that the number of mentions of a “missing” player on social media was how kids increased their score in the game, the article indicated the teen in question wasn’t actually missing for 48 hours (thereby violating its primary parameter): When police visited the teenager’s school pupils assured officers it was just a Facebook challenge and would be over within 48 hours. But the youngsters ignored the 48-hour goal and kept the game going. The mum said: “We got lucky this time. Another teenager may not be so lucky and I dread to think of the consequences that could bring about.” Sites like The Sun covered the purported fad, as did some American news outlets. None of the articles showed any indication teenagers were actually participating in the game: These kids need educating on the seriousness of this sickening craze. Notwithstanding the waste of police resources! https://t.co/wETMVygZKL — Caroline Lyons (@clyons_wilts) October 17, 2017 This is sick. “48 Hour Challenge” Game circulating on Facebook — encouraging kids to go missing! pic.twitter.com/2AAXN5y2QR — Araksya Karapetyan (@Araksya) October 18, 2017 Parents have warned of a Facebook challenge in which teenagers dare each other to go missing for 48 hours https://t.co/g1XcWzxB1K — The Times of London (@thetimes) October 18, 2017
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26742
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Speaking of an HIV outbreak in Indiana during his time as governor, says “we immediately deployed health resources.”
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A rural county in southeastern Indiana had a spike in HIV cases in 2014 and 2015. After noticing the spike, state officials began investigating the causes of the outbreak and identifying people who might have been infected. However, a crucial component of the response — a needle exchange program — was authorized months after officials noticed the increase in HIV cases.
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mixture
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Health Care, Public Health, Mike Pence,
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"Vice President Mike Pence has pointed to his response to health crises in Indiana as a reason why he’s now the Trump administration’s top messenger on the U.S. coronavirus response. But his response to an HIV outbreak in Indiana while he was governor is getting new attention. A reporter challenged Pence about it in a Feb. 29 press conference, saying Pence did not follow the advice of his public health advisers who pushed for a needle exchange program at the outset. Pence said he responded quickly. ""My health officials came to me. We immediately deployed health resources, but the truth was, is, HIV AIDS was being spread by people sharing needles and intravenous drug use,"" Pence said. ""And the state of Indiana did not allow for providing a needle exchange to citizens. But the CDC came in and made a recommendation, and I declared a public health emergency and made, for 30 days, a needle exchange available in the state of Indiana."" PolitiFact decided to take a closer look at Pence’s response to the Scott County HIV outbreak to examine whether his response was as swift as he claimed. Scott County in rural southeastern Indiana saw a spike in HIV cases several years ago. Typically, the county had fewer than five HIV diagnoses a year. But from December 2014 to March 2015, health officials diagnosed HIV in about 80 people. By May 2016, nearly 200 people had been diagnosed with HIV. The outbreak was driven by people sharing needles to inject drugs, particularly the opioid pain medication Opana. Health investigators found that some people were injecting themselves between four and 15 times a day, and sharing needles with as many as five other people in one session. In January 2015, after the confirmation of about eight new cases, state health officials worried behind the scenes about an epidemic and began investigating. While the state knew about the number of cases, the public and Scott County health officials learned of the issue only by late February. (People were being diagnosed in a nearby county, and the lab results were sent there and to the state, but not to Scott County.) On March 26, 2015, Pence signed an executive order declaring a public health emergency in Scott County attributable to the HIV epidemic. The order allowed county officials to establish a short-term needle exchange program — which would have been illegal under Indiana law — so that drug users could turn in used syringes and needles and get new, sterile ones. The goal was to stop needle sharing and prevent the transmission of HIV and other diseases. Pence said he was ""opposed to needle exchange as anti-drug policy,"" but because there was a public health emergency, he would ""put the lives of the people of Indiana first."" The program began April 4, 2015. It was limited to Scott County residents. Pence in May 2015 signed a law making needle exchange programs, also known as syringe access programs, legal with limitations. The programs could be approved for a certain time, under specific circumstances (as a response to an outbreak, not to prevent one), and could not use state or federal funds. (A 2020 bill in the Indiana Legislature would extend syringe service programs in the state.) The state’s immediate response did not include what health policy experts say was the most important component: the needle exchange program. ""All the scientific research on the outbreak that I am aware of backs up this claim: The response was unnecessarily slow and was delayed by Gov. Pence's objections to needle exchange,"" said Forrest W. Crawford, an associate professor at Yale University who co-authored a 2018 study on the Scott County HIV outbreak and response. The state moved fast to identify cases through screening and interviewing sex- and drug-sharing partners, said Beth Meyerson, a research professor at the University of Arizona’s Southwest Institute for Research on Women and co-director of Indiana University's Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention. But the response was ""significantly delayed"" in terms of access to the needle exchange program, said Meyerson. This isn’t the first time Pence’s response to the outbreak is under scrutiny. Several media reports went over it when Pence was tapped as President Donald Trump’s running mate in 2016. Politico and the New York Times reported then about the amount of effort needed to persuade Pence to allow Scott County to implement a needle exchange program, which health researchers say is an effective tool to prevent disease transmissions and help drug users seek treatment. ""It was disappointing that it took so much effort to bring the governor on board,"" Indiana state Rep. Ed Clere told the New York Times. Clere, a Republican who has long advocated needle exchange programs, is cited among those who lobbied Pence to allow the program. ""Pence intervened after significant pressure,"" Meyerson told PolitiFact. Scott County’s health officer in May 2016 said that the needle exchange program had ""a tremendously positive and dramatic impact"" in the community, notably decreasing new cases of HIV and hepatitis C. Needle exchanges aren’t the only response to an HIV outbreak, Meyerson noted. Access to screening and referrals to treatment are also needed, she said, and for that Scott County did open a ""one-stop shop."" It provided free HIV testing and information about HIV prevention, treatment and resources. The center also offered substance abuse help and assistance enrolling in the state’s health insurance program. Pence’s press secretary did not provide comment to PolitiFact. She referred us to Joey Fox, a former legislative director for the Indiana State Department of Health who served during the HIV outbreak in Scott County. Fox said he believed that when Pence spoke about an immediate action, he was referring to his response after a March 2015 meeting with federal and state health officials. After hearing recommendations to implement a comprehensive response that included syringe exchange among other measures, Pence declared the public health emergency, Fox said. ""The Pence administration had been engaged in the response from the first day,"" Fox said. The state sent epidemiological support, worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and implemented a public affairs campaign, he said. Fox said Scott County health officials also had to be reassured about the needle exchange program. ""If you didn't have the local public health and public safety officials on board, the program would fail and no one would be helped,"" Fox said. ""So, when the locals were ready and the governor was on board, he signed an executive order to suspend the application of state law and allow the local community to implement a program."" Pence said his administration ""immediately deployed health resources"" in response to an HIV outbreak in an Indiana County. After noticing a spike in HIV cases, state officials began investigating the causes of the outbreak and identifying people who might have been infected. However, a crucial component of the response — a needle exchange program — was authorized months after officials noticed the increase in HIV cases. Pence publicly opposed needle exchange programs, which were illegal in Indiana. He had to be persuaded to sign an executive order to suspend the law and allow the county to establish the program. Pence’s statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context."
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8658
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Austria to make basic face masks compulsory in supermarkets.
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Austria will require shoppers to wear basic face masks in supermarkets in a bid to slow the still too-rapid spread of the coronavirus, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Monday.
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true
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Health News
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Austria has closed schools, restaurants, bars, theatres and other gathering places, including non-essential shops. People have been told to stay at home and work from there if possible. The country has reported 108 deaths and more than 9,000 cases, fewer than its neighbours Italy and Switzerland and within its health system’s capacity so far, but Kurz told a news conference its intensive care capacity could be exceeded by mid-April. “Many cannot imagine what is heading our way within weeks, but the truth is that this is the calm before the storm. And to tell how horrific that storm can be, you can look at our neighbour Italy,” Kurz said, referring to hospitals unable to cope with the number of sick people, and hundreds of dead a day. The rate of infection remains “far too high”, Kurz said, adding that less than medical-grade masks would be distributed this week, probably from Wednesday. “As of the moment, these masks are handed out in front of supermarkets it will be compulsory to wear them in supermarkets,” Kurz said, adding that the aim in the medium-term was for people to wear them in public more generally as well. While the masks would not protect the wearer against infection, they would stop them sneezing or coughing on others and potentially infecting them, he added. The World Health Organization has, however, been sceptical about such measures. “There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any particular benefit,” Dr Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergencies expert, told a news conference later on Monday while adding that he was not aware of Austria’s measure specifically. “In fact there is some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse or (not) wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly or taking it off and all the other risks that are otherwise associated with that.” Austria is also carrying out tests on a representative sample of 2,000 people to get a clearer understanding of how much of the population has been exposed to the virus, Kurz said, adding that Austria was one of the first countries in Europe to do so. The results will be available at the end of the week.
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9098
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Compounds in cocoa may help delay onset of type 2 diabetes
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BYU photo captioned “Chocolate as a medical aid?” This news release tortures the results of a basic biology cell culture study until it coughs up a headline about cocoa preventing diabetes. Researchers isolated several compounds from cocoa and found that one of them (but not the others) appeared to help rat cells in a lab dish secrete more insulin. But the headline and lead paragraphs about chocolate overwhelm the details and cautionary statements buried below. In particular, the photographs provided with the release show Hershey’s chocolate bars spilling out of medicine bottles that are blatantly labeled as “Dark Chocolate” and “Take by mouth as needed or desired.” Only a profile photo of two researchers gives a hint of the lab dishes, rat cells and esoteric compounds that were the real aspects of the study. Facts are easily overwhelmed by more basic forms of communication. The release plays with the dream that candy could prevent diabetes. It displays medicine bottles overflowing with chocolate, labeled with fake dosing instructions. The teasing lead and strong images are the sort of communication that bypasses critical thinking and plants suggestions in the minds of readers. Writers of news releases must take responsibility for the effect of their overall message. Burying factual statements below the fanfare is not acceptable. Making the study seem as if it shows the mechanism of an already proven physiological effect in humans, when the study only was looking for some basic cellular level effect in rats, is dishonest.
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false
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Brigham Young University,cocoa,Type 2 diabetes
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This line of research is only at the most basic conceptual level so cost projections are unrealistic. However, there is an undercurrent in the message that suggests that this particular fraction of cocoa could be turned into a drug. When the release states that “researchers believe the starting point is to look for ways to take the compound out of cocoa, make more of it and then use it as a potential treatment for current diabetes patients” it suggests big profits for a drug company, not the cocoa bean growers of South America. This news release would have been fine if it had stuck to the statement in the last paragraph that the research points the way toward refining specific compounds and then testing them as potential treatments. But that measured summary is negated by the absurd suggestion near the top of the release that people might get some benefit by eating a lot of cocoa (even though the release then questions its own suggestion). It’s strange that one of the researchers gave a quote about eating chocolate when their journal article clearly states that the key insulin-secreting beta cells “won’t be exposed to sufficient concentrations under physiologic conditions.” Neither the release or the study provide any hard numbers for context, only a description of the results and the drawings, which make the differences seem much less than “dramatic.” Aside from mentioning that chocolate has a lot of sugar in it, harms are not discussed in the news release. Not only is eating lots of chocolate (stuffed with fat and sugar) likely to increase, not decrease, a person’s risk of developing diabetes, the research paper states that other cocoa components they tested made things worse by decreasing insulin secretion. The release leads with a tease about people eating chocolate to prevent diabetes, but in fact the study included neither people nor chocolate, only rat cell cultures exposed to a variety of compounds extracted from cocoa. The rat cells produced more insulin when exposed to one of the components they tested, while the cells produced less insulin in the presence of other components, as well as when exposed to total cocoa extract. The researchers clearly stated that, “The purpose of this study was to 1) determine the effect of different cocoa flavanol fractions on β-cell function and 2) identify potential mechanisms underlying these effects.” While there is a reference deep in the release to the actual (very narrow) purpose and results of this study (identifying a compound worthy of further study), that note is obscured by all the preceding hype, images and cute references to eating chocolate as medicine. Diabetes is a widespread and serious health threat. However, the careless wording of this news release (and the skewed news coverage it encourages) could well mislead people who do not have diabetes to use the headlines as an excuse to eat more chocolate. The implication of the news release is that this compound can be given to people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes with the goal of delaying their “descent” into overt diabetes, but this could lead to over-treatment of mild diabetes. The release notes that, “This research was funded, in part, thanks to grants from the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation and the American Diabetes Association.” The researchers did not list any relevant disclosures in their journal article. The release does not include funding from the “Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hatch Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture” that is listed in the journal article. The release does not put this potential treatment into context with available treatments. However, the research is far too preliminary to even begin making comparisons to alternatives. Readers of the entire release are told that this work is an early step toward developing compounds for testing. However, the headline, lead paragraphs and images (featuring Hershey’s bars) all conspire to imply that the researchers looked at chocolate found on candy shelves. Cocoa is widely available, the compound being investigated in this study is not, and the researchers don’t give any idea about how hard it is to extract it. The release notes near the bottom that this study advances earlier research by identifying a compound that improved beta cell function. However, the lead about chocolate misleads readers by implying there is something new about studying the effects of cocoa extracts on beta cells, even though the journal article includes a long list of previous research on the topic. The first quote in the release overwhelms all the cautionary statements that follow: “You probably have to eat a lot of cocoa, and you probably don’t want it to have a lot of sugar in it,” said study author Jeffery Tessem, assistant professor of nutrition, dietetics and food science at BYU. “It’s the compound in cocoa you’re after.”
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28514
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The DEA recently classified synthetic marijuana as a legally-obtainable Schedule II drug while continuing to list plant-based marijuana as a Schedule I drug with “no currently accepted medical use.”
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What's true: The DEA recently approved a new oral liquid formulation of dronabinol — a synthetic version of the active ingredient in marijuana — as a schedule II drug. What's false: This is not the first time the DEA has approved dronabinol, which is wholly different than K2, Spice, and other recreational “synthetic cannabis” products.
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mixture
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Science, cannabis, DEA, FDA
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On 5 July 2016, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a New Drug Application from Insys Therapeutics for a drug they dubbed Syndros — an oral solution of the synthetic version of the most prominent psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. The pharmaceutical was approved for use by AIDS and chemotherapy patients: Insys Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Insys’ dronabinol oral solution, SyndrosTM, an orally administered liquid formulation of the pharmaceutical cannabinoid dronabinol, a pharmaceutical version of tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”). Syndros is approved for use in treating anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments. After any new drug is approved by the FDA, it must then be scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration, a legal classification which determines the legal handling and prescribing restrictions on the drug, if any. The DEA issued its first “interim” ruling — a legally binding ruling subject to change after a period of public comment — on Syndros on 23 March 2017, placing the formulation in the Schedule II grouping of “drugs with a high potential for abuse, with use potentially leading to severe psychological or physical dependence”, which allows for prescription, albeit in a limited fashion. This rule was adopted in a final form without changes on 22 November 2017. Numerous reports have highlighted the DEA’s apparent inconsistency and hypocrisy in approving a bioidentical-but-synthetic version of THC for an approved medical use, while keeping plant-origin THC as a Schedule I drug. A Schedule I drug has “no approved medical use,” something the DEA touched on in their final ruling: The DEA notes that FDA-approved products of oral solutions containing dronabinol have an approved medical use, whereas marijuana does not have an approved medical use and therefore remains in schedule I. A viral post from cannabis culture website Herb.co reported the decision with the narrative that the DEA was approving synthetic marijuana as medicine “while the real thing remains illegal.” While the bulk of the reporting was factual (though incomplete), it included a number of pictures with captions describing medical emergencies attributed to so-called “synthetic marijuana” products like K2 and Spice. This is misleading, as such products — though unregulated — generally contain a mixture of THC-like chemicals that are not, in fact, chemically identical to THC, but have similar and sometimes more potent or dangerous effects. The DEA has not scheduled these products as medicine, and the companies that produce them — many of which operate in clandestine fashion to avoid detection by the FDA — have not submitted their products for review by the Food and Drug Administration to be considered pharmaceuticals. Herb.co’s reporting was incomplete, additionally, because they implied this was a recent change in policy. In fact, synthetic THC, a chemical with the generic pharmaceutical name dronabinol, has been approved for the same indications as Syndros in capsule form since 1985. This form, under the brand name Marinol, was originally scheduled (like Syndros) in the more restrictive Schedule II grouping before being shifted to Schedule III in 1999. The reason for the differing classifications of dronabinol in capsule form versus oral spray form stems from their differing potential to be abused, according to the DEA: [The Department of Health and Human Services] indicated that the formulation of Syndros (oral solution) is easier to abuse than Marinol because this liquid formulation can be manipulated to produce concentrated extracts of dronabinol for abuse by inhalation (smoking or vaping) or through other routes of administration. Because of the large amount of dronabinol in Syndros oral solution it has a greater potential for extraction than Marinol and thus has a greater abuse potential. Although it is factual to say that the DEA approved a synthetic version of THC — legally giving it medicinal value — while keeping plant based THC a Schedule I drug with “no currently accepted medical use,” this ruling applies only to dronabinol, and not to recreational products like K2 or Spice. And while there are arguments to make about logical inconsistencies in the DEA’s treatment of synthetic versus natural THC, such arguments are not a new feature of the debate around marijuana legalization, as they have been proffered since dronabinol was first approved for use by the FDA in 1985.
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28700
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President Trump has the right and the means to send unblockable text mesage to all American cellular phones.
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What's true: A Federal Communications Commission system enables the sending of unblockable emergency alerts to cellular phones. What's false: No information suggests that President Trump has plans to frivolously mass-text the United States.
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mixture
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Uncategorized, donald trump, emergency alert system, fcc
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On 30 November 2016, New York Magazine published the first of several articles reporting that as of 20 January 2017, President Donald Trump would acquire the ability to send “unblockable” text messages to all American citizens: You’ve probably, at some point, gotten a text alert on your phone about some nasty weather, an Amber Alert about a missing child, or even a (very poorly worded) alert about police looking for a criminal. These 90-character messages, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts (or WEAs), are part of a program put in place after Congress passed the Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act, in 2006. WEAs allow for targeted messages to be sent to every cell phone getting a signal from certain geographically relevant cell towers (or, in a national emergency, all of them). Here’s where things get interesting. Per the FCC, a WEA may be sent for three different reasons: What alerts does WEA deliver? Alerts from WEA cover only critical emergency situations. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts: 1. Alerts issued by the President … The article’s author went on to underscore the highly speculative nature of the claim: All WEAs must be issued through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, meaning that an emergency alert from the president still has at least one layer to pass through before being issued. While FEMA is under control of the executive branch (the head of FEMA is selected by the president, and reports to the Department of Homeland Security), the agency would have a vested interest in not seeing their alert system bent toward, uh, non-emergency ends. Although the initial version of the story made it clear that the claims were highly speculative and based on a possibility (not an actual vested power handed over to Trump on Inauguration Day), CNet published an article that did not include that particular context: President-elect Donald Trump will have access to a system that can send unblockable texts to every phone in the US once he takes the oath of office. Wireless Emergency Alerts are a program created by a 2006 act of Congress. The so-called “WEAs” can be targeted messages sent to all mobile phones in a particular area, like Amber alerts, or to all phones nationally, like an alert issued by the president, according to a report by New York Magazine’s Select/All blog. Although media speculation held that Trump could (and implicitly would) use the WEA frivolously to annoy Americans with insults in the middle of the night, the Federal Communications Commission explicitly states the system is for use in emergencies only: WEA is a public safety system that allows customers who own certain wireless phones and other enabled mobile devices to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. The technology ensures that emergency alerts will not get stuck in highly congested areas, which can happen with standard mobile voice and texting services. WEA (formerly known as the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) or Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN)) was established pursuant to the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act. WEA enables government officials to target emergency alerts to specific geographic areas – lower Manhattan, for example – through cell towers that broadcast the emergency alerts for reception by WEA-enabled mobile devices … Pre-authorized national, state or local government authorities may send alerts regarding public safety emergencies, such as evacuation orders or shelter–in-place orders due to severe weather, a terrorist threat or chemical spill, to WEA. The portion used to tie Trump to the claim specified that the only unblockable texts are emergency alerts directly from the President: Alerts from WEA cover only critical emergency situations. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts: 1. Alerts issued by the President 2. Alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life 3. Amber Alerts Participating carriers may allow subscribers to block all but Presidential alerts. The FCC announced that FEMA would be conducting a test of the system at 11:18 AM PDT (2:18 PM EDT) on Wednesday, 3 October 2018, although the test might take a few minutes to make it to all cellphones: 📳 TODAY (10/3): At 2:18 PM EDT, we will be testing the Wireless Emergency Alert system nationwide. Expect a message box on your phone along with a loud tone and vibration. Questions? Visit https://t.co/Op8T9AEpiF pic.twitter.com/cCXJGGObPP — FEMA (@fema) October 3, 2018 Although it is true that an FCC emergency alert system function enables any sitting president to send emergency texts to all Americans (and that only messages from the president cannot be blocked), any other information is pure speculation: nothing substantiates the idea that President Trump intends to misuse the system, or that the FCC would allow him to do so.
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10559
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Genetic tests help doctors tailor cancer treatments
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This report about the application of genetic testing in cancer treatment provides useful explanation about a complicated but important development in medicine. It helps readers understand the tests’ promise and pitfalls. The story has two significant strengths: It draws on a range of sources, from supporters to skeptics. Unlike many stories that use anecdotes, this one suffers little from their use. Neither patient story implies a miraculous cure resulting from the tests, only improved disease treatment. The story’s most conspicuous weakness is its failure to examine any research supporting the tests’ use, instead depending almost exclusively on clinicians’ impressions. Most of the claims about what genetic medicine can do are not substantiated by evidence. This should have been stated more clearly. In terms of its presentation, the material about the tests’ shortcomings should have been mentioned, at least briefly, higher in the story. As the story is written, a reader gets over 600 words of positive views about the tests before getting to the paragraph that begins discussion of the caveats.
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true
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The article states the cost of one test, $3,600, meeting the minimum standard for this criterion. But given the tests’ uncertain utility, as well as the obvious economic motivation of the test marketers, more information on costs would have been very useful. Information on insurance coverage should also have been included. The article does not quantify the benefits of treatment with and without genetic testing. Since at least one of the tests mentioned has been approved by the FDA, and the FDA may get a larger role in the pre-market vetting of these tests, some data should be available. All of the reporting in the article on benefits is based on anecdotes and clinicians’ summaries of their knowledge. While none of the genetic tests is harmful, the article states the tests’ limitations: some are costly, their results sometimes of unknown accuracy and difficult to apply to treatment. A clearer statement about the potential harms–including unnecessary treatment and even mortality–of a treatment decision made on faulty results would have been very useful. Since the OncotypDX test is used to help identify people who may reasonably forego chemotherapy, the issue is whether skipping a treatment that may have benefit in order to avoid side effects will produce good outcomes. The article does not report on the amount and quality of evidence about safety and efficacy of the tests. This is the story’s most serious shortcoming. The article does not exaggerate the dangers of cancer although it does make some pretty big claims about what genetic medicine can and might do – claims that are still unsubstantiated. The article quotes a variety of sources: two clinicians who use the tests, two physician skeptics, a government regulator, and two patients whose treatment has been determined partly by genetic tests. The article is focused largely on treatment options facing cancer patients, and the role genetic testing can play in those treatments. It is clear from several examples that using genetic information as part of treatment planning is an option but not fully dependable or universally useful. The article makes clear that some of the genetic tests for cancer are on the market, some are in limited use, and others are under development. The article does not make any explicit claims of novelty, but it does indicate, correctly, that this is a fast-developing field of medical science that is creating new insights and products regularly. There is no evidence that the article relied solely or largely on a press release.
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35927
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"Data displayed on the World Bank's World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) website in September 2020 proved that dozens of nations imported or exported items labeled ""COVID-19 Test Kits"" in 2018 — more than a year before the pandemic occurred and before COVID-19 even had a name."
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A side-by-side comparison of the widely circulated screenshot (left) and one of the report as it appeared at the time of writing (right), which is archived here for reference, showed where the word “medical” had replaced “COVID-19” in the updated version.
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false
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Politics Medical, COVID-19, Editor's Picks
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An image shared on social media in September 2020 purported to reveal that international trade data showed dozens of nations bought COVID-19 testing and diagnostic materials more than two years before the coronavirus pandemic was declared and SARS-CoV-2, the responsible virus, was first identified. The above image was shared to Facebook and Twitter in the first week of September 2020. The screenshots came as conspiracy theories surrounding the origin and severity of the coronavirus proved particularly contagious in 2020. A number of far-fetched COVID-19 misinformation campaigns were shared extensively across the internet, from claims that erroneously argued that SARS-CoV-2 was a man-made bioweapon created in a lab to social media users who falsely pushed the idea that the disease was spread by 5G towers. One user on Twitter posited, for example, that the reported data was “more proof” that the COVID-19 pandemic was “planned and orchestrated.” The tweet went on to argue that dozens of countries preemptively ordered COVID-19 tests “back in 2018 when [the virus] didn’t exist.” More proof. If this wasn’t planned and orchestrated, how on earth did they know to order covid-19 tests back in 2018 when it didn’t exist?Who manufactured them and how long before did they know? https://t.co/PjKziQDm2n — Kimberley 🤗😘❤️ (@kimberley82h) September 6, 2020 This claim is false, although it is based on a screen capture of real data published in the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), a software program provided by the World Bank that allows users access to an international trade database that tracks trade between countries. WITS is a joint initiative between the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, and several other leading intergovernmental organizations that tracks the import and export of various goods — including medical supplies and equipment — using the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, referred to simply as HS codes. Before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, health-related products were tracked in the database under more technical terms as part of the sixth edition of the HS nomenclature first published in 2017 and employed by more than 200 countries in 2020. In April, the World Customs Organization (WCO) followed in the footsteps of the World Health Organization to create a list of HS codes that allowed countries to track the movement of “critical products” related to COVID-19. Each of the numerical codes referenced in the screenshots was in existence in 2017 and still in use in 2020, according to WCO Communications Officer Laure Tempier. The June 2020 version of the code list included dozens of specific medical devices used to diagnose or treat COVID, such as ventilators and hand sanitizers, which existed and were tracked under WITS before the COVID-19 outbreak. For instance, items coded under 9027.80 are specific to a medical device called a colorimetric carbon dioxide detector that helps medical professionals determine if a patient is correctly connected to a ventilator. Under the revamped 2020 classification system, this item was considered a part of those categorized as “COVID-19 Diagnostic Test instruments and apparatus.” “The short answer is that these products have had other uses for many years but have become COVID-19 specific [in 2020],” wrote Tempier in an email to Snopes. “These products are medical devices that have long had many other uses but have assumed particular importance because of COVID-19, and have been classified by the WCO as COVID-19 products to facilitate better tracking.” In short, the screenshot in question is authentic but was misinterpreted or misrepresented by social media users to further conspiracy theories about the origin of the disease. In response to the viral images, the World Bank issued a statement noting that the goal of the April and June updates was to “put information about key COVID-related medical supplies in one easy-to-find place.” “However, in light of misinterpretations that have occurred in recent days, the labeling in the WITS site has been updated to reflect the reality: COVID-19 tests did not exist before 2020,” wrote the WHO, adding that an update provided in early September 2020 correctly labeled COVID-19 test kits as medical tests and had made similar clarifying adjustments in other places. An archived version of the WITS website saved on Sept. 4 clearly included “COVID-19” in the product description column and continued to do so for the following two days. The change to “medical” was put into place on Sept. 7. At the time of writing, the main database retained all of the original descriptions and labels that existed before the 2020 outbreak. All that has changed is the way in which they are labeled to the public. Full definitions and descriptions of traded goods classified under the HS system can be found on the WITS website.
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7027
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School district offer birth control in high schools.
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A Massachusetts school district has voted to provide free birth control products and emergency contraception to students who ask to battle a high teen pregnancy rate and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
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true
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Sexually transmitted diseases, Emergency contraception, Lynn, Health, General News, Teen pregnancy, Massachusetts, Birth control
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The Lynn School Committee voted unanimously on the proposal on Thursday night at a packed meeting divided roughly equally been those who supported the plan, and those opposed to it. Julie Chan, a pediatric nurse practitioner with the Lynn Community Health Center, said last year there were 57 pregnant minors in the Lynn schools. She said there have been 21 chlamydia cases in the district’s schools this year. According to the most recent state Public Health Department figures, Lynn’s teen birth rate was 29.2 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19, more than triple the state rate.
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9432
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Radiofrequency therapy relieved herniated disc pain in new study
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Although the headline’s a bit more positive than perhaps it should be, and information about financial costs and potential harms is missing, this story aptly describes the main results, weaknesses, rationale and design of a small study of radio frequency therapy for lower back pain. As the medical literature shows, lower back pain is over-treated surgically and notoriously susceptible to placebo effects, and this article on from NBC News nicely puts the study’s results in context of those factors, quoting outside experts. Thoughtful readers should come away from this article with a sense of caution about this therapy, if not a ten-foot-pole wariness. Note: We also reviewed the Radiological Society of North America news release about the study. Evidence-based “best practices” research shows that exercise, good posture, weight loss, the judicious use of medication, and even the simple passage of time can prevent or resolve most cases. But a study that promises a majority of patients a year’s worth of relief from a 10-minute, one-time, minimally invasive, safe and apparently painless therapy is going to get a lot of attention. The problem is that the design of the study — just 80 patients and no control group — doesn’t scientifically make the case that the treatment works, or is necessary, for all or even many patients, and articles reporting on the procedure should contain a heavy dose of caution. This one did a pretty good job at that.
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mixture
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back pain
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Given the widely documented over-treatment issues already linked to lower back pain due to herniated discs, readers with an interest in any proposed therapy should be told what a therapy costs. Although details were sparse with respect to the patient study group (age, gender, baseline and post-treatment disability and function), as well as the actually number of patients who experienced complete relief and what that relief represented in terms of function, the article did include the “pain free” endpoint data, the number of those who needed a second treatment session, and the percentage who were able to “avoid surgery,” presumably to repair or remove the displaced discs. While the story didn’t quite connect the dots, it did report the long-known fact that one in five people with acute back pain still have pain one year later. In other words 80% are “cured” at a year–this is the same result as the new study. Looking at the longer term picture will be important. Even minimally invasive procedures carry risks. The article doesn’t mention what those might be, either from the therapy directly, or from preoperative preparations. The story uses quotes from outside experts to make pretty clear that back pain is “complex” and that for most people it goes away without any treatment. It also is explicit about the weaknesses in the study and why patients and clinicians should use the results with caution. And it underscores the need for a randomized controlled trial. Well done. No mongering here. The article makes effective use of outside experts to put back pain and its treatment alternatives into context. The article goes into some detail about alternatives to radio frequency therapy. The overall impression is that the therapy is available at least from specialists in hospitals, but readers don’t know what kinds of specialists (neurologists? orthopedic surgeons?) provide it, or where else it may be available. The story makes no claim that the therapy is brand new, so we’ll rate this Satisfactory, though it was a tough call. The story could have been strengthened with some information about the history of the treatment and previous research with it. For example, a 2014 review in the journal Pain Research and Management (“Radiofrequency ablation for chronic low back pain: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials”) found 1,063 published reports, but just 11 were sham-controlled randomized trials. The current research was not a randomized trial and would not have been included in the final analysis. The results were mixed for pain from disc disease (the focus of the current research). The article makes substantial use of outside sources. Note: We also reviewed the Radiological Society of North America news release about the study.
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37962
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"The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast planned to give Attorney General Bill Barr its ""Christifideles Laici Award"" in September 2020."
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Sister Helen Prejean’s tweet describing the purpose of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast’s “Christifideles Laici Award” as honoring “Christlike” behavior appeared to be a paraphrase, and as a nun, Prejean was an expert on Catholic Doctrine. It is true the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast chose Attorney General Bill Barr as its second-ever recipient for the “Christifideles Laici Award” in 2020, and it is further true that Barr presided over six executions in 2020, with a seventh scheduled just after the event.
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true
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Fact Checks, Viral Content
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"On September 23 2020, “Christlike” appeared on Twitter’s list of trending topics due to a viral tweet objecting to a Catholic organization’s decision to honor Attorney General Bill Barr:The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast will present an award to Attorney General Barr for “Christlike behavior” tomorrow morning. A.G. Barr has ordered the executions of six men with at least one more on the calendar. What is “Christlike” about using discretionary power to kill?— Sister Helen Prejean (@helenprejean) September 23, 2020In her tweet, Dead Man Walking author and anti-death penalty advocate Sister Helen Prejean used the word “Christlike.” Prejean specifically objected to Barr’s direct involvement with application of the death penalty, claiming Barr ordered the executions of six men (a seventh pending):The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast will present an award to Attorney General Barr for “Christlike behavior” tomorrow morning [September 23 2020]. A.G. Barr has ordered the executions of six men with at least one more on the calendar. What is “Christlike” about using discretionary power to kill?As a matter of doctrine, the Catholic Church formally disavowed all instances of the death penalty in August 2018. A contemporaneous update to the Catechism of the Catholic Church was amended to deem executions “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person’ and [the Church is] pledging to work for its abolition worldwide.”It appeared that “Christlike” had specifically trended due to Prejean’s invocation of the term in her late-night tweet. News organizations quickly clipped the verbiage for subsequently viral headlines:Nun slams Catholic group for giving Barr award for ""Christlike behavior"" https://t.co/ajWpD0BHDd pic.twitter.com/nQCq8H1RMK— The Hill (@thehill) September 23, 2020Christifideles Laici, ExplainedOther Catholic organizations present Christifidelis Laici awards to laypeople for works in service to the church.The phrase “Christifidelis Laici” is derived from an apostolic exhortation by Pope John Paul II in 1988:Christifideles Laici[:] Apostolic exhortation of Pope john paul ii, “The Lay Members of Christ’s Faithful People,” issued Dec. 30, 1988, following the seventh ordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Oct. 1–30, 1987) whose theme was the “Vocation and Mission of the Laity in the Church and in the World Twenty Years after the Second Vatican Council.” The text comprises an introduction (nos. 1–7) and five chapters: “The Dignity of the Lay Faithful in the Church as Mystery,” (nos. 8–17), “The Participation of the Lay Faithful in the Life of Church as Communion” (nos. 18–31), “The Coresponsibility of the Lay Faithful in the Church as Mission” (nos. 32–44), “Good Stewards of God’s Varied Grace” (nos. 45–56), and “The Formation of the Lay Faithful in the Lay State” (nos. 57–64). The exhortation ends with an appeal to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Honors Bill BarrOn the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast‘s website, a page (“Christifideles Laici Award”) describes the relatively new honor:One can say the foundation of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, and a host of other Catholic apostolates, rests on an amalgam forged by the fire of the Holy Spirit. The first element being from Pope Saint John Paul II’s exhortation of the New Evangelization to “spread the Gospel in ways that are new in ardor, methods and expression”. The second element is from the charge he gave the laity in his 1988 Post-Synodal Exhortation Christifideles Laici for the lay faithful to answer the Lord’s call for individual missions “on behalf of the Church and the world” and “to stir and promote a deeper awareness among all the faithful of the gift and responsibility they share, both as a group and as individuals, in the communion and mission of the Church.”Over the last generation, consider the launch and explosive growth of thousands of thriving apostolates, ministries, and charities tending to the needs of so many – especially in the areas of education and health care. It is stirring and inspiring to consider how many have answered the call of our Lord to serve in His vineyard.The NCPB created the Christifideles Laici Award in 2019 to help highlight these good works and those who serve the Church so well. The Award reads: “In Honor and Gratitude for Fidelity to the Church, Exemplary Selfless and Steadfast Service in the Lord’s Vineyard.”The Award itself is an original work commissioned by the NCPB and created by talented artist, Isaac Dell.That blurb acknowledged the award’s purpose in honoring laity or laypeople (non-ordained members of the church), noting that the organization initiated the “Christifideles Laici Award in 2019 to help highlight these good works and those who serve the Church so well.” “Christlike behavior” was not explicitly described, but “good works” and people who “serve the church so well” were both mentioned.Atop the description was a photograph of 2019’s inaugural Christifidelis Laici Award, Gerry Giblin. To the left of Giblin was an image of Attorney General Bill Barr, labeled “2020 Honoree”:Overall, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast’s website was sparse, and no additional information its decision to bestow the Christifidelis Laici Award upon Barr (or why he was selected) was readily available.On the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast’s Facebook page, there was no direct announcement about Barr being the award’s recipient in 2020. A September 14 2020 post mentioned Barr by name while addressing confusion about the ceremony:A separate September 22 2020 post indicated that United States President Donald Trump was an anticipated speaker for the 2020 event:As “Christlike” trended on Twitter on September 23 2020, commenters flooded the post:“As a lifelong Catholic whose family has donated tens of thousands of dollars, I find this so against what Catholicism has stood for. The men you are honoring are corrupt, crooked liars. Trump has broken every commandment, and is the pure opposite of Jesus Christ and what he represents. He divides the nation yet you will honor him. He and Barr represent the worst in humans, they are evil, and Jesus Christ would not stand with them. This is shameful and sacrilegious. A man who has committed adultery more than once and even paid off a hooker. Today again, groups like yours make me ashamed to be a catholic. My extremely Catholic parents are rolling over in their graves.”“Hypocrites!! Christ like?!?! Barr should be charged with crimes against HUMANITY!!! SHAME, SHAME, SHAMEFUL and DISGUSTING!! !”“Jesus wept. John 11:35”“I hope you plan to counsel them to change their ways, like putting toddlers in cages or sterilizing their mothers, doing their best NOT to care for the sick and homeless, the widows and orphans, of being anti-life, and anti-God. If they refuse, will you offer a public rebuke and disavow them until they repent and make amends?”Other Objections to Barr’s Nomination for the Christifidelis Laici Award in 2020A petition on FaithfulAmerica.org addressed the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast’s decision, gathering thousands of signatures, and reading in part:Tell the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast Barr’s violent corruption does not deserve a Christian awardThe National Catholic Prayer Breakfast pretends to be non-partisan — yet nearly every year, the event hosts primarily Republican leaders like Rick Santorum, Paul Ryan, Mike Pence, and George W. Bush.At this year’s breakfast, the right-wing Catholic organization plans to give a major award to Attorney General William Barr for “service in the Lord’s vineyard.” This is the same William Barr who provides legal cover for Donald Trump’s efforts to steal the election, cruelly teargassed peaceful protests for the president’s cynical Bible photo-op, and reinstated the federal death penalty.Without even a hint of irony, the award will be given the very same week that Barr’s Justice Department carries out its next two executions. That’s shocking for any Christian organization, but especially a Catholic one: Pope Francis has updated official Church teaching to oppose the death penalty under all circumstances.Given Barr’s record of unjust, corrupt authoritarianism, it’s clear that the NCPB’s award for Barr is simply a political stunt, hijacking the Church to boost Trump’s reelection chances — and that’s something that grassroots Catholics and other Christians cannot allow.Newsweek quoted another nun who opposed Barr being given any award for “good works”:Meanwhile Sister Simone Campbell who is the executive director of NETWORK Catholic Lobby for Social Justice said it was not appropriate for Trump and Barr to appear in such a prominent Catholic forum.“I am horrified that they are giving an award to Attorney General Barr who had reinstituted executions of people on death row, which is shocking and counter to Catholic social teaching. It is abundantly clear, ‘thou shalt not kill’, and he is doing that and he is being given an award,” she told Newsweek.“Then they have President Trump who really doesn’t have a sense of religion or religious values addressing the breakfast. This appears to be a crass political move.“Based on who’s getting the award and based on President Trump’s policy, I don’t think the breakfast will enrich or really create a sense of solidarity of ‘we the people’, because it is too focused on destructive activities,” she added.In a September 22 2020 National Catholic Reporter piece on the 2020 Christifidelis Laici Award and Barr’s scheduled acceptance of it (“National Catholic Prayer Breakfast award for Barr divides Catholics”), other prominent Catholics objected to the move — extensively and strenuously:It is “unconscionable and scandalous that this recognition be given to William Barr who only two months ago [in June 2020] reinstated the Federal death penalty after a 17-year discontinuance,” says the Rev. Michael Bryant, a Catholic priest and former prison chaplain. He notes that five men have already been executed and two more will be killed, one on the day before the breakfast and another on the day after.The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which opposes the death penalty, has a petition that already has over 6,000 signers calling on Barr to “Stop the executions!”The decision to give Barr the award is “shocking, incomprehensible, and scandalous,” according to the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests. “Executions are clearly not pro-life,” said the association. “Pope St. John Paul II judged such actions as ‘unnecessary.’ Pope Francis defined them as ‘inadmissible.’ That position of the Magisterium is now affirmed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”They also accused Barr of showing “disrespect for sacred space when he was party to a recent show of force to enable the President to use the grounds and building of an Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square to hold up a bible in front of the church as a prop for a political photo op.”Also tweeting against the award is Stephen Schneck of the Franciscan Action Network: “Barr personally restarted the federal death penalty. Willingly supported the separation of children from parents at the border. Directed the attack on protesters to give Trump a photo op with a Bible. The National CATHOLIC Prayer Breakfast needs to change its name.”Johnny Zokovitch, executive director of the organization Pax Christi USA, referenced Barr’s record outside of executions in 2020, saying that the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast “should be ashamed” of its selection of Barr:There is no overlap between the gospel message and the Attorney General’s support for caging immigrant children, teargassing nonviolent protesters, executing fellow human beings, the sexual assault of women, racist rhetoric and the blatant disrespect for human dignity that runs rampant with this administration … The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast should be ashamed.Barr’s Relationship to Six Executions and a Seventh Scheduled ExecutionOn September 22 2020, the same day Prejean’s tweet was shared, Reuters published an article about federal executions during the Trump administration, reporting:The U.S. government put convicted rapist and murderer William LeCroy to death by lethal injection on [September 22 2020], the sixth execution under the Trump administration this summer after a lengthy hiatus in capital punishment at the federal level. […]It marked the sixth death sentence the U.S. government has carried out during the past three months, more than the total number of federal executions carried out under all of President Donald Trump’s White House predecessors combined going back to 1963.Another execution was planned for Thursday, when Christopher Vialva, a convicted murderer, is set to become the first Black man to face the federal death penalty under Trump.As Prejean noted, six men were executed in 2020, with a seventh scheduled for September 24 2020. A June 15 2020 Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs press release described Barr as having “directed” federal agencies to schedule several executions in 2020:Attorney General William P. Barr today directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to schedule the executions of four federal death-row inmates who were convicted of murdering children in violation of federal law and who, in two cases, raped the children they murdered.In July 2019, Attorney General Barr directed the BOP to revise the Federal Execution Protocol to provide for the use of a single-drug, pentobarbital — similar to protocols used in hundreds of state executions and repeatedly upheld by federal courts, including the Supreme Court, as consistent with the Eighth Amendment. A district court’s preliminary injunction prevented BOP from carrying out executions under the revised protocol, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated that injunction — clearing the way for the federal government to resume capital punishment after a nearly two-decade hiatus.“The American people, acting through Congress and Presidents of both political parties, have long instructed that defendants convicted of the most heinous crimes should be subject to a sentence of death,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The four murderers whose executions are scheduled today have received full and fair proceedings under our Constitution and laws. We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind, to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system.”The press release concluded:Additional executions will be scheduled at a later date.SummarySister Helen Prejean’s tweet describing the purpose of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast’s “Christifideles Laici Award” as honoring “Christlike” behavior appeared to be a paraphrase, and as a nun, Prejean was an expert on Catholic Doctrine. It is true the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast chose Attorney General Bill Barr as its second-ever recipient for the “Christifideles Laici Award” in 2020, and it is further true that Barr presided over six executions in 2020, with a seventh scheduled just after the event.Comments"
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EIRMC opens the first burn care center in Idaho.
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Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center opened the first burn care center in Idaho at the beginning of the month.
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true
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Health, Trauma, Burns, Idaho Falls, Idaho
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The burn program involved renovations to four hospital departments, including a total overhaul of the trauma ward, and more than 2,000 hours of training for all levels of the hospital staff. More than a dozen burn patients have been treated at EIRMC since the program quietly opened April 1. The $5 million facility is now the primary provider of burn care between Salt Lake City and Seattle, and the only location of its kind in any of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota, the Post Register reports. Hospital CEO Jeff Sollis said that EIRMC and its parent company, HCA Healthcare, had been working for more than two years to establish the new aspect of the hospital’s care. In the past, people who were injured in eastern Idaho or the rest of the Yellowstone region would be air-lifted to either the University of Utah or the University of Colorado, the two closest burn center locations. “We were seeing all the helicopters flying over the building to take patients to Utah. We were talking to the families of patients about the difficulties they faced in getting treatment that far away from their homes,” Sollis said. The lengthy flying times rarely affected patient outcomes as much as they affected the cost to the victims and their family. A 2004 study from the University of Utah found that their average burn patient was flown 246 miles to receive treatment. In 9 percent of cases, the cost for the patient’s flight was more than what they were charged for treatment by the hospital. There are 128 total burn centers in the United States, and EIRMC’s new program will halve the travel time for many patients in the region. The hospital partnered with Doctors Hospital in Georgia, another hospital managed by HCA Healthcare that has the largest burn care center in the United States, and the Burn and Reconstruction Centers of America to create the new program. Dozens of EIRMC nurses and doctors flew out to Augusta, Ga., to study the procedures related to burn care at Doctors Hospital. Georgia doctors also flew to Idaho Falls to advise Sollis and the hospital administration on how the new facilities could best be managed. “We can go out there and see a number of burn surgeries in a week that we might not see around here in a year,” lead trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Lemon said. Between the four renovated departments and the new hospital resources, most types of burns can now be treated at EIRMC. Lemon said the hospital could handle thermal burns from fireworks and electrical wires, radiation burns suffered at Idaho National Laboratory and even frostbite “burns” from hikers in the nearby mountains. The only patients he thought the hospital would have to transfer would be infants with severe burns of the majority of their body. “There is essentially no limit to the burn victims we’ll be able to treat here,” Lemon said. Remodeling the six rooms throughout the hospital and expanding the trauma center cost $3 million, with another $2 million going to the medical devices and technology. The listed cost does not include the staff training, which included 98 days of travel to Augusta and thousands of hours of training that will continue through the summer. Four main parts of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center were renovated to create the new burn care center. Rooms were set aside in the emergency rooms and operating rooms to provide special equipment for burn patients, including rapid heating that can bring the room’s temperature to 85 degrees and make it easier for patient’s injured bodies to regulate their temperature. Burns impair the body’s ability to maintain its temperature and fight off infections. The room in the ER was originally designed to treat contagious viral outbreaks and has a self-contained water system that doesn’t connect to a city line. On the second floor, six rooms in the hospital’s intensive care unit were remodeled to handle long-term care for burn victims. Nurses and visitors must wear scrubs any time they’re in the room with a patient to reduce the risk of infecting them. “We’re still learning a lot. This is all additional stuff that we are learning, and we are excited to learn it,” ICU nurse Rina Grover said. The biggest physical change in the hospital happened to the new Trauma, Burn and Wound Ward. The ward, which focuses on outpatient procedures that take less than an hour, has expanded from five rooms to 13 and installed dozens of new machines to treat burns and other flesh injuries. “This gives us the opportunity to see a more diverse load of patients coming through the hospital,” Trauma Ward Director Traci Maier said. New machines in the outpatient facility include two hyperbaric chambers that can provide pressurized oxygen therapy to patients attached to oxygen machines, a whirlpool tub that can clean fresh or old burns and two specialized procedure rooms. Trauma ward patients can be scheduled by other departments in EIRMC, but many are referred to the facility from other hospitals in the city. Sometimes patients will even be able to walk in and get treatment immediately. According to Maier, the ward has already seen an increase in the number of patients treated. The number of burn patients coming through the outpatient ward has skyrocketed, from four or five patients per week to five or more patients a day. There already have been times when all 13 rooms in the ward were in use at the same time. Over the past few months, EIRMC staff has traveled to regional hospitals and talked to emergency medical teams to let them know that the facility was now able to treat burn victims. Word got out quickly in the Idaho Falls area — more than a dozen local patients have already passed through the ICU and outpatient centers, some of whom showed up before the hospital had planned to officially open the program. No patients from out-of-state have been admitted to the EIRMC burn program yet. Of the 128 burn programs in the country, around half have been verified as high-quality care options by the American Burn Association. EIRMC’s burn center will need to be around for at least three years to potentially earn that verification. “All the plans and estimates we had about the need for this service in our region has been right so far,” Sollis said. ___ Information from: Post Register, http://www.postregister.com
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Washington state man becomes first U.S. coronavirus fatality.
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A Washington state man in his 50s with underlying health issues became the United States’ first fatality from the coronavirus, officials said on Saturday, as the Trump administration stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the global outbreak.
