It will always remain cheaper and easier to treat with antibiotics, to which most people respond well. This technique will be reserved for refractory cases or the "DIY" crowd.
The technique only recently received validation by a leading journal (NEJM). It will take time and additional studies before it is widely adopted. Keep in mind that while the limited case studies have shown minimal side effects, others will be seen as the sample size grows. It is never a completely benign process to expose one's bodily fluids to another.
I carry a pager daily and agree with much of the article. It just _works_.
Other points:
- A single AA battery lasts at least 1 month.
- It takes a literal 2 seconds to pull out of clip, push button and read message.
- ~75% of my pages contain a 5 digit internal phone extension for a return call. The rest might say "Smith in ICU bed 104 is going to CT", etc. Not exactly transmitting a lot of patient information.
- There is a huge physician workforce of "old school" docs who would have a difficult time adapting to smartphone-based technologies.
I don't see a single texting app being able to successfully penetrate this space. Instead, I believe a more robust suite with a simple, slick UI with access to laboratory data, vitals, and dictated reports would be optimal. PerfectServe is one company that I know of that is actively working in this space.
As a physician with a degree in biochemistry, I am no expert but will throw in a few thoughts.
1) All foods are broken down into their respective molecular constituents (free fatty acids, glucose, amino acids, etc) through a series of enzymatic reactions. These nutrients are ultimately absorbed through the wall of the bowel or what remains passes as feces. This is true whether you are eating lettuce, ribs, a slice of bread, or this soylent product.
2) Frankly, I see no difference in this product from any other meal replacement powder available in bulk at any nutrition store. If we ever see a nutrition label, I suspect it will look strikingly similar to Slim Fast.
FYI- Suboxone is actually buprenorphine combined with naloxone whereas Subutex is only buprenorphine. When Suboxone is taken sublingually as indicated, the buprenorphine is absorbed and naloxone is not. Thus, if taken as prescribed, Suboxone can be an effective detox/maintenance drug. However, if it is injected, the naloxone becomes bioavailable, binding as an antagonist to the opiod receptors and inducing withdrawal if the user was taking methadone, heroin, or buprenorphine (theoretically). Clever.
I sincerely hope his scientific evidence of the efficacy of letters of gratitude does not come from this reference within the "Journal of Happiness Studies" with a whopping sample size of 219.
I like the idea in concept but have a couple critiques.
1) Pricing- even the most basic package is ridiculous. For $5000 I would not only fly to your city to spend as much time with you in a face-to-face meeting discussing your medical problems, but I would give you my personal cell phone number for any questions or concerns at a later date.
2) Chart reviews- I don't know the credentials of the people doing the reviews, but I am highly suspect of anyone other than a board certified physician in a given specialty providing medical advise or in any way guiding diagnostic decisions.
Having said that, I think there is real opportunity here. I wish you the best of luck.
The technique only recently received validation by a leading journal (NEJM). It will take time and additional studies before it is widely adopted. Keep in mind that while the limited case studies have shown minimal side effects, others will be seen as the sample size grows. It is never a completely benign process to expose one's bodily fluids to another.