Author: Josh Witten

http://www.thefinchandpea.com

Predator X: Too Bad Ass for Peer-Review?

Predator X (Atlantic Productions publicity illustration)

Suffice it to say that earning the title Predator X should require a resume loaded with specific instances of statistically significant bad assery[1]. Big fangs or some kung fu lessons might get you Predator L or, even, E, but we are talking about Predator Freaking X here. By law, Predator X must be one bad mother. . .

Shut your mouth!
I’m talking ’bout Predator X.
Then we can dig it.

Predator X[2] was a pliosaur, a group of prehistoric marine reptiles (within the order plesiosauria) characterized by large body size, long heads, short necks, conical teeth, four flippers, and eating tasty things that had the misfortune to be smaller than them. Basically, pliosaurs were sea monsters, and sea monsters are already pretty bad ass.

Artist impression of the pliosaur Liopleurodon (by Nobu Tamura - CC 3.0)

Originally discovered in 2006, Predator X was the subject of a History channel documentary in 2009. Predator X was the subject of all manner of articles with the notable exception of the academic, peer-reviewed variety[3]. Hmmm, the publicize before peer-review strategy sounds familiar to me.

What makes Predator X deserve all this attention? According to the team from the University of Oslo Natural History Museum Predator X stands out even in a clade of sea monsters:

Its anatomy, physiology and hunting strategy all point to it being the ultimate predator – the most dangerous creature to patrol the Earth’s oceans – quoted in New Scientist (link to original press release no longer available[4])

Wait, did I just say University of Oslo Natural History Museum? What does that remind me of? Continue reading “Predator X: Too Bad Ass for Peer-Review?”

When Supplements “Work”. . .EZVille, Ltd – Where Health & Safety are Important-ish

The Universe is a funny place, full of bizarre coincidences. Like, for example, did you know that every single “dietary supplement” with an undeclared drug ingredient that we have covered in our When Supplements “Work”. . . feature so far has contained, among all the drugs in the world, a regulated drug that treats exactly the same condition that the supplement claims to treat? What are the odds?

This week we get a double whammy from EZVille, Ltd. EZVille, Ltd. has issued a recall of Revivexxx (one guess what that is supposed to “revive”) and Solo Slim. Revivexxx is a male sexual enhancement supplement (DSHEA code for treating erectile dysfunction), which was found to contain the erectile dysfunction pharmaceutical tadalafil (marketed using a series of creepy commericals under the brand name Cialis). Tadalafil is known to have potentially dangerous interactions with medications containing nitrates, such as those taken for heart disease. Solo Slim is a weight loss supplement, which was found to contain the appetite suppressant didesmethyl sibutramine. Sibutramine can increase blood pressure and heart rate putting individuals at risk for stroke and other cardiovascular issues at greater risk.

Individuals for whom tadalafil and sibutramine are not viable therapeutic options due to interacting medications or underlying medical issues may be more likely to seek out these alternative products to avoid side effects. The undeclared presence of these drugs in these supplements exposes these “at risk” individuals to these potentially dangerous side effects without their knowledge, unarguably a worse situation than if they had knowingly been prescribed these medications under the observation of a trained health care professional. Continue reading “When Supplements “Work”. . .EZVille, Ltd – Where Health & Safety are Important-ish”

In which British papers call sick kids sluts and I get mad. . .

According to the UK press, the foggy isle is being overrun by 11 year old tramps.

Dr. Petra Boynton has the definitive take down of this clap-trap on her blog.

The UK appears afflicted by ‘soaring’ numbers of sexually active girls, who lie to parents, enabled by GPs.

Is it accurate?

No.

Continue reading “In which British papers call sick kids sluts and I get mad. . .”

Coastal Marine Diorama


Coastal Marine Diorama

Originally uploaded by joshwitten

Don’t listen to Calvin & Hobbes, bath time can be fun. Offspring 1.2 and I used what we had lying around (Offspring 2.0’s tub, squirt toys, and slightly soapy water) to create a pseudo-accurate diorama of a coastal marine area complete with coral reef, within reef environment, and outside reef marine life. We’re claiming that this represents an unnamed Pacific island in order to accommodate coral reef, penguin, and orca.

When Supplements “Work”. . .Viagra, uh wait, I mean XXTreme

FDA notified consumers that lab analysis of lots of ejaculoid XXTREME and stimuloid II found that the products, sold as dietary supplements, contain sulfoaildenafil, similar to sildenafil, which is an active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug for male erectile dysfunction, making these products unapproved drugs. – FDA Medatch (emphasis added)

The drug has documented side effects from clinical trials and post-approval monitoring that is standard for pharmaceuticals. It also is not appropriate for people with certain other conditions, like high blood pressure, or in combination with other drugs, like nitroglycerin. These negative effects cannot be avoided if one does not know that this drug is in the supplement, especially considering that individuals for whom sildenafil (and analogs) is not a safe treatment are likely customers for these types of supplement. Continue reading “When Supplements “Work”. . .Viagra, uh wait, I mean XXTreme”