There’s been a lot in the news lately about the goings on across the pond in England’s East Anglia University’s Climate Research Unit. They’ve tried to shut down debate. Now, it turns out that they dumped the base temperature date when they moved in the 1980’s because it was too inconvenient to take with them. The East Anglia CRU has been the big proponent of the “OMFG the earth will heat up and kill us all” bullcrap. What were they trying to hide? Can we finally move on from all of this global warming nonsense?

I flourish when I’m busy. I work well under pressure. But everyone has a saturation point.

Imagine this: the day after Thanksgiving; that fateful Black Friday that I’ve been all too delighted to avoid, the boys are still asleep. I awake early to shower, get dressed, put on a pot of coffee and start cleaning and organizing my “lived-in” home after two weeks of neglect. Marley & Me is on in the background and I compare similarities in my life-as-stay-at-home-mom-with-crazy-dog to the more than realistic illustration in the film. The dishes are being cleaned to a blinding shine in the dishwasher; the rug is vacuumed; our Black Lab, Pete, is outside, most likely howling at squirrels; and inside, a place for everything and everything in its place.

I light a candle to fill the home with the delicious artificial scents of the holiday season, slump into the couch with my favorite Country Living magazine, and wait for my guests to arrive.

In the real world, the candle is about the only thing that went right…

Michael wakes up at 7:30. OK, I’ll put off a shower and get him settled.

“Mooommmy!” Steve is up. Michael down, but now to make oatmeal. Instant, of course.

“Mommy, oatmeal and eggs?” OK, here come scrambies. I start to heat up the skillet. I lit the candle in the living room just in case my house did smell terrible (you can never tell if your own house has a ’smell’) and my guests would at least have a pleasant fragrance when I opened the door.

I go to change clothes so as not to answer the door in pjs. BEEP! Oatmeal is ready. Oh yeah, the eggs. I crack two eggs, add some milk, start to scram– “Mommy, milk please!” ok, milk is on the way.

Up to change clothes…What’s that smell? Oh yeah, the skillet. I go back downstairs to the kitchen to finish the eggs.

“Mommy, can I open the door?” “No, stay inside.” But he’s pointing to the microwave. I forgot the oatmeal in the micro. OK, done. Steve has oatmeal, eggs and I’m on my way up to…

DING DONG.

Crap.

I’m organizing a massive Christmas program at church, complete with holiday bazaar. Back in September and October, before the baby came, I called out to everyone I knew for craft show help and donations. My friend put me in touch with her friend, who was more than willing to donate a few knit scarf creations. I was soon to find out she’s a professional knitter and even teaches classes at JoAnn’s!

Now, a week before the show, she was in the neighborhood, returning from Thanksgiving with her family, and was coming to drop off the items she had made for the show.

I wanted to invite her in, have a seat on the sofa, offer some coffee, chitchat, visit, get to know this fantastic crochet artist, give a big thank you and continue with my delightfully organized day…

I open the door. Pete nearly tramples the talented knitter and her husband before they even enter the house. Welcome! Wow! Thank you!

Introductions pass (I’m thinking, OMG I’m still in my pajamas…pretend like everything is OK).

The scarves look fantastic, BTW.

Pete starts sniffing out the new visitors. (I’m thinking, GREAT. I should have taken him outside.) They say they have bunnies… he must smell the bunnies.

Just when I’m about to offer a seat and coffee, I hear, “Omigosh, he’s peeing!”

(Omigosh, I’m dying inside. How did I lose control of this situation?!)

Steve is now standing in his chair, oatmeal and scrambies in his hair, “Mommy, Pete spilled.”

And he’s still peeing. On the rug near the sofa, “Pete no!” then all along his mad and shameful dash into the kitchen, and piddly zigzag line seeping into my unpolished wood floor. But it didn’t stop there. Oh no, he continued to leave steaming puddles all over the kitchen.

As I bury my head in my hands, trying to convince myself this isn’t happening, nervous laughter trying to cover my embarrassment, I hear another gasp from my guests.

Yes, Peter came back to drink what he spilled. He began licking his trail of my worst nightmare.

I tried to force some pleasant conversation but our little visit was violently severed by my zoo of a home. As they left laughing about the situation, I plopped into the couch, Steve still alerting me of the catastrophe, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Pete spilled!”

I needed just a few moments to myself to let reality sink in. Marley & Me was a sign. It was a window into my morning and the madness that was to pass. I took Pete outside and considered renaming him “Marley, World’s Worst Dog.”

Finally, its official: Black Friday morning 2009 has taken its place as my No. 1 Most Embarrassing Moment.

Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.

It’s official. I’ve become MOM. Yep, not just a twentysomething mom, but an all out MOM. It’s been a long time since I’ve written about life in the world of young parenthood, but now’s the time to start up again. In the past few months, I’ve left my Great American corporate job-with-benefits to stay home and spend time with the children.

What, you say? ChildREN? Yessir. More than one. We welcomed baby boy #2 into the world in October, the day after my birthday. Happy Birthday to us!

But why the sudden reality check of mothering? Because, my friends, Black Friday is tomorrow and I’ve actually SERIOUSLY considered participating.

Considered, and cringed. Am I really a Black Friday shopper? Not yet… but probably next year. The thought of lining up outside Khol’s or JC Penny at 4am is not my cup of tea. The madness, the competition, but Oh, the great deals!

Black Friday makes so much sense…cents? Gifts, wants and necessities, all a mere fraction of the regular price. So much money to be saved! And then to think about all the holiday shopping getting done in one fell swoop… oh, what a dream.

It seems like it’s just the best way to save and splurge all at once. Even Canadians look forward to a Black Friday. I learned this evening from a friend from up north that Canadian Boxing Day is just like our Black Friday… get it? BOXing Day. Where you pack everything up in BOXes. I always thought it was something about the sport of boxing. As a child, whenever I saw “Boxing Day (Canada)” on my calendar, an image of Joe Luis popped in my head.

But I digress…

I’m also slowly but surely shopping for a new family vehicle. How nice to have a brand new crossover, I think to myself. The new station wagons are oh so hot and sleek and trendy and not at all like the soccer mom minivan.

