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News & ArtsWednesday, June 13, 2012
News The Wednesday Morning News
Posted by Goldy on Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Giffords Aide Survives Special Election: Longtime Rep. Gabrielle Giffords aide Ron Barber, who was wounded in her shooting, pulled out a six point win in yesterday's special election to fill the remainder of her US House term. Democrats hold this southern Arizona district despite outnumbered by Republicans among registered voters.
Inslee Survives First Debate: Eli an I give the edge to Jay Inslee over Rob McKenna in their first gubernatorial debate; the Washington press corps' resident curmudgeon agrees.
Amber Alert: The State Patrol issued an amber alert for three Marysville children whose parents took them to avoid Child Protective Services.
This Is What Democracy Looks Like: In the deadliest day since US troops withdrew from Iraq, a series of 16 car bombs targeting Shiite pilgrims have left more than 70 dead and at least 260 wounded.
Fuck the Thunder: The Oklahoma Thunder cruised to 105-94 victory over the Miami Heat in the first game of the NBA finals, thanks in large part to draft picks earned while totally sucking in Seattle.
How Bad Is Sodo Traffic? Wannabe Sonics owner Chris Hansen wants you to see for yourself, embedding the feed for SDOT traffic cameras on his Sodo arena-promoting website.
The Genius of Wall Street in a Nutshell: JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon explains that his bank lost at least $2 billion on risky trades that were part of a strategy to reduce risk. And how will Dimon deal with the executives responsible? Smaller bonuses. Yay capitalism!
Economic Statistics Are Weird: US retails sales fell in May, and producer prices plummeted, largely due to a steep drop in gasoline prices (you know, everywhere but here).
Worse than Fukushima: The rate at which US patients receive CT scans (and the high doses of radiation that comes with them) has increased 10 percent a year since 2004, according to a new study. Let's hear it for America's best in the world health care system!
Suck It Up, Georgetown: As if we didn't already know it, the World Health Organization has officially concluded that diesel exhaust causes cancer.
Great News for Fatty Fish: If you've been stupidly taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements to improve your brain function, perhaps it is because your brain isn't made any less stupid by consuming omega- 3 fatty acid supplements.
1
re: Fatty fish. It's still recommended for helping with cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They haven't debunked those claims yet.
2
I recently had a CT scan and it was only afterwards that the doctor told me it was the equivalent of two hundred chest x-rays. When I expressed my shock and anger he said "It's only like flying from here to New York"! Then he said it was inconclusive...! GRRRR!
3
"At the beginning of the study, the researchers found that 50 CT scans were obtained for every 1,000 adult patients. At the study’s conclusion, the number increased to 200 CT scans for every 1,000 patients – a 20 percent increase."
Someone wanna help me out with this?
Someone wanna help me out with this?
4
- on the fatty acids thing: it's still recommended for children's brain development, and it is a good method of reducing risks of heart disease and skin health, and possibly arthritis. Definitely still worthwhile to take, just not for people over 60 to maintain cognitive abilities.
5
@3: I am not a math guy at all, but that looks like a 300% increase to me.
As to why the number has increased so drastically it is twofold:
First, doctors order every possible test now because they fear malpractice suits. If a doctor does not think a CAT scan is necessary but it ends up something is wrong, they can be sued for not ordering the test, even if it does not seem necessary, or if 99.9% of the time the test does not help.
Second, CAT scans are expensive and often paid at high levels by insurance plans. Therefore, it is easy money in the doctor's pocket. Many doctors have even had their own machines installed so thay do not lose revenue to test facilities.
As to why the number has increased so drastically it is twofold:
First, doctors order every possible test now because they fear malpractice suits. If a doctor does not think a CAT scan is necessary but it ends up something is wrong, they can be sued for not ordering the test, even if it does not seem necessary, or if 99.9% of the time the test does not help.
Second, CAT scans are expensive and often paid at high levels by insurance plans. Therefore, it is easy money in the doctor's pocket. Many doctors have even had their own machines installed so thay do not lose revenue to test facilities.
6
@3 Nearly all readers skim over even simple mathematics. Percents? Fractions? Forget it. Too hard!