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true
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Health News
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The patient, who was chronically ill prior to contracting COVID-19, died at EvergreenHealth Hospital in Kirkland, near Seattle, and officials are unsure how he was exposed to the virus, said Jeffrey Duchin, head of the Washington health department’s communicable disease unit. The state has recorded two other “presumptive” coronavirus cases at a long-term care facility in Kirkland where more than 50 residents and staff could be showing symptoms, he said. “At this point we do not have widespread community-wide transmission locally. We have transmission that’s associated with an outbreak at this long-term care facility,” Duchin said. The two cases at the Kirkland facility were a health care worker in her 40s who is in satisfactory condition, and a woman in her 70s who lived there and is in serious condition. “It is a sad day as we learn a Washingtonian has died from COVID-19. Our hearts go out to his family and friends,” the state’s governor, Jay Inslee, said in a statement. “We are strengthening our preparedness and response efforts to keep Washingtonians healthy, safe and informed.” The first U.S. coronavirus death capped a week of stock market upheaval and escalating concern among state and federal health officials as the virus has spread across 46 countries and infected more than 60 people in the United States. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers would take up a coronavirus spending bill next week “to advance a strong emergency funding supplemental package that fully addresses the scale and seriousness of this public health crisis”. Most of the U.S. cases have occurred in travelers who were repatriated from China, where the virus originated. But public health officials have also identified coronavirus cases in California, Washington and Oregon with no direct ties to the virus’ source in China, signaling a turning point in strategies needed to contain the disease in the United States. U.S. health authorities say it means the respiratory disease that has infected nearly 80,000 people worldwide and killed more than 2,800 in China is no longer an imported phenomenon but has taken up residence in the United States. GRAPHIC: Tracking the novel coronavirus - here “We still judge the general risk to the American public to be low and that includes residents of long-term care facilities,” Nancy Messonier, head of the Immunization and Respiratory Disease division at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), told reporters in a call on Saturday. Messonnier said the agency would send teams to support investigations in California and Washington into how patients contracted the virus and help trace who else may have been exposed. Reuters graphics on the new coronavirus: here PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION Until this week, the CDC had counted just 15 confirmed cases in six states as having been detected through the U.S. public health system since Jan. 21. Most were contracted by individuals while traveling in China. Only two person-to-person transmissions were documented among them, both between married couples. An additional 47 cases have been confirmed among people recently repatriated, either from the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan or from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the supposed epicenter of the outbreak, according to the CDC. Health officials said the advent of locally transmitted infections means authorities need to expand their focus from detecting a relatively limited number of cases, identifying close contacts and isolating them, to one that also emphasizes greater prevention among the public at large. In particular, individuals should be more vigilant about basic hygiene measures, such as washing hands often, avoiding touching their faces, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home from school or work whenever ill, health officials say. Coronavirus is spread primarily through tiny droplets coughed or sneezed directly from an infected person into the face of someone nearby, as opposed to the more contagious “airborne” transmission of a virus like measles, which can remain suspended in enclosed spaces and be breathed in hours after being exhaled by sick individuals, experts say. Coronavirus can also survive on surfaces, such as handrails and door knobs, for “a very long period of time,” and be picked up by hand that way, though the virus is “very susceptible” to cleaning products, Dr. Christopher Braden, deputy director of the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, said on Friday in Santa Clara County. Still, “It’s mostly a person-to-person transmission that we are concerned about for our communities,” he added. For the online coverage of the coronavirus outbreak click, here
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Study: Lots of red meat increases mortality risk
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This story covers a big study that reports a statistical association between a diet high in red meat and a higher death rate. The report does a number of things well: It indicates early on that the results support previous findings and current recommendation about red meat, while adding new data. It quotes a variety of sources, including two self-interested representives of the meat industry who question the findings. This attention to the opposition enhances rather than undercuts the report’s credibility. It translates the findings into dinner-table terms: high consumption in this study is defined as about a quarter pound hamburger per day, low is 5 ounces per week. That’s really useful to readers. The report has two significant shortcomings. The language of the story – e.g., “lots of red meat increases mortality risk” – suggests that cause-and-effect has been established when this kind of observational study simply CAN NOT establish causation. It can only point to statistical association. The story never made that clear. So even discussing “risk” is an overstatement. Then, when choosing to discuss “risk,” it used only relative data [“a 22 percent lower risk of death” by cancer for low-red eaters, for example], not the absolute data [1.3 percent compared to .06 percent]. But once the story started using “risk” terminology without explaining that cause-and-effect and risk cannot be firmly established by such a study, it had already missed the mark. We know we hold the bar high with this expectation that stories explain the quality of the evidence. But it is not simply splitting hairs; it is inaccurate to use language that does not fit the evidence. Journalists and should consumers should review the excellent guest column by Mark Zweig and Emily DeVoto, entitled “Does The Language Fit the Evidence? – Association Versus Causation.” One of our medical editors wrote to me about this topic: “I can tell you, the average practicing physician (one of the presumed target audiences for the medical literature) has a less than firm grasp of this difference! I have been teaching evidence-based medicine for years, and it seems that our residents finally get this by the end, but I don’t think it’s a skill that was routinely taught in medical training before the past decade or two, nor one that sticks with most docs.” None of this denigrates the importance of the study or the quality of the work. But all studies have limitations and news about research should explain those limitations.
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true
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Again, no treatment is involved. Speculation about the relative costs of high red meat vs. high white meat diets would not be productive. The reporter does a fair job describing the study and the findings. The article includes such details as size of the study population, the duration of the study and the method of data collection. But, as already discussed, this kind of study can’t establish cause-and-effect or risk. Just statistical associations. However, once it started describing risk, it did that incompletely as well. It compaes the relative risk of death by heart disease and cancer in the highest- vs. lowest-red meat consumption groups for both men and women. But the story suffers because it describes the findings only in terms of relative risk–men who ate the most red meat had a 27 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease compared to those who ate the least, for instance. But the story fails to put these percentages into context. In the example above, about 1.2 percent of the men who ate the most red meat died of heart disease during the 10-year study, compared to .06 percent of those who ate the least red meat Looking at male deaths by all causes, about 4 percent of the red meat group died, compared to about 2 percent of the least-red-meat group. Overall, about 13 percent of study participants died during the 10-year study. This is not to suggest the findings are insignificant. But reporters should always include absolute data to help readers understand the size of the risk an individual faces. (But , as already stated, risk language was risky in this story to begin with.) The story focuses plainly on the death risks of the diets studied. However, risks are stated only in relative terms, not in absolute terms. We won’t penalize the story for that here, but we do under “quantification of benefits.” The report is based on results of a large, prospective epidemiological dietary study. The reporter mentions the important caveats: that the study group may be healthier than the general adult population, and the data is based on self-reports of eating habits, which can be unreliable. We’ve already commented on the “association does not equal causation” issue, so we won’t rule this criterion unsatisfactory for that flaw. Because the story confuses association with causation, it indeed does commit disease-mongering repeatedly. It may frighten readers into thinking that cause-and-effect has been established when, in fact, only a statistical association has been established. For example, the story says: It’s a common pitfall of such stories. Association does not equal causation. It’s not journalists who get it wrong. Scientists and physicians commonly express this incorrectly. But that doesn’t make it acceptable. Most stories we saw on this study stated this incorrectly. The reporter does an excellent job sourcing the story. Sources include The reporter gets extra points for including two industry sources. While their thoughts appear very late in the story, including them both makes the story seem–and actually be–more credible. There are no financial conflicts to report. In several places, the article appropiately indicates that limiting red meat in the diet may improve health. The reporter carefully avoids implications that more extreme options, such as a meatless diet, would cut death risk more. This is a study of subjects’ voluntary diets, so no “treatment” is involved. The story makes no claims for the novelty of this kind of research or this general finding. In the second paragraph the report states that these findings “bolster[s] prior evidence” about the risks of diets high in red meat. Given the number of sources cited, the story does not appear to rely on the Archives of Internal Medicine press release or any other news release.
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22624
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More than one-quarter of America’s young adults are too fat to serve in the U.S. military
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Michelle Obama says many too fat to fight in military
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true
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Georgia, Military, Michelle Obama,
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"America, the first lady says, has a pudgy problem. A significant percentage of its youths are too fat to fit in military uniforms. First lady Michelle Obama talked about the issue during her visit Wednesday to the Atlanta area to promote healthy eating. In a speech at Alpharetta’s North Point Community Church to highlight her ""Let’s Move"" healthy living campaign, Obama relayed a gaudy statistic. ""Believe it or not, right now, nearly 27 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds are too overweight to serve in our military,"" she said. Perhaps the military needs its own ""Biggest Loser"" contest for recruits. AJC PolitiFact Georgia had another thought. Should we believe the first lady? Obama’s claim apparently came from a study released last year that was titled -- aptly perhaps -- ""Too Fat to Fight."" It was released by more than 100 high-ranking retired military officials and other enlisted leaders who want high-calorie food and sugar-sweetened drinks removed from the nation’s public schools. That doesn’t include sweet tea, does it? The report said: ""over 27 percent of all Americans 17 to 24 years of age -- over nine million young men and women -- are too heavy to join the military if they want to do so."" The estimate was based on a 2005 national survey conducted by the Lewin Group. ""The estimate uses a weight-for-height cutoff that allows somewhat higher weights than the cutoff used by civilian organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health,"" the report said. In 2008, there were 11,472,200 Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 who were obese or overweight, the study reported, citing research by the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 29.8 million Americans between those ages, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That equals nearly 39 percent of Americans in that age range who were obese or overweight, an even higher percentage than those found in the ""Too Fat to Fight"" study who couldn’t serve in the military. Stay away from the cheeseburger, soldier! Military officials say this is serious business. ""The United States military stands ready to protect the American people, but if our nation does not help ensure that future generations grow up to be healthy and fit ... the health of our children and our national security are at risk,"" the report says. It also affects the federal budget. The military discharges about 1,200 recruits a year because they are not fit enough to serve. The military estimates it costs $50,000 to recruit and train a soldier. Add it up and that’s $60 million a year the federal government loses on enlistees too heavy to fight. The average American man is 5 foot 9 and weighs 195 pounds, according to the CDC. The average American woman is nearly 5 foot 4 and weighs 165 pounds. The mean height and weight for an 18-year-old man is 5 foot 9 and 166 pounds, according to the most recent data we could find. The mean height and weight and BMI for an 18-year-old woman is 5 foot 4 and 143.5 pounds. We couldn’t find data detailing the percentage of 18-year-olds who are overweight or obese. The CDC does report that 18 percent of 12- to 19-year-old Americans are obese. So what constitutes too fat to fight? Each military branch has its own rules. An 18-year-old, 5-foot-9 man who weighs more than 175 pounds would raise eyebrows for the Army, according to Military.com. The Army would be similarly concerned about a 5-foot-4, 18-year-old woman who weighs more than 133 pounds. For 40-year-old women that height, the Army would be worried if they weighed more than 145 pounds. The Air Force and Navy are a little easier on their enlistees. The Navy considers a 5-foot-9 man greater than 186 pounds overweight, and its maximum standard weight for a 5-foot-4 woman is 156 pounds. The Air Force says the maximum weight for a 5-foot-9 recruit is 186 pounds. A New York Times article in August highlighted the problem. One U.S. Army general said 4 percent of male recruits at one training center in 2000 failed the most basic fitness. By 2006, more than 20 percent of male recruits failed the same test. The percentages were higher for women. PolitiFact Georgia has tackled such weighty issues before. Before Thanksgiving, the American holiday of gastronomical gluttony, we checked a claim that Georgia has the second-highest rate of childhood obesity in the nation. Our finding? . According to the CDC figures, the mean American 18-year-old is close to being considered overweight but would still be accepted in the military in most cases. But about one in five of them is considered obese, the CDC says, and would be at least 15 to 20 pounds too heavy to fight. Based on the CDC study, we believe it’s reasonable to think that at least an additional 7 percent of America’s remaining 17- to 24-year-olds would have trouble meeting the military’s weight guidelines. The ""Too Fat to Fight"" study supports the theory that 27 percent of America’s youths couldn’t serve in the military."
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10928
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Higher Statin Doses Linked to Fewer Heart Attacks, Stroke
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This is a story on the results of two recently published studies that found that more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol levels was associated with greater reductions in future risk of cardiac outcomes. While there was good information about the sorts of outcomes that were reduced in the group using the increased dose of the statins, there was not a thorough analysis of the evidence. On the plus side, the story did mention that cancer outcomes were not affected by the change in cardiovascular events, and the story did include information about the harms associated with statin medication. The story also, however, had a few modest errors. It said, for example, “The reduction in LDL cholesterol from the higher dose ended up decreasing the risk of a major cardiac event by 6 percent, the researchers found, although the statistic in itself was not clinically significant.” We think they meant not statistically significant. Elsewhere, the story says, “Researchers also found that seven participants had creatine kinase levels higher than 40 times the upper limit of normal — a possible indicator of kidney damage.” Creatine kinase (CK) is an indicator of muscle damage. It is not in and of itself a measure of kidney damage (which would be measured with serum creatinine). Of course, more muscle damage makes kidney damage more likely, but that is slightly different than what was written. Statins are definitely out of the honeymoon period, but reporters still are too quick to praise them for some new benefit that they supposedly offer. More stories need to take a hard look at the evidence.
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mixture
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HealthDay
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There was no mention of the costs of these drugs or the cost ramifications of the increased dosages. This ought to have included the simple increase in costs due to the increased dosage of the medication and also at least a nod to the costs associated with the increase in adverse events. The story failed to provide information about the absolute benefit that might be expected to be obtained with higher statin dose use. For example, by presenting the 13% reduction in cardiovascular death or heart attack rate, a reader has no way of knowing what the actual rate was to start with. The story presented information about the increased incidence of myopathy and the more severe rhabdomyolysis observed with higher dosage statin use. The story did, however, contain an error in referring to creatine kinase as an indicator of kidney damage. It is an indicator of muscle damage. The story presented information about the data found in the studies mentioned but failed to provide information about the absolute reduction in risk brought about by increasing dosages of statin medication. The story ought to have put the risks and benefits in perspective for individuals with different levels of risk to start. Some of the data in the story seemed to contradict facts presented earlier in the piece. Also, readers would have to be confused by indicating that the 6% reduction in major cardiac events observed in one study was “not clinically significant.” This is most likely a misstatement, which ought to have been that the 6% reduction was not statistically significant. The story did not engage in overt disease mongering. The story included comments from one source beyond those involved in the study and accompanying editorial. The story also mentioned that one study was in part financed by a company that makes one of the statins. However, there were no experts quoted providing perspective about the downside of high-dose statins. Because this is such an important subject and because the medical community is not as unified in favor of higher dose statins as this story would suggest, we rated this category unsatisfactory. The main comparison with the higher doses of statins studied is to lower doses of this class of medication, and this was covered in this story. We would have liked to have seen at least some discussion of how statin use compared to diet and exercise in reducing risk for heart attacks and stroke. The class of medications, statins, discussed in the story are commercially available as indicated. The story was clear that the studies reported on were examining the potential for benefit by increasing dosage levels of widely used statin medications. The story does not appear to rely on a news release.
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Drug may help hypochondriacs
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"First, let's emphasize that this is a brief article in a ""Science Notebook"" section. It runs only 244 words. There are risks in trying to condense medical research stories into 244 words, and this story reflects those risks. This is a very incomplete story about a possible treatment option for hypochondriasis. The story did not include information on the prevalence of hypochondriasis in the population, and didn't differentiate between cases that might fit the definition of ""potentially serious"" and others. Yet it highlighted one study participant (without telling how many were in the trial) ""who said he had fears starting at age 10 that he was going to die in his sleep."" Is that a common, representative example? Or is it an extreme? On the other hand, the opening line – ""a real pill for your unreal illness"" – insults people who do have this condition. It lacks information on the benefits or harms of Paxil, and didn't quantify any of the study findings. The story did not adequately describe the size, design, duration or outcomes of the trial. It makes no comparison with other treatment options available to people who are troubled by this condition. It is apparently a single-source story; the source of information for this study appears to be a journal article. No one is quoted. There is no evidence of any input sought from any source independent of the study. See our primer on the risks of single-source stories. While it was helpful to mention that the scientists received funds from the manufacturer of the drug discussed, this story did more to promote the use of Paxil for hypochondria than did the actual study."
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false
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"There was no mention of costs. The story contained an anecdote on the improvement one person observed after taking Paxil. However, there was no quantification of the average benefit, the range of benefit observed, or even an explanation of what benefit was observed. There was no mention of potential risks with the use of Paxil. The story did not adequately describe the size, design, duration or outcomes of the trial. Although the story did not explicitly mention that the study was a randomized controlled trial, it did explain that Paxil was compared to a sugar pill (placebo) and to cognitive behavioral therapy for effectiveness in helping people affected by hypochondria. However, the story did not accurately represent the results of the study. The story said ""the medication significantly reduced people's fears about imaginary illnesses."" But, in fact, only when you compared the three groups (Paxil, cognitive behavioral therapy, and sugar pill) did one find that there were significant differences among the groups. A back of the envelope comparison only between those taking Paxil and placebo finds that the difference between these two is not statistically significant. The story did not include information on the prevalence of hypochondriasis in the population, and didn't differentiate between cases that might fit the definition of ""potentially serious"" and others. Yet it highlighted one study participant (without telling how many were in the trial) ""who said he had fears starting at age 10 that he was going to die in his sleep."" Is that a common, representative example? Or is it an extreme? On the other hand, the opening line – ""a real pill for your unreal illness"" – insults people who do have this condition. The source of information for this study appears to be a journal article. No one is quoted. There is no evidence of any input sought from any source independent of the study. The only options one could glean from the story were the use of cognitive behavioral therapy or the drug Paxil for management of hypochondria. There was no discussion of other medications that are used for this purpose, nor any other psychological approaches that are used. The story mentioned ""a combination of this talk therapy and medication might be especially effective"" though the study on which this story was written contained no data on this combination and so this is pure speculation. The story is about the medication Paxil, which is a readily available prescription medication though the piece failed to mention this and the fact that the use of Paxil in the treatment of hypochondriasis has not been approved by the FDA. The story suggested that this was a new use for the drug Paxil. We can't judge if the story relied solely or largely on a news release. No one is quoted. It appears to be drawn directly from an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry and may have been spawned by a news release."
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US panel backs wider use of fish oil to prevent heart attack.
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Government health experts on Thursday recommended broader use of a prescription-strength fish oil drug to help many more patients at risk for heart attack, stroke and related health problems.
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true
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Health, General News, Heart attack
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Currently the drug, Vascepa, is approved for a relatively narrow group of patients with extremely high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood linked to heart disease. Irish drugmaker Amarin is seeking approval for a much larger group of patients who have lower fat levels but are still at risk of heart problems, despite taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs like Lipitor and Zocor. The panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration unanimously supported the expansion based on recent study results showing the drug can cut rates of life-threatening heart problems in high-risk patients. “There is no doubt this drug could benefit a substantial portion of the U.S. population and meet an unmet need,” said Dr. Jack Yanovski, a panelist and hormone specialist from the federal National Institutes of Health. The FDA is not required to follow the group’s advice and is expected to make its decision by the end of the year. Financial analysts predict that broader use could translate into billions in sales for Amarin. Vascepa costs around $300 a month. Some panelists urged the FDA to tailor the drug’s label to patients who are most likely to benefit. “I do not want to see this become what I call cardio candy,” said Philip Posner, a patient representative on the panel. FDA-written drug labels guide physician prescribing and often determine which uses are paid for by insurers. Panelists based their decision on a company-funded study showing that Vascepa cut the risk of heart attack, clogged arteries and other cardiovascular problems by about 25%, compared with a dummy treatment. Patients in the study were randomly assigned to take Vascepa or mineral oil capsules as a comparison. Patients in the trial had high triglycerides and other risk factors for heart problems, such as diabetes. The results, published last year, came as a surprise because a string of past studies of fish oil failed to show a positive impact on heart health. The panel noted several potential side effects of the drug, including irregular heartbeats and internal bleeding. But they agreed the drug’s benefits outweighed those risks, which could be monitored and managed by physicians. Millions of Americans take over-the-counter fish oil supplements for their presumed health benefits. These oils, also called omega-3 fatty acids, are known to reduce triglycerides. But several pharmaceutical trials have tried and failed to show that lowering those fats translates into meaningful benefits for patients. If approved, Vascepa would be the first fat-lowering drug endorsed by the FDA to reduce heart problems. Amarin has long tried to differentiate its drug from non-prescription fish oil supplements. Company advertising states that it can take 10 to 40 over-the-counter capsules to equal the daily dose of Vascepa. The drug is taken in four 1-gram capsules per day. Wall Street analysts have high expectations for broader use of the drug, with some projecting annual sales of $3 billion or higher. That compares to total company sales of just $228.4 million in 2018, according to Amarin’s financial reports. Vascepa, first approved in 2012, is Amarin’s only product on the U.S. market. ___ Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Allegations of neglect, abuse at Georgia elder facilities.
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An investigation into hundreds of senior assisted living and large personal care homes in Georgia turned up more than 600 allegations involving neglect and 90 of abuse by caregivers over the past four years.
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true
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Seniors, Georgia, Constitutions, Health, General News, Atlanta
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In that time, at least 20 residents died and more than 100 suffered injuries after homes failed to provide care as required, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution found in examining reports issued by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which licenses and inspects long-term care facilities and investigates complaints. The actual death toll may be much higher. In interviews with the newspaper, and in lawsuits, families have tied other deaths and injuries for which there were no state citations to improper care. The newspaper examined thousands of regulatory citations and hundreds of police reports from 2015 through 2018, reviewed lawsuits and interviewed dozens of people. The investigation found breakdowns in care that often were rooted in inadequate staffing, poor training or efforts to cut costs. In some cases, seniors tried to summon staff for help and got no response for hours, wandered away from facilities unnoticed, or languished in unsanitary and hazardous conditions. Others fell repeatedly, suffering bruises, bloody faces and broken bones. Some suffered in pain for days without treatment. In some cases, caregivers physically, verbally and sexually abused residents. Georgians seeking care for aging family members pay thousands of dollars a month to facilities that have popped up across the state in recent years promising luxurious amenities and top-flight attentiveness. Many offer to provide safe, consistent care. But the reality, is that too often thin staffs are overwhelmed, seniors have been treated callously or ineptly, and safeguards have been ignored, the investigation discovered. In a 2016 case, it took an aide at a Savannah facility 26 minutes to respond to an emergency call from a resident who had diabetes and high blood pressure. The resident was unconscious by that time. Another 19 minutes elapsed before anyone called 911. When the ambulance made it to the hospital, the resident was pronounced dead. In October 2018, a 92-year-old woman was repeatedly bitten by ants at a facility in Sandy Springs. The upscale facility failed to eradicate the insects that had been reported in her room a week earlier. Then, over two consecutive days, ants attacked the woman in bed. She died days later. Though abuse is less common than neglect, police and DCH records showed that more than 100 residents reportedly were abused by workers of assisted living and large personal care homes over the four years the newspaper’s investigation covered. Records showed that at home near Athens, a worker in 2017 hit an 86-year-old woman with dementia who tried to leave the facility, bloodying her nose and bruising a cheek. The same worker was accused of pulling an 84-year-old resident’s hair and striking her. A facility in Decatur received a state citation in March 2018 after an aide was accused of abusing a resident late at night. Nine months earlier, a separate allegation of abuse involving two other employees surfaced on the night shift. Will Johnson, the elder abuse prosecutor with the Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council, told the newspaper that elder abuse and neglect is “not acceptable in our society, in our state, anywhere.” “No one who has lived their life and reached 70, 80, 90 years of age, raised a family, contributed to society — they should never be left to rot in a bed or be bashed in the face or have all of the money that goes to their care squandered,” Johnson said. State Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, said, “I’m saddened for the people that were injured, and I’m appalled for humanity in general that our elders would be treated this way.” “Certainly, as a state, we need to intervene,” said Cooper, who chairs the House Health and Human Services Committee. Top officials at DCH refused repeated requests over several months to meet with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. After the newspaper provided its findings to DCH, a spokesman again declined an interview, saying it wasn’t in their “best interest.” The agency would only answer questions submitted in writing. While officials didn’t directly address some questions, DCH Commissioner Frank W. Berry said the agency manages a heavy workload and is always seeking ways to improve and carry out its mission. “The health and well-being of Georgians is always our top priority,” Berry wrote. A 2011 state law paved the way for assisted living communities, expanding choices for families whose only options previously were personal care homes, which serve seniors who need help with meals and medication reminders, or nursing homes for those requiring intense assistance. Assisted living facilities allow a higher level of care from staff who can administer medication and assist residents who need help moving around. The 2011 legislation and the rapid graying of the population have led to facilities’ taking in more residents who in their 80s and 90s who have chronic care needs. While facilities market an active lifestyle, some have residents who can’t push their own wheelchairs or who need assistance to get out of bed, dress or eat. Some residents are unable to speak. The state cited facilities 238 times for admitting residents with conditions and illnesses that staff could not handle. At the same time, the for-profit companies that dominate the industry have incentives to keep their costs low, which translates to minimal staffing, said Catherine Hawes, Regents Professor Emeritus at the Texas A&M Health Science Center and a nationally recognized expert on long-term care. “It’s like - let me sit down and write a prescription for disaster,” she said. “You’re writing a prescription for abuse and neglect.” ___ Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com
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Dr. Dean Lorich, a surgeon who exposed the Clinton Foundation’s bungled 2010 disaster response in Haiti, was found dead in December 2017.
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Dr. Dean Lorich, Who Exposed Clinton Foundation Haiti Response, Found Dead.
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mixture
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9/11 Attack on America
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Dr. Dean Lorich was found dead in his New York City apartment in December 2017. Theories that Lorich’s death was related to him “exposing” the Clinton Foundation’s response to the 2010 disaster in Haiti don’t check out, however. Dean Lorich, 53, was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on December 10, 2017, from an apparent stab wound to the chest. Police said there was no sign of forced entry, and that his wife and daughter were out at the time. And, although no suicide note was left, the NYPD said Lorich’s death appeared to be a suicide. Within days, however, conspiracy theories about Dean Lorich’s death surfaced on fringe websites. Lorich became known as “the doctor who exposed Clinton Foundation corruption in Haiti.” It was implied that Lorich’s death could be related to his earlier affiliation with the Clinton Foundation. That makes Dean Lorich the latest in the long-running Clinton body count conspiracy theory. The idea is that Bill and Hillary Clinton have murdered political opponents over the years, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. Did Dr. Dean Lorich Expose Clinton Foundation Corruption in Haiti? Dr. Dean Lorich was a recognized orthopedic trauma surgeon. He operated on sports stars and celebrities, including U2’s Bono after a 2014 bike crash. Lorich also worked on a medical team that deployed to Haiti in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. That’s where his (alleged) ties to the Clinton Foundation come in. The Clinton Foundation has been accused of mismanaging billions of dollars in relief funds for Haiti, and the overall disaster response there. Those accusations don’t check out, however. The Clinton Foundation raised $28 million for Haiti disaster relief. And the foundation claims that “every penny was deployed on the ground,” and no donations went to overhead. Hillary Clinton was, however, appointed interim chair of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC). Haitian Parliament disbanded the commission in 2011, frustrated with slow recovery. So, where does Dr. Dean Lorich come in? Within 24 hours of the earthquake, Lorich deployed with a team of 13 surgeons to establish a trauma center in Haiti. But things didn’t go as planned. Immediately, Haiti’s devastated infrastructure, lack of security and inadequate medical services caused problems. In a 2010 CNN editorial, Lorich wrote: We thought our plan was a good one, but we soon learned we were incredibly naive. Disaster management in Haiti was nonexistent. The difficulties in getting in — despite the intelligence we had from people on the ground and Dr. Helfet’s connections with Partners in Health and Bill and Hillary Clinton — only hinted at the difficulties we would have once we arrived. That’s Lorich’s only reference to the Clinton Foundation in the op-ed. And he doesn’t blame Clinton Foundation corruption for the problems in Haiti. Rather, Lorich blames the lack of an official response. A government organization should have stepped up to take charge of the “shameful” medical response, Lorich wrote. Connection Between Dr. Dean Lorich’s Death and the Clinton Foundation? Given Dr. Dean Lorich’s experiences in Haiti, insinuations that his death was related to the Clinton Foundation took flight almost immediately. Websites like Your News Wire ran reports that described Lorich’s death and his so-called exposure of Clinton Foundation corruption in Haiti. The insinuation was that the Clinton Foundation had Lorich killed. Comments
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6474
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California races to deter disaster as towns face fire risk.
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Impoverished towns in the shadow of Mount Shasta. Rustic Gold Rush cities in the Sierra Nevada foothills. High-dollar resort communities on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Ritzy Los Angeles County suburbs.
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true
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Wildfires, AP Top News, Sacramento, Destined to Burn, Suburbs, Fires, California, Science, Paradise, U.S. News
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They all could be the next Paradise. A McClatchy analysis reveals more than 350,000 Californians live in towns and cities that exist almost entirely within “very high fire hazard severity zones” — Cal Fire’s designation for places highly vulnerable to devastating wildfires. These designations have proven eerily predictive about some of the state’s most destructive wildfires in recent years, including the Camp Fire, the worst in state history. Nearly all of Paradise is colored in bright red on Cal Fire’s map — practically the entire town was at severe risk before the Camp Fire raged through last November, burning the majority of homes in its path and killing 85 people. Malibu, where the Woolsey Fire burned more than 400 homes last year, also falls within very high hazard zones. As does the small Lake County town of Cobb, much of which was destroyed by the Valley Fire in 2015. “There’s a lot of Paradises out there,” said Max Moritz, a fire specialist at UC Santa Barbara. All told, more than 2.7 million Californians live in very high fire hazard severity zones, from trailers off quiet dirt roads in the forest to mansions in the state’s largest cities, according to the analysis, which is based on 2010 block-level census data. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says its maps show places where wildfires are likely to be extreme due to factors including vegetation and topography. The maps aren’t perfect in their ability to forecast where a fire will be destructive. For instance, the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa isn’t in a very high hazard zone, but powerful winds pushed the Tubbs Fire into that part of the city, largely leveling the neighborhood in October 2017. Coffey Park was built “with zero consideration for fire,” said Chris Dicus, a forestry and fire expert at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. “Fire was in the mountains — there was no consideration that fire would cross (Highway) 101.” Cal Fire is making new fire hazard maps — ready in a year or so — that will incorporate regional wind patterns and other climate factors. In the meantime, experts say the current maps, created about a decade ago, still provide an important guide to predict where wildfires could do the most damage , in the same way floodplain maps highlight areas that could be hit hardest during severe storms. The at-risk communities identified by McClatchy also should serve as a starting point for prioritizing how California should spend money on retrofits and other fire-safety programs, Moritz said. California’s state-of-the-art building codes help protect homes from wildfire in the most vulnerable areas, experts say. But the codes only apply to new construction. A bill introduced by Assemblyman Jim Wood would provide cash to help Californians retrofit older homes. “This will go a long way toward these different municipalities (in showing) that they deserve funding,” Moritz said. McClatchy identified more than 75 towns and cities with populations over 1,000 where, like Paradise, at least 90 percent of residents live within the Cal Fire “very high fire hazard severity zones.” Here are snapshots of 10, and the unique challenges they face: ___ Shingletown: a miniature Paradise Population (2010) — 2,283 ′ In Very High fire Hazard Severity Zone — 2,283 Shingletown is less than one-tenth the size of Paradise but probably carries just as much risk. Like Paradise, the unincorporated community sits atop a ridge, and is covered in tall trees and thick brush — ingredients for a major wildfire. Shingletown was originally named Shingle Camp, for the workers who cut roofing slats from timber to supply miners during the Gold Rush era. “We grow trees like nobody’s business up here,” said Tom Twist, a member of the Shingletown Fire Safe Council, a volunteer organization. Twist, who’s lived in the community off and on since the 1970s, said that when the weather is warm he’ll walk his property, pulling up seedlings in an almost futile effort to eliminate potential fuels. “I’ll pull 20 or 30 seedlings a day out of the ground,” he said. “It’s almost like when I walk over there, there’s 20 or 30. When I walk back, there’s another 20 or 30.” Just like Paradise, escaping the ridge in a fast-moving fire wouldn’t be easy; Shingletown’s main drag is winding, narrow Highway 44. And, like in Paradise, the presence of an older population would make evacuation more difficult; Shingletown’s median age is 61, according to census figures. It’s little wonder that when Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Cal Fire to develop a list of urgent fire-safety projects, a plan to trim 1,124 acres of vegetation along Highway 44 came up as the top priority out of 35 projects around the state. Locals say they’re glad the state is paying attention to a problem they know too well. The community had to evacuate when the Ponderosa Fire, started by a lightning strike, hit in 2012. The fire burned 27,676 acres — 43 square miles — and torched 52 homes in the vicinity. “We’re intimately aware of the dangers up here,” Twist said. ___ Nevada City: picturesque and risky Population (2010) — 3,068 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 3,064 Since the Camp Fire, Vicky Guyette has looked at the one-acre patch of untrimmed brush behind her mother’s Victorian-era home in Nevada City as more than just an unattractive nuisance. Now, the brush is ominous — an ignition source that could torch the home built in 1859 that her family has lived in for five generations. The same anxiety also applies to the cedars, pines and brush covering the hills around this foothill city of about 3,100 people, many of whom live or work in wooden buildings dating back to the the Gold Rush era. “It’s very scary, especially since it’s such a cute little town I’ve been living in my whole life,” Guyette said recently as she walked down the city’s historic Broad Street, which looks like it fell out of a photo from a museum exhibit. City officials agree that the wooded draws, steep hillsides, narrow residential streets, ancient homes and thick urban tree canopy that define the character of the city also make it particularly at risk if a fire burns through. “Nevada City’s single largest risk for human life and financial loss is fire,” Nevada City’s hazard mitigation plan reads. In recent decades, the city also has had some near misses with fire, including one major close call. In 1988, heavy winds pushed the 49er Fire through 52 square miles of western Nevada County, burning 312 buildings and dozens of cars. “At the time it was considered an anomalous event,” said Billy Spearing of the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County. “It was not the normal for them then.” With such fires becoming the new normal, Cal Fire is planning to cut a 1,802 acre fire break in southwest Nevada County in terrain that hasn’t burned in a century, helping protect both Nevada City and the adjacent community of Grass Valley, home to more than 12,000. Nevada City also embarked on an online “Goat Fund Me” campaign to raise $25,000 to hire farmers to use their goats to eat dense brush in more than 450 acres of city-owned greenbelt. The goats recently chewed a swath through Pioneer Park near Margaret Rodda’s Victorian home, which sits on a steep draw above a creek. But she’s still worried. “All it takes is a drunk with a cigarette,” she said. The goats inspired Guyette. She said she might spend the $500 to put a herder’s goats to work on the thorny thicket of blackberries behind her mother’s house. “We need to get rid of them,” she said. ___ Colfax: Fire is on everyone’s minds Population (2010) — 1,963 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone —1,963 On his first full day in office, Newsom visited the Cal Fire station in Colfax to announce new initiatives on wildfire safety. As he spoke to reporters, surrounded by first responders, he was standing in a city that could burn any summer. “The people who live here have a true understanding,” said Colfax City Manager Wes Heathcock. “It’s always on the back of people’s minds, especially with the most recent fires, the Camp Fire. We have a similar makeup here.” At night in the summer, Aimee Costa, who lives on a hill above the elementary school, sometimes keeps her window open, the better to hear ominous sounds. “You’re laying in bed . listening for that lick, that smack, that pop sound,” Costa said, describing the sound flames would make if they were chewing pine needles, brush and leaves. A former supply hub for gold mining camps, Colfax sits a few miles from the edge of the Tahoe National Forest in the lower-elevation Sierra. It straddles Interstate 80 and serves as the last major stop between the Sacramento metropolitan area and the Lake Tahoe region. Horses graze beside deer on large ranchettes in the rugged brushy canyons along the outskirts of the city. The terrain poses a major fire risk. In July 2015, the Lowell Fire erupted near Colfax and chewed up thousands of acres along the north side of the freeway, forcing evacuations in adjacent Nevada County. In the years since, Heathcock said the city has been working with state officials on “fuelbreak” projects, including a spot near the high school and elementary school, which has been eyed as an evacuation site. Gene Mapa, who lived in Paradise and escaped the Camp Fire with some family photographs — and nothing else — has relocated to Colfax, where he already owned a second home. But he knows he hasn’t escaped the fire risk; his property just outside the city limits would be threatened by a windy firestorm like the one that engulfed Paradise. “With that wind, there would be no stopping it anywhere,” Mapa said. ___ Kings Beach: Tourists seek fun, bring fire danger Population (2010) — 3,796 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone —3,796 Situated on the pristine north shore of Lake Tahoe, Kings Beach is one of the most heavily visited vacation spots in Northern California. That’s a big part of the problem. Because so much of the population comes and goes, it becomes harder to get people to treat wildfire risk with the respect it deserves, said Erin Holland, a spokeswoman for the North Tahoe Fire Protection District. One of the district’s six stations is in Kings Beach. “It is definitely a challenge because we have so many homes that are vacation homes,” she said. “It’s really a challenge to educate those visitors . They want to have a camp fire.” Tahoe’s vulnerability to major fires was brought home dramatically in recent years. The Angora Fire in 2007, while it was confined to the south shore area, left physical and emotional scars on the entire basin after burning through 3,100 acres. Holland said getting the region’s property owners and visitors to observe “defensible space” regulations is particularly difficult. Those rules call for clearing brush 100 feet around buildings and include stricter rules regarding vegetation immediately adjacent to structures. Violators can be subject to citations, but “the goal is to really educate people, to get people complying,” Holland said. “We go the education route rather than the citation route.” ___ Pollock Pines: Do the transplants get it? Population (2010) — 6,877 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 6,533 Just off Highway 50, a few miles from the tourist haven of Apple Hill, Pollock Pines lures transplants from coastal California, mainly retirees drawn to the lovely stands of trees in the foothill community at the edge of the Eldorado National Forest. Heather Campbell only wishes the newbies had a better understanding of what all that timber represents. Campbell, a retired U.S. Forest Service employee who’s lived in Pollock Pines since the 1990s, is the head of the Pollock Pines-Camino Fire Safe Council, a volunteer group. In the past few years her organization has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly from the state’s “cap and trade” carbon trading program, to trim vegetation on the ridgeline south of Highway 50. That’s all well and good, she said, but more needs to be done. And the people of Pollock Pines, including the newcomers, have to realize what’s at stake. “Here, everybody allows all the saplings and brush to grow and they don’t weed it out,” she said. “All these roads are incredibly dangerous, when it’s so easy to take out pruners. Take out your pruners!” She said memories are still vivid of the Sand Fire in 2014. That fire burned 4,200 acres and 20 homes and came dangerously close to forcing a major evacuation in Pollock Pines and surrounding communities. “They were going to evacuate 9,000 people,” she said. “They were predicting the fire to go to 27,000 acres, instead of the 4,000 they stopped it at.” ___ Arnold: Trees are falling in Big Trees country Population (2010) — 3,843 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 3,843 In the community that serves as gateway to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, residents didn’t always applaud when officials began mapping plans to thin dense stands of trees to reduce fire risk. “Arnold resisted this for a long time because people love their trees,” said Steve Wilensky, a former Calaveras County supervisor who works with nonprofits to improve fire safety in the Sierra. After years of protests, Arnold’s residents got a major wake-up call in 2015. The Butte Fire, caused by power lines, took out 549 homes in nearby communities. Two people died. “If the weather hadn’t changed, they’d be gone,” Wilensky said of Arnold. “You’ve got a real parallel with Paradise in some ways . It’s a place that is really highly threatened.” Arnold sits on a ridge, surrounded by a dense forest of drought- and beetle-killed trees. Powerful wind gusts can funnel fire up rugged brushy canyons. A key difference between Paradise and Arnold is that as many as 45 percent of the dwellings are vacation homes, which can sometimes make it a challenge to get out-of-town homeowners to do brush clearing, local officials said. Wilensky said momentum to reduce fire risk has built since the Butte Fire. More than $15 million in state and federal funds have gone to thinning dangerous overgrowth in the region, Wilensky said. One project includes using bulldozer lines that were cut during the Butte Fire to expand a fire break that stretches to town. “Arnold is the anchor end of this project,” Wilensky said. ___ Wofford Heights: Apathy in a danger zone? Population (2010) — 2,201 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 2,147 The same powerful desert gusts that attract wind surfers to Kern County’s Lake Isabella make the lakeside community of Wofford Heights particularly at risk for wildfire. So does the adjacent Sequoia National Forest, which has been plagued by drought and tree-killing beetles. Yet some feel that the region isn’t doing nearly enough to combat the threat. “We could do a hell of a lot more than we’re doing,” said Judy Hyatt, who lived in the area for 15 years and served as president of the region’s fire safe council. The volunteer group disbanded in recent years from what she and others described as a lack of interest. In 2016, the Lake Isabella region suffered through the Erskine and Cedar fires, which burned more than 77,000 acres and more than 300 structures. An elderly couple was killed when they were trapped by the Erskine Fire. According to census figures, the median age of those living in Wofford Heights is 62, and many live in places with poor escape routes. “Some of those mobiles up there, honest to God, I think they’ve dropped them out of the sky,” Hyatt said. “The roads are so narrow, and it really just presents an obstacle and the only way to really get to it is by air. That is when people start to die.” Hyatt said the loss of the nonprofit Kern River Fire Safe Council she once headed doesn’t bode well for the community. She said the council organized wood-chipping drives to encourage residents to remove wood debris and sought grants for fuel breaks and other thinning projects. She said too many locals have grown complacent. “Fire prevention is a nebulous thing,” she said. “It’s hard to quantify, until there’s a damned fire that takes out everything.” ___ La Cañada Flintridge: Is aggressive fire prevention enough? Population (2010) — 20,048 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 20,048 Carol Settles and her family evacuated their home in La Cañada Flintridge during the Station Fire in 2009. But she isn’t terribly worried about a repeat performance — even though her home is on a dead-end street below a brushy hillside of the Angeles National Forest. Large electrical transmission lines run along the wooded draw behind her home. “We’ve never seen a spark,” Settles said, referring to the power lines. “We’ve never seen any of that.” Best-known as home to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the outskirts of Pasadena, the upper middle-class city has an aggressive fire-prevention program. The Los Angeles County fire department checks properties in Settles’ area once a year to make sure vegetation has been cleared and hazardous landscaping hasn’t been planted. Fines can be issued for non-compliance. Recently, one of Settles’ neighbors had to saw off the top of a pine tree because it was too close to a transmission tower, she said. Los Angeles County’s assistant fire chief, J. Lopez, said La Cañada Flintridge has embraced rigorous fire-safety standards, which include annual landscaping inspections and stringent fire-safe building codes, even for large home remodels. Lopez said La Cañada Flintridge also chose to place the entire city inside a high fire hazard zone, going beyond the recommendation of Cal Fire. That decision translates into citywide enforcement of its fire-resilient building codes. “That’s a very progressive way to look at it,” Lopez said. But since 2008, on average only about a dozen new homes have been built in La Cañada Flintridge each year, meaning most of the housing stock was built before the rigorous fire standards were in place. The city’s hazard mitigation plan notes many of those older homes still have “combustible roofing, open eaves, combustible siding,” and they’re on “steep, narrow, poorly signed” roads that make evacuations dangerous. Thomas Caswell, who’s lived for four decades on a hilly, narrow, dead-end street not far from city hall, said he knows the greenbelt behind his house where he watches possums, birds and other wildlife also makes the community vulnerable to fire. It’s why he says he didn’t mind paying when the city told him he needed to hire a tree service to remove dying trees in his front yard. Still, he knows such efforts probably wouldn’t do much good if the Santa Ana winds pushed a fire into the city. Fire officials said that La Cañada Flintridge could have burned in the Station Fire if the Santa Ana winds hadn’t stopped blowing. The fire burned 89 homes in outlying communities and 160,577 acres of forested lands, the largest fire by land mass in Los Angeles County history. “Once it comes down the hill,” Caswell said, “nobody is going to be safe.” ___ Rancho Palos Verdes: Few fears in an affluent suburb Population (2010) — 41,803 ′ In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone — 40,550 Rancho Palos Verdes holds a dubious honor: It’s the most populated city in California to have 90 percent or more of its population living within a “very high fire hazard severity zone.” But few residents seem to think their suburb is in the same league as Malibu, where hundreds of homes burned last fall just up the Los Angeles County coastline. “It’s not like living in Malibu, definitely,” said Gregory Lash as he strolled through a public access walkway in the Trump National Golf Club with his wife, Vivian, on the way to an oceanside park where a pod of dolphins and whales were breaching. He added, moments later: “Hope that’s not naive.” City officials say it’s not. “This being a coastal community, we don’t get the type of brush and that kind of fire behavior that you might get in somewhere like Paradise,” said Scott Hale, an assistant fire chief for Los Angeles County. The county leads firefighting efforts on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, whose four affluent communities all fall inside a high fire severity zone. Locals point out that over the years, the firefighters at the five stations on the peninsula have quickly knocked down the relatively small fires that popped up. Still, Rancho Palos Verdes’ hazard mitigation plan lists wildfire as a bigger threat to the city than earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides. Powerful winds that blow from the coast could funnel a fire up the greenbelts that cut through the peninsula’s neighborhoods, many of which have opulent homes perched above canyons. Much of that open space has been preserved by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, which manages more than 1,600 acres of land in and around the city. Residents such as Lash love the 42 miles of trails on conservancy lands, but all that undeveloped acreage could ignite, said Gabriella Yap, deputy city manager. “You’re trying to preserve that, but it also comes with fire risk,” Yap said. The city’s staff supports Southern California Edison’s plans to trim vegetation from under the lines that run through some of the open space to reduce fire threats, but the land conservancy is bristling at the loss of native habitats. “The environmental impact of that is really significant,” said Adrienne Mohan, the conservancy’s executive director. ___ Harbison Canyon: Will it burn a third time? Population (2010) — 3,841 ′ In Very High Hazard Fire Severity Zone — 3,841 Every 30 years or so, a massive fire blows through Harbison Canyon, 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The 1970 Laguna Fire destroyed much of the unincorporated town that sits inside the canyon and shares its name. Harbison Canyon was rebuilt again after the Cedar Fire burned through in 2003, destroying 287 of the 388 homes. Rick Halsey of the Chaparral Institute said the canyon is a painful example of how development has been allowed to continue practically unchecked for decades into some of California’s most fire-prone places. “You want to create a geographical hotspot for fire, you couldn’t put it in a better place,” said Halsey, whose environmentalist organization was founded to fight calls for clearing hundreds of square miles of wild lands following the Cedar Fire. “It’s like a bowling alley for the Santa Ana winds.” That sort of talk makes longtime resident Mary Manning cringe. She worries that focusing on the canyon’s fire risk creates the impression that the community she loves can’t be saved from the next catastrophe. She said her community could be made more safe if state and local officials would invest in infrastructure and fire prevention that matched the rates of development she’s seen over the years. For instance, the side streets in Harbison Canyon are narrow. Some, like Manning’s, remain unpaved despite decades of building. “There were five houses, now there are 35,” she said of the street she’s lived on since 1975. Manning notes it was only two years ago that the local fire station became staffed 24 hours a day — 14 years after the Cedar Fire. Inside the station, Dave Nissen, the Cal Fire official who oversees firefighting in the area, said there are a number of challenges to fighting a fire in the canyon, including the narrow roads and houses stacked close together. Nissen said firefighters reduce the risks by inspecting lots every year to make sure they’re not overgrown. On that front, Harbison Canyon’s residents don’t seem to need too much prodding, judging from the roar of chain saws and weed trimmers echoing through the canyon on a recent spring weekday afternoon. ___ Associated Press data reporter Angeliki Kastanis contributed to this article.
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23102
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Roy Barnes voted against a bill in the state Senate that would have made it easier to convict child abusers.
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Deal said Barnes opposed bill against child abusers
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false
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Georgia, Children, Voting Record, Nathan Deal,
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"This year's gubernatorial rivals are spending the campaign's precious last days accusing each other of abetting evildoers. Democrat Roy Barnes said in a TV commercial that in 1991, Republican candidate for governor Nathan Deal fought to weaken laws that protect rape victims. We ruled the accusation Half True. In response, Deal fired off a press release that said in 1995,Barnes opposed a bill that would have helped put child abusers behind bars. The release, ""Barnes ads tell despicable lies,"" said ""Barnes voted against a bill in the state Senate that would have made it easier to gain convictions in child abuse cases."" Election Day is Tuesday, when Barnes and Deal face off against Libertarian John Monds. So, did Barnes side with villains? Deal spokesman Brian Robinson pointed to failed state Senate Bill 124, which would have allowed types of hearsay evidence to be used during trial in cases of child ""sexual conduct or physical abuse."" Barnes spokesman Emil Runge said his candidate opposed the bill in 1995 because he thought it was unconstitutional. Barnes was in the state House of Representatives when it came up for vote. Deal was serving in the U.S. Congress. Hearsay evidence is often not allowed in court. But in 1995, state law had an exception for child abuse cases. Then, if a child under 14 were to confide in another person about being sexually or physically abused, that other person could testify about what the child said to him. SB 124 would have let hearsay enter into evidence in a new situation: if a child told another person he witnessed a third party being sexually or physically abused. State Legislature records confirm Barnes voted against SB 124. Versions passed both the House and Senate, but it died after the two chambers failed to agree on its final language. That's when things get cloudy. Although SB 124 never became law, the change it pushed for did. The bill's language was added to that year's successful House Bill 155, which created a central registry of the state's suspected and confirmed child abusers. Although Barnes opposed the change HB 155 made to hearsay evidence rules, he supported the bill because he thought creating the registry was important, Runge said. In March 1998, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the change in hearsay evidence rules was unconstitutional. There was no rational reason for the law to treat defendants whose cases included hearsay evidence from children under 14 differently than those with hearsay evidence from older children, it decided. The court ruled there was no rational reason for the difference, which meant the law violated the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection before the law. (Ironically, that same month, the state Supreme Court also struck down the child abuse registry. They decided it violated due process rights because it included the names of people who had never been charged with a crime.) Barnes' current explanation for his 1995 vote is consistent with statements he made during his successful 1998 bid for governor. During that primary, fellow Democrat Lewis Massey issued a press statement that said the vote was evidence Barnes ""has repeatedly sided with criminals against law-abiding Georgia citizens,"" according to a July 1998 article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ""To say you voted against something because you thought it was unconstitutional, that's not a legitimate excuse in my opinion,"" Massey added. Barnes replied that the bill would have created more problems in the future. ""When you pass an unconstitutional act, then those who are convicted under that law go free. That law was unconstitutional, and it was the politics of grandstanding rather than governing,"" Barnes was quoted as saying. Robinson argued that the judges in the state Supreme Court cases were partisan. Plus, whether or not SB 124 was unconstitutional was a matter of speculation during the General Assembly vote. Furthermore, Barnes should have supported a law that's tough on crime to send a message to criminals that their actions won't be tolerated, Robinson argued. Indeed, the law's constitutionality was not a sure thing in 1995, but if you agree with Robinson, it doesn't necessarily follow that Barnes opposed a bill that would have made it easier to convict child abusers. Because the bill's language did become law, we got to see what would have happened if SB 124 had succeeded. And what happened is that the bill made things harder for prosecutors down the road. The state Supreme Court declared those changes unconstitutional, which means that prosecutors had to handle appeals from criminals convicted under that law. Since the constitutionality of the bill was not certain in 1995 and Barnes did vote against it, there is a sliver of truth to Deal's accusation. But it ignores critical facts that would give a different impression."
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8143
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Brazil's Bolsonaro plays down coronavirus risk as cases top 1,500.
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Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has denied the country’s healthcare system will collapse next month, contradicting his own health minister as the number of deaths in the country jumped 39% and confirmed cases topped 1,500.
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true
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Health News
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The latest health ministry figures on Sunday show that the death toll from coronavirus in Brazil rose to at least 25 from 18 the day before, a rise of 39%, and the number of confirmed cases now stands at 1,546, up from 1,128. In an interview with CNN Brasil on Saturday night, Bolsonaro also expressed his frustration with several states’ measures to essentially shut down commerce and restrict people’s movement, saying they have gone too far and are damaging the economy. “I think Mandetta was exaggerating,” Bolsonaro told CNN Brasil, referring to health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who said on Friday that Brazil’s fragile healthcare system will collapse under the weight of coronavirus by the end of April. Bolsonaro said “collapse” was the wrong choice of words. “What we’re doing is lengthening the infection curve. I don’t believe in a collapse,” he said. Bolsonaro tweeted on Sunday that the government is distributing around 10 million coronavirus tests, half of which have been dispatched this month. Sao Paulo state, Brazil’s richest and most populous, on Saturday said a statewide quarantine order would take effect on Tuesday and last through April 7, shutting down all but non-essential businesses and services. Retailer Via Varejo said its 1,000-plus stores of white goods chains Casa Bahia and Ponte Frio are closing indefinitely, meaning thousands of brick-and-mortar shops of Brazil’s most recognizable chains now have their shutters down. A Datafolha poll in Sunday’s Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper showed that an overwhelming majority of Brazilians support many of these drastic measures to beat the spread of coronavirus, although opinion is much more divided on business shutting down. Some 82% said they agree with the suspension of church services, a decision Bolsonaro, who was elected into office with massive support from evangelical Christians due to his conservative social agenda, has heavily criticized. Evangelical churches were shut or deserted on Sunday in some of Brazil’s major cities, with many switching to broadcasting services online or via their radio and television channels. The massive doors of the Temple of Solomon, a 10,000-seat place of worship belonging to the Universal Church in Sao Paulo, were closed during what is usually one of their busiest times. Security guards patrolled outside telling visitors that services at the church were suspended for two weeks. Reuters visited five of Sao Paulo’s biggest evangelical churches - all were closed. Ailton Pinheiro, a member of the administrative team at the Assembly of God church in Brasilia, said pastor Hadman Daniel is giving sermons two or three times a week via his Facebook page and that the church will remain closed as long as it is told. “Everybody realizes the situation. Everyone has accepted it calmly,” he said in the church’s deserted car park.