But now that I’m home all the time, a Reverend’s budget for a family of four doesn’t allow for such luxuries. So I look to used cars… and what do I find in searches for our budget, taking into consideration two car seats, a massive dog, and at times, a cello all riding in the same vehicle? You got it: a minivan.

GAG. Am I REALLY a minivan driver? I mean, they are beyond affordable, spacious and safe. They make SO much sense!…just like Black Friday. See where I’m going?

 The minivan is a great invention for the middle American family. But me? With sliding doors? Sliding doors?!

Then it dawned on me. OMG. Will that be me next year? In line at Khol’s at 3:30am drinking coffee in the warmth of my Freestar as I prepare to stock it full of Black Friday spoils for my childREN?

Yes, my friends. And surprisingly, I’m ok with it. Mostly. I can’t keep running from the truth. I’m just a few short years away from being a full-fledged soccer mom. In in those years, I’ll enjoy the journey of adding to the stereotype piece-by-piece. What comes after a minivan and Black Friday shopping?

Probably getting a crock pot and organizing craft shows…(check, and check!)

Buenos días, amigos de la parafernalia.

Hoy vamos a tratar un tema que bien podría escribirse en el Sábado Iracundo de nuestro amigo Repelux, y es que os voy a hablar sobre las mayores putadas videojueguiles por las que me he encontrado.

Street of Rage: Recuerdo estar jugando de pequeño a este juego en la Mega Drive de un amigo mío cuando llegamos al malo final. La tensión no podía ser mayor: mis padres estaban abajo en el coche para recogerme y nos faltaba la última lucha. Entablamos una conversación con el tío feo en perfecto inglés y nos pregunta si queremos ser su mano derecha. Mis padres vuelven a llamar al telefonillo y yo les digo que esperen un poquito. Sin tener ni papa de lo que respondíamos, creo que uno puso que sí y otro que no, o no sé, pero el caso es que se abrieron unas trampillas y caímos otra vez en la stage 6, quedándonos con las ganas de ahostiarnos con el jefe final.

Prince of Persia: Warrior Within: Teniendo ya mis 2 o 3 horitas de juego a mis espaldas, un buen día cargo mi partida y me encuentro con que mi personaje no es el príncipe, si no un bicho muy raro. Todos sabemos (y el que no lo sepa se va a enterar ahora) que durante la historia vemos cómo nuestro protagonista se ve forzado a ponerse la máscara espectral, convirtiéndose en el Espectro de arena. Bien, pues un precioso bug hizo que apareciese antes este extraño personaje, obligándome a comenzar de nuevo.

Final Fantasy III: Estaba yo felizmente jugando a este título en mi delicada NDS y me encontraba cerca del final del juego. Tengo que decir que empecé a jugar cuando dejé en casa a la novia y no paré hasta que llegué a mi hogar (en transporte público se tardaba una hora y 20 minutos aproximadamente), y durante todo el trayecto mis personajes estuvieron pululando dentro de una enooorme cueva. Al no estar al aire libre, no podía guardar la partida así que no tenía más cojones que seguir para adelante. Al cabo de todo el tiempo ya mencionado me encuentro con la puerta de salida. “Me cago en la puta, ya era hora. Estoy hasta la polla de este puto juego y tengo ganas de cenar”, dije para mis adentros pero, en vez de salir al exterior vi un enemigo y pensé: “bueno, un combate más y salgo”. En qué hora, amigos mios. El bicho de la cueva me mató a todos los personajes y tuve que cargar desde el principio, es decir, antes de que entrase a la puta cueva. Se me quitaron las ganas de volver a jugar y, por si fuera poco, ocurrió la siguiente putada que me impidió que volviese a intentarlo.

Pérdida de R4: Estando en el autobús número 422 (Valdemoro – Madrid), me proponía a jugar a un juego de la saga Phoenix Wright (si mal no recuerdo) con la parienta. Por aquel entonces tenía mi primera NDS y los que la vieron podrán coincidir conmigo en que estaba hecha una puta mierda. Comenzaba a fallar la pantalla de arriba y apenas se podía jugar. Debido a este problema, siempre sacaba mi R4 y lo metía en la NDS sandwichera de la novia. No sé en qué momento ocurrió, pero durante uno de esos intercambios cartucheros, se me cayó al suelo y lo perdí para siempre, así como la posibilidad de continuar con el Final Fantasy III y el resto de copias de seguridad.

Half Life 2: Hace unos años, mi colega Kurras Bill me regaló el HL2 original. Me hizo tanta ilusión que le di las gracias y todo. El caso es que cuando voy a instalarlo, el simpático de mi ordenador me informa que existe un error al leer el disco. Tras intentarlo mil veces y toparme con otras tantas negativas, decidí buscar por internet mi problema (el que tenía con el juego, me refiero). Descubrí que el DVD estaba defectuoso y que daba vueltas de más en el lector, haciendo imposible su lectura. Tardé meses en darme cuenta de que si ponía el código que me venía en el juego, podía descargármelo desde Steam XD.

Seguro que a vosotros nunca os han pasado cosas de estas, ¿verdad? ¡Demostradme que me equivoco!

PD: Un saludete.

Man, I am out of it. Just got home after many hours of driving in bumper to bumper traffic–in the freakin’ rain! We lost count of the number of accidents between here and Staten Island.

Anyway, glad to be home. Getting to bed early tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be working from 9:30am-10:00pm (maybe longer). Yay me! But on the upside, should return home with a nice wad of cash. Then back in on (Black )Friday morning til whenever, then off for a few days.

Weird thing happened over on Facebook; I logged in this morning and reset my privacy settings, opening up to ‘my networks and friends’. I decided to unblock the last few people I had blocked on there, including Peter, thinking he had me blocked anyway, so why would it matter if I blocked him…lol Just rereading that made me feel like I was back in Jr. high school. Do we really have to resort to blocking each other out? How funny and sad that is.

