• Dentistry

    Harvard Professor Investigated in Fluoride Research FLAP

    Harvard University is investigating an allegation that a dentistry professor downplayed research showing an increased risk of bone cancer for boys who drink fluoridated tap water.

    Chester Douglass, who heads Harvard’s Department of Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, received a $1.3 million grant in 1992 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct a study of fluoride exposure and osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

    Douglass’ 1992-1999 study found that the odds of having osteosarcoma after drinking fluoridated water were “not statistically different” from those who drank non-fluoridated water.

    And that is an important finding, considering all of the fluoride supplements and fluoridated water out in the community today.

    But Elise Bassin, a doctoral student who Douglass supervised, reported in her 2001 thesis that boys who drink fluoridated water appear to have an increased risk of developing the bone cancer. Her findings were based on some of the same people used in Douglass’ study.

    The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C., filed an ethics complaint against Douglass last month after discovering that Douglass cited Bassin’s research in his final grant report. In it, he said her work supported his claim that there was no significant risk from fluoridated water, even though Bassin had found a strong link between fluoride levels in tap water and an increased osteosarcoma risk for boys.

    Oooops you cannot have it both ways, Professor!

    Richard Wiles, senior vice president of the environmental group, also said there is a conflict of interest between Douglass’ research and his position as editor-in-chief of The Colgate Oral Health Report, a quarterly newsletter funded by Colgate-Palmolive Co., which makes fluoridated toothpaste.

    “It’s safe to say that he appears to be one of the leading members of the fluoride apologists group of scientists,” Wiles said. “Clearly, the fluoride-using industry, the dental industry, has an interest in the image of fluoride as being a healthy, good thing.”

    Bassin declined to comment when reached at her home Wednesday.

    Her thesis has not yet been published and is not available to the public. The environmental group, which obtained Bassin’s thesis, cited excerpts in a letter to sent to Douglass last month.

    “Among males, exposure to fluoride at or above the target level was associated with an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma,” Bassin wrote. “The association was most apparent between ages 5-10 with a peak at 6 to 8 years of age.”

    Douglass’ study looked at men and woman of all different ages who drank fluoridated tap water. Bassin looked at the boys and girls used in Douglass’ study and verified fluoride levels in tap water for each year of the child’s life.

    “She found the strongest association ever between fluoridated tape water and bone cancer among boys,” said Wiles.

    Fluoridation of tap water in the United States began in the 1950s and was seen as an effective way to fight tooth decay.

    So, is this another attack by the anti-fluoride folks or a legitimate study that needs to be followed up?

    Controversy over the practice began to grow in the 1970s after a study found a high incident in bone structure defects in Newburgh, N.Y., one of the first communities in the country to fluoridate its water, when compared with the rate in the non-fluoridated town of Kingston, N.Y.

    A study completed in 1991 by the U.S. Public Health Service found that the rates of osteosarcoma were significantly higher among males under 20 who lived in fluoridated communities than in communities with non-fluoridated water.

    Several other major studies have reached the opposite conclusion, including a 1995 study by the New York State Department of Health that found fluoride exposure does not increase the risk for childhood osteosarcoma.

    Wiles said the Environmental Working Group is not opposed to fluoridated toothpaste because most of the fluoride in toothpaste has contact with the teeth and is not ingested. He said when fluoride is ingested through tap water, it can stimulate growth at the end of bones, where osteosarcoma occurs.

    “I think the industry realizes that the public may not make the distinction,” Wiles said. If fluoride gets a big black eye in tap water then the public is going to wonder about this fluoride in my toothpaste.”

    The Washington Post has this piece, Professor at Harvard Is Being Investigated.

    The Environmental Working Group’s piece, Harvard Fluoride Findings Misrepresented?

    The Harvard Crimson has this story, Dental School Begins Investigation of Prof

    Stay Tuned!

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  • Election 2008,  Politics

    Hillary Clinton: Increase the Size of the Army

    A group of House and Senate Democrats today have introduced legislation significantly increasing the size of the U.S. Army.

    Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) airland subcommittee, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), a SASC member, and Reps. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), both members of the House Armed Services committee, are pressing for the passage of the United States Army Relief Act.

    The legislation seeks to raise the cap of the Army’s end strength, said an aide to Tauscher.

    The Army already is working on increasing its troop levels by 30,000. Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter Schoomaker, has said on numerous occasions that it costs about $1.2 billion a year for every 10,000 people added to the Army.

    Both the House and the Senate have called for an increase in troop levels in their 2006 defense authorization bill and it is likely that troop levels will be increased when the conferees meet.

    Flap supposes it is only RIGHT for Hillary to get on the RIGHT side of the military.

    Wonder if she talks about this bill when she addresses the Moveon.org folks?

