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The Problem with Heparin

March 31, 2008 9:46 AM

I sat down Sunday morning to drink a cup of coffee and have breakfast but as soon as I opened the NEW YORK TIMES and turned to page 3 of THE WORLD SECTION, I immediately lost my appetite.

Staring me in the face was a very dramatic photo taken by Ariana Lindquist.

It showed several black kettles with a stringy, milky white substance dripping over the sides of each onto a table where some of the goo seemed to be heading to the floor.  The walls of the room looked dirty and dingy and there was one person standing over the entire mess like a cook in a dirty restaurant that should be shut down by health inspectors.  The line under the photo read: "SUPPLY CHAIN.  This family owned workshop in Xinwangzhuang, a village in Juangsu Province, China, processes PIG INTESTINES.  MUCOUS MEMBRANES FROM THE INTESTINES are used to make HEPARIN."

Heparin is a widely used blood thinner.

The article accompanying the photo was written by Walt Bogdanich, and he said the pig membranes are mixed together and cooked in a process that in "CHINA OFTEN TAKES PLACE IN UNREGULATED FAMILY WORKSHOPS." 

The next stop is a middleman, called an consolidator, who gets the goo and sends it to Chinese plants that make the active ingredients in heparin.  Another trader takes over from there and eventually the product reaches the United States.

Recently, of course,  there has been a problem with the Heparin.

19 people have died and many hundreds more have had a very severe reaction to it. Reporter Bogdanich says MORE than 500 PLANTS IN CHINA export drug ingredients to the United States and the FDA inspected just 13 OF THEM LAST YEAR. The Chinese Heparin plant was not one of the 13.

Instead of saying grace before my meal, I said a little prayer that I never need Heparin made in China!      

March 31, 2008 in Weblogs | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

The Bomb Squad Missed the Bomb

March 26, 2008 7:44 AM

Whenever there is a suspicious package, a suspicious pickup truck or a man carrying a gun and a sword near the U.S. Capitol, the bomb squad swings into action, streets get shut down, there is traffic chaos and the cable networks go nuts!

That's what happened last January 18th when Capitol Hill police spotted an armed Michael S. Gorbey near the Capitol and his pickup truck parked a couple of blocks away.  But when the bomb squad was called in to take a look at the truck, they missed something---THE BOMB! 

That according to WASHINGTON POST reporters Mary Beth Sheridan and Keith L. Alexander who say the crude device, "a can of gunpowder duct-taped to a box of shotgun shells and a bottle containing buckshot or BB pellets" was not discovered until FEBRUARY when the police took a second look at Gorbey's truck that had been sitting in a government printing office parking lot since being seized THREE WEEKS earlier. 

A source told the POST reporters that because the incident happened on a Friday afternoon just as the long Martin Luther King Holiday weekend was about to begin, and drivers and residents were complaining about street closures, "BOMB SQUAD TECHNICIANS WERE URGED BY THEIR SUPERIORS TO HURRY AND THEY MISSED THE DEVICE that was rolled up in old clothes behind the driver's seat."   

March 26, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Begging for a Drug on YouTube

March 25, 2008 8:23 AM

Sixty-two-year-old Connie Loughman lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Like actor Patrick Swayze she has pancreatic cancer.  Unlike Swayze she does not have the fame that automatically leads to saturated news coverage.  So according to BALTIMORE SUN reporter Tricia Bishop, Connie's three daughters have launched a very public campaign to get their mother some help.  They have put a video of her plight, along with pictures of Swayze, on YouTube, and started a WEB SITE.   

What do they want?  They want to get an experimental cancer drug being tested by a small biotech firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  The firm is GenVec Inc. and their drug is called TNFerade.  According to reporter Bishop, the family has offered to PAY for the drug and has agreed to release GenVec from any liability.  The Sun article says that due to Connie Loughman's participation in an earlier clinical trial and chemotherapy treatments she recently received to control a tumor on her pancreas she is NOT eligible for GenVec's ongoing TNFerade clinical trial.  Company executives say they cannot help until they get more clinical trial information. But the family thinks TNFerade is a "CURE" and that worries GenVec officials who told the paper that the drug currently extends life about four months.  "We've never used the word cure..we're talking about months, not years."      

For Connie Loughman and her daughters the possibility of four more months is better than what they face now.

March 25, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

'Do You Worry About Your Arms and Legs Being Blown Off By an IED?'

March 20, 2008 8:51 AM

Dan Rodricks who writes for the BALTIMORE SUN has a particularly incisive column this morning, a day after the 5th anniversary of "Shock and Awe."  Rodricks talks about an Associated Press survey of 2,253 college students that found some of them are feeling a whole lot of stress because of SPRING BREAK.

Rodricks says the survey indicates some are worried about being out of shape, not sufficiently tanned, and not having enough money to even go on spring break.  "Life is rough for the 20-somethings of America.  What kind of world have we baby boomers left our children?" he asks.  Then Rodricks asks some questions he says he assumes the AP did NOT ask in their survey.