Anyway, then I saw he had posted on a mutual friends link and couldn’t figure out why I’d be seeing him if he blocked me. Then I remembered why I blocked him in the first place; so I wouldn’t have to see him posting alongside me, or anywhere, for that matter. And also, so I wouldn’t have to look at his face. It’s a strangers face to me now. A total mystery man. Funny that.

So I went to re-block him, only FB wouldn’t let me. Said I had to wait 48 hours.

Guess now I’ll have to avoid FB for a couple of days

Well, I had two videos in the queue for publishing tonight, but one of them was a partial when I checked it, so it looks like just one going out.

  This past week I’ve really felt the effects of stress crashing in on me. My positive, fun, demeanor on the outside is really hiding some pretty rotten feelings on the inside.  If I took inventory of the bad  this morning, I would have guessed my spiritual tank was empty. Then God helped me to see ”empty” wasn’t the case!  One morning in Orchard kids gave me the spiritual fill up I needed to get me to the next step.

 I have been wrestling with the effects of stress for some time now. It’s not one particular job. It’s the rushing between the two. Yet being a Single Mom I have to support my child, so if it takes two jobs then I have to do it. It’s not Gabe’s two sports it’s the preparing and running to the practices and games. He is excelling at both and they keep him happy in a time in his life where he is feeling a lot of sorrow. So I need to suck it up and make it happen for him.  It’s also not just the worrying about Gabe’s sadness he’s experiencing it’s how to snap him out of it. I’m trying to determine at what point do I say ENOUGH!  I can’t change the sucky situation he needs to just move on in his life and say “lesson learned!” 

 The combination of everything together has caused me to gain about 20 lbs, some grey hair, and bring on a few health issues.  So the empty spiritual tank was another straw that was breaking the camels back! I had been praying and God has brought a few wonderful people into my life that are praying for Gabe and I too. Now any normal person who knows God’s power and love would have taken those signs and stopped worrying. Yet me being who I am didn’t stop and now look at me. I don’t even recognize myself sometimes!

  So I was putting thought into a plan of action. (See I’m still not listening to God at this point) I was going to cut back on a few things I had going on in my life. I was going to have Gabe drop one of his sports and I was going to focus on getting  my health back. One of the things I was going to do was take about 6 months off from teaching at The Orchard. (DONT PANIC ORCHARD FAMILY GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN)

 My reason for contemplating was I felt I had nothing to give. At my day job the accolades don’t come easy. I can get through my day with all the children effortlessly. I make it look simple. So simple, the parents barely notice. Now at my 2nd job the accolades come daily. So that makes it easier to get through my work week. On my Orchard teaching Sundays it’s always a wonderful experience yet I had been feeling as if I wasn’t in the right spiritual state of mind to continue teaching.

  So this weekend I prayed and I psyched myself up and Gabe to teach. This was going to determine if I needed time to refill my tank. (I was silly I thought it would take months) So Saturday night’s service was fun! The kids and the vibe but not the sign I was looking for. Then Sunday came both services were filled with lots of children eager to hear how Jesus loved them! Gabe was on top of his game being a friend and encourager to the children I thought “well there you go that’s the sign.” God figured I needed a clearer picture.

 Second service was about to start one of the Mother’s came with her child. He was used to his siblings accompanying him to his room. They were older and opted to go in the school age room. He was very sad. His Mom wanted him to stay so she could go to service but, wanted him to be comfortable staying on his own. This child very rarely smiles or goes willingly to a teacher without his siblings.  The second I spoke to him we connected.

  I asked him if he wanted to play or stay and hold my hand till he felt better. The little boy came to me and let me hold his hand. I got down to his eye level to talk and he hugged me. It was one of those “Hey this is God sending you a hug kind of hugs.” So I promised him he could hold my hand the whole time. I asked him to wave  goodbye to Mom so she could have fun in her service. He smiled and waved and said goodbye. Then he turned and hugged me again. Mom left and the little boy had a wonderful time in class learning about The Garden of Eden. Now the majority of the time he stayed by my side and held my hand.

  When Mom came to get the little boy she said “I just want you to know you moved me to tears.“  I stopped for a second because I  was completely surprised!  Then she said “You showed me how kind your heart was with my Son and it meant so much to me.” Then she hugged me. WOW!  That was a very special moment for me! I kept thinking I was running on empty and the simplest act led to such gratitude! I was just doing my job by coaxing the child into the room. Yet the Mom saw it as a wonderful act of kindness.

 It made me realize I wasn’t as empty as I thought! I don’t need 6 months off from teaching at Church! What was I thinking! I need to keep showing those children that they lift me! They are a part of filling my spiritual tank!

  Now, after I left church I was so filled with God’s love I thought man I am back on track! Then a few things came into play that just sucked all that good feeling right out of my sails!  You have no idea how badly I wanted to forget I was saved. Then I felt the presence of God. He comforted me and gently reminded me that he is going to handle it. So I have nothing to worry about.  Even if right at this moment I feel like a great big hot mess! I am blessed because God is helping to fill my spiritual tank!

Wer mich persönlich kennt, hat es vielleicht schon mal gehört. Wer noch nicht das Vergnügen hatte, der weiß dann vielleicht eines schönen Tages, was ich meine. Manchmal zitiere ich nämlich den schönsten gelben Mann, den Springfield je hervorbrachte mit einem lauten, schrillen “Nein”!   Wisst Ihr Bescheid… *grunz*

Ich persönlich finde übrigens auch Homers deutsches ‘Nein’ schöner als das amerikanische ‘Doh’.

Lately, I realized that I can’t call my peers “men” and “women”. To do so would indicate that I, too, am a grown woman, and I categorically refuse to grow up. So there.

APPG on ME: Agenda meeting 2 December 2009

Shortlink: http://wp.me/p5foE-2pq

The APPG on ME maintains a website here: http://www.appgme.org.uk

Agenda APPG for ME 2 Dec 2009

APPG agenda 02/12/2009

19 December 2009

The next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on M.E. will be held 3.15-4.45pm, Wednesday 2 December 2009 in Committee Room 15, House of Commons.

