window.__IS_SSR__=true
window.__INITIAL_STATE__={
"attachmentsReducer": {
"audio_0": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_0",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background0.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_1": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_1",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background1.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_2": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_2",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background2.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_3": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_3",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background3.jpg"
}
}
},
"audio_4": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "audio_4",
"imgSizes": {
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/themes/KQED-unified/img/audio_bgs/background4.jpg"
}
}
},
"placeholder": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "placeholder",
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"large": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"1536x1536": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1536x1024.jpg",
"width": 1536,
"height": 1024,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"height": 533,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"height": 576,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 107,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"small": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"height": 372,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"height": 680,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 32,
"height": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 50,
"height": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 64,
"height": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 96,
"height": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 128,
"height": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-1333x1333-1-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"height": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg"
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KQED-Default-Image-816638274-2000x1333-1.jpg",
"width": 2000,
"height": 1333
}
}
},
"futureofyou_351606": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_351606",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "351606",
"found": true
},
"parent": 351605,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-520x520.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 520
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 160
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-960x960.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 960
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-375x375.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 375
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-e1489077884948.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1920
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1020x1020.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1020
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1180x1180.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1180
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-800x800.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 800
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1920x1920.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1920
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1180x1180.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1180
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-1920x1920.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1920
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-768x768.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 768
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/istock-450298579-edit_custom-e62b3f45f291f6d3eccf39bce772308c66630e97-240x240.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 240
}
},
"publishDate": 1489077466,
"modified": 1489077863,
"caption": null,
"description": "Every time someone comes in contact with the Internet, algorithms are at play.",
"title": "Every time someone comes in contact with the Internet, algorithms are at play.",
"credit": "pressureUA/Getty Images/iStockphoto",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_351018": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_351018",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "351018",
"found": true
},
"parent": 345830,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-520x390.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 390
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-160x120.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 120
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-960x720.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 720
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-375x281.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 281
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart.jpg",
"width": 1280,
"height": 960
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-1020x765.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 765
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-1180x885.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 885
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-800x600.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 600
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-1180x885.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 885
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-768x576.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/eyechart-240x180.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 180
}
},
"publishDate": 1488994757,
"modified": 1488994789,
"caption": null,
"description": null,
"title": "eyechart",
"credit": "\u003ca href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/108481750/in/photolist-azZR1-5LztEk-i7hvxt-5So6ss-2vVkpu-8vEXcj-nL9NXx-9sbboc-ecRPNC-coQsZs-hjcHM2-ecRPsd-4KuXPc-3DaCG1-7KTLja-4U4ome-4cCSVW-7EmThQ-b9fHwg-5uKskB-4bu3y9-bDKWik-nyPxPY-7Dj2gC-fuyYgX-wHeKNR-avsLeh-9G9Bpi-ecRPrE-8Y9HVt-8E715f-342jhx-ecRPjy-dpzQdr-8YcJTb-ecLbiM-pa8bDW-atvnG7-5QSpUK-4NG4LD-eXyQcA-cirkTC-hYvzg3-eikjF-7KFXYJ-s2usZf-cuGky9-iokdgF-8EqiSM-akU4Cj\">Todd Lapin/Flickr\u003c/a>",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_341841": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_341841",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341841",
"found": true
},
"parent": 341839,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-520x293.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 293
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-160x90.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 90
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-960x540.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 540
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-375x211.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 211
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1.jpg",
"width": 2279,
"height": 1282
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1020x574.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 574
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1180x664.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 664
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-800x450.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 450
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1920x1080.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1080
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1180x664.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 664
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-1920x1080.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1080
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-768x432.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 432
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/heart-health_wide-0fa361079eb45d51ec02f0d7448db4e125b1bd9b-1-240x135.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 135
}
},
"publishDate": 1487785112,
"modified": 1520899601,
"caption": null,
"description": null,
"title": "There's no evidence that heart screenings for teens prevent deaths.",
"credit": null,
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_341834": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_341834",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341834",
"found": true
},
"parent": 341833,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-520x293.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 293
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-160x90.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 90
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-375x211.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 211
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59.jpg",
"width": 958,
"height": 539
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-800x450.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 450
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-768x432.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 432
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/brandie-2_wide-39713c851ff780a0a920728ee193ef46cf957d59-240x135.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 135
}
},
"publishDate": 1487785023,
"modified": 1488823285,
"caption": "Brandie Jefferson is taking part in a study on the effects of intermittent fasting on the microbiome and inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis, though eating is 'what I was born to do apparently.' ",
"description": "Eating: it's what I was born to do apparently!",
"title": "Eating: it's what I was born to do apparently!",
"credit": "Brandie Jefferson/Instagram",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_348027": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_348027",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "348027",
"found": true
},
"parent": 347131,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-520x278.png",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 278
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-160x85.png",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 85
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-672x372.png",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-375x200.png",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 200
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social.png",
"width": 818,
"height": 437
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-50x50.png",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-96x96.png",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-800x427.png",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 427
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-64x64.png",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-32x32.png",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 32
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-150x150.png",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-768x410.png",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 410
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-128x128.png",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/social-240x128.png",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/png",
"height": 128
}
},
"publishDate": 1488590927,
"modified": 1488590927,
"caption": null,
"description": null,
"title": "social",
"credit": null,
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_347315": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_347315",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "347315",
"found": true
},
"parent": 345944,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-520x347.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 347
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-960x640.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 640
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-375x250.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 250
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-e1488500048160.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 787
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 787
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/STEMjobs-240x160.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 160
}
},
"publishDate": 1488500000,
"modified": 1488500254,
"caption": "FILE PHOTO: Medical researcher in New York City, 2008. ",
"description": null,
"title": "New State-Of-The Art Laboratory Gets To Work On AIDS Vaccine",
"credit": "Chris Hondros/Getty Images",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_346449": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_346449",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "346449",
"found": true
},
"parent": 345800,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-520x347.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 347
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-960x640.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 640
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-375x250.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 250
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-e1488387633366.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1280
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1020x680.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 680
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 787
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-800x533.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 533
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1180x787.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 787
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-1920x1280.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1280
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/swab-240x160.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 160
}
},
"publishDate": 1488387613,
"modified": 1488387731,
"caption": "Proove tests of DNA captured by swabbing inside a patient’s cheek were so unreliable that many physicians disregarded the results. There was scant evidence, said the company’s former chief scientist, that the tests improved patient outcomes.",
"description": null,
"title": "Close up of cotton Buds",
"credit": "yokeetod/iStock",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_125387": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_125387",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "125387",
"found": true
},
"parent": 124434,
"imgSizes": {
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-400x266.jpg",
"width": 400,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 266
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby.jpg",
"width": 700,
"height": 466
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-75x75.jpg",
"width": 75,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 75
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2016/03/MotherBaby-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
}
},
"publishDate": 1457539029,
"modified": 1488241246,
"caption": "A new report makes recommendations for how researchers should approach gene editing in humans. ",
"description": null,
"title": "MotherBaby",
"credit": "Pixabay",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_345912": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_345912",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "345912",
"found": true
},
"parent": 341792,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-520x323.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 323
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-160x99.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 99
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-960x597.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 597
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-375x233.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 233
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-e1488319718176.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 1194
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1020x634.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 634
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1180x734.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 734
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-800x497.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 497
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1920x1194.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1194
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1180x734.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 734
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-1920x1194.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1194
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-768x477.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 477
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/elderly-240x149.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 149
}
},
"publishDate": 1488319674,
"modified": 1520034841,
"caption": null,
"description": "Group of Senior Retirement Friends Happiness Concept",
"title": "Group of Senior Retirement Friends Happiness Concept",
"credit": "Rawpixel Ltd/iStock",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_333283": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_333283",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "333283",
"found": true
},
"parent": 333253,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-520x267.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 267
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-160x82.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 82
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-960x492.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 492
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-375x192.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 192
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"height": 984
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1020x523.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 523
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1180x605.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 605
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-800x410.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 410
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-lrg": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1920x984.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 984
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1180x605.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 605
},
"full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-1920x984.jpg",
"width": 1920,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 984
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-768x394.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 394
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/PHDgrad-240x123.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 123
}
},
"publishDate": 1486574618,
"modified": 1486574699,
"caption": "Natural selection may make scenes like this rarer in the future. ",
"description": null,
"title": "PHDgrad",
"credit": "Wikimedia Commons",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_345152": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_345152",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "345152",
"found": true
},
"parent": 338930,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-520x347.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 347
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-160x107.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 107
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-375x250.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 250
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid.jpg",
"width": 768,
"height": 512
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-768x512.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 512
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/opioid-240x160.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 160
}
},
"publishDate": 1488214210,
"modified": 1513883049,
"caption": "U.S. deaths from drug overdoses skyrocketed 21 percent last year.",
"description": null,
"title": "opioid",
"credit": "Image from iStock/Getty",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
},
"futureofyou_341968": {
"type": "attachments",
"id": "futureofyou_341968",
"meta": {
"index": "attachments_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341968",
"found": true
},
"parent": 338935,
"imgSizes": {
"small": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-520x520.jpg",
"width": 520,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 520
},
"twentyfourteen-full-width": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1038x576.jpg",
"width": 1038,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 576
},
"thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-160x160.jpg",
"width": 160,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 160
},
"fd-sm": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-960x960.jpg",
"width": 960,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 960
},
"post-thumbnail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-672x372.jpg",
"width": 672,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 372
},
"xsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-375x375.jpg",
"width": 375,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 375
},
"kqedFullSize": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic.jpg",
"width": 1600,
"height": 1600
},
"large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1020x1020.jpg",
"width": 1020,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1020
},
"xlarge": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1180x1180.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1180
},
"guest-author-50": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-50x50.jpg",
"width": 50,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 50
},
"guest-author-96": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-96x96.jpg",
"width": 96,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 96
},
"medium": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-800x800.jpg",
"width": 800,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 800
},
"guest-author-64": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-64x64.jpg",
"width": 64,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 64
},
"guest-author-32": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-32x32.jpg",
"width": 32,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 32
},
"fd-med": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1180x1180.jpg",
"width": 1180,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 1180
},
"detail": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-150x150.jpg",
"width": 150,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 150
},
"medium_large": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-768x768.jpg",
"width": 768,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 768
},
"guest-author-128": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-128x128.jpg",
"width": 128,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 128
},
"xxsmall": {
"file": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-240x240.jpg",
"width": 240,
"mimeType": "image/jpeg",
"height": 240
}
},
"publishDate": 1487801359,
"modified": 1487801507,
"caption": "A review of FDA records shows that some babies who were given Hyland’s teething products had repeated seizures, became delirious or turned blue and died. ",
"description": null,
"title": "homeopathic",
"credit": "Photo from FDA",
"status": "inherit",
"isLoading": false,
"fetchFailed": false
}
},
"audioPlayerReducer": {
"postId": "stream_live",
"isPaused": true,
"isPlaying": false,
"pfsActive": false,
"pledgeModalIsOpen": true,
"playerDrawerIsOpen": false,
"liveAudioPlayStartedAt": 0,
"liveAudioPlayContext": ""
},
"authorsReducer": {
