good medicine - spring 2006

Good Medicine® From the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine / Spring 2006 / Vol. XV, No. 2

Beyond Dogs, Frogs, and FormaldehydeHigh-Tech Alternatives in Medical Education

New Jersey’s Choice • Lightening the Load •

Spinal Cord Injury • University of Illinois Drops

Animal Labs from Medical Curriculum • Life

and Death Decision • Members Share Their

Passion for Compassion

2 GOOD MEDICINE Spring 2006

How much do Americans like chicken wings? Or cheeseburgers? Or pork chops? Enough to lose their jobs? At Ford Motor Company, that’s exactly the question

workers should be asking themselves. Earlier this year, Ford announced massive layoffs. More than 30,000 North American Ford employees will be out of work.

One major factor: health care costs. Skyrocketing doctor bills, hospital bills, and prescription drug costs have driven up the sticker prices on Ford’s cars and trucks. The same problem is also hurting the bottom line at GM, Chrysler, and other American manufacturers. Stop by any U.S. factory and you’ll see why. We are one out-of-shape country. One-third of Americans are now moderately overweight, and another third are obese. Every pound a worker gains pushes his or her cholesterol up about one point. Twenty pounds, 20 points. Fifty pounds, 50 points. To counteract the cholesterol-raising effect of chicken wings and chili dogs, we take Lipitor. One tablet costs about three dollars. A year’s supply runs more than $1,000. Our national ponderousness has also brought unprecedented epidemics of diabetes and high blood pressure, which demand more drugs–two or three for diabetes, another two, three, or even four for hypertension. Ordinary Americans now spend a fortune on legal drugs, doctor visits, and tests. It’s time to wake up and smell the crisis. If American manufacturing aims to compete, it must regain its edge. And vegetarian diets could do the trick. An economic analysis by my research team, published in Preventive Medicine more than 10 years ago, predicted the effects of eating habits on health care costs. At that time, meaty diets were responsible for more than $60 billion in health care expenditures every year. Today’s figures would likely be double that number. Many Americans are already breaking the meat habit to cut their cholesterol, lose weight, or build their stamina. An average meat-eater can trim 20 pounds or more by switching to a plant-based diet. De-tailed medical studies have shown that, like nonsmokers, people who skip the meat course require fewer doctor visits, fewer operations, and fewer prescriptions.

If workers and managers pull together and resolve to get healthy, we’ll make our industries more competi-tive. In the process, we’ll also revolutionize the health of this country.

NEAL D. BARNARD, M.D.PRESIDENT OF PCRM

Editorial

Cutting Health Care Costs


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If American manufacturing aims to compete, it must regain its edge. And vegetarian diets could do the trick.

Spring 2006 GOOD MEDICINE 3

PCRMDoctors and laypersons working together for compassionate

and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion.

ContentsContents

WWW.PCRM.ORG


Good Medicine®FROM THE PHYSICIANS COMMITTEE

FOR RESPONSIBLE MEDICINE

SPRING 2006 VOL. XV, NO. 2

Editor in Chief Neal D. Barnard, M.D.Managing Editor/Designer Doug Hall

Editor Patrick Sullivan Contributing Writer Margaret Southern

Production Manager Lynne CraneWeb Designer Lisa Schulz

ADVISORY BOARDT. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. Cornell University

Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., M.D. The Cleveland ClinicSuzanne Havala Hobbs, Dr.P.H., M.S., R.D.

University of North Carolina–Chapel HillHenry J. Heimlich, M.D., Sc.D. The Heimlich Institute

Lawrence Kushi, Sc.D. Kaiser PermanenteJohn McDougall, M.D. McDougall Program

Virginia Messina, M.P.H., R.D. Nutrition Matters, Inc.Milton Mills, M.D. Gilead Medical Group

Myriam Parham, R.D., L.D., C.D.E. East Pasco Medical CenterWilliam Roberts, M.D. Baylor Cardiovascular Institute

Andrew Weil, M.D. University of ArizonaAffiliations are listed for identification only.

PCRM STAFF • Aysha Akhtar, M.D., M.P.H. Medical and Research Advisor • Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D. Research Scientist • Simon Chaitowitz Senior Com-munications Specialist • Cael Croft Associate Designer • Claudia Delman Outreach Manager • Megha Even, M.S. Research Analyst • Sarah Farr Writer/Information Officer • Susanne Forte Communications Coordinator • Allison George Research Program Coordinator • Amber Green, R.D. Staff Dietitian • Beatrice Huang, M.P.H., M.E.M. Research Coordinator • Brent Jaster, M.D. Associate Director of Clinical Research • Mark Kennedy, Esq. Staff Attorney • Dan Kinburn, Esq. Associate General Counsel • Mindy Kursban, Esq. Executive Director and General Counsel • Amy Lanou, Ph.D. Senior Nutrition Scientist • Susan Levin, M.S., R.D. Nutritionist • Lynn Maurer Associate Designer • Jeanne Stuart McVey Senior Media Relations Specialist • Tara Nicotra Nutrition Administrative Assistant • Lorin O’Toole Assistant to the President • Andrew Page Research Program Manager • John Pippin, M.D. Senior Medical Advisor • Chad Sandusky, Ph.D. Director of Toxicology and Research • Margaret Southern Web Editor/Staff Writer • Kristie Stoick, M.P.H. Research Analyst • Patrick Sullivan Director of Communications • Dulcie Ward, R.D. Nutritionist • Marie Warner Communications Administrative Assistant • Francelle Wax Research Program Assistant • Karen Boyd Williams Associate General Counsel • Laura Yin Legal Assistant • Colleen Young PSA Manager and Physician Liaison • Boris Zdravkovic Outreach Assistant • THE CANCER PROJECT • Kathy Glisson Associate Director of Marketing • Brandi Redo Outreach Coordinator • Jennifer Reilly, R.D. Senior Nutritionist • PCRM FOUNDATION • Nabila Abdulwahab Data Processor • Milosz Banbor Accountant • Melinda Beard Receptionist • Deniz Corcoran Data Entry Manager • Lynda Cozart Senior Accountant • Sossena Dagne Data Processor • Noe Flores Help Desk Support • Frank Gomez Accounts Payable Specialist • Brian Halprin Membership Coordinator • Patricia Howard Member Liaison • Stephen Kane Controller • Rich Miles Operations Manager • Debbi Miller Special Events Manager • Nick Patch System Administrator/Developer • Leroy Perez Director of Technology • Tekola Pettis Literature Manager • Bethany Richmond Human Resources Assistant • Betsy Wason Associate Director of Development • Rod Weaver Data Manager • Stacey Ziegenhein Human Resources Manager

GOOD MEDICINE is published quarterly by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016, tel 202-686-2210, fax 202-686-2216. It is distributed as a membership benefit to PCRM members. Basic annual membership in PCRM is $20 (tax-deductible). PCRM promotes good nutrition, preventive medicine, ethical research practices, and compassionate medical policy. Readers are welcome to reprint articles without additional permission. Please include the credit line: Reprinted from GOOD MEDICINE, Spring 2006, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Articles are not to be reprinted for resale. Please contact PCRM at [email protected] regarding other permissions. ©PCRM 2006. GOOD MEDICINE is not intended as individual medical advice. Persons with medical conditions or who are taking medications should discuss any diet and lifestyle changes with their health professional. “Good Medicine” is a registered trademark of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “Physicans Committee for Responsible Medicine,” “PCRM,” “The Cancer Project,” “Humane Charity Seal,” and “The Gold Plan” are trademarks of PCRM, federal registration pending.

