JANUARY 2025 NEWS
Featured topic: presidential appointments
On Science-Based Medicine,
David Gorski posted:
“Trouble in (MAHA) paradise?” “Even as President Donald Trump is inaugurated today and his pick for HHS Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. prepares to face confirmation hearings, there is trouble in ‘make America healthy’ paradise.” Anti-vaxxers fear that Kennedy won’t take a hard enough stand against vaccines.
“The attack on the NIH has begun.” “Donald Trump has been sworn in, and his new administration has immediately turned its sights on the NIH. The danger to US biomedical research has never been more acute.”
Daniel Freedman posted:
“The willful blindness of RFK Jr's supporters.”
Jonathan Howard posted:
“To spread mistrust, Dr. Martin Kulldorff asks RFK Jr. to do an unethical, impossible RCT [randomized controlled trial] of vaccines he knows are safe & effective.” “Dr. Kulldorff must demonstrate loyally to RFK Jr. To remain part of his in-group, Dr. Kulldorff has chosen to play a character, unaware of basic things. Like Dr. Vinay Prasad who faked ignorance about RFK Jr.’s role in Samoa, Dr. Kulldorff is now pretending to be unaware of the innumerable problems, both practical and ethical, with an RCT of routine vaccines. It’s just an act. If Trump had nominated someone beside RFK Jr., Dr. Kulldorff would be praising that person instead.”
Jonathan Storey posted:
“An open letter to Dr. Vinay Prasad.” “Please recognize that you are now influencing the national public health policy and understand that being in authority is a very different job than simply questioning authority.”
January 9 - Brandy Zadrozny (NBC News) reported “More than 15,000 doctors sign letter urging Senate to reject RFK Jr. as health secretary.” “’The health and well-being of 336 million Americans depend on leadership at HHS that prioritizes science, evidence-based medicine, and strengthening the integrity of our public health system,’ the letter reads. ‘RFK Jr. is not only unqualified to lead this essential agency — he is actively dangerous.’ The letter was posted online by the Committee to Protect Health Care, a physicians advocacy group. Beyond his well-documented anti-vaccine views and advocacy, the letter cites other conspiracy theories Kennedy has actively spread, including baseless claims about a link between school shootings and antidepressants and his promotion of disproven treatments for Covid-19. ‘This appointment is a slap in the face to every health care professional who has spent their lives working to protect patients from preventable illness and death,’ the letter says.”
January 13 – In a New York Times editorial, Paul Offit wrote “Don’t call Kennedy a vaccine skeptic. Call him what he is: a cynic.” “Mr. Kennedy, on the other hand, is a vaccine cynic, failing to accept studies that refute his beliefs. He claims that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine causes autism, despite more than a dozen studies performed in seven countries on three continents involving thousands of children showing that it doesn’t…When asked about the polio vaccine, Mr. Kennedy claimed that it caused an ‘explosion in soft tissue cancers’ that killed, ‘many, many, many, many, many more people than polio ever did’…Mr. Kennedy…has claimed that the Covid-19 vaccines, which have saved the lives of at least three million Americans, are ‘the deadliest vaccine ever made’…He casts doubt on the germ theory…He seems to doubt that H.I.V. causes AIDS…Given the lack of appropriate guardrails that would normally prevent an anti-vaccine activist, science denialist and conspiracy theorist from heading the country’s most important public health agency, it’s a dangerous time to be a child in the United States.”
January 16 – Jessie Hellmann (CQ Roll Call) wrote “How RFK Jr. drove mistrust of a cancer prevention vaccine.” “The potential elevation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the nation’s largest health agency could be detrimental to the government’s goal of preventing cervical cancer through vaccination. That’s because Kennedy has a long history of making misleading claims about and being involved in legal challenges to the human papillomavirus vaccine, which experts credit with saving hundreds of thousands of lives by preventing HPV infections that can cause cervical, head and neck cancer…Studies have shown the vaccine is safe and effective and reduces the incidence of cervical cancer.. One study predicts increasing HPV vaccination in girls globally will avert more deaths per person vaccinated than any other immunization.”
January 17 – Christina Jewett (New York Times) published “Kennedy sought to stop Covid vaccinations 6 months after rollout.” “Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice to lead the nation’s health agencies, formally asked the Food and Drug Administration to revoke the authorization of all Covid vaccines during a deadly phase of the pandemic when thousands of Americans were still dying every week.”
January 28 – Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) wrote “RFK Jr. disparaged vaccines dozens of times in recent years and made baseless claims on race.” “Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s nominee for the nation’s top health post, has repeatedly disparaged vaccines, falsely linked them to autism and argued that White and Black people should have separate vaccination schedules, according to a Washington Post review of his public statements from recent years.”
January 31 - Fenit Nirappil, Lauren Weber and Caitlin Gilbert (Washington Post) wrote “How RFK Jr.’s assurances to senators contradict his past remarks.” “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s repeated support for vaccines during Senate confirmation hearings follows a long history of disparaging them.” Other topics discussed are transgender children and Lyme disease.