"byline_futureofyou_351605": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_351605",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_351605",
"name": "Cecilia Mazanec\u003cbr />NPR All Tech Considered",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_345830": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_345830",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_345830",
"name": "Lauran Neergard\u003cbr />Associated Press",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_341839": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_341839",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_341839",
"name": "Mary Chris Jaklevic\u003cbr />Kaiser Health News",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_341833": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_341833",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_341833",
"name": "Brandie Jefferson\u003cbr />NPR Shots",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_347131": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_347131",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_347131",
"name": "Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_345800": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_345800",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_345800",
"name": "Charles Piller\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/\">STAT\u003c/a>",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_341795": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_341795",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_341795",
"name": "Lauran Neergaard\u003cbr/>AP",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_341792": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_341792",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_341792",
"name": "\u003cstrong>Maria Cheng\u003cbr />Associated Press\u003c/strong>",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_333253": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_333253",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_333253",
"name": "Barry Starr",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_338930": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_338930",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_338930",
"name": "Jenny Gold\u003cbr />Kaiser Health News",
"isLoading": false
},
"byline_futureofyou_338935": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "byline_futureofyou_338935",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"slug": "byline_futureofyou_338935",
"name": "Sheila Kaplan\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/\">STAT\u003c/a>",
"isLoading": false
},
"jbrooks": {
"type": "authors",
"id": "80",
"meta": {
"index": "authors_1716337520",
"id": "80",
"found": true
},
"name": "Jon Brooks",
"firstName": "Jon",
"lastName": "Brooks",
"slug": "jbrooks",
"email": "jbrooks@kqed.org",
"display_author_email": true,
"staff_mastheads": [
"science"
],
"title": "Digital Editor",
"bio": "Jon Brooks is a former Digital Editor for KQED Science. He is the former editor of KQED’s daily news blog, News Fix. In 2014, he won a California Journalism Award for his coverage of ride services like Uber and Lyft and the taxi industry. A veteran blogger, he previously worked for Yahoo! in various news writing and editing roles. Jon is also a playwright whose work has been produced in San Francisco, New York, Italy, and around the U.S. He has written about film for his own blog and studied film at Boston University.",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/98887f7ed1c876ed414d4c915e969584?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twitter": "jbrooksfoy",
"facebook": null,
"instagram": null,
"linkedin": null,
"sites": [
{
"site": "arts",
"roles": [
"Contributor",
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "news",
"roles": [
"author"
]
},
{
"site": "futureofyou",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "mindshift",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "stateofhealth",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
},
{
"site": "science",
"roles": [
"administrator"
]
},
{
"site": "quest",
"roles": [
"editor"
]
}
],
"headData": {
"title": "Jon Brooks | KQED",
"description": "Digital Editor",
"ogImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/98887f7ed1c876ed414d4c915e969584?s=600&d=blank&r=g",
"twImgSrc": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/98887f7ed1c876ed414d4c915e969584?s=600&d=blank&r=g"
},
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/author/jbrooks"
}
},
"pagesReducer": {
"futureofyou_category_future-of-you": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1",
"score": 12.7954645
},
"featImg": null,
"name": "KQED Future Of You",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "KQED Future Of You Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1,
"slug": "future-of-you",
"isLoading": false,
"title": "KQED Future Of You",
"pageMeta": {
"site": "futureofyou",
"WpPageTemplate": "page-topic-editorial",
"currentPage": 41
},
"blocks": [
{
"blockName": "kqed/post-list",
"attrs": {
"layout": "cardArticle2",
"query": "posts/futureofyou?category=future-of-you",
"seeMore": false,
"paginated": true,
"page": 41
}
},
{
"blockName": "kqed/ad"
}
]
}
},
"pfsSessionReducer": {},
"postsReducer": {
"stream_live": {
"type": "live",
"id": "stream_live",
"audioUrl": "https://hls.kqed.org/hls/kqed_app/playlist.m3u8",
"title": "Live Stream",
"excerpt": "Live Stream information currently unavailable.",
"link": "/radio",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "KQED Live",
"link": "/"
}
},
"stream_kqedNewscast": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "stream_kqedNewscast",
"audioUrl": "https://www.kqed.org/.stream/anon/radio/RDnews/newscast.mp3?_=1",
"title": "KQED Newscast",
"featImg": "",
"label": {
"name": "88.5 FM",
"link": "/"
}
},
"futureofyou_351605": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_351605",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "351605",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1489077926000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1489077926,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Algorithms Could Leave Humans Out of Decision-Making, Say Experts",
"title": "Algorithms Could Leave Humans Out of Decision-Making, Say Experts",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Algorithms are embedded into our technological lives, helping accomplish a variety of tasks like making sure that email makes it to your aunt or that you're matched to someone on a dating website who likes the same bands as you.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'Unless we tune our algorithms for self-actualization, it will be simply too convenient for people to follow the advice of an algorithm ... turning these algorithms into self-fulfilling prophecies and users into zombies ... .'\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Sure, such computer code aims to make our lives easier, but experts cited in \u003ca href=\"http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/02/08/code-dependent-pros-and-cons-of-the-algorithm-age/\">a new report\u003c/a> by Pew Research Center and Elon University's Imagining the Internet Center are worried that algorithms may also make us lose our ability to make decisions. After all, if the software can do it for us, why should we bother?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Algorithms are the new arbiters of human decision-making in almost any area we can imagine, from watching a movie (Affectiva emotion recognition) to buying a house (Zillow.com) to self-driving cars (Google),\" Barry Chudakov, founder and principal at Sertain Research and StreamFuzion Corp., says in the report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But despite advances, algorithms may lead to a loss in human judgment as people become reliant on the software to think for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's one of the conclusions made in the report. It included responses from 1,300 technology experts, scholars, businesspeople and government leaders about what the next decades hold for the future of algorithms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the themes that emerged was \"humanity and human judgment are lost when data and predictive modeling become paramount.\" Many respondents worried that humans were considered \"inputs\" in the process and not real beings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, they say that as algorithms take on human responsibilities, and essentially begin to create themselves, \"humans may get left out of the loop.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And although some experts expressed concern, others gave reasons algorithms were a positive solution and should expand their role in society.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here's a sampling of opinions about the benefits and drawbacks of algorithms from the report:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bart Knijnenburg, an assistant professor in human-centered computing at Clemson University: \"My biggest fear is that, unless we tune our algorithms for \u003cem>self-actualization,\u003c/em> it will be simply too convenient for people to follow the advice of an algorithm (or, too difficult to go beyond such advice), turning these algorithms into self-fulfilling prophecies and users into zombies who exclusively consume easy-to-consume items.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rebecca MacKinnon, director of the Ranking Digital Rights project at New America: \"Algorithms driven by machine learning quickly become opaque even to their creators who no longer understand the logic being followed to make certain decisions or produce certain results. The lack of accountability and complete opacity is frightening. On the other hand, algorithms have revolutionized humans' relationship with information in ways that have been life-saving and empowering and will continue to do so.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jason Hong, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University: \"The old adage of garbage in, garbage out still applies, but the sheer quantity of data and the speed of computers might give the false impression of correctness. As a trivial example, there are stories of people following GPS too closely and ending up driving into a river.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amali De Silva-Mitchell, a futurist and consultant: \"Predictive modeling will limit individual self-expression hence innovation and development. It will cultivate a spoon-fed population with those in the elite being the innovators. There will be a loss in complex decision-making skills of the masses.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marina Gorbis, executive director at the Institute for the Future: \"Imagine instead of typing search words and getting a list of articles, pushing a button and getting a narrative paper on a specific topic of interest. It's the equivalent of each one of us having many research and other assistants. ... Algorithms also have the potential to uncover current biases in hiring, job descriptions and other text information.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ryan Hayes, owner of Fit to Tweet: \"Technology is going to start helping us not just maximize our productivity but shift toward doing those things in ways that make us happier, healthier, less distracted, safer, more peaceful, etc., and that will be a very positive trend. Technology, in other words, will start helping us enjoy being human again rather than burdening us with more abstraction.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Karger, a professor of computer science at MIT: \"The question of algorithmic fairness and discrimination is an important one but it is already being considered. If we want algorithms that don't discriminate, we will be able to design algorithms that do not discriminate.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel Berleant, author of \u003cem>The Human Race to the Future:\u003c/em> \"Algorithms are less subject to hidden agendas than human advisors and managers. Hence the output of these algorithms will be more socially and economically efficient, in the sense that they will be better aligned with their intended goals. Humans are a lot more suspect in their advice and decisions than computers are.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Will+Algorithms+Erode+Our+Decision-Making+Skills%3F&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "351605 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=351605",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/09/algorithms-could-leave-humans-out-of-decision-making-say-experts/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 832,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 19
},
"modified": 1489078141,
"excerpt": "The advancement of algorithms may result in the loss of human judgment, a new report says. Experts on the subject weigh the pros and cons of computer code that aims to make our lives easier.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The advancement of algorithms may result in the loss of human judgment, a new report says. Experts on the subject weigh the pros and cons of computer code that aims to make our lives easier.",
"title": "Algorithms Could Leave Humans Out of Decision-Making, Say Experts | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Algorithms Could Leave Humans Out of Decision-Making, Say Experts",
"datePublished": "2017-03-09T08:45:26-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-09T08:49:01-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "algorithms-could-leave-humans-out-of-decision-making-say-experts",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=514120713&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"nprByline": "Cecilia Mazanec\u003cbr />NPR All Tech Considered",
"nprStoryDate": "Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:11:00 -0500",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:46:14 -0500",
"nprHtmlLink": "http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/02/08/514120713/will-algorithms-erode-our-decision-making-skills?ft=nprml&f=514120713",
"nprImageAgency": "Getty Images/iStockphoto",
"nprImageCredit": "pressureUA",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"nprStoryId": "514120713",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:46:00 -0500",
"path": "/futureofyou/351605/algorithms-could-leave-humans-out-of-decision-making-say-experts",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Algorithms are embedded into our technological lives, helping accomplish a variety of tasks like making sure that email makes it to your aunt or that you're matched to someone on a dating website who likes the same bands as you.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'Unless we tune our algorithms for self-actualization, it will be simply too convenient for people to follow the advice of an algorithm ... turning these algorithms into self-fulfilling prophecies and users into zombies ... .'\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Sure, such computer code aims to make our lives easier, but experts cited in \u003ca href=\"http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/02/08/code-dependent-pros-and-cons-of-the-algorithm-age/\">a new report\u003c/a> by Pew Research Center and Elon University's Imagining the Internet Center are worried that algorithms may also make us lose our ability to make decisions. After all, if the software can do it for us, why should we bother?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Algorithms are the new arbiters of human decision-making in almost any area we can imagine, from watching a movie (Affectiva emotion recognition) to buying a house (Zillow.com) to self-driving cars (Google),\" Barry Chudakov, founder and principal at Sertain Research and StreamFuzion Corp., says in the report.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But despite advances, algorithms may lead to a loss in human judgment as people become reliant on the software to think for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's one of the conclusions made in the report. It included responses from 1,300 technology experts, scholars, businesspeople and government leaders about what the next decades hold for the future of algorithms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the themes that emerged was \"humanity and human judgment are lost when data and predictive modeling become paramount.\" Many respondents worried that humans were considered \"inputs\" in the process and not real beings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, they say that as algorithms take on human responsibilities, and essentially begin to create themselves, \"humans may get left out of the loop.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And although some experts expressed concern, others gave reasons algorithms were a positive solution and should expand their role in society.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here's a sampling of opinions about the benefits and drawbacks of algorithms from the report:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bart Knijnenburg, an assistant professor in human-centered computing at Clemson University: \"My biggest fear is that, unless we tune our algorithms for \u003cem>self-actualization,\u003c/em> it will be simply too convenient for people to follow the advice of an algorithm (or, too difficult to go beyond such advice), turning these algorithms into self-fulfilling prophecies and users into zombies who exclusively consume easy-to-consume items.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rebecca MacKinnon, director of the Ranking Digital Rights project at New America: \"Algorithms driven by machine learning quickly become opaque even to their creators who no longer understand the logic being followed to make certain decisions or produce certain results. The lack of accountability and complete opacity is frightening. On the other hand, algorithms have revolutionized humans' relationship with information in ways that have been life-saving and empowering and will continue to do so.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Jason Hong, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University: \"The old adage of garbage in, garbage out still applies, but the sheer quantity of data and the speed of computers might give the false impression of correctness. As a trivial example, there are stories of people following GPS too closely and ending up driving into a river.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Amali De Silva-Mitchell, a futurist and consultant: \"Predictive modeling will limit individual self-expression hence innovation and development. It will cultivate a spoon-fed population with those in the elite being the innovators. There will be a loss in complex decision-making skills of the masses.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marina Gorbis, executive director at the Institute for the Future: \"Imagine instead of typing search words and getting a list of articles, pushing a button and getting a narrative paper on a specific topic of interest. It's the equivalent of each one of us having many research and other assistants. ... Algorithms also have the potential to uncover current biases in hiring, job descriptions and other text information.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ryan Hayes, owner of Fit to Tweet: \"Technology is going to start helping us not just maximize our productivity but shift toward doing those things in ways that make us happier, healthier, less distracted, safer, more peaceful, etc., and that will be a very positive trend. Technology, in other words, will start helping us enjoy being human again rather than burdening us with more abstraction.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>David Karger, a professor of computer science at MIT: \"The question of algorithmic fairness and discrimination is an important one but it is already being considered. If we want algorithms that don't discriminate, we will be able to design algorithms that do not discriminate.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel Berleant, author of \u003cem>The Human Race to the Future:\u003c/em> \"Algorithms are less subject to hidden agendas than human advisors and managers. Hence the output of these algorithms will be more socially and economically efficient, in the sense that they will be better aligned with their intended goals. Humans are a lot more suspect in their advice and decisions than computers are.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Will+Algorithms+Erode+Our+Decision-Making+Skills%3F&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/351605/algorithms-could-leave-humans-out-of-decision-making-say-experts",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_351605"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73",
"futureofyou_1061"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1204"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_351606",
"label": "source_futureofyou_351605"
},
"futureofyou_345830": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_345830",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "345830",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488995213000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488995213,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Quickly Inserted Eye Implant Repairs Blurry Close-Up Vision",