1. Welcome by the Chairman

2. APPG Report on the Inquiry into NHS Services

3. Speaker: Mike O’Brien MP, Minister of State for Health Services

4. Minutes of the last meeting

5. Matters arising

- APPG legacy paper (in preparation for the General Election)

- New research: murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV)

- Accessibility of venues for future meetings

6. Welfare update

- Employment and Support Allowance

- Welfare Reform Bill

7. Any other business

8. Date of next meeting

Entrenched stereotypical behaviour

It seems that, like most other men, I have no idea where anything belongs or how anything works in the house.  A normal scenario goes something like this:

‘Where’s my brain?’ I call out to my wife with increasing frustration.

‘Have you looked in the cupboard’, she responds.

‘Which cupboard?  Do you mean the one in the hallway?  I ask her.

‘That’s not a cupboard!’  Her voice is raised and I can hear her approaching fast.  Frantically, I start haphazardly opening drawers, removing boxes and looking under nearby furniture in vain.  By the time I look up again she is already standing over me with her arms crossed.

‘What are you doing?  It’s there…..right where you left it.  You’ve just forgotten to turn it on again’. 

I pause for a moment……what was I looking for?

Two responses around XMRV: Prof Simon Wessely; Dept of Health

Shortlink: http://wp.me/p5foE-2mS

Two users of the Whittemore Peterson Institute Facebook site have kindly given permission for the following responses to be reproduced here, on ME agenda.

Update: The response from Professor Simon Wessely following an enquiry by a member of the public has been removed since permission for publication and the terms under which Professor Wessely’s response might be republished had not been discussed.  A copy of the response was also published by me via Co-Cure together with the response from the Department of Health.  This is also being removed.

——————-

Whittemore Peterson Institute on Facebook

Heath reported on 12 November that he wrote to the Department of Health.  The DoH response was:

Thank you for your email of 28 October to the Department of Health about xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME).

The Department of Health agrees with the World Health Organization’s classification of CFS/ME as a neurological condition of unknown cause. The Department also agrees that CFS/ME is a genuine and disabling illness and can have a profound effect on those living with the condition. That is why research breakthroughs such as the one outlined in your email, are so important to developing the knowledge base.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guidelines are updated as needed so that recommendations take into account important new evidence. However, as I hope you will appreciate, as NICE is an independent body, the time-frame for revising guidance and the evidence it uses are matters entirely for NICE. You may therefore wish to raise this issue directly with NICE’s Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon, at the following address:

NICE
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6NA

I think it also helpful to emphasise that NICE clinical guidelines are just that – guidelines for healthcare professionals use in conjunction with their clinical judgement and based on an individual assessment of each patient’s needs. The guideline recognises that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient and it does not force patients into treatments they do not want.

The guideline emphasises a collaborative relationship between clinician and patient, that treatment and care should take into account personal needs and preferences, and that healthcare professionals should recognise that the person with CFS/ME is in charge of the aims of the treatment programme.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a rehabilitative approach designed to modify the way patients think and behave about their illness and so improve physical symptoms. In common with other illnesses and conditions where it has been successfully used such as chronic pain, cancer, heart disease and diabetes, its use does not imply that the cause of the illness is psychological.

The Department feels that it is not helpful to differentiate between biomedical and psychosocial treatments as, based on clinical evidence that is currently available, patients are best served by a holistic approach.

You also comment on the paucity of bio-medical research. I know that many of the Department’s stakeholders see biomedical research as the key to developing new treatments and the Department appreciates the concern about a lack of biomedical research in this area.

As you may know, the main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is wholly independent in its choice of which research to support and it does not generally earmark funds for particular topics. It maintains a rigorous decision making process and only funds research that is likely to make a significant contribution to knowledge and is a good use of taxpayers’ money. Decisions to support proposals are taken on the grounds of scientific quality and whether the research proposed would be likely to inform the knowledge base. There is certainly no bias, and the Department knows that the MRC remains committed to funding scientific research in all aspects of CFS/ME.

The Department understands that the MRC continues to attract a small number of proposals for biomedical research. The problem is that there appears to be a shortage of good and innovative ideas within the scientific community itself. This is something the Department knows that the CFS/ME community and the MRC are aware of, and the MRC have endeavoured to address this by engaging with patient groups to encourage high quality research proposals. The MRC continues to acknowledge the importance of research into CFS/ME, and it is difficult to see what more the MRC could do without lowering the quality threshold.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Priya Bassan
Department of Health

Related information:

Source: ME Research UK

http://www.meresearch.org.uk/information/publications/casetoanswer.html

The Medical Research Council: a case to answer?

[...]

CFS/ME projects currently funded by the MRC
(Sources: MRC website; Hansard, written answers)

•Two large clinical trials of new approaches to treating CFS/ME:
          PACE (Pacing, Activity and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: a Randomised Evaluation, £2,076,363) [Prof. PD White, Psychological Medicine, Queen Mary and Westfield College]
          FINE (Fatigue Intervention by Nurses Evaluation, £824,129) [Dr AJ Wearden, Psychological Science, Uni. of Manchester]

•A preliminary epidemiological project to test the feasibility of identifying the risk factors for persistent symptoms of fatigue and abdominal and widespread pain (£118,263) [Prof. F Creed, Psychological Medicine, University of Manchester]

•An epidemiological study to assess ethnic variations of the prevalence of a CFS-like illness, associations with potential risk factors, and coping behaviours (£162,145) [Prof. K Bhui, Cultural Psychiatry and Epidemiolgy, Queen Mary and Westfield College]

•Indirect support through a trial exploring the management of patients with persistent unexplained symptoms [Specifics unknown]

•One project was mentioned in Hansard (12th June 2008) but is not on the MRC website: General and specific risk markers and preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndromes (£367,000) [Dr C Clark, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London School of Medicine]

 

Table. Unfunded applications to the MRC between 2002 and 2008

Time-frame   (number of applications)   CFS/ME subject area

2002 to 2005 (11 total) Neurophysiology of fatigue; Population-based/epidemiological studies (4 applications); Neurotransmitters and stress; Neuroimaging; Clinical and laboratory characterisation physiology/diagnosis); Dietary intervention — RCT; Facilitated self-help — RCT; Psychosocial and genetic factors in young people

2005 to 2006 (12 total) Pathophysiology, including studies regarding genetics/biomarkers, immunology and neuroimaging (7 applications); Population-based/epidemiological studies (3); Primary care study; Experimental medicine study

2006 to April 2007 (7 total) Cognitive outcomes in children — pathophysiology; Epidemiological studies — epidemiology; Biomarkers; Pathophysiology (2 applications); Molecular pathogenesis — pathophysiology; Molecular and genetic characterisation — pathophysiology; Neuroimaging — pathophysiology

May 2007 to June 2008 (3 total) Biomarkers — pathophysiology; Management and treatment — intervention; Management and treatment — observational study

DoH investigates anomalous flu test equipment

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:04:00 11/09/2009

Filed Under: Health, Government offices & agencies

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Health (DoH) disclosed that the allegedly anomalous flu-testing machine deal exposed by a labor group this weekend is already being investigated by the agency since August.

