Medical Writing Industry

Renal Cancer and CKD: A Causal Link?

2011-12-31T16:08:00.000-08:00

Are patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) predisposed to renal (kidney) cancer?
A presentation on a possible causal link between RCC, CKD and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD):

http://slidesha.re/s6i70r

The Significance of Informed Consent in Clinical Research

2011-12-31T15:11:00.000-08:00

The importance of having Informed Consent Forms properly completed and disseminated to patients signed on for clinical trials is not only of great importance to the well-being and safety of the patient/subject, but of equal importance to the ethics of the trial and its investigators. Beyond that, as well, the document is more than signed paperwork authorizing permission for the patient/subject to participate, but an opportunity to open a dialogue between patient and physician about the specifics of the medical intervention. It's communication. For more on the document, the process and historical significance, see more in this article from Chilibreeze.com:

The Significance of Informed Consent in Clinical Research

Medical Writing Tips - 12.31.11

2011-12-31T13:02:00.000-08:00

Medical writing---particularly on the regulatory side, is an industry where "hitting the ground running" is generally the rule rather than the exception. That being said, the MW who spends more time in early preparation, when that's possible, is the MW who will be ahead, as the project launches into the predictable stressful phases as the project moves forward. Here are tips for managing the expected, "multiple priorities" that require multi-tasking to the extreme.

http://info.quanticate.com/bid/51135/Medical-Writing-Tips-For-Managing-Multiple-Priorities

Whooping Cough Alert On Long Island « CBS New York

2011-11-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

Whooping Cough Outbreak

Potentially fatal strain of Whooping Cough on Long Island has sparked an unexpected outbreak, spurring health officials into action, who say the outbreak began with 13 cases that have now spread to more than a dozen districts in Suffolk County, NY.

See the full article below:

Whooping Cough Alert On Long Island « CBS New York

Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program - Drug Information Association

2011-11-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

I continually receive inquiries from writers interested in medical writing training courses, certificate or degreed university programs in medical writing.

While I won't personally endorse any of the programs listed here, I will offer to provide as much information as available to help writers make informed choices.

This program is a certificate-based type of training offered by the Drug Information Association (DIA).

According to its program description, it offers a comprehensive, "highly-interactive" curriculum of courses especially designed for working professionals.
It covers:
• US regulatory affairs: the IND and NDA phases
• EU regulatory requirements
• Post-approval regulatory requirements
• Regulatory requirements for product labeling
and advertising
• Regulatory courses covering drug, medical
device, and biologic products and more...

For details on upcoming course dates, times and tuition, see the link below, for additional information.

Our next post will look into courses offered through the Biomedical Writing Program at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.

Regulatory Affairs Certificate Program - Drug Information Association

Is Schizophrenia Passed on From Mother to Newborn?

2011-11-25T10:56:00.001-08:00

This was a blog article written in 2008 for the Women's Bioethics Project blog, about the possible causality between DNA and acquiring schizophrenia. Is there a causal link between maternal stress, fetal development and schizophrenia? See my blog article and details from the original 2008 article from Time.

Transcept Wins FDA Approval for the First Mid-Night Waking Drug

2011-11-24T15:38:00.001-08:00

Transcept Pharmaceuticals is the first to be awarded FDA Approval for Intermezzo, a new drug that will assist those who are plagued with annoying mid-night waking, to get back to sleep. Intermezzo is Transcept's FIRST product.

To read the FULL article, click HERE

Full Link: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-24/transcept-wins-fda-approval-for-first-drug-for-mid-night-waking.html

FDA Removes Avastin from the Market

2011-11-18T17:44:00.001-08:00

Avastin

The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it was revoking its approval of the drug Avastin for breast cancer after concluding that it “has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use.” The Agency maintained its position in spite of pleas from women who say the drug is keeping them alive.

See the full article from the NYT:

Speed Up Your Metabolism - via ConsumerAffairs.com

2011-11-13T19:07:00.001-08:00

Just in time for the upcoming holidays, ConsumerAffairs.com breaks down what your body needs to jump start a sluggish metabolism, which will help shed any holiday weight gain, or better yet -- avoid it altogether.

Read the full article here:

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/nutrition/metab_speed.html

Sickle Cell anemia (Disease) by Wanda Reese

2011-11-12T14:55:00.001-08:00

Sickle Cell Anemia (Disease)

Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition characterized by sickle (crescent)-shaped red blood cells and chronic anemia caused by excessive destruction of red blood cells, that affects African Americans almost exclusively. About 10% of African Americans in the United States who have one copy of the gene for sickle cell disease (meaning they have sickle cell trait), do not develop sickle cell disease. About 0.3% have two copies of the gene; they develop the disease.

Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease) is a genetic disorder of the blood, which alters the hemoglobin molecule. It occurs when an individual inherits two copies of the sickle cell gene—one from each parent—by way of an autosomal recessive pattern.[1] The majority of sickle cell patients have ancestry in Africa, Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Turkey and Greece; Arabic nations and Spanish-speaking regions in South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean.