"title": "Quickly Inserted Eye Implant Repairs Blurry Close-Up Vision",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Squinting while texting? Always losing your reading glasses? An eye implant that takes about 10 minutes to put in place is the newest in a list of surgical repairs for the blurry close-up vision that is a bane of middle age. But who's really a good candidate to toss their specs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's not bringing anybody back to being 20 again,\" cautioned Dr. Shilpa Rose, a Washington ophthalmologist who tests whether patients' eyes are healthy enough to qualify. \"But it decreases the need to rush to get that pair of reading glasses every time you want to send a text or read an email.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nearly everybody will experience presbyopia at some point, usually starting in the mid-40s. At first you may notice yourself holding restaurant menus at arm's length. Eventually, even in good light, reading becomes a blur.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How well you see has to do with how light is directed through the natural lens to the back of the eye. That lens stiffens with age, losing its ability to shift and bend light so that it becomes more difficult to focus close-up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The usual options are magnifying drugstore reading glasses or, for people with other vision problems, bifocals, multifocal contact lenses or what's called monovision, correcting for distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I have glasses everywhere — the bedroom, the office, the kitchen,\" said Christianne Krupinsky, 51, of Marriottsville, Maryland, who'd never needed them until presbyopia struck. \"Getting ready in the morning, even to put on jewelry I can't see the clasp. It's so frustrating.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while surgery always carries some risk, corneal inlays that are implanted into the eye's clear front surface are getting attention because they're removable if necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's not magic. It's surgery. People have to remember this is not one and done,\" but requires post-surgical exams and care, said Dr. Deepinder K. Dhaliwal of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a corneal specialist who is watching studies of the inlays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krupinsky was a little nervous while lying on the operating table to receive the new Raindrop near vision inlay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The most you're going to feel is pressure,\" promised Washington refractive surgeon Dr. Mark Whitten, applying numbing drops to her left eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A gel-like device that looks like a miniature contact lens, the Raindrop is smaller than the eye of a needle. It's the first implant to treat presbyopia by changing the cornea's shape, making it steeper to alter how light passes through.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's placed in only one eye; both eyes still see at a distance. Patients can test-wear a single contact lens to be sure they'll like the effect before choosing surgery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rose, the ophthalmologist, checked for dry eye, underlying diseases like glaucoma, and whether the corneas were thick and healthy enough to implant before turning Krupinsky over to her surgical partner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Just look straight up,\" Whitten said as he used a laser to slice a flap in Krupinsky's cornea. He centered the Raindrop inlay over her pupil and lowered the flap to seal it in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minutes later, Krupinsky read lines on an eye chart she previously couldn't make out without glasses, albeit still a little blurry. She'll need eye drops for several months as her cornea heals so vision can sharpen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maker ReVision Optics Inc. is gradually training eye surgeons to use the Raindrop properly, after the Food and Drug Administration approved it last summer based on a study of 373 people whose only vision problem was moderate presbyopia. Two years later, 92 percent had good near vision, 20/40 or better without glasses, in the implanted eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Potential side effects include infection, dry eye, glare, or corneal problems such as scarring. About 7 percent of study participants had the implant removed, mostly because they weren't satisfied with their vision or experienced a haze or clouding of the cornea. Most returned to their pre-surgical vision, although one had lingering haze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other surgical options:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>—Another FDA-approved corneal inlay, the Kamra, is a doughnut-shaped device, also used in one eye and removable. It works like a pinhole camera, improving vision by focusing light through the center of the pupil.\u003cbr>\n—A more invasive operation replaces the natural lens in each eye with an artificial one, named Symfony, that can focus both near and far. Approved for cataract surgery, it also is being offered as a presbyopia fix for the middle-aged who don't yet have cataracts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike inlays, artificial lenses can't simply be removed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurance doesn't cover elective presbyopia surgery. Rose said the inlays average about $4,000 to $5,000, while the artificial lens in both eyes can cost twice as much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Patients should consult a surgeon experienced with all the options who can determine which best suits their eyes, advised Pittsburgh's Dhaliwal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each has pros, cons and unknowns. For example, elective lens replacement isn't for the very nearsighted because they're at higher risk for a vision-threatening complication, Dhaliwal said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Raindrop hasn't been studied in people who years ago underwent LASIK surgery to correct nearsightedness. That didn't deter Mike Gray, 52, of Haymarket, Virginia, who lost his reading glasses so often that he bought bulk packs. To implant the inlay, Whitten had to avoid cutting the cornea in the same place as Gray's long-ago LASIK, and advises such patients to pick a surgeon experienced in both procedures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Everything is very clear and getting better every day,\" Gray said about a month later.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "345830 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=345830",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/08/quickly-inserted-eye-implant-repairs-blurry-close-up-vision/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 947,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 27
},
"modified": 1489078208,
"excerpt": " An eye implant that takes about 10 minutes to insert is the newest in a list of surgical repairs for blurry close-up vision that is a bane of middle age. But who’s a good candidate to toss their specs?\r\n",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": " An eye implant that takes about 10 minutes to insert is the newest in a list of surgical repairs for blurry close-up vision that is a bane of middle age. But who’s a good candidate to toss their specs?\r\n",
"title": "Quickly Inserted Eye Implant Repairs Blurry Close-Up Vision | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Quickly Inserted Eye Implant Repairs Blurry Close-Up Vision",
"datePublished": "2017-03-08T09:46:53-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-09T08:50:08-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "quickly-inserted-eye-implant-repairs-blurry-close-up-vision",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Lauran Neergard\u003cbr />Associated Press",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"path": "/futureofyou/345830/quickly-inserted-eye-implant-repairs-blurry-close-up-vision",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Squinting while texting? Always losing your reading glasses? An eye implant that takes about 10 minutes to put in place is the newest in a list of surgical repairs for the blurry close-up vision that is a bane of middle age. But who's really a good candidate to toss their specs?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's not bringing anybody back to being 20 again,\" cautioned Dr. Shilpa Rose, a Washington ophthalmologist who tests whether patients' eyes are healthy enough to qualify. \"But it decreases the need to rush to get that pair of reading glasses every time you want to send a text or read an email.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nearly everybody will experience presbyopia at some point, usually starting in the mid-40s. At first you may notice yourself holding restaurant menus at arm's length. Eventually, even in good light, reading becomes a blur.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How well you see has to do with how light is directed through the natural lens to the back of the eye. That lens stiffens with age, losing its ability to shift and bend light so that it becomes more difficult to focus close-up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The usual options are magnifying drugstore reading glasses or, for people with other vision problems, bifocals, multifocal contact lenses or what's called monovision, correcting for distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I have glasses everywhere — the bedroom, the office, the kitchen,\" said Christianne Krupinsky, 51, of Marriottsville, Maryland, who'd never needed them until presbyopia struck. \"Getting ready in the morning, even to put on jewelry I can't see the clasp. It's so frustrating.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And while surgery always carries some risk, corneal inlays that are implanted into the eye's clear front surface are getting attention because they're removable if necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's not magic. It's surgery. People have to remember this is not one and done,\" but requires post-surgical exams and care, said Dr. Deepinder K. Dhaliwal of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a corneal specialist who is watching studies of the inlays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krupinsky was a little nervous while lying on the operating table to receive the new Raindrop near vision inlay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The most you're going to feel is pressure,\" promised Washington refractive surgeon Dr. Mark Whitten, applying numbing drops to her left eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A gel-like device that looks like a miniature contact lens, the Raindrop is smaller than the eye of a needle. It's the first implant to treat presbyopia by changing the cornea's shape, making it steeper to alter how light passes through.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It's placed in only one eye; both eyes still see at a distance. Patients can test-wear a single contact lens to be sure they'll like the effect before choosing surgery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rose, the ophthalmologist, checked for dry eye, underlying diseases like glaucoma, and whether the corneas were thick and healthy enough to implant before turning Krupinsky over to her surgical partner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Just look straight up,\" Whitten said as he used a laser to slice a flap in Krupinsky's cornea. He centered the Raindrop inlay over her pupil and lowered the flap to seal it in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Minutes later, Krupinsky read lines on an eye chart she previously couldn't make out without glasses, albeit still a little blurry. She'll need eye drops for several months as her cornea heals so vision can sharpen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maker ReVision Optics Inc. is gradually training eye surgeons to use the Raindrop properly, after the Food and Drug Administration approved it last summer based on a study of 373 people whose only vision problem was moderate presbyopia. Two years later, 92 percent had good near vision, 20/40 or better without glasses, in the implanted eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Potential side effects include infection, dry eye, glare, or corneal problems such as scarring. About 7 percent of study participants had the implant removed, mostly because they weren't satisfied with their vision or experienced a haze or clouding of the cornea. Most returned to their pre-surgical vision, although one had lingering haze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other surgical options:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>—Another FDA-approved corneal inlay, the Kamra, is a doughnut-shaped device, also used in one eye and removable. It works like a pinhole camera, improving vision by focusing light through the center of the pupil.\u003cbr>\n—A more invasive operation replaces the natural lens in each eye with an artificial one, named Symfony, that can focus both near and far. Approved for cataract surgery, it also is being offered as a presbyopia fix for the middle-aged who don't yet have cataracts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike inlays, artificial lenses can't simply be removed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurance doesn't cover elective presbyopia surgery. Rose said the inlays average about $4,000 to $5,000, while the artificial lens in both eyes can cost twice as much.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Patients should consult a surgeon experienced with all the options who can determine which best suits their eyes, advised Pittsburgh's Dhaliwal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each has pros, cons and unknowns. For example, elective lens replacement isn't for the very nearsighted because they're at higher risk for a vision-threatening complication, Dhaliwal said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And the Raindrop hasn't been studied in people who years ago underwent LASIK surgery to correct nearsightedness. That didn't deter Mike Gray, 52, of Haymarket, Virginia, who lost his reading glasses so often that he bought bulk packs. To implant the inlay, Whitten had to avoid cutting the cornea in the same place as Gray's long-ago LASIK, and advises such patients to pick a surgeon experienced in both procedures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Everything is very clear and getting better every day,\" Gray said about a month later.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/345830/quickly-inserted-eye-implant-repairs-blurry-close-up-vision",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_345830"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1062",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1201",
"futureofyou_565"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_351018",
"label": "source_futureofyou_345830"
},
"futureofyou_341839": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_341839",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341839",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488925852000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488925852,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Don't Get EKG-Happy, Say Docs, as Heart Screening For Teens Questioned",
"title": "Don't Get EKG-Happy, Say Docs, as Heart Screening For Teens Questioned",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Dozens of not-for-profit organizations have formed in the past decade to promote free or low-cost heart screenings for teens. The groups often claim such tests save lives by finding abnormalities that might pose a risk of sudden cardiac death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the efforts are raising concerns. There's no evidence that screening adolescents with \u003ca href=\"http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/DiagnosingaHeartAttack/Electrocardiogram-ECG-or-EKG_UCM_309050_Article.jsp#.WKc4HTsrKUk\" target=\"_blank\">electrocardiograms\u003c/a> prevents deaths. Sudden cardiac death is rare in young people, and some physicians worry screening kids with no symptoms or family history of disease could do more harm than good. The tests can set off false alarms that can lead to follow-up tests and risky interventions or force some kids to quit sports unnecessarily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There are harms that I don't think a lot of people realize,\" said Dr. Kristin Burns, who oversees a two-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/spotlight/fact-sheet/frequently-asked-questions-about-sudden-death-young-case-registry\">registry\u003c/a> at the National Institute of Health of sudden deaths in people under 20. It's one of several efforts aimed at gathering better data about cardiac abnormalities in kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies using limited data have found between \u003ca href=\"http://heartsmartekg.org/sites/ekgyourteen/files/SCD%20in%20the%20Young%20article.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">one and four sudden cardiac deaths\u003c/a> occur annually per 100,000 kids between ages 1 and 18. By comparison, 22 in 100,000 U.S. teens are killed each year in accidents, including those involving motor vehicles; 9 in 100,000 commit suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some screening advocates believe sudden cardiac deaths are underreported and that not enough is being done to spare families from the fate of losing a child. \"We have to acknowledge that every kid who drops dead, they've been failed by the current system,\" said Darren Sudman, who founded \u003ca href=\"http://www.simonsfund.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Simon's Fund\u003c/a>, a screening effort in greater Philadelphia in memory of his infant son, who died of an arrhythmia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Screening programs say they're educating parents about the risks. \"What we want to emphasize is, make sure your kid is heart-safe,\" said Dr. Jonathan Drezner, a sports and family medicine specialist at \u003ca href=\"http://www.uwmedicine.org/bios/jonathan-drezner\">UW Medicine\u003c/a> and medical director of the Seattle-area \u003ca href=\"http://nickoftimefoundation.org/\">Nick of Time Foundation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enthusiasm for EKGs, which measure the electrical activity in the heart to detect abnormalities, grew after a 2006 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17018804\">study\u003c/a> showed they lowered death rates among athletes in Italy. But research in other countries hasn't yielded similar results, and the Italian researchers recently \u003ca href=\"http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2208\" target=\"_blank\">were accused of\u003c/a> refusing to share their data so it could be evaluated independently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some 60,000 to 70,000 U.S. teens were screened with EKGs in 2016, most by foundations created by families who lost a child to sudden cardiac death, said Sudman, who runs the online directory \u003ca href=\"http://www.screenacrossamerica.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Screen Across America\u003c/a>. It's unclear whether high school athletes face higher risk than nonathletes, so screening programs usually invite everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Screenings typically are held in high schools and overseen by volunteer cardiologists, with funding from individuals and businesses including hospitals. A handful of hospitals and for-profit companies also run screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It may be presumptuous to claim EKGs save lives, but parents often believe they do, said Sudman. \"If I find a heart condition, I promise you there are parents who are thanking me for savings their kid's life,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That perception is stoked by tragic stories in the media of children who died suddenly after never reporting a symptom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the drawbacks of EKGs are seldom depicted. As many as 1 in 10 EKGs detects a potential abnormality, and the emotional and financial toll of such a finding can be significant — especially when they turn out to be wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following a screening EKG and echocardiogram last fall, Daniel Garza, 16, a talented sophomore basketball player in San Antonio, was told he had \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000192.htm\">hypertrophic cardiomyopathy\u003c/a>, a thickening of the heart muscle and the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. He was advised to quit all exercise, at least temporarily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We were shocked, just shocked,\" said his mother, Denise. She said her son became depressed when he couldn't play the sport he enjoyed and excelled at. \"He came home and cried himself to sleep. He said, 'Mom, why did God give me this gift to take it away?' \"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Garzas traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where further tests indicated his enlarged heart was a benign condition known as athletic heart, a result of intense training. His mother estimates that correcting the misdiagnosis cost more than $20,000, including medical costs, travel and lost work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel has returned to the basketball court. Still, Denise Garza said the emotional toll was rough: \"It was one of the hardest things my family has ever endured.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several cardiologists said they often see cases like this — or worse. Even after follow-up testing, it can be unclear which cases are life-threatening, so kids with low risk could be restricted from exercise or given life-altering interventions such as implantable defibrillators, surgery or anti-arrhythmic medications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Medical groups have wrestled with the issue. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology \u003ca href=\"http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/15/1303\" target=\"_blank\">recommended\u003c/a> in 2014 against mass ECG screening, noting that sudden cardiac death is rare in teens and false positives generate \"excessive and costly second-tier testing.\" ECGs also miss at least 1 in 10 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and more than 9 in 10 cases of congenital anomalies, the second-most-common cause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the medical panel accepted voluntary screening \"in relatively small cohorts,\" if there's physician involvement, quality control and a recognition of unreliable results and ancillary costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Efforts are underway to improve the accuracy of the screening programs. Some are adding \u003ca href=\"http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/DiagnosingaHeartAttack/Echocardiogram%E2%80%94-Echo_UCM_451485_Article.jsp#.WKc5rjsrKUk\" target=\"_blank\">echocardiograms\u003c/a>, which use ultrasound to produce images of the heart, to assess potential abnormalities. Advocates say false positives have dropped as a result of better interpretation guidelines, known as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amssm.org/BMJ_ECGModules.php\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Criteria\u003c/a>, which are expected to soon be endorsed by cardiology societies in revised form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the criteria aren't perfect, and there's a \"giant gap\" in training cardiologists to use them, said Drezner, one of the developers. He's also a medical adviser for \u003ca href=\"https://parentheartwatch.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Parent Heart Watch\u003c/a>, a consortium of foundations. \"If I was a parent, I'd want to know about the experience of the (cardiologists) and what they're going to do to help my kid if they have a positive screen.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One problem with EKGs is a lack of good data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There's no evidence we have that [EKG] screening saves lives,\" said Dr. Jonathan Kaltman of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. \"There's never been a controlled clinical trial, which is the only way to answer that question.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the urging of screening advocates, the NIH partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rigorously track cardiac deaths as part of a Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry. So far a handful of states and counties have joined the effort, which helps local health departments collect better data. The goal is to standardize death investigations and get a firm handle on how often kids die from heart abnormalities as well as the role of factors such as genetics. Initial findings are expected to be available in about two years. The NIH is also funding three university-based research groups to answer key questions about sudden cardiac death in the young.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some screening organizations are getting behind a nascent initiative with the \u003ca href=\"http://cardiac-safety.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Cardiac Safety Research Consortium\u003c/a> to harness their own screening data for research. It would require standardizing their practices and tracking outcomes, which organizations aren't now equipped to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Screening is happening. We can't avoid that,\" said Dr. Salim Idriss, director of pediatric electrophysiology at Duke University and co-chair of the initiative. \"We have a really good opportunity to get the data we need to make it better.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas recently began a \u003ca href=\"http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/news-releases/year-2016/september/ecg-athletes-levine.html\" target=\"_blank\">four-year pilot study \u003c/a>involving athletes and band members at eight high schools to determine the feasibility of a full-scale randomized controlled trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A valid finding on the overarching question of whether EKG screening saves lives could require at least 800,000 participants and a cost of $15 million, said Dr. Benjamin Levine, a cardiologist and the lead researcher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The pilot is partly a response to legislation that would mandate EKGs for student athletes in Texas. A similar bill was also introduced in South Carolina. Both bills failed, but it's expected there will be more attempts to mandate EKGs, leaving state legislators looking for better guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We're not going to solve this by having more debates, but by having more data,\" Levine said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.\u003c/em> \u003cem>Mary Chris Jaklevic is a freelance health and environment writer based in Chicago. She's on Twitter: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/mcjaklevic\">@mcjaklevic\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit \u003ca href=\"http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/\">Kaiser Health News\u003c/a>.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Heart+Screening+For+Teens+May+Cause+More+Problems+Than+It+Solves&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "341839 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=341839",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/07/dont-get-ekg-happy-say-docs-as-heart-screening-for-teens-questioned/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1480,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 33
