Under Damoclus sword

The Pill vs. the Sword: Additional Considerations; Comment on “The Pill Is Mightier Than the Sword”

In this paper, I present additional information for policy-makers and researchers to consider in response to the view proposed by Potts et al that “the pill is mightier than the sword.” I identify states with both high rates of terrorism and a youth bulge and discuss correlates of both these societal characteristics. The research examined supports the view that factors other than access to fami...

Scalpel and Sword

A Double-Edged Sword?

The enormous benefits of inhibition of ACE demonstrate that manipulation of the metabolism of peptide hormones is a valuable therapeutic strategy for cardiovascular disease. Recent attempts to expand these benefits have combined ACE inhibition with inhibition of other peptidases such as neutral endopeptidase (NEP) in a single molecule, a strategy known as vasopeptidase inhibition. NEP metaboliz...

Double-edged sword.

chemotherapy or HIV. Therefore, flight attendants and others say that airplane cabin air should be held to higher standards than workplaces. Pressure from passengers may be a major contributing factor in encouraging airlines to increase fresh air. In the August issue of Consumer Reports, airlines were ranked according to levels of carbon dioxide in airplane cabins and criticized for the low amo...

The two-edged sword.

Unlike most chronic illnesses which have been declining or stabilizing in prevalence, incidence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing in the Western Hemisphere, and is now increasing at alarming rates in Asia1. While all causes of these increases cannot be identified, without question the increase in adiposity is an important contributor. The latter is due to increased caloric intake and reduc...