Health secretary Francisco Duque III said the agency’s Integrity Development Committee (IDC) is investigating all officials and personnel of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), including its director Dr. Remigio Olveda, who were involved in the procurement of the said flu-testing machines.

Flu-testing machines are used by the RITM and three other laboratories to confirm suspected A(H1N1) or swine flu cases.

“The DoH has already started its investigation as early as August when the Filipino-owned firm Macare complained about it. It is now being investigated by IDC,” Duque said.

“Because it has autonomy to transact financially, RITM and its officials went on with this business deal all by themselves. With the DoH-IDC on board investigating them now, I am positive that we will soon know all the details behind this,” Duque said.

Duque said that if found guilty, RITM officials will face suspension, dismissal or whatever forms of punishment the IDC deems fit.

Dr. Carol Taiño, IDC head, told INQUIRER.net , that the probe involves the procurement six units of flu-testing machines via a negotiated bidding.

The contract was awarded to Roche Philippines that offer to provide four flu-testing machines for P2.9 million but later downgraded its bid to P2.39 million; and Macare that tendered a bid of P2.4 million for two machines, she said.

Two weeks after the purchase order was received by the providers, the flu-testing machines were delivered to RITM, said Rey Calzado, who led the IDC fact-finding and investigation team.

“We are collating all documents and facts during this initial investigation and we aim to have this case resolved by December. As of today (Tuesday), we have received the reply of RITM on the case and we await the statements of the two bidders,” said Calzado.

Calzado said Macare made a complaint before the DoH IDC early on August citing overpricing and being a 100 percent foreign-owned firm as a reason to disqualify Roche Philippines for the award.

Desde ontem eu estava vigiando esse contador, pra ver ele chegar a 10.000 pessoas!!! E ELE CHEGOU!!! Obrigado! Sempre quis ver aquele contador chegar a esse número!

Ok… A partir de dezembro, vamos tentar fazer no mesmo tempo o AI” tambem alcançar 10.000 pessoas (ou mais, tomara).

Tchau!

Report from the Ministerial Summit on Dementia Research November, 2009, International Longevity Centre UK

Click on the title above to access the full-text

Abstract:

One of the commitments made in the National Dementia Strategy was to hold a Ministerial Summit on Dementia Research. This took place on 21 July 2009. The independent report of the event is now available.

Any problems accessing full-text, Lancashire Care staff only can contact: susan.jennings@lancashirecare.nhs.uk

Encontrei a pouco tempo essa entrevista que aconteceu na França, são perguntas um pouco embaçosas. Muito bom! (Atenção para o gritinho quando eles não querem responder á pergunta…)

AUUUUUN!!!(Grito) HEHEHEHEHE…

Comenta aí em baixo!

 A 10-POINT REBUTTAL OF THE LIES PEDDLED AGAINST THE BANANA INDUSTRY

    1.  The study methodology is not clearly described in the report. 

    In particular the randomization method, sampling of environmental samples and methods of pesticide residue analysis, need to be clearly described in order for us to appreciate the results better.

    Statistical randomization must balance other factors that have not been explicitly accounted for in a study design. Where those random numbers fall short of the acceptable standards of randomness, any subsequent analysis will suffer from systemic bias. This is one of the many lapses of the health assessment and environmental study of Sitio Camocaan and it is to nobody’s benefit to cover it up with an air of infallibility.

    We have direct information that the respondents volunteered because they were made to understand that there was a free medical clinic in Camocaan.  In addition, not all of the respondents had blood analysis.  Clearly, this situation is not random in nature and the test population is not a representative sample (Video Clip 1 in CD).  

    Given the manner by which the respondents were engaged in the study, we would not be surprised if the researchers concluded 100% of the community was exposed to pesticides through aerial spraying and 100% were sick.

    2.  The identities of the sick people in Camocaan have not been endorsed to the local health authorities despite repeated requests.

    The global developmental delay of 2 children is likewise a matter of extreme concern to us. In fact, one child has mild wasting.   We wonder why the good doctors have not referred these cases to the health workers in Davao so that their concern and recommendation for further investigation could have been immediately done years ago. 

    We find it extremely difficult to comprehend the actions or inaction of the researchers for the last three years, despite repeated efforts to get the information, as expressed by the LGU at the DOH Davao public hearing (May 12, 2009) and at the People’s Inquiry in Camocaan (June 3, 2009), as expressed by the people of Camocaan in a letter written to Dr.. Allan Dionisio (dated July 5, 2009) (Annex 1).  At the People’s Inquiry, Dr. Allan Dionisio promised to endorse to Dr. Patricio Hernane, municipal health officer, the results of the examinations, with emphasis on those who were sick, so that these persons could get medical attention (Video Clip 2 in CD).  However, to date, these names have not been endorsed despite the repeated visits of Dr. Dionisio to Davao for his various speaking engagements.  It appears media mileage has overshadowed the Hippocratic oath of this doctor.

    It is therefore not surprising that the people of Camocaan are now restless over this development, showing indignation over the way their dignity has been trampled upon.  They see themselves as mere numbers or statistics for the consumption of media and advocates with their own agendas.

    3.  We maintain, aerial spraying in areas without communities does not offer a health risk.

    The researchers agree with this statement but do not believe it is true for the Philippine setting.  We marvel at the gall of the researchers to make such a claim.