"Do you worry that your legs and arms might be blown off by an IED?  Have you experienced any nightmares because of all the carnage you saw during your tour of duty?  Do you feel that mainstream American society does not appreciate your service and sacrifice in Iraq?"

Rodricks goes on, "Of course I'm being ridiculous.  These questions would have been irrelevant to most college students.  We do not have a draft, and recruiters in the age of the all volunteer military target a certain segment in our society.  Only a small segment steps forward to serve---and it's not, by and large, the educated and affluent segment.  The elites have sat this one out.  So little wonder the kids on college campuses might be MORE STRESSED over the prospect of SPRING BREAK than the prospect of 18 MONTHS IN BASRA."

Rodricks talks about Army Lt. Andrew B. Aiken who has just returned from 15 months in Baghdad and won a Bronze Star while there.  Aiken's father told the columnist that "there are too few Americans performing this sworn duty.  THEY'RE NOT EVEN BEING ASKED TO."             

March 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: "PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND. IT WILL DEVASTATE THE DISSIDENTS..."

March 19, 2008 4:33 PM

Republican Frank Wolf who sits on the House Appropriations Committee has sent a letter to the President.

"I remain deeply troubled by your decision to attend the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  In addition to China's long track record of human rights abuses, by developing Sudan's oil sector, the Chinese government directly finances the ongoing GENOCIDE in the Darfur region...Although I cannot stop you from attending the games in Beijing, I have proposed a BAN ON ALL U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM USING TAXPAYER MONEY TO ATTEND THE OLYMPICS..."

At the the very bottom of the letter, Rep. Wolf, in his own handwriting, begs the president not to go---"PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND.  IT WILL DEVASTATE THE DISSIDENTS.  GOD BLESS."

March 19, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Maybe Paulson Ought to Call It a 'Banana'

March 18, 2008 8:09 AM

On GOOD MORNING AMERICA this morning, Diane Sawyer tried real hard to get Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to admit that the current economic mess is indeed a recession.  Paulson refused saying it's up to the economists to call it what it is.

Back in the 70's ALFRED KAHN was President Jimmy Carter's inflation fighter and he a lot of inflation to fight.  Kahn once called the miserable economic situation back then a RECESSION but after being harshly criticized for using that terrifying word, he decided to give two consecutive quarters of economic misery a new title: "A BANANA."

Maybe Secretary Paulson can find another fruit to call this period of economic chaos.

March 18, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

THE IRS COULD LOSE $681 MILLION ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE REBATE CHECKS

March 13, 2008 12:28 PM

We already know that the U.S. government plans to spend MILLIONS of dollars mailing letters to tell everyone to be on the lookout for those rebate checks coming in May and June.  Now we find out from the GAO that the IRS has "begun shifting HUNDREDS OF COLLECTION STAFF to ANSWERING TAXPAYER CALLS about THEIR ECONOMIC STIMULUS CHECKS."  The GAO will tell a House Ways and Means subcommittee this morning that the IRS estimates that shifting those hundreds of collection staff to TELEPHONES will result in an estimated REVENUE LOSS OF $681 MILLION.

The National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, will tell that same subcommittee that she believes the IRS has many more cases of IDENTITY THEFT on its hands than it is willing to admit and the ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE PROGRAM is uncovering MORE.  "...my employees report that they are now receiving calls from SENIORS who filed for the ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT after NOT FILING FOR YEARS, only to FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD BEEN USING THEIR SSN ON TAX RETURNS."

Olsen also wants the IRS to shut down its PRIVATE DEBT COLLECTION INITIATIVE because she says it will COST the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT LEAST $81 MILLION in FOREGONE REVENUE EACH YEAR.  In her testimony she says the IRS is spending $7.65 MILLION each year on the program that brings in just about $11 MILLION, "which translates to about a 1.45:1 net return on investment."  Olson says if the IRS spent that same $7.65 MILLION on its OWN AUTOMATED COLLECTION SYSTEM which has a 13:1 net return on investment the Treasury coffers would have an additional $81 MILLION in them each year.

March 13, 2008 in Congress | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

PUSHING DRUGS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEXUAL TENSION

March 12, 2008 8:35 AM

Shahram Ahari was recruited "fresh out of college" by Eli Lilly and he says he was very eager to use his degree in molecular biology and biochemistry in his job.  "But shortly after my hiring, it became clearly apparent that a drug sale had much more to do with ESTABLISHING PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS than with the understanding of the LATEST SCIENCE.  However, any doubts I held regarding the effectiveness of such methods were dispelled by the results of my persuasiveness and the FINANCIAL REWARDS I RECEIVED for my efforts."