January 31 – William London (Skeptical Inquirer) wrote “Three major reasons Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is unfit to lead the U.S. Department of health and human services.” “Kennedy has an egregious record of:
Rejecting, dismissing, and fear-mongering about medical and public health innovations that are strongly supported by evidence and the consensus of experts. In short, he’s a science denialist and alarmist.
Spreading baseless narratives about powerful persons acting in secret for their own benefit against the common good. In short, he’s a spreader of conspiracy speculations.
Endorsing non-validated and invalidated health products and services. In short, he’s an ally of quackery…
Based on Kennedy’s record of science denialism, alarmism, spreading baseless conspiracy narratives, and support for quackery, he should never have been chosen for any kind of role within the Department of Health and Human Services, especially the role of leading the whole department. His unfitness for the position was evident at two Senate hearings. Nobody should believe his statements contradicting positions he took throughout his career.”
Other topics
On Science-Based Medicine,
David Gorski:
Posted “The Semmelweis gambit: A red flag for defending bad science and quackery.” “A proponent of the Great Barrington Declaration is comparing rejection of its ‘natural herd immunity’ approach to the pandemic to the rejection of Ignaz Semmelweis and his findings. It’s a deceptive comparison beloved of all manner of scientific cranks.”
Edzard Ernst:
Wrote “Homeopathy as a therapy for cancer? A new review from India.” The review found no evidence of effectiveness, which is surprising considering “Indian researchers of homeopathy as good as never publish negative findings.”
Discussed “Kampo-induced liver injury: A case report and a systematic review.” “The authors concluded that their case study and literature review underscore a prevalent association between liver injury and Kampo medicines containing Scutellariae radix…Radix Scutellariae (scullcap) is the dried root of the medicinal plant Scutellariae baicalensis Georgi…Scullcap has been advocated to treat arthritis, lung problems, hay fever, seizures, HIV or AIDS, and hepatitis. Scullcap applied to the skin has been used to treat psoriasis, sores or swelling, and hemorrhoids. The evidence that it is effective for any condition is far from convincing.”
Posted “A new review confirms that chiropractic is based on wishful thinking, very poor science and a denial of the most obvious facts.” The review dealt with chiropractic care of children. “The authors confirm that there is a lack of robust scientific evidence regarding its safety and efficacy. And in the next sentence they state that care must be based on the best available evidence. Would it not be more ethical to be blunt and suggest that employing chiropractic care for kids is ethically questionable in the absence of sound data?”
Wrote “Katie May died after chiropractic manipulation – but that’s not the chiro’s fault, claims chiro Steven P. Brown.”
Posted “The effects of prebiotics during pregnancy and lactation on infant allergies.” “Prebiotics are compounds in food that foster growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi…The authors concluded that they found little evidence that maternal prebiotics supplementation during pregnancy and lactation reduces the risk of medically diagnosed infant eczema by age 1 year in infants who are at hereditary risk of allergic disease. It is rare that we come across a well-planned, well-conducted and well-reported study of pro/prebiotics. When we do, it often casts doubts on the numerous claims made for these products. Here we have such a study.”
Posted “Homeopathy is a ‘valuable therapeutic option’ for acute upper respiratory tract infections…Really?...I don’t think so!” “This study has a long list of fatal or near-fatal flaws…So, does the study provide any useful information? No! Why was it conceived, conducted and published then? The conflict of interest and funding statements give us a clue…”
Wrote “The combined effects of reflexology massage and respiratory relaxation on pain: yet another case of scientific misconduct?” “Surely every patient knows whether or not he/she receives a reflexology massage! It follows, I think, that the study was NOT double-blind, not even single-blind!...the findings can be explained by the effects of patient expectation and might therefore NOT be the result of the therapies. In other words, the conclusions drawn by the authors are not warranted.”
Wrote “Effectiveness of yoga versus conventional interventions for back pain: a ‘scoping review’ or just wishful thinking?” “It is, of course, possible that some form of yoga is an effective therapy for back pain but the above paper does not come anywhere near proving this hypothesis. Personally, I suspect that most treatments that include an element of exercise might be marginally helpful, but somehow doubt that one is dramatically better than the next.”
Posted “Herbal 'Viagra'? I somehow doubt it and advise caution.” “A standardized, synergistic combination of Punica granatum fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts (Pomegranate-cocoa extract LN18178) has been reported to increase serum testosterone levels in young and aging males…I do feel that caution is indicated. So, before I recommend anyone to buy the supplement, I advise to wait until we have an independent replication.”
Wrote “Auricular acupuncture: the tale of two reviews.” “What the evidence suggested in 2008 is very much the same evidence as 17 years later: The evidence that auricular acupuncture reduces peri-operative pain is promising but not compelling. And what does this fact – that the evidence does not clearly move in a positive direction – imply? I think, it suggests that the treatment in question is hardly worth taking seriously. In other words even my re-drafted conclusion above needs to change: The evidence that auricular acupuncture reduces peri-operative pain is not compelling!”
Reported “An unvaccinated child from a Waldorf school died of diphtheria.” “The boy had been attending a Waldorf school in Berlin. Such schools follow the bogus anthroposophical concepts of Rudolf Steiner and are notorious for their ant-vax stance.”
