Doh! Top Science Journal Retractions of 2011
Bad science papers can have lasting effects. Consider the 1998 paper in the journal The Lancet that linked autism to the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. That paper was fully retracted in 2010 upon evidence that senior author Andrew Wakefield had manipulated data and breached several proper ethical codes of conduct.
Nevertheless the erroneous paper continues to undermine public confidence in vaccines. After the Lancet article, MMR vaccination rates dipped sharply and havent fully rebounded.
Organic Cotton Monkey Baby Toy
Appealing face and cuddly limbs make this monkey doll a lovely toy for babies from newborn up. Long arms and legs are easy to grab and the pesticide free organic cotton is safe for baby to chew on or suck. The monkey is made in Egypt by Under the Nile using cotton grown in Egypt to high organic standards and with exacting safety standards. It is about 11 inches in height, so small enough for baby to hold easily. A fun and affordable baby shower gift for the eco-conscious family. Costs $15.99 from Oompa
Giveaway: Target Healthier Lifestyles Prize Pack (3 winners!)
As we round out the month of January, a lot of us had goals and resolutions and for many, they are already being abandoned.
But theres always time to have a healthier and more fit you, and weve teamed with Target to create a giveaway package dedicated to healthy living that THREE of you will win:
C9 by Champion outfit (personalized by size)
The stylish and supportive ensemble, personalized for you by size, will move with your body and complement your workout.
Two Years Later, UM’s Hospital in Haiti Nurtures a Small But Mighty Seed
Medical volunteers from the U.S. still fly in weekly, but Haiti’s only trauma, critical care and rehabilitation hospital is staffed by Haitian doctors and nurses. A new education center to train hundreds of health professionals is under construction. The pathology lab boasts state-of-the art instruments. Out-patient clinics for wound care, prosthetics, physical therapy and other unique services see 150 patients a day. A
Blood cell test for HIV treatment monitoring is cheaper but just as effective
A cheaper laboratory test that helps guide anti-retroviral drug treatment for people with HIV/AIDS may be just as effective as a more sophisticated test, a group of international researchers has found – a discovery that could be particularly important in rural Africa.
While the findings by researchers in the United States, Canada and Uganda must still be confirmed through additional clinical trials, the authors said, they suggest that the more expensive method—called viral load testing—may not provide a substantial benefit over the cheaper and older one, known as CD4+ testing.
“No one had directly looked at this question in Africa before,” said James G. Kahn,
