Promising skin cancer news

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Michael

One of the oldest treatments for cancer in the modern era is to stimulate the immune system. William Coley was one of the pioneers in this technique, coming up with Coley’s Toxin in the late 19th century. This was a mixture that basically involved infecting patients with the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. Coley claimed fantastic results, but he kept his records poorly. I don’t know if he ever lied – there is no direct evidence which says he did – but his results were almost always questionable. Besides that, he tended to lose patients to bacterial infections from time to time.

Cancer research lost some of its focus on the immune system in the early part of the 20th century, Coley’s toxin was reclassified into oblivion by the FDA, and governments really didn’t supply the funds for research they should have. Research, however, has long come back around to looking at the immune system and how it can help fight cancerous cells. One of the most recent results has to do with a new drug, Ipilimumab, which is for patients with melanoma

The results, reported Saturday at a cancer conference, left doctors elated.

“We have not had any therapy that has prolonged survival” until now, said Dr. Lynn Schuchter of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, a skin cancer specialist with no role in the study or ties to the drug’s maker.

The drug, ipilimumab, (ip-ee-LIM-uh-mab), works by helping the immune system fight tumors. The federal Food and Drug Administration has pledged a quick review, and doctors think the drug could be available by the end of this year.

Ipilimumab is a T-cell potentiator. T-cells basically have antigens which help to regulate immune responses. These antigens inhibit ‘overreactions’ within the immune system. What ipilimumab does is block this inhibition. It says to the immune system, ‘Run wild, you’re free!’

The increased survival rate is great when measured by percentage – 67% – but the practical numbers only mean a few more months of life. That’s how a lot of cancer research goes, unfortunately, and it makes it all so much less of an elation. But this is still hopeful. It’s good progress on the cancer front. (But do keep in mind, this is just one study for one type of cancer, interesting and promising as it may be.)

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The most important fact about Venter’s achievement

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Michael

If not the most important fact about what Craig Venter did is not that it raises ethical questions or anything like that (the questions are overblown anyway). Instead, it’s that what he did was a massive technical feat. It’s long, long, long been known that what he did was possible in theory. Everyone expected it to work. The problem was in making it work. That side of the problem came with different expectations. Almost certainly someday, yes, we ought to be able to synthesize a genome and insert it into a cell, but today? Could Venter’s team do it successfully using such a length of base pairs? The answer is yes, but that wasn’t always clear.

While I’m at it I suppose I can point out two more huge facts: first, the organism has no parents. It was not conceived sexually or replicated asexually. It is a product of pure chemistry, and that tells us something about the cell. Second, this achievement means we can go into a computer, change a few amino acids, and come up with completely different gene products. The first application may well be for industrial use (wouldn’t it be great to produce bacteria that just love to eat up oil spills?). I suspect another major application will somehow involve cancer treatment. The creation of an enzyme which makes it more difficult for cancer to recruit blood vessels (angiogenesis) or which reduces some other product cancer brings about for its own perpetuation may be the next big revolution in the so-called “War on Cancer”.

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BRCA1 and BRCA2 patents struck down

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Michael

For years private companies have been putting patents on your genes. In fact, roughly 1/5 of human genes has been patented. This potentially has huge ramifications as it can restrict research abilities to one company or at least make others wary of future pursuits. Fortunately, a federal judge has struck down much of this practice.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet challenging whether anyone can hold patents on human genes was expected to have broad implications for the biotechnology industry and genetics-based medical research.

Sweet said he invalidated the patents because DNA’s existence in an isolated form does not alter the fundamental quality of DNA as it exists in the body nor the information it encodes.

He rejected arguments that it was acceptable to grant patents on DNA sequences as long as they are claimed in the form of “isolated DNA.”

The specific genes this primarily affects are the BCRA1 and BRCA2 genes, both tumor suppressors. (That means damage to these genes can quickly lead to cancer.) These are highly important areas of research which women cannot afford to have restricted to one company. The ruling will surely be appealed, but it is encouraging to see the case go in this direction.

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Thought of the day

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Michael

Filed under: Misc | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

Andreas Moritz, king whiner

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Michael

While Andreas Moritz (Hi, Andy!) is best known for telling people things which will kill them, he has also made himself into quite a whiner. He whined to get this site shut down for six days (until common sense prevailed). He then whined to get an anti-him Facebook fan page taken down. Then a group was created that was actually pretty innocent (“I bet this group can get more members than Andreas Moritz’s fan page” or something similar). Fearing he would not long be able to swindle innocent victims, he whined and got that shut down. Since Facebook is virtually impossible to contact within any degree of reason, it probably isn’t worth it to double-whine. Instead, there is a new group.