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PCRM Phone Extensions 202-686-2210Health Charities and Research Issues ......................................... ext. 335Literature Requests ................................................................... ext. 306Media ........................................................................................ ext. 311Membership (change of address, duplicate

mailings, renewal questions) ................................................. ext. 304Nutrition ................................................................................... ext. 395

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Research Issues

6 Beyond Dog Labs: Medical Education Goes High Tech—And Animal Free

8 ACTION ALERT: Help the Medical College of Wisconsin Implement Alternatives to Dog Labs

9 Life or Death Decision: TraumaMan Offers Humane, Effective Way to Learn Trauma Care

University of Illinois Drops Animal Labs from Medical Curriculum

10 Beyond Frogs and Formaldehyde By Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., and Allison George

11 New Jersey’s Choice: Compassion

12 ACTION ALERT: Help End Animal Drug Experiments

13 Spinal Cord Injury: Non-Animal Research Shows Great Promise By Kristie Stoick, M.P.H.

Nutrition & Prevention

14 Lightening the Load: New Scientific Review Finds Vegetarian Diets Aid Weight Loss

The Cancer Project

16 The Cancer Project Update New Study Suggests Schools Should Offer Soymilk

17 The News You Need Departments

4 The Latest in...

18 Member Support / Become a Lifetime Partner / Passion for Compassion

20 PCRM Marketplace

23 Just the Facts

24 Physician Profile / Michele Dodman, D.O.: Embracing Change

COVER PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTO, METI, LAERDAL, IMMERSION MEDICAL, VENTURA

4 GOOD MEDICINE Winter 2006

The Latest in…The Latest in…

RESEARCH ETHICS

Since 1973, the number of dogs, hamsters, cats, guinea pigs, and rab-

bits used in experiments has decreased by at least 40 percent, according to the recently released 2004 USDA Animal Care Report. But the number of primates used has increased by 30 percent—up to 54,998—as has the number of farm animals, up 58 percent since 1990, when use of these animals was first reported. The report did not include figures on rats, mice, birds, or reptiles—who are involved in 95 percent to 99 percent of experiments but are not

Chimp Genome Project Shows Tiny Difference Makes All the Difference

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Employing the results of the re-cently completed Chimp Genome

Sequencing Project, researchers at the University of California San Diego have linked human-chimp genetic differences to two important species-specific disease findings. One is the discovery of the first human-specific protein that is also expressed in brain cells associated with human brain diseases that do not occur in chimps, such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and HIV-related de-mentia. The second is a single oxygen atom difference that makes humans and chimpanzees resistant to each other’s malarial parasites. Says Ajit Varki, M.D., coauthor of both studies, “Chimpanzees have long been thought of as a model for studying human diseases. In fact, what is most remarkable is that many of our diseases are rather different, either in incidence or in severity.” If a single oxygen atom dif-ference can convey malaria resistance, it’s small wonder that chimp research is such a poor surrogate for human studies. Hayakawa T, Angata T, Lewis AL, et al. A human-specific gene in microglia. Science. 2005;309:1693.

Martin MJ, Rayner JC, Gagneux P, et al. Evolution of human-chimpanzee differences in malaria susceptibility: relationship to human genetic loss of N-glycolylneuraminic acid. PNAS. 2005;102:12819-12824.

By Kristie Stoick, M.P.H., and John J. Pippin, M.D.

ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL RESEARCH


New Cells Allow Cruelty-Free Drug Testing

St. Paul, Minn.-based biotechnology company BioE has become the first

company to produce and market multi-lineage progenitor cells (MLPCs) from human cord blood. These stem cells are isolated from umbilical cord blood after birth, and scientists can coax the cells into at least nine different cell types: fat cells, three different types of nerve cells, liver and pancreas precursor cells (which could then be differentiated into hepatic or pancreatic cells), muscle cells, blood vessel wall cells, and bone cells. Drug and chemical companies can use these progenitor cells, and their derived de-scendant cells, to test the metabolism and toxicity of new compounds in the species of interest—humans. Researchers can

gain a better knowledge of the biochemi-cal and genetic characteristics of human cells—which is important for cancer and other disease research—and develop potential tissue and gene therapies for diseases that attack these organs. Interested researchers can find out more at www.bioe.com.

Fewer Dogs and Cats Used in Experiments

counted by the USDA or covered by the Animal Welfare Act. Recent reports esti-mate the number of rats and mice used in laboratories at 80 million to 100 million, and that figure is increasing every year.USDA Animal Care Report Fiscal Year 2004. APHIS Web site. Available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ac/awreports/awreport2004.pdf. Ac-cessed Feb. 24, 2006.

Carbone, L. What Animals Want. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2004:25-28.

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NUTRITION


The Latest in…

Calcium Supplements Don’t Reduce Fracture Risk

Calcium and vitamin D supplementa-tion did not significantly reduce the

incidence of fractures in a recent study. The 36,282 postmenopausal participants enrolled in the Women’s Health Initia-tive clinical trial were given either a supplement containing 500 milligrams of calcium plus 200 IU vitamin D or a placebo daily. Hip fractures were 12 percent less frequent in the supplemented group, but that result was considered to have been attributable to chance. The supplemented group had no reduction in vertebral fracture, fracture of the lower

arm or wrist, or total fractures. There was also a 17 percent increase in kidney stone formation among the supplemented group. The results reinforce earlier studies showing that increased calcium intake does not necessarily mean stronger bones and better health. Other factors that seem to play a more important role in bone health include sodium intake, smoking, physical activity, and intake of animal protein, which leaches calcium from the bones.Jackson RD, LaCroix AZ, Gass M, Wallace RB, Robbins J, Lewis CE, et al. Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:669-683.

Obesity Decreases Chance of Surviving Breast Cancer

Dairy Products Fail to Stop Weight Gain

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A new study from Harvard’s Health Professionals Follow-up Study gives

no support to the advertising claim that milk helps control weight. In a group of 51,529 men ages 40 to 75, those who consumed the most calcium or dairy products at the study’s onset gained the

WEIGHT LOSSBONE HEALTH

By Dulcie Ward, R.D., and Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.

In a study in Shanghai, China, investiga-tors followed a group of 1,455 women

with breast cancer. They found that being overweight at or soon after diagnosis of breast cancer was related to a decrease in chance of survival and disease-free survival. This is one of only a few studies to look at weight’s effect on breast can-cer in an Asian population. Most Asian women are slim by Western standards. After a five-year follow-up, the survival rates were higher for those with the low-est body mass index (BMI), a measure of body weight adjusted for height. The lowest BMI group had an 86.5 percent survival rate, while the highest BMI group had an 80.1 percent survival rate. Corresponding disease-free rates were 81.9 percent for the lowest BMIs and 76.6 percent for the highest. Excessive adipose tissue, which increases hormonal activity and stimulates cell growth, may be what promotes the tumor de-

velopment and metastasis. The results support pre-vious findings that weight control can have a substantial effect on incidence and sur-vival of breast cancer.

Tao MH, Shu XO, Ruan ZX, Gao YT, Zheng W. Association of overweight with breast cancer survival. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;163:101-107.

same amount of weight as those who consumed the least. In an unadjusted analysis, men who increased their calcium or dairy intake during the study seemed to gain slightly less weight (approximately a 1-pound difference over a 12-year period). How-ever, when the results were controlled for smoking, exercise, fruit and vegetable in-take, fiber intake, and other confounders, the apparent benefit of calcium and dairy products disappeared. This suggests that, in studies implying that calcium or dairy products protect against weight gain, it is actually other healthy lifestyle factors that are responsible for weight control.

Rajpathak SN, Rimm EB, Rosner B, Willett WC, Hu FB. Calcium and dairy intakes in relation to long-term weight gain in US men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006;83(3):559-566.

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Yesterday, Stan D. Ardman died at the hands of medical stu-dents. He will probably die again tomorrow. That’s because Stan, short for Standard Man, is actually a human patient

simulator developed by Medi-cal Education Technologies Inc. (METI) to improve the way medicine is taught. Stan and other amazing med-ical education tools are revolu-tionizing the way institutions train physicians by providing sound, cost-effective, and hu-mane alternatives to the use of animals. Features of individual

Beyond Dog Labs

Medical Education Goes High Tech—and Animal Free


Research Issues

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Standard Man®Medical Education Technologies Inc.