7
I would say that CT scans have increased even at academic centers where the physician really has no economic incentive to order them because he/she is being paid on salary. First, I think the reason for the increase is certainly tied to liability fears, although quantifying the amount this contributes is difficult. Second, I think part of the reason for the increase is tied to patients "taking control of their health care," which generally means insisting on procedures and tests even though they generally have a medical literary derived from surfing the web and therefore not very reliable. When a physician refuses to agree to these requests, it's extremely common for patients to shop around until they find a physician who will order the scan.
The latter cause seems to happen more in the Pacific NW compared to where I was previously (the south).
The latter cause seems to happen more in the Pacific NW compared to where I was previously (the south).
8
Also from that article: "'Everything in medicine has trade-offs,' [Smith-Bindman] continued. 'There's no free bee.'"
You know what they say, there's no free bee. You want a bee, it's gonna cost you.
Wooo, foxnews.com!
You know what they say, there's no free bee. You want a bee, it's gonna cost you.
Wooo, foxnews.com!
10
Not a bad job of doing the news today, Goldy, and I'm usually a pretty harsh critic. Are you OK? This is out-of-character.
12
CT and MR scans do not obtain information in the same way. CT uses xrays, which is ionizing radiation, while MR uses a magnetic field, and radio frequencies.
Ionizing radiation is high frequency electromagnetic radiation so small most of the energy passes between your atoms and comes out the other side never having touched you.
It's called ionizing radiation because it can knock electrons out of their orbits, creating both a negative and a positive ion. (A charged particle) Electrons are negative, and the atom, after losing it's electron becomes positively charged. Atoms naturally are neutral. Most of the time, an electron just jumps into the atom, making it neutral again. Ions can also combine to create other compounds. The most common recombination is H2O molecules in the body can become H2O2, hydrogen peroxide. Still this only happens in nth amounts.
The other thing that xrays can do is damage DNA in cells. It can break rungs in the helix ladder structure. Almost always, the helix heals just as it was, but the damage could possibly mutate the cell. Mutated cells are targeted and destroyed by the immune system. It is possible for the body not to recognize the cell as damaged, and the cell could reproduce to become cancer.
Cells undergoing mitosis (splitting to produce two identical cells) are most vulnerable to such damage. Growing children have the most cells splitting, and are more susceptible to radiation damage than older folks. The older one gets, the less splitting cells they have, and thus they are much less prone to cancers from radiation.
MR uses a magnetic field and radio frequencies, which are too big to be ionizing, or damage DNA structures. MR has not been shown to cause damage.
More...
Ionizing radiation is high frequency electromagnetic radiation so small most of the energy passes between your atoms and comes out the other side never having touched you.
It's called ionizing radiation because it can knock electrons out of their orbits, creating both a negative and a positive ion. (A charged particle) Electrons are negative, and the atom, after losing it's electron becomes positively charged. Atoms naturally are neutral. Most of the time, an electron just jumps into the atom, making it neutral again. Ions can also combine to create other compounds. The most common recombination is H2O molecules in the body can become H2O2, hydrogen peroxide. Still this only happens in nth amounts.
The other thing that xrays can do is damage DNA in cells. It can break rungs in the helix ladder structure. Almost always, the helix heals just as it was, but the damage could possibly mutate the cell. Mutated cells are targeted and destroyed by the immune system. It is possible for the body not to recognize the cell as damaged, and the cell could reproduce to become cancer.
Cells undergoing mitosis (splitting to produce two identical cells) are most vulnerable to such damage. Growing children have the most cells splitting, and are more susceptible to radiation damage than older folks. The older one gets, the less splitting cells they have, and thus they are much less prone to cancers from radiation.
MR uses a magnetic field and radio frequencies, which are too big to be ionizing, or damage DNA structures. MR has not been shown to cause damage.
14
I didn't make that link, the commenting software apparently just assumes anything with periods in it is a URL.
15
The Abomination of the Obama Nation
No excuse left not to vote Green
This year it was announced that “progressives” met at the Netroots Nation.
Well, whatever those limousine neoliberals wish to call themselves, progressives they ain’t! ! !
One of the main speakers there was Wall Street revisionist stooge, Van Jones, who appears to have his head permanently affixed up his butt.
Jones has lately been claiming that “we” (always love those self-appointed who claim to speak for the rest of us) never pressured President Obama enough, never protested enough, etc., etc.
