bmj.com: Ben Goldacre
March 1, 2010
bmj.com: Ben Goldacre
bmj.com: Just found this lovely response to The Bitch Doctor from Dr John Briffa on the BMJ website …….. it’s old but worth revisiting.
John P Briffa,
Doctor and health writer
Woolaston House,
25 Southwood Lane,
Highgate,
London
N6 5ED
| Dr Goldacre’s opinion piece [1] takes a broad swipe at media nutritionists by focusing on some silly thinking and the ‘pseudoscience’ that undoubtedly can sometimes be found in the area. The author takes particular exception to Gillian McKeith’s claim that chlorophyll is rich in oxygen and that eating plenty of it will help to oxygenate the blood. In respect to this, Dr Goldacre comments “as any 14 year old biology student could tell you, plants only make oxygen in light: it’s very dark in your bowel; and even if, to prove a point, you put a searchlight up your bottom, you probably wouldn’t absorb too much oxygen through the gut wall.” Fair enough, but I wonder how many of us (doctors included) have beliefs and, where relevant, employ clinical approaches that in their entirely would stand up to scrutiny. Take, for example, Dr Goldacre’s own suggestion to test the oxygen-producing capacity of chlorophyll in the gut by illuminating the large bowel: this hypothetical test, albeit tongue-in- cheek, is flawed because the process of digestion would render chlorophyll biologically inactive by the time it reaches the colon. On the face of it, some of Dr Goldacre’s own musings here might be regarded as nonsensical at those of McKeith. Dr Goldacre appears to give the impression that much what media nutritionists do is unvalidated mumbo-jumbo. Yet, many nutritionists do refer to the research and scientifically reference their work. The accusations of misinterpretation, cherry-picking, inappropriate extrapolation of data and conflict of interest can be made, but these can also be levelled at the medical and scientific establishments too: The widespread promotion of statins despite there being no evidence that these are effective in reducing mortality in the primary prevention setting is a case in point [2,3]. The area of nutrition is an emerging field, and thus many nutritionists will advocate approaches that may not have been formally studied, but do seem to be of broad benefit in practice. It seems that for Dr Goldacre such clinical experience does not count for much. Is he of the mind, then, that everything health professionals do be properly studied and validated before implementation. If that’s the case, we doctors should pack up and go home now: only 15 per cent of medical practice has been proven effective, and most of what we do is of unknown effectiveness, is unlikely to be beneficial, or has been shown to be positively harmful [4]. Dr Goldacre expresses his belief that nutritionists have deliberately over-complicated their approaches and adds, “Basic, uncomplicated dietary advice is effective and promotes health.” Given his attachment to scientific rigour, it seems appropriate to ask Dr Goldacre what evidence there is for this assertion. If anything, the evidence is to the contrary. For example, the perhaps most pervasive nutritional message that has sunk deep into the population’s psyche is certainly a simple one: that we should eat a diet low in fat and high in carbohydrate. And despite this easy-to-understand piece of advice, rates of chronic conditions such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes in the UK continue to soar. And the evidence for the ineffectiveness of low-fat eating is not merely anecdotal. Studies show that this oft-touted ‘healthy’ way of eating is, for instance, thoroughly ineffective for the purposes of weight loss in the long term [5,6]. It is perhaps worth bearing in mind that the ‘low-fat high-carb’ dictum is not generally popularised by media nutritionists, but instead by dieticians and the professional bodies to which they are affiliated, notably the British Dietetic Association (BDA). Other dietetic ‘gems’ that come from the dietetic establishment include the notion that plenty of calcium and dairy products in the diet are somehow ‘essential’ to bone health in children and adults [7-9], that artificial sweeteners are preferred to sugar for those seeking to lose weight (not one single randomised, placebo-controlled study assessing the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight is to be found in the scientific literature), that diabetics should make starchy carbohydrates a cornerstone of their diet (many of these release sugar relatively quickly into the bloodstream and tend to disrupt glycaemic control, and eating less of such foods has been shown to improve biochemical markers including those of glycaemic control) [10-17], and that taking dietary steps to reduce cholesterol saves lives [18]. I accept that media ‘nutritionists’ may get it wrong sometimes (myself included) and some make a tidy living from their efforts. But if Dr Goldacre’s cry is for more accountability in the area, I reckon he should put the spotlight of scrutiny less on media nutritionists, and more on dieticians and the BDA. References: 1. Goldacre B. Tell us the truth about nutritionists. BMJ 2007;334:292 2. Abramson J, Wright JM. Are lipid-lowering guidelines evidence- based? Lancet 2007;369:168-169 3. Jauca C, Wright JM. Therapuetics letter: update on statin therapy. Int Soc Drug Bull Newsletter. 2003;17:7-9 4. http://www.clinicalevidence.com/ceweb/about/knowledge.jsp 5. Pirozzo S, et al. Advice on low-fat diets for obesity. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD003640 6. Willett C, et al. Dietary fat is not a major determinant of body fat. Am J Med. 2002;113(9B):47S-59S 7. Lanou AJ, et al. Calcium, dairy products, and bone health in children and young adults: a reevaluation of the evidence. Pediatrics. 2005;115(3):736-43 8. Winzenberg T, et al. Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in healthy children: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ 2006;333:775-778 9. Feskanich D, et al. Calcium, vitamin D, milk consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003 77(2):504-511 10. Collier GR, et al. Low glycemic index starchy foods improve glucose control and lower serum cholesterol in diabetic children. Diabetes Nutr Metab 1988;1:11-19 11. Fontvieille AM, et al. A moderate switch from high to low glycemic-index foods for 3 weeks improves metabolic control of type I (IDDM) diabetic subjects. Diabetes Nutr Metab 1988;1:139-43 12. Jenkins DJ, et al. Low-glycemic-index starchy foods in the diabetic diet. Am J Clin Nutr 1988;48:248–54 13. Wolever TM, et al. Beneficial effect of a low glycaemic index diet in type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med 1992;9:451–8 14. Wolever TM, et al. Beneficial effect of low-glycemic index diet in overweight NIDDM subjects. Diabetes Care 1992;15:562–4 15. Brand JC, et al. Low-glycemic index foods improve long-term glycemic control in NIDDM. Diabetes Care 1991;14:95–101 16. Fontvieille AM, et al. The use of low glycaemic index foods improves metabolic control of diabetic patients over five weeks. Diabet Med 1992;9:444–50 17. Frost G, et al. Dietary advice based on the glycaemic index improves dietary profile and metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabet Med 1994;11:397–401 18. Studer M, et al. Effect of different antilipidemic agents and diets on mortality. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2005;165:725-730 19. Email communication (available on request) contact: john@drbriffa.com Competing interests: I am a private-practising doctor and health writer with a special interest in nutrition |
Ill. sheriff jailed on drug charges faces new allegations of murder for hire … – Los Angeles Times
January 3, 2010
Ill. sheriff jailed on drug charges faces new allegations of murder for hire … – Los Angeles Times
 KMOX.com |
Ill. sheriff jailed on drug charges faces new allegations of murder for hire …
Los Angeles Times By AP MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) — A southern Illinois sheriff already accused of selling marijuana, often while on duty, now faces charges of solicitation of murder for hire. Gallatin County Sheriff Raymond Martin was arrested Saturday at the Jackson … Sheriff's wife, son jailed in alleged murder-for-hire plot Gallatin sheriff and family charged with solicitation of murder Sheriff, Wife & Son Accused Of Murder For Hire Plot |
White House: Al-Qaida Threat Closes US Embassy in Yemen – Voice of America
 Telegraph.co.uk |
White House: Al-Qaida Threat Closes US Embassy in Yemen
Voice of America US President Barack Obama's top counter-terrorism advisor says a threat from an al-Qaida affiliate led to the closure of the American embassy in Yemen. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports this same group has been linked to the attempted Christmas Day bombing … Al-Qaida alert forces UK to close Yemen embassy No "smoking gun" before Christmas bombing plot: White House advisor Western embassies in Yemen shut down after al-Qaeda threatens attack |
Internet Marketing Resources You Can’t Live Without
September 28, 2009
In today’s post I wanted to provide some insight into the information sources I use on a regular basis to stay on top of what’s happening in Internet marketing.
I often get questions from my associates and like minded individuals in search of reliable information. There are a few resources that I like to use on a regular basis and describe each of them in this post.
If you want to stay on top of all aspects of online marketing, a good way to do so is via targeted media. The online marketing industry, specifically Internet marketing and Search Engine optimization have a variety of resources that can give you timely information. Some of my favorite are:
Media
Webmaster Radio is an Internet-based radio station that has really good programming that covers Pay Per Click maketing, to affiliate programs, to search engine optimization. Shows are hosted by experts in each niche like Danny Sullivan who covers search news to other ‘big names’ across the industry. A great feature is that you can listen throughout your day or simply download the podcasts for later listening on your ipod or listening device.
Wow… they have a lot of information and some great column writers that you are going to want to learn more about. WebProNews provides timely information on virtually every event. They have reporters writing constantly and have other scoring SEO blogs and other news sources, compiling the information in one place for easy access. They also have great articles by third-party writers and a very active readership that is proactive in their commenting. Definitely near the top of my go-to list when I’m looking for news and current feedback.
Search Engine Watch
When it comes to search, Search Engine Watch has been around since the beginning. SEW provides everything from search related articles to updated news stories related to what’s going on in search. Be sure to visit and bookmark this site.