},
"modified": 1488925890,
"excerpt": "There's no evidence that screening adolescents with electrocardiograms prevents deaths, yet the heart tests have become widespread despite the false alarms they often cause.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "There's no evidence that screening adolescents with electrocardiograms prevents deaths, yet the heart tests have become widespread despite the false alarms they often cause.",
"title": "Don't Get EKG-Happy, Say Docs, as Heart Screening For Teens Questioned | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Don't Get EKG-Happy, Say Docs, as Heart Screening For Teens Questioned",
"datePublished": "2017-03-07T14:30:52-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-07T14:31:30-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "dont-get-ekg-happy-say-docs-as-heart-screening-for-teens-questioned",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=516406346&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"nprByline": "Mary Chris Jaklevic\u003cbr />Kaiser Health News",
"nprStoryDate": "Wed, 22 Feb 2017 10:30:00 -0500",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:27:16 -0500",
"nprHtmlLink": "http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/22/516406346/heart-screening-for-teens-may-cause-more-problems-than-it-solves?ft=nprml&f=516406346",
"nprImageAgency": "Ikon Images/Getty Images",
"nprImageCredit": "Robert Hanson",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"nprStoryId": "516406346",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:27:00 -0500",
"path": "/futureofyou/341839/dont-get-ekg-happy-say-docs-as-heart-screening-for-teens-questioned",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Dozens of not-for-profit organizations have formed in the past decade to promote free or low-cost heart screenings for teens. The groups often claim such tests save lives by finding abnormalities that might pose a risk of sudden cardiac death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the efforts are raising concerns. There's no evidence that screening adolescents with \u003ca href=\"http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/DiagnosingaHeartAttack/Electrocardiogram-ECG-or-EKG_UCM_309050_Article.jsp#.WKc4HTsrKUk\" target=\"_blank\">electrocardiograms\u003c/a> prevents deaths. Sudden cardiac death is rare in young people, and some physicians worry screening kids with no symptoms or family history of disease could do more harm than good. The tests can set off false alarms that can lead to follow-up tests and risky interventions or force some kids to quit sports unnecessarily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There are harms that I don't think a lot of people realize,\" said Dr. Kristin Burns, who oversees a two-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/news/spotlight/fact-sheet/frequently-asked-questions-about-sudden-death-young-case-registry\">registry\u003c/a> at the National Institute of Health of sudden deaths in people under 20. It's one of several efforts aimed at gathering better data about cardiac abnormalities in kids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies using limited data have found between \u003ca href=\"http://heartsmartekg.org/sites/ekgyourteen/files/SCD%20in%20the%20Young%20article.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">one and four sudden cardiac deaths\u003c/a> occur annually per 100,000 kids between ages 1 and 18. By comparison, 22 in 100,000 U.S. teens are killed each year in accidents, including those involving motor vehicles; 9 in 100,000 commit suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some screening advocates believe sudden cardiac deaths are underreported and that not enough is being done to spare families from the fate of losing a child. \"We have to acknowledge that every kid who drops dead, they've been failed by the current system,\" said Darren Sudman, who founded \u003ca href=\"http://www.simonsfund.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Simon's Fund\u003c/a>, a screening effort in greater Philadelphia in memory of his infant son, who died of an arrhythmia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Screening programs say they're educating parents about the risks. \"What we want to emphasize is, make sure your kid is heart-safe,\" said Dr. Jonathan Drezner, a sports and family medicine specialist at \u003ca href=\"http://www.uwmedicine.org/bios/jonathan-drezner\">UW Medicine\u003c/a> and medical director of the Seattle-area \u003ca href=\"http://nickoftimefoundation.org/\">Nick of Time Foundation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Enthusiasm for EKGs, which measure the electrical activity in the heart to detect abnormalities, grew after a 2006 \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17018804\">study\u003c/a> showed they lowered death rates among athletes in Italy. But research in other countries hasn't yielded similar results, and the Italian researchers recently \u003ca href=\"http://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i2208\" target=\"_blank\">were accused of\u003c/a> refusing to share their data so it could be evaluated independently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some 60,000 to 70,000 U.S. teens were screened with EKGs in 2016, most by foundations created by families who lost a child to sudden cardiac death, said Sudman, who runs the online directory \u003ca href=\"http://www.screenacrossamerica.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Screen Across America\u003c/a>. It's unclear whether high school athletes face higher risk than nonathletes, so screening programs usually invite everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Screenings typically are held in high schools and overseen by volunteer cardiologists, with funding from individuals and businesses including hospitals. A handful of hospitals and for-profit companies also run screenings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It may be presumptuous to claim EKGs save lives, but parents often believe they do, said Sudman. \"If I find a heart condition, I promise you there are parents who are thanking me for savings their kid's life,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That perception is stoked by tragic stories in the media of children who died suddenly after never reporting a symptom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, the drawbacks of EKGs are seldom depicted. As many as 1 in 10 EKGs detects a potential abnormality, and the emotional and financial toll of such a finding can be significant — especially when they turn out to be wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following a screening EKG and echocardiogram last fall, Daniel Garza, 16, a talented sophomore basketball player in San Antonio, was told he had \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000192.htm\">hypertrophic cardiomyopathy\u003c/a>, a thickening of the heart muscle and the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. He was advised to quit all exercise, at least temporarily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We were shocked, just shocked,\" said his mother, Denise. She said her son became depressed when he couldn't play the sport he enjoyed and excelled at. \"He came home and cried himself to sleep. He said, 'Mom, why did God give me this gift to take it away?' \"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Garzas traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where further tests indicated his enlarged heart was a benign condition known as athletic heart, a result of intense training. His mother estimates that correcting the misdiagnosis cost more than $20,000, including medical costs, travel and lost work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Daniel has returned to the basketball court. Still, Denise Garza said the emotional toll was rough: \"It was one of the hardest things my family has ever endured.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several cardiologists said they often see cases like this — or worse. Even after follow-up testing, it can be unclear which cases are life-threatening, so kids with low risk could be restricted from exercise or given life-altering interventions such as implantable defibrillators, surgery or anti-arrhythmic medications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Medical groups have wrestled with the issue. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology \u003ca href=\"http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/130/15/1303\" target=\"_blank\">recommended\u003c/a> in 2014 against mass ECG screening, noting that sudden cardiac death is rare in teens and false positives generate \"excessive and costly second-tier testing.\" ECGs also miss at least 1 in 10 cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and more than 9 in 10 cases of congenital anomalies, the second-most-common cause.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the medical panel accepted voluntary screening \"in relatively small cohorts,\" if there's physician involvement, quality control and a recognition of unreliable results and ancillary costs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Efforts are underway to improve the accuracy of the screening programs. Some are adding \u003ca href=\"http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/DiagnosingaHeartAttack/Echocardiogram%E2%80%94-Echo_UCM_451485_Article.jsp#.WKc5rjsrKUk\" target=\"_blank\">echocardiograms\u003c/a>, which use ultrasound to produce images of the heart, to assess potential abnormalities. Advocates say false positives have dropped as a result of better interpretation guidelines, known as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.amssm.org/BMJ_ECGModules.php\" target=\"_blank\">Seattle Criteria\u003c/a>, which are expected to soon be endorsed by cardiology societies in revised form.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the criteria aren't perfect, and there's a \"giant gap\" in training cardiologists to use them, said Drezner, one of the developers. He's also a medical adviser for \u003ca href=\"https://parentheartwatch.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Parent Heart Watch\u003c/a>, a consortium of foundations. \"If I was a parent, I'd want to know about the experience of the (cardiologists) and what they're going to do to help my kid if they have a positive screen.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One problem with EKGs is a lack of good data.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"There's no evidence we have that [EKG] screening saves lives,\" said Dr. Jonathan Kaltman of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. \"There's never been a controlled clinical trial, which is the only way to answer that question.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the urging of screening advocates, the NIH partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rigorously track cardiac deaths as part of a Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry. So far a handful of states and counties have joined the effort, which helps local health departments collect better data. The goal is to standardize death investigations and get a firm handle on how often kids die from heart abnormalities as well as the role of factors such as genetics. Initial findings are expected to be available in about two years. The NIH is also funding three university-based research groups to answer key questions about sudden cardiac death in the young.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some screening organizations are getting behind a nascent initiative with the \u003ca href=\"http://cardiac-safety.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Cardiac Safety Research Consortium\u003c/a> to harness their own screening data for research. It would require standardizing their practices and tracking outcomes, which organizations aren't now equipped to do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Screening is happening. We can't avoid that,\" said Dr. Salim Idriss, director of pediatric electrophysiology at Duke University and co-chair of the initiative. \"We have a really good opportunity to get the data we need to make it better.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas recently began a \u003ca href=\"http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/news-releases/year-2016/september/ecg-athletes-levine.html\" target=\"_blank\">four-year pilot study \u003c/a>involving athletes and band members at eight high schools to determine the feasibility of a full-scale randomized controlled trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A valid finding on the overarching question of whether EKG screening saves lives could require at least 800,000 participants and a cost of $15 million, said Dr. Benjamin Levine, a cardiologist and the lead researcher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The pilot is partly a response to legislation that would mandate EKGs for student athletes in Texas. A similar bill was also introduced in South Carolina. Both bills failed, but it's expected there will be more attempts to mandate EKGs, leaving state legislators looking for better guidance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"We're not going to solve this by having more debates, but by having more data,\" Levine said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.\u003c/em> \u003cem>Mary Chris Jaklevic is a freelance health and environment writer based in Chicago. She's on Twitter: \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/mcjaklevic\">@mcjaklevic\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 Kaiser Health News. To see more, visit \u003ca href=\"http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/\">Kaiser Health News\u003c/a>.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Heart+Screening+For+Teens+May+Cause+More+Problems+Than+It+Solves&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/341839/dont-get-ekg-happy-say-docs-as-heart-screening-for-teens-questioned",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_341839"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_452",
"futureofyou_1062",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_819",
"futureofyou_742",
"futureofyou_872"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_341841",
"label": "source_futureofyou_341839"
},
"futureofyou_341833": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_341833",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341833",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488822921000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "futureofyou"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488822921,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Research Looks at Autoimmune Diseases and the Microbiome",
"title": "Research Looks at Autoimmune Diseases and the Microbiome",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>I was worried that I might not be able to stick to an intermittent fasting schedule during my vacation in Mexico. It turns out, it was a breeze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because I was sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started on the plane ride to Cozumel, a tingle in my throat and then the telltale sign that illness was imminent: three sneezes in a row. A clogged nose, a slight fever and a general feeling of malaise came over me after my third dive into the electric blue waters of the Caribbean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm participating in a preliminary study at Johns Hopkins Medicine on the effects of intermittent fasting on the microbiome and inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis. For the six-month study, I'm restricted to eating during an eight-hour period, usually from noon until 8 p.m. That meant that the first day of vacation, my first meal was pretzels on a plane, my second was ceviche and nachos in the late afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn't a great combination, but I had a feeling that as my nose continued to clog, I wouldn't be able to taste much, so I went for variety. As the week went on, I tried not to let my inability to taste hamper the experience, but it was hard. Tacos tasted like rubber, plantains like Elmer's glue. And though I squealed in delight when I saw a churros cart, the deep-fried, buttery, cinnamon-sugary treats tasted more like cardboard covered in sawdust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My vacation was headed toward gastronomic disaster, but at least the study data would not be compromised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of the six months, researchers will be looking at the state of my microbiome, via a stool sample, to determine how it may have changed. Or to be precise, my microbiota, according to Jorge Cervantes, an assistant professor of microbiology at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso who has studied the microbiome in relation to several diseases, including MS. I called him to get up to speed on my microbiota.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The microbiota is all the microorganisms living in a specific niche,\" he says. That niche being my gut. \"We talk about bacteria, mainly, but there are also viruses and fungi.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The microbiome is the whole ecosystem — the bacteria, viruses, fungi, as well as the environmental conditions they inhabit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our resident bacteria serve us in three basic ways, says Cervantes, who is not involved in the study I'm doing. They occupy space and help restrict the overgrowth of bad bacteria. And they can help our metabolism by facilitating the breakdown of certain molecules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gut bacteria are of special interest to people with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/irritablebowelsyndrome.html\">irritable bowel syndrome\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/crohnsdisease.html\">Crohn's disease\u003c/a>, because they help in the training and development of our immune systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's so that your immune system can sample a molecule and tell, \" 'Oh this is bacteria,' or 'Oh, this is a virus,' \" Cervantes explains. If the molecule might cause harm, an immune response is triggered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once an immune cell locates a potentially harmful molecule — say, from the bacteria \u003cem>Streptococcus\u003c/em>, or whatever I caught on the plane to Mexico — it sends out a call to other immune cells so they can help control the invasion, Cervantes says. That process creates inflammation, which can involve pain, stinging, swelling or a host of other unpleasant symptoms that ordinarily mean your body is fighting the good fight to help you heal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Sometimes,\" Cervantes said, \"the immune cells get confused.\" And here's where our microbes can affect autoimmune diseases such as MS, in which the body's immune system fires up at the wrong times: Bacteria can be the trigger for this confusion. An immune cell can mistake good bacteria for bad bacteria, and that confusion can lead to an immune response when there's no real threat to a person's health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists are not only studying microbiota and their relationship to autoimmune diseases; they're studying their roles in \u003ca href=\"https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-016-0222-x\">hypertension\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2017/01/16/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0249\">cancer\u003c/a>, even \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27793225\">mental health disorders\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research in many of these areas is new and exciting and full of potential — and faces challenges, one being the difficulty of teasing out cause and effect. Does a change in the volume and/or variety of a microbiota lead to disease? Does the disease change the microbiota, leading to other health changes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The thing is, no one knows what is first, the egg or the chicken,\" Cervantes says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To answer that question, scientists have been turning to mice. Not just any mice, these rodents are squeaky-clean, entirely germ-free. According to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.microbecolhealthdis.net/index.php/mehd/article/view/26191\">review\u003c/a> published in 2015 in \u003cem>Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease,\u003c/em> germ-free mice are less likely to have inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune arthritis, Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. And when they do have them, the symptoms are less severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This, the authors say, is consistent with the idea that the microbiota could be a trigger for these diseases. Good news, right? But they go on to say that attempts to identify exactly which organisms could be causing these diseases have failed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if we can agree that we want a \"healthy\" gut microbiome, what does that mean? \"There is no ideal,\" Cervantes says. \"The point is that the microbiome is not a fixed entity.\" It changes over time and is different from person to person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so it seems we've added a third variable to the already complex interplay of genetics and the environment when considering health and disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm pleased to report that my immune system, while it may be overactive, also does its job once in a while, fighting back the infection as I hunkered down in my hotel room in Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While I recuperated, I read through comments on the \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/08/508037481/im-fasting-for-science-will-it-help-tame-my-multiple-sclerosis\">first article I wrote\u003c/a> about my experiences with this study. People shared their own attempts to tweak their diets as means to ease suffering from a host of diseases. I also read a lot of criticism about my diet:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>\u003cem>However, what she is eating are not anti-inflammatory foods at all! Why not start there and give the body more of a fighting chance than to eat the SAD (standard American diet)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>less ice cream & tacos, more #fruit, #veg, #wholegrains, #beans etc & this could be a real winner for #multiplesclerosis\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Darlin try cannabis its amazing for MS\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\"Who do these people think they are?