On McGill Office for Science and Society:
Jonathan Jarry:
Posted “Quantum University misuses physics to train fake doctors.” “Take-home message: A Canadian politician named Jody Toor was using the title ‘Doctor’ because she graduated from Quantum University. Quantum University is not a university; its diplomas are not recognized by science-based professions; and its graduates are not allowed to practice medicine or perform any act that could be interpreted as such. Quantum University tries to apply real concepts from quantum mechanics, a theory which helps explain how atoms and their building blocks behave, to medicine and in the process ends up teaching pseudoscientific principles.”
Angelina Lapalme:
Asked “Is oil pulling just clutching at straws?” “Surprisingly, there may be some benefits to oil pulling….It won’t solve all of your problems, but could help with a few oral ones, when paired with normal brushing.”
Joe Schwarcz:
Wrote “Magnesium is a necessary nutrient but it does not perform miracles.” “Our body cannot function without magnesium, but that does not mean we require supplements of the mineral…While magnesium supplements are harmless and are fine to try for sleep problems or migraines, claims that they can cure all the conditions listed by the likes of Carolyn Dean amount to pseudoscientific gibberish.”
January – Martin Bier (Skeptical Inquirer) wrote “The Wim Hof Method: ice baths, risky breathing, and the Goop Lab.” “The Wim Hof Method consists of breathing exercises and cold baths, promoted as a key to good health and a cure for all ills. There is, however, no good evidence that the Wim Hof Method cures anything – and, in fact, the breathing exercises may be dangerous.”
January 6 – Trisha Pasricha (Washington Post) discussed benefits of psyllium. “Studies have consistently shown that psyllium may lower cholesterol, dampen glucose spikes, help us stay full longer, and even aid in treating diarrhea and constipation.”
January 6 – Althea Chang-Cook (Washington Post) wrote “The benefits of teas: how to pick the healthiest types.” “There’s growing evidence that those who regularly drink true teas may have a lower risk of a heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, cognitive decline and other health problems.”
January 12 – Francesca Paris (New York Times) wrote “Childhood vaccination rates were falling even before the rise of R.F.K. Jr.”
January 13 – Moises Velasquez-Manoff (New York Times) wrote “Some raw truth about raw milk.” “Despite the serious risks of drinking it, a growing movement — including the potential health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — claims it has benefits. Should we take them more seriously?”
January 13 – Apoorva Mandavilli (New York Times) wrote “How lagging vaccinations could lead to a polio resurgence.” “In its original form, the virus survives in just two countries. But a type linked to an oral vaccine used in other nations has already turned up in the West… If polio vaccination rates were to fall, scientists say, the virus could slip into pockets of the country where significant numbers of people are unvaccinated, wreaking havoc once more. The virus may be nearly eradicated in its original form, but resurgence remains a constant threat.”
January 15 – Teddy Amenabar (Washington Post) wrote “People are drinking elderberry to treat cold and flu. Experts say think twice.”
January 21 – Benjamin Radford (Center for Inquiry) posted “Havana Syndrome reports suggest MSI [mass sociogenic illness] cause.” “There is simply no evidence that any foreign power has, or has used, some heretofore unknown top secret sonic weapon against U.S. diplomats, spies, or anyone else.”
January 23 – John Carreyrou (New York Times) reported “A start-up claimed its device could cure cancer. Then patients began dying.” “Two U.S. companies [ExThera Medical and Quadrant Management] teamed up to treat cancer patients using an unproven blood filter in Antigua, out of reach of American regulators.”
January 28 – Isobel Whitcomb (New York Times) wrote “Does hot lemon water have any health benefits?” “Influencers claim it helps with weight loss, digestion and more…The Bottom Line: Hot lemon water is a hydrating drink and a good replacement for sugary options…but it’s not the cure-all that influencers promise.”
Additions to previous month
December – Crawford and others published “Label accuracy and quality of select weight-loss dietary supplements sold on or near US military bases” (Nutrients. 2024 Dec 18;16(24):4369 Paper). “Product label claims were analyzed using the Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) Risk Assessment Scorecard…The majority had inaccurate labels, some being misbranded with ingredients present on the labels but not detected through analysis, and some containing hidden ingredients not present on the labels. The majority scored a ‘no-go’ according to the OPSS Scorecard.”
December 11 - Frolov and others published “Review of supplements that patients commonly report using for dementia” (J Clin Med. 2024 Dec 11;13(24):7541 Paper). Supplements reviewed were apoaequorin (Prevagen®), Ginkgo biloba, curcumin (from turmeric), Neuriva®, B-vitamins, and multivitamins. “We found little or no scientific evidence available to support the use of any of these substances to ameliorate memory loss or other cognitive symptoms.”
December 20 – Rosemary Westwood (NPR) reported “Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots.” “Louisiana's ban represents an escalation in using vaccine misinformation to direct state health policy, according to James Hodge, a public health law expert…‘What's very distinct is some sort of official policy advanced by the state department of health saying you may not push and or promote these vaccines at all,’ Hodge said. ‘That's derelict. It's highly controversial.’ But it's the kind of policy the nation could see if Kennedy is confirmed as secretary for Health and Human Services, Hodge added.”