I hate cancer quacks.

I wonder if Moritz will try to get this one shut down? As a top cancer quack, he does have standing.

Filed under: Pure bullshit | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

This shit is why I hate Andreas Moritz

Posted on March 17, 2010 by Michael

Andreas Moritz, frequent reader and big fan of this blog, says some of the most vile things.

Many cancer patients have devoted their entire lives to helping and supporting others. Their selfless service can be very a noble quality, depending on the motivation behind it. If they sacrifice and neglect their own well being to avoid facing any shame, guilt or unworthiness within them, they are actually cutting off the very limb they are hanging on. They are ‘selflessly’ devoted to please others so that, in return, they may be loved and appreciated for their contributions. This, however, serves as an unconscious acknowledgment of not loving oneself. This may lock up unresolved issues, fears, and feelings of unworthiness in the cellular memory of organs and tissues in the body.

“Love your neighbor as yourself” is one of the most basic requirements for curing cancer.

I despise Moritz’s blame-the-victim routine. “Don’t love yourself? Yeah, that’s probably why you have cancer. Oh, what? You feel worse? Well, buy my quacking bullshit. If it doesn’t work, that’s your fault, too.”

As DNA research has recently proved, you can literally alter your DNA’s genetic setting and behavior within a matter of a moment. Your DNA listens to every word you utter to yourself and it feels every emotion you experience. Moreover, it responds to all of them. You program yourself every second of the day, consciously and unconsciously.

Wow. That’s pretty hefty stuff. I’m sure Moritz can cite in what scientific paper he read this, right? I mean, what a survival mechanism this could be. And DNA listens?! Wowzie!

But I’m just kidding. Moritz has not the background to comprehend scientific papers. I’m sure he got his information from one of those real-medicine-is-evil networking sites that absolutely distorts every piece of information it presents.

If you choose to, you can rewrite the program in any way you want to, provided you are truly self-aware.

I’m not so sure Moritz actually knows what DNA is, how it works, or why he’s an idiot.

It is known that widows and people who are socially isolated, or have nobody to share their deepest feelings with, are the most prone to developing cancer.

Really? Old people are more prone to developing cancer? Oh, oh, oh. It isn’t that they’re old; it’s that they are sad. And, of course, they are sad because they aren’t buying this quack’s bullshit.

But I know, I know. I’m sort of assuming he’s doing this to make a buck. I mean, where has he said anything about giving him money? In fact, I made this entire post while reading what Moritz wrote (as opposed to reading the whole thing and then responding section by section). I obviously must have been going into his article with assumptions…

This is an extract from the book Timeless Secrets to Health and Rejuvenation, to order your own copy please click here.

Please share this knowledge with your friends by clicking on share and also connect with Andreas on his personal facebook page by clicking here .

The thing is, during the whole process of making this post, I was reading a paragraph, responding to particular bits, and then hoping the next section would be him asking for money just so I could point out his quackery a little more vividly. But now I’m ashamed. I mean, why was I was hoping? Aside from the displeasure of knowing people’s lives are at risk because of Moritz’s advertising, I should have been certain. This man is a pile of manure, a practitioner of malarkey. I should always know he’s going to attempt to swindle people.

Filed under: Pure bullshit | Tagged: , , , , | 64 Comments »

The incoherent ramblings of Andreas Moritz

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Michael

One positive that immediately came from Andy Moritz whining about my Facebook fan page of him is that I know he still reads this blog. I never directly sent him any of the information about the page, so unless he happened to go searching for himself within hours of me creating it, then he got his information here. That’s swell because now he can read this. (Hi, Andy!)

Moritz often says the most incoherent bullshit. The man is a moron with no grasp on anything. This holds especially true for the basics of biology.

When one or more amino acids become depleted, DNA or RNA molecules break apart, leaving behind their protein fragments labeled HIV.

This doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. It’s likes he found a few buzzwords in the glossary of a biology textbook and just randomly strung them together. Is he saying amino acids are proteins? Or does he mean DNA/RNA? Either way he’s as wrong as his syntax. And is he saying HIV is a protein? The quack is utterly incoherent.

But there’s more. This is from his shitty fan page.

Exercise to only half your capacity. Tiring yourself only defeats the very purpose. Exercise is supposed to make you feel refreshed, revitalized and energetic. As you proceed, your capacity for exercise will naturally increase.