\" I thought. I mean, ramen is delicious, tacos are a mainstay of my diet, and ice cream is pretty much perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many people with MS do have foods that they know don't sit well with them; for me, one is pizza. Delicious pizza. After a few slices my hands and feet burn and I typically fall asleep within the hour. To be honest, my body isn't a fan of ice cream, either. And I can't say I felt great after that ramen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Halfway into the study, and I haven't felt much better overall. The first thing I do when I get home from work every day is still nap. I still grab my trusty ice pack from the freezer about once a week and clutch it for the soothing effect it has on my hands, and occasionally my feet. Don't worry; I wash it!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So OK, maybe the commenters are on to something. It stands to reason that if \u003cem>when\u003c/em> you eat can have a drastic impact on the microorganisms in your gut, then certainly \u003cem>what\u003c/em> you eat must be important, too, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"By all means,\" Cervantes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My study isn't looking at the effect of particular foods on MS symptoms. But I must admit I've been eating much worse since the study began. Come noon, I am so focused on food that I inhale everything in sight, then forage for more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One co-worker frequently reminds us via email that he has Hershey's Kisses in his office. Another introduced me to Peanut Chews — she kindly always has a pack waiting for me in her desk drawer. The convenience store downstairs has granola bars for 75 cents! (And french fries for $1.50.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most days I eat my typically healthy lunch (some haphazard mix of vegetables topped with last night's dinner protein) and before I've finished chewing the last bite, before I can rationally asses the state of my hunger, I'm out of my office looking for another food fix.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There's another reason I've continued to eat like a madwoman during these past three months. Over the past year, I've deliberately lost a good amount of weight. Let's call it 35 pounds. Despite my unhealthy recent eating habits, believe it or not, I did it through an overhaul in my diet, cutting out most simple carbs and eating more vegetables and trading fat for muscle mass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And like so many women, I do still reflexively judge how healthy I am in part by how much I weigh. I lost a few pounds when I began the study, and no matter how much ice cream I shovel into my face, I haven't gained any of it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm no doctor, but I'm fairly certain that just because my weight is stable, that doesn't mean I'm on a path to perfect health or a flourishing microbiome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so for the second half of the study, I have resigned myself to a crazy idea, getting back to eating like a responsible human being. A person who cares about the well-being of the ecosystem I'm hosting: the bacteria, viruses and other little guys who call my gut home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farewell, Peanut Chews. 🙂\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Brandie Michelle Jefferson is a communications manager and freelance reporter who loves a good science story. She's on Twitter, too: @b_m_jefferson\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Can+Changing+When+And+What+We+Eat+Help+Outwit+Disease%3F&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "341833 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=341833",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/06/reseach-looks-at-autoimmune-diseases-and-the-microbiome/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 1662,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 42
},
"modified": 1488827140,
"excerpt": "I'm fasting intermittently as part of a research study, to see if changing my gut microbiome affects my multiple sclerosis. But maybe living on Peanut Chews isn't the best strategy.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "I'm fasting intermittently as part of a research study, to see if changing my gut microbiome affects my multiple sclerosis. But maybe living on Peanut Chews isn't the best strategy.",
"title": "Research Looks at Autoimmune Diseases and the Microbiome | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Research Looks at Autoimmune Diseases and the Microbiome",
"datePublished": "2017-03-06T09:55:21-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-06T11:05:40-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "reseach-looks-at-autoimmune-diseases-and-the-microbiome",
"status": "publish",
"nprApiLink": "http://api.npr.org/query?id=514179856&apiKey=MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004",
"nprByline": "Brandie Jefferson\u003cbr />NPR Shots",
"nprStoryDate": "Sun, 19 Feb 2017 05:00:00 -0500",
"nprLastModifiedDate": "Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:14:59 -0500",
"nprHtmlLink": "http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/19/514179856/can-changing-when-and-what-we-eat-help-outwit-disease?ft=nprml&f=514179856",
"nprImageAgency": "Courtesy of Brandie Jefferson",
"nprStoryId": "514179856",
"nprRetrievedStory": "1",
"nprPubDate": "Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:15:00 -0500",
"path": "/futureofyou/341833/reseach-looks-at-autoimmune-diseases-and-the-microbiome",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>I was worried that I might not be able to stick to an intermittent fasting schedule during my vacation in Mexico. It turns out, it was a breeze.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because I was sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It started on the plane ride to Cozumel, a tingle in my throat and then the telltale sign that illness was imminent: three sneezes in a row. A clogged nose, a slight fever and a general feeling of malaise came over me after my third dive into the electric blue waters of the Caribbean.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm participating in a preliminary study at Johns Hopkins Medicine on the effects of intermittent fasting on the microbiome and inflammation in people with multiple sclerosis. For the six-month study, I'm restricted to eating during an eight-hour period, usually from noon until 8 p.m. That meant that the first day of vacation, my first meal was pretzels on a plane, my second was ceviche and nachos in the late afternoon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It wasn't a great combination, but I had a feeling that as my nose continued to clog, I wouldn't be able to taste much, so I went for variety. As the week went on, I tried not to let my inability to taste hamper the experience, but it was hard. Tacos tasted like rubber, plantains like Elmer's glue. And though I squealed in delight when I saw a churros cart, the deep-fried, buttery, cinnamon-sugary treats tasted more like cardboard covered in sawdust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My vacation was headed toward gastronomic disaster, but at least the study data would not be compromised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of the six months, researchers will be looking at the state of my microbiome, via a stool sample, to determine how it may have changed. Or to be precise, my microbiota, according to Jorge Cervantes, an assistant professor of microbiology at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso who has studied the microbiome in relation to several diseases, including MS. I called him to get up to speed on my microbiota.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The microbiota is all the microorganisms living in a specific niche,\" he says. That niche being my gut. \"We talk about bacteria, mainly, but there are also viruses and fungi.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The microbiome is the whole ecosystem — the bacteria, viruses, fungi, as well as the environmental conditions they inhabit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our resident bacteria serve us in three basic ways, says Cervantes, who is not involved in the study I'm doing. They occupy space and help restrict the overgrowth of bad bacteria. And they can help our metabolism by facilitating the breakdown of certain molecules.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gut bacteria are of special interest to people with autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/irritablebowelsyndrome.html\">irritable bowel syndrome\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/crohnsdisease.html\">Crohn's disease\u003c/a>, because they help in the training and development of our immune systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That's so that your immune system can sample a molecule and tell, \" 'Oh this is bacteria,' or 'Oh, this is a virus,' \" Cervantes explains. If the molecule might cause harm, an immune response is triggered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once an immune cell locates a potentially harmful molecule — say, from the bacteria \u003cem>Streptococcus\u003c/em>, or whatever I caught on the plane to Mexico — it sends out a call to other immune cells so they can help control the invasion, Cervantes says. That process creates inflammation, which can involve pain, stinging, swelling or a host of other unpleasant symptoms that ordinarily mean your body is fighting the good fight to help you heal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Sometimes,\" Cervantes said, \"the immune cells get confused.\" And here's where our microbes can affect autoimmune diseases such as MS, in which the body's immune system fires up at the wrong times: Bacteria can be the trigger for this confusion. An immune cell can mistake good bacteria for bad bacteria, and that confusion can lead to an immune response when there's no real threat to a person's health.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Scientists are not only studying microbiota and their relationship to autoimmune diseases; they're studying their roles in \u003ca href=\"https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-016-0222-x\">hypertension\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"http://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2017/01/16/1940-6207.CAPR-16-0249\">cancer\u003c/a>, even \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27793225\">mental health disorders\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research in many of these areas is new and exciting and full of potential — and faces challenges, one being the difficulty of teasing out cause and effect. Does a change in the volume and/or variety of a microbiota lead to disease? Does the disease change the microbiota, leading to other health changes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The thing is, no one knows what is first, the egg or the chicken,\" Cervantes says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To answer that question, scientists have been turning to mice. Not just any mice, these rodents are squeaky-clean, entirely germ-free. According to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.microbecolhealthdis.net/index.php/mehd/article/view/26191\">review\u003c/a> published in 2015 in \u003cem>Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease,\u003c/em> germ-free mice are less likely to have inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune arthritis, Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. And when they do have them, the symptoms are less severe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This, the authors say, is consistent with the idea that the microbiota could be a trigger for these diseases. Good news, right? But they go on to say that attempts to identify exactly which organisms could be causing these diseases have failed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And even if we can agree that we want a \"healthy\" gut microbiome, what does that mean? \"There is no ideal,\" Cervantes says. \"The point is that the microbiome is not a fixed entity.\" It changes over time and is different from person to person.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so it seems we've added a third variable to the already complex interplay of genetics and the environment when considering health and disease.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm pleased to report that my immune system, while it may be overactive, also does its job once in a while, fighting back the infection as I hunkered down in my hotel room in Mexico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While I recuperated, I read through comments on the \u003ca href=\"http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/01/08/508037481/im-fasting-for-science-will-it-help-tame-my-multiple-sclerosis\">first article I wrote\u003c/a> about my experiences with this study. People shared their own attempts to tweak their diets as means to ease suffering from a host of diseases. I also read a lot of criticism about my diet:\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote>\u003cp>\u003cem>However, what she is eating are not anti-inflammatory foods at all! Why not start there and give the body more of a fighting chance than to eat the SAD (standard American diet)\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>less ice cream & tacos, more #fruit, #veg, #wholegrains, #beans etc & this could be a real winner for #multiplesclerosis\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Darlin try cannabis its amazing for MS\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\"Who do these people think they are?\" I thought. I mean, ramen is delicious, tacos are a mainstay of my diet, and ice cream is pretty much perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many people with MS do have foods that they know don't sit well with them; for me, one is pizza. Delicious pizza. After a few slices my hands and feet burn and I typically fall asleep within the hour. To be honest, my body isn't a fan of ice cream, either. And I can't say I felt great after that ramen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Halfway into the study, and I haven't felt much better overall. The first thing I do when I get home from work every day is still nap. I still grab my trusty ice pack from the freezer about once a week and clutch it for the soothing effect it has on my hands, and occasionally my feet. Don't worry; I wash it!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So OK, maybe the commenters are on to something. It stands to reason that if \u003cem>when\u003c/em> you eat can have a drastic impact on the microorganisms in your gut, then certainly \u003cem>what\u003c/em> you eat must be important, too, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"By all means,\" Cervantes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My study isn't looking at the effect of particular foods on MS symptoms. But I must admit I've been eating much worse since the study began. Come noon, I am so focused on food that I inhale everything in sight, then forage for more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One co-worker frequently reminds us via email that he has Hershey's Kisses in his office. Another introduced me to Peanut Chews — she kindly always has a pack waiting for me in her desk drawer. The convenience store downstairs has granola bars for 75 cents! (And french fries for $1.50.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most days I eat my typically healthy lunch (some haphazard mix of vegetables topped with last night's dinner protein) and before I've finished chewing the last bite, before I can rationally asses the state of my hunger, I'm out of my office looking for another food fix.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There's another reason I've continued to eat like a madwoman during these past three months. Over the past year, I've deliberately lost a good amount of weight. Let's call it 35 pounds. Despite my unhealthy recent eating habits, believe it or not, I did it through an overhaul in my diet, cutting out most simple carbs and eating more vegetables and trading fat for muscle mass.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And like so many women, I do still reflexively judge how healthy I am in part by how much I weigh. I lost a few pounds when I began the study, and no matter how much ice cream I shovel into my face, I haven't gained any of it back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I'm no doctor, but I'm fairly certain that just because my weight is stable, that doesn't mean I'm on a path to perfect health or a flourishing microbiome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And so for the second half of the study, I have resigned myself to a crazy idea, getting back to eating like a responsible human being. A person who cares about the well-being of the ecosystem I'm hosting: the bacteria, viruses and other little guys who call my gut home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Farewell, Peanut Chews. 🙂\u003c/p>\n\u003chr>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Brandie Michelle Jefferson is a communications manager and freelance reporter who loves a good science story. She's on Twitter, too: @b_m_jefferson\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.\u003cimg src=\"http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Can+Changing+When+And+What+We+Eat+Help+Outwit+Disease%3F&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDAxOTAwOTE4MDEyMTkxMDAzNjczZDljZA004)\">\u003c/div>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/341833/reseach-looks-at-autoimmune-diseases-and-the-microbiome",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_341833"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1062",
"futureofyou_1"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1198",
"futureofyou_68",
"futureofyou_949"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_341834",
"label": "futureofyou"
},
"futureofyou_347131": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_347131",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "347131",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488818719000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488818719,
"format": "aside",
"disqusTitle": "Is Your Social Status Making You Sick? (Video)",
"title": "Is Your Social Status Making You Sick? (Video)",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6GHhqPMVZ4\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Can your social status make you sick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And can what you \u003cem>think\u003c/em> is your social status make you sick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers have long known that your social class, or where you are on the social ladder in terms of income, education and employment, is one of the most powerful predictors of health, more powerful, even, than genetics and smoking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But research has shown there is another important social factor that affects health, though it doesn't get as much attention: your \u003ci>perception \u003c/i>of your social status, regardless of what it actually is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0044118X16646028\" target=\"_blank\">study,\u003c/a> for example, looked at the health of adolescents in relation to both their parents' social class and the teens' \u003cem>subjective\u003c/em> social class. The researchers discovered that the actual social class of the parents did not predict certain health outcomes among their children as much as the teens' \u003cem>perceived\u003c/em> social class compared to classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more on social status and its relation to health, watch the video above, from \"\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/abovethenoise\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Noise\u003c/a>,\" KQED's new YouTube series for teens.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "347131 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=347131",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/06/is-your-social-status-making-you-sick-video/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": true,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 196,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 8
},
"modified": 1488819453,
"excerpt": "Researchers have long known that social class is a powerful predictor of health. But there is another important factor that doesn’t get as much attention: your \u003ci>perception\u003c/i> of your social status, regardless of what it actually is. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "Researchers have long known that social class is a powerful predictor of health. But there is another important factor that doesn’t get as much attention: your perception of your social status, regardless of what it actually is. ",
"title": "Is Your Social Status Making You Sick? (Video) | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Is Your Social Status Making You Sick? (Video)",
"datePublished": "2017-03-06T08:45:19-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-06T08:57:33-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "is-your-social-status-making-you-sick-video",
"status": "publish",
"customPermalink": "2017/03/03/subjective-social-status/",
"nprByline": "Future of You",
"source": "Future of You",
"path": "/futureofyou/347131/is-your-social-status-making-you-sick-video",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/i6GHhqPMVZ4'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/i6GHhqPMVZ4'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>Can your social status make you sick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And can what you \u003cem>think\u003c/em> is your social status make you sick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Researchers have long known that your social class, or where you are on the social ladder in terms of income, education and employment, is one of the most powerful predictors of health, more powerful, even, than genetics and smoking.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But research has shown there is another important social factor that affects health, though it doesn't get as much attention: your \u003ci>perception \u003c/i>of your social status, regardless of what it actually is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This 2016 \u003ca href=\"http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0044118X16646028\" target=\"_blank\">study,\u003c/a> for example, looked at the health of adolescents in relation to both their parents' social class and the teens' \u003cem>subjective\u003c/em> social class. The researchers discovered that the actual social class of the parents did not predict certain health outcomes among their children as much as the teens' \u003cem>perceived\u003c/em> social class compared to classmates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For more on social status and its relation to health, watch the video above, from \"\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/abovethenoise\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Noise\u003c/a>,\" KQED's new YouTube series for teens.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/347131/is-your-social-status-making-you-sick-video",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_347131"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_452",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1196",
"futureofyou_1197"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_348027",
"label": "source_futureofyou_347131"
},
"futureofyou_345944": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_345944",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "345944",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488501002000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488501002,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "3 Analyses: The Best Places for STEM Professionals",