    Are they better authorities on the state of the Philippine export banana industry than the PBGEA? 

    4.  The nature of environmental samples is questionable.

    The researchers have emphasized that “due to the presence of pesticides in the environment, acute signs and symptoms as well as abnormalities in biologic markers among the residents in the area has occurred.”

    We have serious doubts about the veracity of the environmental samples and the levels detected for the following reasons:

a.  The water samples were presented in the report as drinking water samples (Table 27, p.21) and are once again reiterated in your letter (Item No. 5).  However, in the same instance, the researchers also acknowledge that the sample taken from the irrigation system is now described as water from a canal..  We have information, from the site, that the water for this particular sample was taken from the river close to the fishponds (Video Clip 3 in CD). This is not a drinking water source for the community. The sampling was done by the baranggay health worker after instructions were given by Engr. Rivera, who chose to stay at the main community area, leaving the BHW to do the sampling by herself (Video Clip 4 in CD). There is no canal in that area although Engr Rivera emphatically stated, during the People’s Inquiry, that the irrigation sample was taken from a canal.  In your letter to us, you mention that the canal is indicated in the map.  Our efforts at searching for this canal, at the site, has been futile and neither can we find it in the attached map of the report.  This therefore proves to us that the researchers did not have full control over the quality, nature and integrity of the samples. 

b.  We have information also that a soil sample was not undisturbed soil but rather swept soil which is not the manner by which an environmental risk assessment is made (Video Clip 5 in CD).  It is therefore not surprising that soil samples collected in such a manner, would contain detectable residues.  We wonder how many square meters of top soil were scraped, by sweeping, thereby concentrating any low level or even non-detectable residues that would be present in undisturbed soil.  This is not reflective of the soil conditions that would be considered as contaminated soil to be used for risk assessment.  Thus, levels detected in soil remain highly questionable in nature.

c.  Given the nature of the samples taken, water and soil without known spraying history, it is incumbent upon the researchers to confirm results made by gas chromatography.  This was not done and therefore, the presence of any residue is not conclusive, most especially since the detector used in this analysis (electron capture detector) is not a selective detector.

d..  The detection of ETU in blood, soil and water is likewise highly questionable to us. Earlier on, we emphasized that the methods of analysis needed to be clearly explained.  We refer to an earlier study conducted by Panganiban et al, 2004 which showed ETU levels in soil taken from an organic farm, which is doubtful.  The study was not able to explain the presence of ETU thus we question the scientific value of the ETU results of this study as the analysis was conducted in the same laboratory as the former study. (Annex 2).

e.  The presence of ETU in soil, several hundred meters away from the plantation and several days after spraying, is inconsistent behavior of the chemical ETU under Philippine conditions.  ETU was not detected in soil 2 days after spraying in cucumber; the same rapid degradation was observed in soil after spraying cabbage in studies conducted at the National Crop Protection, UPLB (Calumpang et al, 1990; Calumpang et al 1988; Annex 3) and in other countries (Yip et al 1971 cited in Calumpang et al 1990).   Pesticide residues in the environment degrade due to the effect of the environment; microbial degradation of ethylenethiourea is highly temperature dependent and is reduced to half the original value in less than one week (Rhodes 1977; Jacobsen et al 2006 cited in JMPR, Annex 4). 

The persistence of ETU for as long as 5-10 weeks, as claimed by the researchers, is not reflective of conditions in the tropics. 

Supporting data from a study conducted in a banana plantation in Australia:

In a study conducted by the North Coast Public Health Unit, Australia, ambient air was monitored for pesticides at four sites in Coffs Harbour, a coastal town surrounded by banana plantations in Australia.  Air was sampled continuously for 5 consecutive months during the peak agricultural spraying period.  The only pesticide applied by air in the district (propiconazole) was not detected. If international health guidelines are used as a yardstick, these levels of exposure appear unlikely to present an appreciable health risk.  (Beard et al 1995, Annex 5).

    The researchers claim that “… pesticide residues were seen in air and soil samples, as analyzed by the UP-Los Banos”.  This claim is not true.  UP Los Banos only analyzed water and soil samples, for which chlorothalonil residues were not detected in water, while chlorothalonil residues in soil were extremely low (0.01 – 0.05 ug/g).

    Action for possible remediation cannot be based on just one air sample with ETU levels exceeding the US EPA program remediation goals, considering the nature of the analysis, which is very much in question.  The results in the report, given the doubtful nature of the samples, reflect the over-eagerness on the part of the researchers to blame pesticides, leading to statements that have been used to practically wreck havoc on the banana industry.

    5.  Volunteer bias in the study prevents pesticide management decisions from being made.

    Volunteer bias is always avoided in studies of this nature (Keifer et al 1996; Annex 6).  The study report mentions that some of the respondents are workers of the nearby Lapanday banana plantation.  It is no wonder therefore that ETU levels detected in blood were high in some respondents resulting in a higher arithmetic mean for Camocaan subjects than Baliwaga subjects (12.77 vs. 5.34 ppb), while geometric means are much lower (0.67 vs. 0.37 ppb) (Table 22, p. 18).  This indicates that some subjects in Camocaan and Baliwaga may have been directly exposed to an EBDC fungicide or ETU, that is not related to aerial spraying drift. 

    At the very best, the analysis of the data should have differentiated the occupational exposure from exposure related to drift.  Had this been done, the information generated from the study would have helped draw sound pesticide management decisions from the plantation management team as well as from LGUs and other concerned government agencies.  As it is, the researchers clearly showed their strong inclination in banning aerial spraying, which is now clearly being publicly advocated by Dr. Allan Dionisio and Dr. Annabelle Yumang, DOH Davao in their current forum shopping spree in Davao.  Given that Dr. Yumang carries with her the authority of her office, are these pronouncements the official stand of DOH?