Exactly. Exercise should be a walk in the park. It ought to be easy, untiring, and not even feel like exercise. That’s how all those people in infomercials get the way they are. They really just half-ass it and suddenly get buff as hell. Wait, what? Why doesn’t anyone believe me? Fine, don’t take my word for it. Andreas Moritz is the one with all the muscles (and not gaunt and weak or anything*).

One the most important discoveries ever made about man’s number one killer disease is rarely mentioned in reports on heart disease and its contributing risks, but this doesn’t make it less real. The greatest risk factors of developing heart disease are job satisfaction and the happiness rating.

Really? Where are your studies? Where is all the evidence? The moron doesn’t have any. This is just his ill-begotten opinion. He knows nothing.

If you want to help a sick person but do not know how, hold his/her hand in yours. This does more to help the person’s condition than any amount of sympathetic words could do.

This pretty much captures this guy. He doesn’t actually help anyone. And while he holds someone’s hand, he has his other hand in that person’s wallet. The condition of greed and deceit under which Moritz lives is greatly helped by this, far more so than any amount of sympathetic words could do.

*If you delete that picture, Andy, I have it saved and will upload it so we can all have yet another chuckle at your expense.

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Andreas Moritz, Facebooker

Posted on March 9, 2010 by Michael

Immediately following the Andreas Moritz fiasco that got my blog temporarily pulled, it appears Moritz created a Facebook fan page for himself. I just couldn’t resist the opportunity. But more importantly, I couldn’t resist writing this.

Andreas Moritz is a dangerous quack who gives shitty advice that can literally result in death for any who follow it. He doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about. No, seriously. I mean always. He just has no clue how unbelievably wrong he is about everything. Look at this shit.

“When one or more amino acids become depleted, DNA or RNA molecules break apart, leaving behind their protein fragments labeled HIV.”

No, no, what the fuck? This quack doesn’t have a basic education in biology. Don’t listen to him for anything.

And where did I write this? Why, on my new Facebook page, Andreas Moritz is a cancer quack.

Be sure to join before Moritz has that shutdown, too.

Filed under: Humor | Tagged: , , , | 6 Comments »

I get mail, too

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Michael

PZ isn’t the only one who gets mail. First, here’s what I sent to Moritz a couple of days ago.

I have no idea why you would listen to Maloney about contacting me. Had he not told you about the posts on Pharyngula about him? Were you honestly not aware of how much worse this was going to get for you? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

This was just after Christopher Maloney told PZ that he had advised Moritz to contact me. Of course, I would have quickly figured out who this quack friend of Maloney’s was; I had long ago looked up Moritz because of his poor writing skills, only to be impressed that he lived anywhere near any predominantly English speaking country. But quacks aren’t the brightest in the bunch. That might be why Moritz responded with this:

Oh, I am actually very grateful to you for spreading the word and creating a free publicity campaign for me. A lot of people who would never have heard about me, may now wonder and start to investigate. Eventually, they may want to know for themselves what this is about and buy some books of mine. I couldn’t have asked for a more effective advertising campaign. In fact, my stat counter shows that I had a 563% increase in genuine visitors yesterday and as of this early morning it is already double the number. So if it continues out be a huge success I may send you a check. I don’t mind the dozen swear emails, when my business is booming, thanks to your awareness campaign. I never had such a spike of interest in my work. Thanks again, you turned out to be a great blessing. And please, keep it going.

This was just silly. Moritz originally threatened me with a lawsuit because he claimed I had harmed his business and revenue. Honestly, I hope I destroy the man’s livelihood – that might mean saving a life. But whether I have or not apparently has been settled since Moritz just undermined his entire claim. Wanting to keep up the inanity, I didn’t note that specifically in my next email. However, I did respond with this:

Are you 5 years old? You’re seriously taking the “I wanted things like this!” tactic? That’s about as effective as your cancer ‘treatments’ – entirely useless and nothing more than quacking charlatanry.

You are a fraud, nothing more. You prey on the weak and sick when they are at their most vulnerable. You take money out of the pockets of cancer patients, promote the spread of HIV, and are a serious threat to the health of anyone stupid enough to listen to you. How have you literally not been arrested? You appear to be practicing woo medicine without any sort of license (and certainly no qualifications, but that has long been established).

This isn’t some sort of joke, Moritz. While I’m having an absolute blast watching you get blasted throughout the Interwebblings, I take no joy in knowing the real life harm you take pride in inflicting upon others. You need to stop taking advantage of the gullible. It’s unethical, immoral, illegal, dangerous, and inhumane. What the hell is wrong with you?

Before moving on to Moritz’s response, I want to note the far more interesting set of emails I received around the time of sending that. I won’t repost them here for the sake of not making this post longer than it needs to be, but I will say who sent them: Richard Dawkins, David Colquhoun, and Simon Singh. My atheist, science loving heart fluttered when I saw all that, I admit it.