Negative on that bullcrap, Van Jones! (Yours truly, alone, protested directly to the White House over a thousand times, in calls, letters, emails, and various protests.)
Jones also prattles on about cap-and-trade; either Jones is a complete idiot who still doesn’t comprehend that Wall Street scam, or he’s even more of a turncoat than he appears?
Whomever Jones really speaks for – Wall Street, the DLC, Jamie Dimon, etc., he speaks for very few Americans today!
Obama of the collateral death by drones!
Obama of torture and preemptive arrests of protesters!
Obama of the War on Whistleblowers!
Obama the silent on Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Florida (AND Honduras AND Bahrain)!
Obama who has kowtowed to the Wall Street banksters at every opportunity!
Obama and his attacks on due process and habeas corpus!
Obama who has continued to offshore America through more “free trade” agreements and the Trans-Pacific Partnership!
There is no “lesser” bullcrap anymore!
The most nauseating sight was to watch those “business union” members in Wisconsin cheer Bill Clinton – Clinton who did to Arkansas what Walker is doing to Wisconsin!
Union members my butt!
They wouldn’t know of the sacrifices of the McNamara brothers and Alexander Berkman; the Ludlow Massacre, the Haymarket Massacre or the many women who died so needlessly and horribly in textile sweatshop conflagrations in early 20th century America!
They wouldn’t know why National Guard armories were strategically positioned around the nation to violently respond to labor strikes!
Only the most ignorant, the most uneducated, or the most amoral, would ever refer to Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as democrats or progressives --- they are Wall Street stooges through and through.
Why vote for the lesser when we can vote for the best?
Dr. Jill Stein for president in 2012!
THINK . . . . and vote Green!
[Note to whiners who always bring up future Supreme Court choices – you might want to take a close look at Kagan’s and Sotomayor’s record since they’ve been on the bench --- your argument doesn't wash.]
More...
No excuse left not to vote Green
This year it was announced that “progressives” met at the Netroots Nation.
Well, whatever those limousine neoliberals wish to call themselves, progressives they ain’t! ! !
One of the main speakers there was Wall Street revisionist stooge, Van Jones, who appears to have his head permanently affixed up his butt.
Jones has lately been claiming that “we” (always love those self-appointed who claim to speak for the rest of us) never pressured President Obama enough, never protested enough, etc., etc.
Negative on that bullcrap, Van Jones! (Yours truly, alone, protested directly to the White House over a thousand times, in calls, letters, emails, and various protests.)
Jones also prattles on about cap-and-trade; either Jones is a complete idiot who still doesn’t comprehend that Wall Street scam, or he’s even more of a turncoat than he appears?
Whomever Jones really speaks for – Wall Street, the DLC, Jamie Dimon, etc., he speaks for very few Americans today!
Obama of the collateral death by drones!
Obama of torture and preemptive arrests of protesters!
Obama of the War on Whistleblowers!
Obama the silent on Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Florida (AND Honduras AND Bahrain)!
Obama who has kowtowed to the Wall Street banksters at every opportunity!
Obama and his attacks on due process and habeas corpus!
Obama who has continued to offshore America through more “free trade” agreements and the Trans-Pacific Partnership!
There is no “lesser” bullcrap anymore!
The most nauseating sight was to watch those “business union” members in Wisconsin cheer Bill Clinton – Clinton who did to Arkansas what Walker is doing to Wisconsin!
Union members my butt!
They wouldn’t know of the sacrifices of the McNamara brothers and Alexander Berkman; the Ludlow Massacre, the Haymarket Massacre or the many women who died so needlessly and horribly in textile sweatshop conflagrations in early 20th century America!
They wouldn’t know why National Guard armories were strategically positioned around the nation to violently respond to labor strikes!
Only the most ignorant, the most uneducated, or the most amoral, would ever refer to Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as democrats or progressives --- they are Wall Street stooges through and through.
Why vote for the lesser when we can vote for the best?
Dr. Jill Stein for president in 2012!
THINK . . . . and vote Green!
[Note to whiners who always bring up future Supreme Court choices – you might want to take a close look at Kagan’s and Sotomayor’s record since they’ve been on the bench --- your argument doesn't wash.]