Standard Man®


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simulators vary, but they all allow students to practice life-saving procedures without harming human patients or animals. Standard Man In 2004, Forbes magazine referred to Standard Man as the “perfect patient.” Capable of simulating cardio-vascular, pulmonary, and metabolic characteristics and responses down to the flutter of an eyelid, Stan reacts appropriately to more than 55 different drugs. And he’s not afraid to speak up if he’s in pain! Possibly the most realistic simulator available today, METI’s hu-man patient simulator costs $160,000 to $200,000, depending on features. With this investment, medical schools avoid the repeated costs of animal laboratories,


while students can review educational material as often as they like—something animal laboratories could not offer. Find more details at www.Meti.com.

SimMan SimMan, a full patient simulator created by Laerdal, provides a wide variety of realistic scenarios in patient care. SimMan ranges from $23,000 to $40,000, de-pending on accessories and modules. For more infor-mation, visit www.Laerdal.com.

Harvey Perhaps the most mature patient of the bunch, Harvey was developed by the University of Miami in 1968. Since then, this cardiac patient simulator has lost about 600 pounds and acquired many advanced features. Capable of imitating 30 different conditions, Harvey includes self-evaluation programs for study without an instructor. Transmitters, receivers, and video cameras allow larger groups to participate from remote offices, lecture halls, or classrooms. Including shipping,

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SimMan®Laerdal Medical Corporation

SurgicalSIM®Medical Education Technologies Inc.

Laparoscopy AccuTouch® SystemImmersion Medical


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Harvey costs about $53,000. For more information, visit http://crme.med.miami.edu/harvey_about.html.

Other Surgery Training Tools Other, less costly, simulators help stu-dents train to per-form endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. Examples include Meti’s Sur-gicalSIM and Im-mersion Medical’s Laparoscopy Surgical Workstation. Both tools allow the user to practice the skills of a laparoscopic surgeon—without a patient present.

Mastering the Basics Several computer programs illustrate basic principles of physiology and pharmacology that are emphasized in the first two years of medical education. These programs resemble the screens of monitors commonly found in operating rooms. With the click of a button,

students can administer drugs and observe physiologi-cal responses. Suppliers include A.D.A.M. (www.adam.com), Critical Concepts (www.critcon.com), COACS (www.coacs.com), and Biosoft (www.biosoft.com).

Skin Models Although even fourth-year medical students will not be expected (or allowed) to perform human sur-geries without additional training, they should be ready to suture wounds. Artificial models of human skin are now replacing pigs’ feet and other slaugh-terhouse byproducts for suturing practice. Available models include a range of artificial tissue layers, including subcutaneous fat and muscle. For a list of companies providing skin models, please contact [email protected].

It should be acknowledged that most medical schools that eliminate animal laboratories from their curricula do so without any special alternative. They have found that lectures and reading materials convey the same physiological knowledge that animal labo-ratories were designed to illustrate. Similarly, clinical years provide ample opportunities for suture practice without animals. Even so, schools aiming for high-tech education will find that excellent educational products are readily available.

The Medical College of Wisconsin is the latest school to enter the debate

on the use of animals in teaching. Twenty years ago, live dogs were commonly used in physiology, pharmacology, and surgery classes at medical schools. A standard laboratory exercise involved anesthetizing dogs, followed by injecting pharmaceuticals or practicing surgical techniques. After the class, the animals were killed. Today, the Medical College of Wiscon-sin is one of a handful of medical schools that still use dogs in these inhumane and unnecessary exercises. Many people, including medical students, would like to replace the laboratory with alterna-

tive teaching methods, as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently reported. Most schools have eliminated live animal labs altogether, thanks to innovations in medical simulation technology and increased awareness of ethical concerns. Please contact the Medical College of Wisconsin and politely ask the school to implement alternatives to the use of live dogs in this physiology course.

Michael J. Dunn, Dean Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53226 [email protected]

ACTION ALERT

Help the Medical College of Wisconsin Implement Alternatives to Dog Labs

Allen W. Cowley Jr., Ph.D.Medical College of WisconsinChair of Physiology 8701 Watertown Plank Rd.Milwaukee, WI [email protected]

If you have any questions, please contact Allison George at 202-686-2210, ext. 369, or [email protected].


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Endovascular AccuTouch® SystemImmersion Medical

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In emergency rooms across the country, physicians and other medical professionals make split-second

decisions that can mean life or death for their patients. Before facing such critical moments, they must practice their skills. Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) courses train physicians who are in a position to provide the first hours of emergency care to trauma victims. The course, which employs guidelines set by the American College of Surgeons, teaches and certifies medical professionals in standardized life-saving pro-cedures such as chest tube insertion (used to treat con-ditions that can cause the lung to collapse); peritoneal lavage (used to determine if an intra-abdominal injury has occurred); and pericardiocentesis (relieves pressure on the heart caused by a buildup of fluid). Many ATLS classes continue to use live, anesthetized pigs, goats, dogs, or sheep. After the course is over, the animals are killed. However, Simulab’s TraumaMan® system replaces animals, using perfect human anatomy. It is the only simulator approved as an alternative to live animals or cadavers for ATLS certification. TraumaMan, created by Seattle inventor Chris Toly, is an anatomical human body manikin designed for students to practice the sur-gical procedures taught in the ATLS course. It contains four surgical sites for skills practice: the abdomen, chest area, neck, and ankle base. The sites include a simulated tissue structure that resembles all of the tissue layers of humans, including the skin, fat, and muscle. Under the tissue structure, students will find simulated cartilage, ligaments, and veins, as well as abdominal organs. Inflatable lungs simulate respiration. The organs and cavities of the manikin can be filled with fluids to lend realism to the practice procedure. When a student makes an incision on TraumaMan, it bleeds. A 2002 study1 concluded that the overall responses to using TraumaMan for ATLS training were favor-able. Students found TraumaMan to be superior to the animal model for many skills. As a result, more than 12,000 doctors a year now use the system to practice their trauma skills.

Life or Death DecisionTraumaMan Offers Humane, Effective Way to Learn Trauma Care

BREAKING NEWS

University of Illinois Drops Animal Labs from Medical Curriculum

Another medical school has eliminated animal laboratories from its curriculum, thanks to persistent effort by PCRM and our mem-

bers. In late March, the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign announced it has stopped all use of animals in medical teaching. Previously, first-year medical students were asked to experiment on live, anesthetized pigs, who were then killed as part of a physiology class. The University is the 106th U.S. medical school (out of 125 total) to adopt an animal-free curriculum.

More than 12,000 doctors a year now use TraumaMan to practice their trauma skills.

TraumaMan®Simulab

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The TraumaMan system can be leased for varied lengths of time with costs as low as $100 to $150 per student. The system can also be purchased for $23,500, which includes a maintenance agreement and some replacement “skins.” For more information, visit www.simulab.com/ TraumaSurgery or www.TraumaTraining.org.1. Block EF, Lottenberg L, Flint L, Jakobsen J, Liebnitzky D. Use of a human patient simulator for the advanced trauma life support course. Am Surg. 2002 Jul;68(7):648-651.