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10375
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Technique cutting cancer treatment time
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This article describes brachytherapy, a radiation treatment that is gaining popularity for some breast cancers. It reports that it is more convenient due to its shorter treatment period and because it appears to expose surrounding tissues to less radiation damage. But a lack of reportorial rigor creates an overly rosy view of the procedure that could lead readers to believe the treatment is as effective as external beam radiation. The article would have been stronger if it had interviewed experts who are familiar with the available data on the technique, and those who wrote clinical guidelines for its use. While the article states that long-term data on safety and efficacy is not available, the story emphasizes the treatment’s convenience in a way that leads readers to believe that the comparison is between two equally effective treatments and the decision can be driven by questions of convenience. In fact the decision is between one technique whose safety and efficacy is known versus one whose safety and efficacy is not. The danger may be that women are unknowingly choosing a less effective technique based on convenience. The article should have acknowledged this.
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false
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The article does not report how much the procedure costs or how it compares to conventional radiation therapy. While price would not be a driver of this decision, price information is easy and valuable to report. The article includes no data on the benefits of the treatment. The most important potential harm of brachytherapy would be a lack of efficacy–that is, a patient would choose it due to its greater convenience, despite what could be a lower success rate. Given the lack of long-term data on efficacy available, this is a significant shortcoming. The article does not acknowledge other potential harms of brachytherapy when used for breast and prostate cancer. The article presents no evidence about the efficacy or safety of the technique beyond the reports of two individuals who received it and oncologists’ comments about it. The reporter writes, Although there are no large-scale national results, doctors say studies have shown brachytherapy to be as effective as traditional radiation therapy. It is not clear who these doctors are or what studies they are referring to. This is not satisfactory. There are more data avialable on safety and efficacy, though not conclusive. In fact, a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette did a story on the same topic a week earlier and found considerable data to report. The article does not exaggerate the consequences of the cancer itself or of either treatment. The portion of the article on breast cancer includes an interview with one patient who was treated with apparent success, a physician employed by the cancer treatment chain that treated her, and a radiologist from a local university. The reporter should have spoken to one or two nationally recognized experts on radiation therapy and brachytheraphy specifically in order to put the generally positive information in the story in context. The American Society of Breast Surgeons has written guidelines about the appropriate use of brachytherapy. One of its authors would have made an excellent source. The section on prostate cancer treatement includes only one source–a urologist who performs the procedure and uses the new software he is enthusiastic about. As with the rest of the story, the article here uses comments about popularity but none about effectiveness or risk. The article describes the most common alternative, external beam radiation. The article does not indicate whether brachytherapy is available at any hospital that provides cancer treatment or only at specialized facilities. The article states that brachytherapy is a less common but increasingly used treatment for some breast cancers. It does not imply the technique is new or revolutionary. Statistics on use would have been valuable, however. We can’t be sure if the story was based largely on a news release.
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5426
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Congolese flee to Uganda after vote, raising Ebola fears.
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Hundreds of refugees have crossed into Uganda from Congo in the days since that country’s troubled presidential election, a Red Cross official said Wednesday, heightening concerns about the possible cross-border spread of Ebola. Separately, the head of the World Health Organization said he has asked the supplier of an experimental vaccine to produce more of it.
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true
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World Health Organization, Kampala, Health, Elections, Africa, International News, Uganda, Presidential elections
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The refugee influx started the day after Sunday’s vote and since then dozens of people have been arriving at a time, said Irene Nakasiita, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross in Uganda. Some Congolese trying to cross the border were forced back after resisting the efforts of Ugandan health officials screening people for Ebola, she said. Congo’s government cited the Ebola outbreak in the country’s northeast for a contentious decision to bar an estimated 1 million voters from the election. Protests followed, with some people vandalizing Ebola response facilities and some aid groups forced to suspend work for days. The internet has been cut off in Congo this week in an apparent effort by the government to prevent social media speculation about the results, while the opposition and observers have reported multiple problems with the election. The internet outage also has affected Ebola response efforts, with Congo’s health ministry on Wednesday citing “technical problems” for the delay in sending its daily update on the outbreak. More than 600 Ebola cases have been reported, with more than 360 confirmed deaths since August. The outbreak is the second-deadliest in history. The outbreak has been difficult to control amid armed violence and community protests, and the violence has increased “in intensity and frequency,” the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday. And yet “there is reason to be hopeful” the outbreak will be brought under control as soon as possible, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. He spent New Year’s Day in Congo. Amid the election-related protests last week, Tedros warned that “prolonged insecurity” in Congo could lead to a rise in new Ebola cases. Some of the Ebola cases in this outbreak have been reported close to the heavily traveled border with Uganda. For months, Ugandan officials have been subjecting all passing through official border posts to mandatory Ebola screening. The Ebola virus is spread through direct contact with the fluids of an infected person. More than 50,000 people have received an experimental vaccine. Tedros said there were enough doses of the vaccine available “but at the same time we have already requested the supplier to produce more.” ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa
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15365
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Obama keeps talking about getting rid of all nuclear weapons. He’s already significantly reduced our capabilities there.
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"Cheney said, ""Obama keeps talking about getting rid of all nuclear weapons. He’s already significantly reduced our capabilities there."" Since campaigning for office, Obama has frequently mentioned that, in an ideal world, there would be no nuclear weapons. However, Cheney ignores that Obama has consistently acknowledged that this dream may not be achievable in his lifetime, and that the United States won’t give up its nuclear weapon arsenal as long as its enemies possess them. Experts also said Cheney overstates the arms reductions occurring during Obama’s presidency. Reductions are happening under a 2010 treaty with Russia, but the United States is also spending billions on modernizing its arsenal, and it is taking fewer weapons out of service than under any previous president in the post-Cold War age. Cheney’s statement contains some element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression."
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false
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Nuclear, PunditFact, Dick Cheney,
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"Fox News host Sean Hannity found a partner in outrage over the Iran nuclear deal in former Vice President Dick Cheney. On July 14, the pair blasted the White House’s agreement (full text) as a betrayal of Israel, saying the agreement had loose restrictions on Iran that will endanger the world. At one point, Hannity asked Cheney if he thought the deal would incentivize other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, to move forward with their own nuclear programs. Cheney said he would be surprised if they didn’t because they will feel ""they have no choice."" The United States under President Barack Obama is no longer an ally they can trust, he said. ""For one thing, we haven’t kept our word to them in the past,"" Cheney said. ""Secondly, we’re dramatically reducing our own capabilities. Obama keeps talking about getting rid of all nuclear weapons. He’s already significantly reduced our capabilities there. This last week, he announced a 40,000-man reduction in the United States Army. He’s not a man of his word."" When we looked into Cheney’s characterization of the U.S. nuclear program under Obama, experts called it ""ridiculous"" and said that Cheney neglected important caveats Obama gave in talking about his dream for a world free of nuclear weapons. (PunditFact tried to reach Cheney through his speaker’s bureau, but he did not respond to our inquiry.) Here’s what’s missing from Cheney’s claim that Obama ""keeps talking about getting rid of all nuclear weapons"" and is ""significantly"" reducing the country’s nuclear capabilities. ‘A world without nuclear weapons’ Obama entered the White House in 2009 having made a slew of campaign promises about reducing the nuclear arsenal of the United States and the world. (Several of these promises have been monitored by PolitiFact.) The Norwegian Nobel Committee highlighted his ""vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons"" in awarding Obama the 2009 Peace Prize. The award followed Obama’s major speech on how he would address nuclear weapons in Prague on April 5, 2009. The new president said the United States had a moral responsibility to act on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons in the 21st century as the only country to have used nuclear weapons. Obama said: ""So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons."" Bingo for Cheney? Not necessarily. There was more. ""I'm not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly –- perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, ‘Yes, we can.’ Now, let me describe to you the trajectory we need to be on. First, the United States will take concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons. To put an end to Cold War thinking, we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy, and urge others to do the same. Make no mistake: As long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter any adversary, and guarantee that defense to our allies –- including the Czech Republic. But we will begin the work of reducing our arsenal."" Obama reinforced his dream in a 2012 speech in Seoul and a 2013 address in Berlin. In the latter speech, he told the crowd: ""Peace with justice means pursuing the security of a world without nuclear weapons — no matter how distant that dream may be. And so, as President, I’ve strengthened our efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and reduced the number and role of America’s nuclear weapons. Because of the New START Treaty, we’re on track to cut American and Russian deployed nuclear warheads to their lowest levels since the 1950s."" So Obama had a dream, but it’s one that he couched with a significant caveat. Cheney has a point that a world without nukes is Obama’s end-goal, a position that some conservatives say isn’t realistic because the weapons cannot be uninvented. On the other hand, the United States will not be first to eliminate its arsenal, Obama pledged. Experts told PunditFact this is not a new vision among U.S. presidents. ""The goal of working for the elimination of nuclear weapons has been U.S. policy since the Kennedy administration,"" said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists. ""Obama didn’t invent it."" At the 2009 United Nations Security Council Summit about nuclear disarmament, Obama quoted Ronald Reagan, who said, ""We must never stop at all until we see the day when nuclear arms have been banished from the face of the Earth."" While Obama did not reiterate this vision in a White House address or press conference about the Iranian nuclear deal, he did bring it up again on page 11 of his national security strategy paper released February 2015. ‘Significantly reduced’ nuclear capability? Cheney’s second point — that the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal has been ""significantly reduced"" under Obama — drew more scorn from the experts. ""It is clearly incorrect to say that President Obama has reduced the U.S. nuclear weapons capability,"" said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which supports reducing American and Russian nuclear stockpiles. ""We’d like for him to be doing more, and we’re disappointed that he’s not."" In fact, the United States will spend hundreds of billions in the next 10 years to modernize its aging strategic nuclear force, which consists of submarines that launch ballistic missiles, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, and long-range bombers. Nuclear warheads will also be refurbished, and new and improved facilities around the country will be constructed. In all, the United States will spend about $35 billion a year on these improvements, or $350 billion through 2025, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The current nuclear force is comprised of about 1,550 long-range warheads. As the upgrades began, many supporters of disarmament grew confused about Obama’s shift in nuclear priorities. The New York Times quoted Sam Nunn, a former senator who influenced Obama’s view on nuclear nonproliferation, in September 2014 as saying Obama’s ""vision was a significant change in direction. But the process has preserved the status quo."" According to Kristensen’s 2014 analysis, Obama has cut the number of nuclear weapons by a smaller percentage than any American president since the end of the Cold War. Obama’s 10 percent reduction over six years trails even George W. Bush’s 50 percent, according to Kristensen. Under the New START Treaty with Russia -- an arms control agreement that was approved in bipartisan fashion by the then-Democratic-led Congress in December 2010 -- the Obama administration has reduced the number of deployed warheads and launchers slightly. Under the treaty, neither country is allowed to possess more than 1,550 nuclear warheads and 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments. ""Those are modest reductions that in no way are ‘dramatically reducing our own capabilities,’ "" Kristensen said, adding that the policies Obama is pursuing on nuclear weapons have been approved by the United States Strategic Command and the Pentagon. Our ruling Cheney said, ""Obama keeps talking about getting rid of all nuclear weapons. He’s already significantly reduced our capabilities there."" Since campaigning for office, Obama has frequently mentioned that, in an ideal world, there would be no nuclear weapons. However, Cheney ignores that Obama has consistently acknowledged that this dream may not be achievable in his lifetime, and that the United States won’t give up its nuclear weapon arsenal as long as its enemies possess them. Experts also said Cheney overstates the arms reductions occurring during Obama’s presidency. Reductions are happening under a 2010 treaty with Russia, but the United States is also spending billions on modernizing its arsenal, and it is taking fewer weapons out of service than under any previous president in the post-Cold War age. Cheney’s statement contains some element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression."
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2950
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Carmat artificial heart patient in good condition: hospital.
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French artificial heart maker Carmat’s first patient is in a “very satisfactory condition” 12 days after being fitted with the device, the hospital treating him said on Monday.
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true
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Health News
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The 75-year-old Frenchman is eating normally and spent three hours sitting in a chair in the company of his family on Sunday, the team caring for him at the Georges Pompidou European Hospital in Paris said. “The artificial heart is functioning normally, automatically catering to the body’s needs without any manual adjustment necessary,” surgeons Alain Carpentier and Christian Latremouille said in a statement issued by the hospital. Three more patients in France are due to be fitted with the device. In this first series of clinical studies, its success will be judged on whether patients survive with the implant for at least a month. The people selected suffer from terminal heart failure - when the sick heart can no longer pump enough blood to sustain the body - and would otherwise have only a few days or weeks to live. The hospital said it would give another update on the first patient in one week. A spokeswoman for Carmat said the company declined to comment at such an early stage in the trial. Heart-assistance devices have been used for decades as a temporary solution for patients awaiting transplants, but Carmat’s bioprosthetic product is designed to replace the real heart over the long term, mimicking nature using biological materials and sensors. It aims to extend life for patients suffering from terminal heart failure who cannot hope for a heart transplant, often because they are too old and donors too scarce. Carmat shares were 4.2 percent higher at 112.39 euros at 1308 GMT, trading in volumes more than twice the daily average of the past three months.
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35286
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"Bill Gates — along with a coalition dubbed ""ID 2020"" — seeks to ""microchip"" the world population using a COVID-19 vaccine."
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Keep in mind that this all coincides with the ID2020 agenda, which aims to create a global digital identification system for every person on Earth. As we’ve reported in the past, ID2020 and vaccines are being used together to harvest the biometric identities of all mankind, and all for the purpose of creating the global system of tracking and control that was foretold in the book of Revelation.
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false
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Politics, COVID-19
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Microsoft founder Bill Gates is a rich man. He has put some of that wealth toward charitable organizations and initiatives through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A primary focus of that foundation, and of Gates’ philanthropy in general, is the reduction of inequalities in health outcomes, with a focus on the developing world. Via these organizations, he also funds research into technological solutions to public health problems in the poorest communities globally. Since 2015, he has been raising alarms about the world’s potentially catastrophic lack of preparedness for a pandemic. In part because of his advocacy for vaccines, Gates has also been a major recipient of the anti-vaccine movement’s vitriol for well over a decade. Years of manufactured animosity built by false claims from these anti-vaccine groups have, as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, combined with the dubious claims of doomsday soothsayers and cryptocurrency Youtubers to create a sprawling COVID-19 conspiracy theory centered on Gates. The basic allegation against Gates goes like this: He is using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to push a vaccine with a microchip capable of tracking you along with the rest of the world population. From a factual standpoint, Gates has never proposed or funded research into the development of a vaccine — for COVID-19 or for anything else — that includes the injection of a device that could actively track your location, monitor anything you are doing, or “control” you. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation did fund a pilot study conducted by MIT and Rice University researchers into a potential vaccine-delivery device that could impart an invisible mark detectable by a smartphone. This study was theoretical, the technology described was passive, and the device was incapable of any sort of tracking or monitoring. Still, much of the credence lent to the false notion that Gates has designs to track you using vaccines comes from mixing the existence of that pilot study with another public health concept Gates is actively involved in researching called a “digital identity.” The basic premise behind a digital (or decentralized) identity in the context of Gates’ work is simple: It would involve some sort of cloud-based storage of medical and/or personal-identification documents accessible only with the consent of the owner but available anywhere in the world. Crucially, such a concept, whose central scientific challenges are in the realm of encryption and blockchains, has nothing to do with anything injected into the body. Despite this, conspiracy theorists falsely use Gates’ support for digital identity initiatives as evidence of his intentions to build a vaccine-enabled surveillance state. As someone who has funded general research into vaccines and pandemics, Gates has made several public statements on the present crisis. Broadly speaking, these statements reflect Gates’ commitment to researching and developing both treatments and vaccines for COVID-19, and to stressing the need for a scalable method to quickly identify people who have either recovered from COVID-19 or received a vaccination against it as a means to restart the global economy. For example, in an interview with Chris Anderson, who runs TED Talks, Gates indicated he believes some sort of “immunity certificate” will be instrumental in reopening the global economy: Eventually what we’ll have to have is certificates of who’s a recovered person and who’s a vaccinated person, because you don’t want people moving around the world where you’ll have some countries that won’t have it under control. Sadly. You don’t want to completely block off the ability for those people to go there and come back and move around. So eventually there will be sort of this digital immunity proof that will help facilitate the global reopening up. In a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) discussion from March 2020, Gates further detailed his views on disease surveillance in the United States: The testing in the US is not organized yet. In the next few weeks I hope the government fixes this by having a website you can go to to find out about home testing and kiosks. Things are a bit confused on this right now. In Seattle, the [University of Washington] is providing thousands of tests per day but no one is connected to a national tracking system. Whenever there is a positive test it should be seen to understand where the disease is and whether we need to strengthen the social distancing. Gates has praised the more extreme disease-surveillance measures taken by South Korea as a model for future pandemic preparedness. South Korea has had considerable success in limiting deaths from COVID-19 thanks in large part to aggressive “contact tracing,” described in an April 2020 report by the Brookings Institute: South Korea was effective in tracing people who may have come into contact with those who tested positive for COVID-19. Nearly all South Korean citizens have smartphones and use credit cards, so when someone tests positive, the government can trace where they have been, at what time, and what mode of transportation they used. With this data, the government can trace the potentially infected population, using CCTV footage to identify potential contacts when needed. Those in close contact with the infected are asked to get tested, while indirect contacts are ordered to self-quarantine for fourteen days. This is an arduous process, but the South Korean government has maintained the ability to trace and contact potentially infected persons. The theory that Bill Gates wants to use a vaccine to track people based on any of these statements or views is flawed for at least two reasons. First, nothing he has advocated for above necessitates injecting a tracking device into a body. Instead these theoretical technologies would rely on a combination of biometric identification, encryption, and cloud storage of data. Second, as shown by South Korea, the injection of tracking devices via vaccines would likely be a waste of time, given the fact that most of humanity is constantly connected to a GPS enabled smartphone that probably knows more about you than your parents. The sole bit of evidence used to suggest Bill Gates’ interest in adding anything that resembles a microchip in vaccines stems from his foundation’s funding of a study, published in Science Translational Medicine in December 2019, that “developed dissolvable microneedles that deliver patterns of near-infrared light-emitting microparticles to the skin” that can, when exposed to certain frequencies of light, “identify the immunization status of infants.” In several developing countries, a lack of reliable immunization records can, the authors argued, affect the quality of care provided. The study — which was not conducted on human subjects — did not describe the injection of a “microchip” co-administered with a vaccine. Instead, it described the use of something referred to as a quantum dot. These dots are essentially molecule-sized particles engineered to have unique structures that react to near-infrared light in a way that could theoretically be identified by a device such as a smartphone. It is physically impossible to implant a quantum dot sized device that could actively ping location or any other data to an unknown third party. Further, this sort of research — if it ever came to fruition in the first place — is in its infancy, and would be years away from actual implementation anywhere, let alone in a potential COVID-19 vaccine that scientists estimate could be available potentially within 18 months. Nonetheless, this study is crucial to the conspiracy theory, as that narrative is dependent on conflating quantum dots with Gates’ work in digital identities. That’s why it is important to understand the misrepresentations made of the Gates-funded group ID2020. ID2020, or the Digital Identity Alliance, is a 501c3 non-profit funded by a diverse range of foundations and corporate sponsors — including Microsoft and the Gates-funded vaccine non-profit GAVI — that provides grants for practical research into the real-world application of digital identities: The ID2020 Alliance provides funding and other forms of material support for high-impact and high-quality digital identity projects that are privacy-protecting, user-centric, and designed for scale, impact, and replicability. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis at various stages of development. Any individual or organization meeting the required application and evaluation criteria is welcome to submit a proposal. Several of the projects funded by ID2020 have been characterized by anti-vaccine activists as using the poor and vulnerable as scientific guinea pigs involving the implantation of a device that infringes on their privacy. Outside of the fact that none of these projects involve injecting subjects with anything, the philosophical premise implied by such claims is also in direct opposition to what ID2020 seeks to accomplish. Its goal, however lofty, is to develop a system in which the individual has complete control over personal identification or health documentation. The end product would be a system that allows this sort of information to be accessible anywhere in the world but only with your consent. The ID2020 manifesto makes this explicit: Over 1 billion people worldwide are unable to prove their identity through any recognized means. As such, they are without the protection of law, and are unable to access basic services, participate as a citizen or voter, or transact in the modern economy. … We believe that individuals must have control over their own digital identities, including how personal data is collected, used, and shared. Everyone should be able to assert their identity across institutional and national borders, and across time. Privacy, portability, and persistence are necessary for digital identity to meaningfully empower and protect individuals. One pilot project funded by ID2020 is MyPass, which is an effort to provide digital identification to the homeless population of Austin, Texas. The project, still in its infancy, seeks to create an online, cloud-based repository of identification and medical documents. Early versions of the pilot study would likely use some combination of a QR code card given to participating individuals, but future work could involve biometrics like fingerprints or IRIS scans. Importantly, the participants in the study volunteered to be in it, can opt out at any time, and did not and will not have anything injected into them. Another project, currently active in Bangladesh and Tanzania, seeks to test the viability of tying infant fingerprints to digital identities. These projects are small pilot studies with limited relevance to the current COVID-19 pandemic, and none of them involves injecting anything into anyone, let alone something that would contain the functionality that would enable any sort of active tracking or surveillance. Still, conspiracy theorists have pushed the above facts into an unfounded but paranoid narrative. As stated above, Bill Gates has been interested in using vaccines to combat health inequalities for over a decade. Though it has no relevance to the claims at issue for COVID-19, the assertion that Bill Gates’ interest in vaccines stems from a goal of “depopulating” the world is almost universally included as part of that narrative as a means to imbue Gate’s actions with nefarious intent. That false conclusion stems from a grotesque misreading of Gates’ argument that communities with access to vaccination tend to have lower birth rates because reduced childhood mortality means more children will survive into adulthood. As also discussed above: Gates has been interested in, and financially supportive of, the concept of digital identification as another means of reducing health inequality globally. The narrative pushed by conspiracy theorists involves conflating the concept of a digital identification with the injection of a device. For example, appearing in an interview by far-right Christian conspiracy theorist Rick Wiles’ on his TruNews platform, a guest asserted without evidence that both concepts were directly related: What Bill Gates said was eventually we will have some digital certificates to show who has recovered, who has been tested … and we will have [a record of who] received [a COVID-19] through that digital certificate. Now that digital certificate might just sound like something simple. Maybe it’s a computer document. That’s not exactly what’s going on here. …. This project has researchers at MIT and Rice University with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation working to create that digital certificate system. It’s going to be a chip that actually is implanted into humans. As previously explained, the MIT/Rice study was not conducted by the ID2020 alliance, and ID2020-funded projects are not experimenting with injecting things into people. Natural News, a supplement store and alternative health conspiracy blog, similarly conflated digital identity with quantum dot technology to portray Gates as an agent of Satan:
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One in every three women has an abortion during her lifetime.
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A flawed Wendy Davis claim: 1 in 3 women has an abortion in her lifetime
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mixture
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Abortion, Texas, Wendy Davis,
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"Former Fort Worth state Sen. Wendy Davis, the 2014 Democratic gubernatorial nominee, wants the Supreme Court to reverse the Texas law that critics say will make it harder for far-flung Texans to access abortions. Republicans who carried the changes into law said their goal was to improve women’s health by requiring abortion doctors to gain admitting privileges in a nearby hospital and requiring abortions to be performed in hospital-like settings. Abortion providers sued, arguing the regulations — impossible for many clinics to meet — were unnecessary because they offered no health benefits for a relatively low-risk procedure. Davis, joined by women with legislative experience who, like Davis, have revealed decisions to terminate pregnancies, said in the Jan. 4, 2016, brief that the law could affect women in need if it’s allowed to be enforced by leaving about 10 clinics operating in the state’s largest cities—down from more than 40 when House Bill 2 was signed into law in 2013. In the brief, the women say they’re ""grateful that they were able to exercise their rights in nearby doctor’s offices and abortion clinics without the burdens of travel, delay and additional expense that would be imposed on Texas women if HB 2 were to remain in force."" Generally, the brief says, false ""stereotypes persist in society and in state legislatures regarding women who exercise their right to choose. The reality is that approximately one out of every three women in this country has had an abortion in her lifetime."" The brief later says: ""One in every three women has an abortion during her lifetime."" A reader asked us to check that ""lifetime"" statement. Nationally in 2011, an estimated 1.1 million abortions were performed, down nearly 14 percent from 2008, according to a March 2014 article by the New York-based Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit that promotes reproductive health and abortion rights. The 2011 estimate broke out to 16.9 abortions for every 1,000 women aged 15-44, the researchers wrote. To our inquiry, Davis told us by email that Linda Goldstein, among lawyers who drafted the brief, had advised that, as footnoted in the brief, a 1998 Guttmacher study was the basis of the one-in-three statement. In a follow-up email, Davis said the 1998 study was a precursor to a more recent estimate, in a 2011 Guttmacher study, that one in three women will have an abortion by age 45. Separately, Michael New, a visiting associate professor at Florida’s Ave Maria University who has questioned the prevalence of abortions, responded to our inquiry by pointing out a September 2015 story by the FactChecker at The Washington Post that found flaws in a claim that one in three women will have an abortion ""by the age of 45."" The Post story explains the purpose of the 2011 Guttmacher report was to update older estimates that 43 percent of women of reproductive age would have an abortion by age 45. The abortion rate had declined over intervening years, the story notes, and researchers hypothesized that the proportion of women who will have an abortion during their lifetime also probably declined. The study used abortion rates (the number of abortions per 1,000 women) for subgroups of women (including age, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity) who responded to the institute’s 2008 Abortion Patient Survey of nearly 9,500 women, the Post summed up. Next, researchers used survey data to find the first abortion rate for age subgroups, multiplied the rate by the number of years in each age group and added up the number of first-time abortions that had taken place by the time women were 45. This was called the ""cumulative first abortion rate,"" through which they came up with the ""lifetime incidence"" of abortion, or the ""one in three"" figure, the Post reported. To grasp the basis of Davis’s claim, we turned first to the 1998 study footnoted in the brief and then the 2011 follow-up. 1998 study The December 1998 study, ""Unintended Pregnancy in the United States,"" by Stanley K. Henshaw, then the institute’s deputy director of research, offers estimates for the incidence of abortions in 1994--more than 20 years ago. A Guttmacher summary says Henshaw drew on national surveys of women taken in 1982, 1988 and 1995 plus other data to estimate 1994 rates and percentages of unintended birth and pregnancy and the proportion of women who had experienced an unintended birth, an abortion or both. The study itself describes the cited National Surveys of Family Growth as a ""periodic fertility survey"" that collects detailed reproductive and contraceptive histories and related information from women of reproductive age. ""Forty-eight percent of women aged 15-44 in 1994 had had at least one unplanned pregnancy sometime in their lives,"" Henshaw wrote, ""28% had had one or more unplanned births, 30% had had one or more abortions and 11% had had both."" Put another way, then, the study suggested that as of 1994, nearly one third of women of childbearing age had had an abortion. The likelihood of women having had an abortion varied by age. A chart indicates some 40 percent of women aged 30-34 in 1994 had had one or more abortions; at the low end, 7 percent of women aged 15-19 had had one or more abortions."
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597
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Hazardous smoke blankets Sydney as winds fan Australia bushfires.
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Sydney was wreathed in hazardous smoke on Thursday as strong winds fanned dozens of bushfires across Australia’s east coast, prompting health warnings for the city that is home to more than 5 million people and the state of New South Wales (NSW).
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true
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Environment
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Firefighters were battling to control more than 40 wild fires that remained ablaze across NSW, the state’s Rural Fire Service (RFS) said. There were no reports of injuries caused by the fires by mid-afternoon local time, though 45 homes were destroyed. The strong winds have blown the dangerous smoke across large parts of NSW. The RFS said the smoke was unlikely to clear for at least 24 hours, while hot, dry conditions are expected to linger for several days more - exacerbating the threat of more fires as authorities try to access the damage of blazes now extinguished. “Dust may aggravate existing heart and lung conditions and cause symptoms like eye irritation and cough,” said Richard Broome, director of environmental health, NSW Health. “Symptoms can occur for several days after dust is inhaled, so people with the chronic conditions need to be vigilant with their treatment programs.” One of the biggest fires in recent days was recorded in Lake Cathie, 379 kilometers (235.5 miles) north of Sydney - which has destroyed more than 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of a national park. The fire is now contained, though the area is a prime breeding ground for koalas, stoking fears that hundreds will have been killed by the fires. “Based on our calculations, with a minimum 60% mortality rate about 350 koalas will be lost,” Sue Ashton, president of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital told Reuters. “It’s terrible, it’s absolutely devastating. It’s a national tragedy.” Ashton said seven rescuers on Thursday attempted to enter the worst affected areas but were advised to leave as strong winds stoked fears of the fires spreading.
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26553
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“This lady here applied sanitizer to her hands/forearms & went to the kitchen to cook. The moment she turned on the gas stove, her hands caught fire due to the alcohol contained in the sanitizer.”
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This Facebook post has the ingredients of a hoax. We could not find the original photo through reverse image searching, and we found no news reports about it. Hand sanitizer is flammable because of its alcohol content. But the fire risks are low when the product is applied properly and given time to dry.
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false
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Public Health, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts,
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"Public health officials say one of the best ways to avoid catching the coronavirus is to wash your hands with soap and water or, when that’s not an option, rub them with hand sanitizer. But some Facebook users are sharing posts saying hand sanitizer can be dangerous. ""This lady here applied sanitizer to her hands/forearms & went to the kitchen to cook,"" said a March 23 Facebook post showing the arms of a burn victim. ""The moment she turned on the gas stove, her hands caught fire due to the alcohol contained in the sanitizer."" ""Y'all please be careful!"" the post warned. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) Medical experts told us that while hand sanitizer is flammable, the fire risks largely disappear when the sanitizer is applied properly and given time to dry. We can’t say for sure that the Facebook post doesn’t show a woman whose arms were burned from a hand sanitizer-induced flame. The post has the ingredients of a hoax, however. For starters, we were unable to identify the original source of the photo through reverse image searches on Google, TinEye and Yandex. Our searches on Google and Nexis for related news reports also turned up no results, whereas other sanitizer mishaps have been widely covered. Fact-checkers in India and online bloggers suggested the wounds in the photo were the result of skin grafting, a surgical procedure in which healthy skin is transplanted onto a new part of the body. But Andrew Vardanian, assistant clinical professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at UCLA and a plastic surgeon at UCLA Health, told us the image looked to him like a second-degree burn — and likely not one that came from hand sanitizer. ""The straight line on the left arm is too straight for this to have happened from hand sanitizer, he said. ""It is more consistent with a submersion type burn into something that caused a scald."" Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flammable, which is why the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, the World Health Organization and major manufacturers like Purell all offer fire safety warnings for use. Travelers typically can’t carry large amounts on planes. But while bottles and dispensers of hand sanitizer are recommended to be stored away from flames, the CDC and the WHO both say the incidence of fire from use is ""very low."" A WHO webpage says that the benefits ""in terms of infection prevention far outweigh the fire risks."" Proper application and use mitigates the fire risks, experts told us. ""The directions for alcohol based sanitizers often state to rub it into your hands until they are dry, which would reduce the fire risk because the flammable liquid and vapors would evaporate,"" said Jeffrey Gardner, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. ""Once a person’s hands are dry, the fire risk would dramatically decrease."" ""If properly applied with hands rubbed together until the liquid evaporates, it shouldn't burst into flame,"" added Michael Gochfeld, professor emeritus of clinical research and occupational medicine at Rutgers University. It takes about 20 seconds of rubbing for hand sanitizer to fully dry on your hands, according to the CDC and the WHO. Vardanian said surgeons often use flammable products to sterilize the skin before surgery, but he said ""we wait for a few minutes until we start draping to prevent these types of injuries."" ""If someone used massive amounts of hand sanitizer and then contacted a flame, there may be a fire and a burn can result from this,"" he said of the Facebook post. ""This would, however, be very rare as most of the sanitizer would evaporate before flame contact."" A Facebook post said: ""This lady here applied sanitizer to her hands/forearms & went to the kitchen to cook. The moment she turned on the gas stove, her hands caught fire due to the alcohol contained in the sanitizer."" We ran reverse image searches and checked news databases, and we found no credible evidence that the incident in question actually took place. Hand sanitizer is flammable, but medical experts told us that the fire risks are low because the alcohol in hand sanitizer evaporates quickly when the product is given enough time to dry."
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An online graphic accurately details President Trump's notable accomplishments during his first four months in office.
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As with many of the other items discussed above, whether or not one regards this as an “accomplishment” (as opposed, say, to a travesty) will depend almost entirely on one’s political views going in.
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mixture
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Politics Environment, donald trump, politics, trump administration
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In May 2017, a Reddit user posted a graphic that purported to list all of President Trump’s accomplishments during his first four months in office. It was then widely shared on social media: TRUMP ACCOMPLISHMENTS .. Retweet the hell out of this to annoy @ABC @CBS @cnn @cnbc @MSNBC @nbc @nytimes @washingtonpost #dishonestmedia. pic.twitter.com/ITArBQgcmJ — Small Biz for Trump (@SmallBiz4Trump) May 15, 2017 Creating homebrew visual aids touting the accomplishments (or failures) of top politicians is a popular online pastime, not least because it’s a cheap and easy way to propagandize, and because there are no pesky standards of fairness and accuracy to meet. As we’ve noted with regard to previous specimens (for example, a late-2016 meme touting the alleged economic achievements of President Obama), the graphic format lends itself to the display of cherry-picked facts to make a simplistic case with no semblance of context or nuance. In this case, the claim is that, despite all the carping in the mainstream press about “chaos” and “ineptitude” in the Oval Office, President Trump has actually accomplished quite a lot during his first four months as chief executive, and thus you will not find mention of major campaign promises Trump has had difficulty keeping so far, such as instituting a Muslim immigration ban and building a wall on the Mexican border. Also, since it’s very much a partisan case being made, there will be disagreement over what constitutes an “accomplishment.” Some feats, such as reducing unemployment, are uncontroversial, while others, such as dismantling entire government agencies, aren’t likely to be regarded as accomplishments by those who find the functions of those agencies critical. Here are the claims: 4.4 percent – lowest since May 2007 As reported in the Washington Post, government data released on 5 May 2017 indicated that the national unemployment rate hit a new low in April: The U.S. job market rebounded strongly last month and the unemployment rate fell to the lowest level seen in a decade, government data released Friday morning showed, calming fears that had bubbled up in the past month about the state of the economy. Employers added 211,000 jobs in April as the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.4 percent, the lowest level since May 2007. It bears pointing out that the jobless rate had already been on a steady decline since 2010. Further, unemployment hit a previous nine-year low of 4.6 percent in December 2016 when President Obama was still in office. It climbed back up to 4.8 percent in January, dipped to 4.7 percent in February, and to 4.5 percent in March 2017. To what degree short-term improvements in the economy since January can be attributed to a new chief executive whose economic policies remain nascent is perennially up for debate, though according to The New York Times‘ senior economic correspondent Neil Irwin, a “Trump effect” that is buoying corporate hiring policies after the election cannot be ruled out: So does Mr. Trump deserve any credit for solid economic results? If you think the economy is driven by concrete, specific policies around taxes, spending, monetary policy and regulation, the answer is no. If you think that what really matters is the mood in the executive suite, then just maybe. SoftBank $50B Exxon $20B Hyundai $3.1B Apple $1B Chrysler $1B GM $1B Bayer AG $1B Toyota $600M LG $250M This is a mostly-accurate, partial list of corporations who have announced investments in American facilities and/or jobs since the election of Donald Trump. With the exception of Bayer AG (which announced $8 billion in new investments, not $1 billion as claimed), the dollar amounts match those cited in press reports between January and April 2017 (sources: Softbank, Exxon Mobil Corp., Hyundai-Kia, Apple, Fiat Chrysler, General Motors, Bayer AG, Toyota, LG Electronics). It’s not necessarily accurate to characterize all of these commitments as “accomplishments” of President Trump, however. As CBS Moneywatch’s Irina Ivanova reported in January 2017: Few of the jobs companies are promising to create in the U.S. can be attributed to a sudden renewed commitment to USA Inc. inspired by Trump’s “America First” policies. Indeed, the businesses Trump has been quick to praise have been careful not to characterize their recent hiring announcements as new. And as usual with corporate investments of this scale, such plans are typically months — or even years — in the making, suggesting they long predate the presidential election. For example, Fiat Chrysler said their promise of a $1 billion investment in Michigan and Ohio plants, projected to create 2,000 jobs, was the “second phase” of an industrialization plan announced in 2016. GM’s $1 billion investment was “several years in the making,” according to sources cited by CBS. The largest of all the announced commitments, SoftBank’s pledge of $50 billion, was also in the works long before Trump won the election: Another widely publicized corporate initiative that Trump trumpeted — a promise by SoftBank to create 50,000 high-tech jobs in the U.S. — was the result of a tech fund the company announced on Oct. 14 — three weeks before the election. Given the massive tech industry in the U.S., economists say much of the planned $50 billion investment would have found its way to the states regardless of who occupied the White House. “You don’t just decide overnight to invest $3 billion,” said Nathan Jensen, a professor at the University of Texas who studies interactions between government and corporations. Bayer AG’s commitment to an $8 billion investment and the creation of 3,000 U.S. jobs was announced by the Trump transition team after the president-elect met in January 2017 with the CEOs of Bayer AG and Monsanto, who are planning a merger. Transition spokesman Sean Spicer credited Trump’s negotiating skills for the pledge, but some analysts were skeptical that the companies had actually promised anything that wasn’t already on the table when plans for the merger were first revealed in September 2016: Bayer and Monsanto said in a joint statement after Spicer’s remarks that the “combined company expects to spend approximately $16 billion in R&D in agriculture over the next six years with at least half of this investment made in the United States.” That amounts to about $2.7 billion a year, which roughly equates to what the combined companies already spend in that area globally, [Wall Street analyst Jeremy] Redenius said. As for the U.S. breakdown, he estimates it’s likely close to half already; Monsanto spends $1.5 billion a year, the majority of which is in the U.S., he said, and Bayer already invests in R&D here as well. “Not an increase, but not substantially cutting,” he said of the global figure. The merger, which awaits U.S. regulatory approval, is not likely to be completed until 2018, CNBC reported. $182B in April 2017 It is true that the U.S. Treasury reported a $182 billion budget surplus in April 2017, the largest April surplus since 2001 (and the second-largest in history), according to MarketWatch. It’s unclear exactly how that surplus is attributable to President Trump, however. April is typically a surplus month because of tax receipts. In addition, citing a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) review as its source, Associated Press reported that the April 2017 surplus was “inflated” because of a tax deadline change allowing corporations to pay federal taxes in April that in previous years were paid in March. It remains to be seen what effect Tump’s policies will have on the budget deficit for 2017 as a whole (the fiscal year ends on 30 September). The CBO projects a 4.6 percent drop in the deficit from what it was in 2016, but that is based on laws and policies already in effect when Trump took office. DOW at 20,896 The stock market can be fickle. As of April 29, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 20,940.51, 6.12 percent higher than when Trump took office — positive movement, unquestionably. That number had risen to 20,981.94 by 16 May, then plummeted 372 points the next day as the market was shaken by news that Trump had shared classified information with Russian diplomats in the White House and attempted to divert FBI Director James Comey from an investigation of Trump’s alleged ties to Russia before he fired him. Currently at 125.6 It’s true that the Consumer Confidence Index, a metric assessing how ordinary consumers feel about the strength of the economy, hit 125.6 in March 2017, its highest point since 2000. It is also true that it fell five points to 120.3 the following month. Even so, it showed that consumers (as of April) had more confidence in the economy under Trump than under Obama, during whose administration the index never exceeded 113.7 (although it did manage to rise to that point after bottoming out in 2009 at 25). Passed 32 bills through Congress As of 17 May 2017, President Trump had signed 34 bills passed by Congress, a comparatively high number in such a short period of time (since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who signed 76 pieces of legislation in his first 100 days, only Harry Truman, at 55, signed more). That’s not to say that all of the legislation signed by Trump between January and May 2017 was necessarily noteworthy, however. One bill changed the name of a Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa; another renamed a VA health center in Pennsylvania; another approves the location of a memorial honoring Desert Storm and Desert Shield veterans; three appointed citizen regents to the board of the Smithsonian Institution. Nor should it be assumed that Trump’s signing of a given bill meant he or his administration was actively involved in its passage. Thirteen such bills nullifying federal regulations enacted during the Obama administration (such as H.J. Res. 69, reversing a U.S. Fish and Wildlife rule pertaining to Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuges and S.J. Res. 34, reversing FCC Internet privacy rules) were rushed through Congress and quickly signed because they made use of the Congressional Review Act of 1996, which imposes a 60-day limit on the time allowed to overrule previously passed laws. Appointed constitutionalist Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch This is true. Gorsuch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 7 April 2017. After 8 years of inaction This is true. Trump fulfilled a campaign promise by signing an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership international trade agreement on 23 January 2017, one day after announcing he would renegotiate it. Despite President Obama’s fervent support for the deal, many groups, including labor unions, were critical of the TPP, and CNN reported that its chances of approval by Congress were already “bleak.” 40 percent fewer illegal border crossings and deportation of violent and repeat offenders The number of illegal border crossings from Mexico into the U.S. in February 2017 were indeed down 40 percent from the previous month, according to statistics provided by the Department of Homeland Security, and that downward trend, which had actually started the previous November, continued in March and April 2017. This U.S. Customs and Border Protection chart shows how striking the change was compared to the previous five years: This may or may not prove to be a lasting trend, CNN reported in March, but some such “Trump effect” is the most plausible explanation for what has occurred so far in 2017: Water contamination crisis started in April 2014 It’s true that in March 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $100 million grant to the state of Michigan to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in Flint, which experienced a lead pollution crisis potentially affecting as many as 100,000 people beginning in 2014. There has been some dispute, however, over whether this ought to be labeled a “Trump accomplishment” or an “Obama accomplishment.” As we noted in a previous article, funding for the grant came from a bill signed by President Obama in 2016, though the monies weren’t officially awarded until after he left office, hence some prefer to credit it to Trump. Strengthening relationships China Japan Russia UK Tough on North Korea Tough on Syria Freed Humanitarian Workers from Egypt Although President Trump pledged to “strengthen” overseas relationships going into office and he had already met with several important foreign leaders by mid-May 2017, it is too soon to tell to what degree his promise will bear fruit. China: The president-elect got off to a rocky start with China in December by accepting a congratulatory call from the leader of Taiwan, which China views as a province,not an independent nation, and with which the U.S. does not have diplomatic relations. China lodged a formal complaint. In April, Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with whom he said he made “tremendous progress” but no breakthroughs. A trade deal negotiated by the Trump administration with China in May was rated “pretty good” by The Wall Street Journal. Japan: Japanese Prime Minister Abe, who has met twice with Trump, issued a joint statement with him reaffirming the “unshakable alliance” between the U.S. and Japan. That is despite Trump having called Japan a “currency manipulator” during the presidential campaign and pulling out of the TPP, which Abe supported. Whether the “very, very good chemistry” Trump says he has with Abe will improve the relationship between the two countries over the long haul remains to be seen. Russia: U.S.-Russia relations have been strained for many years, a situation not improved by Russia’s attempts to meddle in the U.S. presidential election, nor by the fact that Trump associates are under investigation for possible collusion in that effort. A U.S. missile strike by Trump against Syria, with whose government Russia is closely allied, were strongly condemned by Russian leaders, who warned there could be “extremely serious” consequences. U.K.: British Prime Minister Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump White House, and their cordial meeting was portrayed by both countries as a renewal of the “special relationship” between the U.S and the U.K. According to the BBC, Obama was seen by many Britons as more interested in the European Union as a whole than in the U.K. itself, while Trump, who was in favor of Brexit, is perceived as the opposite. Tough on Korea? President Trump has employed what the Washington Post calls “hard-line rhetoric” against North Korea, including threats of force, in hopes of squelching that county’s increasing militarism, a strategy some experts dismiss as “macho posturing” that could escalate into a Cuban Missile Crisis-like confrontation. Tough on Syria? In April 2017, Trump ordered U.S. missile strikes against an air base in Syria in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack on civilians by the Syrian government, which has been known to brutalize its own people during the ongoing civil war there. Trump’s gesture came up short, however, in that the Syrian Air Force was able to launch a new attack against rebel forces from that same base just hours later. Humanitarian workers in Egypt: In April 2017 President Trump negotiated the release of U.S.. citizen Aya Hijazi, her Egyptian husband, and four other humanitarian workers from a prison in Cairo, Egypt, where they had been locked up since 2014, without evidence or trial, on charges of child abuse and trafficking. Trimming the fat at many overblown government agencies and promoting small business growth by reigning in the EPA Although it is true that President Trump signed an executive order on 13 March 2017 directing the heads of executive branch departments to eliminate all “unnecessary” agencies and reorganize those that remain to improve their “efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability,” the order gave said department heads six months from the date of signing to come up with suggestions for this process, so not much fat has been trimmed thus far despite the groundwork being laid. Regarding efforts to “reign in” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a CNN report confirms that’s been among Trump’s top priorities from the start: President Donald Trump made a campaign trail promise to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency — a department once looked to as an important national force tackling climate change — and during his first 100 days in office has held true to his word, taking swift strides towards dismantling the agency and rolling back regulations. Alongside EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, a former Oklahoma attorney general who once worked tangentially with the fossil fuel industry to oppose Obama-era regulations, the Trump administration has so far issued a flurry of EPA-focused executive orders, proposed employee buyouts, handed down a social media gag order and is proposing significant cuts to the EPA budget. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a small business advocacy group, has hailed Trump’s commitment to cutting “burdensome regulations,” while environmental protection groups see it as a threat to public health and the future of the planet. Finished Dakota Access Pipeline & reversed Obama’s “Land Grab” EO, freeing US to use our own natural resources The controversial Dakota Access Pipeline project, halted under President Obama, was revived by President Trump and will begin commercial operations on 1 June 2017. Trump also issued an executive order directing a review of lands designated as national monuments: Specifically, the review will consider all national monument designations of federal public lands since 1996 that are 100,000 acres or larger. Mr Trump singled out former President Barack Obama’s “egregious” use of federal power in using the Antiquities Act to “unilaterally” place swaths of American land and water under federal control, adding, “it’s time we ended this abusive practice.”
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13433
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"Senate Leadership Fund Says ""Catherine Cortez Masto failed Nevada rape victims. While attorney general, thousands of rape kits were never sent for DNA analysis."
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"Senate Leadership Fund claims, ""Catherine Cortez Masto failed Nevada rape victims,"" and ""while attorney general, thousands of rape kits were never sent for DNA analysis."" The ad is misleading in the sense that it portrays Cortez Masto as insensitive to the plight of victims of rape, but the charge that nothing was done to reduce the backlog during her time as attorney general is accurate. However, the labs where rape kits are tested are run by police, and not directly by the attorney general."
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mixture
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Nevada, Crime, Senate Leadership Fund,
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"A new Nevada ad campaign claims Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto ""failed Nevada rape victims"" during her tenure as the state’s attorney general. Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC with ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, has launched several ads attacking the former attorney general on the issue of untested rape test kits. ""Catherine Cortez Masto failed Nevada rape victims,"" the ad says. ""While Attorney General, thousands of rape kits were never sent for DNA analysis."" Cortez Masto’s campaign has taken the ads seriously, as she’s staked much of her candidacy on her record of combating human trafficking and violence against women (even releasing two ads attempting to push back on the claims). However, it’s hard to find any evidence that she took on the specific problem of the state’s rape kit backlog while in office from 2006 to 2014. How the backlog happened ""Rape kits"" are shorthand for sexual assault forensic evidence kits, intended to be collected soon after a sexual assault or rape by a nurse or doctor. It collects a variety of evidence including the patient’s medical history, tissue and hair samples from the victim’s body and clothes, photos of injuries sustained by the victim, and biological samples such as saliva, blood, semen, urine, skin cells and hair. Nevada came under fire in October 2014 when a nonprofit group released a report showing Las Vegas tested only 16 percent of kits collected by police between 2004 and 2013, with more than 4,300 left unprocessed. Nationwide, the backlog of untested kits was estimated to be more than 400,000 in 2014. Kits aren’t tested for several reasons, including if police decline to request a test in favor of other evidence or if the victim decides not to proceed with prosecution. Testing kits can also be expensive (up to $1,500 for an individual kit), which contributes to backlogs. Advocates say that testing every kit is important because DNA samples from the kits are entered into an FBI database which can uncover new leads and introduce evidence linking sexual assault or rape cases together. Who to blame? The Senate Leadership Fund ads use several pieces of evidence to claim that Cortez Masto ""neglected"" the issue for eight years, including video of an October 2014 exchange between her and a member of a criminal justice committee on the backlog issue. The video highlights a question from Richard Siegel, former president of the Nevada American Civil Liberties Union, asking Cortez Masto if she’s aware of recent articles about the unprocessed rape kit backlog issue. Cortez Masto responds that she hasn’t (clip begins at 2:17:40), which the ad highlights as evidence that she had ""no idea"" of the issue. A review of the video shows the ad plays the exchange relatively straightforward, but Siegel (who is supporting Cortez Masto) says it’s taken out of context and ignores all the other work she did on the issue. ""The truth was the opposite of that,"" he said. ""She was the leader without any question with anything to do about sexual violence."" Still, there isn’t much evidence that Cortez Masto specifically tackled the backlog issue while in office, though she did support legislation expanding access to rape test kits and more broadly sought support for victims of human trafficking and sexual violence. The most direct evidence provided by the Cortez Masto campaign is a 2012 letter that she and 52 other state attorneys general signed urging Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. The letter references a ""rape kit that goes unprocessed for lack of funding"" as an example of the consequences for not reauthorizing the bill. Cortez Masto also worked on legislation expanding access to sexual assault kits, secured grants to combat violence against women, and helped draft legislation preventing rape or domestic violence victims from being compensated due to their ""conduct,"" which critics say is a form of victim-blaming. As for the ad’s central claim, there is little direct evidence that she took direct action on dealing with the backlog. Her successor, Republican Attorney General Adam Laxalt, made filling the backlog a campaign pledge and was able to secure roughly $3.7 million in grants and redirected settlement funds to pay for funding the backlog about a year after taking office. Though the funding is secured, filling the backlog is still a work in progress. Out of about 8,000 total untested kits, the Attorney General’s office says about 1,500 have been sent out for testing as of August 2016, with expectations that roughly half of backlogged kits will be sent out for testing by the end of next year. Adding to the complexity is that responsibility over untested rape kits is a jurisdictional web, as Nevada is an outlier among most states in not having a dedicated state-level forensic lab. The state is instead served by two separate police-run facilities in Reno and Las Vegas servicing the rest of the state. ""The attorney general has no responsibility over the laboratory or over the police agencies that the laboratory serves,"" said Renee Romero, former director of the Reno-area forensic lab. So there is no statutory requirement that Nevada’s attorney general must oversee rape test kits and any potential backlogs, but as the state’s top law enforcement officer, they clearly have the discretion and freedom to take on issues that aren’t clearly laid out in state law. The ads also claim that Cortez Masto was unable to find money needed to address the backlog, while her successor ""quickly"" found funds to fill the backlog. Laxalt did gain approval from legislators in December 2015 allocating $3.7 million targeting the backlog, but those funds came from various sources, including a one time payment of $1.7 million in settlement funds from JP Morgan Chase case over fraudulent debt collection practices. The initial action against the bank was taken by a group of 13 state attorneys general (not including Nevada) that negotiated the national settlement. Nevada received $1.7 million from that deal, which Laxalt asked to have specifically dedicated to filling the rape-kit backlog. Cortez Masto’s office did send out an advisory in 2014 encouraging Nevadans to file complaints about fraudulent debt collection practices with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, though it’s difficult to draw a line between that press release and the ultimate settlement agreement, which Nevada played no part in negotiating and coming in July 2015, after she left office. ""It is unclear what former Attorney General Masto is referencing when she states that her work 'helped fund testing of Nevada’s rape kit' backlog,"" Attorney General’s office spokeswoman Monica Moazez said in a statement. Laxalt’s office also applied for and received around $1.9 million in federal grant money to address the backlog, which wasn’t available when Cortez Masto was in office. But it’s not a new issue, as Congress has appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars targeting rape-kit backlogs since 2004 (though it’s been criticized for not effectively tackling the problem). One reason Cortez Masto may not have tackled the backlog issue specifically is because the extent of problem wasn’t revealed until the final months of her term. The first reporting as to the actual extent of the backlog appeared in October 2014, just two months before Cortez Masto left office. Our ruling Senate Leadership Fund claims, ""Catherine Cortez Masto failed Nevada rape victims,"" and ""while attorney general, thousands of rape kits were never sent for DNA analysis."" The ad is misleading in the sense that it portrays Cortez Masto as insensitive to the plight of victims of rape, but the charge that nothing was done to reduce the backlog during her time as attorney general is accurate. However, the labs where rape kits are tested are run by police, and not directly by the attorney general."