  • Los Angeles,  Politics

    Romer: Reveals Donors to Secret SLUSH FUND

    Flap previously reported about Los Angeles Unified School Distict, Roy Romer’s dipping into the special interest money to form a secret non-profit slush fund, praising his and the school district’s accomplishments.

    Now the Los Angeles Daily News and the Los Angeles Times have pieces:

    Romer reveals donors

    The nonprofit organization Superintendent Roy Romer set up to defend Los Angeles Unified’s image against political attacks relied almost entirely on contributions from construction firms, textbook publishers and other school contractors, records released Tuesday showed.

    Friends of L.A. Schools Inc., which Romer formed in February just days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his support for plans to break up the district, received single donations of $10,000 from investment bank Goldman Sachs, DMJM building consultants, Turner Construction and publishers Harcourt Inc. and Pearson Education – all of which have contracts totaling millions of dollars with the school district.

    An ol’ Pol who formerly headed the Democrat National Committee, Romer has committed a major blunder – A QUID PRO QUO or at least the appearance of one.

    Romer defended the more than $146,000 in total donations, which he sought personally, saying his fundraising never influenced LAUSD business.

    “I have absolutely no issue of ethics in doing what I’m doing here. I’m clearly representing the district here and I have no hesitancy in going to people for money,” Romer said after releasing the list. “I’m not going to skinny down in some hole like I did something wrong.”

    The LAUSD Board deserves answers to pointed questions as to the ethical conduct of its Superintendent.

    “It’s an ethical question,” said Bob Stern, president of the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies.

    “The question is why are these companies giving? They’re giving because they want to curry favor from the school district and by giving money to this fund they will gain an advantage. Decisions are supposed to be based on the merits, not on who’s giving to Roy Romer’s fund. The perception is that you have to give if you want to receive benefits from the school district – that money has an impact.”

    Kathay Feng, executive director of California Common Cause, said Romer’s fund and its activities raise serious ethical and legal questions and should probably be investigated or audited by an outside authority, although she was not certain whether county or state officials would have jurisdiction.

    “The problem of somebody who is holding a public service office soliciting money from people who are vendors to that office – that raises serious questions about the ethics of the relationship between the officeholder, Roy Romer, and the vendors,” Feng said. “It raises serious concerns for us that there is pay-to-play politics involved.”

    You betcha it is an ethical concern (PAY TO PLAY) and do not be surprised to see Romer called before a Los Angeles County Grand Jury soon.

    Romer’s office will release by the end of the week a detailed account of the fund expenditures, but the money was spent on the district’s State of the Schools address in May and related community forums to get its accomplishments out to the public, special assistant to the Superintendent Gritzner said.

    Friends of L.A. Schools Donors

    Here is a list of the contributors to Superintendent Roy Romer’s nonprofit agency, formed to promote the Los Angeles Unified School District.

    Donor, Connection, Amount

    Francie Alexander Unavailable $500

    Suellen Atkinson Unavailable $355

    Celeste DeCuir Publishing representative, Glencoe/McGraw Hill $500

    Chet Foraker Vice president, SRA/McGraw Hill $525

    J. Stuart Horsfall President, Sopris West Educational Services $375

    Theodore Mayer Unavailable $500

    Shirley M. Owens Unavailable $500

    Patricia L. Williams Unavailable $1,000

    Apple Computer Inc. Computer equipment and curriculum software $10,000

    Bovis Lend Lease Inc. Construction and project management $10,000

    Cambium Leaning Inc. Instructional materials, services and technology $12,500

    CCG/Harris Construction management $10,000

    DMJM H+N Architecture, engineering and construction services $10,000

    Goldman-Sachs Investment banking and securities $10,000

    Harcourt Inc. Educational publisher $10,000

    HMC Architects Construction planning and design $10,000

    Parsons Corp Construction and engineering $10,000

    Pearson Education Educational publisher $10,000

    PinnacleOne Inc. Construction and consulting $10,000

    Scholastic Inc. Educational publisher $10,000

    Time for Kids Time Magazine children’s publication and Web site $2,500

    Turner Construction Co. Construction $10,000

    William J. Yang & Association Provides minority- and women-owned business directories $10,000

    Total $146,755

    SOURCE: Superintendent Roy Romer; Daily News research

    The Los Angeles Times piece, Firms Tied to Schools Gave Money is here.

    Former California Assembly Speaker and Los Angeles Mayoral candidate Bob Hertzberg asked yesterday for full disclosure, An Open Letter to Superintendent Roy Romer.

    RE: PUBLIC RELEASE OF “FRIENDS OF L.A. SCHOOLS” DONORS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

    Dear Superintendent Romer:

    I am writing to urge you to comply with the spirit of the state Political Reform Act and the Los Angeles City Ethics ordinances by immediately releasing to the public information with respect to donors and contributions made to Friends of L.A. Schools, Inc.

