The Body of Evidence

Chris and Jonathan look at the already-infamous 2023 Cochrane review on masks, which many people are claiming shows that “masks don’t work.” References: 1) The Cochrane review: https://www.cochrane.org/CD006207/ARI_do-physical-measures-such-hand-washing-or-wearing-masks-stop-or-slow-down-spread-respiratory-viruses 2) Tom Jefferson’s interview by Maryanne Demasi: https://maryannedemasi.substack.com/p/exclusive-lead-author-of-new-cochrane 3) Tom Jefferson’s own Substack blog post about the review: https://trusttheevidence.substack.com/p/escaping-from-social-and-other-media?r=208v9e&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email  

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of healthcare-acquired infections? Plus: CBD is put on trial to see how well it does against the symptoms of advanced cancer, and the world’s elites reveal their most damning secret: they don’t think COVID is just a bad cold.   Block 1: (2:02) Nosocomial infections: what they are, difference from iatrogenic infections, what the US did to reduce them, types of infections   Block 2: (9:51) Nosocomial infections: hand hygiene, disposable equipment, single-patient rooms, bed cleaning, ventilation, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MRSA, VRE), decolonization protocols, C. difficile, #DeathToAllSinks, UV light, copper   Block 3: (32:13) Clinical trial of cannabidiol against placebo for the symptoms of advanced cancer [We briefly mention the Hawthorne effect. It turns out to be a phrase we probably shouldn’t use. See here.]   Block 4: (42:13) Davos’ COVID measures   * Jingle by Joseph Hackl * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl * Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     References:   1) Chris’ proof that you can, in fact, live a perfectly normal life after donating a kidney: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa0804883   2) Nosocomial infections are particularly prevalent in ICUs: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184963   3) Medicare no longer pays for hospital-acquired infections: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184963   4) Hospital-wide hand hygiene programs do work to reduce hospital infections: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)02814-2/fulltext   5) Washing hands properly for 30 seconds is necessary to kill bacteria like VRE: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/abs/recovery-of-vancomycinresistant-enterococci-on-fingertips-and-environmental-surfaces/FBFBC3EABFA22A7A28420AFB2CCACC51   6) The REACH study found that hospitals implementing a new cleaning bundle reduced VRE but not C. difficile infections: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(18)30714-X/fulltext   7) MRSA decolonization with chlorhexidine baths does reduce infections in the ICU: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1207290 & https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850112/     8) Basic infection control measures do work for C. difficile as well, even if regular alcohol disinfectants do not: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/central/doi/10.1002/central/CN-01604607/full   9) Ultraviolet light can also be used as an adjunctive disinfection agent: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5935446/   10) UV-C light can also be caused to clean the air as a COVID mitigation strategy: https://ghdcenter.hms.harvard.edu/keeping-public-spaces-safe   11) Sinks as a source of outbreaks: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34438134/   12) Scott Gavura’s Science-Based Medicine article: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/cbd-oil-fails-to-improve-symptom-control-in-advanced-cancer/   13) The clinical trial on CBD for advanced cancer symptoms: https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.22.01632   14) World Economic Forum’s Guidance on Health Measures: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/AM23_Health_and_Safety_Measures.pdf   15) “Billionaires at Davos Don’t Think COVID Is a Cold:” https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/davos-covid-precaution-uv-lights-air-filters.html   16) “The Last Holdouts:” https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/26/us/covid-masks-risk.html   17) What Bonnie Henry said about masking: https://twitter.com/frozen/status/1614053203800383489   18) Gregg Gonsalves’ article in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/orwellian-white-house-covid-policy/     It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:   1) Jonathan talking about so-called complementary and alternative medicine on the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast: https://www.jennirawlings.com/podcast/whats-the-deal-with-complementary-alternative-medicine   2) Jonathan’s article on the low-oxalate diet: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/demonization-dietary-oxalate-has-begun   3) Death Panel podcast, “COVID Year Three:” https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-death-panel/episode/covid-year-three-unlocked-210210266   4) Chris’ Gazette article about Canada’s new alcohol guidelines: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-new-guidelines-reflect-fact-that-alcohol-isnt-good-for-you   5) Chris on CTV talking about alcohol: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2591451   Time Machine:   1) Our episode on fibromyalgia: https://bodyofevidence.ca/073-fibromyalgia-mixing-vaccines-myocarditis-risk   2) Our interview on CPR: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-trysha-gellis-and-jacqueline-joza-on-cpr-and-sudden-cardiac-arrest  

