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We at ACSH are rarely surprised by anything we see published. Since it is our job to debunk bad science, we get a steady diet of it. But we got a special dessert dropped in our laps, and this one takes the cake.
Although the study in question is from July, it is so jaw-droppingly awful that we decided to include it today. And when you read it, you may want to discontinue your subscription to Scientific American, which according to ACSH s media director Erik Lief should really be called Unscientific American.

If ever there was a need for an effective new drug, it would be something to treat obesity. Yet, following the Fen-Phen debacle in 1997, when Wyeth was forced to withdraw their highly effective appetite suppressant (also called Redux) due to heart valve toxicity and rare cases of often fatal primary pulmonary hypertension, drug companies and the FDA were scared off to the point that 13 years would pass before another appetite suppressant would be approved.

In a surprisingly pro-public-health move, the EU Parliament voted down attempts to restrict or even ban e-cigarettes. Now we hope the FDA follows their lead.

Drawing on her own personal experience with alopecia areata a condition resulting in the development of bald spots which can be especially devastating for women Dr. Angela Christiano, a

A new study shows the impressive success rate of e-cigarettes in reducing the use of cigarettes in a small select group, over the course of one year. Smoking was reduced in vapers and dual users, and many dual users wound up quitting cigarettes. We also comment on yet another duplicitous interview by the CDC's Tom Frieden.

Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess abdominal fat and abnormal cholesterol levels, is known to increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and

Since 1987 the CDC has been surveying pregnant women in 40 states and New York City for health-related activities and outcomes. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAM) recently reported on the frequency of smoking by women before, during and after pregnancy. Some of the results were good, but some were not so hot.

In early September, the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology posted a new definition of the profession to their website: They insisted that members treat only women, and limit the time they

The current JAMA s Clinical Evidence Synopsis, and an accompanying editorial, strongly suggest

We would like to give a shout-out to Bjorn Lomborg for his op-ed in the New York Times, in which he makes an excellent case for cheap fossil fuels for those living in impoverished countries. He makes his case with numbers: More than 1.2 billion people have no access to

Today is the 38th Great American Smokeout, sponsored since 1976 by the American Cancer Society. So why is the American Cancer Society trying to preserve cigarette markets and dissuade smokers from quitting?

In today s you must be kidding news, the FDA, prodded by the Obama administration, told Congress that they were very concerned about the threat of bacteria that are immune to drugs.

ACSH friend Dr. Henry Miller and economist Vasilios Tsimiklis wrote a spot-on piece published on forbes.com detailing the rising health care expenditures in industrialized countries and the necessity for

Good news keeps on coming regarding cancer death and incidence rates. But, what about the cancer epidemic we keep hearing about from those whose agenda requires scaring the public? They won t acknowledge this trend.

New York City s Board of Health has voted to make flu shots mandatory for preschoolers and daycare admittance. This is set to affect about 150,000 kids. Exemptions, however, look like they ll be readily available. So, if the point is protecting kids and their families, will it really make a difference?

Several societies concerned with countering the spread of infectious diseases issued a call for mandatory immunization of all healthcare workers. They outlined their reasons, but those are quite obvious and this mandate is long overdue, as we here at ACSH have been saying for years.

Anastrozole, a drug that blocks estrogen production in postmenopausal women, has been shown to be effective in reducing a woman s risk of developing breast cancer, especially if she is at an elevated risk. This preventive approach may help to reduce mastectomies.

Although most of us may not be aware of it, hypertension (HTN) is the most common condition seen in primary care situations, and is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death. Over the past twenty years, the definition of HTN as in how high it must be to warrant treatment has gradually been lowered by successive conclaves of experts.....

So much of the focus on high blood pressure has been geared toward middle-aged men who smoke, but scientists now say the focus should shift to women -- particularly African American women.

What's The Story: The effects of nicotine on human health

It s common knowledge that it s hard to choose fruit for dessert when everyone else at the table is ordering pie a la mode that is, social context can influence a person s food selections. Recent evidence suggests that even information about what others choose might affect a person s food selection.

In the Really Good Timing department, our story on January 21st reported that Johnson and Johnson was removing traces of the formaldehyde preservative from its baby shampoo for absolutely no scientific or health-based reason.
At that time, ACSH s Dr. Josh Bloom noted, In the end it doesn t really matter, because chemical Y will eventually be replaced by chemical Z, and the scientific extortion process will start again.
Almost as if on cue, chemical Z hit the news today. The Chemical Z du jour is called 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), and is part of the caramel coloring that give sodas (especially colas) their color.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that all boys and girls receive the HPV vaccine before they become sexually active. Yet the vaccination rates continue to be low. According to the 2011 National Immunization Survey among teens, only 35 percent of girls ages 13 to 17

The BPA-cancer link is making headlines again. This time, researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago claim that

Chicago s City Council reverses itself, striking a blow to protect cigarettes from the nasty competition from much safer e-cigarettes, thanks to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Out into the cold Chicago winter with you, vapers! To protect the children.