    6.  Symptoms described after exposure to pesticides should be verified.

    a.  We have difficulty accepting that “recall bias does not apply to the issue of symptoms temporally related to serial spraying experienced by the subjects.”  Anybody can claim to have been poisoned after exposure to aerial spraying.  Anyone can claim anything for reasons only known to that person.   A thorough medical examination should have been made to document and support such experiences.  This is the reason why we have always stood for a science-based assessment of the situation.. 

    We strongly react to the use of personal recall in the study.  As an industry we have been burned from our previous experiences with Dr. Romeo quijano, who has long made misrepresentations about deaths and illnesses in Camocaan.  He has even resorted to bringing some of them to New Zealand, claiming illnesses due to pesticides.

    b.  In addition, these symptoms experienced should have also been presented with a time reference.  The use of GPS systems and flow-controls in aerial spraying has been in use for about 10 years already.  At present, buffer zones are in place in Camocaan and elsewhere, while ground spraying operations are in place in areas close to the communities.  There are trees and residential structures that obstruct wind movement and collect some residues in the air.  Thus, the questionnaire should have been able to differentiate whether the symptoms experienced were current realities or previous experiences, reflecting previous episodes when current technologies were not yet in place.

    c.  The questionnaire portion on Symptoms of Exposure (p.43) has the following questions:

            i.  If you were exposed to pesticides, did you feel sick?   Yes      No

            ii.  If yes, how often were you sick?   100%    76-99%    51-75%    25-51%   <25%

            iii.  What were your symptoms?

    The results are presented as:

Table 19.  Frequency with which Camocaan subjects experienced symptoms after exposure to aerially sprayed pesticides.

Table 20.  Frequency of symptoms experienced after exposure to aerially sprayed pesticides among Camocaan subjects.

    The questions shown above do not refer to aerial spraying exposure.  However, the results are presented as such.  Again, we clearly see the bias of the researchers in relating the results to aerial spraying even if these are not substantiated. 

    We wonder if this is the scientifically acceptable way to present the results of the questions..  We earnestly look forward to getting the peer review made by UP Manila experts to give us guidance on the appropriate scientific approach.

    7.  Confounding factors were not considered in the conclusion of the study.

    a.  The study shows the consumption of cassava is high in Camocaan (p.9) and is therefore a confounding factor. Cassava is a human goitrogen, ETU is not a human goitrogen.  Cassava contains substances that act on the thyroid gland just like ETU, with one critical exception - human exposure to cassava is proven to be high enough to cause serious alterations to thyroid function whereas ETU exposure is almost certainly too low to cause any effects at all. There are many publications on cassava’s effect on the human thyroid, none of which are cited in the DOH study, in fact the action of cassava on the thyroid is not even mentioned.

    However, there is one major difference, one is proven to cause effects in humans (cassava) while one is known to cause effects only in rodents (ETU).  Based on toxicology data in rodents and epidemiology data in humans The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that ETU is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans (IARC, 2001).

    b.  There are other causes of chloracne, other than chlorinated pesticides, such as dioxin, which is easily generated by human activities such as burning backyard garbage and reusing cooking oil. There appears to be an inclination by the researchers to attribute goiter and chloracne cases to exposure to pesticides fromaerial spraying without going through the rigors of eliminating the possibility that these factors could have caused these illnesses. 

    c.  Your letter states that “the neurodevelopmental delays in the children studied may be related to pesticide exposure but further studies are needed to confirm this.”

    It has been shown in a study conducted very recently (2004) that there is a significant interaction between material hardship and environmental tobacco smoke.  Children with both ETS exposure and material hardship exhibited the greatest cognitive deficit or low mental status.   Prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home has a negative impact on 2-year cognitive development, and this effect is exacerbated under conditions of material hardship  (Rauh et al 2005; Annex 7). 

    These conditions are evident in the Camocaan families.

    8.  Cholinesterase depression can be caused by factors, other than pesticides.

    a.  We had expected the study to consider the effect of other factors that can cause false positives for acetyl cholinesterase depression.  We are aware that the following factors cause false positive results for RBC cholinesterase:  drugs and reticulocytosis (Keifer handout, University of Washington; Annex 8).  However, the researchers continue to view pesticides used in the plantations as the only cause of the cholinesterase depression in Camocaan.

    b.  The present study did not do any baseline data gathering for the subjects.  Even Engr. Rivera, declared at the Camocaan People’s Inquiry that the best way to conduct a study of this nature, was to gather data before the spraying, during the spraying and after the spraying.  This was not done in the present study and a lot of aspects are left to be verified and studied further (Video Clip 6 in CD).

    c.  Results of 2009 physical examination of several workers of Lapanday, likewise show that even bud injectors, who are potentially occupationally exposed to cholinesterase-inhibiting compounds, have normal cholinesterase levels (Annex 9)

    d.  Likewise, we have attached results of annual physical exams of 35 persons (average age 44 years old) who used to be flagmen, and therefore can be considered as those with a long history of exposure to fungicides sprayed aerially, of Tagum Development Corp. These workers do not have cholinesterase depression, have normal haemoglobin levels and except for 1, are negative for thyroid mass.   They have worked for about 20 years in the plantation. With the use of GPS systems, they are now assigned to other tasks..  (Annex 10).

    9.  We care about human and environmental health.  Lives have not been sacrificed for profit.

    So much improvement in the technologies for spray operations in banana production has been achieved.  Recent developments in application technology, formulation chemistry and delivery systems have resulted in better application techniques.  Thus, human exposure to drift under these conditions is extremely minimal. Standard operating procedures on good practice for aerial spraying and qualifications for pilots and ground support staff are attached. (Annex 11)

a.  The banana industry goes through painstaking efforts at calibrating its aerial spraying equipment to ensure that there is maximum use of resources and minimal wastage of expensive fungicides as well as maximum protection of the environment, in compliance with government guidelines. 

b.  At present, the banana plantations only use airplanes with global positioning systems (GPS), a computer-driven, via satellite, guide for pilots on the course to follow while spraying.  The planes have target flow controllers which are also computer-driven mechanisms that shut off automatically for areas which do not need to be sprayed and open automatically in areas to be sprayed.  Delivery rates are also controlled by computerized flowmeters so that the required amount per unit area is accurately delivered.  We do not spray when then the wind speed exceeds 2 m/second  and the air temperature reaches  28 oC.  We also only spray at a height of only 5-7 meters to ensure that the spray solution reaches the leaves right away. This situation makes the drift from aerial application absolutely minimal. We cannot afford to let it drift away while spraying.