Jonathan and Chris talk to Tom Thumb, the author of the book Science for Hippies. How do you have productive conversations with people who believe that we can never truly know anything and that everything happens for a reason? Tom shares his experience being a rational hippie trying to get his friends to think more scientifically, especially in the middle of a pandemic!   (1:41) Why a science book for hippies? (7:11) Natural immunity and germ denialism (10:55) What science communicators get wrong (17:21) Trust and meeting experts in person (22:02) “We can never truly know anything” (24:38) “Everything happens for a reason” (31:48) The squishy middle (33:11) Quantum woo and science envy (39:27) Tom’s most embarrassing story (47:57) Tips on being more humble (50:31) Science and magic   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     Links: 1) Tom’s book, Science for Hippies: https://scienceforhippies.com/ 2) Tom’s personal website: https://tomthumb.org/  

Dive into the complexities of osteoporosis, where bone density is key and lifestyle changes matter. Discover the groundbreaking therapy for metastatic melanoma that changes lives and survival rates. Plus, hear about vital travel insurance tips, especially for the elderly, that could save a fortune. Expect humor mixed with health insights, as the hosts reveal peculiarities in treatment and insurance policies while keeping the conversation light and engaging.

Chris and Jonathan welcome back Dr. Jonathan Howard to talk about the doctors who repeatedly said the pandemic was ending and who became anti-vaccine in the process. When doctors become brands, narcissism can easily lead them and their fans astray, as these media figures chase an ever elusive limelight. Dr. Howard has been tracking their claims and predictions and brings the receipts.   (2:38) Dr. Vinay Prasad, pre-pandemic (8:41) ZDoggMD, Marty Makary, and Vinay Prasad on vaccine boosters (12:01) Paediatric COVID vaccines (15:00) An appeal to civility on the one hand, mockery on the other (16:56) Dr. John Ioannidis and basic math (27:22) “You have to accept it” (32:27) Classic anti-vaccine talking points (36:10) “Where’s the RCT?” (39:37) Jonathan Howard’s connection to the anti-vaccine movement (41:53) Audience capture (44:49) Charisma and credibility (49:33) New York City denialism (51:36) Ron DeSantis’ Vaccine Accountability Roundtable (55:41) Self-reflection   A quick note on sound quality: the clicking sound on Dr. Howard’s end very quickly disappears. The rest of the audio is not up to our usual standards, and for this we apologize. Audio engineering is closer to magic than science, it seems.   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     Links: 1) The ZDoggMD Show episode you hear at the beginning: https://youtu.be/cNcVCFLhbAs?t=42 2) Dr. Jonathan Howard’s articles on Science-Based Medicine: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/author/jonathanhoward/ 3) Dr. Jonathan Howard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/19joho  

