Comments for my cat ate my homework http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com a vet student from buffalo spills his chromic guts Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:08:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Myth Busters: Economic Meltdown Edition by nibvtkzkgbbo http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/myth-busters-economic-meltdown-edition/#comment-523 nibvtkzkgbbo Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:08:24 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=172#comment-523 pffcyyjnypic pffcyyjnypic

]]> Comment on Triplix and the Real Problem with US Healthcare by John http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/triplix-and-the-real-problem-with-us-healthcare/#comment-522 John Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:43:37 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-522 As a consumer and retired nurse I want to add that "I" take Triplix. The goals of my therapy (as per my endocrinologist) are two fold. First, I take it because it will lower my triglyceride levels and keep them down. As a diabetic, this is a common problem and since I've been on this the levels have never been better. Secondly, I take it because it is the only drug on the market that has shown any benefit for those of us that have a primary problem with low HDL levels. These are very tough to make go up, but the Triplix is helping. In addition I also take Vytorin - a combo drug that affects absorption of fats from the intestines (the Zetia side of the combo) and the best statin on the market Zocor (simvastatin generic). My lipid profile has not looked THIS GOOD in over 10 years, and I religiously watch my fat intake and have some so for many years now. I'm quite pleased with this product. As for your other comments on healthcare. I personally agree not to take issue with you - they are apparently your opinions and I don't agree with a large portion of them. But thanks for sharing! As a consumer and retired nurse I want to add that “I” take Triplix. The goals of my therapy (as per my endocrinologist) are two fold. First, I take it because it will lower my triglyceride levels and keep them down. As a diabetic, this is a common problem and since I’ve been on this the levels have never been better. Secondly, I take it because it is the only drug on the market that has shown any benefit for those of us that have a primary problem with low HDL levels. These are very tough to make go up, but the Triplix is helping. In addition I also take Vytorin – a combo drug that affects absorption of fats from the intestines (the Zetia side of the combo) and the best statin on the market Zocor (simvastatin generic). My lipid profile has not looked THIS GOOD in over 10 years, and I religiously watch my fat intake and have some so for many years now. I’m quite pleased with this product. As for your other comments on healthcare. I personally agree not to take issue with you – they are apparently your opinions and I don’t agree with a large portion of them. But thanks for sharing!

]]> Comment on Triplix and the Real Problem with US Healthcare by Andy http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/triplix-and-the-real-problem-with-us-healthcare/#comment-521 Andy Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:01:23 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-521 Yes, and when statins were first approved by the FDA, they had a similar statement. It wasn't until more recently that survival improvement was noted. The reality is that to obtain research evidence that a drug increases survival, one has to follow patients until the die. When many 30-40-50 yrs olds are started on these drugs, they have many many decades of life left. You have to have huge numbers (thousands) of patients enrolled to have the statistical power to see a difference in the control vs. the experimental group. There certainly is sufficient evidence to state that normalizing of the lipid profile has positive cardiac implications. If indeed we had to wait those decades, drug R&D would be even more stifled than it is today. New cancer drugs, for example, are up past a decade in development once they start trial on human subjects. (i.e. that discounts all the time to discover a agent and to do animal testing.) So, there are no easy answers... Andy, nurse practitioner Yes, and when statins were first approved by the FDA, they had a similar statement. It wasn’t until more recently that survival improvement was noted.

The reality is that to obtain research evidence that a drug increases survival, one has to follow patients until the die. When many 30-40-50 yrs olds are started on these drugs, they have many many decades of life left. You have to have huge numbers (thousands) of patients enrolled to have the statistical power to see a difference in the control vs. the experimental group. There certainly is sufficient evidence to state that normalizing of the lipid profile has positive cardiac implications. If indeed we had to wait those decades, drug R&D would be even more stifled than it is today. New cancer drugs, for example, are up past a decade in development once they start trial on human subjects. (i.e. that discounts all the time to discover a agent and to do animal testing.)

So, there are no easy answers…

Andy, nurse practitioner

]]> Comment on CNN Living: 15 Jobs that Pay Over $70,000 and “don’t require a Ph.D. or 10 years experience” by sandrar http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/cnn-living-15-jobs-that-pay-over-70000-and-dont-require-a-phd-or-10-years-experience/#comment-520 sandrar Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:01:53 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=164#comment-520 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post... nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> Comment on Triplix and the Real Problem with US Healthcare by radman4 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/triplix-and-the-real-problem-with-us-healthcare/#comment-519 radman4 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:48:33 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-519 It was my understanding that this drug does reduce triglyceride levels in particular, which can lead to decrease incidence of pancreatitis and heart problems later in life, although that may be only in a certain subset of patients say those with diabetes for example. Any comment? Thanks. It was my understanding that this drug does reduce triglyceride levels in particular, which can lead to decrease incidence of pancreatitis and heart problems later in life, although that may be only in a certain subset of patients say those with diabetes for example. Any comment?