"title": "3 Analyses: The Best Places for STEM Professionals",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Last week the personal finance website SmartAsset released an \u003ca href=\"https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-places-stem-jobs-pay-2017\" target=\"_blank\">analysis\u003c/a> on the best-paying geographical areas for STEM jobs. STEM, in case you haven't been paying attention, stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and \u003cdel>Martial Arts\u003c/del>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ha, just kidding, man. Math!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, from 2014, SmartAsset crunched the numbers for 53 U.S. metro areas that have at least 30,000 workers in the sciences, computers, mathematics, architecture and engineering. Comparing each area's average pay and increase in average pay to the corresponding national average, they came up with their list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"In short, our analysis looks at the metro areas that are the furthest above the national median for both STEM pay and income growth,\" SmartAsset wrote. As you can see, and as you may have suspected, paywise it's California-here-we-come for STEM workers, with three of the top five regions, including Silicon Valley, located in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_347185\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003ca href=\"https://dr5dymrsxhdzh.cloudfront.net/blog/images/a14008/2017/02/stem_1_table.png\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-347185 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table.png\" alt=\"stem_1_table\" width=\"600\" height=\"1076\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table.png 600w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-160x287.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-240x430.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-375x673.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-520x933.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From SmartAsset. \u003ca href=\"https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-places-stem-jobs-pay-2017\">See full post here\u003c/a>. \u003ccite>(SmartAsset)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But wait, there's more. This \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/\" target=\"_blank\">post\u003c/a> by WalletHub in January ranked the best and worst areas for STEM professionals inclusive of not just pay, but quality of life and professional factors like job openings, R&D budgets, and transit and housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The results? Sorry Silicon Valley/San Francisco--the Seattle area edges you out for the top spot. Rounding out the top five: Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Springfield, in Massachusetts. See the \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/#main-findings\" target=\"_blank\">full list here\u003c/a>. Or click on the circles to see the rankings of the different areas:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/9200/geochart-stem.html\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But wait, there's more of the more. Finally, we have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/studies/best-places-stem-grads-2016/\" target=\"_blank\">Best Places for STEM Graduates\u003c/a>, posted last year by NerdWallet. While NerdWallet may or may not have the most incisive equation for tabulating STEMie heaven, they at least sport the best name for this type of website. In ranking 330 metro areas, the Nerds took into account the number of STEM employees per 1,000 jobs, annual average wage, median monthly rent and unemployment rate. That formula produced a sleeper of a No. 1 -- Huntsville, Alabama.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"A STEM worker in Huntsville, Alabama will pay about 9% of his or her income on rent, compared with a peer in [No. 2] San Jose, California, who can expect housing to claim at least 17% of his or her salary,\" NerdWallet wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are \u003ca href=\"http://www.bls.gov/oes/stem_list.xlsx\" target=\"_blank\">all the jobs\u003c/a> that BLS categorizes as STEM. While medical scientists are on the list, doctors and other health care professionals are not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But something to take note of: While it's true that we are living in the digital age, the biggest job growth in terms of sheer numbers from 2014-24 will not occur among computer programmers or big data analysts, according to BLS, but rather \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes399021.htm\" target=\"_blank\">personal care\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides.htm\" target=\"_blank\">home health aides\u003c/a>. So welcome to the aging baby boomer economy. You can check out median salaries for dozens of other \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\">health care occupations here--\u003c/a>click on the individual links to find job growth projections for each.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the interesting things WalletHub did was to ask a \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/#\" target=\"_blank\">panel of academics\u003c/a> in STEM education questions related to the STEM job market. One query: Why do so many STEM graduates \u003ca href=\"https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2015/09/02/not-everyone-with-a-stem-degree-chooses-a-stem-job\" target=\"_blank\">end up not working in STEM\u003c/a> occupations, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-130.html\" target=\"_blank\">reported\u003c/a> by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That appears to be due at least in part to the exclusion of many otherwise related professions from the government's list of STEM jobs. Peter R. Turner, director of the Institute for STEM Education at Clarkson University, told WalletHub \"most STEM graduates do work in STEM fields but often in areas where they are using those skills for other applications.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That was echoed by several of the other experts. But not Carolyn Parker, assistant professor of STEM education at Johns Hopkins University. She said: \"We have an unwelcoming STEM culture, which supports a lack of interest in STEM courses and careers, particularly among females, people of color, and people with disabilities, because of entrenched cultural attitudes and beliefs about innate abilities.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Census Bureau wrote back in 2014 that \"men continue to be overrepresented in STEM, especially in computer and engineering occupations. About 86 percent of engineers and 74 percent of computer professionals are men.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click on the link for the government's \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/subject/stem.htm\" target=\"_blank\">career outlooks\u003c/a> for STEM jobs, from \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/youre-a-what/quantum-computer-research-scientist.htm\" target=\"_blank\">quantum computer research scientist\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/interview/sports-statistical-analyst.htm\" target=\"_blank\">sports statistical analyst\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And next week, maybe we'll do Best Areas for Journalists, where every region comes in \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm\" target=\"_blank\">last\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "345944 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=345944",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/02/what-are-the-best-areas-for-stem-professionals/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 792,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 19
},
"modified": 1488588260,
"excerpt": "A look at three different calculations for determining STEMie job heaven. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "A look at three different calculations for determining STEMie job heaven. ",
"title": "3 Analyses: The Best Places for STEM Professionals | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "3 Analyses: The Best Places for STEM Professionals",
"datePublished": "2017-03-02T16:30:02-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-03T16:44:20-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "what-are-the-best-areas-for-stem-professionals",
"status": "publish",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"path": "/futureofyou/345944/what-are-the-best-areas-for-stem-professionals",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Last week the personal finance website SmartAsset released an \u003ca href=\"https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-places-stem-jobs-pay-2017\" target=\"_blank\">analysis\u003c/a> on the best-paying geographical areas for STEM jobs. STEM, in case you haven't been paying attention, stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and \u003cdel>Martial Arts\u003c/del>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ha, just kidding, man. Math!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Using the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, from 2014, SmartAsset crunched the numbers for 53 U.S. metro areas that have at least 30,000 workers in the sciences, computers, mathematics, architecture and engineering. Comparing each area's average pay and increase in average pay to the corresponding national average, they came up with their list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"In short, our analysis looks at the metro areas that are the furthest above the national median for both STEM pay and income growth,\" SmartAsset wrote. As you can see, and as you may have suspected, paywise it's California-here-we-come for STEM workers, with three of the top five regions, including Silicon Valley, located in and around the San Francisco Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_347185\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 600px\">\u003ca href=\"https://dr5dymrsxhdzh.cloudfront.net/blog/images/a14008/2017/02/stem_1_table.png\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-347185 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table.png\" alt=\"stem_1_table\" width=\"600\" height=\"1076\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table.png 600w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-160x287.png 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-240x430.png 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-375x673.png 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/stem_1_table-520x933.png 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">From SmartAsset. \u003ca href=\"https://smartasset.com/mortgage/best-places-stem-jobs-pay-2017\">See full post here\u003c/a>. \u003ccite>(SmartAsset)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But wait, there's more. This \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/\" target=\"_blank\">post\u003c/a> by WalletHub in January ranked the best and worst areas for STEM professionals inclusive of not just pay, but quality of life and professional factors like job openings, R&D budgets, and transit and housing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The results? Sorry Silicon Valley/San Francisco--the Seattle area edges you out for the top spot. Rounding out the top five: Boston-Cambridge-Newton and Springfield, in Massachusetts. See the \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/#main-findings\" target=\"_blank\">full list here\u003c/a>. Or click on the circles to see the rankings of the different areas:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/9200/geochart-stem.html\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But wait, there's more of the more. Finally, we have \u003ca href=\"https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/studies/best-places-stem-grads-2016/\" target=\"_blank\">Best Places for STEM Graduates\u003c/a>, posted last year by NerdWallet. While NerdWallet may or may not have the most incisive equation for tabulating STEMie heaven, they at least sport the best name for this type of website. In ranking 330 metro areas, the Nerds took into account the number of STEM employees per 1,000 jobs, annual average wage, median monthly rent and unemployment rate. That formula produced a sleeper of a No. 1 -- Huntsville, Alabama.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"A STEM worker in Huntsville, Alabama will pay about 9% of his or her income on rent, compared with a peer in [No. 2] San Jose, California, who can expect housing to claim at least 17% of his or her salary,\" NerdWallet wrote.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are \u003ca href=\"http://www.bls.gov/oes/stem_list.xlsx\" target=\"_blank\">all the jobs\u003c/a> that BLS categorizes as STEM. While medical scientists are on the list, doctors and other health care professionals are not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But something to take note of: While it's true that we are living in the digital age, the biggest job growth in terms of sheer numbers from 2014-24 will not occur among computer programmers or big data analysts, according to BLS, but rather \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes399021.htm\" target=\"_blank\">personal care\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides.htm\" target=\"_blank\">home health aides\u003c/a>. So welcome to the aging baby boomer economy. You can check out median salaries for dozens of other \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm\" target=\"_blank\">health care occupations here--\u003c/a>click on the individual links to find job growth projections for each.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One of the interesting things WalletHub did was to ask a \u003ca href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-metro-areas-for-stem-professionals/9200/#\" target=\"_blank\">panel of academics\u003c/a> in STEM education questions related to the STEM job market. One query: Why do so many STEM graduates \u003ca href=\"https://www.usnews.com/news/stem-solutions/articles/2015/09/02/not-everyone-with-a-stem-degree-chooses-a-stem-job\" target=\"_blank\">end up not working in STEM\u003c/a> occupations, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-130.html\" target=\"_blank\">reported\u003c/a> by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2014.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That appears to be due at least in part to the exclusion of many otherwise related professions from the government's list of STEM jobs. Peter R. Turner, director of the Institute for STEM Education at Clarkson University, told WalletHub \"most STEM graduates do work in STEM fields but often in areas where they are using those skills for other applications.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That was echoed by several of the other experts. But not Carolyn Parker, assistant professor of STEM education at Johns Hopkins University. She said: \"We have an unwelcoming STEM culture, which supports a lack of interest in STEM courses and careers, particularly among females, people of color, and people with disabilities, because of entrenched cultural attitudes and beliefs about innate abilities.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Census Bureau wrote back in 2014 that \"men continue to be overrepresented in STEM, especially in computer and engineering occupations. About 86 percent of engineers and 74 percent of computer professionals are men.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Click on the link for the government's \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/subject/stem.htm\" target=\"_blank\">career outlooks\u003c/a> for STEM jobs, from \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/youre-a-what/quantum-computer-research-scientist.htm\" target=\"_blank\">quantum computer research scientist\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/interview/sports-statistical-analyst.htm\" target=\"_blank\">sports statistical analyst\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And next week, maybe we'll do Best Areas for Journalists, where every region comes in \u003ca href=\"https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/reporters-correspondents-and-broadcast-news-analysts.htm\" target=\"_blank\">last\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/345944/what-are-the-best-areas-for-stem-professionals",
"authors": [
"80"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1195"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_347315",
"label": "source_futureofyou_345944"
},
"futureofyou_345800": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_345800",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "345800",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488404055000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "futureofyou"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488404055,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Big Genetics Company Conducted Needless, Inaccurate Tests, Employees Say",
"title": "Big Genetics Company Conducted Needless, Inaccurate Tests, Employees Say",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>For doctors, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p2/a340190\" target=\"_blank\">the brochure\u003c/a> from a California medical laboratory sounded like easy money: $30 for every person enrolled in a study of genetic tests meant to help select the best pain medication for each patient. A typical physician could make $144,000 a year in “research fees.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the clinical trial was largely a ploy to boost \u003ca href=\"https://www.proove.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Proove Biosciences’s\u003c/a> revenues, and many of the doctors who signed up did no actual work, say current and former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove has grown rapidly by tapping into the public angst over surging opioid addiction. It is one of many companies touting personalized DNA-based tests backed by little or no credible scientific data showing their reliability. That’s because a regulatory loophole has left huge swaths of the multibillion-dollar genetic testing industry largely free of government oversight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[contextly_sidebar id=\"Uz4xTjqnrRiF1ro9zctmTWf7ka4Kpqr6\"]A STAT investigation found that Proove employees stationed in physicians’ offices pushed unnecessary tests on patients — a practice called “coercion” by one former manager — and they sometimes completed research evaluation forms on behalf of doctors, rating the tests as highly effective when they weren’t. In fact, Proove tests of DNA captured by swabbing inside a patient’s cheek were so unreliable that many physicians disregarded the results. There was scant evidence, said the company’s former chief scientist, that the tests improved patient outcomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, located in two modern buildings in a burgeoning life sciences corridor in Irvine, Calif., also billed insurers in misleading ways to bump up payments, according to current and former employees and copies of insurance forms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Promoting itself as the “leader in personalized pain medicine,” Proove claims its tests predict how patients will react to pain medicines and who might become dependent on opioids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company has enjoyed glowing television news \u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/07/the-genetic-test-that-can-help-fix-americas-opioid-painkiller-addiction.html\" target=\"_blank\">coverage\u003c/a> suggesting it can help combat the opioid crisis. Current and former employees and doctors who worked with Proove called such portrayals the product of hype generated by CEO Brian Meshkin, who lacks a background in science and is known for his consummate sales abilities and talent for self-promotion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin is “in it for the money. He wanted to swab as many people as possible,” regardless of medical need, said Beth Stevens, a former Proove manager who left the company last year after clashing with the CEO. “He wanted people who had a cold to be swabbed for opioid risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin declined an interview request and responded to only one of many written questions. In an emailed statement, he said, “Proove is acting within the confines of the law … [and intends] to follow both the letter and spirit of the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But legal experts told STAT that the way the company pays physicians involved in two ongoing Proove trials — both key to the firm’s monthly revenues of roughly $2 million — might violate anti-kickback laws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>STAT began its examination of Proove late last year, after being contacted by current and former employees who had read an \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/12/13/proove-opioid-risk-test/\" target=\"_blank\">article\u003c/a> about the dearth of evidence supporting the company’s flagship opioid risk test. The investigation included interviews with 12 current and former employees and four doctors who worked with Proove. STAT also obtained thousands of pages of internal memos, billing and insurance records, and reports of test results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, the FBI and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services are investigating possible criminal wrongdoing by Proove, according to a former and a current employee who said they were recently interviewed by federal agents. They said the agents were focused on possible kickbacks involving payments to doctors. The FBI and HHS declined to comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The government has been concerned about companies marketing tests under the guise of research for several years. In 2014, HHS issued a \u003ca href=\"https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/alertsandbulletins/2014/OIG_SFA_Laboratory_Payments_06252014.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">fraud alert\u003c/a> warning laboratories that some ways of paying doctors for “research” might violate laws against kickbacks for lab test referrals. The alert followed a spate of cases involving allegedly improper payments to doctors by laboratory companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">[Meshkin] 'is in it for the money. He wanted to swab as many people as possible.'