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of gun control? Plus: we address why more and more children are accidentally getting poisoned with cannabis, and we wonder if a vaccine against RSV might be around the corner! Warning: discussions of suicide in the first half. If you need help, please reach out: https://talksuicide.ca/.   Block 1: (2:42) Gun control: gun deaths, where the data comes from, violent crime vs. suicide   Block 2: (11:47) Gun control: the Canadian situation, rising rates of gun crimes, accidental gun deaths, research into gun violence, quality of the evidence for specific policies   Block 3: (26:27) Unintentional cannabis poisonings in children   Block 4: (36:49) RSV vaccines     * Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. * Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     References:   1) Gun violence data from the American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/-/media/Files/PDF/factsheets/200221_Gun_Violence_Fact_Sheet.ashx   2) Canadian statistics: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00009-eng.htm & https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/wd98_4-dt98_4/p4.html#a41   3) Public health approach to gun violence prevention: https://efsgv.org/learn/learn-more-about-gun-violence/public-health-approach-to-gun-violence-prevention/   4) RAND Corporation, What Science Tells Us About the Effects of Gun Policies: https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/key-findings/what-science-tells-us-about-the-effects-of-gun-policies.html   5) RAND Corporation, The Science of Gun Policy: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2088-1.html   6) RAND Corporation, Gun Policy in America: https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy.html   7) Study on edible cannabis legalization and unintentional poisonings in children: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2207661     Time machine:   1) Our episode on stomach ulcers: https://bodyofevidence.ca/063-stomach-ulcers-and-covid-19   2) Our interview with Brennen McKenzie on pets: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-brennen-mckenzie-on-pets      

Chris was a guest on the Montreal Gazette’s Corner Booth podcast, alongside local reporter Aaron Derfel, to discuss the on-going pandemic, COVID-19 denialism, and government messaging. We are bringing you this episode with the Corner Booth’s permission. It was recorded in a restaurant and the first question the host asks is, “Why is Chris wearing a mask?”   - Why is Chris wearing a mask   - Why is Aaron Derfel not wearing a mask   - Has the government not taken air quality seriously?   - The next pandemic   - COVID-19 denialism   - Government messaging   - Jonas Salk and the polio vaccine   - “Take the vaccine, you won’t get COVID”   - Long COVID   - COVID in schools

What does history teach us about the controversy over cholesterol? Plus: we look at the zombie myth that soccer players are dying from the COVID-19 vaccine, and we dissect a new clinical trial of colonoscopies that reports disappointing results and compare it to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s enthusiasm for the procedure itself!   Block 1: (1:50) Cholesterol: conflicting animal studies at the beginning of the 1900s   Block 2: (9:28) Cholesterol: observational studies of high-fat diets in humans, randomized trials on low-animal-fat diets, drug trials   Block 3: (27:19) Soccer players kicking the bucket? Not so much   Block 4: (37:47) Colonoscopies: screening recommendations, alternatives to colonoscopies, latest trial     * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. * Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     References:   Anybody interested in an in-depth review of the history of cholesterol research can read the series of articles by Daniel Steinberg published in the Journal of Lipid Research   Steinberg, Daniel Thematic review series: the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. An interpretive history of the cholesterol controversy: part 1. J Lipid Res. 2004 Sep;45(9):1583-93. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R400003-JLR200. Steinberg D. Thematic review series: the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. An interpretive history of the cholesterol controversy: part 2: the early evidence linking hypercholesterolemia to coronary disease in humans. J Lipid Res. 2005 Feb;46(2):179-90. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R400012-JLR200.  Steinberg D. Thematic review series: the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: an interpretive history of the cholesterol controversy, part 3: mechanistically defining the role of hyperlipidemia. J Lipid Res. 2005 Oct;46(10):2037-51. DOI: 10.1194/jlr.R500010-JLR200 Steinberg D. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. An interpretive history of the cholesterol controversy, part 4: the 1984 coronary primary prevention trial ends it--almost. J Lipid Res. 2006 Jan;47(1):1-14. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R500014-JLR200. Steinberg D. Thematic review series: the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. An interpretive history of the cholesterol controversy, part V: the discovery of the statins and the end of the controversy. J Lipid Res. 2006 Jul;47(7):1339-51. doi: 10.1194/jlr.R600009-JLR200.   Some specific references:   The Seven Countries study is a source of particular controversy: A review of the Seven Countries Study controversy http://www.epi.umn.edu/cvdepi/multimedia/critiques-of-the-seven-countries-study-and-ancel-keys/   And a paper written by several researchers trying to dispel some of the myths surrounding it https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/38/42/3119/4600167?login=false     Cochrane review of statins to prevent dementia https://www.cochrane.org/CD003160/DEMENTIA_statins-prevention-dementia   The video of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sXkIUZEWIo   The trial of colonoscopies: https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa2208375   Vinay Prasad’s commentary: https://sensiblemed.substack.com/p/screening-colonoscopy-misses-the   New England Journal of Medicine accompanying editorial: https://www-nejm-org.proxy3.library.mcgill.ca/doi/pdf/10.1056%2FNEJMe2211595       Time machine:   1) Our episode on infertility: https://bodyofevidence.ca/062-infertility-and-rna-vaccines   2) Our interview on ivermectin: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-jack-lawrence-and-gid-m-k-on-ivermectin     Music Credits: Dramatic Trailer by Rafael Krux Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5633-dramatic-trailer License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://www.orchestralis.net/