Anyway. Moritz.

Honestly, I am not angry with you. As already mentioned, you are working to help spread the word about the fact that people can heal themselves without drugs or medical intervention. Although this wasn’t your intention, it’s happening. When I just checked the stat counter of my web site, today’s’ genuine visitor number rose by 786% compared to average.

Just so you know, I don’t practice medicine. I have no idea where you dreamed up that idea. I am not interested in practicing medicine, and never will be. I have never in my life treated an illness or tried stopping it like a medical doctor would. You must be smoking something. I have never taken any money from a cancer patient because I don’t treat cancer patients. I certainly don’t need a license to practice medicine when this is not what I do or want to do. I cannot be arrested for something I don’t do. I have helped millions of people understand how to live a healthy life so that their own body can heal itself. Since I don’t do any advertising, my work spreads word by mouth, only because people feel so much better because of that. Do you think millions of people can be deceived year after year, decade after decade by the same person? My books would have stopped selling 20 years ago. Quacks try to persuade people. I have no interested in doing so. I leave this up to the medical doctors and their patients who found value in what I write. Again, I don’t have a clue where you are coming from, except from some kind of hatred. Or are you hired by the pharmaceutical industry who funds such campaigns. Most likely.

Once again, thank you so very much for accomplishing something I have not even tried do. You are helping over 780% more people to know about my work. That’s’ huge. I don’t know how you accomplished that, but it’s working. Maybe I can entice you doing this for a whole year. This will make you a hero. You are helping humanity become a lot healthier.

I must admit I did receive 32 emails that were hostile and negative, which might please you. But they were basically just repetitions of what you said before. They consisted mostly of swear words, like fuck you, snake oil, quack, quack, quack, and you favorite word “stupid.” In other words, they might just have been from a handful of people who used multiple email addresses. On the other hand, I received 385 emails that encourage me to continue enriching people’s life and not to be deterred “by jealous people haters like Michael Hawkins” who prefer they are being killed by a medical system that according to the FDA’s own admission kills over 300,000 people each year, and that is just a low estimate.

Enjoy your weekend. Mine will be great, thanks to you!

Ya know, I originally called Moritz “a stupid…man” because he has no understanding of basic science, but it should be known that the term is not limited to his scientific illiteracy. His legal illiteracy is just as profound. What a strong libel case he must have now, no?

Filed under: Humor | Tagged: , , , , | 4 Comments »

Devil Facial Tumour Disease

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Michael

The seemingly needless “u” in “Tumour” is how it is written in reference to the disease, regardless of the country.

By Michael Hawkins

Devil Facial Tumour Disease is a particularly nasty cancer afflicting the Tasmanian devil population of Tasmania right now. It is spread by devils biting each other in the face and has been fatal for upwards of 50% of the population. Recent research has shed some light onto its origins.

Australian scientists found that the disease originates in Schwann cells, which protect peripheral nerve fibers. This has opened the door to the discovery of a genetic marker which can be used to diagnose the cancer.

What they also found was that in each subject, the disease was fundamentally the same. That is, the cancer does not originate in the individual devils, but instead comes from one common source, some long deceased devil. This means the disease can effectively be regarded as a separate organism, free to undergo its own evolution. Of course, its evolutionary ‘goals’ do not jive with the evolutionary ‘goals’ of its host, so there is an obvious conflict. (Please note the scare quotes around “goals”. The term is metaphorical.)

The cancer may become more and more virulent, allowing it to spread further and faster around the island. That could mean the end of both the devils and the cancer. Eventual death is not a very good long term evolutionary strategy, but then natural selection does not have any sort of foresight. Alternatively, the cancer could become less virulent so that its host could survive longer, thus offering the devil a greater chance to pass the disease along. Either way, the devils are out of luck.

One question this indirectly raises is if this susceptibility to cancer has anything to do with poor contact inhibition, the mechanism by which cells stop reproducing upon coming into contact with each other. Cells that don’t do that are called cancer. Most animals have one gene for this (p27), but naked mole rats have two (p27 and p16). This constitutes an extra barrier against cancer; as such, naked mole rats have never been observed to have developed cancer. Ever.

This means that at least one theoretical avenue of research into the cancer afflicting devils could be into the efficacy of their p27 gene: it may not offer the same effectiveness it does in other animals, especially considering the devil’s susceptibility to cancer in general.

But wherever the research should go, the dwindling Tasmanian devil population clearly needs help. And soon.

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