    Mayor Frank weighs in here.

    Boi From Troy adds this, Builders, Booksellers buy influence with Romer slush fund

    Stay Tuned.

  • Supreme Court

    Rehnquist Hospitalized for Fever

    Chief Justice William Rehnquist who is being treated for cancer has been hospitalized for a fever.

    Rehnquist, was taken to the hospital Tuesday night and “was admitted for observation and tests,” Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

    Stay Tuned.

    Update #1

    The chief justice had been coming to the court daily but did not show up as usual Wednesday morning. Court officials initially declined to say why he was absent or explain unusual happenings at Rehnquist’s Arlington home.

    Members of the media near the residence saw a court police officer make several trips to the house, leaving each time with various personal items. First the officer carried out Rehnquist’s distinctive cane and a shirt. Later, he brought out other clothing.

    At about 2:30 p.m., Arberg issued a two-sentence statement saying Rehnquist was hospitalized for a fever and undergoing tests.

    It was the second time in less than four months that Rehnquist was taken by ambulance to the hospital. In March, he was brought in with breathing problems. He did not stay overnight then.

    Rehnquist has a tracheotomy tube that helps him breathe. He has been treated since October for thyroid cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. The illness led to a five-month absence from the bench, although he continued working at home and at the court during his convalescence.

    Stay Tuned

    Update #2

    Michelle Malkin has REHNQUIST WATCH

    Check in with the Supreme Court nomination blog and Bench Memos for the latest.

  • Politics

    President Bush: Won’t Comment on Rove

    President Bush said Wednesday he will withhold judgment about top aide Karl Rove’s involvement in leaking the identity of a CIA operative until a federal criminal investigation is complete.

    “This is a serious investigation,” Bush said at the end of a meeting with his Cabinet, with Rove sitting just behind him. “I will be more than happy to comment on this matter once this investigation is complete.

    “I also will not prejudge the investigation based on media reports,” he said, when asked whether Rove acted improperly in discussing CIA officer Valerie Plame with a reporter.

    DUUUUUHHHHHH

    End of story, unless Rove is indicted and then he is OUT!

    But, the Federal Prosecutor and Grand Jury better have better evidence than what is floating around in the MSM, if they choose indictment.

    BTW, as this is written Fox News reports that Matthew Cooper is again testifying before the Grand Jury.

  • Special Election 2005

    Prop. 78 & 79: Drug Companies Raising Money for a War at the Ballot Box

    In the last month drug companies have raised $43 million to fight Prop. 79, a union sponsored (Alliance for California) measure that would cut prescription drug prices for a wide range of California residents.

    Proposition 79, an Initiative Statute:

    Provides for prescription drug discounts to Californians who qualify based on income-related standards, to be funded through rebates from participating drug manufacturers negotiated by California Department of Health Services. Rebates must be deposited in State Treasury fund, used only to reimburse pharmacies for discounts and to offset administration costs. At least 95% of rebates must go to fund discounts. Prohibits new Medi-Cal contracts with manufacturers not providing the Medicaid best price to this program, except for drugs without therapeutic equivalent. Establishes oversight board. Makes prescription drug profiteering, as defined, unlawful. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time and ongoing state costs, potentially in the millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually, for administration and outreach activities for a new drug discount program. A significant share of these costs would probably be borne by the state General Fund. A largely one-time state cost, potentially in the low tens of millions of dollars, to cover the funding gap between the time when drug rebates are collected by the state and when the state pays funds to pharmacies for drug discounts provided to consumers. Any such costs not covered through advance rebate payments from drug makers would be borne by the state General Fund. Unknown costs and savings as a result of provisions linking drug prices for the new drug discount program to Medi-Cal prices, including the potential effect on the state’s receipt of supplemental rebates; unknown savings on state and county health program costs due to the availability of drug discounts; and unknown costs and offsetting revenues from the anti-profiteering provisions.

    Giant pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline have pumped more than $8.5 million each into the industry’s California Initiative Fund, which also is financing Proposition 78, a rival drug cost measure on the special election ballot.

    Proposition 78, An Initiative Statute:

    Establishes discount prescription drug program, overseen by the Department of Health Services. Enables certain low – and moderate – income California residents to purchase prescription drugs at reduced prices. Imposes $15 application fee, renewable annually. Requires Department’s prompt determination of residents’ eligibility, based on listed qualifications. Authorizes Department to contract with pharmacies to sell prescription drugs at agreed-upon discounts negotiated in advance, and to negotiate rebate agreements with drug manufacturers. Permits outreach programs to increase public awareness. Creates state fund for deposit of rebate payments from drug manufacturers. Allows program to be terminated under specified conditions. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time and ongoing state costs, potentially in the millions to low tens of millions of dollars annually, for administration and outreach activities to implement the new drug discount program. A significant share of these costs would probably be borne by the state General Fund. A largely one-time state cost, potentially in the low tens of millions of dollars, to cover the funding gap between the time when drug rebates are collected by the state and when the state pays funds to pharmacies for drug discounts provided to consumers. Any such costs not covered through advance rebate payments from drug manufacturers would be borne by the state General Fund. Unknown savings on state and county health program costs due to the availability of drug discounts.