Blogs
As with many industries – blogs are a great way to keep informed on the latest goings-on in the SEO realm. The trick, however, is figuring out which blogs are worth reading and which authors are truly knowledgeable. Over the years I’ve read many blogs and to be honest – I still do. Below are some of the key blogs I reference on a regular basis.
If you’re reading this post than obviously you’ve found The Marketing Blog. Although I have experience with everything from Advertising to Trade Shows, my passion is Internet marketing. Here you’ll find all you need to know about Internet marketing, SEO, PPC, and much more.
If you haven’t heard of Matt, you will. He’s one of the most outspoken Google associates – attending SEO conferences and speaking about the Google Algorithm. Officially, Matt Cutts is the head of Google’s Webspam team. His blog covers Google, technology, and some personal posts. Even though he doesn’t give away the farm, Matt does reveal some great insights into Google search.
SEO expert Rand Fishkin provide research, news and SEO tips on a regular basis. From op-eds to SEO whitepapers the SEOmoz Blog provides useful information and even has a great feature called Whiteboard Friday’s where you can get some great SEO advice.
Forums
Forums are a great place to tap into industry experts and get questions answered quickly and easily. I was a little fearful of using forums in the past but have found them to be one of my most valuable assets for Internet marketing and SEO. The other great thing about forums is that once you build up expertise in a certain area, you can share what you know with those just starting out.
The Internet Marketing Forum
This forum is my latest project and is set to be released from Beta in the next 30 days. The beauty of this forum is that it was created by my marketing team in search of answers to their most difficult questions and from readers like you with questions and the need for expert advice. Registration costs nothing and gives you access to some of the best Marketing, Internet marketing, SEO, and PPC experts around. If you’re not already an inaugural member, sign up today.
The SEO chat forums are really the most popular of SEO forums out there. Each covers a broad set of topics from Google to Social Media.
DigitalPoint has been around for a while and again covers many of the same topics as found in the Internet marketing forum and SEO Chat Forums. Some users well known but overall the forum serves as a good place to ask questions and get them answered.
Newsletters & Other Resources
In addition to the above mentioned resources, other resources that are helpful in the area of SEO include:
Google Webmaster Tools And Guidelines
If you’re not already familiar with Google Webmaster Tools and Guidelines, than I suggest you check it out. Not only are the webmaster tools essential for uploading your sitemap to Google and getting noticed, but the guidelines are helpful for knowing best practices.
Not being a fan of newsletter in general, I rarely read them. However, I have found this newsletter to be helpful when trying to stay on top of changes in SEO and more importantly, accessing real case studies associated with Internet marketing. In short, it provides great advice and helps you stay on top of search marketing.
Conclusion
There are literally thousands of resources online for marketing, Internet marketing, and SEO. The resources I mention above are just a few that I use to stay on top of my game. The key is to always be on the lookout for new and valuable resources that you can learn from. Internet marketing is continually evolving – so should you.
Source: http://marketing-expert.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-todays-post-i-wanted-to-provide-some.html
Rejecta Mathematica: Caveat Emptor
August 25, 2009
Rejecta Mathematica: Caveat Emptor
Rejecta Mathematica is a real open access online journal publishing only papers that have been rejected from peer-reviewed journals in the mathematical sciences.
- “mapping the blind alleys of science”: papers containing negative results can warn others against futile directions;
- “reinventing the wheel”: papers accidentally rederiving a known result may contain new insight or ideas;
- “squaring the circle”: papers discovered to contain a serious technical flaw may nevertheless contain information or ideas of interest;
- “applications of cold fusion”: papers based on a controversial premise may contain ideas applicable in more traditional settings;
- “misunderstood genius”: other papers may simply have no natural home among existing journals.
Rejecta Mathematica publishes two types of papers: research articles and correspondences. The screening process for publishing research articles in Rejecta Mathematica includes no technical peer review (hence the slogan Caveat Emptor); rather, papers are selected on the basis of their potential interest to researchers in the mathematical sciences.
Other Rejecta journals may follow (in disciplines outside the mathematical sciences). Please
contact us if you are interested in starting your own Rejecta franchise.
Watch UFC 101 Live Stream Online free!
August 13, 2009
Watch UFC 101 Live Stream Online free!
Where to watch UFC 101 Live Stream free? Can you watch ufc 101 live stream online for free? Is it possible for UFC 101 streaming without any cost? Yes, the internet has everything.
Here enjoy– UFC 101 Live Stream!