16
"...a steep drop in gasoline prices (you know, everywhere but here)."
Actually there's been a huge drop here in recent days, down to $3.79 around the area (including Costco in Seattle).
Actually there's been a huge drop here in recent days, down to $3.79 around the area (including Costco in Seattle).
18
@12: So, I often feel that the MRI to check for a very rare tumor (acoustic neuroma) causing my tinnitus was unnecessary as they didn't find one, but given what you said do you think that "very rare" meets the bar for getting an MRI?
19
18, MRI scanners don't have any known bioeffects in and of themselves. The strong magnetic field can cause problems for people with metal implants, pace makers, metal specks that might have gotten into the eye of welders, metal workers, etc. Also some people may have problems with certain MR contrast agents that are sometimes injected into the patients.
The MR magnet causes your hydrogen protons to align, and then electromagnetic (radio) frequencies are used to make the protons move in another direction. When the radio signal is removed, the protons go back into their original alignment, releasing the radio signals that are picked up by a coil, which is basically an antenna, that is placed over the body part being examined. By varying the magnetic field, and the frequency timing, the MR computer can compile it's images.
While CT uses xray, a beyond microscopic wavelength, MR uses radio frequencies that are very large by comparison. MR frequencies do not create ions, or damage to the DNA strands.
The MR magnet causes your hydrogen protons to align, and then electromagnetic (radio) frequencies are used to make the protons move in another direction. When the radio signal is removed, the protons go back into their original alignment, releasing the radio signals that are picked up by a coil, which is basically an antenna, that is placed over the body part being examined. By varying the magnetic field, and the frequency timing, the MR computer can compile it's images.
While CT uses xray, a beyond microscopic wavelength, MR uses radio frequencies that are very large by comparison. MR frequencies do not create ions, or damage to the DNA strands.
20
I think that instead of MRI's or CT scans we should just cut into the patient and see what ails them! And we can let the evil spirits out at the same time (Thank you Dr McCoy for that last line)
21
As others have pointed out, the Fox News article on CT radiation exposure botched the math and inappropriately lumped MRI into the mix. MRI doesn't expose patients to ionizing radiation.
But I'm here because of the Stranger's Fukushima reference. Japan has a non-profit multi-payer health-care system that -- like the systems of all First World countries except us -- incorporates the key elements of single-payer. For example, the Japanese Ministry of Health monopsonistically negotiates the price of all medical services and products. One of these products is MRI scans, and they are dramatically cheaper in Japan than they are here. For example, as of a couple of years ago, a lumbar series that was routinely billed out at around $1500 in the US cost around $170 in Japan. (The Japanese Ministry of Health drives a ruthlessly hard bargain.) As a result, where we use risky, less accurate CT on patients because it's cheaper (here), the Japanese use safe, more accurate MRI. In fact they get five times as many MRIs per capita as we do, and less exposure to ionizing radiation ... for less money.
We don't use monopsonistic (single-agent / single-buyer) bargaining now and we still won't if and when Obamacare is fully implemented. In fact, Obamacare contains none of the key elements shared by the health-care systems of virtually every one of our peer countries. It's something to keep in mind when the Supreme Court's ruling on Obamacare comes down, whichever way it goes.
But I'm here because of the Stranger's Fukushima reference. Japan has a non-profit multi-payer health-care system that -- like the systems of all First World countries except us -- incorporates the key elements of single-payer. For example, the Japanese Ministry of Health monopsonistically negotiates the price of all medical services and products. One of these products is MRI scans, and they are dramatically cheaper in Japan than they are here. For example, as of a couple of years ago, a lumbar series that was routinely billed out at around $1500 in the US cost around $170 in Japan. (The Japanese Ministry of Health drives a ruthlessly hard bargain.) As a result, where we use risky, less accurate CT on patients because it's cheaper (here), the Japanese use safe, more accurate MRI. In fact they get five times as many MRIs per capita as we do, and less exposure to ionizing radiation ... for less money.
We don't use monopsonistic (single-agent / single-buyer) bargaining now and we still won't if and when Obamacare is fully implemented. In fact, Obamacare contains none of the key elements shared by the health-care systems of virtually every one of our peer countries. It's something to keep in mind when the Supreme Court's ruling on Obamacare comes down, whichever way it goes.
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