Every week, PCRM receives inquiries about alternatives to dissection from students, teachers, and concerned parents. Some need help phasing out dissection at their schools; oth-

ers want information about the best alternatives. One Baltimore mother even purchased and donated $3,000 worth of dissection alternatives to her children’s school. The signs are clear: Dissection is on the decline. In 2006, New Jer-sey became the 13th state to rec-ognize a student’s right to choose humane alternatives to dissection

Beyond Frogs and Formaldehyde By Jonathan Balcombe, Ph.D., and Allison George


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(see sidebar). With a quarter of all states now protect-ing student choice, a robust market for high-quality alternatives has emerged. In addition to being humane, alternatives to dissec-tion have science on their side. Since 1968, when two schoolteachers conducted a study showing that high school students who watched films of animal dissections demonstrated greater factual knowledge than students who performed dissections,1 at least 30 studies have compared the performance of dissection as a teaching tool with various alternative methods. Collectively, these studies have shown that alternatives ranging from CD-ROMs to 3-D models foster equal or better learning, compared with dissection.2 Many students are concerned about the ecological cost of dissection. Well-chosen alternatives do not entail the environmental disruptions caused by collect-ing animals (e.g., frogs and snakes) from their natural habitats, nor do they introduce toxic substances like formaldehyde into the classroom. Below are some of the great humane CD-ROM dis-section alternatives available today. Each company offers many more programs than we can highlight here. Costs vary, but are generally low compared with the costs of obtaining animals. For users of any of several alterna-tives loan programs available, the only cost is postage. For more information about alternative loan programs, please contact [email protected].

Frogs Digital Frog 2, by Digital Frog International, is an interactive CD-ROM program that teaches frog dissec-

Following the lead of eight other states, New Jersey recently enacted

legislation requiring that students be informed of their right to opt out of dis-section without penalty and requiring teachers to provide a humane alternative. The law, which received overwhelm-ing support in the state legislature, also requires schools to inform parents that their children have the right not to dis-sect. Many students feel intimidated at the thought of requesting an alternative

tion, anatomy, and ecology. With individual sections focusing on advanced concepts, such as synaptic physi-ology, Digital Frog 2 also allows students to study neu-rological, digestive, endocrine, and immune systems in far more detail than dissections could offer, and learning proceeds at the student’s own pace. Though suitable for middle school audiences, Digital Frog 2 also contains information to challenge high school seniors. Prices range from $80 to $899, depending on the number of users and other options. Curriculum guides are also available. For more details, visit www.digitalfrog.com. For a free, single-user copy of Digital Frog 2, please send your name and address to [email protected] (one per individual/school only).

Amazing Deal Froguts, a com-pany founded ini-tially on its frog dissection program, now offers frog, squid, cow eyeball, and fetal pig pro-grams through its “Virtual Dissection CD Subscription Ser-vice.” For $300 a year, schools can access all of these programs, which are renowned for their graphics, to every student. More information is available at www.froguts.com.

New Jersey’s Choice: Compassion

from their teachers. Parental involvement will help them feel confident about ex-pressing their moral, religious, or envi-ronmental objections. Daran Haber, M.D., a New Jersey mem-ber of PCRM, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Haber is one of a growing number of physicians, biologists, and other ex-perts around the country who recognize that dissection is inhumane and can also be emotionally traumatic for students. The other states with dissection

choice laws are California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Four additional states—Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts—have state resolutions or education department policies that protect student choice. Young people want humane options. One survey of ninth graders found that 50 percent would have chosen an alter-native to dissection if offered one. The New Jersey victory should encourage citizens from other states to lobby their elected officials for a similar dissection choice law or to strengthen the language in an existing one.



Research Issues

ACTION ALERT

Help End Animal Drug Experiments

Can shocking mice through their feet for 15 minutes at a time help us learn whether marital stress can

lead to alcoholism? Surprisingly enough, millions of tax dollars are being spent on “stress-ing” animals, giv-ing them drugs and alcohol, and infecting them with diseases—all to study sub-stance abuse problems that are unique to the human species. Many scien-tists agree that such studies are not productive. Researchers have many superior al-ternatives to ani-mal experiments when studying substance abuse in humans. Neu-ropsychological testing devices and CT scans have been used to identify brain changes, memory gaps, and language deficits in drug-abusing humans. These types of problems would never have been detected in an animal. Please write to the directors of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and ask them to shift their funding focus.

Nora Volkow, M.D. Director National Institute on Drug Abuse 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 5213 Bethesda, MD 20892-9561

Ting-Kai Li, M.D. Director National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 6000 Executive Boulevard - Willco Building Bethesda, MD 20892-7003

Dissection Delux ScienceWorks offers “Dissection Works Delux,” a CD-ROM compilation

of frog, fetal pig, earthworm, crayfish, and perch dissec-tions appropriate for grades 6-12. The Delux kit comes with 10 copies of each pro-gram for $175. More infor-mation is available at www.scienceclass.com.

Virtual Reality

Neotek’s revolutionary virtual reality education system allows students to feel like they could actually reach out and touch the specimen—without sacrificing multiple animals. Neotek’s “Dissection Package” includes their CatLab, FrogLab, Cellular Structure, and DryLab series, in-cluding fetal pig, crayfish, perch, rat, frog,

and worm programs, which are also available individu-ally. All images are based on actual dissections. The base system required for virtual reality effects starts at $295, with additional liquid crys-tal glasses sold separately.

For more information, visit www.neotek.com.

Middle School Alternatives Younger students may enjoy Ventura Educational Systems’ software alterna-tives to frog, pig, and earthworm dis-section. By focusing on hand-drawn images of the subjects, rather than pho-tographs, Ventura (www.venturaes.com) clearly emphasizes the systems under

scrutiny—without any gory images. The few pictures of actual dissections that are available can be blocked by teachers or students. Single-user copies start at $59.95, and multiuser options can exceed $400.

1. Fowler HS, Brosius EJ. A research study on the values gained from dissection of animals in secondary school biology. Science Educ.1968;52: 55-57.

2. Balcombe JP. The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives, and Recommenda-tions. Washington, D.C.: Humane Society Press; 2000.

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Research Issues

Imagine that you are drugged with an anesthetic. You are strapped face down to a device. Your skin

and back muscle are cut away, a section of your bony spine is removed, and a machine drops a seven-pound weight onto your exposed spinal cord. You are sewn back together and wake up, unable to move your legs or go to the bathroom. You have leg pain so severe you want to chew through your muscle. A week later you are offered sugary cereal as an in-centive to complete neurobehavioral tests as researchers try to determine your sensitivity to temperature or your ability to walk on a treadmill or a rotating rod. After that, you might have a pump surgically inserted into your injured back. You are anesthetized and pumped full of formaldehyde. You never wake up.

Cruelty 101

This is exactly what happens to nearly 270 mice and rats every year as students participate in the Ohio State University Spinal Cord Injury Research Techniques course, which PCRM doctors have nicknamed “Cruelty 101.” When PCRM learned of this National Institutes of Health-sponsored, five-year summer course, we began a campaign to encourage OSU to develop a more ethical model of human spinal cord injury. Many PCRM mem-bers and thousands of other physicians and laypersons have written OSU and signed petitions in support.

Neurologists Demand an Audience

On February 1, 2006, PCRM physicians Aysha Akhtar and Daran Haber delivered more than 300 pe-titions signed by neurologists and neurosurgeons from across the country to OSU President Karen Holbrook at a university board of directors meeting. The petitioners asked OSU to increase its investment in human clinical studies in spinal cord injury, and to move away from attempts to model injuries in animals, many of whom suffer in the process. As these doctors know, hundreds of thousands of

people are counting on spinal cord injury treatment breakthroughs. That’s why it is crucial that researchers use the best possible research methods—not outdated animal experiments.

Human-Based Research Shows Potential

There are better ways to study spinal cord injury. In vitro research using human neural cell lines or whole spinal cord culture can provide information about the injured tissue itself, as well as screen for potential therapies. For example, a group of London researchers found that damage to spinal cord neurons in cell culture was prevented by inhibiting a specific enzyme. Noninvasive imaging techniques can be used to visualize tissue injury and monitor the effects of experimental therapies. By studying nerve-muscular connections in both uninjured and spinal cord-injured patients, scientists have found spinal mechanisms that are responsible for coordinating opposing muscle movements. The Human Spinal Cord Injury Model project at the University of Miami combines the above techniques, as well as analysis of injured spinal cord tis-sue, to develop a better understanding of spinal cord injury in humans. Clinicians have made advances in the under-standing and treatment of muscle and nerve pain, muscle spastic-ity, pressure sores, con-tinence, and exercise physiology and fitness, to help people who are suffering now. Techniques like body weight support and functional electronic stimulation are even helping some walk. It is urgent that more researchers are encouraged to develop techniques like these.