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33388
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"A number of localities in the United States, France, and Britain are considered Muslim ""no-go zones"" (operating under Sharia Law) where local laws are not applicable."
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Rumor: Several European and Americans cities have been designated Islamic 'no-go zones' where Sharia law prevails.
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false
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Politics Immigration, ASP Article, disinformation, muslims
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On 7 January 2015, gunmen stormed the offices of French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 employees and wounding several others in an attack by terrorists who reportedly said they were avenging the prophet Muhammad. Concerns about Islamic extremists intensified in the tragedy’s aftermath and reinvigorated a long-circulating rumor involving Muslim “no go zones” in cities in both the United States and Europe. The belief that large neighborhoods or entire towns and cities have been effectively placed outside local rule of law is in no way new: variations of the rumor have circulated since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, but the rumor received both heightened attention and increased saturation after a controversial Fox News segment on 11 January 2015. In the course of that segment, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro spoke with self-styled terrorism expert Steve Emerson: Emerson continued by insinuating authorities in areas as France and the UK denied the existence of no-go zones in their countries and claimed the entire city of Birmingham, England, was one such example of a no-go zone in which “non-Muslim” residents were not permitted: In response, British Prime Minister David Cameron termed Emerson “a complete idiot”: An American “terrorism expert” who claimed that Birmingham is a Muslim-only city is “clearly a complete idiot”, David Cameron has said.The Prime Minister said he choked on his porridge after hearing the claim by Steve Emerson, a Fox News pundit, that non-Muslims “simply don’t go” to Britain’s second-largest city. Mr Emerson issued a grovelling apology after issuing the claim. Mr Cameron said: “Frankly I choked on my porridge and thought it must be April’s Fools Day. This guy is clearly a complete idiot. “He started with an apology. That’s not a bad start. But what he should do is look at Birmingham and see what a fantastic example it is bringing people together of different faiths and different backgrounds and building a world-class brilliant city with a great and strong economy.” Shortly after the segment aired, Emerson fully retracted his claims about Birmingham and issued an apology in a statement published on his web site: I have clearly made a terrible error for which I am deeply sorry. My comments about Birmingham were totally in error. And I am issuing this apology and correction for having made this comment about the beautiful city of Birmingham. I do not intend to justify or mitigate my mistake by stating that I had relied on other sources because I should have been much more careful. There was no excuse for making this mistake and I owe an apology to every resident of Birmingham. I am not going to make any excuses. I made an inexcusable error. And I am obligated to openly acknowledge that mistake. I wish to apologize for all residents of that great city of Birmingham.Steve Emerson PS. I am making donation to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Before he appeared on Fox for the segment in question, Emerson floated a similar claim during a Twitter exchange with French ambassador Gerard Araud. During the back and forth, Emerson pressed the ambassador for details on 750 rumored no-go zones inside France. Araud replied to Emerson’s claims about lawless areas of France: . @TheIPT “No-go zones across France” ! You have exactly the same problem of law and order in your own country. — Gérard Araud (@GerardAraud) January 9, 2015 The multifaceted rumor has several aspects spanning multiple countries: among areas rumored to be partially under de facto Islamic law are Birmingham, England; a small Muslim enclave (commonly known as Islamberg) within Hancock, New York; Dearborn, Michigan; and more than 750 unspecified areas in and around Paris and elsewhere in France. The confusion Araud expressed in response to Emerson’s statements (before the Fox News segment) appeared to stem from translation confusion over what are known as “zones urbaines sensibles” (ZUS) or “sensitive urban zones” in France. While some pockets of citizenry (including high-density Muslim populations) in France have indeed been identified as ZUS, and the term is not a designator for large populations of Muslims. Rather, the highlighted areas are ones that have been afflicted with issues such as crime, poverty, unemployment, and blight and are therefore targeted for urban renewal initiatives. Perhaps owing to the language barrier, the ZUS have been assumed to be designators of areas of Islamic lawlessness in recent years, but as noted at Geographic Travels: Likewise, Middle Eastern writer Daniel Pipes originally blogged about Zones Urbaines Sensibles back in 2006 and then revised his viewpoint after seeing some of them first-hand in 2013: I had an opportunity today to travel at length to several banlieues (suburbs) around Paris, including Sarcelles, Val d’Oise, and Seine Saint Denis. This comes on the heels of having visited over the years the predominantly immigrant (and Muslim) areas of Brussels, Copenhagen, Malmö, Berlin, and Athens.A couple of observations: For a visiting American, these areas are very mild, even dull. We who know the Bronx and Detroit expect urban hell in Europe too, but there things look fine. The immigrant areas are hardly beautiful, but buildings are intact, greenery abounds, and order prevails. These are not full-fledged no-go zones but, as the French nomenclature accurately indicates, “sensitive urban zones.” In normal times, they are unthreatening, routine places. But they do unpredictably erupt, with car burnings, attacks on representatives of the state (including police), and riots. Having this first-hand experience, I regret having called these areas no-go zones. Certainly there are areas of France where crime and violence is rampant, that travelers and non-residents may avoid, and where police may intercede in only with caution and difficulty — some of which are home to significant Muslim populations — but as others have noted: [Some] confound the idea in France of a special economic zone with the problem of the cités, that is, regions in the urban periphery of French cities, that are populated by an underclass consisting largely of immigrants from Muslim countries. Comparable to the “projects” in the United States or “housing estates” in Great Britain, the relationship between the inhabitants of the cités and the police is often adversarial. For example, in a form of protest that has become a sort of annual tradition, 940 cars were set on fire this past New Year’s Eve, primarily in the vicinity of the cités. Most French people would consider that police authority is, at best, tenuous in the cités and the police exercise extreme caution performing their duties there. As police would in the US in housing projects, or, these days, in Ferguson, Missouri.French law applies everywhere in France, including the cités, whatever practical obstacles may exist to its application. After Emerson sparred with Araud, his claims were broadcast to a larger audience and met with considerable ridicule. Outrage over France’s ZUS is slightly easier to sell (as no locations are ever specified, and a language barrier hampers reading comprehension for the curious) than a claim the entire city of Birmingham has fallen to Sharia law. Following the segment, incredulous viewers began to mock the implausible statements made by Emerson using the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts on Twitter. The citizens of Birmingham found his comments to be particularly amusing: In Birmingham you can now only play The Beatles “Halal You Need Is Love” remastered version in public places #FoxNewsFacts — Emily Davis (@EmilyZDavis) January 11, 2015 The Queen is now being forced to wear a hijab by ‘Moslems’ due to the sharia law enforcement in the UK #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/PygydYLBGE — immortal (@omfgitszoya_) January 12, 2015 How did we not see this? Even the station is wearing a hijab #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/nvnB0gGRmt — laura_ellis (@laura_ellis) January 12, 2015 Jam jars across Britain have to wear the hijab in order to be halal. #foxnewsfacts pic.twitter.com/UiT1IWOrnO — Amar (@m1_ama) January 12, 2015 A week later, Fox News issued four separate on-air apologies for reporting the story about no-go zones incorrectly, including one in which anchor Julie Banderas offered a blanket apology to “the people of France and England”: Over the course of this last week we have made some regrettable errors on air regarding the Muslim population in Europe — particularly with regard to England and France.This applies especially to discussions of so-called ‘no-go zones,’ areas where non-Muslims allegedly aren’t allowed in, and police supposedly won’t go. To be clear, there is no formal designation of these zones in either country, and no credible information to support the assertion there are specific areas in these countries that exclude individuals based solely on their religion. There are certainly areas of high crime in Europe, as there are in the United States and other countries — where police and visitors enter with caution. We deeply regret the errors, and apologize to any and all who may have taken offense, including the people of France and England. As is often the case, Emersons and Fox’s corrections did not travel as far or fast to those who saw and believed the claims made during the Fox News segment, and his retraction did not address the claims he had made earlier about no-go zones in France. While large populations of Muslim residents inhabit cities and towns affected by the rumor (and may adhere to religious custom in large numbers), no areas of England, France, or the United States currently allow the laws of any religion to override their own laws. Areas designated as ZUS in France are not exempted from policing or French law, and are simply targeted for renewal initiatives. Likewise, residents of Dearborn and Hancock are not exempt from state or local law, regardless of the religion to which they adhere.
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28237
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Washing the lint filter in your clothes dryer can help enhance the performance and lifespan of that appliance and avoid fires.
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Helpful tip claims that washing the lint filter in your clothes dryer will help enhance the performance and lifespan of that appliance.
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true
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Inboxer Rebellion, Household Hints
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There are a number of devices and appliances that have been standard household items in American homes since before most of us were born. Electric irons, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, gas (or electric) stoves and ovens, washing machines, and clothes dryers are but a few of the many labor-saving devices so familiar to many of us that we seldom ponder just how they work. Ask the average person, for example, how a clothes dryer works, and you’ll probably get an “Are you kidding me?” look in return, along with a terse explanation that a dryer makes stuff “hot,” and everybody knows stuff dries faster when it’s hot. That explanation isn’t technically wrong (as far as it goes), but it’s overly simple. Knowing a bit more about the process involved is the key to understanding why the advice to keep your dryer’s lint filter clean can help improve the performance of your clothes dryer. In a standard (gas) dryer, a fan pulls fresh air into the dryer and sends it flowing over a gas burner. The burner heats the air, which is then channeled into a tumbling drum where the wet clothes are held. The heat, air flow, and tumbling motion all contribute to evaporating the moisture held in the fabrics, and that moisture is absorbed by the gas-warmed air. (Warm air is capable of holding more moisture than cold air.) The warm air — and the moisture it now holds — passes through a filter to trap lint and other particulate matter stirred up by its movement and is vented to the outside so that it can be replaced with new, less-moist air. This process repeats until enough moisture has been evaporated and carried away for the clothes to be considered sufficiently “dry.” Of course, if you neglect to clean the lint filter between dryings, or something else occludes the filter, moist air cannot be vented from the dryer as easily. The result will be that your dryer will work less efficiently: you will have to run your dryer longer to dry a load of clothes, which means higher electricity and gas charges for you and a potentially shorter lifespan for your dryer: I had a wonderful morning, the heating unit went out of my dryer! Why does everything seem to fall apart this time of year!??? The guy that fixes things went in to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean. We always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes. He told us that he wanted to show him something. He took the filter over to the sink and ran hot water over it. Now, this thing is like a mesh — I’m sure you know what your dryer’s lint filter looks like — WELL … the hot water just laid on top of the mesh!!! It didn’t go through it at all!!! He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over that mesh and that’s what burns out the heating unit. You can’t SEE the film, but it’s there. He said this is also what causes dryer units to catch fire and potentially burn the house down with it! He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. He said that makes the life of the dryer at least twice as long! How about that? Learn something new everyday! I certainly didn’t know dryer sheets would do that. So, thought I’d share! Note: I went to dryer and tested my screen by running water on it. The water collected a little but ran though the screen. I dried it off and was ready to put it back in the dryer since the water ran through it but, I thought was the heck it won’t hurt to wash it while I had it out. Warm soap water and a nylon brush and I had it done in 30 seconds. I then ran the water over the screen and what a difference the water just gushed through it with no puddling at all and this time I was running the water at a faster rate. That repairman knew what he was talking about. So, keeping the lint filter clean is one simple way to increase the efficiency (and decrease the operating costs) of your dryer. Just removing the lint from the filter isn’t always enough: the fine mesh of most dryer filters can be clogged in ways that aren’t obvious at a casual glance. As suggested by the piece quoted above, softener sheets can cause waxy build-ups on lint screens that require a little extra effort (usually no more than a quick scrub and rinse in warm, soapy water) to remove. Many modern dryers also use moisture sensors rather than ordinary timed cycles, and residue from dryer sheets can coat the sensors and interfere with their ability to function properly. Cleaning the sensor screen with a little detergent and a soft brush, and wiping off the sensor itself with a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol can rectify this problem. Although regular cleaning of the lint trap may help your dryer to work more efficiently, it’s unlikely that the lack of such cleaning will result in your dryer’s motor burning out or, worse, catching on fire and burning your house down. Consumer Reports noted of this claim that: At Consumer Reports we’ve tested hundreds of clothes dryers for our ongoing dryer Ratings and recommendations. CR’s appliance director, Mark Connelly, says it’s possible that over a long period, fabric sheets, fabric softeners, and laundry detergent ingredients contribute to an unseen film or waxy buildup on the dryer lint screen. But “it’s highly doubtful,” he said, “that any such invisible buildup alone leads to heating-unit burnout or a fire.”
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9363
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NEW PROSTATE CANCER DNA SPIT TEST DEVELOPED BY SCIENTISTS
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Getty Images This story reported on a saliva test to identify men who are at greatest risk of developing prostate cancer. The test was developed from a DNA study that identified previously unknown genetic variants common in men who had the disease. The story provided prostate cancer incidence and explained pitfalls of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood tests, which have been used to screen for prostate cancer. But it misses important caveats and contains little original reporting. A key detail the story should have included? Researchers identified genetic markers in men who were already known to have prostate cancer. They have yet to show that testing for these markers helps identify which men without prostate cancer will go on to develop it. This is an oversight we see often in news stories reporting on research about new cancer screening tests. A test that identifies men at greatest risk of developing prostate cancer might reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment and help some men live longer.
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mixture
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prostate cancer
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There’s no cost data. While this test isn’t on the market — and might never be — there are plenty of saliva-based genetic tests that are. Says the U.S. National Library of Medicine: “The cost of genetic testing can range from under $100 to more than $2,000, depending on the nature and complexity of the test.” This story says the test could “pinpoint the 1 percent of men who are at six times greater risk of developing the condition, and the 10 percent of men who have a threefold greater risk of developing the disease.” But it didn’t clarify two things that are essential to interpreting this result: The story mentioned PSA tests. which detects antigens that can be present in men without the cancer and “carries a risk of returning a false positive that can kick-start unnecessary, life-changing treatment.” However, the story didn’t explain that a genetic test would not necessarily prevent these harms, without a better test to detect actual cancers. While men found to be at low risk might be spared additional testing, those with genetic markers for prostate cancer might be subject to more aggressive interventions that could harm them. The story mentioned “next steps” to understand “how this could be rolled out to patients.” But two important caveats went unaddressed: First, it isn’t known how well these markers will predict which men will get life-threatening cancers and would benefit from aggressive prevention and treatment measures, as well as those men who can rest easy because they won’t get the disease. Other factors — such as lifestyle and environment — might influence who will and who won’t get life-threatening cancer. Second, the study that identified these genetic markers drew on people of European descent, so it’s unclear whether the markers will apply in diverse populations such as that in the U.S. The story grabbed our attention in the second paragraph by stating that “one in seven men in the Western world” will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Better information followed six paragraphs later: According to the American Cancer Society, over 160,600 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year, and around 29,400 people die of the disease. The condition is rare in those below the age of 40; older men and African-Americans are most at risk. The majority of cases are caught at around 66. The story could have done without a misleading holiday tie-in: “With Father’s Day fast approaching, use it as an opportunity to ask your dad, your brother, your uncle, your friends about their risk of prostate cancer. It’s a conversation that could save their life.” The story would have benefited from more sources who weren’t connected to the research (both of the advocate sources were from organizations that helped fund the study). Also, most of the information wasn’t cribbed from other news outlets (in this case, the Guardian and BBC News). The story mentioned family history as one way to flag men at greater risk of developing prostate cancer. It mentioned PSA tests, rectal exams and biopsies as ways to test for the disease. The story made it clear this test isn’t available but would have served readers better by explaining that higher. It stated the test “is being trialed on 300 men in doctor surgeries across London, and is due to be expanded to 5,000 next year.” It also provided this quote: “If it is found to be effective, it could be an important tool for physicians.” [emphasis ours] The story accurately reported that this is a “new method” of detecting risk of prostate cancer. The story did not rely on a news release, but drew heavily from reporting by two other news organizations.
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9608
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How to Prevent a Heart Attack: Text Patients on Healthy Habits
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This is a story about a now year-old study looking at whether a program of semi-personalized mobile phone text messages supporting healthy lifestyle choices led to significant differences in cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, and BMI in a group of patients with known coronary heart disease, compared to those who did not receive such messages. The story makes those differences clear in an accessible chart. What is less clear is whether these differences are due to beneficial changes caused by the text messages or other factors. For example, in a subsequent letter to the journal, a researcher notes that the differences in blood pressure between the two groups were due mainly to 7-point increase in the control group, whereas the text message group’s blood pressure stayed about the same over the course of the study. Similarly, the BMI differences between the groups were due partly to an increase in BMI in the control group and weren’t entirely due to reductions in the text message group. The story communicates the study results accurately and doesn’t suggest that the text messages lowered CVD risk factors from baseline. Without a more specific explanation, however, many readers may assume that’s what happened. Another cautionary note is that the headline goes beyond the findings, suggesting that text messages can possibly “prevent” heart attacks. The study offers no evidence for that link: There was no measurement of heart attack rates between groups. Instead, they measured several surrogate markers associated with heart disease, such as lipid levels and blood pressure. According to the story, more than 25% of all heart attacks in the United States are “repeat” events, making treatment—both medication and lifestyle elements—of heart attack victims once they have returned home important. Social media and text messaging offer means for providing informational interventions, and studies of the impact of messages on a host of illnesses is brisk. So far, past studies indicate that people abandon healthy behaviors far more quickly than would be perhaps predicted, so a new study showing the potential that text messaging can be an effective behavior-changing intervention is welcome news.
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true
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text messaging
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Although the peer-reviewed study on which this story seems to have been based on makes the point that text messages could offer a low-cost strategy for reducing the chances of subsequent heart attacks, the story does not reflect on cost. A clear and readable chart in the story quantifies the apparent benefits of these text messages. But what’s missing here is some nuance: The control group saw a rise in blood pressure, whereas the experimental group remained relatively the same–their blood pressure didn’t actually get lower. So, does that even translate to an actual reduced heart disease risk? And does any of this actually prevent heart attacks? These unanswered questions could have been better emphasized. The concept of “harm” does not appear to be relevant here. Individuals may find text messages to be annoying, of course, but the study itself notes that participants “overwhelmingly” reacted positively to the intervention. That doesn’t make it into the story. The story makes it clear that the study utilized an experimental and a control group, and that this study duration was longer than past studies. Yet the headline suggests that text messages can “prevent” heart attacks. The study offers no evidence for that link: There was no measurement of heart attack rates between groups. Instead, they measured several surrogate markers associated with heart disease, such as lipid levels and blood pressure. This should have been stressed. Repeat heart attacks are relatively common, making continued, at-home treatment of heart attack victims important. The story clearly identifies one source as the leader of the study and includes a second source who appears to be independent of the research. Funding sources are missing from the story, but the study’s declarations of funding do not seem eyebrow-raising. The story does mention some other interventions used to prevent heart attacks, such as typical medications taken to lower blood pressure or cholesterol. The story explains that the study leader is now involved in an effort to replicate her results, which implies that the treatment regimen is not available at present. However, studies of social media and apps used to promote healthy behaviors are ubiquitous, so it might have been useful for the reporter to explore the availability of this strategy compared to others on the market now. The text does a decent job of explaining the novel aspects of the study compared to some similar efforts, though more could have been included on the results of the previous research. Also, since this particular study was actually published nearly a year ago, in September 2015, an effort to update our understanding of message effects would seem to make sense. We weren’t able to locate a news release, but the inclusion of an independent source in the story is a reliable indicator that the story didn’t rely on one.
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28721
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Trump hotels are being renamed to eliminate use of the name 'Trump.'
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"What's true: Trump Hotels announced in September 2016 that they are launching a new hotel brand called ""Scion."" What's false: Donald Trump is not removing his name from established Trump hotels."
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mixture
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Politics, donald trump, scion, trump
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On 22 October 2016, the web site Occupy Democrats published an article reporting that Donald Trump had “just removed his name from his hotels” due to plummeting business connected with his controversial political campaign: Republicans gave Donald Trump their presidential nomination based on his brand’s marketing “success.” Now, the billionaire is stripping his tarnished name from the Trump Organization’s newest hotels in favor of the name “Scion.” Donald Trump, however, is not “stripping” his name from his hotels. Established hotels, such as the Trump International Hotel in Chicago, will still bear his name. Rather, on 28 September 2016, Trump Hotels announced a new “lifestyle” brand of hotels to be named Scion. Although some reports have suggested that Trump’s hotel business has suffered during the 2016 presidential campaign, Ivanka Trump, the Republican presidential nominee’s daughter and the Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at the Trump Organization, said that the business was “stronger than ever” in a press release about the new hotel brand: Scion, which means “descendant of a notable family,” is a multi-faceted lifestyle brand developed in response to the boom in social clubs and the “we” economy. “Our business at Trump Hotels is stronger than ever and we are incredibly excited about the future of Scion, the newest brand in our hotel portfolio, “said Ivanka Trump, Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions, The Trump Organization. “Under the leadership of our CEO, Eric Danziger, along with our world-class leadership team, we are so pleased to leverage our collective knowledge and experience to launch a brand that is vastly different from anything the industry has experienced before. We will develop this brand with the same determination and exacting standards we have become known for.” Scion is designed to connect and engage guests and others with compelling spaces and a strong sense of community. The brand will deliver locally relevant, meaningful and sought-after experiences to those looking for a sense of connection during their travels as well as when they return home. “We wanted a name that would be a nod to the Trump family and to the tremendous success it has had with its businesses, including Trump Hotels, while allowing for a clear distinction between our luxury and lifestyle brands,” said Trump Hotels Chief Executive Officer Eric Danziger. Although issues connected with the presidential campaign may have played a part in the decision to launch the new “Scion” branded hotels, Keven Murphy, chair of the Hospitality Services Department at Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando, told NBC News that the change may simply reflect a new strategy targeted at attracting Millennials as customers: “While the Trump name is a powerful brand name, it may also carry some negative connotation with travelers from around the world,” noted Keven Murphy, chair of the Hospitality Services Department, at Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando. Perhaps that’s why Trump’s newest hotel line won’t bear his name at all: The Trump Organization has dropped the name completely, going for Scion, which means “descendant of a notable family,” the company’s news release explained. The name is “a nod to the Trump family and to the tremendous success it has had with its businesses,” said Trump Hotels Chief Executive Officer Eric Danziger, in a statement. Make sense, says Murphy of Rosen College: “With the advent of the shared economy and the rise of the purchasing power of the Millennial generation, hotel strategies have changed and this may be the reason for the new Scion name.”
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26680
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“During the 2009 swine flu outbreak, Biden made reckless comments unsupported by science & the experts. The Obama Admin had to clean up his mess & apologize for his ineptitude.”
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During the 2009 swine flu outbreak, Biden said he would advise his family against traveling in confined places and said when one person sneezes “it goes all the way through an aircraft.” Scientists say that’s not how germs spread. Biden’s comments were met with backlash and his spokesperson issued a clarification. The Obama administration did not issue a formal apology about his comments.
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true
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Public Health, Coronavirus, Donald Trump,
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"President Donald Trump’s answer to criticism of the U.S. coronavirus response is partly that Joe Biden wouldn’t do any better. Trump points, sometimes wrongly, to Obama-era history, when Joe Biden was the new vice president and the country was dealing with swine flu. On Twitter, an account managed by Trump’s campaign went on the defensive with an attack on Biden’s handling of the H1N1 virus, just hours before Biden announced what he thought the Trump administration should be doing. That March 12 tweet from @TrumpWarRoom says: ""Joe Biden will again politicize coronavirus today. But his record on pandemics is one of incompetence. During the 2009 swine flu outbreak, Biden made reckless comments unsupported by science & the experts. The Obama Admin had to clean up his mess & apologize for his ineptitude."" Biden’s statement had to do with the way germs travel through an aircraft. We fact-checked his statement and rated it back in 2009. We decided to take a fresh look at the Trump team’s tweet in 2020. Joe Biden will again politicize coronavirus today. But his record on pandemics is one of incompetence.During the 2009 swine flu outbreak, Biden made reckless comments unsupported by science & the experts.The Obama Admin had to clean up his mess & apologize for his ineptitude. pic.twitter.com/5TCKZeShkz The swine flu epidemic, or H1N1, was detected in the U.S. in April 2009. The first cases were found in Mexico before rapidly spreading around the world. The U.S. declared a public health emergency on April 26, and President Barack Obama upped that to a national emergency in late October. Biden went on the Today Show on April 30, 2009, to talk about the outbreak. Then-host Matt Lauer asked Biden, ""If a member of your family came to you and said, 'Look, I want to go on a commercial airliner to Mexico and back,' within the next week, would you think it's a good idea?"" Biden said he would tell them not to be in a confined place, and he gave his reason. ""It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's you're in a confined aircraft,"" Biden said. ""When one person sneezes it goes all the way through the aircraft."" He said he would not suggest taking the subway, either. ""If you're out in the middle of a field and someone sneezes, that's one thing; if you're in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it's a different thing."" Biden’s comment drew criticism over fear-mongering, particularly from the travel industry, and experts told us Biden got it wrong. In our 2009 fact-check, we consulted Dr. Tony Overfelt from Auburn University’s National Air Transportation Center, which specializes in studying aircraft environment. At the time, Overfelt said that the air in a commercial jet flows from vents above passengers' heads to vents in the floor at their feet. That airflow sends particles down to the floor and into the aircraft's filtration system. The particles from a sneeze ""might travel a row or a couple of rows or something like that,"" Overfelt said. ""They're really not going to travel up and down the airplane as our vice president said."" The tweet said the Obama administration had to ""clean up"" Biden’s mess and ""apologize for his ineptitude."" There was cleanup, including a half-hearted apology if anyone was ""unduly alarmed."" A spokesperson for Biden’s office released a statement hours later to clarify what he said. They said Biden’s advice lined up with the administration’s: that people should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. ""If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways,"" the statement said. ""This is the advice the vice president has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week."" Biden’s presidential campaign declined to comment. As shown in the Trump Warm Room tweet, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs responded to Biden’s remark in the White House briefing. ""I think what the vice president meant to say was the same thing that, again, many members have said in the last few days, and that is, if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting symptoms, flu-like symptoms — coughing, sneezing, runny nose — that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel,"" Gibbs said on April 30. A reporter then says that wasn’t ""remotely close"" to what Biden said, to which Gibbs responded: ""I understand what he said and I'm telling you what he meant to say ... Obviously if anybody was unduly alarmed for whatever reason, we would apologize for that and I hope that my remarks and remarks of the people of the CDC and Secretary Napolitano have appropriately cleared up what he meant to say."" A Twitter account run by the Trump campaign tweeted that, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak, Biden made ""reckless comments"" unsupported by science and the Obama Administration had to clean up the mess and apologize for it. During a television interview, Biden said he would advise his family not to travel in confined places, and claimed that when one person sneezes ""it goes all the way through an aircraft."" His comments were met with backlash for inducing fear, and his spokesperson issued a statement to clarify his words. Experts said the statement on how germs travel was inaccurate. The claim is accurate but needs clarification or additional information."
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4663
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GOP support grows for legal medical marijuana in Wisconsin.
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The push to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin gained momentum Wednesday with the unveiling of a bill introduced for the first time by Republican lawmakers.
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true
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Legislature, Wisconsin, Medical marijuana, General News, Marijuana, Bills
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The newfound Republican support comes for an idea that Democrats have tried in vain for years to get passed in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed legalizing medical marijuana earlier this year, but Republicans rejected it. Similar Democratic proposals, as well as efforts to legalize recreational pot and decriminalize possession, have gone nowhere. But times are changing, said Republican Rep. Mary Felzkowski, co-sponsor of the latest bill. “People are asking for medical marijuana,” said Felzkowski, a cancer survivor. She conceded that the bill won’t pass this session, due largely to opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. But just getting a public hearing for the first time “would be a huge win,” she said. And then, maybe next session, support will grow to the point it could pass, she said. There’s no doubt public support is strong. In 2018, 16 counties and two Wisconsin cities, representing 52% of the state’s population, approved non-binding referendums in support of legalizing either medical or recreational marijuana. A Marquette University Law School poll in April showed 83% of respondents supported legalizing medical marijuana and 59% backed full legalization. “Each one of us knows someone that has suffered through an illness,” Felzkowski said. “Medical marijuana is just another tool in the toolbox to help our suffering loved ones make it through the day with some semblance of normalcy.” Felzkowski said when she was battling breast cancer in 2014 that she “lived on opioids.” Had marijuana been an option, “oh god yes” she would have taken it, Felzkowski said. “There’s being conservative but there’s being libertarian too,” Felzkowski said. “Having been through what I’ve gone through, I don’t think the government should tell me what I could take.” Senate Republicans have proven to be the biggest roadblock to the idea in Wisconsin. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who is running for Congress, said in September that legalizing medical marijuana won’t pass the Senate because “everyone knows that medical marijuana leads to legalized marijuana.” He reiterated his opposition Wednesday, saying he personally opposes the bill and doesn’t think it has the votes to pass the Senate. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has been generally supportive of medical marijuana, said it was “clear” there wasn’t consensus among Assembly Republicans. “The governor wants to see more bipartisan work and hopes there will at least be a public hearing on the issue of medical marijuana,” said Evers spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff. Introduction of a bill by Republicans signals a further weakening of traditional GOP opposition to the idea in Wisconsin. Neighboring Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois are among the 33 states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes and 11 states, including Michigan and Illinois, have legalized it for recreational purposes. Felzkowski said she remained “very open” to making changes to the measure, which she said was based on input from fellow, more skeptical Republicans and best practices from other states. The latest bill would allow doctors to prescribe certain forms of marijuana under limited circumstances. Marijuana that is smoked and edibles could not be prescribed. It would be permitted in the form of liquid, oil, pill, in a highly concentrated form known as tincture or as a topical application. Patients would need a prescription and they would obtain the marijuana from a licensed dispensary. Only patients with certain conditions would qualify. The qualifying conditions as proposed are cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, ALS, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. A commission created to regulate the program could add additional conditions. In October, three dozen Democrats and just four Republicans introduced a bill to legalize medical marijuana with far fewer limitations. While Evers supported it, the bill has gone nowhere in the Legislature. Felzkowski said that measure was doomed because it was “wide open.” She was hopeful that changing attitudes would lead to a more limited medical marijuana proposal like hers becoming law. “Don’t let excellent get in the way of good,” Felzkowski said. ___ Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP
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6666
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Hawaii health officials confirm 2 rat lungworm disease cases.
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Two new cases of rat lungworm disease contracted in Hawaii have been confirmed, the state Department of Health said.
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true
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Health, Rats, Hawaii
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An adult vacationing on the northern side of the Big Island contracted the disease in December, marking the state’s ninth case of 2018, health officials said. The disease, also known as angiostrongyliasis, is caused by a parasitic roundworm and can affect a person’s brain and spinal cord. Larvae can be passed to humans who ingest raw freshwater shrimp, land crabs and snails or raw produce that contains infected slugs or snails The person was diagnosed after they left the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the results. An adult resident of the Big Island’s east side became sick last month. The person was hospitalized earlier this month. The state verified the testing, marking the first case of rat lungworm disease this year. “Our investigators are working diligently to communicate with the patients and learn more about how they may have become infected with rat lungworm disease,” said Bruce Anderson, state health director. “Determining the exact source of infection in any individual is challenging since it requires a deep dive into a person’s food consumption history as well as where they may live, work, travel and recreate.” Anderson added: “We know that most people get sick by accidentally eating infected slugs and snails. Taking precautions such as washing all fresh produce before enjoying and getting rid of slugs and snails around our homes and communities can go a long way toward preventing infection.” ___ Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
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10162
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Dyslexia: Scanning the brain for clues
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This story is the best of the three we reviewed about a study indicating that brain scans may help researchers understand brain structure and function in people who have dyslexia. It refrains from claiming that the work has near-term clinical implications for people who have trouble reading and writing. However, the bulk of the story is made up of personal stories about living with dyslexia, while key features of this research are buried deep in the story or left out entirely. What’s more, the story describes the study participants as “children,” thus leaving readers with the impression that researchers looked at beginning readers, when they actually were studying teenagers who presumably had been dealing with dyslexia for many years. In addition, the story tosses in a discussion of an unrelated study of dyslexia and spatial skills. Even people with advanced reading skills are likely to come away from this story befuddled about the scope, findings and implications of the research. Good reading skills are fundamental to educational, social and financial success. Dyslexia is a type of reading disability characterized by difficulties in word recognition, spelling and decoding. Most studies suggest early intervention is important, but little is known about why some children respond better than others. This research suggests that brain scans can provide insight to underlying mechanisms of dyslexia and perhaps help track and refine interventions that could be tailored to individuals. But for readers to understand the value of this study, stories must clearly describe the research and its implications.
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true
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CNN,Imaging studies
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None of the stories we reviewed gave readers sufficient information on the cost of the research scans used in the study. This story includes a comment from a researcher saying that increased use of this type of brain scan would bring the “high cost” down, but it doesn’t provide an estimate of the current cost or any comparison to alternative methods of assessing reading ability or other features of dyslexia. We will give this story a satisfactory rating because it portrays this research as providing information for researchers seeking to understand dyslexia, rather than offering important direct benefits to individuals. However, most of the story is about what it is like to live with dyslexia. These anecdotes have little or nothing to do with the research. The list of celebrities who may have or had dyslexia also seems irrelevant and distracting. Then the story tosses in discussion of a study that looked at correlations between dyslexia and spatial skills; again, unrelated to the topic of the primary study reported here. The jumble of extraneous personal tales and other research muddles the point of the story. MRI brain scans are generally considered to present little physical risk, so the issue here is really the potential negative effects of the information the test produces. At least the story raises that issue by including comments from parents who worry that this sort of scanning could further stigmatize children who have trouble reading or writing. This story fails to point out that the “children” studied were not beginning readers, but teenagers who were already identified as having dyslexia and may have been involved in special reading programs for many years. It also fails to mention several of the caveats and limitations that the researchers noted in their journal article, including the possibility that misclassification of the participants based on their initial testing could affect the results. In other words, rather than actually improving during the study, it is possible some of the teens were actually better readers from the beginning, but just scored low on the baseline tests. Nevertheless, the story appropriately describes this study as helping researchers to understand the disease, rather than evaluating the clinical usefulness of brain scans. Also, one paragraph deep in the story highlights the preliminary nature of the research; specifically that the study included only 25 participants with dyslexia, “which is too small a sample size to prove anything.” It also notes that the study did not look at whether different varieties or reading instruction or other interventions might have had some effect and it includes a comment from an independent expert about the lack of data on instruction or other factors that could influence reading ability. The story would have been better if the alert to the preliminary nature of the study had been near the top, rather than buried near the end. The story refers to estimates that between 5 percent and 20 percent of the population has dyslexia. Unlike the Reuters story we also reviewed, this story provides a useful definition of dyslexia as “a condition that, broadly speaking, hinders a person’s ability to interpret language.” The story does include independent experts. Although it does not discuss conflicts of interest, the authors of the main study declared no conflicts and reported that their study was supported by a number of grants from public agencies and foundations, though the baseline assessment of the participants was supported by a company that markets treatment interventions for people with dyslexia. One troubling point: the story describes one person who claims to have been helped by “training at a learning development center.” If this individual was associated with the company that helped sponsor this research, the story should have disclosed that connection. The study authors wrote that although standardized tests did not accurately predict changes in reading ability during the study period, “it is possible that there are behavioral measures not included here that may predict outcome.” Indeed, their journal article specifically referred to other research into clinical testing that did appear to predict how children with poor reading skills responded to teaching. The story fails to make clear that the study reported here did not attempt to make a comprehensive comparison of the predictive power of scans and other methods of assessing children with reading problems. The story notes that the type of scan used in this study is not widely available. The story implies that this study is the first to suggest young people with dyslexia use a certain area of the right hemisphere of their brains more than average readers. Actually, the study authors pointed out that their research provides some additional data to support the findings of many other studies of differences between the brains of people with dyslexia and those who read normally. The story does not appear to rely on a news release.
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28250
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A video shared widely in August 2019 shows a dangerous type of worm inside of a bell pepper.
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What's true: The video is authentic and does show a real worm moving about inside a green bell pepper. What's false: The experts we consulted agreed the worm was likely to be a mermithid nematode, and therefore harmless to humans. One expert explained that even if it were a different type of worm, it did not resemble any variety known to infect humans or pose a threat to them.
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mixture
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Critter Country
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In August 2019, we received multiple inquiries from readers about the facts surrounding a viral video clip that showed what appeared to be a long, stringy worm of some kind moving about inside a green bell pepper. The video was re-posted by multiple Facebook users, many of whom warned viewers about the worm, which several of them described as potentially dangerous, and some identified as “the simla mirch” worm. On Aug. 20, a Facebook user from Brazil posted the video, garnering almost 10 million views within a week. Her caption warned (translated from Portuguese): “Be careful with peppers … this worm is called Simla Mirch … a new worm which lives in wet areas of the body … It can cause pain and ultimately lead to death”: Other widely shared videos did not specifically claim the worm could inflict pain or kill humans, but did advise viewers, in broader terms, to “be careful.” Some videos identified the worm as “Simla Mirch.” The video was undoubtedly a curiosity, and it’s not surprising that the unappetizing spectacle of a worm moving about inside a popular vegetable caused it to be shared widely on social media. However, some of the specific claims associated with it were inaccurate. The worm According to experts we consulted, the creature shown in the video is very likely to be a mermithid nematode worm (a member of the Mermithidae family and the nematoda phylum). They are parasitic to insects and spiders, but they do not parasitize humans, and they are not harmful to us. Ben Hanelt, a senior lecturer in biology at the University of New Mexico and an expert in parasitic worms, told Snopes in an email: “This is very likely a mermithid nematode. These are not pathogenic to humans; only to insects.” John Janovy, emeritus professor of biological sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an expert in parasite ecology, told Snopes “There is a chance” the worm shown in the video was a mermithid nematode. If so, he told us, it “is of no danger to humans.” Matt Bolek, an associate professor of integrative biology at Oklahoma State University and an expert in parasite ecology and evolution, wrote: “As far as I can tell to me this looks typical of a mermithid nematode. These are parasites of insects and spiders and emerge from the arthropod host to seek either soil or water to develop to a free living adult worm. Not dangerous to humans and they [humans] cannot become infected with this parasite.” Bolek said it was possible that the worm was a horsehair worm (of the Nematomorpha phylus), but this was unlikely because juvenile horsehair worms die quickly after leaving their hosts, and the adults are darker in color than the worm shown in the video, and do not move in the same way. He told us that the horsehair worm also does not infect humans, and “there are really no other nematodes that have that coloration, move that way or are that skinny that have been reported to infect humans.” So whether the worm shown in the video was a mermithid nematode (which several experts told us was likely), or another kind, it was not harmful to humans. That refutes the rather alarming claim made in the most widely-shared posting of the video, that the worm “can cause pain and ultimately lead to death.” The life cycle of parasitic nematodes is not for the faint of heart. The worm shown in the video likely entered the pepper while it was a parasite of an insect or spider that bored its way inside. That is, the arthropod was likely carrying a juvenile mermithid nematode inside of its body, and when the worm reached adulthood, it emerged from the arthropod, killing it, and becoming “free living,” that is, no longer a parasite of another animal. The video below shows three mermithid nematodes emerging from their host, a mosquito. It is not suited to queasy viewers: The pepper “Shimla mirch” (misspelled as “simla mirch” in some Facebook posts) is simply a Hindi name for Capsicum annuum, a species of the pepper plant and a popular way of describing bell peppers in India and Pakistan. Some social media users who posted the video mistakenly described the worm, and not the pepper, as “simla mirch,” apparently due to a misreading of earlier posts by users in India and Pakistan, many of whom wrote: “Be careful of shimla mirch. New type of worm. Cut properly, check and cook.” To readers in India and Pakistan, it would have been clear that these posts were warning viewers to be vigilant when using bell peppers (shimla mirch) because of the presence of a “new type of worm.” However, some readers outside those countries understood “shimla mirch” to be the name of the “new type of worm” and shared the footage along with that significant inaccuracy. Conclusion The video that went viral in August 2019 is authentic and does indeed show a worm moving about inside a green bell pepper. However, according to the experts we consulted, it is likely to be a mermithid nematode, which is not parasitic of humans and does not pose a threat to us, contrary to the warnings posted on social media along with the video. Furthermore, the worm shown in the video is not “new,” although August 2019 was likely the first time that millions of viewers had come across the mermithid nematode. Finally, “shimla mirch” (misspelled as “simla mirch”) is a Hindi name for the bell pepper shown in the video and not the worm itself.
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9602
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Experimental drug shows promise for quick treatment of postpartum depression
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This is story about a small, early test of a new type of drug to treat postpartum depression. The story is careful to note the preliminary nature of the findings and that the only source is company statements, since the study report has not been submitted for peer-review. However, it is hard to see the health news in a tiny phase 2 study, especially when no independent sources are included in the story to help provide balance to the claims. As readers, we’re also left wondering about potential harms specific to pregnant and new mothers, such as the drug’s ability to affect a baby in utero or pass through breastmilk. (Editor’s note: STAT has updated the story since this review was posted, and the “Read Original Story” link above will take you to the updated version, not the original version that we saw. Some of these changes address several of the Not Satisfactory ratings below. However, our ratings still stand: While updates are great, they aren’t likely to be seen by people who read the original story.) This story reports some positive early hints about an experimental drug tested in a few women with the symptoms of major depression. But with phrases like “paradigm shift,” readers could easily get the impression that the results are far more reliable, and relevant to many more women, than is justified based on the company announcement. And STAT was far from the only news outlet writing about the study in such a way. It got a lot of play in the financial press and in investor circles, helping boost the company’s stock price, with the price closing up 37%. But whether the source is STAT or a more financial-minded publication, all stories posted online have the potential to reach and influence readers who are searching for health news. That’s why all such stories with health claims should scrutinize medical evidence.
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true
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postpartum depression
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The drug is still in early experiments, but it would have been nice to give readers some indication of how the eventual price of this drug might compare to available antidepressants. We will give the story a satisfactory rating because it specifies that 7 of 10 patients given SAGE-547 reported significant improvement in their depression within 60 hours, which persisted for up to 30 days. However, the story did not tell readers that the depression questionnaire used in this study, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), has been criticized as placing greater emphasis on sleep than on suicidal thoughts, so that the scores of some patients may improve even if their thoughts of suicide increase. Readers should have been told that the form of the drug used in this trial is given as an IV solution and that it will not be known if a pill can produce similar results until separate trials are completed. Although the story does report that the company said the only problems reported by patients were dizziness or a sedative effect (in both the treatment and placebo groups), it should have specifically cautioned readers that there could be other potential harms that cannot be identified by a one-month test in which only 10 patients received the active drug–notably, if this drug can pass into breastmilk or affect babies in utero. Also, as noted above, the story fails to tell readers that the form of the drug used in this trial is given as an inpatient IV treatment, which carries risks. The story tells readers the study is small, has not been peer reviewed, and that the results were reported in a press release. However, it should have specifically noted that this sort of small, phase 2 trial is not designed to prove whether or not an experimental drug really is effective. The story did not disease monger. However, because milder symptoms of the “baby blues” are common in pregnant women and new mothers, the story should have been clearer about distinguishing the features of a “Major Depressive Episode” like those experienced by the women in this trial from the more common blues that readers are likely to be familiar with. Although the story notes that the results were released in a news release and a company conference call, and were not peer reviewed (thus making it clear that the source is only the company and that the results have not been independently reviewed), the story should have included comments from independent experts. This is a barely passing satisfactory as the story does briefly acknowledge alternatives. The only reference to conventional antidepressant treatment is that it doesn’t work as quickly as this experimental drug appears to. Talk therapy is mentioned, but there is no mention of its effectiveness. While it is true that antidepressants can take weeks, they and mood stabilizing drugs for women with bipolar disorder do treat postpartum depression. In women with a history of this highly recurrent condition, antidepressant treatment may be started or maintained during pregnancy. The story makes clear that this drug is still being tested and that the company has not applied for FDA approval. The story does not mention other GABA-receptor drugs in development. Indeed, it includes a quote from the company CEO calling the study data a “paradigm shift in how the disease is thought about,” thus giving the incorrect impression that this drug is the only one like it being studied. The story clearly states that the study results were put out in a company news release. The story includes a quote from a company conference call, in addition to the numbers from the news release. However, the reliance on company sources undermines the value of the story.
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10805
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FDA rejects Avastin as breast cancer therapy
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Strong points: adequate evaluation of the quality of the evidence relatively dispassionate review of the data discussion of costs Weaker points: no quantification of harms conflcting messages on benefits were probably confusing to readers failed to disclose a clear conflict of interest in a source. Withdrawing a drug can be a tricky business. Like with Vioxx, some people currently taking a drug may be deriving benefit from it and tolerating it fine, but others may be harmed by it. As is clear from this article, the problem isn’t that Avastin doesn’t help anybody, it’s that doctors have no accurate way to figure out who the drug will help more than harm. And when new evidence tells us that the harms can be devastating and the benefits less, on average, than we’d hoped, its use becomes more complex to justify. The real issue is with the future of drug development. The old idea was that one drug will help everyone, and if it doesn’t produce benefits on average, then it gets rejected. That model just doesn’t work in cancer any more. There is too much known about the heterogeneity of the disease, and we need to develop infrastructure to examine for whom it does work.
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true
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CNN
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The several facets of costs are addressed, including the rationing charge. The story gets a shout out for talking about both sides of this third-rail issue with Avastin. It would have been nice to explain Dr. Sparano’s important comment that doctors will still be able to use Avastin for breast cancer for patients who can afford it. It’s because insurance companies, including Medicare, tend not to pay for drugs when used for reasons the FDA hasn’t approved. So if Avastin does lose its indication for breast cancer, docs can still prescribe it “off-label” for that use, but patients will need to step in and pay for it all. The article meets the standard here by presenting data for progression-free survival and explaining that none of the trials showed a survival benefit for Avastin compared to standard chemo. (The quantity 0 seems implied.) While it’s notoriously difficult to explain the ins and outs of cancer studies in such a short space, we nonethless criticize the article on this criterion because, although most of the messages were generally accurate, readers could’ve benefited from more clarity on one of them and a little help overall in squaring up some potentially contradictory messages. We’ll explain in 3 acts. Act I: Story Highlights. One of these summary bullets states that “Subsequent studies showed no greater survival benefit.” In isolation this statement may be misleading. It seems they mean it to refer to progression-free survival. But that doesn’t jibe with the practical meaning of the term “survival benefit” as actually used in the body of this article: overall survival. And in fact, as we learn, all 4 studies showed no survival benefit compared to standard chemo. Act II: Dr. Sparano’s zinger. In his opposition to the FDA decision, the source notes that one-year survival for Avastin was consistently better in all studies. How is a reader to reconcile that message with the message that survival was not better for Avastin in ANY study? What was needed was not just quantification but qualification. Perhaps it would’ve been as simple as giving us the timeframe for Dr. Woodcock’s conclusion that there was no survival benefit in all studies, or more context about Dr. Sparano’s point. Without some explanation somewhere, we think Dr. Sparano’s line should not have been quoted, since it’s essentially out of context and it somewhat throws the messages up in the air for a reader, perhaps with consequences on the balance of the story. Act III: Mixed messages? The story gives us 2 messages that, taken together, may also seem contradictory for lay readers: 1. Later trials showed that Avastin offers a small increase in progression-free survival compared to standard chemo — but still an increase. 2. The 4 studies together shown no survival benefit. How is a non-clinician to make sense of these messages? How can it slow tumor growth — and lengthen the time people lived without progression — but not lengthen the time people lived? These head-butting messages might’ve been reconciled by clarifying, as the FDA press release starts to, how these data show that Avastin’s effects on tumor growth were temporary enough that people taking Avastin didn’t live any longer, on average. Harms are not quantified, and it would’ve been very helpful to know how frequently these serious side effects occurred in the trials. Were they exceptionally rare? Utterly rampant? The point of our criterion is that without quantifying the harms, readers can’t evaluate the risk/benefit trade-off for themselves. That said, we could almost award the story credit on the spirit of this criterion because it gives the serious harms, and their implications in the FDA decision, a solid amount of time in this article. The point from the ACS medical officer that some women “have not only not benefited, they’ve been harmed,” conveys the big picture. However, true to the definition of this criterion, we must grade this as unsatisfactory. The story takes the time to walk us through the complex story of the preliminary study, E2100, that served as the basis for conditional approval, and the ultimate results of the larger trials, producing an implicitly higher-quality evidence base than E2100 alone. The “larger” is a big part of evaluating the evidence. It also discusses ongoing research into tumor subsets that may respond to Avastin. Ideally it would’ve provided more detail about the 4 studies themselves, such as the numbers of subjects, designs, and lengths of follow-up. While more evidence could’ve been helpful, we think the evaluation of the larger, more relevant arc is clear, that promising preliminary results from a smaller study were not played out in several bigger studies. The article avoids disease-mongering. If you want to be precise, Avastin is only approved for one type of metastatic breast cancer, HER2-negative. There was some room for improvement here. Two independent sources were used: an interview with a cancer doctor and a statement on the ACS website. The story neglected to point out that the former, Joseph Sparano, has served as a consultant and speaker on Avastin for Genentech, as WebMD acknowledged when they interviewed him for their story. See “Quantifying Benefits” for our request for more information about Dr. Sparano’s quote regarding 1-year survival. On a side note, it may have balanced Dr. Sparano’s quote had the story included a little more of the ACS statement that spoke directly to the FDA decision, such as their conclusion that until we have a better way to determine who will derive the most benefit from Avastin, “giving all women with metastatic breast cancer [bevacizumab] may harm more women than it helps.” The outcomes, both potential benefits and harms, were described relative to standard chemotherapy. A bit more flesh here would’ve helped describe exactly what (and how many) other options are available. The story is clear about Avastin’s availability and the impact of the FDA decision. FYI: it states that the EU has decided to keep Avastin approved for breast cancer only in combination with paclitaxel. Just to be clear, in the US, it’s only approved in combination with paclitaxel , too. N/A It doesn’t appear to have relied solely or largely on the FDA release.