\u003ccite>Beth Stevens, a former Proove manager\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>In response to the HHS alert, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p3/a340191\" target=\"_blank\">Proove’s legal counsel drafted a memo\u003c/a> for executives and sales staff stipulating that company practices complied with the law. Among other arguments, it said Proove compensates doctors only for research they personally perform. But current and former employees and doctors who worked with Proove have since disputed that claim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Titus Taube, a family practitioner in Warner Robins, Ga., said in an interview that when he signed up as a Proove researcher, “It sounded like it was the wave of the future.” He said he quickly became disillusioned and concluded that the pay was for referring patients to Proove for tests because the research tasks, including filling out questionnaires and assessing the tests’ efficacy, were done by a Proove employee at his office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If doctors who order tests receive improper financial inducements through a research program — such as compensation without working or payments based on the volume of referrals they make — the company and doctors might be violating federal and state laws against kickbacks or other fraud, said Dr. R. Gregory Cochran, a physician and attorney with expertise on those statutes. Promoting inaccurate or unreliable tests could also leave a company vulnerable to claims of fraud and abuse, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove conducts “laboratory developed tests” — designed and used inside a single company or hospital lab — that can be sold as long as they are ordered by a doctor. Last year, the Silicon Valley blood-testing firm \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/01/12/arizona-theranos-lawsuit/\" target=\"_blank\">Theranos\u003c/a> became Exhibit A of \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2016/07/14/the-rise-and-fall-of-theranos-a-cartoon-history/\">what can go wrong with these tests\u003c/a>: Its claims of rapid diagnosis of dozens of diseases from a tiny vial of blood were exposed as overblown. Theranos is now the subject of a federal criminal probe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Food and Drug Administration warned in 2015 that some laboratory developed tests harm patients by leading to erroneous diagnoses and treatments. But the agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/18/fda-lab-test-loophole/\" target=\"_blank\">withdrew\u003c/a> proposed regulatory guidelines for these tests late last year, deferring to President Trump’s yet-to-be named FDA commissioner and Congress to decide what, if any, rules to put in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current gaps in oversight … pose a challenge for the continued evolution of precision medicine,” undermining patient and physician confidence and potentially slowing the adoption of validated tests, said Andrew Fish, who directs AdvaMedDx, a trade group for leading diagnostic-test developers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"//content.jwplatform.com/players/vTPizGb8-jEuQjxp9.html\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For now at least, Proove and similar companies can sell tests without having to show that results are valid and meaningful. STAT obtained \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p7/a340193\" target=\"_blank\">Proove laboratory reports\u003c/a> with gene-test results for six patients that included numerous incompatible clinical recommendations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one case — called typical by former and current employees — a report cautioned that a patient was highly susceptible to breathing problems when given the \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/29/fentanyl-heroin-photo-fatal-doses/\" target=\"_blank\">powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl\u003c/a>, yet suggested a normal dose. The records do not show if fentanyl was prescribed, or if the patient suffered harm from the recommendation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Christopher Coston, who managed Proove research assistants in western states until his job was eliminated last March, said “a lot of doctors looked at the reports and said, ‘I don’t think so. This doesn’t make sense.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Oleg Gavrilyuk, a San Diego physical medicine specialist, defended Proove. Tests of how his patients would respond to particular drugs validate his clinical judgment most of the time, he said. When they don’t, he ignores the results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ford created the first car,” he said. “Of course it was not perfect. Now Tesla is the state of the art. You cannot choke development based on the idea that it’s not perfect. It’s the first step.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove’s first clinical \u003ca href=\"http://www.journalofpsychiatricresearch.com/article/S0022-3956(16)30304-1/abstract\" target=\"_blank\">study\u003c/a> subjected to peer review, based on data from 134 patients, wasn’t published until late January in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. It found that doctors said most patients improved after treatment decisions guided by a Proove pain-perception test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Eric Fung, a biotech executive who briefly served as the firm’s chief scientific officer in 2015 and coauthored the study, said in an interview that it emerged from an effort to mine Proove’s database of tens of thousands of patient records for evidence of some kind of testing benefit. He acknowledged that the lack of a comparison group, made up of patients who did not get the test, weakens the findings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fung added that he left the company over doubts about the utility of its tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I could not find a good statistical or clinical benefit for these tests,” he said. “I didn’t feel comfortable with the science being done at Proove.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A push to swab every patient\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The questionable science hasn’t stopped Meshkin from building the privately held Proove into what Deloitte Consulting and Inc. magazine call one of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses. His formula is simple: recruit doctors as paid “researchers,” providing them with a financial stake in ordering tests for their patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here is how it works, according to current and former employees: Proove conducts large trials — two in progress aim to test 150,000 patients — that ask clinicians to rate how much various Proove tests help patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Company sales representatives pitch research contracts to doctors, often targeting financially troubled practices that need a new revenue stream. They promise steady income for light work. Meshkin said last year that about 150 doctors had signed on, out of 400 who order Proove tests. But there has been substantial turnover as dissatisfied doctors drop out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove places some of its 300 employees inside doctor’s offices, and instructs them to try to collect cheek-swab DNA samples from each patient and recruit them for clinical trials. Patients are informed that trial participants will not be billed for test fees, according to a current Proove employee. They also are supposed to tell patients their doctor has insisted on the tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even patients without pain, seen at family medicine and OB-GYN practices, were enlisted for pain- and addiction-related tests, Coston said. It seemed illogical, the former regional manager said, but Meshkin became angry when research assistants failed to sign up every patient.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many doctors “would test every single soul who walked in,” said Coston. “But they didn’t do research. The doctor is steadily getting paid, and did nothing to deserve it except ‘rent’ space” to Proove.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research assistants completed all research tasks at least half the time, said Stevens and other managers who supervised the assistants. Asked whether doctors profited from work they didn’t do, she said, “If it quacks like duck and it walks like a duck, it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stevens said each research assistant had a quota of at least five cheek swabs a day. Documents obtained by STAT show they were offered escalating cash bonuses for meeting numerical goals above the quota.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stevens called Meshkin’s tactics to push tests on patients who didn’t need them “coercion.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To avoid disrupting the flow of patients into exam rooms, the research assistants fly through patient surveys and consent forms. This leaves some patients feeling bullied, several former and current employees said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_346445\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 328px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-346445 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin.jpg\" alt=\"meshkin\" width=\"328\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin.jpg 328w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin-160x205.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin-240x307.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brian Meshkin, President and CEO of Proove Bioscience \u003ccite>(Howard County Library System/Creative Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some research assistants grew uneasy with the high-pressure tactics and quit. “People got tired of trying to get patients to participate who didn’t want to participate,” Stevens said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recruitment of patients became increasingly scripted and sales-oriented, said a current employee who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals. Research assistants were told to avoid the word “study” when signing patients up for a trial, the employee said, after some objected to being used as “guinea pigs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The title “research assistant” was even changed to “patient engagement representative,” and Meshkin told managers to find attractive young people to fill that role, according to a former manager who spoke anonymously, citing a confidentiality agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crucially, Proove urges all doctors — whether participating in a trial or not — to sign a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p18/a340196\" target=\"_blank\">standing order\u003c/a>” for all their patients to get any Proove genetic tests, such as those for risk of opioid abuse, pain sensitivity, and response to opioids and other drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many doctors have been reluctant to sign. But by 2015 about 70 percent had done so under pressure from Meshkin, said the former manager. Examples of orders obtained by STAT authorize Proove research assistants to collect DNA from any patient under the doctor’s care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin emphasized that under a standing order, the decision to be tested “is not up to [the patients], it’s up to the doctors,” Stevens said — that patients “don’t have a choice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Standing orders are common in medicine, although not in such circumstances. Doctors often issue standing orders to streamline care when patients need regular tests or treatments for a known chronic condition. Such orders rarely apply to a wide range of genetic tests for all patients in a diverse practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I could not find a good statistical or clinical benefit for these tests. I didn’t feel comfortable with the science being done at Proove.'\u003ccite>Dr. Eric Fung, former Chief Scientific Officer at Proove Biosciences\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Standing orders “are often a red flag, particularly in a situation, like here, where the patients have varying diagnoses and needs,” said Cochran, associate director of a joint health policy and law degree program at the University of California, San Francisco, and UC Hastings College of the Law. “There’s absolutely a kickback concern if the doctor knows he’s going to get a check based on the number of patients who sign up and get tested.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his written statement, Meshkin said, “Proove seeks to ensure that each participating clinician independently determines the medical necessity” for tests, “and that every patient signs an informed consent to have the testing performed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Meshkin spins a good story\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The man behind the Proove enterprise has an elaborate personal \u003ca href=\"http://www.brianmeshkin.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website\u003c/a>, featuring flattering photos of himself and his family. Effusive language praises his character, business acumen, and civic accomplishments as a former school board member, and the site lists his accolades, including an “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Orange County Business Journal in Southern California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Volunteer. Public Servant. Entrepreneur. Coach. There are many words used to describe Brian Meshkin. But if you ask Brian, he’s just Brian — a guy who works hard, dreams big, and rolls up his sleeves to help others,” the site’s unsigned biography begins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also calls himself a “published researcher,” although he lacks any formal scientific training, and says nothing about the legal problems of a previous genetic testing venture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That “nutrigenomics” company sold genetically customized dietary supplements through Las Vegas spas and directly to consumers. In an interview last year, Meshkin said he sold that company, Salugen, in 2009, soon after California authorities sent a cease-and-desist letter for improper marketing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Former and current Proove doctors and employees said the site aptly captures a man who deeply believes in himself and grasps the power of spinning a good story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin has been listed as a coauthor on study abstracts, Proove posters presented at scientific meetings, and the recently published study. His involvement in research was one of the reasons that Dr. Daniel A. Schwarz, Proove’s former research and development director, said he decided to resign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Michigan pain specialist, Schwarz said he left Proove in 2015 over concerns about the company’s lack of scientific integrity. “You can’t have a CEO trying to run the science who doesn’t have a science background,” he said. “It was marketing. It wasn’t science, and I couldn’t be a part of that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Schwarz said scientific control became a key issue when he began to doubt the validity of Proove’s work and wanted to repair the company’s research and development. Meshkin “wasn’t listening,” he said. “He didn’t take the advice, and I felt that he just wanted to do it his way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Schwarz also grew alarmed when coworkers said patient research records were not stored securely. Another former Proove executive, who requested anonymity due to a confidentiality agreement, said data sheets languished for long periods, stacked in heaps at Proove’s main office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The patient comes first, and if you have a product where you are not doing the right thing by the patient, I can’t be a part of it,” Schwarz said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Stevens, company insiders hoped for vast improvements after Fung, a respected biotech executive who earned his MD and PhD degrees at Johns Hopkins University, was hired with fanfare in 2015.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I remember one of the clinical people who worked underneath [Fung] said to me, ‘If he leaves this company, we all need to go,’” Stevens said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fung quit after three months.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Can I trust the data?’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Taube, the Georgia family doctor, said he saw firsthand how untrustworthy Proove’s tests and studies are. He signed on with Proove about four months ago after he was approached by a sales rep. Taube said he was intrigued by Proove’s ideas for advancing precision medicine and impressed by the support of Medicare and other insurers, described by Proove as study “sponsors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first, he filled out the research forms himself, including an “investigator intervention evaluation” used to assess whether Proove tests helped patients or affected their care. But he said Proove managers told him, “No, no, [the Proove employee] will take care of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This practice was widely adopted after some doctors filled out research forms partially or not at all, but still expected to be paid, said a former Proove executive who spoke anonymously due to a confidentiality agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'It was marketing. It wasn’t science, and I couldn’t be a part of that.’\u003ccite>Dr. Daniel A. Schwarz, Proove’s former research and development director\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Taube then would sign the evaluations prepared by a Proove research assistant without giving them a close look. But he began to view the clinical trials as mostly marketing and looked more closely at the evaluations he signed. He was startled to see that Proove tests always received top ratings, though they were having little impact on his practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The results often were refuted by a patient’s experience, he said. For example, they showed that several of his patients should not take losartan, a blood pressure medicine, because they metabolized it poorly. But they had taken it successfully for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taube recently stopped signing up new patients for Proove, saying he wondered, “Can I trust the data?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His experience was typical, according to current and former Proove employees. They said Proove managers told representatives always to rate tests a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale of benefit to the patient, even when a test had no bearing on clinical care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another former Proove executive, who also signed a confidentiality agreement, said even the principal investigator of a 50,000-patient Proove clinical trial — Dr. Daniel R. Kendall, a McLean, Va., osteopath for National Spine & Pain Centers — didn’t rely on the tests. The former executive said an audit of 1,500 patient charts from Kendall’s practice showed no changes in care based on Proove tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Via email, Kendall disputed that conclusion. He would not provide the audit and referred all questions to Proove. In his email statement, Meshkin said National Spine & Pain Center patients showed “significant improvement in treatment,” but did not provide any details.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Profit innovation: ‘unbundled’ charges\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Clinical trials helped increase testing, but insurers often rejected claims, leading Proove to devise another way to pump up its bottom line: creative billing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurers deem many Proove tests experimental due to a lack of evidence that they could aid diagnosis or treatment of the patient. One consequence of the denials, said some former employees, is that Proove periodically stops paying many sales reps and even fires them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove also has failed to pay many physicians, including Taube, for research services — even doctors who actually did the work. Coston called it “the main thing I was getting yelled about by my doctors.” Taube said the company blamed slow insurance reimbursements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By 2014, Proove could complete numerous tests using a single cheek swab. But insurance payments were less than what the company thought it could get for the same tests if they had been billed based on several different swabs, said current and former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Proove adopted a new billing strategy in 2015. \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p19\" target=\"_blank\">Documents show\u003c/a> that instead of submitting an invoice for multiple genetic tests from one date of service — when the patient’s cheek was swabbed — Proove “unbundled” the charges, dividing them up among several invoices keyed to the dates lab reports were issued. Current and former employees said this process has become the norm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company might bill insurers for its “opioid risk test” on Monday, for its “pain perception” test the following Monday, and so on — suggesting that the patient was tested on several occasions. Combined billings were often in the range of $7,000 to $10,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Southern California doctor, who would only comment anonymously, said he kicked Proove out of his practice. “[T]hey billed the insurance four times more than what they told me they would bill initially. … Several patients of mine became very upset at the unreasonable amount of money that they were charging the insurance company,” the doctor said in an email. Such reactions were common among physicians, said current and former employees.Michelle Cavanaugh, an expert with the California-based medical billing firm Kareo, called unbundling “working the system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What is the clinical justification for assigning it different dates?” said P. Thomas Hirsch, president of Laboratory Billing Solutions in Portsmouth, N.H., after hearing a description of Proove’s practices. “If they can’t give one, it’s just a scam.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/28/proove-biosciences-genetic-tests/\" target=\"_blank\">story\u003c/a> was originally published by STAT, an online publication of Boston Globe Media that covers health, medicine, and scientific discovery\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "345800 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=345800",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/01/proove-employees-say-company-pushed-unneccesary-inaccurate-genetic-tests/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 3868,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 81
},
"modified": 1488501847,
"excerpt": "Critics and former employees say Proove Biosciences conducts needless genetic tests while scamming doctors, patients and insurers. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "Critics and former employees say Proove Biosciences conducts needless genetic tests while scamming doctors, patients and insurers. ",
"title": "Big Genetics Company Conducted Needless, Inaccurate Tests, Employees Say | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Big Genetics Company Conducted Needless, Inaccurate Tests, Employees Say",
"datePublished": "2017-03-01T13:34:15-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-02T16:44:07-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "proove-employees-say-company-pushed-unneccesary-inaccurate-genetic-tests",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Charles Piller\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/\">STAT\u003c/a>",
