HEPA

Dang vacuums, a pack of lies!

"High efficiency" vacuum cleaners no better at protecting against dust mites

Preoccupied

The Lazy Skeptic is a bit over-worked so far this week. I'll try to have something up Friday. Please don't hate me. :(

Placebo Controled

I think most of us know by now that Placebos work to a point. This effect is mostly a reduction of perceived pain. I unfortunately can't find the article right now, but I remember a study that compared two placebos, one red pill and one green. The green pill seemed to perform better. This is likely because of the cultural concept of green as being a healing color, while red is more likely pain associated. I this this is the same pattern every placebo will follow.

It also seems that two different kinds of placebo will differ in their efficacy as well. In a study^[1] looking at sham acupuncture vs. an oral placebo pill, the sham device seemed to work better. Probably because of the current public perception of "ancient" medicines. Homeopathy is a huge market that keeps pushing farther into the mainstream while not having to stand up to the same standards of typical medication. Something else I find interesting is about a quarter of the patients experienced side effects from the treatments. These being side effects from sugar pills and sham devices. It seems a placebo could be designed that would make you feel ill as well. Read this news article for a more digested version.

I've also read a couple conflicting things about placebos in general. There is a story about a metaanalysis of 114 other studies looking at placebos. They didn't find any significant improvement in the symptoms of the placebo patients. From what I can tell they were looking at results from objective symptoms. I.E. did the patients blood pressure really go down? As a generalization, they conclude placebos don't do anything for objective symptoms. It seems like they still lend some credit to subjective effects, like perceived pain. Here, a contradictory story looks at real chemical effects that happen in the brain while taking placebos. Odd discrepancy. Placebos may help you feel better, but they won't cure you. I suppose a placebo has the potential to do what your body can already do for itself. It's true that some people can meditate to lower their blood pressure, but maybe not everyone?

I was asked to look into the efficacy of real acupuncture. As of yet I haven't been able to find the study that examines acupuncture vs. sham acupuncture in a large scale, but it does exist. When I dig up that study I'll do a write up. I will say now that I don't expect anything to come from acupuncture. I'd say it's just a placebo like any other. It just happens to be a very popular one right now.


References:

• [1] Kaptchuk, Ted J. Sham device v inert pill: randomised controlled trial of two placebo treatments. BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.38726.603310.55 (published 1 February 2006). British Medical Journal.
  

What makes something popular?

What if popular things were only popular, because they were popular?

It took longer than I would have liked, but I finally signed up for this study. It's about the popularity of music and how it can be influenced by others. From the news story, there are two groups of people; those that just get a list of songs, and those that get the list and the number of downloads by other members. I seem to be in the later group. The theory is that popular songs will continue to get more popular, simply because they already have a lot of "hits" in the form of a download counter. People don't have time to listen to every track, so they just download the ones that are most popular.

Even while I click songs to listen to, I find it nearly impossible to separate the download rank I've glanced while I form impressions of the song. If I star the song knowing it's the most downloaded, I'll create some reasons why I like it, if it's the least, I'll create some reasons why it's not good. It's hard to dismiss these opinions, even if they are just a number. To get a bit philosophical, how can I really know what I like if I get others impressions? Does it really matter anyway?

I don't have a hard time seeing this extend into every aspect of our culture. From who we vote into office to how we choose what product to buy. Even to what kinds of activities we enjoy. This is human nature. It's faster to make a snap judgment based on group-think than evaluate all the options independently. This easy reaction kept us alive when running away from lions. But thinking too little got us killed too, we still have to deal with a balance of reason and instinct.

I think we're all quite adaptable. We'll deal with annoying situations as long as they require our own work to change. Unless we really don't like something, it's not worth putting up a fight to fix it. We procrastinate and save "work" till last minute, even though it would be easier to do it over time. Perhaps it costs to much energy to change a situation that is only mildly disappointing?

Darwin Day

Darwin

Today is not Darwin Day (which is Feb. 12). But today is a lecture with Richard Dawkins on the subject "Is Evolution Predictible?" It's today at 1pm EST (sorry this post is so late). You can tune in LIVE here or get the recording of it here.

I'd like to do an article or two on acupuncture, but it will take some research. Look for one soon.

TAM 4 & Tooth Gel

The Amazing Meeting 4 was held last weekend. I'm sorry I didn't get to go but there are some good run downs of the event, still being updated. Like Phil Plat's blog. He has parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 up now.

As commented on by a couple of tech blogs, there is a new device apparently coming to market that fights tooth decay with a combination of fluoride gel and electricity. I'm skeptical to see some results, but generally, it doesn't seem like Isreal puts out bogus products.

The technology uses an existing fluoride-based gel along with a device which produces a small electric current (6-9 volt, at low amperage) to achieve activation of the teeth that will enable the formation of a genuine electrolyte when activated. This in turn enhances the fluor ion attraction to the teeth and its exchange that transforms into a highly resistant and protective mineral layer.

Is this like anodized aluminum but for teeth? If it works, I'm in. I'm sure there is some awesome tech for tooth care that we just haven't invented yet, it would be exciting if this were it.