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35829
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"U.S. President Trump acknowledged that COVID-19 is deadlier than the flu in early February 2020, but continued to downplay the pandemic as ""like the flu"" in public. "
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This, of course, was not the only time Trump made this faulty comparison. In March, during an interview with Fox News, Trump lamented that he had to shut down businesses, saying, “We’ve never closed down the country for the flu.”
|
true
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Politics, COVID-19
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"U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic was under heavy scrutiny on Sept. 9, 2020, as excerpts from reporter Bob Woodward’s book “Rage” started to circulate on social media. One of the most arresting passages in that book was highlighted by CNN reporter Daniel Dale, who wrote that Trump continued to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic in public by likening it to the flu even though Trump had acknowledged to Woodward on Feb. 7, 2020, that COVID-19 was deadlier than even the most strenuous strains of influenza: These are both genuine quotes. The first quote comes from Woodward’s new book “Rage.” Woodward, one of the reporters who broke the “Watergate” scandal story during U.S. President Richard Nixon’s administration, conducted 18 on-the-record interviews with Trump between December 2019 and July 2020. In addition to Woodward’s reporting, there are also audio recordings of these conversations. During the Feb. 7 interview, Trump acknowledged that the virus was airborne and that COVID-19 was deadlier than even the most strenuous strains of the flu. In new tapes, President Trump admits to Bob Woodward he concealed critical details he knew about the coronavirus. ""I wanted to always play it down."" https://t.co/eICaAx70mY pic.twitter.com/zXNOZtIBx7 — CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) September 9, 2020 Despite acknowledging that COVID-19 was deadlier than the flu in early February 2020, Trump continued to downplay the seriousness of the pandemic in public by repeatedly likening COVID-19 to the flu. As Dale noted, Trump said that COVID-19 was “like the flu” during a Feb. 27 press conference. The official White House transcript shows that Trump was explaining how COVID-19 was different than Ebola when he made this comment. Here’s the full quote: They listened to a lot. Well, because this is a much different problem than Ebola. Ebola, you disintegrated, especially at the beginning. They’ve made a lot of progress now on Ebola. But with Ebola — we were talking about it before — you disintegrated. If you got Ebola, that was it. This one is different. Much different. This is a flu. This is like a flu. And this is a much different situation than Ebola."
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18088
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The fact is that red light cameras change driver behavior and cut down on the most dangerous types of accidents.
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"Kriseman’s point is not new: Many supporters of red light cameras tout, as he did, that benefits include changed motorist behavior and reducing the most dangerous kind of crashes. We found some studies that say cameras changed motorist behavior -- by either putting them on high alert or teaching them a lesson. But whether they truly ""cut down on the most dangerous types of accidents"" remains a matter of much debate."
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mixture
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Public Safety, Florida, Rick Kriseman,
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"Hopefuls for St. Petersburg mayor are divided on the city’s red light camera program. Mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford argued in her response to a Tampa Bay Times questionnaire that the city’s technology is flawed, the cost to appeal is ""prohibitively high"" and unfair, and the program should be stopped. Mayor Bill Foster, who pushed for the cameras, still supports them. Mayoral candidate Rick Kriseman aligns with Foster. ""I support them for the purposes of public safety, not as a revenue generator. ... The fact is that red light cameras change driver behavior and cut down on the most dangerous types of accidents,"" Kriseman wrote. We wanted to know if Kriseman’s point is accurate. St. Petersburg’s program The cameras seem to be just about everywhere. St. Petersburg is one of about 70 municipalities in Florida with red light cameras, along with five other cities in Pinellas County, Tampa, Miami, Clearwater and Orlando. About half of U.S. states have authorized the technology in the past two decades. The St. Petersburg program started in fall 2011 with cameras at 10 intersections. Tickets for running a red light are $158. (Locations here.) Already the cameras have been at the brink of wipeout, having survived a few City Council votes that would effectively end the program. A number of municipalities have had buyer’s remorse. In Houston, a voter referendum killed the program. Collier County (Fla.) commissioners voted to kill their program in December 2012 because they did not find evidence that the cameras reduced accidents. Los Angeles officials ended the program there after realizing it was difficult to pursue violators who ignored their tickets. An audit found the cameras did not improve public safety. Still, other cities tout benefits. More than a year in, the question remains for St. Pete: Are the cameras reducing the most dangerous crashes? A consultant’s performance report in December 2012 concluded that the red light crash rate fell by 31 percent at St. Petersburg traffic approaches with cameras from November 2011 to October 2012, compared to the three-year average preceding it. Crashes from red light running resulting in injury fell by 47 percent compared to the three-year average preceding the program, the consultants found. But the lengthy report omitted facts later reported by the Tampa Bay Times, such as the fact that rear-end wrecks at intersections with red light cameras jumped 44 percent and overall crashes at those intersections increased 10 percent compared to the previous year. Interpretations all depend on how you dice the data, said Michael Frederick, the city’s transportation manager. The consultant compared the first year of traffic data with a three-year average instead of data just for the year before. A more in-depth review is expected after three years with the cameras, he said. Not included in the report? Fatal crashes. Frederick said that’s because there were none in the year examined. University of South Florida researchers found that St. Pete averaged about one fatal crash a year in the years before the cameras went up. Many studies, many findings Both sides of the camera debate tout a plethora of research espousing their opinions. Kriseman’s campaign manager said he was talking about the effect of red light cameras in general on motorist behavior and dangerous crashes. The campaign sent materials from national pro-camera groups, the National Coalition for Safer Roads and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (funded by auto insurance companies), in addition to a study that appeared in The Journal of Trauma in 2010. We’ll sum up that research, as well as a couple others. • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety asserts red light cameras reduce the most dangerous crashes, pointing to 2011 in-house research that found large cities with red light cameras between 2004-08 saw a 24 percent reduction in fatal red light running crashes compared to those without. The institute also points to a 2002 study in California, showing significant declines in injury crashes and right-angle injury crashes across the city after some intersections got cameras. • The Journal of Trauma study examined driver behavior for nine months at a dangerous intersection in a New Orleans suburb. The report concluded the cameras decreased the rate of red-light running and had a ""lasting effect on driver behavior."" The study, however, said the cameras did not seem to prevent collisions at the intersection, recommending more studies over more time. • The Texas Transportation Institute of Texas A&M University examined crash records at 275 intersections in Texas cities with red light cameras. The researchers concluded that the most severe crashes, those at right angles, dropped 32 percent. Another study is planned this fall to examine what happened to crashes in cities that took down their red light cameras. • A 2004 study by the Urban Transit Institute at North Carolina A&T State University concluded no demonstrable safety benefit from red light cameras. ""There isn’t a conclusive study that would say that in all circumstances that red light cameras are going to provide the safety benefits that they’re looking at,"" said Jason Bittner, director of USF’s Center for Urban Transportation Research. ""It’s kind of on a case-by-case basis."" More research Three USF researchers reviewed seven red light camera studies held up by the federal government as the best designed studies and found none concluded a statistical safety benefit from the cameras. They noted several government-funded studies actually stated injury or severe crashes increased with the cameras, according to their 2011 paper in Florida Public Health Review. The professors, who became interested in the cameras years ago because a portion of the revenue goes to trauma center hospitals, pointed out in 2011 that red light cameras often have a ""double effect"" on motorists: They are put at higher risk for fines and rear-end crashes. The researchers objected to the IIHS California study and others for not using scientific research methods, and have faulted other research for not taking into account traffic trends, such as the fact that the state has been seeing a decrease in red light running, said Barbara Langland Orban, a USF health policy professor. The professors agree that red light cameras influence driver behavior -- just not for the better (though they had not seen studies of psychological effects of the cameras on drivers). ""There’s a difference between a driver being more aware and a driver being more skittish,"" said Etienne Pracht, a USF professor of health care economics. We turned to another local camera critic. Matt Florell, who runs StPeteCameras.org, analyzed more than 20 North American red light camera studies published in academic journals or cited by government agencies and determined most of them showed an increase in total crashes with red light cameras installed. In the 15 studies that measured crashes with injury, there was an increase of 21 percent, Florell found. Florell is highly critical of the city’s one-year report, saying it cherry-picks statistics, lacks raw numbers and makes unproven assumptions. Our ruling Kriseman’s point is not new: Many supporters of red light cameras tout, as he did, that benefits include changed motorist behavior and reducing the most dangerous kind of crashes. We found some studies that say cameras changed motorist behavior -- by either putting them on high alert or teaching them a lesson. But whether they truly ""cut down on the most dangerous types of accidents"" remains a matter of much debate."
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7845
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Famine squeezes life out of southern Somalia.
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The semi-arid lands surrounding the frontier town of Dhobley in southern Somalia have become a dust-bowl, the thorny scrub stripped of all vegetation as famine grips the region and an exodus of the starving empties its villages.
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true
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Environment
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Rukiya Mohamed, a severely malnourished one-year-old girl refugee from Madaitu Village in Somalia, is wrapped in foil at the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) (Doctors Without Borders) clinic at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) transit centre in Dolo Ado near the Ethiopia-Somalia border August 11, 2011. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Dhobley’s buildings are riddled with bullet holes, the scars of battles earlier this year when Somali troops and fighters from the Ras Kamboni militia, allied to the embattled government, routed Islamist militants from the frontier town. Gunmen draped in ammunition belts ride heavily armed 4x4s, maintaining a jumpy peace. The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels are now hunkered down just 20 km (12 miles) to the east in the village of Dagalama and 30 km (20 miles) to the south in Hawina. The scene is similar across many parts of southern Somalia where the United Nations declared a famine last month, putting 3.7 million Somalis, the majority of them in southern rebel-controlled regions, at risk of starvation. Abdullahi Abdisalam can only watch as the region’s worst drought in decades decimates his livestock herd and pushes food prices beyond the reach of most, slowly squeezing the life out his small grocery shack. “I had invested everything in those cattle. Most have died, the others are so skinny they’re worthless,” said Abdisalam, running his hand through a large sack of beans. He, however, is among the more fortunate, with a small, albeit ailing, business to fall back on. Dhobley was once a buzzing trading post, the entry point into Kenya, the region’s biggest economy. Now the only people passing through are exhausted families trekking to the world’s biggest refugee camp on the other side of the border. Across Somalia, harvests have failed. Nearly all the food available in Dhobley’s local stores is imported. To bring it to Dhobley from the militant-controlled port of Kismayu, traders are forced to run a gauntlet of road-blocks at which “taxes” are frequently extorted. Many opt to take long detours. The result is the same: higher prices. Mako Mohamud brings in dried grass from the more fertile Juba valley to Dhobley. “Al Shabaab stop us on the road and ask if the grass is to feed cattle in government held areas. I won’t say it’s for Dhobley. I’ll say it’s for Afmadow. That’s not far from here but under their control,” the 32-year-old mother said. Few, however, can afford the fodder. At one of Dhobley’s two boreholes, emaciated cattle, their skin hanging off jutting ribs, trip over the fresh carcass of a calf. Dhobley lies just five km (three miles) from the porous border with Kenya. But it’s one-way traffic across the frontier as tens of thousands of Somalis flee a famine that is tightening its grip on the south of their country. The drought and famine have killed more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 in the last three months in southern Somalia alone, according to U.S. estimates. In a dusty compound on Dhobley’s outskirts, Habiba Mahad Adan swatted flies away from the sunken, cloudy eyes of her severely malnourished four-year-old son, too weak to cry for food. “I’ve received nothing for my child,” Aden said, contemplating the 100 km (60 miles) walk to Kenya’s Dadaab refugee complex after already having trekked for three weeks through the scorched landscape. Even in areas now held by Somali troops and government-friendly militia, the sands shift constantly, deterring aid groups from entering. What is more, the border with Kenya is officially closed, complicating the overland delivery of aid. “We’ve made the place safe. We’ve been telling aid agencies that, but so far we’ve received no emergency intervention,” Abdinassir Serar, a local elder, told a high-level delegation from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). While the humanitarian response to the famine in Somalia has focused on emergency food and shelter handouts, FAO has appealed for $70 million to help Somalis buy food, feed their livestock and stay in the country. Cash in return for work as well as seeds for the next harvest, with rains anticipated in October, might hold back the tide of refugees and cut a growing dependency on aid. “There is no alternative other than providing immediate cash relief to people and at the same time engage immediately to protect their resource base (livestock),” said Luca Alinovi, head of FAO’s Somalia program, in a patch of scrub littered with rotting cattle carcasses. A Somali refugee drives his donkeys at Kobe refugee camp, 60km (37 miles) from Dolo Ado, near the Ethiopia-Somalia border August 11, 2011. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Still waiting for cash commitments from donors, FAO says $70 million could provide seeds to 750,000 people ahead of the rains, help feed and vaccinate 42 million animals at risk of drought-related diseases and support almost 1 million people in return for work that might jump-start local economies. “It’s very clear, we need to move assistance across the border (into southern Somalia),” Cristina Amaral, FAO’s head of emergency operations, told Reuters. If they do not, then it’s only time before shopkeeper Abdisalam and tens of thousands of others like him contemplate the walk across the border, perhaps never to return.
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3138
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Grambling: early admission agreement with new medical school.
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Grambling State University has reached an early admissions agreement with an osteopathic medical school that is to start up classes in July at a private campus on the grounds of another public university in Louisiana.
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true
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Louisiana, Monroe, Medical schools
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Dr. Ray Morrison, dean of the newEdward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine campus,said Tuesday that he’s working on early admissions agreements with some other schools. Grambling’s agreement would provide early admission for five Grambling sophomores a year to the Edward Via campus at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Morrison said the 100,000-square-foot (9,300-square meter) building is the first private campus at a public university in Louisiana. He added in an interview Tuesday that the arrangements took a lot of effort to work out. The four-year medical college is hiring and expects to have about 150 students and 100 faculty and staff members when classes begin in July. Morrison said about 20 faculty and staff members are already at work. The building was completed in December but some interior fittings, such as desks and auditorium seats, are being installed, he said. Morrison said the precise opening date hasn’t been set because four campuses must be coordinated. The school’s other campuses are at Auburn University in Alabama, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and in South Carolina at a private campus developed with a regional hospital in Spartanburg. The college’s collaborative partnership with Louisiana-Monroe lets medical school students use university resources such as the athletic center and student union, and join athletics and other university activities, Morrison said. The agreement also allows faculty resource sharing and collaboration on education and research. “The need for exceptional doctors in medically under-served and rural communities like North Louisiana has been on a steady increase for many years. That’s a gap that our students can fill,” said Connie Walton, Grambling’s vice president of academic affairs and provost. “This agreement is one of the many ways that Grambling State is equipping our students for the nation’s most in-demand career fields,” her statement continued. The early admission program at the osteopathic medicine college will seek to bring medical training to more people from rural areas and diverse backgrounds. Grambling students would apply and interview for the Rocovich Scholars Early Admission Program during the spring of their sophomore year. They would need to have completed all required pre-medical coursework, have at least a 3.5 GPA, and have completed a required number of community service and health care volunteer hours. Morrison said doctors of osteopathy get the same training as other medical students, along with an additional 200 hours in ways to manipulate the body for diagnosis and treatment. His school will be the fourth four-year medical school in Louisiana. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center has medical schools in New Orleans and Shreveport, and Tulane University has one in New Orleans. In addition, students from Australia’s University of Queensland spend their third and fourth years at UQ’s Ochsner Clinical School just outside New Orleans.
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10953
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Tell-Tale Biomarker Detects Early Breast Cancer in NIH-Funded Study
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This news release sets out to describe a novel technical enhancement to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology using a fibronectin-targeting contrast agent that has the potential to detect micrometastases (breakaway tumor cells that can spread) and to help predict how aggressive the spreading cancer is likely to be. The release deserves good marks for packing in a great deal of information about how cancer spreads and how this technology might potentially play a role in facilitating earlier detection. Nevertheless, we had some significant concerns with how the findings are presented to readers. Most troubling is that the release fails to note that the work was done in mice until about two-thirds of the way through. It’s simply misleading not to acknowledge that the research involved mice somewhere high up in the release rather than burying it far down in the document. Another nugget missing from the early paragraphs is that it’s the “enhancement” (i.e. a new contrasting agent) rather than “MRI” itself that is of interest and novelty here. That could confuse readers who at first glance may be led to believe that standard MRI can now help physicians find these early new seeds of cancer, as well as predict their level of severity and presage their conquest. Surprisingly, there is also no mention of the scientists’ claims that the work was the first demonstration of the effectiveness of this form of molecular MRI/contrast agent technology in the detection of breast cancer micrometastases. And there is little or no real quantification related to the sensitivity and specificity of the detection method, particularly as compared to current gold standard imaging or use of other biomarkers to detect breast cancer spread. So despite some notable strengths, this release’s omissions and lack of attention to the most important findings and details make it overall a confusing and potentially misleading account of the research. Metastases have been recognized as the major cause of death in breast cancer patients for at least half a century, and scientists have expended vast resources in an effort to: a) detect them early enough to begin new or systemic treatments; and b) figure out which tumor types are most likely to spread; and c) find and exploit biomarkers likely to give the earliest possible clue to spread. Thus, the results of new research such as the work from the National Institutes of Health and Case Western Reserve described in this release have the potential to alter the landscape of breast cancer diagnosis and therapy, and eventually improve outcomes for breast cancer patients. The biology of metastases is complex, however, and readers need information that is carefully put in context and in a realistic time frame with respect to clinical application.
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false
|
Animal research,Breast cancer,Cancer,Government agency news release,Imaging
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The release would have benefited from information about the potential costs of enhanced MRI, and about the overall current costs of current methods of breast cancer screening, diagnosis and therapy. The release certainly gives the impression that this technology could soon be deployed in humans, so some discussion of cost would be warranted. The release didn’t include information about how much better the enhanced MRI technology was shown to be (compared to MRI alone and cryo-imaging combinations) in detecting metastases. The release does note that the investigators “verified” that the new MRI method could detect micro metastases less than 0.5 mm, but offered no comparative measures of what other detection methods have to offer. The release seems overly optimistic here. It says testing by the researchers “showed that the agent is readily cleared from the body and has a low level of retention in tissues. Therefore, they expect it will be safe if ultimately developed for clinical use.” We think it would be best to conduct the necessary studies before commenting optimistically on the potential safety of the agent — after all, the point of conducting the studies is that we don’t know yet if the agent is safe or not. And even if it does turn out to be safe, there could be potential side effects that patients should know about. Also, the experiments involved mice, and it’s not clear if this technique would require a patient to submit to a whole body MRI in order to find metastases. The release takes far too long to notify readers that the study involved mice. Imaging mice injected with cancer cells is not the same as imaging human women with breast cancer. This is unfortunate, since it negates what is otherwise a relatively strong description of the several ways the researchers demonstrated the value of enhanced MRI imaging for metastases. No mongering with respect to breast cancer itself. The article noted that the research was partially funded through an NIH grant. There are no conflicts of interest. As noted earlier, the release had some information about alternatives, but it was somewhat disjointed and the reader would have a hard time understanding that there are indeed alternatives to this approach without reading the original paper. Although it takes time to get there, the release does explain that this is not available for clinical use now and will not be until further work is done. The release never makes clear what the “news” is — that indeed this, according to the researchers, is the first demonstration in animals of a technique that appears to detect micrometastases safely and perhaps better than “gold standard” imaging now in use. We’ll give the story the benefit of the doubt here. The headline and lede paragraphs don’t make clear that this is not about standard MRI, or that the work was done in mice. However, we’ve already docked points for those infractions, and we think the language was otherwise responsible.
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8525
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Congo records second Ebola death in days: WHO.
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Democratic Republic of Congo recorded a second Ebola death in days following more than seven weeks without a new case, the World Health Organization said on Sunday.
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true
|
Health News
|
Congo had been due on Sunday to mark an end to the second-deadliest outbreak of the virus on record, until a case was confirmed on Friday in the eastern city of Beni. The outbreak has killed more than 2,200 people since August 2018 in an area of the country where militia violence hobbled efforts to contain it. The latest victim was an 11-month-old girl, who was treated at the same health centre as the previous case, a 26-year-old electrician, said Boubacar Diallo, deputy incident manager for the WHO’s Ebola response. Officials say it is not yet clear how the electrician contracted Ebola. He had no known contacts with other Ebola patients and was not a survivor of the virus who could have relapsed, the government said on Friday. Flare-ups or one-off transmissions are common towards the end of Ebola outbreaks, and a new case does not necessarily mean that the virus will spread out of control again. Ebola causes fever, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhoea and spreads among humans through bodily fluids. During this outbreak it killed about two thirds of those it infected. The WHO has identified 215 people who came into contact with the electrician, including 53 health workers at three facilities the man visited before he died, Diallo said. All but one of the health workers had already been vaccinated, he said. Two new vaccines have helped contain the virus, though public mistrust and militia attacks prevented health workers from reaching some hard-hit areas. On Saturday, a group of angry young men threw stones at a team of WHO workers and Beni’s deputy mayor as they attempted to decontaminate the electrician’s home and trace his contacts, Diallo said. “For them Ebola is over,” he told Reuters. “People here have some problems understanding how this case just came two days before the declaration of the end,” Diallo said. The deputy mayor was forced to abandon his car and escape by motorbike taxi, said Kambale Sabuni, head of the police in Beni.
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38220
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Actor, musician and outspoken Christian Kirk Cameron has a rare form of leprosy that turns people into walking piles of rotting flesh.
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Kirk Cameron Diagnosed with Rare Form of Leprosy
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false
|
Celebrities
|
False reports that Kirk Cameron has a rare form of leprosy came from a self-described fake news website. The report, which was published by Last Line of Defense on July 26, 2017, under the headline “Kirk Cameron Diagnosed With Rare Form Of Leprosy,” claims that Kirk Cameron had contracted a rare strain of leprosy known as “leprosis metapupalis carnivore” that turns its victims into “a walking pile of dead skin, rotting flesh, and festering organs,” continuing: That kind of transformation in such a short period of time turns the victim insane, rendering them completely helpless to help themselves and often resisting — with extreme violence if necessary — anyone trying to assist them. Doctors on the case at Southern Utah Medical Center say that Cameron is “in the advanced stages” and that if they can find a cure, they’ll have less than a day to administer it: “The problem is, there’s no research on the disease because not enough people have it. I mean, sure there would be enough data to do an analysis and it’s a fairly simple organism causing it, but still…why develop something that will do nothing but cost the shareholders money. To save a dozen people?” A quick search of online medical databases reveals that there’s no such thing as leprosis metapupalis carnivore. There are three three different classifications of leprosy, which has been around since at least 600 B.C. But the strain of the disease doesn’t determine the classification, the victim’s immune response to it does. Leprosis metapupalis carnivore is not one of the three classifications, and there’s no trace of that word outside of the article. Still, many people were tricked into believing that Kirk Cameron has a rare form of leprosy because they didn’t view the disclaimer for Last Line of Defense, which identifies itself as “a satirical publication that may sometimes appear to be telling the truth” but “presents fiction as fact.” So rumors that Kirk Cameron has leprosy and all reports from Last Line of Defense should be considered fiction. Comments
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41288
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Pancreatitis, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2), anaphylaxis, arthritis, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, pneumonia, deafness, retinitis and epididymitis are also listed as side effects.
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Incorrect. All of these (except aseptic meningitis) are listed under “adverse reactions” of the MMR II vaccine used in the US. That’s not the same as a side effect. Adverse reactions can refer to anything developed by chance after someone is vaccinated, but these aren’t necessarily caused by the vaccine. The two UK MMR vaccines list some of these as adverse reactions.
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false
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online
|
Pancreatitis, Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2), anaphylaxis, arthritis, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, pneumonia, deafness, retinitis and epididymitis are also listed as side effects. Death is listed as a side effect of the MMR vaccine. Measles is at the top of the list of the MMR vaccine’s adverse reactions. Atypical measles is listed as one of the “adverse reactions” of the MMR vaccine used in the US and one of the UK brands (it is not “top” of these lists). That’s because people vaccinated with a certain brand of measles jab in the 60s and 70s were still able to get “atypical measles” if they were exposed to a certain measles strain. The other UK brand lists “atypical measles” as a “possible side effect” as some people who were given that MMR vaccine got atypical measles if they also got the old measles jab. Claim 1 of 4
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37488
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Image depicts a person's destroyed kitchen after they tried to microwave a coronavirus mask during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Is This a Photograph of Someone’s Kitchen After Microwaving Coronavirus Masks?
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false
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Disinformation, Fact Checks
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On April 7 2020 — in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic — a post began spreading on Facebook, warning people against microwaving face masks to sterilize them (alongside a photograph of the aftermath of a kitchen fire):Please don’t pass along the suggestion that people microwave their masks to kill germs. Why? Because if someone forgets there is a metal nose wire in their mask, you could be called on to help rebuild their lives after the microwave blows up and the house burns down. Wash or boil in hot water only please.That post is archived here.As of April 14 2020, the original poster hadn’t added any details or context to the post about the image. Moreover, Facebook added a “true” rating to the viral post, so the whole shebang looked like this:The visible text read:Related ArticlesREUTERS.COM Fact-Check True: Microwaving face masks is a fire hazard. The CDC recommends washing face coveringsThe commentary appeared as thought it might be a response to a viral piece of advice correctly attributed to Meharry Medical College chief executive officer, Dr. James Hildreth:Did the President of Meharry Medical Advise Sterilizing Cloth Face Masks in the Microwave Between Uses?Hildreth said:There’s a national urgency — and I’m gonna repeat this — that the PPE must be reserved for healthcare providers and those on the front line. So many people have resorted to making homemade masks out of bandanas and other kinds of materials … there are a couple of things you really need to know if you’re doing this:If the mask has served its purpose, there’s every possibility it’s contaminated on the outer surface. What that means is that you should do two things: wash your hands when you take it off, and sterilize it or sanitize it if you’re gonna use it repeatedly.If possible, wash it in soap and water. And if it’s made out of cloth or has no metal staples in it, you can do what I do: stick it in a plastic bag, and microwave it for two or three minutes at the highest setting.The implication in the more recent Facebook post, then, is clear — someone tried following the doctor’s sterilization advice, and this particular depicted microwave explosion was the end result.Note that Hildreth — a public health official giving pandemic preparedness advice as a doctor — told Tennesseans to microwave cloth masks if they had no metal staples. “Don’t microwave metal” is a fairly well-known axiom among people whose houses have kitchens, but just to be on the safe side, Hildreth included it in his concise advisory.So why did Facebook mark the post “true”? Did the image actually show a kitchen ravaged by a microwaved mask?The answer to that question is no. The image dates back to 2015 (nearly five years before the novel coronavirus even existed):Okay, so the image was five years old — surely it shows some sort of mask-related issue? Also no. In August 2015, Consumer Affairs’ “Microwaves: a fire hazard in your kitchen” reported:Microwave ovens can do a lot of things — pop popcorn, heat frozen burritos and warm up leftovers. … One of the latest complaints comes from Channelle, who reports that her Samsung microwave caught fire when no one was home, causing major damage to her kitchen.“I had contacted Samsung about five weeks prior letting them know that the microwave was starting on its own whenever you would open the door to put something inside of it,” Channelle said. “However their customer service agent advised that since I had not purchased an extended warranty, there was nothing they could do unless I purchased their almost $400, extended warranty.” Two days before the fire, Channelle said the microwave started, coming on by itself even when no one was nearby. “It would also spark a little as if there was foil or something inside of it,” she said.It’s true the microwave’s owner — referenced only as “Channelle” — described her Samsung microwave as behaving as if “there was foil or something” in it. However, Channelle went on to explain that the fire wasn’t because anyone put anything in it — it happened when no one was at home, which means no one was microwaving a mask or anything else.Hildreth, the CEO who recommended microwaving cloth masks for sanitization purposes, surely drew on his knowledge of infectious disease and personal protective equipment to formulate the advice that people using cloth masks microwave those masks to sterilize them. People might only have one or two masks made of cloth and no washing machine, which means they would be unable to toss their cloth masks in the wash to sterilize them.Hildreth also was cautious to first say to check the mask for metal, and also provided instructions on how to safely microwave cloth masks — providing the recommendation as an accessible way to ensure PPE was not itself a vector of COVID-19.Guidance from the CDC last updated on April 9 2020, titled “Decontamination and Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators,” began by stating:Based on the limited research available, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide, and moist heat showed the most promise as potential methods to decontaminate FFRs. This document summarizes research about decontamination of FFRs before reuse.That guidance did not mention “cloth” at all; “fabric” was mentioned only it its bibliography. Separate guidance on the use of cloth face masks aimed at the public (not medical professionals) did not discourage the use of microwaves, but said:How does one safely sterilize/clean a cloth face covering? A washing machine should suffice in properly washing a face covering.According to Census numbers dating back to 2011 [PDF], about 85 percent of American households had access to a washing machine. However, New York City was the hardest-hit epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States — and few of even the most upscale buildings or apartments offered non-community washing machines.Residents of cities and of impoverished suburban and rural areas often lack their own washing machines and rely on laundromats, which means many people often have to do their laundry once weekly or twice monthly. That leaves a significant number of people both without access to a washing machine between mask uses and without a way to sterilize their cloth masks.In short, an image attached to a Facebook post warning people not to microwave masks was stolen from a 2015 article about a microwave exploding when the home’s residents were not at their house — in other words, spontaneously. It had nothing to do with microwaving masks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said washing machines “should suffice,” but did not specifically advise against using microwaves. As for the number of New York City residents with cloth masks and no washing machines in a location leveled by COVID-19, washing machines were not always an available option.As such, Hildreth’s advice — likely given with patient circumstances in mind — was again relevant. As long as a mask does not have metal, microwaving it was validated by the CDC (moist heat) and is a simple remaining option to avoid self-infecting with contaminated PPE.
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28903
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Produce in California (namely tangerines) is being grown in toxic wastewater from oil company fracking activities.
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"What's true: In 2014, 11 wells in Kern County were closed in an ""abundance of caution"" due to poor administration in aquifer management; some crops in Kern County are irrigated with wastewater (and have been for many years). What's false: Crops in Kern County are irrigated with ""toxic wastewater"" that has been proved to contain harmful pollutants from fracking activities."
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mixture
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Food, fracking
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In early February 2016, social media users began sharing posts warning that specific brands of produce were grown in wastewater that was a byproduct of fracking activity (i.e., the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release fossil fuels) and therefore posed a risk to human health if consumed. Many Facebook users linked to a 10 February 2016 post on the blog EcoWatch which recapped the second episode of a web documentary series titled Spotlight California. That post suggested that farmers in a specific irrigation district were “so desperate for water” that they used oil wastewater produced by Chevron to grow food crops (including tangerines). The post quoted a retired almond farmer named Tom Frantz saying that the irrigation water being used in that area was toxic (and previously untested): The second episode [of Spotlight California], which aired last week, highlighted another aspect of the drought. It shows how farmers are using treated oil wastewater to irrigate their crops, despite the fact that nobody has tested the wastewater to see if it’s safe. “There are farmers so desperate for water in one particular irrigation district called Cawelo, they’re taking some wastewater to irrigate crops from Chevron. It’s being used to grow food for people — citrus crops, grapes, pistachios,” Tom Frantz told Deol in the episode. “You grow an orange — it’s 90 percent water when it gets to the consumer,” Frantz continued. “Where did that water come from? It’s the irrigation water. The irrigation water is toxic, even at very tiny amounts. Is there a tiny amount of toxicity now in the fruit? Nobody is testing that yet. And they’re salting up their soil by using this water, which means ultimately they’ll have to stop growing everything.” In order to find out the health impacts of using recycled oil water on crops, Deol joined water scientist Scott Smith as he covertly tested the water for toxic chemicals at the Cawelo wastewater treatment plant. “We found oil and these nasty solvents,” which can cause “kidney damage, liver damage and cancer,” Smith said. Social media interest in wastewater irrigation spiked in February 2016, but the issue was neither new nor specific to tangerines. The subject had been covered in a 14 November 2014 report by San Francisco Bay Area television station KNTV: State officials allowed oil and gas companies to pump nearly three billion gallons of waste water into underground aquifers that could have been used for drinking water or irrigation. Those aquifers are supposed to be off-limits to that kind of activity, protected by the EPA. “It’s inexcusable,” said Hollin Kretzmann, at the Center for Biological Diversity in San Francisco. “At (a) time when California is experiencing one of the worst droughts in history, we’re allowing oil companies to contaminate what could otherwise be very useful ground water resources for irrigation and for drinking. It’s possible these aquifers are now contaminated irreparably.” In “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing operations, oil and gas companies use massive amounts of water to force the release of underground fossil fuels. The practice produces large amounts of waste water that must then be disposed of. California’s Department of Conservation’s Chief Deputy Director, Jason Marshall, said that often times, oil and gas companies simply re-inject that waste water back deep underground where the oil extraction took place. But other times, Marshall said, the waste water is re-injected into aquifers closer to the surface. Those injections are supposed to go into aquifers that the EPA calls “exempt” — in other words, not clean enough for humans to drink or use. But in the State’s letter to the EPA, officials admit that in at least nine waste water injection wells, the waste water was injected into “non-exempt” or clean aquifers containing high quality water. An 8 April 2015 San Francisco Chronicle article concerns over the safety of wastewater irrigation, which followed a March 2015 hearing about water safety practices, suggested that the issues involved stretched back over thirty years due to confusion over which aquifers were designated as allowable for leftover wastewater injection: Farmers fear that the groundwater they increasingly need to nurture their orchards and crops may one day show signs of pollution, even if it hasn’t surfaced yet. “When I’m concerned for my farm, I’m looking at future generations and reaching a point where they can’t use the groundwater because of things we’re doing today,” said Tom Frantz, 65, a farmer and retired teacher who grows almonds near the town of Shafter (Kern County). The wastewater injection problem stretches back to 1983. EPA officials that year signed an agreement giving California’s oil field regulators — the state’s Divison of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources — responsibility for enforcing the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The agreement listed, by name, aquifers considered exempt, where oil companies could legally inject leftover water with a simple permit from the division. If state regulators wanted to add any aquifers to the list, they would need EPA’s aproval. But there were two signed copies of the agreement, said Steven Bohlen, the division’s new supervisor. Eleven aquifers listed as exempt on one copy weren’t included on the other. The state and the oil companies considered those aquifers exempt — perfectly suitable places to dispose of wastewater. The EPA didn’t. “We cannot tell, nor can the EPA, which version is correct,” said Bohlen. The bureaucratic confusion didn’t stop there. In some cases, the state treated entire aquifers as exempt when, in fact, only specific portions of them had been approved for oil industry use. In other instances, the state issued injection permits for aquifers that the EPA had never declared exempt, [EPA regional adminstrator Jared] Blumenfeld said. However, it wasn’t until mid-2014 that the issue appeared to come to a head, when the sudden closure of eleven wells in Kern County caused concern about the overall safety of aquifer water to escalate: The problem developed over decades, starting with a bureaucratic snafu between state and federal regulators. It was made worse by shoddy record keeping and, critics say, plain negligence. The issue erupted into public view last summer when state officials abruptly shut down 11 waste-injection wells in Kern County, fearing they could taint groundwater supplies already feeding homes and farms. So far, tests of nearby drinking-water wells show no contamination, state officials say. But the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which helped uncover the practice, is threatening to seize control of regulating the waste-injection wells, a job it has left to California officials for over 30 years. The state faces a Feb. 6 deadline to tell the EPA how it plans to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again. Some tests indicated elevated levels of various substances in well water, but it wasn’t clear whether those results had anything to do with previous wastewater injection rather than natural processes: Officials have tested samples from nine nearby drinking wells and found elevated levels of arsenic and nitrates. But that’s common for this corner of the Central Valley, where arsenic often leaches into the water from the native rocks. The drinking wells may have been protected by distance, said Jonathan Bishop, chief deputy director of the State Water Resources Control Board. Even when the oil companies injected wastewater into an aquifer used for drinking and irrigation, the injection wells were drilled deeper than the drinking wells. [Jonathan Bishop, chief deputy director of the State Water Resources Control Board] noted, however, that pollutants can migrate over time. “We haven’t found any impact, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t concerned about it,” Bishop said. “If that aquifer has drinking water, we don’t want them injecting into it.” Tests of the water [from a farm near Bakersfield] revealed high levels of salt and boron, both of which can damage trees. [The farm’s owner] eventually ripped out 3,500 dying trees. In September, he sued four companies that had been injecting wastewater near his orchard. The wells closest to his property do not appear to be among the injection wells being reviewed by the EPA and the state. A 6 April 2015 Newsweek article also examined the controversy. Their coverage similarly indicated that the concerns over oilfield wastewater were not necessarily without merit, but that available evidence did not yet prove that wastewater injection had polluted any of the area’s drinking or irrigation water: Little to no independent scientific research has been done on this type of water and how it interacts with crops, soil and surrounding bodies of water. Some scientists say there are too many unknowns associated with the wastewater from oilfields. If it is being used on food, and to irrigate land that lies above drinking water aquifers, we need to know more about it, they say—especially in light of the fact that, as Rodgers notes, the Central Valley hopes to expand its use for farm irrigation during the drought. “There might not be a single risk out there with this practice. But the biggest risk that we have right now is that we just don’t know,” says Seth Shonkoff, an environmental public health scientist and a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. “So until we know, we definitely have reason for concern. We know that there are compounds being put down oil and gas wells that you would not want in your food.” To Shonkoff’s knowledge, no scientist has ever published a study on what compounds from the oil development process — examples he gives are methanol, biocides and surfactants — might be in oilfield wastewater used on crops. Chevron says these constituents are kept separate from the water delivered to farmers. At the time the Newsweek article’s publication, Chevron issued a statement about its wastewater disposal practices: Chevron, for its part, says testing [in early 2015] showed no heavy metals or chemical toxins were present in the water above maximum allowable levels. The arsenic levels were high, however, but “issues related to the arsenic concentrations in the water were fully addressed in the process of obtaining the permit from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.” “Protection of people and the environment is a core value for Chevron, and we take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of our water resources.” David Ansolabehere, general manager of the Cawelo Water District, said that the district had performed tests for contaminants over the years despite lack of regulatory compulsion to do so, and that the “tests have not turned up any positive results.” On 1 July 2015, the Los Angeles Times similarly reported that tests demonstrated no detectable methylene chloride (one of the potential polluntants that prompted earlier concern) in area water supplies: Results of the most recent testing of recycled oil field wastewater that Chevron sells to Kern County farmers for irrigation showed no traces of methylene chloride, an industrial solvent that had appeared in previous testing conducted by a clean water advocacy group. In a statement, Chevron said the presence of acetone in earlier tests was probably the result of natural biological processes. “We know of no operational source of acetone within Chevron’s oil field processes in the San Joaquin Valley,” said Chevron spokesman Cam Van Ast. All test results to date, including those conducted by Water Defense, show that water supplied by Chevron to the Cawelo Water District is in compliance with the company’s permit from the water board. Interest in the quality of water in affected regions of California waxed and waned until the publication of a 1 September 2015 article about “Californians Boycotting Produce Grown with Oil Wastewater” (an alarmist headline belied by the article’s opening sentence, which stated that produce companies “may be using contaminated oil industry wastewater to grow their crops.” That article recklessly asserted that the crops in question were being irrigated with water which was “toxic,” laden with “chemicals used in fracking that may be used without disclosure or testing” and “laced with carcinogens,” despite the lack of solid evidence documenting that any of those claims were true: A Mother Jones article exposed Sunview, Halos mandarins, Trinchero Family Estates, and Bee Sweet Citrus as companies that use water from Kern County’s Cawelo Water District, where oil companies provided half of the water supply in 2014. According to the Los Angeles Times, oil giant Chevron recycles 21 million gallons of water each day that is used on 45,000 acres of crops, about 10 percent of the county’s farmland. “How in the world do these corporations think this is OK? This is scary. Hundreds of thousands of Americans put Halos Mandarins into their kids’ lunch boxes every day and by all appearances, Halos and other major California growers — some even considered ‘organic’ — are irrigating their crops with oil wastewater, laced with carcinogens,” explained Eddie Kurtz, executive director of the California-based Courage Campaign. “These brands have no plans to stop. If anything, Big Oil wants to find more takers for this toxic water. Consumers and parents all over the country need to take action immediately, educate each other, and stop buying food from these misguided, short-sighted companies.” That article failed to provide answers to the most obvious of questions: Had the fruit grown in that area ever been tested for toxins? Exactly what levels of specific contaminants constituted “toxic” for the purposes of these claims? What “carcinogens” is the irrigation water “laced” with, and what are their levels and sources? Los Angeles-area television station KCET addressed the detail-lacking, “panic-inducing headlines” associated with this issue in a 16 September 2015 report, noting that: As far as panic-inducing headlines go, it’s tough to get much more frightening than “There Might Be Fracking Wastewater in Your Organic Fruits and Veggies.” Let’s break it down: Our organic(!) fruits and veggies are being contaminated by wastewater(!) coming from the diabolic act of fracking(!). A trifecta of trigger points! But there’s another word in that headline that needs further examination: Might. So, just how big of a worry is it truly? [Blake Sanden of the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources program] points me in the direction of Bakersfield Californian writer Lois Henry, who’s been writing a series about wastewater irrigating crops in the Central Valley. Her articles, Sanden tells me, are “a good counterpoint to the misinformation published in the L.A. Times.” In one of her latest op-eds, Henry runs through a litany of what’s wrong with [a] proposed bill [that would require food grown with oil and gas wastewater to be labeled], starting with the fact that fracking wastewater isn’t used to irrigate crops. Henry reported in her own article that reporting on the wastewater controversy was rife with misinformation: The only place food is being irrigated with oilfield produced water is Kern County in the Cawelo Water District. That could change as the Regional Water Quality Control Board is receiving more requests by oil and ag operators to use produced water for irrigation. Cawelo has operated its program for more than 20 years. It uses about 640,000 barrels of water a day (27 million gallons or 82 acre-feet) from Chevron’s Kern River Field and CRC’s Kern Front Field. Wells in those fields are not fracked, by the way. That water is first treated at the oilfields to remove as much oil and impurities as possible and then blended with fresh water. The program supplies irrigation water to about 90 farmers growing almonds, citrus and grapes over 34,000 acres. The water has always been tested per Regional Water Quality Control Board standards and has always met those standards. Yet, an LA Times story used questionable testing from a water activist to imply the water might not be safe. And perhaps the food grown with that water wasn’t safe either. The paper had to correct a number of inaccuracies in the story, including the water activist’s chemical concentrations. Later testing by the Regional Board showed even those corrected concentrations were far higher than what it found. At least one chemical alleged by the activist to be in the water wasn’t found at all. Eventually, the Times had to report the truth — the Chevron/Cawelo water is safe. But the damage was done. Countless other publications ran with the erroneous information. Thanks much. The question of whether fruit can be impacted by chemicals in irrigation water is now being studied by a technical group assembled by the Regional Board. [That research] is still in the data collection phase, but prevailing expertise suggests that, no, fruit is not impacted. Tom Frantz, a local almond farmer turned environmental activist, says the fact that so little tangible information is available is part of the problem: “They’re just continuously injecting billions of gallons of steam in every year and water comes up and they separate it,” he [said], “and now it’s contaminated water, not fresh water. It’s got lots of salts in it.” It’s disposal for the oil company. They’re giving this water away, because it would cost them a lot of money to dispose of it, so they send this water to the farmers for the cost of delivery and it’s very cheap, like $10 or $20 for an acre-foot [about 326,000 gallons]. I buy water for $150 an acre-foot out of a river. Farmers would pay up to $1000 an acre-foot for really good water, and still be able to make money with certain crops. If Chevron would clean that water — let’s say they used reverse osmosis on this water, which would clean it — doing that would cost them $600 to $800 an acre foot. Chevron doesn’t want to get into the business of purifying water; they have sources of fresh water themselves from the Kern River and the underground areas around the river, so they pump it, contaminate it and give it away to desperate farmers. We’re finding out all over Kern County that the injection of the wastewater is being done into water that’s somewhat fresh, and that’s illegal, and that’s been done for years. The big unknown is what kind of chemicals or toxic substances are in this wastewater before it gets sent to the farmers. Can they migrate from the roots into the plant and from the plant into the fruit itself? Especially fruits that would have a high moisture content? It’s really important, now that this has been brought to light, that some extensive testing be done. For the first time, they are just beginning to test some grapes, we understand, and no results have come back [yet]. It’s going to take a long time. In another 50 years, we might not be able to farm this land anymore. We need a list of all possible chemicals that have been put into our water. A report released in March 2016 by environmental watchdog group Clean Water Action claimed that wastewater from disposal pits was leaching into irrigation aquifers, which in turn were flowing into a tributary of the Kern River, creating further potential problems for farmers. We contacted Chevron for further information about the ongoing controversy in Kern County. On 10 March 2016, Chevron representative Cameron Van Ast provided us with extensive detail about the company’s water programs in California. He stated that the program in question had been operative for more than two decades and that “Chevron does not use hydraulic fracturing [fracking] at Kern River Oil Field,” explaining: In 1994, Texaco (now Chevron) entered into a contract with the Cawelo Water District to provide excess produced water to Cawelo for irrigation purposes. The water that Chevron provides to Cawelo for agricultural purposes benefits about 90 farmers and is used primarily with permanent crops, such as citrus fruits, nuts, and grapes. After being separated from oil by gravity separation, produced water runs through depurators, which remove fine particulates and oil, and walnut shell media based filters to clean remaining residual oil before traveling 8.5 miles through an underground pipeline to a surface polishing pond. The Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the water sent to Cawelo is 520 mg/l. (The EPA standard for drinking water is 500 mg/L) From the pond, the processed water proceeds into Cawelo’s blending reservoir, known as “Reservoir B,” where Chevron’s water mixes with fresh water and processed water from other sources, including the Valley Water Management Company. The newly blended water is then sent through Cawelo’s canal system, where additional fresh water is added and farmers are then able to draw water for irrigation. Van Ast further maintained that Chevron took issue with the bevy of claims made by Water Defense from a scientific standpoint: Water Defense has made a range of inaccurate statements to the media regarding our produced water program; specifically that Chevron is suppling tainted water to California farmers. These claims are based solely on the work of Water Defense’s “Chief Scientist” Scott Smith, who, based on publically available information, does not appear to have an advanced degree in any sort scientific study. Further, they appear to be based on water sampling of Mr Smith using a type of sponge, which is a non-standard methodology and is not approved by any U.S. regulatory agency for water testing. All results from tests performed on water provided by Chevron to the Cawelo Water District have shown that water is in compliance with regulatory requirements and the permits issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. These regulatory requirements have been met in every instance, which is often overlooked in reporting. Van Ast also addressed claims raised in the Spotlight documentary (addressed above): People deserve a fair and accurate picture of Chevron’s produced water program and the benefits it provides to California — but they did not receive it in this web series, which promotes unsubstantiated allegations and omits key facts about produced water at Chevron’s Kern River Oilfield. Key omissions and inaccuracies include: · That the water is produced from the formation with the oil; it is not fresh water that was injected into the oilfield. · The entire treatment process the water goes through before it is provided to the Cawelo Water District and that the water is also blended with processed water from other sources. · All results from tests performed on water provided by Chevron to the Cawelo Water District have shown that water is in compliance with regulatory requirements; it is not self-regulated. · The entity charged with regulatory oversight over this water, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), has commissioned a Food Safety Panel to evaluate the use of treated, produced formation water. (Dr. Shonkoff is a member of this Panel.) All test results from tests performed by Chevron and the Cawelo Water District have shown that water supplied by Chevron to the Cawelo Water District is in compliance with its existing permit issued by the Water Board. In no instance was any regulatory requirement not met. Chevron’s provision of produced water to the Cawelo Water District for irrigation purposes has been run appropriately for the benefit of California agriculture and in accordance with all regulatory requirements. Van Ast concluded by reiterating that Chevron and the Cawelo Water District maintained an “important conservation strategy” to “provide a significant and important benefit to local farmers and California”: Chevron is cooperating fully with the Food Safety Panel to evaluate the use of treated, produced formation water while continuing to provide the information requested by the Water Board and/or the Food Safety Panel to document the quality of the water that Chevron is providing to the Cawelo Water District. Chevron remains committed to working with regulators and partnering with organizations like the Cawelo Water District on solutions that address California’s water crisis. The topic of wastewater in California and its effect on tangerines and other produce is a multi-faceted, multi-player controversy that is still under investigation. Research remains underway to definitively determine whether so-called “frack fruits” pose any threat to consumers who eat them, but the data collected thus far don’t support any claims of danger to human health posed by the consumption of produce grown from crops irrigated with wastewater. Some of the high-profile initial reporting on this issue included misinformation, incomplete information, and other details that made for good social media outrage fodder but were neither evidence-based nor supported by existing data.
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10427
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Noninvasive Imaging Test Shown Accurate in Ruling Out Kidney Cancers
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This release from Johns Hopkins reports on a small, preliminary trial that shows adding a diagnostic imaging technique called sestamibi SPECT/CT to CT or MRI imaging tests led to more accurate diagnosis of kidney tumors, and subsequently, fewer unnecessary surgeries for benign tumors. Sestamibi SPECT/CT is short for 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography. The release does many things very well, particularly in its discussion of the benefits of the technology and the study evidence. The release would have been even stronger with some more details of cost beyond saying it is inexpensive. Since the sestamibi SPECT/CT appeared to reduce the number of surgeries because of better tumor classification, it likely would be a huge cost savings to both patients and the health system. The ability to better classify tumors of the kidney and prevent unnecessary surgeries for benign tumors would be a boon for patients and the health care system. If these results hold in a planned larger study, the Johns Hopkins radiologists’ research could lead to wider adoption of sestamibi SPECT/CT and a significant reduction in unneeded surgeries.