Ahari worked for the drug giant for 20 months and today he tells a special aging committee, chaired by Senator Herb Kohl, about his training, learning how to manipulate an expense report to EXCEED the spending limit for IMPORTANT CLIENTS, how to use FREE SAMPLES to leverage sales, how to USE FRIENDSHIPS to foster an IMPLIED "QUID PRO QUO" relationship and the IMPORTANCE OF SEXUAL TENSION..."

He says drug makers recruit a young, attractive workforce and adds "The ranks of reps are replete with sexual icons: former cheerleaders, ex-military, models and athletes."  Ahari says drug reps themselves are given "LONG and COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS to assess their personalities."  He says while female reps are more common that male reps, males and females are mixed whenever possible to provide "GENDER APPEAL TO ALL CLIENTS IN A TERRITORY.  Quite simply put: SOME DOCTORS PREFER THE COMPANY OF MEN and SOME THE COMPANY OF WOMEN." 

Ahari says some doctors are susceptible to a CONGENIAL MEAL WITH FRIENDS, others expect an ABUNDANCE OF FREE SAMPLES, while still others prefer to be elevated to the ranks of OFFICIAL PAID SPEAKERS."  For some a "BOX of DOUGHNUTS and COFFEE for the staff" is enough.  "THE QUID PRO QUO in all of these scenarios is TACIT and NEVER DIRECTLY STATED.  HOWEVER, THE CLIENTS LEARN FAST THAT THESE GIFTS COME WITH STRINGS ATTACHED."

He says data is collected to determine which doctors write the "MOST SCRIPTS (i.e. , prescriptions)."  The doctors are rated 1 to 10 with those given a 10 being the greatest writers of prescriptions.  Ahari says "10-ranked physicians are known by all the drug reps in the territory and they are given the MOST ATTENTION and the MOST LAVISH GIFTS." 

Ahari says he quit because he found himself in "constant conflict with the values imprinted upon me by my family of medical practitioners...I was troubled that I could walk into an office filled with WAITING PATIENTS but know that I WOULD BE SEEN FIRST BY THE DOCTOR by virtue of our friendship.  I was bothered to know that doctors who denied my products' medical effectiveness would PRESCRIBE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF IT AFTER A FRIENDLY (but expensive) DINNER IN MANHATTAN."      

March 12, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

"BEFORE 6:45pm on SEPTEMBER 6, 2003 I HAD EVERYTHING."

March 11, 2008 9:49 AM

"An adorable 2 year old little boy, another little baby boy to be born any minute and a husband who was truly the best friend I have ever had.  But after the phone rang alerting my husband of his activation I knew my life would change but I had no idea how much."

Jackie McMichael, who says she is the proud wife of Lt. Michael McMichael of the North Carolina National Guard is appearing before the senate veterans' committee today to tell her husband's story and plead with the committee for more help for vets and their families.

"My husband came back from Iraq on January 7, 2005.  He walked off the plane.  He smiled.  He was a little skinny, but otherwise healthy looking.  He looked happy.  After the euphoria of Mike being home began to wear off, the changes in him were noticeable and dramatic."  Jackie McMichael says her husband must walk with a cane due to a crushed vertebrae he suffered during an IED blast.  She says he has severe migraines that can last for days, very rarely sleeps through the night and has hallucinations about people around him frequently talking to them and attempting to interact with them.  "Even on a good day he has hand and body tremors."

"Mike went from making slightly less than $70k a year to losing 3 jobs because of difficulty transitioning back to civilian life and now makes $10k a year on VA disability.  He is unable to work because of his PTSD, TBI and various physical issues...He has had numerous breakdowns resulting in 3 hospital stays for mental health reasons..."

"My Children have seen their Daddy in emotional moments they are too young to understand.  ALL THEY KNOW IS THEIR DADDY WAS A SOLDIER.  HE PUT BAD GUYS IN TIME OUT.  THE BAD GUYS GAVE DADDY A HEAD BOO-BOO and NOW SOMETIMES HE GETS SAD and MAD."

March 11, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

Speeding Above the Law

March 10, 2008 8:59 AM

Montgomery County, Maryland uses cameras to nab those driving over the speed limit.  According to WASHINGTON POST reporter Ernesto Londono among the thousands of drivers caught on camera speeding are Montgomery County POLICE OFFICERS and their union is telling them NOT TO PAY THE FINES.  Reporter Londono says in recent weeks "officers have twice been photographed speeding past a camera EXTENDING A MIDDLE FINGER, an act that police supervisors interpreted as a gesture of defiance." 

The union that represents the county police says under the law the tickets go to the owner of the car---the county---not the driver, which means TAXPAYERS must pay not only their own $40 speeding tickets but those of the police officers sworn to uphold the laws.  Police Chief J. Thomas Manger wants his officers to pay the fines UNLESS it can be proven that they were speeding on the way to an emergency.  In fact the article says Montgomery County FIREMEN, members of the Sheriff's office along with officers from four municipal police departments all PAY their fines when caught on camera speeding.  Sheriff Raymond M. Kight told the paper, "We haven't had any

March 10, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)