    Here we have dueling initiative statutes with a costly media campaign that the public employee and private unions cannot win if they are battling the Governor over paycheck protection, teacher tenure and redistricting.

    And does anyone continue to wonder why the Democrats want to cut a deal with the Governor and either narrow their election day campaigns or so thoroughly confuse (bore) the voters that all measures fail.

    The drug industry has collected a total of more than $53 million thus far for the initiative battle, an indication of how important the fight over prescription drug costs is to the industry.

    “Their fund raising is astronomical, and obviously they’re scared,” said Robin Swanson, a spokeswoman for the Alliance for a Better California, a union- funded group that put the Proposition 79 drug cost measure on the ballot. “They wouldn’t invest that kind of money if they didn’t have something to lose. ”

    The money shows that the pharmaceutical industry will wage an all-out effort to defeat the union initiative and pass its rival measure, said Jan Faiks, a vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

    You bet they will and the ads by Merck are already airing on talk radio stations.

    Around the Capitol asks:

    Maybe the drug companies can give the guv some fundraising pointers…

    How about a media campaign too!

    Cross-posted to the Bear Flag League Special Election Page

  • Dentistry

    Brace Yourself: Relaxin in Orthodontic Treatment

    In the first study of its kind, University of Florida researchers are testing the power of a natural human hormone to biochemically move teeth faster and less painfully during orthodontic treatment.

    “Most of orthodontics has traditionally dealt with physics, the biomechanics of applying a force against a tooth to move it,” said study investigator Timothy Wheeler, a professor and chairman of orthodontics at UF’s College of Dentistry. “Ours is the first study to use a naturally occurring hormone, recombinant human relaxin, to biochemically augment tooth movement and retention.”

    Relaxin is best known as the hormone that helps women’s pelvic ligaments stretch in preparation for giving birth. It does this by softening collagen and elastin in the tissues, loosening strong, cord-like fibers until they have the consistency of limp spaghetti noodles.

    That ability prompted researchers to consider relaxin a possible way to accelerate tooth movement and prevent relapse, a condition where the tooth migrates back to its original position after braces are removed.

    The study will be the first of many to test the hormone as an orthodontic therapy, and it is hoped the drug could cut treatment time in half and eliminate the need for retainers after braces have been removed.

    Flap is still waiting for that”Magic Mouthwash” to eliminate caries and periodontal disease.

    But, an interesting application of hormonal therapy here.


    HT: Medgadget

  • Politics

    Karl Rove: Whitsleblower

    The Wall Street Journal has the latest on the NON-Flap FLAP over Karl Rove, Karl Rove, Whistleblower
    He told the truth about Joe Wilson.

    Democrats and most of the Beltway press corps are baying for Karl Rove’s head over his role in exposing a case of CIA nepotism involving Joe Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame. On the contrary, we’d say the White House political guru deserves a prize–perhaps the next iteration of the “Truth-Telling” award that The Nation magazine bestowed upon Mr. Wilson before the Senate Intelligence Committee exposed him as a fraud.

    For Mr. Rove is turning out to be the real “whistleblower” in this whole sorry pseudo-scandal. He’s the one who warned Time’s Matthew Cooper and other reporters to be wary of Mr. Wilson’s credibility. He’s the one who told the press the truth that Mr. Wilson had been recommended for the CIA consulting gig by his wife, not by Vice President Dick Cheney as Mr. Wilson was asserting on the airwaves. In short, Mr. Rove provided important background so Americans could understand that Mr. Wilson wasn’t a whistleblower but was a partisan trying to discredit the Iraq War in an election campaign. Thank you, Mr. Rove.

    Indeed!

    Micelle Malkin has THE NY TIMES’ ROVE-MANIA.

    John Hinderaker at Power Line and Tom Maguire at Just One Minute break it down for you.

    And for laughs read the New York Times editorial, A Few Thoughts on Karl Rove

    Far be it for us to denounce leaks. Newspapers have relied on countless government officials to divulge vital information that their bosses want to be kept secret. There is even value in the sanctioned leak, such as when the White House, say, lets out information that it wants known but does not want to announce.

    But it is something else entirely when officials peddle disinformation for propaganda purposes or to harm a political adversary…

    And what were the Pentagon Papers and Daniel Ellsberg?

    New York Times = Biased Hypocrisy