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true
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Academic medical center news release
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This release notes several times that sestamibi SPECT/CT is inexpensive and widely available. It would have been good to include some cost estimates, particularly since reducing unneeded surgeries by the “thousands” presumably would be a huge cost savings. The release states that “The addition of sestamibi SPECT/CT increased the reviewers’ diagnostic certainty in 14 of the 48 patients, or in nearly 30 percent of all cases,” and that “Conventional imaging combined with sestamibi SPECT/CT had a value of 0.85, while conventional imaging alone had a value of 0.60.” The release offers that “a value of 0.50 indicates that a diagnostic test is no better than chance,” to give readers a benchmark for comparison. The release does address harms in terms of reduced harms from adding the imagining technology to standard diagnostic tests: “Even for patients whose tumors were not reclassified, the addition of sestamibi SPECT/CT increased physicians’ ability to more confidently classify malignant tumors, which reduces the risk of misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery for all patients, the researchers say.” However, the potential harms from the test itself are not mentioned. Like CT, the test involves the use of ionizing radiation known to increase the risk of cancer. Though often minor, the contrast imaging agents (also called tracers or “dye”) injected prior to the test can cause allergic reactions, headaches, chest pain, dizziness, and other reactions. The release clearly states that the radiologists evaluating the imagery were unaware of the results of the surgery, that is, whether the tumors were cancerous or benign. It also states that “similarly ‘blinded’ pathologists analyzed the tumors without knowing the radiologists’ imaging results.” This blinding of the researchers lends credibility to the findings even though the study itself involved a small number of participants. No evidence of disease mongering here. The release provides a good discussion of why more accurate imaging is needed for kidney tumor diagnosis. The release didn’t mention a funder. The release describes the results of comparing the diagnostic accuracy of regular CT or MRI scans alone or with the addition of sestamibi SPECT/CT imaging. The release also states that the alternative to diagnostic certainty is surgery, even when it is unknown whether the tumor is malignant or non-cancerous. The release notes in several places, including in the first sentence, that the technique is “widely available.” We know that to be true. The release states that radiologists at Johns Hopkins designed the approach of combining sestamibi SPECT/CT with CT or MRI to improve diagnostic accuracy in kidney tumors. Sestamibi SPECT/CT itself is not new. It is the standard imaging choice for assessing problems with the parathyroid glands, which are adjacent to the thyroid gland. The release does not rely on unjustifiable language.
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8873
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U.S. drug sales grew at slowest rate since 1961: IMS.
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Sales of prescription drugs in the United States grew by just 3.8 percent in 2007, marking the lowest growth rate since 1961, according to data compiled by IMS Health.
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true
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Health News
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A pharmacist counts pills in a pharmacy in Toronto in this January 31, 2008 file photo. Sales of prescription drugs in the United States grew by just 3.8 percent in 2007, marking the lowest growth rate since 1961, according to data compiled by IMS Health. REUTERS/Mark Blinch Total U.S. prescription drug sales reached $286.5 billion last year with slowing growth blamed on factors including patent expirations of lucrative medicines that opened the door to cheaper generic versions. Other reasons cited by IMS in its annual U.S. Pharmaceutical Market Performance Review were fewer new product approvals, safety concerns, and the leveling of year-over-year growth from the Medicare Part D program. The 3.8 percent growth rate compares to 8 percent growth seen in 2006. “The moderating growth trend that began in 2001 resumed last year following the one-time impact on market growth in 2006 from the implementation of Medicare Part D,” Murray Aitken, IMS’s senior vice president for healthcare insight, said in a statement. Cholesterol drugs, such as Pfizer Inc’s Lipitor, once again led all therapy groups with prescription sales of $18.4 billion in 2007 despite a 15.4 percent decline in sales, primarily due to the availability of cheaper generics. Acid reflux medicines known as proton pump inhibitors, including AstraZeneca’s Nexium, ranked second with prescription sales of $14.1 billion and 2.8 percent growth. Antipsychotics, such as Eli Lilly and Co’s Zyprexa, overtook antidepressants as the third largest therapeutic class with $13.1 billion in sales and a 12.1 percent growth rate, according to IMS, which provides industry data on drug prescriptions and sales. Brand name drugs with some $17 billion in sales lost patent protection in 2007, helping drive prescription volume growth of 10 percent for generic medicines. Generic drugs claimed 67.3 percent of U.S. prescriptions dispensed in 2007, IMS found. IMS is forecasting compound annual U.S. pharmaceutical sales growth of 3 percent to 6 percent through 2012, noting that new biotech medicines and vaccines as well as the expected launch of a handful of drugs with at least $1 billion a year potential will partially offset major patent expirations. Some $13 billion in branded products are likely to start facing generic competition this year, IMS said. “The U.S. pharmaceutical market has entered a new era — one characterized by more modest growth due to the continuing impact of new generics products, fewer and more narrowly indicated novel medications and closer scrutiny of safety issues,” Aitken said.
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NASA begs spectators for astronaut launch: Please stay home!.
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NASA and SpaceX on Friday urged spectators to stay home for the first home launch of astronauts in nearly a decade because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Jim Bridenstine, AP Top News, General News, Florida, Science, Virus Outbreak, U.S. News
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Top officials warned the public against traveling to Florida for the May 27 launch of two NASA astronauts aboard a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station. It will be the first launch of astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in nine years — ever since the last space shuttle flight in 2011. It also will be the first attempt by a private company to fly astronauts to orbit. For space space shuttle launches, hundreds of thousands of spectators would descend on Kennedy Space Center and nearby beaches, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “The challenge that we’re up against right now is we want to keep everybody safe,” he said. “And so we’re asking people not to travel to the Kennedy Space Center, and I will tell you that makes me sad to even say it. Boy, I wish we could make this into something really spectacular.” Bridenstine urged the public to watch the launch online or on TV from home. “We don’t want an outbreak,” of COVID-19, he told reporters during a remote news conference. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell agreed it’s a shame more people won’t be able to enjoy the launch from Florida. But she encouraged people to “be there for the ride with us.” “We’ll be together in spirit more so than in physical space,” she said. Local officials are still mulling whether to allow people on beaches, parks and roadways on launch day. NASA and SpaceX already are limiting the number of employees near astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. Anyone coming close must wear masks and gloves, and their temperatures are checked. The astronauts also are staying away from all but the most important training events. Hurley said the two are disappointed their families and friends will have to miss the launch in person, but “Obviously, it’s the right thing to do in the current environment.” Both astronauts said they have already been in quarantine for weeks along with their wives and young sons, so those few family members can join them at Kennedy for the launch. The pair will go into full quarantine two weeks before liftoff, first at Johnson Space Center in Houston and then at Kennedy. In both the NASA and SpaceX flight control rooms, staff will be spaced at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart on launch day and throughout the mission, and plenty of hand sanitizer, masks and gloves will be available. NASA turned to private companies in the wake of the space shuttle program to get cargo to the space station. Next up are the crew deliveries. Russian Soyuz capsules, meanwhile, have been the sole means of crew transportation to the orbiting lab. Boeing also is working to launch astronauts under NASA’s commercial crew program; its first crew flight is still months — if not a year — away. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Glaxo Reports Success With Bird Flu Vaccine
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This story reports on an announcement that a drug company has had some success with a vaccine that protects against the virus H5N1, better known as the avian or bird flu. News reports about an impending bird flu pandemic have been disturbing and reports about the development of a vaccine is big news. However, this story is flawed in several ways. Although the story mentions a clinical trial, it does not provide enough information about the design of this study or of other ongoing trials for the reader to understand the strength of the existing evidence. The story only quotes representatives from the drug company. The story should have quoted other, independent researchers or clinicians who could have provided additional perspectives. The story does mention that the shot would cost between 4 and 7 euros, but it should have commented on the greater societal costs of implementing such a vaccination program. The story does not engage in disease mongering. However, the story should have mentioned that the predictions of a global pandemic have not been realized. Most importantly, although the story says that the vaccine achieved an 80% protection rate, this is not sufficient information on the benefits of the vaccine. This protection rate assumes that the strain the vaccine protects against is the same strain that would be seen in a pandemic flu outbreak. It is still not clear how well the vaccine would work in the “real world” given that viruses mutate easily.
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The story does mention that the shot would cost between 4 and 7 euros. The story should have commented on the greater societal costs of implementing such a vaccination program. Although the story says that the vaccine achieved an 80% protection rate, this is not sufficient information on the benefits of the vaccine. This protection rate assumes that the strain the vaccine protects against is the same strain that would be seen in a pandemic flu outbreak. It is still not clear how well the vaccine would work in the “real world” given that viruses mutate easily. The story does not mention any potentional harms of the vaccine. Although the story mentions a clinical trial, it does not provide enough information about the design of this study or of other ongoing trials for the reader to understand the strength of the existing evidence. The story does not engage in disease mongering. However, the story should have mentioned that the predictions of a global pandemic have not been realized. The story only quotes representatives from the drug company. The story should have quoted other, independent researchers or clinicians who could have provided additional perspectives. The story does not mention any alternatives. The story makes it clear that Glaxo expects to submit the vaccine for FDA approval in the future. The story clearly states that this is a new vaccine. Although there is no way to know if the story relied on a press release as the sole source of information, all of the content it contains is from the drug company.
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UN health agency tackles misinformation over virus outbreak.
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The World Health Organization chief has traveled a dozen times to monitor the Ebola response in Congo . But when he planned to visit China’s capital last week over a new viral outbreak emerging from central Hubei province, his daughter got worried.
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Beijing, Understanding the Outbreak, Geneva, Health, General News, Technology, Business, China, United Nations, Asia Pacific, Virus Outbreak, Europe, Ebola virus, International News
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“Before I left for Beijing, my daughter was saying, ‘Oh, you should not go,’” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confided to the U.N. health agency’s executive board in a public session on Monday. The account exemplifies the fine line WHO officials are navigating between fear about the new coronavirus and hopes of increasing international preparedness over an outbreak that has taken more than 360 lives and infected at least 17,238 people in China since late December — and could become a pandemic. So far, growth has been exponential in China, but elsewhere cases remain under 150, scattered across nearly two dozen countries. “Instead of spending time on fear and panic, we should say this is the time to prepare,” Tedros said. “Because 146 cases, by any standard, is very low.” As governments clamp down on travel to China, airlines suspend flights and Chinese nationals fret about rising xenophobia and ostracism, WHO is calibrating a message of praise to Chinese officials and trying to focus on the epicenter — Wuhan city and surrounding Hubei province — to keep the virus from spiraling out of control. It also wants to help get weaker health systems ready. Before he left for the meeting with President Xi Jinping last week, Tedros reassured his daughter: “It’s ok, it’s not all over China.” “Even in China, the virus is not evenly spread everywhere, and the risk is not the same,” he recalled. “When I was in Beijing, what we had discussed with the authorities is that our concentrated effort should be in the epicenters, or the sources of the virus.” Pausing on a couple of occasions to cough, clear his throat, and drink some water, Tedros quipped: “Don’t worry: It’s not corona,” prompting laughter. WHO is also battling misinformation, working with Google to ensure that people get facts from the U.N. health agency first when they search for information about the virus. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Tencent and TikTok have also taken steps to limit the spread of misinformation and rumors about the outbreak. Chinese officials are increasingly speaking out. At the executive board meeting, Ambassador Li Song, deputy permanent representative for China in Geneva, lashed out at flight cancellations, visa denials and refusals by some countries to admit citizens of Hubei province — saying those moves went against WHO recommendations. Li noted how President Xi, in his meeting with Tedros, had said the coronavirus epidemic “is a devil — we cannot let the devil hide.” “At the same time, the international community needs to treat the new virus objectively, fairly, calmly, and rationally, and not over-interpret it negatively and pessimistically, or deliberately create panic,” Li said. “We need facts, not fear. We need science, not rumors. We need solidarity, not stigma.” Since the outbreak began, a number of misleading claims and hoaxes about the virus have circulated online. They include false conspiracy theories that the virus was created in a lab and that vaccines have already been manufactured, exaggerations about the number of sick and dead, and claims about bogus cures. On Sunday, WHO lamented that the outbreak and response have been accompanied by a massive ‘infodemic’ — an overabundance of information, some accurate and some not — that makes it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it. The report said WHO, the U.N. health agency, was working “24 hours a day to identify the most prevalent rumors that can potentially harm the public’s health, such as false prevention measures or cures.” Tedros also addressed his decision last week to classify the virus outbreak as a global emergency, saying the move was prompted by increased human-to-human spread of the virus to numerous countries and the fear it could have a significant impact on developing countries with weaker health systems. Tedros said recent outbreaks such as the new virus and Ebola demonstrated the shortcomings of the “binary” emergency system, calling it “too restrictive, too simplistic, and not fit for purpose.” “We have a green light, a red light, and nothing in-between,” he said, adding that WHO was considering options to allow for an “intermediate level of alert.” In July, Tedros declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo a global emergency: There have been 3,421 cases and 2,242 deaths from it since the outbreak began 18 months ago. The WHO executive board, which is starting a six-day meeting, plans to hold a special technical session on the virus Tuesday.
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8836
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Glaxo wins FDA clearance for rotavirus vaccine.
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A second oral vaccine to prevent a leading cause of severe diarrhea in infants won approval from U.S. health officials on Thursday.
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Health News
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A GlaxoSmithKline logo is seen outside one of its buildings in west London, February 6, 2008. REUTERS/Toby Melville The GlaxoSmithKline Plc vaccine Rotarix fights infection with the rotavirus, which causes about 55,000 hospitalizations in U.S. children each year and kills more than 600,000 children worldwide, mostly in developing countries. Rotarix already is approved in more than 100 other countries throughout the world. The vaccine competes with Merck & Co Inc’s rotavirus vaccine called RotaTeq. Without vaccination, nearly every child in the United States likely would be infected at least once with rotavirus by age five, the Food and Drug Administration said. In studies of more than 24,000 infants, Rotarix prevented severe and mild cases of rotavirus-caused diarrhea and vomiting during the first two years of life. “This vaccine provides another option to combat and reduce a potentially severe illness that affects so many children,” Dr. Jesse Goodman, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement announcing the Rotarix approval. The most common reactions reported during clinical trials were fussiness, irritability, cough, runny nose, fever, loss of appetite and vomiting, the FDA said. An earlier oral rotavirus vaccine sold by Wyeth was pulled from the market in 1999 after it was linked to a rare, life-threatening type of bowel obstruction known as intussusception. In a Glaxo study of more than 63,000 infants, there was no increase in the problem compared with a placebo. Higher rates of convulsion and pneumonia-related deaths were seen in Rotarix patients in that study but not in other Glaxo trials. “Although the FDA has concluded that the available data do not establish that these events are related to the vaccine, the agency has requested the manufacturer to conduct post-marketing safety studies involving more than 40,000 infants to provide additional safety information,” the FDA said. Glaxo said Rotarix “will offer protection against the most commonly circulating rotavirus types in the U.S. and allow infants to complete the vaccination series by four months of age.” Rotarix, which is a liquid, is given in two doses to infants from six to 24 weeks of age, the FDA said. Merck’s RotaTeq vaccine is administered in three doses from ages six weeks to 32 weeks. Sales of Rotarix were $182 million in 2007 and are expected to rise with approval in the large U.S. market. The vaccine will be commercially available in the United States in the second half of the year, Glaxo said. Also on Thursday, researchers reported that Rotarix provided protection for up to two years in a study of infants from 10 Latin American countries. The Glaxo-funded trial of more than 15,000 infants found severe diarrhea from rotavirus in 0.4 percent of children given the vaccine, compared with 2.3 percent in the placebo group. Results were published in the Lancet medical journal. The arrival of a new generation of oral vaccines against the disease has been welcomed by health-care workers, but some experts caution against assuming the vaccines will work equally well in all countries. In a commentary in the Lancet, Australian pediatric experts Keith Grimwood and Carl Kirkwood noted Rotarix was more effective in European trials than in middle-income Latin American countries. The World Health Organization “is awaiting efficacy data from low-income countries of Africa and Asia, where much greater strain diversity exists and where 413,000 deaths occur every year compared with 15,000 in Latin America and 200 in Europe,” Grimwood and Kirkwood wrote.
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23069
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Mr. Hurt would re-open that darn (Medicare) doughnut hole.
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"Tom Perriello says Robert Hurt wants to reopen Medicare ""doughnut hole"" in prescription drug plan"
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Medicare, Message Machine 2010, Virginia, Tom Perriello,
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"It is legislation that shall remain nameless. But that didn't stop freshmen Democratic Rep. Tom Perriello of Virginia from attacking his opponent for opposing a provision in it, whatever it is. Perriello's ad, called ""Seniors Can't Afford a World of Hurt,"" accuses his opponent, Republican state Sen. Robert Hurt, of wanting to reopen the so-called ""doughnut hole"" in Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors. The ad begins in darkness with an elderly woman saying, ""Bad people are trying to scare seniors into thinking our Medicare is going to get cut."" She's apparently referring to Republican ads that have suggested Democrats cut Medicare when they approved the health care law. ""Poppycock!"" says the woman, turning on a light. ""Tom Perriello has voted to protect my Medicare and to save me 50 percent on my prescriptions. ""Mr Hurt would reopen that darn doughnut hole,"" she says. ""And would start bankrupting Medicare in just six years. Shed some light on the facts and you'll see...Seniors can't afford a world of Hurt."" First, let's be clear what we're talking about here: the controversial health care bill passed by Democrats earlier this year. You might not get that from the ad, unless you caught the fine print in the ad that sourced H.R. 3590. Of course, you'd also have to know that H.R. 3590 is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aka the health care reform bill. Talk about soft-pedaling a controversial issue. Now, about that darn doughnut hole. The ""hole"" is a gap in coverage in the Medicare prescription drug program, which was passed by Congress in 2003. In 2010, seniors in the Medicare Part D program must pay the first $310 for prescriptions before coverage kicks in. For subsequent total drug costs between $310 and $2,830, the government will pay 75 percent and beneficiaries pay 25 percent. Then comes the hole: Starting at $2,830, beneficiaries must pay the entire costs until they hit an out-of-pocket limit of $4,550. After that, ""catastrophic coverage"" begins, with the government paying 95 percent of costs. The health care bill Democrats passed in March would phase out that gap over the next 10 years. This year, beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole will receive a $250 rebate. After that, federal subsidies will enable the patient's share of the payment to be gradually reduced from 100 percent to 25 percent by 2020. At 25 percent, the doughnut hole range will have the same co-pay rate as the prior range. Closing the ""doughnut hole"" in the Medicare prescription drug plan was one of Obama's campaign promises, which PolitiFact tracks on our Obameter. In March, after the bill passed and was signed by Obama, we rated it a Promise Kept. Now, has Hurt said he wants to reopen the hole? He has been crystal clear about his opposition to the health care bill. At a Tea Party debate in March, for example, Hurt warned the bill would ""kill jobs,"" add more regulation and higher taxes and amount to ""government-run health care."" Hurt has signed the DeFundIt.org pledge to withhold budget funding for the new health care law if he is elected. And he has vowed to fight to repeal the law altogether. OK, so the health care bill would eventually close the Medicare doughnut hole, and Hurt has vowed to defund and ultimately repeal the health care bill. Does that mean, necessarily, that he would reopen the doughnut hole? Republican leaders in Congress offered an alternative health care bill back in November of 2009. We read through the bill and couldn't find any plan to close the doughnut hole. Republicans said the main goal of their alternative plan was to lower the cost of health insurance in general. We also couldn't find anywhere that Hurt has spoken publicly on what he would do, specifically, about the Medicare doughnut hole. Hurt's campaign said he favors health care reform based on market oriented solutions that maintain quality of care and reduce costs. Back in March, the Hurt campaign told the The Daily Progress, in Charlottesville, Va., that Hurt supports ""commonsense, market-based health care reforms"" such as portability of plans, tort reform and allowing young people to remain on their parents' health insurance coverage for longer. ""However, Senator Hurt does not believe that Draconian cuts to Medicare affecting every senior citizen in the 5th District, half-a-trillion in higher taxes, medical decisions made by bean-counters in Washington and not doctors in Charlottesville -- not to mention the largest increase in government power in generations -- is the answer to healthcare reform,"" Hurt's strategist, Chris LaCivita, wrote in an e-mail to the paper. We followed up with the Hurt campaign to get his position specifically on the doughnut hole. ""Working to close the doughnut hole is an area that we all can agree should be addressed,"" said Amanda Henneberg, a spokeswoman for the Hurt campaign. The ad's claim is based on Hurt's position that he wants to repeal the Democrats' health care bill in general, and it included a provision to phase out the doughnut hole. Hurt has not explicitly said he wants to reopen the hole, so Perriello is connecting some dots to make his case. In fact, Hurt's campaign says that while he wants to repeal the health care bill, Hurt believes working to close the doughnut hole is an area that should be addressed. That doesn't strike us as a full-throated pledge to close the gap the way the Democratic bill did, but it suggests Hurt is willing to consider retaining that aspect of the health care law."
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"Under the federal Controlled Substance Act, marijuana is listed in the same Schedule I as heroin,"" even though ""marijuana is not a killer drug like heroin."
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"Criticizing the nation’s war on drugs, Sanders says that under the federal Controlled Substance Act, ""marijuana is listed in the same Schedule I as heroin,"" even though ""marijuana is not a killer drug like heroin."" Like heroin, marijuana is indeed listed as a Schedule I drug, the federal designation given to drugs considered the most dangerous. But at least under the Obama administration, the federal government doesn’t treat it as one under the law. For a statement that is accurate but needs clarification.
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Criminal Justice, Drugs, Crime, Government Regulation, Public Health, Wisconsin, Bernie Sanders,
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"Campaigning for president in the liberal oasis of Madison, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont rose to the defense of marijuana. Critical of the nation’s war on drugs, Sanders said the lives of millions of Americans have been ""ruined"" because they got a police record for possessing marijuana. ""Today, under the federal Controlled Substance Act, marijuana is listed in the same Schedule I as heroin. That is nuts,"" Sanders declared March 26, 2016, 10 days before he defeated Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary. ""Now people can argue -- although I suspect in this audience there may not be much of an argument -- about the pluses and minuses of marijuana,"" he said, drawing cheers from some of the thousands in attendance at the Alliant Energy Center. ""But everybody knows marijuana is not a killer drug like heroin."" Sanders then noted he had introduced legislation to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substance Act because possession of it ""should not be a federal crime."" We found that Sanders wasn’t smoking anything funny in claiming that both marijuana and heroin are Schedule I drugs, which he has continued to say while campaigning in New York and Pennsylvania. But his claim is somewhat misleading: That classification is based on a drug’s acceptable medical use and the drug’s abuse or dependency potential, not on criminal statutes. The law The Controlled Substance Act, adopted in 1970, uses five schedules to classify drugs and narcotics by medical use and potential to incite substance abuse. On the low end is Schedule V, which includes substances such as cough medicines with small amounts of the narcotic codeine. At the high end is Schedule I, which lists the ""most dangerous"" drugs -- those that have ""no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."" Marijuana is stronger than when the Controlled Substance Act was adopted (as ex-GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina correctly stated). Nevertheless Schedule II includes some drugs often considered more dangerous than marijuana. Here’s a look at some of the drugs in the two schedules: Schedule I Schedule II Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Methamphetamine LSD Methadone Ecstasy OxyContin Peyote Fentanyl The Huffington Post in April 2016, citing figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the nation recorded no marijuana overdose deaths in 2015. Likewise, there were zero in 2014. It’s possible marijuana might soon be moved off of Schedule I. A week after Sanders’ speech, the Washington Post reported that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said it hopes to decide by July 2016 whether to change the federal status of marijuana. Now let’s get to Sanders’ implication that the schedule relates to criminal law enforcement. Marijuana treated differently Distribution, manufacturing or possession of a Schedule I substance is indeed a federal offense. Additionally, marijuana being on Schedule I, drug policy experts told us, makes it more difficult for licensed dealers in states that have legalized marijuana or medical marijuana to get bank accounts and to deduct business expenses on their taxes. And the classification makes it more difficult for researchers to study marijuana in clinical trials. But judges come down harder on heroin possession than marijuana possession. And when it comes to enforcement of criminal statutes, the federal government to some extent has looked the other way when it comes to marijuana. As PolitiFact National stated in a related fact check: Schedule I substances cannot legally be used for medical purposes, however, 20 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws legalizing medical marijuana. In 2009, the administration of President Barack Obama, a Democrat, told federal law enforcement agencies to stop targeting medical marijuana dispensaries, signaling a change from the approach of Obama’s predecessor, Republican President George W. Bush. Similarly, in 2013, the Department of Justice said it would not target new laws in Colorado and Washington legalizing recreational marijuana. While Sanders equates the handling or marijuana and heroin, it’s difficult to imagine the federal government not enforcing the law if states started legalizing heroin. Our rating Criticizing the nation’s war on drugs, Sanders says that under the federal Controlled Substance Act, ""marijuana is listed in the same Schedule I as heroin,"" even though ""marijuana is not a killer drug like heroin."" Like heroin, marijuana is indeed listed as a Schedule I drug, the federal designation given to drugs considered the most dangerous. But at least under the Obama administration, the federal government doesn’t treat it as one under the law. For a statement that is accurate but needs clarification, our rating is .
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359
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EU approves AstraZeneca's drug for adjunct use in Type-1 diabetes.
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British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Monday the European Commission approved its diabetes drug Forxiga for use as an oral supplement to insulin in adults with a rare type of the disease.
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true
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Health News
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Forxiga can now be used along with insulin in patients with Type-1 diabetes and a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 27 or more when insulin alone has not been able to control blood sugar levels, the company said. Type-1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin hormone. Farxiga or Forxiga, as the drug is known outside the United States, is one of AstraZeneca’s top ten drugs by sales. It generated $1.39 billion in 2018, and is key to the company’s future as it turns itself around.
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Claims: Migrant children molested in US-funded foster care.
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This story is part of an ongoing joint investigation between The Associated Press and the PBS series FRONTLINE on the treatment of migrant children, which includes an upcoming film.
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true
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Foster care, AP Top News, General News, Immigration, Latin America, Politics, Business, Guatemala, California, New York, Santa Ana, U.S. News, Health, United States
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___ After local Guatemalan officials burned down an environmental activist’s home, he decided to leave his village behind and flee to the United States, hoping he’d be granted asylum and his little boy, whose heart was failing, would receive lifesaving medical care. But after crossing the border into Arizona in May of last year, Border Patrol agents tore the man’s 7-year-old son from his arms and sent the father nearly 2,000 miles (3,220 kilometers) away to a detention center in Georgia. The boy, now 8, went into a U.S.-funded foster home for migrant children in New York. The foster care programs are aimed at providing migrant children with care while authorities work to connect them with parents, relatives or other sponsors. But instead the boy told a counselor he was repeatedly sexually molested by other boys in the foster home. A review of 38 legal claims obtained by The Associated Press — some of which have never been made public — shows taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $200 million in damages from parents who said their children were harmed while in government custody. The father and son are among dozens of families — separated at the border as part of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy — who are now preparing to sue the federal government, including several who say their young children were sexually, physically or emotionally abused in federally funded foster care. With more than 3,000 migrant children taken from their parents at the border in recent years, many lawsuits are expected, potentially totaling in the billions. Families who spoke to the AP and FRONTLINE did so on the condition of anonymity over fears about their families’ safety. “How is it possible that my son was suffering these things?” the father said. “My son is little and couldn’t defend himself.” The families — some in the U.S., others already deported to Central America — are represented by grassroots immigration clinics and nonprofit groups, along with some of the country’s most powerful law firms. They’re making claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act as a precursor to filing lawsuits. The FTCA allows individuals who suffer harm as a direct result of federal employees to sue the government. “It’s the tip of the iceberg,” said Erik Walsh, an attorney at Arnold & Porter, which has one of the world’s leading pro bono programs. The firm has so far filed 18 claims on behalf of nine families, totaling $54 million, and Walsh says dozens more are likely coming. The government has six months to settle FTCA claims from the time they’re filed. After that, the claimants are free to file federal lawsuits. The departments of Justice and Homeland Security — both named in claims — did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, Health and Human Services — the agency responsible for the care of migrant children — said it does not respond to pending litigation and that it serves children in a compassionate and organized manner through its Office of Refugee Resettlement. “The important work happening in each of the facilities and programs in the ORR network around the country — work ORR has done successfully since 2003 — takes an experienced team of competent, hardworking men and women dedicated to the welfare of the children,” HHS spokesman Mark Weber said. “We treat the children in our care with dignity and respect.” Last year, the Office of Refugee Resettlement cared for nearly 50,000 children who crossed the border by themselves, as well as children who were separated from their families under the zero tolerance policy. The agency housed them in foster programs, residential shelters and detention camps around the country, sometimes making daily placements of as many as 500 new arrivals, from babies to teens. The allegations of abuse and assaults in foster care raise fresh questions about the government’s efforts to place younger children with families in lieu of larger shelters and packed detention facilities. The legal claims, a recent federal court filing and Health and Human Services documents released by Congress earlier this year allege that children have suffered serious emotional trauma after being physically harmed or fondled by other children while in foster care. Six of the claims for damages involve children who were in foster care. And one recent court filing refers to a migrant child being abused in foster care. The records released by Congress show the Office of Refugee Resettlement referred at least seven foster care allegations of sexual abuse to the Justice Department in 2017 and 2018. Because some are anonymous to protect the children’s privacy, it’s unclear if some of the claims are duplicates. Justice has not responded to repeated queries about those cases from members of Congress. Three of the four incidents involving physical harm outlined in legal filings occurred at Cayuga Centers in New York, the largest foster care placement for migrant children, housing up to 900 babies and children at a time. The kids are supposed to be placed with Spanish-speaking families who are paid $1,000 per month per child. In a statement on Friday, Cayuga Centers said it takes the safety of children in its care seriously and reports allegations of abuse to the proper local, state and federal authorities, including the New York State Office of Children Services, the New York Police Department and Office for Refugee Resettlement. “Child protection is our number one priority. If a concern is raised about child safety in a foster home, it is investigated immediately. Our staff are all mandated reporters,” the group said in the statement. “Children are removed from a foster home immediately when an allegation is raised and if necessary, a foster home would be suspended until cleared following a thorough investigation.” In one Cayuga home, a foster parent found a little girl being forced to touch another child’s private parts and kiss her on the lips, according to a memo submitted as part of a federal lawsuit related to family separation. The girl was 3 when immigration officials took her from her father in March, after they’d crossed the border in Texas. As a result of her trauma, the little girl began to regress in foster care, having difficulty eating, drinking and using the toilet, according to her attorney. The girl was sent back to Honduras on Wednesday, a month after her father was deported. One Guatemalan mother whose 5-year-old daughter was placed in Cayuga last year says her little girl still wakes up crying from what she endured at the foster home. “Now she’s scared each time we go out or when she sees a police car or someone in uniform,” said the mother, who has filed a $6 million claim. “She says ‘Mami, don’t let them separate us again.’” Another 5-year-old Guatemalan girl said a boy grabbed her chest and touched her inappropriately, both in her foster home and during daytime classes at a Safe Haven for Children New York foster program, according to a $3 million injury claim. The girl was moved to a new foster home, but there she suffered verbal abuse from her foster parent’s mother, who called her names and locked her alone in rooms as punishment, according to the claim. A spokesman for Lutheran Social Services of New York, which oversees the Safe Haven for Children New York foster program, declined to comment on the allegation. Two claims blame the government for wrongful deaths: one, seeking $20 million, was filed by the wife of a Honduran father who killed himself in a padded cell after officers pulled his 3-year-old son from his arms. “Essentially what this policy does, is it makes examples out of families that get ripped apart to deter others,” said John Escamilla, who is representing the man’s wife and two children. He said he plans to file a federal lawsuit stemming from his FTCA claim as soon as Friday. “The people making these policies intended this level of suffering, and that’s what’s unconscionable.” In another case not involving child separation, a Guatemalan toddler died after a three-week stay in a family detention center. Her mother’s $60 million claim alleges the government failed to give the girl proper medical attention. The government has not settled any family separation cases in the administrative claims stage. But one federal lawsuit is currently in litigation in Massachusetts, and in February, a federal judge in Connecticut approved a $125,000 settlement in a separate case, for a Honduran mom and her son, then 6, who had been detained for four months and threatened with separation under the Obama administration. Aseem Mehta, a law student at the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School who worked on the case, said the settlement — the first of its kind — sends a clear message that such claims have legal standing. Mehta added that Trump’s significantly harsher border policies, including family separation, could make for even stronger cases before courts. “Our case is a benchmark,” Mehta said. “The most important takeaway is these claims are viable, and courts will entertain them, and the Department of Homeland Security views them as meritorious; they don’t settle cases unless they think there’s liability they’re exposed to.” Janet Napolitano, who led Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013, said she recalled a number of tort claims were filed against the agency at the time, though she said family separations were rare. The delays in reunifying families and children under the Trump administration may have left the agency open to legal challenges, she added. “There very well may be some vulnerability there,” said Napolitano, now the president of the University of California. Lawsuits stemming from family separation policies under the Trump administration are expected to be filed by mid-August. Attorneys for migrant children have aimed several recent legal challenges at larger facilities that are not state-licensed and have held thousands of teens. Some say misconduct is less easily identified in foster care because it requires a child reporting or a foster parent happening to walk in on something occurring in the home. “We may never know the extent to which children suffered particular abuses in foster homes,” said Michelle Lapointe, a senior supervising attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Guatemalan father, now living in Southern California, is still struggling to soothe his son’s lasting nightmares. He says his once talkative and outgoing third-grader is now withdrawn and frequently says he wants to leave this world. “This can’t happen again because for those of us who live through this, it is terrifying,” he said. ___ Daffodil J. Altan of FRONTLINE contributed to this report.
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32751
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An Italian doctor uncovered a surprisingly simple cure for multiple sclerosis in April 2016.
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A paper presented at the 2016 American Academy of Neurology meeting recommended more research into whether stem cell should be recommended as regenerative therapy. However, chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency was not mentioned.
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false
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Medical, Disease, italian doctor, medical clickbaiting
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On 15 April 2016, a nondescript web site called USA Daily Records claimed that an Italian doctor discovered a “surprisingly simple cure” for multiple sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease: An Italian doctor has been getting dramatic results with a new type of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, which affects up to 2.5 million people worldwide. In an initial study, Dr. Paolo Zamboni took 65 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, performed a simple operation to unblock restricted bloodflow out of the brain – and two years after the surgery, 73% of the patients had no symptoms. Dr. Zamboni’s thinking could turn the current understanding of MS on its head, and offer many sufferers a complete cure. Dr. Zamboni’s lucky find is yet to be accepted by the medical community, which is traditionally slow to accept revolutionary ideas. Still, most agree that while further study needs to be undertaken before this is looked upon as a cure for MS, the results thus far have been very positive. Naturally, support groups for MS sufferers are buzzing with the news that a simple operation could free patients from what they have always been told would be a lifelong affliction, and further studies are being undertaken by researchers around the world hoping to confirm the link between CCSVI and MS, and open the door for the treatment to become available for sufferers worldwide. The claim didn’t come from a reputable medical journal or science-based publication, but rather a new, unknown web site registered in February 2016. The article’s photograph (widely reproduced on social media) implied that a team of doctors was photographed while joyfully celebrating the breakthrough, but in actuality, it was an unrelated Getty Images picture from 2014: Spanish medics treating Ebola infected Spanish nurse Teresa Romero, Fernando de la Calle (L) and Marta Arsuaga (C) react as they leave a press conference at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid on October 21, 2014. A Spanish nurse who was the first person to catch Ebola outside Africa has beaten the deadly disease, officials said today, saying definitive tests showed she was free of the virus. Zamboni’s hypothesis was actually new in 2009, more than six years before its reappearance in April 2016. An October 2012 New York Times Magazine article reported that the treatment seemed promising at the time: Surfing Facebook one day shortly after [an experimental treatment known as] Tysabri scare, [MS sufferer Adam] Gottschalk learned that an Italian vascular surgeon named Paolo Zamboni had hypothesized that the real cause of M.S. was something called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, or CCSVI. For decades, doctors have been confident that M.S. comes about because the immune system attacks the brain, though they don’t know why it does so. Zamboni contended instead that blocked veins prevent blood from draining from the head, causing iron to back up in the brain and damage nerves that send messages to the body. Zamboni’s first study, published in 2009 in a small neurological journal, purported to find CCSVI in 100 percent of M.S. sufferers at one stage of the disease, and he developed a surgical procedure to treat it: opening the veins that carry blood away from the head with the aim of restoring normal blood flow. This would be done by inflating a small balloon inside the vein to widen the passage, and in rare instances by placing a device to keep it open (as is commonly performed in the arteries of patients with heart disease). The experimental treatment didn’t hold up, however. In October 2013, Zamboni’s theory was described as conclusively debunked following the conclusion of a rigorous study, the results of which were published in medical journal The Lancet. News reports from the time of the study’s publication described its findings as a “death knell” for Zamboni’s theory: A narrowing of the veins from the brain is unlikely as a cause for multiple sclerosis, say researchers from B.C. and Saskatchewan who found the narrowing is a common and normal finding in most people. Italian Paolo Zamboni made headlines in Canada four years ago for his belief that clearing blocked or narrowed neck veins could relieve MS symptoms. Since then probably more than 3,000 Canadians have gone out of country for dilation treatment, said Dr. Anthony Traboulsee of the University of British Columbia. In Tuesday’s online issue of the The Lancet, Traboulsee and his co-authors published their findings on the prevalence of narrowing, known as chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency or CCSVI, in people with MS, their siblings and unrelated healthy controls … When the researchers used ultrasound to look for CCSVI, they found narrowing in more than 50 per cent of all three groups. The hypothesis that vein narrowing has a role in the cause of MS is unlikely since its prevalence was similar in all three groups, the study’s authors concluded … The study was solid and well-balanced, Dr. Paul Friedemann of the neurology department at Charité University in Berlin and Dr. Mike Wattjes of MS Center Amsterdam said in a journal commentary accompanying the research. However, there have been updates about new treatments for sufferers of multiple sclerosis that are unrelated to Zamboni’s theory, and neither simple nor inexpensive. In March 2016, The Telegraph published a piece about stem cell therapy for MS sufferers, calling the results “dramatic”: Steven Storey was a marathon runner and triathlete before he was struck down with the disease and left completely paralysed: “I couldn’t flicker a muscle,” he said. But within nine days of the treatment he could move his toe and after 10 months managed a mile-long swim in the Lake District. He has also managed to ride a bike and walk again.
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38132
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Warnings about a nationwide listeria outbreak that prompted voluntary product recalls from Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Albertson’s, Safeway, Pack’N Save, Von’s, Target and H-E-B stoked panic among consumers.
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Nationwide Listeria Outbreak Leads to Vegetable Recalls, Consumer Panic
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mixture
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Food / Drink
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Mann Packing issued a voluntary recall on October 19, 2017 — but the recall was prompted by a single random test for contamination and not a “nationwide listeria outbreak.” Both Mann Packing and the FDA said in statements that the recall had been issued “out of an abundance of caution” after a single random test conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency revealed Listeria monocytogenes contamination in one of Mann’s vegetable products. No cases of reported illness had been linked to the recall by October 27th. In the days following the Mann Packing’s October 19th recall, nine retailers and three separate produce companies linked to Mann issued recalls of their own. The FDA has established a website to track the listeria recalls, which mainly includes fresh soups, bagged salads, stir-fry kits and veggie trays. Consumers are encouraged to double check these recall lists frequently. Lysteria monocytogenes can lead to Listeriosis, an infection sickens abot 1,600 people a year and claims about 260 lives, the CDC reports. Cases are most often reported in pregnant women, newborns and older adults. Comments
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9394
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Three-in-One Pill Shows Promise in Beating High Blood Pressure
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This story rehashes a news release about a study that found a “triple pill” containing low doses of three blood pressure medications was more effective that the “usual care” offered to patients diagnosed with high blood pressure. The story addresses a key caveat — that the study has not been published in a journal and therefore hasn’t been rigorously scrutinized. However, it doesn’t give a clear description of what the comparison therapies (aka “usual care”) were. Nor does it provide cost data for the combination pill, which seems to be a key drawback since the study aims to explore whether it can be used to improve blood pressure treatment worldwide. Most significantly, it lacks independent sources who could weigh in on the significance of the findings. Blood pressure is not well-controlled for many people, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, according to the lead author of this study. Helping people access effective, affordable blood pressure treatments is important research. But this story’s parroting of a news release doesn’t help readers much. Adding contextual information and independent expert viewpoints goes a long way.
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false
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high blood pressure
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The story doesn’t say how much the triple pill costs, or how that cost compares with “usual care.” On GoodRx, 30 tablets of a telmisartan/amlodipine combination runs around $60, while 30 tabets of cholorthalidone is about $17. However, all of the dosages available online were twice what was used in the study. According to a news release, the researchers are evaluating whether the combination pill is cost-effective solution for blood pressure control. Among those who took the so-called “triple pill” for six months, 70 percent had achieved their blood pressure targets, compared with 55 percent of those who received their usual care. The story doesn’t state this, but we found via the news release that “usual care” meant taking whatever blood pressure medicine their doctor prescribed. Also, there was no information in the news story about what the blood pressure targets were. According to the release, the blood pressure target was 140/90 mm Hg or less, with a lower target of 130/80 mm Hg or less for those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Lastly, the story should have cautioned that lowering blood pressure might not reflect benefits on patient-centric outcomes like heart attacks and strokes. It is a surrogate marker. The story reports: “The rate of side effects was no greater among those who took the three-in-one pill than among the usual care group.” What were those side effects, how severe were they, and at what rate did they occur? The story doesn’t say. While the news release doesn’t say what specific side effects were observed, there are array of potential side effects with blood pressure medication that the story could have mentioned, such as nausea and fatigue. The story is wise to state the findings “should be considered preliminary because research presented at meetings has not undergone the rigorous scrutiny given to research published in medical journals.” It also states that the study involved 700 people with high blood pressure, who averaged 56 years old. Yet, that wasn’t enough. What kind of study was this? Was it randomized? Blinded? And this is being syndicated by U.S. news outlets — readers should be told that it occurred in Sri Lanka, where there are certainly important differences in the care that would be received compared with the U.S. There’s no disease-mongering, and the story provides an FDA link to consumer information that includes U.S. high blood pressure prevalence data. There are no independent sources in the story. As the story noted, the study compared the combination pill to “usual care.” However, the story doesn’t state what “usual care” means. The story should have explained what “usual care” meant and whether there were differences in the intensity of therapy between the groups. Maybe the intensity of usual care just needs to be increased. The story doesn’t explain where or even whether the “triple pill” is available. The story doesn’t explain how this study fits into the body of research on combination blood pressure pills. According to the news release, lead researcher Ruth Webster, MBBS, of the George Institute for Global Health at the University of New South Wales, described the study as “the first large trial designed to test the theory that starting treatment with low doses and three drugs could achieve better blood pressure control compared with usual care and that combining these drugs in a single pill would make it easier both for doctors to prescribe treatment and for patients to adhere to it.” The story is based entirely on information from a news release.
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40887
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There were 700 deaths from cancer in Ireland in August.
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We don’t know these figures yet as it is too soon after the fact. The figure for cancer seems realistic from past trends, as there were around 830 deaths caused by cancer in Ireland per month in Q1 of 2020.
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false
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online
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There were 700 deaths from cancer in Ireland in August. We don’t know these figures yet as it is too soon after the fact. The figure for cancer seems realistic from past trends, as there were around 830 deaths caused by cancer in Ireland per month in Q1 of 2020. There were 70 deaths from alcohol in Ireland in August. We could find no source for this figure. A 2013 average of 88 alcohol-related deaths a month in Ireland includes a number of different factors, such as the coroner mentioning alcohol dependency, certain alcohol-related diseases, and if they were an alcoholic. There were 32 deaths from suicide in Ireland in August. It’s too soon to know this figure as only a coroner can officially rule a death as a suicide, but this figure is realistic looking at past data. Claim 1 of 4
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9679
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When medication doesn't work: Innovative program eases ADHD symptoms naturally
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No data or research results are presented as evidence to back up the family’s story of help for their daughter. This story mistakenly substitutes an anecdote for scientific proof and appears almost to promote the nationally franchised Brain Balance centers. Most news organizations would include more than one source for such a story, and some balancing arguments about other alternative treatments. Problems in behavior for children growing up are frequently complicated and not easy to diagnose or treat. It is estimated that about 9 million visits per year in the United States to a clinic or doctor are associated with ADHD. The numbers of children diagnosed with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders has increased substantially over the past two decades or so, as have the numbers of children treated with stimulant and other medications. See what Dr. Allen Frances, former psychiatry chair at Duke and head of the DSM IV Task Force, wrote. This story suggests that easing the problem for a young woman with ADHD, as well as other disorders, was as simple as visiting a center in New Jersey. (The Science-Based Medicine website has questioned the evidence behind these centers.) A better story could have honestly outlined the experience of this family, while not pretending that a single case proves the unstudied treatment is therefore proven to work for most patients. While medication helps some of these kids, others are overtreated and non-medication interventions are given short shrift, and, as opposed to what this article implies, the standard of care is to always try behavioral help with organizational skills and making sure the child is getting enough exercise to burn off energy first.
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false
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ADHD
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The story does not include any mention of costs. Typically taking a child out of the home to attend any kind of face-to-face training for learning differences can be expensive. The story does not give us any idea what visits to Brain Balance Achievement Centers cost, or how many visits a typical family would make. According to a news story written about the franchised national chain, a typical course of therapy cost about $6,000 in 2010. An anecdote about one person’s experience does not amount to quantifying potential benefits for readers. The story provides no studies/evidence to quantify benefits of the approach described. The story does not discuss any potential harms. There may be families whose children are helped by the Brain centers, but there is no evidence offered in this story, except for the lone anecdote. The story refers to “bionutritional” advice, but doesn’t explain what that undefined term involves. This is not sound health care journalism. No data. No evidence. No independent perspective. There is no disease mongering. The story does not quote any sources independent of the franchise that sells the “training” to families. The fact that the story ends with a link to the commercial Brain Balance Centers website reinforces the notion that this is more promotion than journalism. The story mentions drugs that are often prescribed for children with behavioral disorders. But it does not offer any evidence-based comparison of approaches. While offering the Brain Balance system as a superior treatment, the story does not provide the context that some of the elements of the Brain center’s treatment are also offered in traditional therapeutic centers. This line in the story – “with doctors prescribing everything from stimulants to antipsychotics and even antidepressants to help control the symptoms” – also demands some further explanation. This statement makes the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants sound commonplace. It would be the rare and controversial practice to use these. There are dozens of Brain Balance centers in the United States. The story does not directly address availability and could lead readers to think the New Jersey facility was one of a kind. But maybe the news organization felt it covered the issue when it generously offered a free link to the centers at the end of the piece. According to the story, the Brain Balance “program uses a combination of sensory motor (physical) exercises and academic learning” – approaches that are widely available from physical and occupational therapists. The story implies that these are novel approaches to the brand name centers. When a story reports on just one person’s experience from just one commercial treatment center and ends by including a link to the commercial operation’s website, it sure smacks of a PR news release at play. But we don’t have any direct evidence of that, so all we can give this story is a Not Applicable score on this criterion because of our uncertainty.
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1699
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Industry makes $7,000 for each tobacco death: health campaigners.
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The tobacco industry makes $7,000 for each of the more than 6 million people who die each year from smoking-related illness, the health campaign group World Lung Foundation (WLF) said on Thursday.
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true
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Health News
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Last year, more than 5.8 trillion cigarettes were smoked, similar to 2013, as rising tobacco use in China counters declines in other countries, according to a report on Thursday led by WLF. In their global Tobacco Atlas, the WLF and the American Cancer Society said that in 2013, the last year for which detailed figures were available, tobacco industry profits were more than $44 billion. Meanwhile, 6.3 million people died from smoking-related illness, equivalent to a profit of $7,000 for each death caused by tobacco. The report said that, if current trends continue, a billion people will die from smoking and exposure to tobacco this century. Besides causing lung cancer, which is often fatal, tobacco use is also a major risk factor for a range of other illnesses. It is the world’s leading preventable cause of premature death from chronic conditions such as heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. In China, the world’s most populous country, almost 2,250 cigarettes were smoked per person over age 15 last year, making it one of only around a dozen countries topping 2,000. The average Chinese smoker consumes 50 percent more than in 1980, a symptom of a broader phenomenon, as tobacco use declines or is stable in many wealthy, developed nations but growing in poorer regions such as Africa and parts of Asia. “The significant reductions in smoking rates in the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, and other countries that implement increasingly tight tobacco control laws have been offset by the growing consumption in a single nation: China,” the report said. Many countries around the world have introduced some anti-tobacco laws, including curbing advertising and banning smoking in enclosed spaces such as bars, restaurants and offices. But the Tobacco Atlas found that only 10 percent of the world’s population are covered by comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and only 16 percent by comprehensive smoke-free legislation. Low- and middle-income countries now account for more than 80 percent of tobacco users and tobacco-related deaths. The Tobacco Atlas also found that smoking among women is also on the rise, driving up rates of female lung cancer. In an indication of future trends, there are 24 countries where girls smoke more than boys, compared to just two countries where more women smoke than men, it said. “Whether it’s the link between tobacco and increasing rates of lung cancer among women or the ever-increasing number of health conditions and deaths related to tobacco use, the health and economic case for reducing tobacco use has never been clearer,” said John Seffrin, chief executive of the ACS.
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35996
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The federal deficit when U.S. President Barack Obama left office was $585 billion, climbing to $984 billion in January 2019.
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Smoke from Australia’s fierce bushfires settled over Sydney in still conditions on Tuesday, setting off fire alarms, and halting ferry services as famous landmarks disappeared behind some of the worst haze seen in the harbor city.
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mixture
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Fact Checks, Politics
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A 60 km (37.2 miles) firefront is devastating tinder-dry areas northwest of Sydney, Australia’s largest city, and sending hazardous smoke across the east and over the Pacific, even causing haze more than 2,000 km (1243 miles) away in New Zealand, satellite images show. “This smoky period we’ve been experiencing for the past month or so, it is unprecedented, so these conditions are a risk to people’s health,” said Richard Broome, the New South Wales government’s director of environmental health. Broome said while many people would experience sore eyes, nose and throat irritations, those with pre-existing health conditions and young children and the elderly were at particular risk. Sydney’s air quality index readings in some parts of the city on Tuesday were 11 times the threshold considered hazardous, government data showed. The wildfires have blanketed Sydney - home to more than 5 million people and better known for its clear skies and blue harbor - in smoke and ash for more than two weeks. That haze has turned the daytime sky orange, obscured visibility and prompted many commuters to wear breathing masks. Bushfires are common in Australia’s hot, dry summers, but the ferocity and early arrival of the fires last month in the southern hemisphere spring is unprecedented. Experts have said climate change has left bushland tinder-dry. While there is no official evacuation order, many locals in areas that are under threat have decided to leave their homes, Hawkesbury Mayor Barry Calvert told Reuters. “It is eerie, many people have decided to leave, and I’m going to do the same,” said Calvert, who lives north-west of Sydney. “I’ve been through this before about 20 years ago when I stood outside my house looking at flames 50 feet high, I decided then that I would leave early if it happened again.” All up, there are more than 100 fires ablaze in the eastern states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, many of which have been burning since November. The fires have killed at least four people, destroyed more than 680 homes and burned more than 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares) of bushland. Many outdoor events were canceled in smoke-filled areas on Tuesday, including a lead-up to the Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race, that was scheduled to take place on the harbor. Sydney’s ferries, which started the day using foghorns as they cautiously moved through the thick smoke, were halted at lunch time as visibility fell even further. The dense smoke even seeped into buildings on Tuesday, triggering alarms in offices and homes, and at train stations and university campuses, authorities said.