What You Can Do

PCRM will continue to push OSU to reform Cruelty 101. We especially need the support of OSU alumni and health professionals. To find out how you can help, please visit www.pcrm.org/osu or contact campaign coordinator Kristie Stoick at [email protected] or 202-686-2210, ext. 335.

Spinal Cord InjuryNon-Animal Research Shows Great PromiseBy Kristie Stoick, M.P.H.



There is good news for dieters looking for an easy way to

slim down. A new scien-tific review of 87 studies on vegetarian diets and body weight concludes that excluding meat and other animal products from one’s diet can result in healthy weight loss, even without additional exercise or calorie-counting. The review, which appears in April’s Nutrition Reviews

Lightening the LoadNew Scientific Review Finds Vegetarian Diets Aid Weight Loss


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and is coauthored by Susan Berkow, Ph.D., C.N.S., and PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., looked at ran-domized control trials and observational studies to find out the extent to which vegetarian diets help control weight. The authors also explored the mechanisms by which vegetarian and vegan diets lead to weight loss.

Observational Studies

Obesity is becoming a worldwide problem. The World Health Organization estimates that a total of 1.2 billion people are overweight or obese, and these numbers are rapidly increasing. Nearly half of the chil-dren in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, according to a recent report in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. But better eating habits lead to slimmer bodies. Ob-servational studies included in the review have shown that vegetarians have a body weight that is, on average, 3 percent to 20 percent lower than that of meat-eaters. The body mass index (BMI) or body weight of vegetarians was observed to be lower than that of non-vegetarians in both genders, in blacks (both African-Americans and Nigerians), whites, and Asians. Similar observations have been reported in widely separated geographic areas. The review found that obesity rates in vegetarian populations range from 0 percent to 6 percent. On average, vegans have a lower BMI than ovo-lacto veg-etarians (who eat eggs and dairy), who, in turn, have a lower BMI than meat-eaters.

Clinical Trials

The review also examined randomized control trials that put the diet to the test. In a 12-week study that compared a group of individuals on a vegetarian diet deriving 10 percent of calories from fat with a control group of individuals following guidelines of the American Diabetes Association, the vegetarian group lost 15.9 pounds, while the control group lost 8.4 pounds. Both groups in this study were asked not to alter their exercise habits. Vegan diets seem to lead to weight loss even without a restriction on calorie intake. In clinical studies of low-fat vegan diets, mean body weight dropped significantly, even though energy intake and portion size was not limited. Some research has combined a vegetarian diet with other lifestyle interventions. For example, Dean Ornish, M.D., compared adults with coronary artery disease on a low-fat vegetarian diet and a walking

program with adults with the same disease receiving care from their physicians. After one year, those in the vegetarian diet group had lost an average of 23.7 pounds compared with a gain of 3.2 pounds in the physician’s care group.

How Does It Work?

How do vegetarian diets aid weight loss? One impor-tant mechanism may be a higher intake of vegetables, fruits, and other high-fiber foods, which are filling but low in calories. A vegan diet also increases insulin sensitivity, which lets nutrients enter cells more quickly to be converted to heat instead of fat. Evidence suggests that a vegan diet causes an increased calorie burn after meals, meaning plant-based foods are being used more efficiently as fuel for the body, as opposed to being stored as fat. The simplicity of a vegan diet—which excludes meat, dairy products, and eggs—appeals to people busy with work and family, and many familiar reci-pes are easy to adapt. At least four studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that people give the low-fat vegetarian diet a high rating in terms of ac-

ceptability, and that the transition only takes about three weeks or less. Of course, meatless meals can do more for health than just creating a slimmer body. Vegetarians also have lower rates of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and are at a lower risk for some forms of cancer.

Vegan diets seem to lead to weight loss even without a restriction on calorie intake.

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The Cancer Project UpdateThe Cancer Project

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Schoolchildren in Florida like to have choices about where they get their calcium. In a study in April’s

Journal of the American Dietetic Association, research-ers with The Cancer Project found that when young students were offered soymilk in the school lunch line, almost a quarter of them chose the calcium-rich, non-dairy beverage over cow’s milk. The study, which was conducted at three ethnically diverse elementary schools, also found that offering soymilk boosts the number of students who select some kind of calcium-rich beverage in the lunch line and reduces the amount of saturated fat consumed from calcium-rich beverages. The findings suggest that students’ health could benefit if schools offered soymilk in the lunch line. “Soymilk has major health advantages over cow’s milk,” said Jennifer Reilly, R.D., a dietitian with The Cancer Project and the study’s lead author. “It avoids

the problem of lactose intolerance and skips the ‘bad’ fats—and many kids prefer it.” The majority of African-Americans, Asian-Ameri-cans, and Hispanic-Americans are lactose intolerant, and the condition often begins in childhood. Enriched soymilk has no lactose and little or no saturated fat, but it has as much calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D as dairy milk. Dairy milk is the single largest source of saturated fat—a leading contributor to coronary disease—in children’s diets, according to a National Cancer Institute study. There may be other long-term health benefits to kicking the dairy habit. In February, a report from the Harvard School of Public Health found a higher risk of ovarian cancer among women with increased intakes of lactose, the primary sugar in dairy milk.1 The analysis included 12 prospective cohort studies with a total of 553,217 women, 2,132 of whom developed ovarian cancer. The analysis found a 19 percent increase in risk for those consuming more than 30 grams of lactose per day, the equivalent of three or more servings of dairy milk. Dairy products have been linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer, apparently due to their effects on a man’s hormones. This evidence comes from two major Harvard studies, one involving nearly 21,000 physicians and the other studying 48,000 health professionals.2,3 The men in these studies who steered clear of dairy cut their risk by as much as 25 percent to 40 percent. Most U.S. schools do not offer soymilk, in part because the National School Lunch Program, which serves low-cost and free meals to children, offers no reimbursable alternative to dairy milk without a note from a doctor. This study offers strong support for changing that policy.

1. Genkinger JM, Hunter DJ, Spiegelman D, et al. Dairy products and ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 12 cohort studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006;15:364-372.

2. Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Ma J, et al. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk in the Physicians’ Health Study. Presentation, American Association for Cancer Research, San Francisco, April 2000.

3. Giovannucci E, Rimm EB, Wolk A, et al. Calcium and fructose intake in relation to risk of prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 1998a;58:442-447.

New Study Suggests Schools Should Offer Soymilk

Low-Fat Beverage Proves a Popular Option Among Young Students

Soymilk avoids the problem of lactose intolerance and skips the “bad” fats—and many kids prefer it.


The News You Need

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The Cancer Project

Western Diet Partly to Blame for Korea’s Increasing Breast Cancer Rates Korean women have historically had one of the lowest breast cancer rates in the world, in part because of their traditionally low-fat diet full of fresh vegetables, rice, soybeans, seaweed, and other sea vegetables. However, as they stray from this diet toward a higher fat Western regimen, rates of obesity and breast cancer are catch-ing up with those in Western countries. Researchers in Seoul, Korea, analyzed lifestyle characteristics of 5,000 breast cancer patients admitted to the Asan Medical Center for breast surgery between 1989 and 2004. They found that breast cancer rates among Korean women are increasing faster than the world average. Researchers blame an increase in risk factors, including the con-sumption of higher fat foods, which, according to the Korean Breast Cancer Society, increased significantly between 1996 and 2000. Other changes that reflect life-styles of Westernized nations include earlier menarche (perhaps due to diet changes), a delay in childbearing, insufficient breastfeeding, late menopause, and obesity. Son BH, Kwak BS, Kim JK, et al. Changing patterns in the clinical characteristics of Korean patients with breast cancer during the last 15 years. Arch Surg. 2006 Feb;141(2):155-160.