Jonathan and Chris speak to Nick Tiller, PhD, a physiologist interested in exercising and the marketing hype that often surrounds the topic. They discuss the few supplements that can improve your workouts, as well as the gadgets that probably won’t. Bookending their conversation is the important question: what is the best exercise?   2:35 Common misunderstandings around exercising 4:43 Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) 11:28 Creatine supplements 13:49 Caffeine 14:50 Glucose supplements and sports drinks 18:31 Protein intake 21:08 Beta-alanine supplements 22:34 Kinesio tape, aka placebo tape 28:09 Placebos and sports performance 33:10 Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand deals 40:13 Methylene blue 43:22 Ultramarathons: are they good for you? 51:34 What is the best type of exercise?   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     Links: 1) Nick Tiller on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NBTiller 2) Nick Tiller’s website: https://www.nbtiller.com/ 3) Nick Tiller’s Skeptical Inquirer columns: https://skepticalinquirer.org/category/the-skeptics-guide-to-sports-science/ 4) Jonathan Jarry’s website, announcing his UK tour: https://www.jonathanjarry.com/  

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of cholesterol? Plus: we look at the claim that a multivitamin can preserve your cognitive functions as you age, and we cover that study that allegedly shows aluminum in vaccines causes asthma!   Block 1: (3:04) Cholesterol: what cholesterol is, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, how fat is digested, HDL cholesterol   Block 2: (10:44) Cholesterol: triglycerides, how LDL is calculated, do you need to fast before a blood test, attempts at increasing HDL, how to lower LDL   Block 3: (22:38) Cocoa extract or multivitamin for preserving cognition (and a digression on cocoa vs cacao)   Block 4: (39:13) Aluminum in vaccines and a reported link to asthma     * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. * Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!     References:   1) Systematic review and meta-analysis on reducing LDL cholesterol: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2556125   2) Safety of lowering LDL cholesterol in patients starting with very low levels: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2695047   3) HPS2-THRIVE trial on niacin + laropiprant: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1300955   4) AIM-HIGH trial on niacin: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1107579   5) CETP inhibitor torcetrapib increases mortality: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa0706628   6) Meta-analysis of the data on boosting HDL levels: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g4379   7) The COSMOS-Mind paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12767   8) Our episode on chocolate: https://bodyofevidence.ca/013-chocolate-and-influenza   9) The original COSMOS papers: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac055 & https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac056   10) The USPS statement on vitamin supplements: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/vitamin-supplementation-to-prevent-cvd-and-cancer-preventive-medication   11) Cochrane reviews on vitamins and cognition: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011906.pub2/full & https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011905.pub2/full   12) Helen Branswell’s STAT News coverage of the aluminum-asthma paper: https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/27/possible-link-aluminum-childhood-vaccines-asthma-risk-caveats/   13) The aluminum-asthma paper: https://els-jbs-prod-cdn.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/pb/assets/raw/Health%20Advance/journals/acap/Aluminium_Exposure_Article-1664288052690.pdf   14) Our episode on asthma: https://bodyofevidence.ca/080-asthma-screen-time-exercise-motivation     Time machine:   1) Our episode on fat: https://bodyofevidence.ca/015-fat-and-denialism   2) Our episode on dementia: https://bodyofevidence.ca/079-dementia-long-covid-no-vax-tax