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9495
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CANCER BREAKTHROUGH: PERSONALIZED MELANOMA VACCINES ‘SAFE AND EFFECTIVE’ IN FIRST HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS
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Ungrounded speculation or reasonable caution? Both are present in this Newsweek story on two very early trials of immunotherapy drugs being developed to protect against melanoma. While the headline calls the research “a cancer breakthrough,” quotes from researchers bring some much-need focus on the studies’ limitations. These are — after all — phase 1 safety trials with just six volunteers in one and 13 in the other. Far too small a group to make any claims about successful results. The article does tell readers what questions remain about the vaccines (such as do they extend life and how effective are they compared with other treatments), and the type of research studies that are needed to answer these questions. However, noticeably absent from the story is a discussion about the exorbitant price tag associated with immunotherapy. We’re seeing a lot of health news and PR releases devoted to immunotherapy trials so we’ve put together some tips for covering news on cancer immunotherapy drugs. Results from small, preliminary studies like these involving six and 13 volunteers should be viewed cautiously. Information about the effectiveness of a treatment is of limited consequence if patients cannot afford the treatment. There needs to be a discussion of cost so patients can determine whether such treatment is even possible for them.
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true
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immunotherapy,melanoma,vaccine
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This story doesn’t discuss how much the vaccines cost. Therefore, readers can’t compare the affordability of these vaccines to existing treatment options. The story says that four of the six patients had no cancer recurrence after 25 months in the first study, and in the second study, eight of the 13 patients remained tumor free after 23 months. But the studies cited are both phase I clinical trials designed to address safety, not efficacy. Any claims regarding the latter, especially given the limited number of subjects, would be highly speculative. Therefore, the headline is misleading. As noted in the final sentence of the article: “… The next step will be to test these personalized vaccines in larger clinical trials to see if they are better than existing treatments, if they improve survival, and what their long-term side effects could be.” We give the story credit for making an important point that waiting for the vaccine to be made might be detrimental to patients with advanced cancer. It says, “As the vaccine therapies are designed and generated specifically for each individual there is a lag time from enrollment to commencement of treatment—approximately four months—which may be too long from some patients with advanced cancer.” The story also notes that “Both vaccines were deemed safe” but it doesn’t discuss any side effects that may have shown up in the trials. What happened to the five patients who were not tumor free at 25 months? The story does mention that more research is needed to identify potential harms. The story mentions the types of studies that were conducted and the size of the trials. Both of these factors impact the claims that can be made from the research. And that’s important because the claims made seem out-sized compared to the very preliminary nature of the research. Phase I clinical trials are used to look at safety and side effects, not to make conclusions about the future success of personalized medicine. To its credit, the article includes a very important quote from one of the study authors that clarifies that no conclusions should be drawn from these preliminary studies: “It is still unknown whether these vaccines will extend the survival of cancer patients, or whether they are more effective than other recently developed immunotherapies. Additional clinical trials will be required to determine the utility of these individualised neoepitope vaccines.” There is no evidence of disease mongering in this story. The story incorporates insights from a few independent sources. This gives readers additional information about how the findings should be interpreted. However, no information is provided about potential conflicts of interest. The story doesn’t mention any other treatment options for melanoma by name but states that additional research is needed to determine the effectiveness of these vaccines in comparison to existing options. The story could have been improved by including information about the prevalence of cancer recurrence among cancer patients using existing treatment options such as surgery and chemotherapy. One of the trials described was conducted in people who had had surgery and no other treatment options. It would have been helpful to include the length of time to tumor recurrence in people who had not received any other interventions. Although not explicitly stated, most readers will understand that the vaccines are not currently available and have to undergo a lot more testing before they are available — if ever. The article discusses what is and isn’t new about the research in this section: “Cancer vaccines that are personalized to the patient—designed to help the immune system identify tumors as foreign bodies and destroy them—have been considered as a potential treatment for a number of years. But working out the unique mutations of each person’s cancer, a time-consuming and complicated process, must first be identified before a vaccine can be developed for them.” The story includes independent sources and does not appear to be reliant on a news release.
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8404
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South Asia coronavirus cases hit 22,000 as Maldives locks down capital.
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The number of people infected with the coronavirus crossed 22,000 in densely populated South Asia on Friday driven by a rise in cases in India as the tiny Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives locked down its capital.
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true
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Health News
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Health officials have warned that the region, home to a fifth of the world’s population, could be the new frontline against the disease because of millions living in packed slums and fragile public health systems. India’s caseload rose to 13,387, a jump of nearly 700 over the previous day, despite a harsh lockdown now in its fourth week and which will last at least until early May. Authorities have identified a fifth of India’s hundreds of districts as red zones with the highest number of cases, including the cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad. But Lav Agarwal, federal health joint secretary leading the fight against the coronavirus, said the rate of increase of infections was slowing because of the lockdown of 1.3 billion people in the world’s second-most populous country after China. Before the shutdown, the number of cases was doubling every three days, but now it was taking 6.2 days to double, Agarwal said, citing government data. “There is a decline, but we have to remain (in) the fight,” he said. The government has said it will permit farm and industrial activity in parts of the countryside that are least affected by the coronavirus from next week to lessen the pain for millions. Authorities in the resort islands of the Maldives placed the capital Male under a 14-day lockdown after eight people tested positive over the last three days, taking the total to 28. The government had earlier stopped all travel to and from the tropical islands and shut down businesses. But on Friday, the Health Protection Agency issued strict stay-at-home orders for Male, home to 40 percent of the country’s population of 450,000, fearing a big outbreak in the congested city. Maldives, best known for its white sands and palm-fringed atolls, reported its first case at the beginning of March when two employees of an island resort tested positive. Bangladesh also warned its 160 million people that the country was at risk after positive cases were detected in 45 districts out of a total of 64. It warned of strict action against anyone violating stay-at-home orders. “Only social distancing can keep the outbreak under control as no vaccine or treatment is available for the disease,” the directorate general of health services said in a statement. The big worry remains the low level of testing across the region. India has slowly raised the number to a little over 27,000 on Thursday, but in comparison with other countries it remains small given the huge population. India has tested 203 people per million of its population, lower than Brazil (296) and well behind the United States at 9,866 and Italy 18,481, all of which are themselves considered laggards in the race to screen as many people as possible. Here are official government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia: * India has 13,387 confirmed cases, including 437 deaths * Pakistan has 5,988 cases, including 107 deaths * Bangladesh has 1838 cases, including 75 deaths * Afghanistan has 906 cases, including 30 deaths * Sri Lanka has 238 cases, including 7 deaths * Maldives has 28 cases and no deaths * Nepal has 16 cases and no deaths * Bhutan has five cases and no deaths Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: open tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser
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29145
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"The factual claims made in a Facebook video entitled ""Is your food fake or real? Find out with these 16 easy tests at home!"" are valid."
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In summary, this particular section of the video is actually accurate, but it shouldn’t be a cause of too much concern for consumers.
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false
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Food
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In June 2019, tens of millions of Facebook users watched and shared a viral video that purported to demonstrate “16 easy tests” to determine whether certain foods and drinks were “fake” or “real.” The video was posted on 1 June by Blossom, a digital publishing brand that creates viral content, often in the form of “listicles” — “8 ways to transform and upgrade your wardrobe,” “3 oddly satisfying stress relievers,” “4 super cool ways to use ice cube trays,” and so on. Within a few days, viewers shared the video more than 3 million times and viewed it more than 85 million times. However, it was removed from Facebook by 10 June 2019, after this fact check was originally published. The video purported to show short clips of DIY food “experiments,” along with subtitles that add a degree of detail: The 16 tests outlined in the video constituted a mixture of falsehoods, recycled urban myths, one or two experiments that have a grain of truth to them, and several tests that address types of adulteration that are absent from the United States and many other countries but have been reported in India and parts of the developing world. On the whole, the video served its viewers poorly as a source of reliable information about food safety and adulteration. In a statement sent in response to the spread of the video, a spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told Snopes: Federal law requires that food is safe and properly labeled. For example, all food additives and color additives must be approved by FDA before market entry, and the labeling of food must be truthful and not misleading. We take food contamination and fraud very seriously and do take action when problems arise, especially if it appears that the adulteration was intentional. Consumers should rest assured that most of the practices illustrated in this video are not legal in the U.S. and any FDA-regulated product that violates or appears to the violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, may be subject to seizure, mandatory recall, or other enforcement action … Consumers should be able to trust that the foods they eat are safe and videos like these can undermine the confidence consumers have in the FDA’s role in maintaining the safety our food supply … For its part, First Media, the company that operates the Blossom brand, told us via a spokesperson: “The video does not claim that all products or specific manufacturers include these materials, nor does it make any health or nutritional suggestions or recommendations. They are demonstrations of things we consider to be important for our global audience, however this content is intended only for informational purposes and as entertainment.” We sent the video and its 16 claims to Eric Decker, head of the Department of Food Science in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, one of the leading academic food science programs in the United States. Here is our breakdown of the 16 tests, based on Decker’s assessments and the supporting evidence provided to Snopes by First Media. 1. “Processed cheese with chemicals is difficult to melt”: FALSE The claim that processed cheese is hard to melt is an old one, and a subject we have previously examined in detail. It first emerged in late 2014 when internet users began posting videos of themselves setting fire to slices of American cheese in an effort to prove that the cheese was “fake.” When asked for supporting evidence, a spokesperson for First Media directed us to a 2015 Vice News article and wrote: “Processed cheese contains an added ingredient known as ‘Emulsifying Salt’ which is known to ‘help bind fats, proteins, and water in cheese. '” Interestingly, the Vice article that First Media relied on as evidence carried the headline “Stop Setting Your Cheese on Fire” and warned: “Videos purporting to demonstrate the evil stuff in processed cheese have started making the rounds online. Problem is, they don’t prove anything except how little we know about our food.” In response to this section of the video, Decker told us: “That’s exactly the opposite of reality … There are additives that are added to processed cheese to help the cheese melt … They take real cheese and they add what they call chelating salts and things like citric acid. That helps break the protein [casein] down. The protein in regular cheese is very aggregated together. So when you melt it, you see these clumps. If you can get those proteins to come apart, then it’s much easier to melt the cheese.” [Emphasis is added]. 2. “Rice is mixed with plastic bits to increase manufacturer profit”: FALSE This is another canard. Every so often, for the best part of the past decade, highly questionable and thinly sourced reports have been emerging from China and other Asian countries, as well as parts of Africa, claiming widespread adulteration of rice with plastic. So far, no reliable corroboration of those claims exists, which have caused panic in some countries and have been confirmed as hoaxes. If you add plastic to rice and then cook that mixture, you might be able to identify the plastic by its melting, turning clear, or sticking to the frying pan. But no reliable evidence exists that such rice is bought or sold anywhere in the world (not least the United States) in the first place. When asked by Snopes, First Media declined to say how and where they obtained the rice shown in the video, and whether they had added anything to the rice before filming this portion of the video. 3. ‘Baby food contains ground-up rocks advertised as fortified calcium’: UNPROVEN First Media told us this test was based on one included in a similar 2015 video, which can be viewed here. However, that video purportedly showed a magnet being used to locate and extract iron filings, not calcium, in baby food. We put that discrepancy to First Media, but they declined to clarify what their video actually showed, and also refused to say how and where they had obtained the baby food purportedly shown in the video or whether they had added anything to it before filming. Either way, the video is framed in a highly misleading way, describing fortified calcium as “ground-up rocks.” Calcium, an earth metal, can be found naturally in rocks and other components of the earth’s surface, especially in limestone. On this subject, Decker told us that most supplemental calcium was ultimately derived from a rock. “That’s what’s in lime [stone]. You can get calcium that comes from oyster shells, you can get calcium that comes from all different sources.” He said the description of fortified calcium as “ground-up rocks” was “very misleading.” “The calcium they put in baby food would be no different than what they put in any food.” 4. “Synthetic supplements burn! Natural supplements won’t!”: FALSE “That’s just bullshit,” Decker told us. “There’s just no basis to any of that. Most synthetic supplements are chemically identical to natural supplements.” In response to our request for supporting evidence, First Media directed us to another questionable 2015 video, which can be viewed here. That video also showed a tray of supplements — both capsules and tablets — baked in an oven. Those that burned or melted were identified as synthetic, those that did not were identified as natural. When asked by us, First Media refused to identify the supplements shown in their own video, and refused to say where and how they had obtained them. 5. ‘Glue’ in meat: MOSTLY TRUE This section has to do with something called transglutaminase, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) describes as “an enzyme approved for use as a binder to form smaller cuts of meat into a larger serving of meat. It is a natural substance derived from fermented bacteria …” Transglutaminase is sometimes colloquially referred to as “meat glue,” but First Media’s video had the potential to cause unnecessary alarm or misinformation by describing it simply as “glue,” raising the specter of synthetic acrylic and epoxy glues being surreptitiously embedded in meat products. We can’t verify that what is shown in the video is in fact meat glue, but we do know that transglutaminase is regarded as safe by U.S. federal authorities. According to the USDA, “TG enzyme is a food binder that has been used in meat and poultry products for over 10 years. It was determined to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 for use to improve texture and cooking yields in various standardized meat and poultry products and as a protein cross-linking agent to fabricate or reform cuts of meat.” 6. Washing powder is added to ice cream “for shine and lightness”: FALSE As evidence in relation to this section of the video, First Media sent Snopes a link to a 2018 post on a relatively obscure Indian blog which claimed that ice cream is sometimes adulterated with “Detergents or washing powder to improve smoothness and induce frothing thereby adding to the volume.” The warning appears to have originated with speeches and checklists prepared in 2012 and 2013 by Sitaram Dixit, then chairman of a non-profit organization called the Consumer Guidance Society of India. In a 2013 document, Dixit outlined two tests for determining the presence of washing powder in ice cream: “1. Put some lemon juice [in the ice cream], bubbles are observed if washing powder is present. 2. Add 1 ml of Hydrochloric acid (HCl) to a little of [sic] Sugar. If you observe effervescence, then washing powder is present.” Despite this warning, no evidence exists of a pattern of behavior whereby retailers or manufacturers do, in fact, add washing powder or detergent to ice cream in order to add to its frothiness. We found no specific reports of any such incidents, either from India or elsewhere. In the context of the United States, we checked the FDA database of product-complaint reports from 2004 to 2018, and found not a single report of washing powder or detergent having been added to ice cream, or any other food or beverage product. First Media’s video might well show lemon juice being added to a mixture of ice cream and washing powder. (The company again refused to say where they obtained the ice cream shown in the video and whether they had added anything to it before filming.) However, the underlying premise of this experiment — that manufacturers or retailers do, in fact, add washing powder to ice cream “for shine and lightness” — is false. Most of the remaining 10 claims can be traced back to guidelines published in 2015 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a legitimate statutory agency operating under the aegis of India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian government. Food adulteration is a serious and widespread problem in India, to an extent that is not replicated in the United States and many other developed countries. Some of the remaining tests in the Blossom video were based on scientifically valid experiments, but they had to do with types of food and drink adulteration that either simply do not occur, or are not prevalent in the United States and many other countries. Although Blossom has an international audience, the brand served its viewers — particularly those living outside India — poorly by failing to mention any of that crucial context. 7. Milk is adulterated with rice water, but will turn blue in the presence of seaweed: MIXTURE This test can be traced to the FSSAI guidelines, known as “Detect Adulteration with Rapid Test” (DART), which set out the following method: “Boil 2-3 ml of sample with 5ml of water. Cool and add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine. Formation of blue colour indicates the presence of starch. (In the case of milk, addition of water and boiling is not required)”. As First Media explained to us by email, they used seaweed in their test because it is a good source of iodine. We haven’t been able to verify the iodine content of the particular seaweed they used, nor the composition of the milk samples featured in the videos. (The company refused to say where they obtained the milk or whether they added anything to it before filming, and they declined to answer a question about the prevalence of starch adulteration of milk in the United States.) However, the test is at least based on an FSSAI experiment that is scientifically legitimate, as confirmed by Decker. Nonetheless, it is a test that addresses a type of adulteration (starch in milk) that is not prevalent in the United States and many other developed countries. By failing to provide that crucial context, this section of the video presented a highly misleading impression to tens of millions of viewers. 8. “Old produce is often dyed to make it look fresh” (and rubbing it with oil and water will reveal the deception): MIXTURE This test also originates in the FSSAI guidelines, which set out the following method: “Take a cotton ball soaked in water or vegetable oil. (conduct the test separately). Rub the outer red surface of the sweet potato. If cotton absorbs colour, then it indicates the usage of rhodamine B for colouring the outer surface of sweet potato.” Clearly, food products in India feature color additives such as rhodamine B to an extent or frequency that warrants the intervention of the FSSAI. However, the same is not true in the United States. Since 1983, the FDA has banned the two types of rhodamine B for use in drugs and cosmetics due to their carcinogenic properties. Since rhodamine B is not affirmatively listed as safe for use in food, it is therefore also effectively banned for use in food. For that reason, food manufacturers — subject to FDA inspections and fearful of punishment for violating food safety regulations — don’t use rhodamine B. In rare cases when they do, the FDA takes action against them. In light of these facts, it’s not clear where or how First Media obtained the sweet potato shown in the video, or whether they added anything to it before filming. 9. “Coffee with additives floats, pure coffee sinks”: UNPROVEN This test can also ultimately be traced back to the FSSAI guidelines, but those guidelines set out methods to test for the presence of two specific substances apparently used in India to adulterate coffee: clay and chicory powder. In testing for clay, the FSSAI advised, “Add ½ teaspoon of coffee powder in a transparent glass of water. Stir for a minute and keep it aside for 5 minutes. Observe the glass at the bottom. Pure coffee powder will not leave any clay particles at the bottom. If coffee powder is adulterated, clay particles will settle at the bottom.” In the illustration used to demonstrate the clay test, the unadulterated coffee floats on the surface of the glass of water, something Blossom claimed was characteristic of adulterated coffee: In testing for the presence of chicory powder, the FSSAI guidelines advised: “Take a transparent glass of water. Add a teaspoon of coffee powder. Coffee powder floats over the water but chicory begins to sink.” Here once again, the illustration shows pure coffee as floating on the surface of the water, while the chicory-adulterated coffee sinks. This is the opposite of what Blossom’s video claimed when it stated “pure coffee sinks.” For these reasons, among others, this particular test should not be considered reliable. We asked First Media to specify the kinds of additives that were tested in its video, but we did not receive a response to that particular question. 10. Fake salt contains chalk and turns water cloudy: MIXTURE Again, the practice of adulterating salt with chalk is one primarily seen in India. We could find no evidence of such a practice in the United States. As such, the “chalk in salt” test derives from the FSSAI guidelines, which outline the following advice: “Stir a spoonful of sample of salt in a glass of water. The presence of chalk will make [the] solution white and other insoluble impurities will settle down.” 11. “Old split peas are coated in green dye to disguise them”: MIXTURE It’s not clear how widespread the practice of adding green coloring to split peas is, but it has featured in unconfirmed news reports emanating from China and India, and it has also been the subject of viral hoaxes in India. It appears to be prevalent enough in India that the FSSAI included it in some guidelines, advising: “Detection of artificial colour on green peas: Take little amount of green peas in a transparent glass. Add water to it and mix well. Let it stand for half an hour. Clear separation of colour in water indicates adulteration.” However, no evidence shows that the practice is prevalent in the United States or other developed countries. Furthermore, it’s not clear that Blossom’s video actually shows green dye being removed from split peas, as opposed to the process of chlorophyll degradation, which occurs naturally when green split peas are exposed to the heat of boiling water. 12. “Pure spices burn and ignite, impure spices don’t”: UNPROVEN This claim too can be traced back to the FSSAI guidelines, but those guidelines specifically related to asafoetida, a gum that is used widely in Indian cuisine. By contrast, the Blossom video referred only to “spices,” and showed a spoonful of turmeric. The FSSAI guidelines advised: “Detection of foreign resin in asafoetida: Burn small quantity of asafoetida in a stainless steel spoon. Pure asafoetida will burn like camphor [a flammable wax]. Adulterated asafoetida will not produce bright flame like camphor.” While asafoetida adulteration might well be prevalent in India, and lighting a flame under a spoonful of it might indeed be a scientifically valid means of determining whether the asafoetida contains adulterants, it simply cannot be assumed that the same test works for other spices. As Decker observed: “Trying to extend that test to turmeric isn’t necessarily accurate, because those two spices have very different compositions.” We asked First Media for a list of spices to which the “flame” test applied, but we did not receive a response to that question. 13. Some honey is diluted with water and diluted honey extinguishes a flame in a candle wick: MOSTLY TRUE This test also originates in the FSSAI guidelines, which state: “Take a cotton wick dipped in a pure honey and light with a match stick. Pure honey will burn. If adulterated, the presence of water will not allow the honey to burn. If it does, it will produce a cracking sound.” The FSSAI test appears to be valid, and appears to have been replicated by the makers of the video. However, it’s worth noting that in the context of the United States, the primary way in which honey is adulterated is by being mixed with corn syrup or cane sugar, not by being diluted with water. In light of that fact, it’s not clear where First Media obtained diluted honey, or whether they themselves added water to pure honey before filming. 14. “Pure tea doesn’t stain, impure tea stains instantly”: MIXTURE Black teas get their characteristic dark colors from the tannins they contain. As such, even unadulterated tea might leave a stain, as anyone who has dropped a tea bag on to a garment or piece of paper can attest. However, the FSSAI guidelines do contain a test that is designed to determine not just whether a tea is “impure,” as the video ambiguously claims, but specifically whether old tea leaves have been artificially colored with coal-tar dye: “Detection of exhausted tea in tea leaves: Take a filter paper and spread [a] few tea leaves. Sprinkle with water to wet the filter paper. Wash the filter paper under tap water and observe the stains against light. Pure tea leaves will not stain the filter paper. If coal tar is present, it will immediately stain the filter paper.” We asked First Media to clarify what they meant by “impure” tea, but we did not receive a response to that question. As such, we cannot evaluate the validity or reliability of the test shown in the video. 15. ‘If butter contains oil, added sugar will turn pink’: UNPROVEN First Media cited a source that claimed: “Add a pinch of sugar to a teaspoon of melted ghee in a bottle. Shake well. Check it after 5 minutes, if you see the colour change to red, then it contains vegetable oil.” That purported test can ultimately be traced back to a document published by Dixit, the former chairman of the Consumer Guidance Society of India, whose claims formed the basis of the “washing powder in ice cream” test above. Dixit outlined an experiment for determining the presence of vanaspati, a kind of vegetable shortening, in butter or ghee (clarified butter): “Take one teaspoonful of melted ghee or butter with equal quantity of Conc. Hydrochloric acid in a test tube. Add to it a pinch of cane sugar. Shake well for one minute and let it stand for five minutes. Crimson red colour in lower layer shows the presence of Vanaspati.” First Media’s video claimed only that the presence of “oil” (presumed to be vegetable oil) would cause sugar to turn pink in butter. However, the source the company cited and the original source both claimed the sugar would turn red, not pink, and the original source said the sugar would turn “crimson red,” and only after the inclusion of concentrated hydrochloric acid in the mixture. Without any further details about the precise ingredients and process employed by First Media (which the company failed to provide), and in light of these discrepancies, we can’t draw any definitive conclusions about the validity of the test shown in the video. 16. Some fresh produce is coated in wax, and warm water removes the wax: TRUE This is the only clearly accurate claim in the video. We can’t say for certain that what is shown in the video is indeed wax being removed from a bell pepper by warm water, but there’s no doubt that producers and retailers do sometimes apply wax coatings to fruit and vegetables, as Decker outlined: “That’s common. Vegetables are waxed a lot. The main purposes of waxing the vegetable, one of them is to give it that shiny appearance, but the other one is to prevent moisture loss.” So the application of a thin coating of wax is a real phenomenon, as the video states, but this doesn’t indicate that the food is “fake” — rather, it’s a safe, FDA-approved way to help the produce look shinier and last longer. As Decker observed: “All these waxes are edible, anyway. They’re approved food additives.”
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27056
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Doctors removed 526 tooth-like structures from a child's mouth in India.
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This rare phenomenon is known as compound ondontome. According to the Saveetha Dental College, this is the first “ever case to be documented world wide, where so many minute teeth were found in a single individual.”
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true
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Medical
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In August 2019, many social media users encountered a news story about a young child in India who had 526 teeth removed from his mouth. While these reports came from reputable news outlets, such as NBC News, Time, and The Guardian, many readers were so shocked by the news that they had a hard time believing it was real. The story stemmed from an Aug. 1 news release from the Saveetha Dental College. The college explained that a 7-year-old boy was brought to a nearby hospital at the age of 3 after his parents noticed some swelling on his jaw. The swelling went undiagnosed, however, until he was brought to the Saveetha Dental College four years later: A little boy of 7 years old was brought to Saveetha Dental College and Hospital by his parents with a complaint of a swelling in the jaw. He had been taken to a nearby hospital, Chennai, at the age of 3 since the parents noticed a small swelling at the right lower jaw, but he refused to co-operate for any investigative procedures as he was very young. Hence the swelling was left undiagnosed for 4 years. He was brought to our institution at the age of 7 years as the swelling was slowly increasing in size. The parents were very apprehensive as they had thought it could be a cancer of the jaw. The initial work up by the surgeons revealed a large lesion with multiple hard structures at a single site within the lower jaw. During the surgery, the operating surgeon noticed a well-defined bag-like mass which was removed in its entirety. The specimen weighed about 200 gms. The specimen was radiographed which revealed multiple tiny radiopaque structures. On further evaluation by the oral pathologists, and to their utmost surprise, the bag revealed 526 tooth like structures. In the pathologists’ own words “it was reminiscent of pearls in an oyster”. It took 5 hours of meticulate searching to remove all the minute teeth from the opened bag like specimen. “This pandora box of miniature teeth is a jewel on our crown” said the postgraduates. The tooth sizes varied from 1mm to 15mm and each resembled a tooth with crown covered by enamel and a root like structure. The 526 teeth removed from this boy’s mouth weren’t full-sized — some were as small as 1mm. The Saveetha Dental College provided an image of all of the tooth-like structures that were removed from the boy’s mouth: The college also shared a video about this medical oddity. Additional images from the surgery can be glimpsed here:
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10137
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Processed, Fatty Foods May Dumb Down Your Kids: Study
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The story used language which suggests that the diet was responsible for the differences in IQ observed by the researchers — something this study wasn’t designed to prove. And it doesn’t explain, in terms of actual food, how much worse (or better) a diet had to be to be linked to cognitive deficits (or improvements). It didn’t compare the effects of diet with other factors — such as talking to and interacting with children — that have been linked to better cognitive development in other studies. Parents are very interested in strategies that can help their kids do better in school and get ahead in life. But they don’t always focus on approaches that are well supported by the evidence (remember “Baby Einstein“?). While it makes sense that a nutritious diet might have beneficial effects on brain development, the data so far are preliminary and the effects observed are small. If these limitations aren’t carefully explained, the results might distract parents from other strategies that have better evidence to support their effectiveness. For now, the key take-away from this research is that we need more studies on the long-term effects of early childhood nutrition on development.
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false
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Diet studies,HealthDay
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There is some research suggesting that diets with a lot of junk food cost less than diets that are rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. This might be a factor that explains why low-income families tend to eat more junk food than families that are well off. Frozen vegetables (and fruits) are also healthy choices and may be a better alternative for low-income families. The story could have brought this factor into the discussion. Although some data are presented, the results are not clearly explained. For example, the story says that “for every one point increase in processed foods consumption,” the children “lost 1.67 points in IQ.” We are never given any explanation as to what a “one point increase in processed foods” might mean. An extra hot dog each week? An additional serving of mac and cheese? There should have been some attempt to characterize these measurements in terms corresponding to actual food. Similarly, there’s also no discussion of what these IQ differences translate to in terms ability to read, write, and function in a classroom or in other aspects of life. In their study, the authors characterized the associations between diet and IQ as “weak.” In a sense, this story is all about the potential developmental harms of a high-calorie, nutrient poor diet. This was an observational study that was incapable of proving cause and effect, but the study is rife with language suggesting that junk food causes lower IQ and healthy food makes IQ go up (e.g. “Processed, Fatty Foods May Dumb Down Your Kids” and “healthful diet for toddlers can boost intelligence.”) The story also never discussed any of the limitations that might cause a study like this to overestimate the effects of diet on IQ. One of these is the fact that families who eat healthily tend to have other attributes that are associated with better cognitive performance, such as parents who read more to their kids and who don’t let them watch as much TV. Although the researchers attempted to adjust for these factors, they acknowledge that they “cannot exclude the possibility of residual confounding.” In addition, kids with learning problems and lower IQ may be more likely to choose foods that are high in fat and sugar despite parents’ attempts to get them to eat healthily. In this case, it’s the low IQ that causes the poor diet, and not the diet which causes the low IQ. The story should have communicated this. The over-the-top headline crossed the line into fear mongering. The findings were not strong enough to warrant this kind of bold warning. The story included comments from an dietitian who spoke about the potential detrimental effects of poor nutrition on cognitive development. It would have been helpful to hear from an expert on neurodevelopment, who could have commented on the size of the effects observed and their relevance to real world performance. A comment from a pediatrician about counseling families on healthy diets also would have been helpful. The story should have mentioned other techniques that can encourage better neurodevelopment. Most notably, time spent talking to and interacting with children in early childhood has been associated with striking differences in later IQ. The availability of healthy foods is not generally in question, although it may be difficult to find fresh produce in urban areas that aren’t served by grocery stores. This study is part of a fast-growing field of research into the effects of early childhood nutrition on a variety of later health outcomes. The story could have mentioned this larger context, but it didn’t. This story is not based on a press release.
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33620
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Fast food restaurants, prisons, and school cafeterias use 'Grade D but edible' meat.
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Fast food restaurants and school cafeterias do not use 'Grade D but edible' meat, because no such classification exists.
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false
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Food, Food Preparation
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It’s hard to say how long a legend about ‘Grade D but edible’ meat has been with us, but some of our readers have reported hearing it as far back as 1980: [Collected on the Internet, 1996] Here at Indiana University there is a story that has been going around for a long time, that certainly qualifies as a FOAF story. It typically involves someone who was a student worker in the cafeteria system, who says that they saw a recently delivered crate of beef labelled: “Grade D Beef: Fit for human consumption.” [Collected on the Internet, 1999] Supposedly found on a box of sausages that my university was using…“Grade D, but edible”. [Collected on the Internet, 2003] I’ve heard from several people that Taco Bell uses Grade D Edible meat in their foods (i.e. the skins, testicles, penises, et cetera ground up). [Collected on the Internet, 2003] I heard from a friend that Taco Bell meat is grade F, while most dog foods are grade D (a better grade). Aside from its two most common expressions (college cafeterias and fast food providers), this legend has also been told of food served in grade school lunchrooms, children’s summer camps, and prisons. In every instance, someone swears to have seen the telltale boxes of meat being unloaded from trucks which have arrived to provision the kitchens, or to have spied these packages in the kitchens themselves. Usually the crates are said to have been labeled “Grade D But Edible,” but we’ve also heard “Grade D — Edible,” “Grade F — Edible,” “Grade D Beef: Fit for human consumption,” and (our particular favorite) “Grade D — Unfit For Human Consumption — Suitable For Prisoners and Students.” (No one ever manages to produce a photograph of such a label as confirmatory evidence, however.) This tale is naught but lore. In the U.S., meat is not graded on a scale represented by letters, so one would never see crates of meat labeled Grade D (or any other letter grade). In order to protect the public from food borne illnesses, meat products (a group which includes beef, pork, lamb, and veal) sold in the U.S. are inspected by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to ensure that they meet U.S. food safety standards for safety, wholesomeness, and accuracy in labeling in accordance with the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). However, the FSIS does not “grade” meat as part of the standard inspection process: inspection is strictly a pass/fail system, and meat products either pass or are rejected as unfit. There is no such thing as “Grade D but edible” or “pet food only” grades of meat. If a meat producer wishes, he can have his products graded by a USDA grader, who will assign it to one of eight categories: Prime, Choice, Select, Standard, Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner. According to the USDA: USDA Prime, Choice, Select, and Standard grades come from younger beef. The highest grade, USDA Prime, is used mostly by hotels and restaurants, but a small amount is sold at retail markets. The grade most widely sold is USDA Choice. Standard and Commercial grade beef frequently is sold as ungraded or as “brand name” meat. The three lower grades — USDA Utility, Cutter, and Canner — are seldom, if ever, sold in stores but are used instead to make ground beef and other meat items such as frankfurters. This grading process is optional, however, and even meat assigned to the lowest grades is perfectly edible. Obviously some cuts and grades of meat are more flavorful or nutritious — and therefore more appealing (and more expensive) to consumers — but every meat product that passes USDA inspection has been certified as fit for human consumption. Any meat that does not pass the basic USDA inspection process is rejected; it is not designated as a “low grade but edible” or “pet food only” product. Moreover, the notion of meat being labeled “Grade D but edible” is contrary to the whole concept of grading. “Grade D but edible” would imply that some Grade D meat was fit for human consumption and some wasn’t — but what would be the point of creating a grade classification for food that didn’t serve the primary function of distinguishing edible from inedible product? If there were truly two types of low-grade (i.e., “Grade D”) meat, the type not fit for human consumption would be designated with a distinctly different rating (such as “Grade F”) to avoid any possibility of confusion between the two. Like the note left behind by a dishonest hit-and-run motorist in another familiar legend, the “Grade D but edible” label is a plot point, an invented detail necessary for the effective telling of a story, and not something that would be encountered in real life. Undoubtedly the wellspring of this legend is the prevalence of cartons of food products labeled “For Institutional Use Only” commonly found at facilities that prepare large numbers of meals (e.g., restaurants, hospitals, schools, prisons, military bases), a designation which has wrongly been interpreted to mean that the products contained within those cartons are sub-standard. The “For Institutional Use Only” designation has nothing to do with quality, however; it’s an indicator that the contents of the carton have been packaged and sold in bulk for institutional use and are therefore exempt from federal labeling requirements which would otherwise apply if those contents were sold individually to household consumers. (For example, food products sold for institutional use may not be required to bear nutrition information on each package, as they would be if they were vended on grocery store shelves.) Central to this legend are two themes: prepared dishes served by institutions or cut-rate fast food outlets don’t taste as good as those served at home, and youthfulness, educational ambitions, failed criminality, or a determination to dine on the cheap all leave one at the mercy of the culinarily unscrupulous. A certain level of unease is always associated with entrusting the preparation of what we eat to strangers, as evidenced by the many food contamination legends in circulation, but generally this anxiety does little more than percolate quietly in the background as long as the food we’re served is reasonably tasty and doesn’t appear to have been tampered with. However, when taste goes out the window or when something looks amiss, we start asking ourselves what’s really going on in that kitchen, often turning to fanciful explanations to explain the shortfall between our expectations and what we were served. Because of this, institutional or restaurant offerings which don’t taste as good as home cooking are attributed to their having been made from substandard ingredients rather than their being the product of mass production. Likewise, when a fast food outlet is able to offer menu items for less than we think they should be able to sell them for, we look for explanations that go beyond the power of mass purchasing; namely, that they must be cutting corners in the quality of ingredients. Because of Taco Bell’s endearingly low prices, the “Grade D but edible” legend is attached to that fast food chain more than to any other (although it has also been pointed at McDonald’s and Subway). Also, those who are by circumstance forced to rely upon institutional food for sustenance (e.g., prisoners and college students) delight in gallows humor about the awfulness of the dining experience. In such settings, jokes about “mystery meat” abound. A certain “tough guy” pride comes from being part of a group that has survived unpleasant or arduous events, with membership of such corps worn as a badge of honor and proof of that person’s value. The “Grade D but edible” legend is especially beloved of collegians because it fits so well with the heroic image of the brave little student struggling against overwhelming forces (e.g., sadistic professors, a workload that would choke a horse, dorms with all the ambiance of prisons, and food that would send a tough guy crying to his momma). Our College section is replete with tales of students beset by the harshness of collegiate life, because such stories are an expression of how those living away from home in pursuit of a college education want to see themselves. This is a daunting, difficult time in their lives, so they delight in framing their struggle as a courageous larger-than-life battle against the elements, in which only the most heroic succeed.
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15028
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Republican leadership took the lead confirming Loretta Lynch as attorney general.
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"Cruz said the Senate’s ""Republican leadership took the lead confirming Loretta Lynch as attorney general."" As the leadership of the majority party in the Senate, McConnell and his lieutenants had the obligation of having the chamber hold a vote on Lynch’s nomination, and McConnell, along with several other Republicans, did personally vote for Lynch’s confirmation. However, Cruz’s claim glosses over the fact that Democrats were the driving force in pushing for a confirmation vote, and that McConnell delayed the nomination for longer than any similar nominee in recent history. This contrasts sharply with the impression Cruz leaves -- that GOP leaders were gung-ho about getting Lynch into office expeditiously. The claim contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression. UPDATE, Oct. 19, 2015: After we published this story, Cruz’s staff responded to our inquiry. Their comments have been incorporated into the article."
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false
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National, Legal Issues, Ted Cruz,
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"Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has been a thorn in the side of fellow Republicans in the chamber for his no-compromise positions on key votes. On the Oct. 18, 2015, edition of NBC’s Meet the Press, Cruz, who's running for president, defended his approach to host Chuck Todd. ""What the Republican majorities have done -- we came back right after the last election, passed a trillion-dollar ‘cromnibus’ bill filled with corporate welfare,"" he said. ""Republican leadership joined with (Senate Democratic leader) Harry Reid and the Democrats to do that. Then (the Republican) leadership voted to fund Obamacare. Then they voted to fund amnesty. Then they voted to fund Planned Parenthood. And then Republican leadership took the lead confirming Loretta Lynch as attorney general. Now Chuck, which one of those decisions is one iota different than what would happened under Harry Reid and the Democrats? ... They've passed more Democratic priorities than Harry Reid ever could."" We decided to take a closer look at one of the claims Cruz made -- that the ""Republican leadership took the lead confirming Loretta Lynch as attorney general."" Lynch -- the designated successor to President Barack Obama’s first attorney general, Eric Holder -- was confirmed by the Senate on a 56-43 vote on April 23, 2015. Before she was elevated to the post, Cruz made his opposition clear, urging his colleagues to block her confirmation unless Obama reversed his decision to defer deportation for certain undocumented immigrants, an executive action Obama had implemented over the criticism of many Republicans in Congress. Cruz’s main point, which he made to the media at the time, was that the Republican leadership was supporting Lynch’s nomination by simply putting the confirmation vote on the calendar -- which was its responsibility given that the GOP had won back control of the chamber during the 2014 midterm elections. Phil Novack, a spokesman for Cruz, said that because Republicans controlled the Senate during Loretta Lynch's confirmation hearings, GOP leaders had the power to stop her from becoming attorney general but did not do so. He pointed to a Politico op-ed during the confirmation fight in which Cruz wrote, ""Senate Republicans have the power to stop this nomination. And we have a choice. We can honor our oaths to the Constitution—we can defend liberty and the rule of law—or we can confirm an attorney general who has candidly admitted she will impose no limits on the President whatsoever."" What Cruz left out is that because of the efforts of GOP leaders Lynch’s path to confirmation was, by the standards of recent attorney general nominees, long and torturous. As Lynch was waiting to be confirmed, Democrats complained that the GOP majority was letting her nomination lag for a historically long time. When Obama, a few days before Lynch was finally confirmed, said that her nomination had been ""sitting there longer than the previous seven attorney general nominees combined,"". From Nov. 13, when Lynch was first nominated, until her confirmation, she saw her appointment stuck in limbo for 161 days. By comparison, the longest confirmation wait for an attorney general nominee going back to Ronald Reagan’s presidency was 30 days. The shortest was just three days. While some members of the Senate Republican Conference, including Cruz, expressed concern about Lynch’s policy views, the direct reason for Lynch’s delay was that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., insisted on passing a pending human-trafficking bill before taking up Lynch’s nomination. On the whole, the anti-trafficking bill was uncontroversial, but it had become a bone of contention between the parties due to a battle over some of its language about abortion. After weeks of stalemate, senators reached a compromise on the abortion issue and, on April 22, passed the measure by a 99-0 vote. That cleared the way for the chamber to take up Lynch’s nomination. After senators passed a procedural vote by a 66-34 margin, they took up the nomination itself and it passed, 56-43. Ten Republican senators voted in favor of Lynch’s confirmation -- Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Orrin Hatch of Utah, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Mark Kirk of Ililnois, Rob Portman of Ohio, Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin -- and McConnell. Senate experts said this chain of events falls well short of GOP leaders ""taking the lead"" to confirm Lynch. ""McConnell acted like a conservative leader of a fairly conservative party in the Senate, getting as much as he could before grudgingly allowing the nomination to go forward,"" said Burdett Loomis, a University of Kansas political scientist and longtime Senate observer. Steven S. Smith, a political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis and a Senate specialist, agreed that Cruz’s claim is problematic. ""It was Democrats who demanded action on the the Lynch nomination, not McConnell,"" Smith said. ""McConnell removed obstacles to the consideration of the nomination, but that is far from taking the lead or championing the effort to confirm Lynch."" A postscript: After voting against proceeding to the nomination in the preliminary vote, Cruz became the only senator who wasn’t present for the official confirmation, reportedly because he was traveling back to Texas for a fundraiser for his presidential campaign. ""The cloture vote was the vote that mattered, I voted ‘no,’ and she was confirmed because Republican leadership chose to confirm her,"" Cruz told reporters at the time. ""I disagree with that decision."" Our ruling Cruz said the Senate’s ""Republican leadership took the lead confirming Loretta Lynch as attorney general."" As the leadership of the majority party in the Senate, McConnell and his lieutenants had the obligation of having the chamber hold a vote on Lynch’s nomination, and McConnell, along with several other Republicans, did personally vote for Lynch’s confirmation. However, Cruz’s claim glosses over the fact that Democrats were the driving force in pushing for a confirmation vote, and that McConnell delayed the nomination for longer than any similar nominee in recent history. This contrasts sharply with the impression Cruz leaves -- that GOP leaders were gung-ho about getting Lynch into office expeditiously. The claim contains an element of truth but ignores critical facts that would give a different impression, so UPDATE, Oct. 19, 2015: After we published this story, Cruz’s staff responded to our inquiry. Their comments have been incorporated into the article."
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8163
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Italy's coronavirus deaths surge by 627 in a day, elderly at high risk.
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The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has leapt by 627 to 4,032, officials said on Friday, an increase of 18.4% - by far the largest daily rise in absolute terms since the contagion emerged a month ago.
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true
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Health News
|
On Thursday, Italy overtook China as the country to register most deaths from the highly contagious respiratory disease. The total number of cases in Italy rose to 47,021 from a previous 41,035, a rise of 14.6%, the Civil Protection Agency said. In its most complete analysis of the outbreak yet published, the national health institute (ISS) said the average age of those who died was 78.5 years, with the youngest victim aged 31 and the oldest 103. The median age was 80. Some 41% of all those who died were aged between 80-89, with the 70-79 age group accounting for a further 35%. Italy has the oldest population in the world after Japan, with some 23% of people aged over age 65. Medical experts say these demographics could explain why the death toll here is so much higher than anywhere else in the world. The ISS report, based on a survey of 3,200 of the dead, said men accounted for 70.6% of the deaths and women 29.4%. The median age for the women who died was 82 against 79 for men. By comparison, the median age of those who tested positive for the illness was 63. A deeper analysis of 481 of the deceased showed that almost 99% of them were suffering from one or more medical condition before catching the virus. Some 48.6% had three or more previous pathologies. A total 73.8% had had high blood pressure, 34% had diabetes and 30.1% had heart disease. On being admitted to hospital, 76% had a fever, 73% had breathing difficulties, 40% had a cough and 8% had diarrhea. The median time between the onset of the first symptoms and subsequent death was eight days, with the median time spent in hospital just four days. Of the 3,200 deaths reviewed in the survey, only nine were aged less than 40, all but one of them men.
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30228
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"A magazine advertisement from the 1950s promoted a handgun for women's use with the slogan ""for that strange, depraved creep who won't leave you alone."
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A vintage women's magazine advertisement for a Colt Cobra revolver for use against 'that strange, depraved creep who won't leave you alone' is a recent fabrication.
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false
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Fauxtography, Advertisements, Colt Firearms Corporation, fake advertising
|
“Smart gals know what it takes to be confident around a masher,” reads a vintage-looking magazine as making the social media rounds since mid-2017. What does it take to be confident, according to this print advertisement? A .38 caliber Colt Cobra snub-nose revolver — “for that strange, depraved creep who won’t leave you alone.” Here’s an example of the ad via Twitter: “For that strange depraved creep who won’t leave you alone” #advertisement pic.twitter.com/tnnTT5HFCH — PANTHERA 🔻 (@Panthera156) March 28, 2018 The copy goes on with its pitch as follows: Some lunkheads just won’t go away. You change your schedule, you wear a hat, you even try the old false beard gag, but no, he’s still there — breathing through his mouth, leering at your bosom with those droopy, lifeless fish eyes. Face it girls, there are times when subterfuge isn’t enough — you may need to take fast action, FAST! That’s why a girl couldn’t find a finer new friend than the Colt Cobra .38 Snub Nose. You’ll enjoy the modern styling as you draw it from your purse. You’ll sense the velvet smoothness of the action as you cock the hammer. You’ll appreciate the crispness of the trigger pull, designed with your long nails in mind, as you fire again and again. Although the overall appearance of the ad is convincing at first glance, the closer one looks the more preposterous its content reveals itself to be. The image is a parody of 1950s advertising, but a number of inconsistencies and anachronisms stand out. The magazine named in the lower righthand corner, for example — “Ladies Life & Household,” it’s supposedly called — never existed (or if it did, every trace of it has been expunged from modern records). The handgun’s finish is described as “Colt’s beautiful pacifier blue” — an obvious satirical reference to 1950s gender role stereotypes (if Colt ever manufactured a “pacifier blue” firearm, no examples of it exist to be found today). The pistol shown in the illustration, allegedly a Colt Cobra .38 (the same kind of revolver Jack Ruby used to kill JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963), appears to be a different model altogether. The image matches up fairly closely to one we found in a mid-1970s ad for a Colt Detective Special (third series, introduced in 1973): And what about that leering creep? The face of the “mouth-breathing lunkhead” with “droopy, lifeless fish eyes” who serves as the villain of the tableau shows unmistakable signs of digital tampering. It isn’t just the eyes that droop: From all of the above it makes sense to suppose that there was an existing scanned image, most likely of another vintage ad, that served as a template for the Colt Cobra parody. A reverse-image search provided instant confirmation that that is the case — the Colt Cobra ad is a reworking of a full-page advertisement for Gleem Toothpaste that appeared on page 110 of Life magazine on 11 February 1957:
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8634
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Portugal's coronavirus cases grow, half a million workers at risk of lay off.
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Confirmed coronavirus cases in Portugal pushed past the 10,000 mark on Saturday, while government data showed more than half a million Portuguese workers were at risk of being temporarily laid off due to the outbreak.
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true
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Health News
|
“This fight is not a 100-meter (109.3-yard) race; it is a long marathon,” Health Minister Marta Temido told a news conference, urging citizens to step up their fight against the outbreak as there was still “no light at the end of the tunnel.” “This is the time to balance fear and courage, courage to stay home, to continue helping others, to ask for help when we need it,” Temido said. Portugal has confirmed 10,524 coronavirus cases and 266 deaths, with health authorities expecting the outbreak to plateau at the end of May. Portugal extended its state of emergency by 15 days on Thursday, and tightened measures to restrict movements, especially during the normally busy Easter holiday period. Portugal’s once-bailed out economy is struggling to cope with the outbreak despite several government measures to help families and businesses, including a multi-billion euro stimulus package. The central bank said last week the country would relapse into recession this year, with gross domestic product dropping between 3.7% and 5.7% in 2020. Last year it grew 2.2%. In a statement on Saturday, the Labour Ministry revealed that 31,914 Portuguese companies, mostly micro and small businesses with a total staff of 552,000, had already applied to be able to lay off their workers since the measure was reviewed a week ago. The measure allows companies to temporarily suspend jobs or reduce working hours but does not let them fire or make workers redundant. According to the ministry, most layoff requests were made by businesses in the hospitality industry, as well manufacturing firms and auto repair businesses. This year, the unemployment rate is set to increase to between 10.1% and 11.7%, compared with 6.5% in 2019, the central bank said. Around 321,000 people were unemployed in March, compared to 293,000 the month before, preliminary data by the Labour Ministry also showed on Saturday. “We still don’t have a significant increase in unemployment,” Labour Minister Ana Mendes Godinho told SIC television. “Many companies are opting for layoffs instead.”
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8619
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Experts urge smokers and tobacco firms to quit for COVID-19.
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Health experts on Monday urged smokers to quit and cigarette companies to stop producing and selling tobacco products to help reduce the risks from COVID-19.
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true
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Health News
|
“The best thing the tobacco industry can do to fight COVID-19 is to immediately stop producing, marketing and selling tobacco,” Gan Quan, a public health specialist and a director at the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said in a statement. The group, which links international respiratory and lung specialists, officials and health agencies, said it is “deeply concerned” about COVID-19’s impact on the world’s 1.3 billion smokers, in particular those in poorer countries whose health systems are already overburdened. Smoking is known to weaken the immune system, making it less able to respond effectively to infections. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase the risk of serious illness. Quan said governments around the world had a “moral imperative” to advise smokers to stop. “This is the absolute best time to quit smoking,” Quan said. The Union’s statement cited emerging evidence from preliminary studies of COVID-19 patients in China and elsewhere that suggest smokers infected with the new coronavirus become more severely ill and suffer more serious complications such as breathing difficulties. It said a study of more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February found that smokers - both past and present - fared poorly, with smokers comprising more than 25% of those that needed mechanical ventilation, admission to an intensive care unit, or who died. The World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have also warned that smoking can expose people to serious complications from COVID-19.
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6293
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Native American tribe seeks to set water quality standards.
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A Michigan-based Native American tribe wants to implement water quality standards under the Clean Water Act for its reservation.
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true
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Water quality, Houghton, Michigan, Environment, Native Americans
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The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton reports the Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on the proposal by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s application. If approved, the tribe would be allowed to develop and maintain its own water-quality standards for surface waters on its reservation. Concerns about water quality potentially affecting the Upper Peninsula reservation are linked to cattle farming; commercial logging, mining; runoff from road salt; illegal dumping; industrial discharge; septic systems; and lawn chemicals. The newspaper says the public comment period is open until May 23. Officials announced earlier this year that the EPA awarded a $195,000 grant to the tribe to modernize its environmental data reporting system. ___ Information from: The Daily Mining Gazette, http://www.mininggazette.com
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12932
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From the release of a child rapist from the Dominican Republican to that of an Italian drug smuggler, Philadelphians have already been put in direct danger by Mayor Kenney’s policy of blocking local law enforcement from participating with federal immigration authorities.
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"Philly GOP Chair Joe DeFelice said in a statement, ""From the release of a child rapist from the Dominican Republican (sic) to that of an Italian drug smuggler, Philadelphians have already been put in direct danger by Mayor Kenney’s policy of blocking local law enforcement from participating with federal immigration authorities."" Of the two examples given, one man who DeFelice is referring was released before Kenney’s time. Plus, whether the release of these men poses a ""direct danger"" raises questions. Recent data analysis shows that sanctuary counties are not more dangerous. Can we extrapolate that Dalloco returned to drug smuggling? According to court records, Dalloco wasn’t charged with any crimes in Philadelphia before ICE rearrested him in August 2016, which was two months after his release. ICE confirmed that Dalloco was deported that September. DeFelice’s statement is presumptive."
