Jivin J's Life Links 9-9-09

web grab.jpgby JivinJ

  • Sarah Palin discusses the problem with the bureaucratization of health care in the Wall Street Journal:
  • Now look at one way Mr. Obama wants to eliminate inefficiency and waste: He's asked Congress to create an Independent Medicare Advisory Council - an unelected, largely unaccountable group of experts charged with containing Medicare costs. In an interview with the in April, the president suggested that such a group, working outside of "normal political channels," should guide decisions regarding that "huge driver of cost... the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives...."

    obama death panel 2.jpg

    Given such statements, is it any wonder that many of the sick and elderly are concerned that the Democrats' proposals will ultimately lead to rationing of their health care by - dare I say it - death panels?

    Establishment voices dismissed that phrase, but it rang true for many Americans. Working through "normal political channels," they made themselves heard, and as a result Congress will likely reject a wrong-headed proposal to authorize end-of-life counseling in this cost-cutting context. But the fact remains that the Democrats' proposals would still empower unelected bureaucrats to make decisions affecting life or death health-care matters. Such government overreaching is what we've come to expect from this administration.

  • Researchers at Stanford University have discovered a quicker way of creating induced pluripotent stem cells. Instead of using skin cells, they dramatically cut the time and increased the efficiency of process by using fat cells:
  • Thumbnail image for fat for liposuction.jpg

    Other stem cells in the body, such as liver and stomach cells, have been examined for their ability to culture usable iPS cells. Fat stem cells, however, seem especially primed for the job, as they are capable of turning into fat, heart, bone or muscle tissue. "We know that these fat cells are multipotent, which should [make it] easier to reprogram them," Wu says.

    Indeed, they were: According to the team's findings, adipose stem cells can be turned into iPS cells twice as quickly as fibroblast skin cells and with 20 times the efficiency. The process can begin immediately after the fat is harvested - via liposuction - and cells are ready to culture within the same day.

  • A pair of late-stage clinical trials using a drug derived from adult stem cells showed the drug, Prochymal, didn't improve the patients' conditions anymore than a placebo.

  • Comments:

    I will be happy to donate some fat cells to science after this pregnancy! Preferably right from my abdomen area... :)

    Posted by: Kristen at September 9, 2009 3:07 PM


    Blowback from Palin's WSJ op-ed:

    The Politico informs us that an unnamed White House senior official expressed doubt of Palin's ability to write her own stuff or consider the complexities of health care.

    We do know that the leftists abuse and assault Black conservatives, and the same could be expected for women. Perhaps there are three reasons for the tenor of the Whitehouse in disrespecting Palin.
    It could be simply the traditional Leftist practice of abusing women, seen among so many of the leaders and acolytes, or it could be due to the cultural upbringing of the president. (From a feminist standpoint, the social status of a Muslim woman is not to be envied.) Lastly, there is the possibility that Obama's envy of Palin's ability to speak extemporaneously and without a teleprompter drives this maltreatment.

    Don't look for any increase in respect for women under the new health care regime either.

    But for now, the face of Obama's white house shows disrespect for Palin and all women, while behind the scenes it issues spin and talking points to counter each statement put out by the former Alaskan governor.

    Posted by: Pharmer at September 9, 2009 4:24 PM