An abnormal type of hemoglobin, called hemoglobin S, triggers mutations in the hemoglobin beta (HBB) gene, which provides instructions for the production of hemoglobin.[2] Hemoglobin is a protein inside red blood cells responsible for the transport and exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the cells to the body’s tissues. Normally, oxygen is carried from the lungs to the tissues, and returned as carbon dioxide. In sickle cell disease, the process malfunctions, resulting in defective hemoglobin that is distorted or becomes misshapen (sickled) within the red blood cell, resulting in cells that “clog up” small blood vessels (polymerization). These defective cells further block tissues from receiving adequate amounts of oxygen (hypoxia). The sickle-shaped cells cause anemia, due to the decreased number of healthy red blood cells.[3] Fewer red blood cells also mean blocked blood vessels, and significant damage to tissues and organs, as well as pain.

Figure 1

The obstruction of oxygen-rich blood leads to a cascade of likely events:

· Cell dehydration due to water and potassium loss from excessive acidity

· Narrowed blood volume due to nitric acid deficiency

· Irreversible tissue damage and vaso-occlusive crises

· Chronic hemolysis

· Tissue micro infarction

· Pulmonary/chest infection

· Major organ enlargement: spleen, heart, liver

· Strokes

· Damage to lungs, kidneys, bones

· Organ failure

· Shortened life expectancy (40 -50 years currently; previously 20-40 years)[4]

In the United States, sickle cell disease occurs in approximately 1 in every 600 African American births, and 1 in every 1,000 to 1,400 Latino American births.

Nearly 2 million Americans have sickle cell trait. 1 in 12 are African Americans.[5]

________________________________________________

1 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Web site. Sickle Cell Disease. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhatIs.html

Accessed: November 1, 2007

2 CT Noguchi. Sickle cell disease pathophysiology. Baillieres Clinical Haematology 0950-3536 vol: 6 (1) 1993 p:57 -91

3 MA Bender, MD, PhD Sickle Cell Disease (Updated[Last Update]): 7 March 2006 In: GeneReviews at GeneTests: Medical Genetics Information Resource (database online). Copyright, University of Washington, Seattle. 1997-2007. Available at http://www.geneclinics.org/query?dz=sickle

Accessed [November 1, 2007]

4 MH Steinberg. Pathophysiology of sickle cell disease. Baillieres Clinical Haematology 0950-3536 vol: 11 (1) 1998 p:163 -84

5 Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. Available at: scdaa@sicklecelldisease.org

Accessed: November 1, 2007

Foot, Leg and Ankle Swelling

2011-11-09T09:40:00.000-08:00

Painless swelling of the feet and ankles is a common problem within certain patient groups, most especially, the elderly. the problem is due to an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lower extremities, and is known by the clinical name of "edema".

Foot, leg, and ankle swelling: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

Should Freelances Outsource? via Freelancefolder.com

2011-11-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

http://freelancefolder.com/should-freelancers-outsource/http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

7 Symptoms That Suggest You Have Kidney Damage - Type 2 Diabetes - Health.com

2011-09-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

7 Symptoms That Suggest You Have Kidney Damage - Type 2 Diabetes - Health.com

5 Surprising Signs of an Unhealthy Heart

2011-07-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

5 Surprising Signs of an Unhealthy Heart

The impact of social media on the pharma industry

2011-05-20T14:07:00.000-07:00

If you're in Pharma, and post regularly on Facebook, new changes to the site's "Comments" section will impact what you post, beginning in August.

http://www.intouchsol.com/insights/Articles/05-19-11/How_Facebook_s_New_Comment_Policy_Impacts_Your_Pharma_Facebook_Page.aspx

DIY Gastro Treatments at Home

2011-05-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/diarrhea-debilitating-digestive-ills-relieved-diy-fecal-transplants/story?id=13601702

Scientists find "master switch" gene for obesity

2011-05-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

Scientists are calling this gene the "master switch" that controls other genes found in fat in the human body...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110515/hl_nm/us_obesity_genes;_ylt=Aqn4_q6vNVDXcj3uSEc2bViOOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ1amJxM2swBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMTEwNTE1L3VzX29iZXNpdHlfZ2VuZXMEY2NvZGUDZ21wZQRjcG9zAzgEcG9zAzgEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNzY2llbnRpc3RzZmk-

The 24- Hour Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation: Is it Safe?

2011-05-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.stylelist.com/2011/04/30/24-hour-rapid-recovery-breast-augmentation/

Consumer Updates Ten Tips to Prevent an Accidental Overdose

2011-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Consumer Updates Ten Tips to Prevent an Accidental Overdose

First Full Face Transplant in U.S. Unveiled - The Daily Beast

2011-03-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

First Full Face Transplant in U.S. Unveiled - The Daily Beast

What's Up with Potassium Iodine?

2011-03-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Posted to Current Events in Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, March 15, 2011.
http://bit.ly/hHOHg7

Blood Clots in the Young , Healthy and Fit

2011-03-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20470190,00.html

Starch Resistant in a Good Way...

2011-03-02T08:22:00.000-08:00

Bananas: best snack on the planet. Starch-resistant and potassium-rich
See full article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/bananas-the-ultimate-hunger-buster-2456998/

Taking Care to Properly Protect Your Skin

2011-02-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

Sun + Unprotected Skin = Aging...and worse
From Healthfinder.gov:
http://www.healthfinder.gov/prevention/ViewTopic.aspx?topicId=44&catId=9

The chemicals that turn your Coke brown? They're giving us cancer

2011-02-18T05:48:00.000-08:00

From TIME.com:
http://ti.me/fCTJWJ