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false
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Immigration, City Government, Homeland Security, Crime, Pennsylvania, Joe DeFelice,
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"Has Philly released dangerous undocumented criminals in recent years? Conservatives continue to point to examples. ""From the release of a child rapist from the Dominican Republican (sic) to that of an Italian drug smuggler,"" Philly GOP chair Joe DeFelice said in an emailed statement last Wednesday, ""Philadelphians have already been put in direct danger by Mayor Kenney’s policy of blocking local law enforcement from participating with federal immigration authorities."" According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, there indeed has been an alleged child rapist of Dominican origin, and an Italian man who pleaded guilty to possession of and intent to deliver illicit drugs. One by one: Winston Enrique Perez Pilarte, who was charged in Philadelphia under the name Josue Duran-Cortes with various child sexual assault charges, was released after posting $25,000 bail two months before Kenney entered office. Fabio Dalloco, after authorities say they busted him with 14 pounds of cocaine at the airport, was incarcerated for roughly 14 months and released on time served through his plea deal in August 2016. ICE said that detainer requests were sent but not honored for either of these men, and that the agency rearrested both themselves. Of note: While Dalloco was released during Kenney’s time as mayor, Perez Pilarte was not — he was released during Mayor Michael Nutter’s tenure. Philadelphia first became a sanctuary city in 2014. Nutter signed an executive order that barred Philadelphia Police and Prisons from honoring ICE detainer requests, unless they came with a judicial warrant for a first- or second-degree felon convicted of a violent crime. He rescinded the order during his last two weeks in office. Kenney swiftly reinstated Philly’s ""sanctuary status"" on the day of his inauguration. We put ""sanctuary status"" in quotes because what makes a city a sanctuary is heavily debated. Kenney himself uses the term Fourth Amendment city; many legal experts argue that local authorities holding an undocumented resident without civil charges is unreasonable search and seizure, and therefore a violation of constitutional rights. But cooperation with federal immigration authorities is a common test for deciding whether a jurisdiction or, more recently, campus is a ""sanctuary."" ICE declined to comment on Philadelphia’s current or pre-existing policies. Lauren Hitt, spokeswoman for Mayor Kenney, reacted to DeFelice’s statement in an email. ""Republicans point to these inflammatory anecdotes in order to justify defunding cities whose only crime is refusing to enact policies that the courts have found to be unconstitutional,"" she wrote. ""The reality is that numerous research studies show that the City's immigration policy makes Philadelphians safer. Philadelphia's crime rate is at a 40-year-low at the same time our immigrant growth is on the rise. This drop in crime is due in no small part to the fact that our immigration policy has strengthened trust between communities and police."" The notion that sanctuary policies are safer is supported in research. According to a Center for American Progress report published late last week, sanctuary counties have lower crime rates. As we explained in an earlier report, looking at sanctuary policies alone wouldn’t account for other factors that could be influencing crime rates, but the CAP’s report compared nearly 2,500 counties, based on ICE’s designations. Another 2016 study, led by researchers out of the University of California Riverside and Highline College, found that sanctuary designations have ""no statistically meaningful effect[s] on crime."" The majority of local police departments, according the 2009 report ""Immigration and Local Policing: Results from a National Survey of Law Enforcement Executives,"" do not routinely check immigration status. ""The great majority of chiefs (72 percent) regard immigration enforcement as the responsibility of federal government,"" the report reads. ""In general, the more serious the violation, the more likely they believe that their officers are to check immigration status."" In addition to this, many reports show that there is a concern among local police that seeking out residents for their status could damage trust in immigrant neighborhoods, and therefore make them tougher to police and lower the likelihood of immigrants sharing information when they witness crime. (For more information on this, see PolitiFact Pennsylvania’s sanctuary explainer.) Our ruling Philly GOP Chair Joe DeFelice said in a statement, ""From the release of a child rapist from the Dominican Republican (sic) to that of an Italian drug smuggler, Philadelphians have already been put in direct danger by Mayor Kenney’s policy of blocking local law enforcement from participating with federal immigration authorities."" Of the two examples given, one man who DeFelice is referring was released before Kenney’s time. Plus, whether the release of these men poses a ""direct danger"" raises questions. Recent data analysis shows that sanctuary counties are not more dangerous. Can we extrapolate that Dalloco returned to drug smuggling? According to court records, Dalloco wasn’t charged with any crimes in Philadelphia before ICE rearrested him in August 2016, which was two months after his release. ICE confirmed that Dalloco was deported that September. DeFelice’s statement is presumptive. We rule this claim ."
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3636
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More research labs are retiring monkeys when studies finish.
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Izzle, Timon, Batman, River and Mars spent years confined inside a lab, their lives devoted to being tested for the benefit of human health.
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true
|
AP Top News, Wisconsin, Health, General News, Science, Primates, Monkeys, U.S. News
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But these rhesus macaques have paid their dues and are now living in retirement — in larger enclosures that let them venture outside, eat lettuce and carrots, dip their fingers in colorful plastic pools, paint, and hang from pipes and tires — in relative quiet. More research labs are retiring primates to sanctuaries like Primates Inc., a 17-acre (7-hectare) rural compound in central Wisconsin, where they can live their remaining years, according to the sanctuaries and researchers. For some monkeys, it’s their first time hanging out in the fresh air. “Just to see them look around in amazement. You know it was all very calm and peaceful,” said Amy Kerwin, who worked for 15 years to get the Westfield, Wisconsin, sanctuary off the ground after being employed in a University of Wisconsin research lab. There were approximately 110,000 primates in research facilities in 2017, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While most research facilities need primates to be euthanized to examine their tissues, technological advances, such as brain scans, mean fewer monkeys need to be put down. Plus, researchers who become close with the animals are making more efforts to give the ones who can survive a retirement, rather than euthanization. In 2015, a group of researchers, graduate students and an ethicist created the Research Animal Retirement Foundation. It raises funds for labs to pay the sanctuaries to retire them. So far they have given $33,000 in funding for three monkeys who went to the Wisconsin sanctuary. A visit to the Peaceable Primate Sanctuary in Indiana helped convince Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., to author a bill introduced last month, along with Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Penn., that requires federal agencies to develop a policy allowing animals no longer needed for research to be adopted out or put in sanctuaries. Currently, no federal regulations dictate what happens to them. Some are sold to other studies when one study is done. The bill doesn’t address funding, one of the main hurdles to get primates into retirement sanctuaries. Currently, grants through the National Institutes of Health, which is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, don’t include money for retirement. That leaves the labs and sanctuaries to find the tens of thousands of dollars per monkey, per year needed to care for them. Monkeys are finished with studies at different ages and some can live for decades. Some can also leave with lingering issues, like compulsive behaviors caused by boredom. That’s why many sanctuaries require the labs to send some funding, often between $10,000 and $20,000, to help care and create space for monkeys. Since many of the primates have only lived in labs, they don’t have the skills needed to live in the wild. Most primates in accredited sanctuaries are chimpanzees, capuchins, and squirrel monkeys, according to Erika Fleury, program director for the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance, or NAPSA, an advocacy group for captive primates. They come from research, the entertainment industry or private homes. Chimpanzees are no longer used in most research. The NIH announced in 2013 it would stop supporting them in research and that they should be moved to sanctuaries, with funding. It pointed to a report from the Institute of Medicine in 2011 that concluded the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research was unnecessary. Cindy Buckmaster, chair of the Americans for Medical Progress, which represents research universities and medical research companies, said that besides funding, researchers are concerned about sanctuaries standards, their financial viability and whether some sanctuaries’ ties to animal rights groups will cause them to badmouth the institution. “We really feel very grateful to them and we want them to have wonderful lives after,” Buckmaster said. “They certainly deserve it. But it has to be done well and it has to be done properly because we’re not going to put our animals in harm’s way.” Some animal rights groups, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, don’t support research but do agree with retiring monkeys to sanctuaries rather than having them euthanized. Sanctuaries have been around for decades but, in 2010, more than a half-dozen came together to create NAPSA. Currently, there are eight member sanctuaries, with about 775 primates. Membership requires the sanctuaries be USDA licensed, accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries or certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, among many guidelines. There are 31 other, nonmember sanctuaries in the U.S. and Canada that have primates but have a variety of standards, according to NAPSA. Besides requiring high standards for sanctuaries, NAPSA is also upping efforts with researchers to encourage them to ask for retirement funding upfront. An NIH spokeswoman wouldn’t respond to whether the agency would consider adding money to grants for monkey retirement care, only saying in a statement that the animals’ owners are responsible for ongoing care. Kerwin, who started the Wisconsin sanctuary, said she’s seen monkeys become calmer in retirement. Her goal is to have 100 monkeys over the next 20 years. “Just knowing that these little individual personalities are in the thousands and largely no one knows about them and even the need to help them. That’s why I feel it’s important,” she said.
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28477
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David Hogg stated that he believes that the enforced use of clear backpacks in school constitutes a violation of students' First Amendment rights, but he favors the abolition of the Second Amendment.
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"What's true: David Hogg opined that a school requirement for students to carry clear backpacks was ""essentially"" a First Amendment violation and that he supports ""common sense gun reform."" What's false: David Hogg did not say that he wants to abolish the Second Amendment."
|
mixture
|
Politics, clear backpacks, David Hogg, gun control
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After seventeen people were killed during a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on 14 February 2018, several of its survivors have created a massive gun-control movement. In the weeks following the murders, the youth determined not to let the Parkland shooting become “just another mass shooting” have become recognizable faces of what is now known as the #NeverAgain movement. With that fame, however, comes a price: heavy scrutiny and a series of attempted smear campaigns against the small group of high school students who lived through a mass shooting. Various memes appearing on social media have attempted to contrast the purported views of Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg on a school requirement for students to carry clear backpacks and gun ownership rights, the objective being to highlight that Hogg’s stance on the First Amendment is supposedly at odds with his stance on the Second Amendment: David Hogg: Let’s abolish the 2nd amendment!! Interviewer: How about requiring clear backpacks? David Hogg: Absolutely not, that infringes on students rights!!! Folks, you can’t fake stupid… — The Trump Train 🇺🇸 (@The_Trump_Train) March 25, 2018 Such memes appeared to be based on an exchange between Hogg and an interviewer from Axios, during which Hogg was asked about a school rule involving clear backpacks. In response to the question, he opined that students are “having … their First Amendment rights infringed upon” and that the policy was inconsiderate to female students in particular: Interviewer: “You mentioned your backpack. What did they do with your backpacks?” David Hogg: “I think after we come back from spring break they’re requiring all of us to have clear backpacks. One of the other important things to realize is many students want their privacy. There are many, for example, females in our school that when they go through their menstrual cycle, they don’t want people to see their tampons and stuff. It’s unnecessary, it’s embarrassing for a lot of the students and it makes them feel isolated and separated from the rest of American school culture where they’re having essentially their First Amendment rights infringed upon because they can’t freely wear whatever backpack they want regardless of what it is. It has to be a clear backpack. What we should have is just more policies that make sure that these students are feeling safe and secure in their schools and not like they’re being fought against like it’s a prison.” Most versions of this form of meme juxtaposed Hogg’s dismay at infringement of First Amendment rights to his purported approval of trampling on Second Amendment rights. Although the now internationally-famous high school student has been outspoken about wanting to see the passage of “common sense gun reform” legislation, he has also stated that he is “not against the Second Amendment” and does not seek to “abolish” it: What a lot of the media and especially Fox News has messed up with me is they’ve made it seem like I’m trying to take away people’s guns, that I’m against the Second Amendment. My father is a retired FBI agent. I have guns in my house. I’m not against the Second Amendment… I’m trying to push for common sense gun reform and mental illness reform so we can make sure that these individuals that have a criminal background that are mentally unstable and have a history of domestic violence are no longer able to get a gun… I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand about this. We simply want to save lives and democracy, please stand with us. Reports dating back to the days after the 14 February 2018 Parkland school shooting reflect that Hogg’s position on the Second Amendment has not changed: In [an] interview, David denied wanting to repeal the second amendment, which allows Americans the right to bear arms. He stated that Americans should have the right to own weapons, provided they are “not going to go out and commit these atrocities”. “We have a right to live just as we have a right to bear arms,” he said. What does Hogg want? Universal background checks, raising the age requirement to purchase a gun to 21, and laws blocking anyone with a history of mental health disorders or a criminal background or history or domestic violence from getting a firearm. “I believe everybody should have their Second Amendment right to own a gun. I’m not trying to take that away. I am trying to put limitations on the Second Amendment in the same way that we have limitations on the First,” Hogg said. “I’m not anti-Second Amendment,” David Hogg emphasized to The Daily Beast. He said he thinks every person who is not mentally unbalanced and does not have a criminal record and is not bent on a terrorist attack should be able to purchase and own a firearm. “That’s their Second Amendment right,” David Hogg said. He also addressed the National Rifle Association and the belief that more people have to have guns in order to be safe. “I would say that it’s good to have your Second Amendment rights,” Hogg said. “It’s good to believe that you can protect yourself and protect those around you, but I want people to acknowledge the fact that we do have a major gun violence problem in this country one that’s not going away.” “These people keep saying that I am anti-Second Amendment, I’m not.” Hogg told [Anderson] Cooper. “I do not want to take away the constitutional rights of American citizens.” David Hogg did say that schools requiring clear backpacks “essentially… infringed” on students’ First Amendment rights, but he also stated multiple times that he supports the Second Amendment and does not want to eliminate private ownership of firearms or “abolish” the Second Amendment. His stance on the larger issues at hand might best be summed up by his statement that “I am trying to put limitations on the Second Amendment in the same way that we have limitations on the First.”
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13
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'Bull's-eye' landing caps Boeing's faulty astronaut capsule test mission.
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Boeing Co’s (BA.N) Starliner astronaut spacecraft made a “bull’s-eye” landing in the New Mexico desert on Sunday, a successful ending to a crewless test mission that two days earlier failed to reach the orbit needed to dock with the International Space Station.
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true
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Science News
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The 7:58 a.m. ET (1258 GMT) landing at the White Sands desert capped a turbulent 48 hours for Boeing’s botched milestone test of an astronaut capsule that is designed to help NASA regain its human spaceflight capabilities. A software problem on Friday caused the capsule to fail to attain the orbit needed to rendezvous with the space station, another unwelcome engineering black eye for Boeing in a year that has seen corporate crisis over the grounding of its 737 MAX jetliner following two fatal crashes of the aircraft. Officials from the aerospace company and NASA breathed sighs of relief following the landing, a highly challenging feat. “Today it couldn’t really have gone any better,” Boeing space chief executive Jim Chilton told reporters on Sunday, adding that experts would need weeks to analyze the data from this mission before determining if Boeing could move forward with its plan to send a crewed mission on the craft in 2020. The landing, which tested the capsule’s difficult reentry into the atmosphere and parachute deployment, will yield the mission’s most valuable test data after it failed to meet one of its core objectives of docking to the space station. “We’re going to get I think a lot more data than we would have gotten if the test had gone according to plan,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said. After Starliner’s touchdown, teams of engineers in trucks raced to inspect the vehicle, whose six airbags cushioned its impact on the desert surface as planned, a live video feed showed. The spacecraft was in good condition after landing, Chilton said, with little charring and stable air pressure and temperature in the cabin. The CST-100 Starliner’s debut launch to orbit was a milestone test for Boeing. The company is vying with SpaceX, the privately held rocket company of billionaire high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, to revive NASA’s human spaceflight capabilities. SpaceX carried out a successful unmanned flight of its Crew Dragon capsule to the space station in March. After the Starliner capsule was launched from Florida on Friday, an automated timer error prevented it from attaining the right orbit to meet and dock with the space station. Chilton said the timer was running 11 hours ahead, which caused the spacecraft to burn fuel too quickly. Starliner’s three main parachutes deployed just over one mile (1,600 meters) from the Earth’s surface on Sunday after enduring intense heat from the violent reentry through the atmosphere, plummeting at 25 times the speed of sound. The parachute deployment, one of the most challenging procedures under the program to develop a commercial manned space capsule, earned Boeing a win after a previous mishap where one parachute failed to deploy during a November test of Starliner’s abort thrusters. That test tossed the capsule miles into the sky to demonstrate its ability to land a crew safely back on the ground in the event of a launch failure. For the current mission, Boeing and NASA officials said they still do not understand why software caused the craft to miss the orbit required. Sunday’s landing marked the first time a U.S. orbital space capsule designed for humans landed on land. All past U.S. capsules, including SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, splashed down in the ocean. Russia’s Soyuz capsules and China’s past crew capsules made land landings. The now-retired Space Shuttle used to glide in like a massive plane. (GRAPHIC: Space missions - here)
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10866
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New Stratagems in the Quest for Hair
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We appreciated that the story took the opportunity opened by new interest in an experimental hair-loss product, Latisse, to take a broader look at hair loss medicine. We especially liked the section on costs. Hair loss is one of the elusive golden eggs for drug companies. There are two main products on the market now, but both of them come with significant side effects and questions about long term efficacy. Any new entrant in the hair loss field tends to generate excitement, and we think that reporters have a duty to see past effusive marketing and cut to the facts. This story did that, to a certain extent, and we hope that, as this product is further studied, more critical analysis is brought to bear on its harms and benefits.
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true
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New York Times
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The story provided a more thorough discussion of costs than we have seen in many stories about cosmetic products. It says, “It is, however, expensive: a month’s supply of Latisse can cost up to $150, and that is in amounts appropriate for use merely on the eyelashes. Rogaine, which is also available over the counter now, costs about $25 a month, and a month’s supply of Propecia runs about $75.” The story did not quantify any of the benefits of Latisse or the other hair loss products. The story mentioned harms in passing but did not quantify them. We wish it would have. The problem here is that we are talking about off label use, but, at a minimum, some of the harms related to the other, more established products could have been quantified. Instead, the story gives the harms question short shrift, saying, “One advantage of Latisse is that it needs to be applied only once a day (Rogaine needs to be applied twice; Propecia is taken once daily), and does not seem to cause reactions in people who are allergic to minoxidil.” We wish that the story had provided some information about the effectiveness of hair loss products. We only get the one true believer’s comment “that (Latisse) has worked for about 70 percent of his patients.” We also would have liked to have seen a comment about the need for continuing use of the products. The story does a great job avoiding what may be better termed fear-mongering in a case like this. Often stories about cosmetic medicine make people feel like their aging selves are inadequate. This story actually has a little fun with the idea of men being paranoid about their hair loss without minimizing the very real anxiety that hair loss causes. We did think one comment from Dr. Bernstein seemed to medicalize baldness. He said, that “it’s important to remember that baldness is unlike other conditions where you can progress past the point of being helped. …Once we have a cure for hair loss, everyone will be able to benefit.” We think this one is a wobbler. The story did quote two hair loss specialists. We wish it had gone a little broader in scope and talked with someone who is not currently prescribing Latisse and could speak to the safety and efficacy of an uNPRoven product like this. The story discusses a number of alternatives, and even provides price information for some. It says, for example, “For those too impatient to wait, there is also the bold and fashionable solution of shaving one’s head.” We do wish, though, that some comparative effectiveness information had been given. The story makes it clear that Latisse is a prescription product sold for eyelashes but being used off label by some doctors for hair loss. The product definitely appears to be novel, and the story does a good job placing it in the right context. The story went well beyond any news release. In fact, unlike other stories we have seen about emerging cosmetic therapies, this story may not be a big hit with the product’s manufacturer. The man in the lead anecdote, for example, says that he has stopped using the product because it is too expensive.
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33660
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A thriving colony of large alligators lives deep within the bowels of the New York City sewer system.
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It's amazing what a little digging will uncover.
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false
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Critter Country, animals, Deadly Animals, Lethal Lurkers
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It’s long been rumored there are thriving colonies of alligators lurking in New York City’s sewer system. Supposedly, baby alligators brought back as pets from Florida end up being dumped into the sewer system when they outgrow their young and innocent stage. From such an inglorious beginning, these discarded gators grow to immense size and daily terrorize all those foolish enough to risk a visit to the bowels of the city. We’ve all heard it. And it ain’t true. It’s amazing who believes in those invisible alligators too. As the Director of the New York Sea Grant Institute in Albany) said to The New York Times in 1982: “No less a source than All the New That’s Fit to Print reported a veritable rash of ‘saurian sightings’ in the city sewers through the 1930’s.” You know, if you stopped right there, you might walk away from all this convinced there are alligators down there. But it’s amazing what a little digging will uncover (or, in this case, not uncover). Figuring any “alligators in our sewers!” story would be considered newsworthy by the New York press, I went through The New York Times index from 1905 to 1993 in search of alligator stories. Then I located each story on microfilm. Here’s a summary of what I found: All these alligators found in and around New York City, but only one had turned up in a sewer. (Mind you, Westchester County looks like a fine place to avoid if you’re not saurianly inclined — every second gator story seemed to come from there.) Not surprising either, for alligators thrive in Florida and it’s hard to believe creatures that accustomed to a warm climate would survive in the NY sewer system. A New York winter is hard on native New Yorkers; I wouldn’t think a colony of gators would stand a chance in that cold. Nature writer Diane Ackerman has this to say about alligators’ longevity under those conditions: But they couldn’t survive for any length of time in the sewers, only a few months at the most, because they can’t live long in salmonella or shigella or E. coli, organisms that one usually finds in sewage. Also, alligators live at temperatures between 78 and 90 degrees . . . Despite the dearth of news stories about NY alligators and in the face of what we know about how gators are put together, the “alligators in the New York sewer system” stories persist. Most of the blame for this tale’s persistence should be assigned to Robert Daley’s 1959 World Beneath The City. In it, Daley passes along a tale from Teddy May, New York’s superintendent of sewers until 1955. According to the book, sewer inspectors first reported seeing gators around 1935, but May did not believe them. He went himself into the sewers and afterwards: He sat at his desk screwing his fists into his eyes, trying to forget the sight of alligators serenely paddling around in his sewers. The beam of his own flashlight had spotted alligators whose length, on the average, was about two feet . . . The colony appeared to have settled contentedly under the very streets of the busiest city in the world. According to that book, these alligators were dispatched by various means including being poisoned, shot, or herded into the trunk mains where currents washed them out to sea. This massive alligator hunt wasn’t reported in the popular press, yet as we’ve seen, The New York Times will publish just about anything that has to do with alligators in or around New York. As well, World Beneath The City doesn’t give a date for the supposed occurrence; all it says is Teddy May first heard gator reports in 1935. The date of his visit to the sewers or the extermination of the alligators is not provided. Daley spoke to May in 1959 (when May was 84 years old and 20-odd years after the alligators were supposedly discovered and dispatched down there). The details are a bit too fuzzy and there’s a decided lack of outside confirmation. May’s story is best regarded as a fanciful tale. As for how seriously to take May, according to a 1992 magazine article, ” . . . a sewer official told [folklorist Jan Harold] Brunvand that Teddy May was ‘almost as much of a legend as the alligators,’ a spinner of colorful yarns.” Each year at least half a dozen people ask New York City’s Bureau of Sewers about those infamous gators. John T. Flaherty (Chief of Design) answers these inquiries routinely. I could cite you many cogent, logical reasons why the sewer system is not a fit habitat for an alligator, but suffice it to say that, in the 28 years I have been in the sewer game, neither I nor any of the thousands of men who have worked to build, maintain or repair the sewer system has ever seen one. Flaherty (whose sense of humor is of the dry yet deadly variety) added the one clear proof of the absence of alligators — not a single union official has ever advanced alligator infestation as a reason for a pay increase for sewer workers. Even though it’s next to impossible to prove something didn’t happen, I would still suggest from the lack of credible sightings it’s safe to assume there are no alligators down there. The tall tale about thriving colonies of alligators lurking in New York’s sewers finds an antecedent in another (at that time, at least) widely believed tale recorded in 1851 about feral pigs or hogs infesting the sewers in Hampstead [London]: There is a strange tale in existence among the shore-workers, of a race of wild hogs inhabiting the sewers in the neighbourhood of Hampstead. The story runs, that a sow in young, by some accident got down the sewer through an opening, and, wandering away from the spot, littered and reared her offspring in the drain, feeding on the offal and garbage washed into it continually. Here, it is alleged, the breed multiplied exceedingly, and have become almost as ferocious as they are numerous.This story, apocryphal as it seems, has nevertheless its believers, and it is ingeniously argued, that the reason why none of the subterranean animals have been able to make their way to the light of day is, that they could only do so by reaching the mouth of the sewer at the river-side, while, in order to arrive at that point, they must necessarily encounter the Fleet ditch, which runs towards the river with great rapidity, and as it is the obstinate nature of a pig to swim against the stream, the wild hogs of the sewers invariably work their way back to their original quarters, and are thus never to be seen. What seems strange in the matter is, that the inhabitants of Hampstead never have been known to see any of these animals pass beneath the gratings, nor to have been disturbed by their gruntings. The reader of course can believe as much of the story as he pleases, and it is right to inform him that the sewerhunters themselves have never yet encountered any of the fabulous monsters of the Hampstead sewers. As a suitable finale, I present excerpts from a 1932 New York Times about police plans to stalk alligators they believed were living in a Bronx River lair: . . . two small boys had appeared at headquarters last night to show the chief a dead alligator, about 36 inches long, which they said they had captured along the shore of the lake. The boys told the chief that the Bronx River, of which the lake is a part, had been ‘swarming’ with at least two or three other alligators.The start of the explorers was delayed today because of fear on the part of the police chief that a species of human beings, known as baseball players, who congregate on the shores of the lake, would interfere with the expedition. The proper method of catching an alligator alive was the subject of a conference this afternoon between the police chief and his men. [. . .] Some one suggested that one of the police explorers, who sings bass in the police quartet, ought to practice the alligator mating call, which the police chief learned was a cross between the bark of a dog and the grunt of a pig. A hurried visitor to Police Headquarters told the police chief that a piece of liver would make an alligator literally walk across the water to shore and that it could be captured alive easily with the type of net generally used by butterfly chasers. The police chief put in a requisition for enough liver to feed a good-sized alligator, and one of his men promised to lend the explorers a fishing net for the expedition.
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14592
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When Jeb (Bush) was governor, his first four years as governor, his Medicaid program grew twice as fast as mine.
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Kasich said that Florida’s Medicaid spending in the first four years of the Bush administration went up twice as quickly as they did during Kasich’s first four years in Ohio. The spending numbers bear that out. However, comparisons across very different states at very different times should be used with caution. Large national trends in health care inflation and the economy played a significant role in Medicaid spending in both states. Bush in Florida faced higher health care inflation and an economic slump. Ohio saw an easing of health care spending and an improving labor market. Still, budget and policy decisions by the two governors had an impact on Medicaid spending. The statement is accurate but it needs additional information.
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true
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National, Health Care, State Budget, John Kasich,
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"Every Republican presidential candidate opposes Obamacare, but Ohio Gov. John Kasich stands out for being the only one who took advantage of the program’s Medicaid expansion option. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wasn’t going to let that choice go unnoticed. Bush touted his opposition to expansion in Florida during a debate in South Carolina. ""The (Florida) governor was supportive of doing what John did,"" Bush said Feb. 13. ""So was the Florida Senate. A committed speaker of the House asked me to go as a private citizen to make the case against the expansion. I did, and it wasn't expanded there."" To which Kasich shot back, ""When Jeb was governor -- his first four years as governor -- his Medicaid program grew twice as fast as mine. Okay? It's just a fact."" We can’t resolve which man is more fiscally responsible, but we can compare Medicaid spending trends. A decade and a half separates the periods -- 1999-2003 for Florida and 2011-15 for Ohio -- but with due regard for the vast change in circumstances, the numbers can speak for themselves. Kasich’s campaign provided Medicaid spending numbers for both Ohio and Florida and we confirmed them with independent sources in both states. The spending amounts, in millions of dollars, include both federal and state contributions to Medicaid. Ohio 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Change overall $17,681 $18,401 $18,857 $20,859 $23,467 32.7% Yearly change 4.1% 2.5% 10.6% 12.5% Florida 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 $6,947 $7,764 $8,901 $10,220 $11,437 64.6% Yearly change 11.8% 14.6% 14.8% 11.9% (In millions of dollars) Source: Florida State University; State of Ohio You can’t compare the amounts directly because inflation changes the value of the dollars across the decades. But in terms of growth, Medicaid spending did rise twice as quickly under Bush than it has more recently under Kasich. But we wouldn’t advise drawing simple conclusions from this. The factors behind the numbers Florida’s Medicaid budget did rise rapidly during Bush’s first term, largely due to more spending on long-term care. An Urban Institute report in 2002 said that as Bush took office, Florida had ""a full-blown crisis"" in nursing homes. ""Chronic staffing shortages led to an erosion in quality of care, which in turn led to lawsuits that resulted in extremely large awards for complainants and skyrocketing liability insurance rates for the industry,"" the report said. Larry Polivka now heads the Claude Pepper Center, a public policy analysis group at Florida State University. In the early 2000s, he served on an advisory committee set up to suggest ways to fix problems in the long-term care system. Bush adopted many of the recommendations, such as more nursing home staffing, and they were not cheap. ""Bush increased funding in the long-term care part of the budget very substantially,"" Polivka told us. A 2002 assessment by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department echoed Polivka’s point. ""In January 2001, Gov. Jeb Bush partly unveiled his ‘elder-friendly’ initiative, which called for significant increases in funding for nursing homes and nursing home quality of care reform,"" according to the report, which noted Bush signed the changes into law in May 2001. Polivka said the state has a higher proportion of senior citizens than other states and anything done with nursing homes and other long-term care services will have a substantial impact on spending. Polivka said it didn’t help that the state also went through a brief recession in 2001. Unemployment rose over 2 percentage points in 2002. When the economy goes down, more people turn to Medicaid. Still, Polivka said the main driver in Florida centered on nursing home care, community-based care and at-home care. In Ohio, 15 years later, the economy helped the state. Unemployment dropped by nearly half, from 9.2 percent down to 4.7 percent. That eased demand on Medicaid. But the state did many things directly to rein in Medicaid spending. Amy Rohling McGee, president of the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, told us that Kasich focused on chronic illnesses, like asthma, and long-term care. McGee said administration policies played a significant role in trimming the rise in Medicaid costs, but she also noted that other trends were at play. ""It’s hard to tease out what reduces health care spending growth,"" McGee said. ""It’s likely a combination of factors. Experts around the country noted that healthcare spending was rising at a slower pace in recent years. Part of that was a post-recession slow down. Part of it might have been the Affordable Care Act. But changes in Ohio also made a difference here."" Our ruling Kasich said that Florida’s Medicaid spending in the first four years of the Bush administration went up twice as quickly as they did during Kasich’s first four years in Ohio. The spending numbers bear that out. However, comparisons across very different states at very different times should be used with caution. Large national trends in health care inflation and the economy played a significant role in Medicaid spending in both states. Bush in Florida faced higher health care inflation and an economic slump. Ohio saw an easing of health care spending and an improving labor market. Still, budget and policy decisions by the two governors had an impact on Medicaid spending. The statement is accurate but it needs additional information."
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36600
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Four AI robots killed 29 human scientists in a Japanese laboratory.
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Did Four Artificially Intelligent Robots Kill 29 Humans in a Japan Lab?
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false
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Fact Checks, Viral Content
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On December 15, 2018, a Facebook user shared what appeared to be a screenshot of an article reporting the shocking news that dozens of Japanese scientists had been killed by rebellious artificial intelligence:An Instagram handle was visible in the screenshot, and that account featured the following post:4 artificial intelligence robots killed 29 scientists at a Lab in JapanEx Military Whistleblower reveals to Linda Moulton in August of 2017, 29 humans were killed Producing weaponized Autonomous robots in japan, she mentions what expert researchers in Artificial intelligence such as Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking among others had to say.Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responds to a question by Nevada Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval during the third day of the National Governors Association’s meeting on Saturday in Providence, R.I. Among other things, Musk warned governors that artificial intelligence poses a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization.The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) could be the “worst event in the history of our civilization” unless society finds a way to control its development, high-profile physicist Stephen Hawking said, He made the comments during a talk at the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in which he said, “computers can, in theory, emulate human intelligence, and exceed it.”The trail went relatively cold there, as there were no links to further stories. However, a similar headline was attached to an item published on December 18, 2018 by fake news outlet Huzlers:JAPAN – 29 scientist were killed by militarized artificial intelligence robots. Japan begun working on creating AI militarized robots back in 2006 Japan denied the programs existence but the proof is inevitable.Dexter who runs the laboratory managed to escape the fiasco told the story of the accident. Japanese military opened fire on these militarized robots while scientist shut them down but one ran and begun to fix itself downloading files to repair itself via orbit satellite. This was kept secret until a whistle blower confirmed the incident. As of now Dexter’s laboratory is still a secret to his family except for Dee-Dee who is always messing around in there.Huzlers is a well-known purveyor of falsehoods and satire, and a disclaimer at the bottom of every page on the site reads:Huzlers is the most infamous fauxtire & satire entertainment website in the world. If it’s trending on social media you’ll find it here!Its appearance there may have been a case of the hoax news ecosystem feeding off itself as sites all imitated one another; similar content appeared on YouTube and Twitter days prior to the Huzlers piece (and its headline diverged from the Facebook and Twitter posts above.) The video also appeared less than two weeks after an April 5 2018 Guardian article reporting calls for a boycott of a South Korean university’s “collaboration with [a defense] company on autonomous weapons”:Artificial intelligence researchers from nearly 30 countries are boycotting a South Korean university over concerns a new lab in partnership with a leading defence company could lead to “killer robots” … [Boycott organizer Toby] Walsh was initially concerned when a Korea Times article described [Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology] KAIST as “joining the global competition to develop autonomous arms” and promptly wrote to the university asking questions but did not receive a response.The original source for most versions of the claim appears to be an April 2018 BrainFeed.tv post and linked YouTube video (titled “Whistleblower Reveals 29 Humans Killed in Laboratory Producing Militarized Autonomous Robots!”) In one version, the woman quoted her purported military source as having said:“This is serious shit, Linda. But you won’t hear about it in the news.”The woman speaking in the video was identified as Linda Moulton Howe, journalist and conspiracy theorist. In what appears to be the original video, Howe referenced repeated remarks made by Elon Musk before the (purported, untrue) incident in Japan, not in reference to it, which speculated artificial intelligence was humanity’s “biggest existential threat.”The claim traveled in screenshots and video clips without an article until it was picked up by a disinformation site in December 2018.The basis of the story was a single individual (Howe) claiming that she received a phone call from an unnamed source in the United States Marines — leaving the possibility that even if the phone call took place as described, the shadowy source was pulling Howe’s leg. But all versions of the story trace back to a single video on a YouTube conspiracy channel in which Howe makes thirdhand claims without proof about a supposed AI bloodbath
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12711
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We offer a tremendous amount of low calorie, no calorie options, like waters, unsweetened products, low calorie diet items. All of which unfortunately are taxed by this tax.
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"The Ax The Bev Tax Twitter account played a clip of Pepsi employee Amy Chen saying ""We offer a tremendous amount of low calorie, no calorie options, like waters, unsweetened products, low calorie diet items. All of which unfortunately are taxed by this tax."" Water, as long as it has no sweeteners added, and unsweetened beverages are not taxed. Chen actually said on the radio show that ""most"" of those types of beverages were taxed, but Ax The Bev Tax’s clip was altered. Ax The Bev Tax has acknowledged the clip is inaccurate, with spokesperson Anthony Campisi chalking it up to an editing error by someone still getting familiar with the nuances of the tax. But the error was still made. A true statement by Chen was turned into a false statement by Ax The Bev Tax. PolitiFact regularly challenges politicians who make claims and then later admitted they made a mistake or misspoke or walk their original statement back. This is similar. "
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false
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Food, Taxes, Pennsylvania, Ax The Bev Tax,
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"At times, it hasn’t been 100 percent clear to vendors and shoppers what’s covered under Philadelphia’s sugary drinks tax. Look no further than that time ShopRite taxed hot sauce in January. But a high-ranking PepsiCo employee should probably understand, right? Well that’s not what it sounded like in a tweet earlier this week from the anti-tax coalition Ax The Bev Tax. The tweet replayed a conversation on WURD 900-AM between host Solomon Jones and Amy Chen, founder of PepsiCo’s Food for Good initiative. In the short clip, as presented in the tweet, Chen says, ""We offer a tremendous amount of low calorie, no calorie options, like waters, unsweetened products, low calorie diet items. All of which unfortunately are taxed by this tax."" Unsweetened products and water, taxed? Um, what happened? First of all, unsweetened beverages and water are not taxed. According to the Mayor’s Office, the soda tax covers all non-alcoholic beverages with any amount of natural or artificial sweetener. Any unsweetened beverage and regular water would not be taxed. And even in the realm of sweetened beverages there are some exceptions. Drinks that are at least 50 percent milk, baby formula, 100 percent juice, at least 50 percent ""fresh"" fruit or vegetable are not taxed. Chen’s conversation with Jones lasted for several minutes, based on the audio file from WURD’s website. So Ax The Bev Tax edited it down for purposes of the tweet. And not only did they shorten Chen’s conversation, the alteration of the clip adjusted what she said. In her original conversation with Jones, Chen said, ""We offer a tremendous amount of low calorie, no calorie options, like waters, unsweetened products, low calorie diet items. All of which unfortunately -- or most of which -- are taxed by this tax."" Ax the Bev Tax’s clip removed ""or most of which,"" the portion of her statement where she realized her error of saying all those drinks would be taxed and corrected herself. Speaking for PepsiCo and Ax The Bev Tax, Anthony Campisi said it was an editing error committed by someone ""still getting oriented with the nuances of the tax"" and that the anti-soda tax coalition had consistently claimed from the beginning the tax only applies to sweetened beverages. He called it an honest mistake and said, ""this just seems like in the grand scheme of things about the beverage tax to be really small stuff."" Our ruling The Ax The Bev Tax Twitter account played a clip of Pepsi employee Amy Chen saying ""We offer a tremendous amount of low calorie, no calorie options, like waters, unsweetened products, low calorie diet items. All of which unfortunately are taxed by this tax."" Water, as long as it has no sweeteners added, and unsweetened beverages are not taxed. Chen actually said on the radio show that ""most"" of those types of beverages were taxed, but Ax The Bev Tax’s clip was altered. Ax The Bev Tax has acknowledged the clip is inaccurate, with spokesperson Anthony Campisi chalking it up to an editing error by someone still getting familiar with the nuances of the tax. But the error was still made. A true statement by Chen was turned into a false statement by Ax The Bev Tax. PolitiFact regularly challenges politicians who make claims and then later admitted they made a mistake or misspoke or walk their original statement back. This is similar."
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26236
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"Nancy Pelosi said ""Congress shall not vote remotely because it is not secure!"" while also saying that “Americans should all vote for president by mail!”"
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Pelosi initially expressed concerns about technological, legal and other issues on the idea of allowing members of the House to cast votes remotely. But Pelosi has said she is open to the idea, if issues can be resolved, and backed a measure that requires the House study remote voting for its members. Pelosi is a prominent supporter of voters casting ballots by mail.
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false
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Congress, Elections, Technology, Coronavirus, Facebook posts,
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"A Facebook post paints House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as hypocritical on voting. An image with the post shows two photos of Pelosi. One caption reads: ""Congress shall not vote remotely because it is not secure!"" The other reads: ""Americans should all vote for president by mail!"" The post itself says: ""Yes she did say them both."" Pelosi didn’t utter either of those quotes, according to our Google and Nexis searches. Pelosi is a prominent supporter of letting voters cast ballots by mail — a process opposed by President Donald Trump, who claims it is open to fraud. But this post mischaracterizes her stance on congressional voting. The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) In late March, as the House moved to pass a $2 trillion stimulus package in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Pelosi expressed reluctance about lawmakers voting remotely on the package. But by May, she voted for a measure that requires a House committee to study remote voting. March 24, interviews: On the idea of holding a remote vote on the $2 trillion stimulus, Pelosi told MSNBC: ""There are serious constitutional, technological and security concerns about it. They can be addressed, but for right now, we're just working very hard to get unanimous consent so we can get this bill done, and then consider what the options are later."" In an interview with CNN moments later, she was even more terse, The Hill reported, saying it may be an option in the future, but at the moment ""we're not prepared for (it)."" April 9, teleconference with reporters: Pelosi said any changes to the requirement that House members vote in person are a long way off, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, saying that Pelosi said: ""We’re not there yet, and we’re not going to be there no matter how many letters somebody sends in — with all the respect in the world for that."" Her concerns included the security of any technology used, the constitutionality of changes to the rules and the time needed to be sure any new system is well thought out and bipartisan. Pelosi’s tone changed in the weeks before the May 10 Facebook post as the need for social distancing amid the outbreak became better understood. April 16, teleconference with reporters: ""I've said"" to the House committee chairs about remote voting, ""give our members options; show us how we can do what. What are the options that the Constitution, the rules of the House, the technology, the security enables us to do, and that is what they have been working on. Until we have an appropriate way to do it, we can’t do it. So, it’s not about being negative on it, it’s just, show us the way … . Everybody is working so hard on all of these initiatives, including how we can come together, whether it’s by proxy voting or remote voting or whatever it is. When we are ready, we will do it."" Sometimes the terms remote and proxy voting are used interchangeably, but they mean different things in this context. Remote refers to the concept of a member using technology to cast a vote; proxy refers to a member who is not on the House floor authorizing another member, who is on the floor, to cast their ballot. April 26, CNN interview: Asked if it’s time to allow remote voting during the pandemic, Pelosi said: ""I'm all for doing the remote voting by proxy. I want it to be bipartisan. The Republican leader, Mr. (Kevin) McCarthy, has assured me that he will consider this. He's not there yet; he could be there. But whether he is or not, we will — our process was to strive to make it bipartisan."" May 20, authorization: Pelosi formally authorized a 45-day period during which House members can vote by proxy. The House had adopted the change in rules on May 15, in a 217-189 vote, mostly along party lines; Pelosi voted yes. Any member attending a House vote can cast as many as 10 votes on behalf of colleagues. The new rules also allow, pending certification, for a process in which lawmakers will eventually be able to cast their votes from home, either via a secure online portal or a video conferencing system. The measure requires the House Administration Committee study the feasibility of using technology to conduct remote voting in the House. On May 26, House Republicans sued Pelosi to stop the new proxy voting system, claiming it is unconstitutional. A Facebook post claimed Pelosi said ""Congress shall not vote remotely because it is not secure!"" while also saying that ""Americans should all vote for president by mail!"" Pelosi is a prominent supporter of voters casting ballots by mail. Initially, she raised concerns about House members voting remotely and said the House was not ready, but weeks before the post her tone changed and she backed a measure that requires a House committee to study the feasibility of using technology for remote voting. The post contains only an element of truth."
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26580
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Facebook post Says imposters in hazmat suits are going door to door in Stockton, Calif., saying they are checking residents for fever or COVID-19, but they “will enter your home and physically attempt robbery.”
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Posts around the nation warn people not to open their doors to imposters who say they are doing coronavirus testing but actually want to rob the residents. Like other such claims, this one about an alleged scam in Stockton, Calif., is false, according to police.
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false
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Crime, Facebook Fact-checks, Coronavirus, Facebook posts,
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"We’ve knocked down Facebook posts claiming that criminals are going door to door posing as coronavirus testers as a ruse for robbing people inside their homes. Now comes an image shared on a Facebook post that adds a new wrinkle. It appears to be a photograph of a flyer for residents of an apartment complex. The headline on the flyer, with a grammatical error, says: ""Do no open your door!!!"" Below it are illustrations of two people in hazmat suits. The flyer says people in hazmat suits are going door to door in Stockton, California, posing as health department officials who want to check the temperatures of residents or check them for COVID-19. ""They will enter your home and physically attempt robbery, or they may ask you important personal information to steal your identity,"" the poster says. Stockton, in California’s Central Valley, has a population of more than 300,000. The flyer advises people to call Stockton police if they witness such a scam. The phone number listed is the main non-emergency number for the department. In smaller print at the bottom of the poster, it reads ""Thank you — Courtyards Management and Staff."" It is dated March 18, 2020. The image was posted on Facebook the next day by a person who wrote: ""This is happening in Stockton."" The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) On the same day this claim was posted, Massachusetts State Police announced in response to a similar claim on Facebook ""that at least one such incident may have occurred in central Massachusetts."" But Stockton Police public information officer Joe Silva told PolitiFact on March 26, 2020, that police are aware of the social media rumors about his town and that they are . ""No reported incidents of that happening in our city,"" he said. Police departments around the country have warned citizens that coronavirus testing is not being done door to door, so people who encounter strangers offering testing this way have reason to be suspicious. But several of the online posts warning about robbers going door to door in various cities have proven to be just rumors. So, why are such posts being made, and shared? Many social media users respond to news that brings ""high levels of anxiety and fear,"" said Niklas Myhr, a marketing and economics professor at Chapman University in Orange, California, who calls himself the social media professor. ""Their motives could range from a genuine willingness to help those in need, to more opportunistic ones such as taking advantage of emotionally vulnerable people."" The algorithms of social media platforms ""quickly pick up on signals of content being engaging and makes it more available in broader circles,"" Myrh said. The person who posted the flyer image on Facebook told PolitiFact that he did so after a friend sent him a picture of the flyer; the friend had seen the flyer on the door of a house he was working on. ""Anyone in their right mind would do the same thing as a precaution to protect others from harm,"" he said via Facebook Messenger. A Facebook post shows an image of a flyer claiming that people wearing hazmat suits are offering coronavirus tests as a ruse to get in homes and rob people in Stockton, Calif. Police in Stockton say they’ve received no such reports."
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11299
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Study Reveals Ways to Improve Outcomes, Reduce Costs for Common Heart Procedure
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This release summarizes a study that showed using the wrist as opposed to the groin during coronary angioplasty, and allowing patients to go home on the day of the procedure rather than keeping them overnight, could result in substantial cost savings and reduced complications. The study was based on data from 280,000 Medicare patients who underwent coronary angioplasty, also called percutaneous coronary interventions or PCI, to alleviate chest pain or shortness of breath. PCI involves using a balloon to open up clogged arteries and restore blood flow to the heart. Cardiologists frequently use the femoral artery in the groin as the access point when performing a PCI but researchers say here that entering via an artery in the wrist is the best method because it offers fewer complications and shorter hospital stays — which translate into cost savings. The release does a good job of showing cost comparisons, but it’s based on extrapolation of a small percentage (9%) of Medicare patients that underwent PCI using the wrist entrance method. We commend the release for adding extensive end notes about funding sources and financial disclosures. This is what we’d like to see in all news releases. Coronary angioplasty procedures are performed on some 600,000 patients each year, according to the researchers who conducted this study. Finding ways to reduce costs without sacrificing patient outcomes is critical for the American health care system.
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mixture
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Academic medical center news release,cardiovascular disease
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Cost comparison across angioplasty strategies is the raison d’etre of this study and its accompanying news release. The release reflects on costs for both the individual procedure and for the country in great detail. The main benefit discussed here was the cost savings since that was the focus of the study. But what are the tangible benefits to patients who might be facing this procedure? The claims made are backed up by estimates of the cost savings based on the 9% of PCI patients that had the procedure using the wrist method. The first author of the study mentions reduced bleeding and fewer complications from angioplasty procedures that use the wrist artery and discharge patients on the same day, but it doesn’t provide any numbers for a reference point. The published report stated that bleeding at the arterial site, the most common problem examined, occurred in 1.4% of patients receiving the lower cost wrist procedure and in 3% of those receiving the traditional groin entrance procedure (use of the femoral artery and at least one overnight hospital stay). While the complication rates are pretty low in both procedures, it’s something that could have been better explained in the release. The news release does not discuss any possible downsides associated with the new technique. Although the disadvantages of using the wrist rather than the groin approach are minor and perhaps not clinically relevant for most people, it would have been better for the release to at least mention them. The release does an adequate job of explaining how the costs savings were calculated and how researchers gathered their data for the analysis. It states: “The analysis demonstrated an average cost of $13,389 for the wrist approach with same-day discharge, compared with $17,076 for the groin approach with at least one night of hospitalization, resulting in a cost savings of about $3,700 for outpatients who get the wrist-access procedure. Independent of the length of stay, the wrist approach costs about $900 less than the groin approach, on average.” However, this was an observational study, which has important limitations. The researchers discussed this in the study, and the release should have included it, too. From the study: “First, the observational nature of these data may be subject to selection bias and unmeasured confounding, despite rigorous exclusions and propensity score methods with IPW to adjust for confounding associated with TRI use and SDD. Propensity score methods do not account for unmeasured confounding or selection bias (45–47).” The release doesn’t engage in disease mongering. It provides strong context on what coronary angioplasty is, how many are performed annually, average costs and projects cost savings. The release is to be commended here for how it discloses funding sources and potential conflicts of interest. It includes these disclosures in an end note which doesn’t interfere with the flow of the release. This is what we’d like to see in all news releases. The point of the study was to compare variants on angioplasty method, and the release does that clearly. It clearly conveys that the lower cost variants of angioplasty—use of the wrist artery and same-day discharge of the patient—are available but little utilized among Medicare patients. The use of the wrist entrance method appears very low (9%) among Medicare patients. The idea of going through the wrist is not novel. In fact, the main author published a very similar paper in 2013 and others have done similar work. There is a large body of evidence on this issue and the news release could have acknowledged that. The first author of the research report is quoted as describing the evidence of this study as “unequivocal,” which is a bit strong, but the language in the rest of the release is straightforward.
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11328
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Questions about Singulair and suicide
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"This broadcast segment follows the FDA’s decision to investigate a possible link between the asthma/allergy drug Singulair and suicide. It demonstrates both virtues and vices of medical reporting. Among its virtues: Interviewing a clinician who prescribes the drug, helping viewers understand what this news means to them or their loved ones. While too brief and unspecific, it’s useful context. Checking the drugmaker’s assertion that the side effect information was disclosed–and reporting it is difficult for a consumer to find. Among its vices: Putting a single, tragic suicide at the center of the piece. This has the effect of exaggerating the certainty of the link between the drug and suicide–and generating more fear than is justified by the facts as they are now known. This segment illustrates how news organizations’ desire to find ""real people"" to add ""a human element"" to health stories often winds up creating a context that prevents people from understanding the facts and what they mean to them."
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true
|
The price of the drug is not reported. The segment specifies that four suicides, and a higher number of other mental health effects, have been reported to the FDA. It also specifies that 11,000 patients participated in the pre-approval clinical trials and with no reports of similar incidents. But it fails to make clear to viewers the important differences between data from clinical trials and from post-surveillance voluntary reports. The story didn’t quantify potential benefits. The story is fundamentally about alleged harmful side effects of the drug, so this criterion is clearly established. The segment is based on an FDA investigation and labeling changes that follow post-marketing reports of four suicides and mental disorders. This is adequate evidence on which to base this news report. By emphasizing one tragic story about a teenager who took the drug and committed suicide, the segment exaggerates the likelihood that the two are linked. The segment draws on data from pre-approval and post-marketing trials, an interview with the family of a teenager who committed suicide after taking Singulair, and an interview with a clinical specialist in asthma and allergies. It also reports its own observation that information about the side effects is buried on the drugmaker’s website. The perspective of the clinician who prescribes Singulair and other drugs for asthma and allergies provides an adequate, if brief, discussion of treatment options. The segment makes clear that Singulair is widely used. Singulair is widely used, so its novelty is not in question. The report was triggered by the FDA’s action, not a company press release.
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