c.  Banana oil and stickers are also added to the fungicide spray solution to ensure maximum protection for the banana plants from the disease for several days. The fungicide stays on the leaves longer, as it is solubilized in the plant waxes or oils, resulting in the effective reduction of the vapor pressure of the fungicide which would mean less fungicides evaporating from the sprayed leaves. The number of droplets per unit area are monitored and have a standard number of counts.  Only under these optimal conditions are fungicides sprayed.  This is the desired situation because the banana plants need to be constantly protected.  We cannot afford to let the fungicide drift away after spraying!

d.  Sign boards are maintained to alert communities before any aerial spraying activity. 

e.  In addition, buffer zones of 50 – 100 m from communities and thoroughfares (highways, roads) are maintained.  The bananas in these areas are sprayed using ground equipment and spray in the direction away from the road.  This is to ensure that these areas are not covered by aerial spraying.

f.  Environmental monitoring of water quality in terms of pesticide residues have long been conducted. (Annex 12)  Likewise, pollution monitoring of water sources in Camocaan in terms of dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, etc have also been done since 2007 (Annex 13).

g..  In addition, our banana exports are monitored for pesticide residues to comply with maximum residue limits (MRLs).  We are serious with our efforts in protecting the health and welfare of the consuming public (Annex 14).

    DOH also made reference of “of the need for PBGEA to adhere to the global program of “REACH” (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances) which is a new European Community Regulation entered into force on June 1 2007 (Annex 15). 

    We are surprised at this pronouncement.  PBGEA’s activities are not covered by the European Community.  The Philippines has its own set of standards and operating systems and we work closely with FPA-DA, DOH and the DENR through the Multipartite Monitoring Team which meets regularly to address issues of common concern.  All our environment and human health monitoring activities are in compliance with FPA guidelines and are monitored regularly in a transparent manner.

    10.  At the People’s Inquiry in Camocaan, the researchers repeatedly and emphatically claimed that this present study is in no way connected to the reports made by Dr. Romeo Quijano. 

    We quote a portion of the introduction of the study report, which says otherwise:

This study was originally prompted by complaints from the residents of Sito Camocaan.  Sitio Camocaan, Puroks 5A, 5B and 7 comprise Sitio Camocaan which is part of Baranggay Aplaya, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.  It is adjacent to the Lapanday banana plantation.  In 1997, several individuals residing in Camocaan complained of skin diseases which were ulcerated and non-healing (Quijano and Quijano 2000).  Some developed blisters and pruritic lesions.  The residents attributed the conditions to the banana plantation pesticides to which they were allegedly exposed.  Thus, the residents, through a local organization, sought the assistance of the Pesticide Action Network- Asia and the Pacific (PAN-AP) to look into the problem”.

    We are extremely disappointed with this willful public disinformation and manipulation of the facts made by Dr. Allan R. Dionisio, UP Manila and Dr. Annabelle Yumang, DOH Davao at the Camocaan’s People’s Inquiry.

    The people of Camocaan, Davao and the nation as a whole, deserve respect, nothing less.

    Dr. Romeo Quijano of UP Manila has used his profession as a medical doctor to manipulate and fabricate lies regarding the health conditions in Camocaan.  His two articles on Kamukhaan: Report on a Poisoned Village (Annex 16) and Kamukhaan Revisited (Annex 17) presented illnesses of people as caused by pesticides. He has blamed pesticide exposure for some congenital conditions or illnesses of persons who had these conditions before relocating to Camocaan, in search of a better life.  We have documented the cases which FPA, in part, investigated and uncovered falsities.  The deception has to stop now.  (Annex 18).

    We maintain that:

• Fungicide use and application in banana is approved by the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority and the Department of Agriculture.

• The conditions presently in place in Camocaan is so different from those in 2006 when the study was conducted.  In fact, there is a 2-hectare cemetery (100 x 200 m2) beside the community (which used to be planted to bananas) which puts a large portion of the community further away from the treated area.  A buffer zone is in place beside the community and this is not sprayed aerially. 

• Exposure of populations does not exclusively come from exposure to pesticide residues in the air.  Other routes such as dietary and occupational are possibilities.  For dietary exposure, there are standards to address these concerns, such as MRLs and ADI.  This reflects the international community’s efforts at risk assessment.  The acceptable daily intake (ADI) for man, expressed on a body weight basis, is the amount of a food additive that can be taken daily in the diet, even over a lifetime, without risk.  Thus, the mere presence of pesticide residues does not necessarily mean a health concern.

• The identities of the “sick” people identified in the study, should be immediately endorsed to the municipal health officer, if indeed there is a genuine health concern.  This has been made known to the researchers ever since we learned of this study..

• The banana industry is not against organic farming nor are we spraying insecticides and other chemicals hazardous to people’s health and the environment.  We do not spray highly toxic chemicals and all that we are asking for is to be allowed to make use of a fungicide-control practice that have been proven safe to both humans and the environment.  We have our 30-year track record of safety for all to see.

• It is our corporate social responsibility never to gamble with the lives and future of the hundreds of thousands of residents who are dependent on our continuing viability. We must, by all means, take precaution against all forms of harmful pests and in a manner, as we have been doing the past many years, that will ensure rich harvests but neither sacrifice the health of the people or contaminate the environment.

• It is our humble assessment that the report of the Health and Environmental Assessment of Sitio Camocaan, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur does not have the scientific basis that can withstand the rigor of scientific scrutiny.  Obviously, it cannot serve as a basis for concluding that aerial spraying, in the banana plantations, has resulted in health concerns and therefore has to be banned.

    We pray that those now under pressure to prove their institutional relevance for whatever purpose it will serve them will do it in the best interest of our country and people. We do share their noble cause of protecting our rich biodiversity and environmental integrity but it must be pursued not with Quixotic exuberance but with a dispassionate, scientific and developmental perspective.