Thanks.

]]> Comment on Triplix and the Real Problem with US Healthcare by Dad http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/triplix-and-the-real-problem-with-us-healthcare/#comment-518 Dad Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:29:53 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-518 BTW, an excellently written article. BTW, an excellently written article.

]]> Comment on Triplix and the Real Problem with US Healthcare by Dad http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/triplix-and-the-real-problem-with-us-healthcare/#comment-511 Dad Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:17:29 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=191#comment-511 You mean to say my stent won't work? Oh, well.....pass the cheeseburgers! You mean to say my stent won’t work?
Oh, well…..pass the cheeseburgers!

]]> Comment on Vets and Debt: The possibility of poverty by Huy http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/vets-and-debt-the-possibility-of-poverty/#comment-510 Huy Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:33:35 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-510 you scared me really, I love animals to death and I want to be a vet. I know I choose to be a vet for sake not for money, but it doesn't pay off much then I will have a biggest regret later seriously. I need an answer you scared me really, I love animals to death and I want to be a vet. I know I choose to be a vet for sake not for money, but it doesn’t pay off much then I will have a biggest regret later seriously. I need an answer

]]> Comment on “Evolution: The Anti-Science” or, Why ID is dangerous to teaching correct science by Cybrweez http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/evolution-the-anti-science-or-why-id-is-dangerous-to-teaching-correct-science/#comment-509 Cybrweez Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:26:14 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=116#comment-509 "I’m not a student of philosophy or the nature of science" Uh oh, you've set yourself up now. "If similar conditions exist, there should be a similar outcome. " Why? Why should anything? "Under this assumption, we cannot assume gravity will hold us to the ground tomorrow just because it did today and in the known past. Such a claim would be obviously mocked by scientists." But in evolutionary framework, is the only valid claim. There's no scientific proof that it should remain tomorrow. I think you missed the whole point of the article. “I’m not a student of philosophy or the nature of science”

Uh oh, you’ve set yourself up now.

“If similar conditions exist, there should be a similar outcome. ”

Why? Why should anything?

“Under this assumption, we cannot assume gravity will hold us to the ground tomorrow just because it did today and in the known past. Such a claim would be obviously mocked by scientists.”

But in evolutionary framework, is the only valid claim. There’s no scientific proof that it should remain tomorrow. I think you missed the whole point of the article.

]]> Comment on Vets and Debt: The possibility of poverty by Lisa http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/vets-and-debt-the-possibility-of-poverty/#comment-508 Lisa Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:28:25 +0000 http://jacksonsthoughts.wordpress.com/?p=49#comment-508 Dude, I know how you feel. I am a graduate of Cornell with a B.S. in Plant Science, and I make about $20k a year. I have a ton of student loan debt from Great Lakes, the Feds, and Cornell. I have considered applying to vet school (because I have a calling to veterinary medicine), but don't know if getting a DVM is really worth it. It's what I'd like to do, but when the salary barely pays the student loan payments with not much left over, I don't know if it's such a good idea. As far as the cost of veterinary procedures for clients, I understand why some of them choose euthanasia. If you can't afford to pay doctor bills for yourself, how can you afford medical care for your pets? Don't get me wrong, I believe that veterinarians deserve to make a decent salary. But then again, so does everybody else. The big problem as I see it, is the soaring cost of everything (especially education) and the fact that salaries (in my experience) are rarely commensurate with one's credentials or the cost of living. At the end of the day, if any of us have a roof and a meal, we're not doing too bad. Best of luck! Dude, I know how you feel. I am a graduate of Cornell with a B.S. in Plant Science, and I make about $20k a year. I have a ton of student loan debt from Great Lakes, the Feds, and Cornell. I have considered applying to vet school (because I have a calling to veterinary medicine), but don’t know if getting a DVM is really worth it. It’s what I’d like to do, but when the salary barely pays the student loan payments with not much left over, I don’t know if it’s such a good idea. As far as the cost of veterinary procedures for clients, I understand why some of them choose euthanasia. If you can’t afford to pay doctor bills for yourself, how can you afford medical care for your pets? Don’t get me wrong, I believe that veterinarians deserve to make a decent salary. But then again, so does everybody else. The big problem as I see it, is the soaring cost of everything (especially education) and the fact that salaries (in my experience) are rarely commensurate with one’s credentials or the cost of living. At the end of the day, if any of us have a roof and a meal, we’re not doing too bad. Best of luck!

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