Mass. Cardinal ends Caritas link to insurer – Charleston Daily Mail
June 27, 2009
Mass. Cardinal ends Caritas link to insurer – Charleston Daily Mail
BOSTON (AP) – Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley has ended a joint venture between a hospital system founded by the archdiocese and a Missouri-based health insurer, fearing it linked Catholic hospitals too closely to abortion providers. O’Malley has been criticized for allowing Caritas Christi Health
Mormon-affiliated Brigham Young University lifts YouTube blockade, citing educational benefits – Minneapolis Star Tribune
PROVO, Utah – Brigham Young University, the Mormon church school where students agree to live a chaste and virtuous life, has lifted its almost three-year policy of blocking access to YouTube. Administrators lifted the ban on Friday, citing an increasing amount of educational material on the popular
Jesse Jackson: Family calls for independent autopsy on King of Pop – Detroit News
LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson’s family wants an independent autopsy to determine the cause of the King of Pop’s death, The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday. The family told Jesse Jackson about its wishes while he spent time with them during the past two days, the reverend said in an interview with
UFC 99 Live Stream!
June 21, 2009
UFC 99 Live Stream
Watch UFC 99 live streaming
UFC 99: Franklin vs Silva
Watch UFC 99 live stream online
UFC 99 Live Stream
UFC 99: The Comeback
Improve Your Web site Traffic
June 14, 2009
Improve Your Web site Traffic
A question I’ve been getting recently is how to improve web site traffic. There are a few techniques that I use on a regular basis to improve site traffic. These techniques have helped me to drive traffic to specific sites, promotions, or affiliate products that I’ve sold from time to time.
Tip #1: Start to build a list. Whether you build a list by offering a free download on your website or by using inexpensive PPC advertising, having your own list allows you to encourage users to visit your site again and again. Over time, this can be one of your best traffic generators.
Tip #2: Make it easy to bookmark your site. Include a bookmark button at the very top of your web page. Doing so gives individuals easy access to your site and the content that you offer. You want it to be easy to find your site whenever someone is seeking the information you provide.
Tip #3: Include an RSS feed on your site. When individuals sign up for an RSS feed, they receive updates on a regular basis. This keeps your site and your information in front of them again and again. Don’t underestimate the power of repetition.
Tip #4: Offer original content on your site. Author original content and post it on your site. Doing so results in a higher ranking on search engine results. It also attracts new users to your web site.
These tips seem pretty basic but they build upon one another. Over time you will attract a loyal following and more visitors. My main website now sees more than 100,000 visitors each month and it all started with orginal content that is easy to find, bookmark, and receive with an RSS feed.
Best
-Michael
After delay, Kemp powers Dodgers – MLB.com
June 13, 2009
After delay, Kemp powers Dodgers – MLB.com After delay, Kemp powers Dodgers
MiamiHerald.com
MLB.com
By Daniel Paulling / MLB.com ARLINGTON — The hitters must have needed the lights Saturday because they weren't hitting much before they were fixed.
Kemp's homer lifts Dodgers over Rangers
Dodgers avoid first 3-game losing streak
Thousands expected at today's LA Pride parade – Los Angeles Times Thousands expected at today's LA Pride parade
NECN
Los Angeles Times
The focus of the gay and lesbian celebration is expected to be on healthcare issues and same-sex marriage. Thousands are expected to converge in West Hollywood today for the annual LA Pride parade, a celebration of the gay and lesbian community.
Pride and remembrance
Thousands gather for jubilant Pride Parade
Shuttle Endeavour grounded by hydrogen leak – CNET News Shuttle Endeavour grounded by hydrogen leak
ABC News
CNET News
by William Harwood Launch of the shuttle Endeavour, grounded by a gaseous hydrogen leak during fueling Saturday, is off until Wednesday at the earliest, NASA officials say.
Video: Hydrogen Leak Forces NASA to Scrub Launch
Week in Apple: WWDC mania! iPhone 3G S, Snow Leopard, Safari 4, more – Ars Technica
June 13, 2009
Week in Apple: WWDC mania! iPhone 3G S, Snow Leopard, Safari 4, more – Ars Technica Week in Apple: WWDC mania! iPhone 3G S, Snow Leopard, Safari 4, more
BBC News
Ars Technica
Unsurprisingly, this week's top Apple news was full of announcements out of the WWDC '09 keynote. Updated MacBook Pros, the iPhone 3G S, Safari 4's final release, and AT&T speaking about tethering were all part of the fun.
New ARM chips headed for iPhone, Palm Pre?
Everything New Is Old Again
Chinese Regime's 'Anti-Pornography' Software Targets Falun Gong – The Epoch Times Chinese Regime's 'Anti-Pornography' Software Targets Falun Gong
The Money Times
The Epoch Times
By Epoch Times Staff Jun 13, 2009 The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has ordered that all computers purchased in China after July 1 have a new internet filtering software pre-installed that the regime says targets pornography …
Say No to Censorship
Internet filtering firm says Chinese stole code
New groups takes credit for Pakistan blast – United Press International New groups takes credit for Pakistan blast
Times Online
United Press International
PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 11 (UPI) — A formerly unheard of al-Qaida affiliate claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Pakistan, saying more were pending.
3 killed in NW Pakistan blasts
UN vows to stay in NW Pakistan despite deadly attack