Fish Oil Does Not Prevent Cancer A systematic review published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that fish oil does not prevent cancer. The review analyzed the results of 38 prior studies of the effect of fish oil on the risk of cancers of the breast, colon, lung, prostate, skin, and other sites.

Individual study results varied. Some showed increased risk from fish oil, others showed reduced risk, and most showed no effect. The combined result was that fish oil has no evident protective effect against cancer. MacLean CH, Newberry SJ, Mojica WA, et al. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cancer risk: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;295:403-415.

Obesity Linked to the Return of Prostate Cancer Men who have been treated for prostate cancer are less likely to have a recurrence if they maintain a healthy weight, according to a recent study in the journal Urology. University of California researchers analyzed data on 2,131 prostate cancer patients from 1989 to 2002, using the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE) database. Obese men, defined as those with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30, were found to have a 30 percent increased risk of cancer recurrence, com-pared with those with lower body weights. Very obese patients (BMI greater than 35) had the overall greatest risk of recurrence—about 70 percent higher than thin-ner men. Results emphasize the importance of main-taining a healthy weight. Other research has shown that the average person fol-lowing a vegetarian diet weighs about 10 percent less than the average meat-eater and that low-fat vegetarian diets are effective in helping people achieve and main-tain a healthy weight. Fur-thermore, vegetarians are less likely to develop cancer when compared with their meat-eating counterparts.Bassett WW, Cooperberg MR, Sadetsky N, et al. Impact of obesity on prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy: data from CaPSURE. Urology. 2005;66:1060-1065.

www.CancerProject.orgThe Cancer Project is a nonprofit PCRM subsidiary that advances cancer prevention and survival through nutrition education and research.


By Jennifer Reilly, R.D., and Neal D. Barnard, M.D.


Member Support

I have included PCRM as a beneficiary of my will or other estate plans, as follows:

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Become a Lifetime Partner


wish I could do more” is a phrase that often accompanies donations to PCRM. We are grateful for every gift—no matter the amount. The truth is, most people are able to make a gift of surprising significance. They just don’t realize that doing so takes a little preparation. Estate planning is a tool that will help you carry out your personal goals for the future. It can help you support charitable interests that are important to you. Creating a will is an easy, uncompli-cated way to make a planned gift. The first

step is to contact your attorney or your state bar association for assistance in find-ing a lawyer who specializes in wills and estate planning. Bequests made through your will give you flexibility and a variety of options. Bequests can be a percentage of your estate, a specific dollar amount, or even a particular item. Having a will is a win-win situation for everyone. It ensures that the assets you

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Online Giving

Have you tried online giving? At www.pcrm.org, you can join PCRM or renew your membership; make a memorial or tribute gift; join PCRM’s monthly giving program, the Remembering Rodney Society; or make a tax-deductible contribution of any size. By choosing to give online through www.pcrm.org rather than through the mail, you help conserve paper and save PCRM money. You may use your credit or debit card for online giving. Thanks for your support!

have built up in your lifetime will be used in the way that you desire. PCRM’s Lifetime Partners are a special group of supporters who have included PCRM in their estate plans. If you have done so, please let us know! Knowing helps us make our own plans for the future, and naturally we would like to express our gratitude to you now. To notify PCRM of your gift plans or to request information about bequests or the many other available planned giving options, please complete and return the form on this page. You can also visit www.pcrm.gift-planning.org to learn more about Lifetime Partners and use our interactive gift planning software to help you make the decision that’s right for you. We can help you attain your goals. Your support is what keeps us growing and strong!

With deepest appreciation,

BETSY WASON

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

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Member Support

PCRM members recently gathered at the stunning Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica, Calif., to

celebrate their commitment to promoting compassion. Our Passion for Compassion luncheon and Passion Auction was a unique fundraising event where guests could mingle with each other and PCRM staff while raising funds for PCRM’s vital programs. Actress and author Marilu Henner, best known for her roles on Taxi and Evening Shade, was a special guest. Henner and PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D., hosted a live auction that gave members the chance to support their favorite PCRM program. Guests enthusiastically bid on eight different programs. The winning bidders listed below will have their names associated with the following programs for an entire year. We are deeply grateful to them and to all who supported this event:

Campaign to End Animal Labs in Medical Schools: Zarin Azar, M.D.

The Cancer Survivor’s Handbook Distribution: Jim Weisenbach

Humane Charity Seal of Approval Advertisements: Edmund and Barbara Wilkinson

Healthy School Lunch Campaign: Moneim Fadali, M.D.

Spanish Vegetarian Starter Kit: Moneim Fadali, M.D.

Dissection Alternatives Campaign: Kim Howe

NutritionMD.org Web Site: Zarin Azar, M.D.

Nutrition Guide for Clinicians: Darla K. Brunner and Steven R. Nussbaum

PCRM Member Events

In the past year, we have held a number of events to help us get out and meet our members. These occasions have provided PCRM staff with a wonderful opportunity to get to know our supporters and share with them the latest program news and campaign victories. The feedback from members who have at-tended has been overwhelmingly positive and we plan to host more events in locations throughout the country. When you get an invitation to attend a PCRM event in your region, we hope you’ll consider joining us. If you would like to help us plan an event in your city, please contact [email protected] or 202-686-2210, ext. 304. See you soon!

PCRM Members Share Their Passion for Compassion

PCRM president Neal D. Barnard, M.D., actress and author Marilu Henner, and Chad Sandusky, Ph.D., PCRM director of toxicology and research.


RESEARCH ISSUES

What Will We Do If We Don’t Experiment on Animals?Medical Research for the 21st CenturyC. Ray Greek, M.D., and Jean Swingle Greek, D.V.M. The Greeks answer the title’s question with a tour of truly modern medical research. With advances in the study of human genetics and the ability to measure human responses to drugs at the molecular level, researchers will find it increasingly difficult to justify the crude data accu-mulated from animal experimentation. 262 pgs, $24.99

Pleasurable KingdomAnimals and the Nature of Feeling GoodJonathan Balcombe, Ph.D.Life as experienced by animals is not a grim struggle for survival, according to animal behavior researcher Balcombe. He pres-ents persuasive evidence that animals—like humans—find enjoyment in touch, food, aesthetics, companionship, anticipation, and more. Full of insight and humor, the book poses vital ethical questions. 256 pgs, $24.95

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Your Vegetarian PregnancyA Month-by-Month Guide to Health and NutritionHolly Roberts, D.O., F.A.C.O.G.Fulfilling every nutritional guideline recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, this book is the first authoritative guide to maintaining a healthy plant-based diet before, during, and after the birth of your child. 378 pgs, $15.00

Vice Cream Over 70 Sinfully Delicious Dairy-Free DelightsJeff RogersYou can make truly creamy and delectable ice creams using purely vegan ingredients—milks from nuts, maple syrup and dates as sweeteners, and all the amazing flavors nature has to offer. With vice cream in your freezer, you’ll never yearn for milk-based ice cream again. 128 pgs, $12.95

Raw Food Made EasyFor One or Two PeopleJennifer CornbleetChicago-based cooking instructor Jennifer Cornbleet shares her favorite no-cook recipes in smaller quantities ideal for one or two people. Essential time-saving tips and techniques, along with clear instructions, make preparation quick and easy. Includes over 100 recipes using common, all-natural ingredients. 199 pgs, $16.95

PCRM Marketplace

Healthy Eating for Life for ChildrenPCRM with Amy Lanou, Ph.D.When children learn proper nutrition early in life, they are more likely to avoid heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Here’s how to get them started. Includes kid-tested recipes. 258 pgs, $14.95

Healthy Eating for Life book series from PCRMPCRM’s series of medically sound, reader-friendly books explain diet’s role in wellness and disease prevention. Each book includes at least 80 healthy, delicious vegetarian recipes. Forewords by PCRM president Neal D. Barnard, M.D.

