The latest people to object to the recent decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to open a National Coverage Analysis of the Provenge prostate cancer vaccine happen to be two US Senators. John Kerry and Arlen Specter, Democrats from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, respectively, wrote an Aug. 20 letter to the agency questioning the rationale for the review and voicing suspicion the move will lead to restricted coverage.
At issue is the extent to which CMS believes coverage is reasonable and necessary. As noted previously, an NCA is uncommon for new drugs, but CMS officials have ranged from silent to vague in explaining their decision. Although marketed for $93,000, price is not supposed to factor into the analysis. Presumably, the undertaking was prompted by regional …

Original post by Pharmalot and software by Elliott Back

This study involved two groups of HIV-1 infected men from the Netherlands: 29 who have sex with men, and 25 heterosexual men. The rationale for examining HIV-1 infected men for XMRV was that “they have a higher chance of contracting sexually transmitted pathogens than non-HIV-1 infected men”. For 39 men a second sample was also available from another time point, bringing the total samples to 93.
To detect XMRV, semen samples were diluted 1:1 with buffer and centrifuged to remove cells, yielding seminal plasma. Total nucleic acid was then extracted and subjected to reverse-transcription and then polymerase chain reaction. This procedure assays for the presence of XMRV viral RNA. At the same time, the samples were also tested for the presence of HIV-1 RNA. The positive control fo…

Original post by virology blog and software by Elliott Back

Research showed a 69% boost to testosterone – the male sex hormone by being in sunlight. In America as winter begins, there is a dip noticed in both supply of Vitamin D and testosterone which continues till March.  So it is important to get enough sun if you want to have great erections and awesome sex!  Studies now suggest that Vitamin D, and frequent sex may prevent prostate cancer!  The second part of that duo happens to be my most frequently requested prescription.

Swedish women are some of the most beautiful women in the world
The rest of the world has a similar story, but even more intense is the winter in Northern Sweden, where winter lasts 7 months, with two months where the sun never rises above the horizon!  Perhaps these girls are trying to make up for lost sun time …

Original post by Timemaster MD and software by Elliott Back

Research showed a 69% boost to testosterone – the male sex hormone by being in sunlight. In America as winter begins, there is a dip noticed in both supply of Vitamin D and testosterone which continues till March.  So it is important to get enough sun if you want to have great erections and awesome sex!  Studies now suggest that Vitamin D, and frequent sex may prevent prostate cancer!  The second part of that duo happens to be my most frequently requested prescription.

Swedish women are some of the most beautiful women in the world
The rest of the world has a similar story, but even more intense is the winter in Northern Sweden, where winter lasts 7 months, with two months where the sun never rises above the horizon!  Perhaps these girls are trying to make up for lost sun time …

Original post by Timemaster MD and software by Elliott Back

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Ila Singh
On episode #94 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Alan, and Rich speak with Ila Singh about the new human retrovirus XMRV, and how her laboratory is studying its association with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Download TWiV #94 (56 MB .mp3, 77 minutes)
Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio.
Links for this episode:

CFIDS Association of America
Discovery of XMRV (PLoS Pathogens)
Detection of XMRV in CFS patients (Science)
Presence of XMRV in malignant prostate (PNAS)
Inhibition of XMRV by raltegravir (PLoS One)
Letters read on TWiV 94

Weekly Science Picks
Alan – The new Federal Register …

Original post by virology blog and software by Elliott Back

In a sharply worded letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the American Society of Clinical Oncology takes the federal agency to task for conducting a coverage review of the Provenge prostate cancer vaccine. You may recall that CMS unexpectedly disclosed plans for a National Coverage Analysis in late June in response to inquiries from regional Medicare programs about the novel therapy.
Ever since, CMS has been bombarded with comments from patients, doctors and investors, among others. The vast majority express concern that CMS will somehow limit coverage next year, although a review of the $93,000 annual price tag per patient is not supposed to factor into the review (back story). In his letter, ASCO ceo Allen Lichter complains the reasoning given for the review is wa…

Original post by Pharmalot and software by Elliott Back