Healthy Eating for Life for WomenPCRM with Kristine KieswerLearn how the right foods can ease menstrual and menopausal symptoms, strengthen bones, encourage weight loss, protect the heart, and help prevent certain cancers. 260 pgs, $14.95

Healthy Eating for Life to Prevent and Treat CancerPCRM with Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D.This book provides a complete nutrition program to prevent and fight cancer. Packed with tips and guidelines for life-long good health. 244 pgs, $14.95

Healthy Eating for Life to Prevent and Treat DiabetesPCRM with Patricia Bertron, R.D.Studies show that diabetes can be highly responsive to diet and lifestyle changes. PCRM explains these changes and how to put them into practice. 244 pgs, $14.95

The Best in the World IIHealthful Recipes from Exclusive and Out-of-the-Way RestaurantsJennifer L. Keller, R.D., EditorTravel around the world to discover treasures from side-street cafes and elegant hotel dining rooms. Attrac-tively illustrated, this delightful vegan cookbook is the sequel to PCRM’s original international recipe collection. Hardcover, 71 pgs, $11.95

The Best in the WorldFast, Healthful Recipes from Exclusive and Out-of-the-Way RestaurantsNeal D. Barnard, M.D., EditorThis popular collection of wonderfully healthy recipes comes from the world’s best and most unusual restaurants. Enjoy these vegan delicacies at home. Hardcover, 71 pgs, $11.95

“Best in the World” Matched Set OfferGet both beautiful volumes for $18

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Food Allergy Survival GuideVesanto Melina, M.S., R.D., Jo Stepaniak, M.S.Ed., Dina Aronson, M.S., R.D.Three prominent authorities in nutrition and vegetarian cooking explain how to pinpoint foods that trigger aller-gies and aggravate conditions such as arthritis, asthma, ADHD, and depression. Learn to recognize “hidden” culprits in prepared foods. Discover delicious, healthful substitutes. Includes over 100 recipes. 383 pgs, $19.95

Super Size Me DVDDirected by Morgan SpurlockIn this award-winning docu-mentary, filmmaker Spurlock lives on a McDonald’s-only diet for one month, with devastating results. Mixing humor with commentary by medical experts, Super Size Me exposes the consequences of the national romance with fast food. 96 minutes, plus bonus footage and interviews. Parental advisory: language, graphic medical scenes. $26.99

Don’t Eat This BookFast Food and the Supersizing of AmericaMorgan SpurlockFunny, optimistic, and fact-packed, this book presents the backstory of Super Size Me. It also details how the fast-food industry endangers health in the United States, often with the cooperation of government. 320 pgs, $21.95

The Great American Detox DietAlex JamiesonMorgan Spurlock’s vegan chef fiancée presents the detox program that undid the damage caused by his monthlong, nothing-but-McDonald’s diet. Jamieson’s eight-week program includes nearly 90 recipes that eliminate animal products, sugar, caffeine, and potential allergens. 288 pgs, $23.95

An educationally enhanced Super Size Me DVD package for grades 6–12 is available from www. SuperSizeMeStore.com.


NEW!


Don’t Drink Your MilkFrank Oski, M.D.Milk is the perfect food—for a calf. For humans, however, milk poses several health risks, as outlined in this very readable book by the former director of the Johns Hopkins University Department of Pediatrics. 92 pgs, $9.95

Vegan Microwave CookbookNancy Berkoff, R.D.Award-winning chef and columnist Nancy Berkoff offers over 165 easy recipes, many of which take less than 10 minutes to prepare. Microwave magic can make dream meals mesh with a busy schedule. 287 pgs, $16.95

More Great Good Dairy-free Desserts—NaturallyFran CostiganChef-instructor Fran Costigan teaches the fine art of creating vegan pastries, pies, cakes, puddings, and frozen desserts. Everyone from novice bakers to gourmet cooks will find valuable tips on equipment, techniques, and all-natural ingredients. 221 pgs, $19.95

More Fabulous BeansBarb BloomfieldPacked with minerals and fiber, beans help supply optimal nutrition. They provide an earthy backdrop to these quick, creative recipes—simple to gourmet. Whether you’re cooking for two or a crowd, the results are fabulous! 192 pgs, $14.95

The Whole Foods Diabetic CookbookPatricia Stevenson, Michael Cook, Patricia Bertron, R.D.It’s not just about sugar anymore! A low-fat, vegetarian diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans will keep blood sugar at a more constant level and help control excess weight. Delicious recipes make it easy. Includes background info on diabetes and nutrition. 159 pgs, $12.95

Fat-Free and Easy Great Meals in Minutes!Jennifer RaymondAs guest chef for Dr. Dean Ornish’s “Open Your Heart” program, Jennifer Raymond has the secret to making quick, fat-free, scrumptious, vegan recipes that will delight everyone. 152 pgs, $12.95

From Neal D. Barnard, M.D., PCRM president

Breaking the Food SeductionWe all have foods we can’t resist, foods that sabotage our health. But banishing those cravings for chocolate, cookies, cheese, or burgers isn’t a ques-tion of willpower, it’s a matter of biochemistry. Drawing on his own research and that of other leading institutions, Dr. Barnard reveals how diet and lifestyle changes can break the craving cycle. 324 pgs, $14.95

Breaking the Food Seduction Audio Summary by the author, 68 mins, compact disc, $10.00

Turn Off the Fat GenesGenes, including those that shape our bodies, actually adapt to outside influences. Dr. Barnard explains the process and provides a three-week gene-control program com-plete with menus and recipes by Jennifer Raymond. Here are powerful tools for achieving long-term weight loss and better health. Paperback, 350 pgs, $14.00

Eat Right, Live LongerFoods can slow and even reverse some aspects of aging. Learn the surprising role that food plays in weight con-trol, menopause, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, and many other conditions. Recipes by Jennifer Raymond. 336 pgs, $13.00

A Physician’s Slimming Guide for Permanent Weight ControlYou can succeed in becoming and staying slimmer! This book is not a diet—it’s a comprehensive program that takes the reader beyond artificial “formula approaches.” 96 pgs, $7.95

Foods That Fight PainDid you know that ginger can prevent migraines and that coffee sometimes cures them? Drawing on new research, Dr. Barnard shows readers how to soothe everyday ailments and cure chronic pain with common foods. 348 pgs, $14.00

Foods That Fight Pain VHS video, 55 mins, $14.95

Food for LifeThe breakthrough book on aging, heart disease, cancer, weight control, and general health. Preface by Dean Ornish, M.D. Loads of tips on changing your diet, 21 days of menus, plus delicious recipes by Jennifer Raymond. 334 pgs, $14.00

From The Cancer Project

The Survivor’s Handbook:Eating Right for Cancer SurvivalFind out how foods fight cancer and the advan-tages of a high-fiber, low-fat, dairy- and meat-free diet. Includes updates from the latest research, special prostate and breast cancer sections, tips for making the dietary transi-tion, and recipes. Spiral bound, 145 pgs, $14.95

Eating Right for Cancer Survival videoThis groundbreaking new video is designed to work hand-in-hand with the companion Survivor’s Hand-book. Together they’ll provide you with empowering information on how simple, everyday choices can cause major changes in your health and well being. Contains eight presenta-tions by Neal Barnard, M.D., Jennifer Reilly, R.D., and Amy Lanou, Ph.D. 103 mins.DVD $14.95VHS $14.95

SPECIAL VIDEO /HANDBOOK COMBO OFFERDVD / Handbook $24.95VHS / Handbook $24.95

PCRM Marketplace


NEW!

NEW!

CHILDREN’S BOOK

Smudge BunnyBernie Siegel, M.D.Baby rabbit Smudge leads an idyllic life until she and her sister Snowflake are sold as Easter bunnies. Faced with challenges and difficulties, the pair clings to their mother’s parting words: “Remember, something good will come of this.” This book is delightfully il-lustrated by Laura J. Byant. 30 pgs, $15.95

Venturesome Vegetarian CookingBold Flavors for Meat- and Dairy-Free MealsJ.M. Hirsch, Michelle HirschFocusing on flavorful, innovative dishes that just happen to be vegan, the authors present over 150 daring yet simple-to-prepare recipes, many with an international twist. J.M. Hirsch is an Associated Press food editor and a nationally syndicated cooking columnist. Features over 100 color photos. 210 pgs, $21.95

22 GOOD MEDICINE Winter 2006

Choose Health! Four Food Groups Poster Striking color photos illus-trate PCRM’s New Four Food Groups for complete nu-trition without cholesterol and excess fat. Includes serving recommendations. 22"x17", $6.00

Cartoon Four Food Groups PosterPCRM’s color ful and informative guide to nutritional recommendations, i l l u s t rate d f o r younger eaters. 22"x17", $6.00

New Four Food Groups Place Mats Four colorful guides to the New Four Food Groups. The flip side provides cooking and food storage tips, unmasks dietary myths, and suggests additional read-ing. 17"x11", $12.00

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International and Express Shipping Orders: Shipping charges vary depending on country and/or express shipping method. Call for charges: 931-964-3571

The New Four Food Groups Grocery Tote BagThis ample canvas bag measures 12"x16.5"x7". Green on natural white. $10.00

From PCRM

Bumper Sticker White on navy. $1.00 Bumper Sticker White on green. $1.00 Bumper Sticker Full color. $1.00

Vegetarian Starter KitIt’s all here. Learn about the power of a plant-food diet for fighting disease and maintaining a healthy weight. Get the facts on vegan diets for pregnant women, babies, and children. Try delicious sample recipes. Debunk common myths. And make friends with the New Four Food Groups! 16 pgs, $2.00

Go Veg—B4 It’s 2L8 Quality 100% cotton. Yellow on forest green. $11.95

Show your support for humane research with

Humane Charity Seal of Approval Items

Refrigerator Magnet Full color, 2"x3½". $1.00

Go Vegan Multilingual ApronVeg-friendly phrases in ten languages. 21"x 28" gourmet apron with pocket. Cream on forest green. $13.95

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Winter 2006 GOOD MEDICINE 23

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Just the Facts

EU’s ECVAM KOs Rabbit TestsThe Scientific Advisory Committee of the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) has validated six new cell culture tests. The new tests establish the toxicity of cancer drugs and identify bacteria-contaminated drugs with greater accuracy than current animal-based test meth-ods. By themselves, the cell culture tests for contaminated drugs could save up to 200,000 rabbits a year. Tests validated by ECVAM are subject to approval by the Scientific Advisory Committee, after which they can be used in laboratories in 25 European nations. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) 23.03.2006.

An Inconvenient Number of Thymus Glands

Researchers have now identi-fied a second thymus gland in mice—that’s one more than you probably have. A second, or “ectopic,” thymus is rarely present in humans after birth, and when it is, it’s usually considered abnormal. In this study, however, an ectopic thymus was regu-larly found in adult mice and is considered part of their normal development. The discovery of yet another dif-ference between mouse and human physiology threatens the validity of immunological research done in mice. Terszowski G, Muller SM, Bleul CC, et al. Evidence for a functional second thymus in mice. Science. 2006 March 2; [Epub ahead of print].

Adieu, la Difference! Obesity and diabetes epidemics that began in the United States 20 years ago are now emerging in France, traditionally home to one of the lowest obesity rates among western-ized countries. The Kaiser Permanente study followed 3,770 normal-weight French men and women for six years. Twenty-one percent of participants gained 19.8 pounds or more and developed metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions, including abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and insulin resistance. The blame lies with the adoption of the American lifestyle—fast foods, processed foods, soft drinks, and little or no exercise.Hillier TA, Fagot-Campagna A, Eschwege E, Vol S, Cailleau M, Balkau B; the D.E.S.I.R. Study group. Weight change and changes in the metabolic syndrome as the French population moves towards overweight: the D.E.S.I.R. cohort. Int J Epidemiol. 2006 Feb;35(1):190-196.

It Does a Body GoodIn spite of the dairy industry’s best efforts, milk consump-tion in the United States declined for the 15th straight year. Per capita fluid milk sales fell from 25.4 gallons in 1990 to 21.1 gallons in 2004, according to the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture.

Hand Me That Tape MeasureWaist circumference in children and adolescents predicts insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes, independent of body mass index (BMI). Abdominal obesity poses a health risk even when BMI is not very high.Lee S, Bacha F, Gungor N, Arslanian SA. Waist circumference is an independent predictor of insulin resistance in black and white youths. J Pediatr. 2006 Feb;148(2):188-194.

Still Searching for an Honest FryIn February, Nadia Sugich, a Los Angeles resident who follows a vegan diet, filed a class-action lawsuit against McDonald’s for flavoring its french fries with dairy ingredients. The suit came days after the company acknowledged the presence of wheat and dairy products, in spite of earlier claims that the fries were free of such potential allergens. Historically, McDon-ald’s seems to have trouble keeping its french fry facts straight. The company paid $10 million in 2002 and $8.5 mil-lion in 2005 to settle consumer suits over misleading public statements about cooking oil contents.

Heart-Friendly Bacon Not on HorizonA Harvard Medical School re-searcher recently announced the creation of cloned, genetically engineered pigs with significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids—be-lieved by some to stave off heart disease (often brought on by foods like, um, pork). The omega-3-producing gene comes from a micro-scopic roundworm. Food and Drug Adminis-tration approval—never yet granted to food derived from a genetically engineered animal—is only one obstacle facing the project. A new British Medical Journal study found no health benefit from omega-3.**Hooper L, Thompson RL, Harrison RA, et al. Risks and benefits of omega 3 fats for mortality, car-diovascular disease, and cancer: systemic review. BMJ. 2006. Available at www.bjm.com, accessed Mar. 24, 2006.


Michele Dodman was 15 when her cousin took her for a walk through a meat-packing plant. She had

always been concerned about animals, but her cousin wanted to prove that some of the worst cruelty hap-pened in the meat industry. She has been a vegetarian ever since. As a gastroenterologist, Dr. Dodman knows that her conscience isn’t the only part of her that benefits from her vegetarian diet. “Being a vegetarian is a much healthier lifestyle—there are no two ways about it,” Dr. Dodman said. She’s seen that firsthand. Dr. Dodman’s two children from Guatemala, ages two and four, were underweight and had low iron counts when she adopted them. They quickly caught up to their healthy peers by eating soy-based proteins and are being raised as vegetarians. Dr. Dodman also shares advice about healthy eating with her patients, who come to her with problems rang-

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ing from heartburn to fatty liver disease. “My patients are surprised by how easy being a vegetarian is,” Dr. Dodman said. She takes the time to guide them with tips on shift-ing to vegetarian foods. Dr. Dodman is an avid educator. She has been an active PCRM member for many years, and she has a starring role in “House Call,” a PCRM public service announcement about childhood obesity that has played on television stations across the country. As a physician, Dr. Dodman would like to see people taking more responsibility for their own health. “When you solve a problem you have to define it, and then you have to take action,” she said. “Every time my patients say, ‘Well I don’t want to do that because that involves change,’ I tell them what my mother always told me: ‘The only thing constant is change.’ Why not be the master of our own changes?”

Michele Dodman, D.O.

Embracing Change

good medicine - spring 2006

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