"path": "/futureofyou/345800/proove-employees-say-company-pushed-unneccesary-inaccurate-genetic-tests",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>For doctors, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p2/a340190\" target=\"_blank\">the brochure\u003c/a> from a California medical laboratory sounded like easy money: $30 for every person enrolled in a study of genetic tests meant to help select the best pain medication for each patient. A typical physician could make $144,000 a year in “research fees.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the clinical trial was largely a ploy to boost \u003ca href=\"https://www.proove.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Proove Biosciences’s\u003c/a> revenues, and many of the doctors who signed up did no actual work, say current and former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove has grown rapidly by tapping into the public angst over surging opioid addiction. It is one of many companies touting personalized DNA-based tests backed by little or no credible scientific data showing their reliability. That’s because a regulatory loophole has left huge swaths of the multibillion-dollar genetic testing industry largely free of government oversight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003cp>A STAT investigation found that Proove employees stationed in physicians’ offices pushed unnecessary tests on patients — a practice called “coercion” by one former manager — and they sometimes completed research evaluation forms on behalf of doctors, rating the tests as highly effective when they weren’t. In fact, Proove tests of DNA captured by swabbing inside a patient’s cheek were so unreliable that many physicians disregarded the results. There was scant evidence, said the company’s former chief scientist, that the tests improved patient outcomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, located in two modern buildings in a burgeoning life sciences corridor in Irvine, Calif., also billed insurers in misleading ways to bump up payments, according to current and former employees and copies of insurance forms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Promoting itself as the “leader in personalized pain medicine,” Proove claims its tests predict how patients will react to pain medicines and who might become dependent on opioids.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company has enjoyed glowing television news \u003ca href=\"http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/07/the-genetic-test-that-can-help-fix-americas-opioid-painkiller-addiction.html\" target=\"_blank\">coverage\u003c/a> suggesting it can help combat the opioid crisis. Current and former employees and doctors who worked with Proove called such portrayals the product of hype generated by CEO Brian Meshkin, who lacks a background in science and is known for his consummate sales abilities and talent for self-promotion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin is “in it for the money. He wanted to swab as many people as possible,” regardless of medical need, said Beth Stevens, a former Proove manager who left the company last year after clashing with the CEO. “He wanted people who had a cold to be swabbed for opioid risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin declined an interview request and responded to only one of many written questions. In an emailed statement, he said, “Proove is acting within the confines of the law … [and intends] to follow both the letter and spirit of the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But legal experts told STAT that the way the company pays physicians involved in two ongoing Proove trials — both key to the firm’s monthly revenues of roughly $2 million — might violate anti-kickback laws.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>STAT began its examination of Proove late last year, after being contacted by current and former employees who had read an \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/12/13/proove-opioid-risk-test/\" target=\"_blank\">article\u003c/a> about the dearth of evidence supporting the company’s flagship opioid risk test. The investigation included interviews with 12 current and former employees and four doctors who worked with Proove. STAT also obtained thousands of pages of internal memos, billing and insurance records, and reports of test results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, the FBI and the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services are investigating possible criminal wrongdoing by Proove, according to a former and a current employee who said they were recently interviewed by federal agents. They said the agents were focused on possible kickbacks involving payments to doctors. The FBI and HHS declined to comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The government has been concerned about companies marketing tests under the guise of research for several years. In 2014, HHS issued a \u003ca href=\"https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/alertsandbulletins/2014/OIG_SFA_Laboratory_Payments_06252014.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">fraud alert\u003c/a> warning laboratories that some ways of paying doctors for “research” might violate laws against kickbacks for lab test referrals. The alert followed a spate of cases involving allegedly improper payments to doctors by laboratory companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">[Meshkin] 'is in it for the money. He wanted to swab as many people as possible.'\u003ccite>Beth Stevens, a former Proove manager\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>In response to the HHS alert, \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p3/a340191\" target=\"_blank\">Proove’s legal counsel drafted a memo\u003c/a> for executives and sales staff stipulating that company practices complied with the law. Among other arguments, it said Proove compensates doctors only for research they personally perform. But current and former employees and doctors who worked with Proove have since disputed that claim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Titus Taube, a family practitioner in Warner Robins, Ga., said in an interview that when he signed up as a Proove researcher, “It sounded like it was the wave of the future.” He said he quickly became disillusioned and concluded that the pay was for referring patients to Proove for tests because the research tasks, including filling out questionnaires and assessing the tests’ efficacy, were done by a Proove employee at his office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If doctors who order tests receive improper financial inducements through a research program — such as compensation without working or payments based on the volume of referrals they make — the company and doctors might be violating federal and state laws against kickbacks or other fraud, said Dr. R. Gregory Cochran, a physician and attorney with expertise on those statutes. Promoting inaccurate or unreliable tests could also leave a company vulnerable to claims of fraud and abuse, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove conducts “laboratory developed tests” — designed and used inside a single company or hospital lab — that can be sold as long as they are ordered by a doctor. Last year, the Silicon Valley blood-testing firm \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/01/12/arizona-theranos-lawsuit/\" target=\"_blank\">Theranos\u003c/a> became Exhibit A of \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2016/07/14/the-rise-and-fall-of-theranos-a-cartoon-history/\">what can go wrong with these tests\u003c/a>: Its claims of rapid diagnosis of dozens of diseases from a tiny vial of blood were exposed as overblown. Theranos is now the subject of a federal criminal probe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Food and Drug Administration warned in 2015 that some laboratory developed tests harm patients by leading to erroneous diagnoses and treatments. But the agency \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/11/18/fda-lab-test-loophole/\" target=\"_blank\">withdrew\u003c/a> proposed regulatory guidelines for these tests late last year, deferring to President Trump’s yet-to-be named FDA commissioner and Congress to decide what, if any, rules to put in place.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The current gaps in oversight … pose a challenge for the continued evolution of precision medicine,” undermining patient and physician confidence and potentially slowing the adoption of validated tests, said Andrew Fish, who directs AdvaMedDx, a trade group for leading diagnostic-test developers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"600\" height=\"338\" src=\"//content.jwplatform.com/players/vTPizGb8-jEuQjxp9.html\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For now at least, Proove and similar companies can sell tests without having to show that results are valid and meaningful. STAT obtained \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p7/a340193\" target=\"_blank\">Proove laboratory reports\u003c/a> with gene-test results for six patients that included numerous incompatible clinical recommendations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In one case — called typical by former and current employees — a report cautioned that a patient was highly susceptible to breathing problems when given the \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/29/fentanyl-heroin-photo-fatal-doses/\" target=\"_blank\">powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl\u003c/a>, yet suggested a normal dose. The records do not show if fentanyl was prescribed, or if the patient suffered harm from the recommendation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Christopher Coston, who managed Proove research assistants in western states until his job was eliminated last March, said “a lot of doctors looked at the reports and said, ‘I don’t think so. This doesn’t make sense.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Oleg Gavrilyuk, a San Diego physical medicine specialist, defended Proove. Tests of how his patients would respond to particular drugs validate his clinical judgment most of the time, he said. When they don’t, he ignores the results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ford created the first car,” he said. “Of course it was not perfect. Now Tesla is the state of the art. You cannot choke development based on the idea that it’s not perfect. It’s the first step.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove’s first clinical \u003ca href=\"http://www.journalofpsychiatricresearch.com/article/S0022-3956(16)30304-1/abstract\" target=\"_blank\">study\u003c/a> subjected to peer review, based on data from 134 patients, wasn’t published until late January in the Journal of Psychiatric Research. It found that doctors said most patients improved after treatment decisions guided by a Proove pain-perception test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Eric Fung, a biotech executive who briefly served as the firm’s chief scientific officer in 2015 and coauthored the study, said in an interview that it emerged from an effort to mine Proove’s database of tens of thousands of patient records for evidence of some kind of testing benefit. He acknowledged that the lack of a comparison group, made up of patients who did not get the test, weakens the findings.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fung added that he left the company over doubts about the utility of its tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I could not find a good statistical or clinical benefit for these tests,” he said. “I didn’t feel comfortable with the science being done at Proove.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>A push to swab every patient\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The questionable science hasn’t stopped Meshkin from building the privately held Proove into what Deloitte Consulting and Inc. magazine call one of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses. His formula is simple: recruit doctors as paid “researchers,” providing them with a financial stake in ordering tests for their patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here is how it works, according to current and former employees: Proove conducts large trials — two in progress aim to test 150,000 patients — that ask clinicians to rate how much various Proove tests help patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Company sales representatives pitch research contracts to doctors, often targeting financially troubled practices that need a new revenue stream. They promise steady income for light work. Meshkin said last year that about 150 doctors had signed on, out of 400 who order Proove tests. But there has been substantial turnover as dissatisfied doctors drop out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove places some of its 300 employees inside doctor’s offices, and instructs them to try to collect cheek-swab DNA samples from each patient and recruit them for clinical trials. Patients are informed that trial participants will not be billed for test fees, according to a current Proove employee. They also are supposed to tell patients their doctor has insisted on the tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even patients without pain, seen at family medicine and OB-GYN practices, were enlisted for pain- and addiction-related tests, Coston said. It seemed illogical, the former regional manager said, but Meshkin became angry when research assistants failed to sign up every patient.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many doctors “would test every single soul who walked in,” said Coston. “But they didn’t do research. The doctor is steadily getting paid, and did nothing to deserve it except ‘rent’ space” to Proove.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Research assistants completed all research tasks at least half the time, said Stevens and other managers who supervised the assistants. Asked whether doctors profited from work they didn’t do, she said, “If it quacks like duck and it walks like a duck, it is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stevens said each research assistant had a quota of at least five cheek swabs a day. Documents obtained by STAT show they were offered escalating cash bonuses for meeting numerical goals above the quota.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stevens called Meshkin’s tactics to push tests on patients who didn’t need them “coercion.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To avoid disrupting the flow of patients into exam rooms, the research assistants fly through patient surveys and consent forms. This leaves some patients feeling bullied, several former and current employees said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_346445\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 328px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-346445 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin.jpg\" alt=\"meshkin\" width=\"328\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin.jpg 328w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin-160x205.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/03/meshkin-240x307.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 328px) 100vw, 328px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brian Meshkin, President and CEO of Proove Bioscience \u003ccite>(Howard County Library System/Creative Commons)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Some research assistants grew uneasy with the high-pressure tactics and quit. “People got tired of trying to get patients to participate who didn’t want to participate,” Stevens said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Recruitment of patients became increasingly scripted and sales-oriented, said a current employee who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisals. Research assistants were told to avoid the word “study” when signing patients up for a trial, the employee said, after some objected to being used as “guinea pigs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The title “research assistant” was even changed to “patient engagement representative,” and Meshkin told managers to find attractive young people to fill that role, according to a former manager who spoke anonymously, citing a confidentiality agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Crucially, Proove urges all doctors — whether participating in a trial or not — to sign a “\u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p18/a340196\" target=\"_blank\">standing order\u003c/a>” for all their patients to get any Proove genetic tests, such as those for risk of opioid abuse, pain sensitivity, and response to opioids and other drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many doctors have been reluctant to sign. But by 2015 about 70 percent had done so under pressure from Meshkin, said the former manager. Examples of orders obtained by STAT authorize Proove research assistants to collect DNA from any patient under the doctor’s care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin emphasized that under a standing order, the decision to be tested “is not up to [the patients], it’s up to the doctors,” Stevens said — that patients “don’t have a choice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Standing orders are common in medicine, although not in such circumstances. Doctors often issue standing orders to streamline care when patients need regular tests or treatments for a known chronic condition. Such orders rarely apply to a wide range of genetic tests for all patients in a diverse practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I could not find a good statistical or clinical benefit for these tests. I didn’t feel comfortable with the science being done at Proove.'\u003ccite>Dr. Eric Fung, former Chief Scientific Officer at Proove Biosciences\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Standing orders “are often a red flag, particularly in a situation, like here, where the patients have varying diagnoses and needs,” said Cochran, associate director of a joint health policy and law degree program at the University of California, San Francisco, and UC Hastings College of the Law. “There’s absolutely a kickback concern if the doctor knows he’s going to get a check based on the number of patients who sign up and get tested.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In his written statement, Meshkin said, “Proove seeks to ensure that each participating clinician independently determines the medical necessity” for tests, “and that every patient signs an informed consent to have the testing performed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Meshkin spins a good story\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The man behind the Proove enterprise has an elaborate personal \u003ca href=\"http://www.brianmeshkin.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website\u003c/a>, featuring flattering photos of himself and his family. Effusive language praises his character, business acumen, and civic accomplishments as a former school board member, and the site lists his accolades, including an “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Orange County Business Journal in Southern California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Volunteer. Public Servant. Entrepreneur. Coach. There are many words used to describe Brian Meshkin. But if you ask Brian, he’s just Brian — a guy who works hard, dreams big, and rolls up his sleeves to help others,” the site’s unsigned biography begins.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>He also calls himself a “published researcher,” although he lacks any formal scientific training, and says nothing about the legal problems of a previous genetic testing venture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That “nutrigenomics” company sold genetically customized dietary supplements through Las Vegas spas and directly to consumers. In an interview last year, Meshkin said he sold that company, Salugen, in 2009, soon after California authorities sent a cease-and-desist letter for improper marketing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Former and current Proove doctors and employees said the site aptly captures a man who deeply believes in himself and grasps the power of spinning a good story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Meshkin has been listed as a coauthor on study abstracts, Proove posters presented at scientific meetings, and the recently published study. His involvement in research was one of the reasons that Dr. Daniel A. Schwarz, Proove’s former research and development director, said he decided to resign.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Michigan pain specialist, Schwarz said he left Proove in 2015 over concerns about the company’s lack of scientific integrity. “You can’t have a CEO trying to run the science who doesn’t have a science background,” he said. “It was marketing. It wasn’t science, and I couldn’t be a part of that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Schwarz said scientific control became a key issue when he began to doubt the validity of Proove’s work and wanted to repair the company’s research and development. Meshkin “wasn’t listening,” he said. “He didn’t take the advice, and I felt that he just wanted to do it his way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Schwarz also grew alarmed when coworkers said patient research records were not stored securely. Another former Proove executive, who requested anonymity due to a confidentiality agreement, said data sheets languished for long periods, stacked in heaps at Proove’s main office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The patient comes first, and if you have a product where you are not doing the right thing by the patient, I can’t be a part of it,” Schwarz said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to Stevens, company insiders hoped for vast improvements after Fung, a respected biotech executive who earned his MD and PhD degrees at Johns Hopkins University, was hired with fanfare in 2015.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I remember one of the clinical people who worked underneath [Fung] said to me, ‘If he leaves this company, we all need to go,’” Stevens said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fung quit after three months.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>‘Can I trust the data?’\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Taube, the Georgia family doctor, said he saw firsthand how untrustworthy Proove’s tests and studies are. He signed on with Proove about four months ago after he was approached by a sales rep. Taube said he was intrigued by Proove’s ideas for advancing precision medicine and impressed by the support of Medicare and other insurers, described by Proove as study “sponsors.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first, he filled out the research forms himself, including an “investigator intervention evaluation” used to assess whether Proove tests helped patients or affected their care. But he said Proove managers told him, “No, no, [the Proove employee] will take care of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This practice was widely adopted after some doctors filled out research forms partially or not at all, but still expected to be paid, said a former Proove executive who spoke anonymously due to a confidentiality agreement.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'It was marketing. It wasn’t science, and I couldn’t be a part of that.’\u003ccite>Dr. Daniel A. Schwarz, Proove’s former research and development director\u003c/cite>\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Taube then would sign the evaluations prepared by a Proove research assistant without giving them a close look. But he began to view the clinical trials as mostly marketing and looked more closely at the evaluations he signed. He was startled to see that Proove tests always received top ratings, though they were having little impact on his practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The results often were refuted by a patient’s experience, he said. For example, they showed that several of his patients should not take losartan, a blood pressure medicine, because they metabolized it poorly. But they had taken it successfully for years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Taube recently stopped signing up new patients for Proove, saying he wondered, “Can I trust the data?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>His experience was typical, according to current and former Proove employees. They said Proove managers told representatives always to rate tests a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale of benefit to the patient, even when a test had no bearing on clinical care.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another former Proove executive, who also signed a confidentiality agreement, said even the principal investigator of a 50,000-patient Proove clinical trial — Dr. Daniel R. Kendall, a McLean, Va., osteopath for National Spine & Pain Centers — didn’t rely on the tests. The former executive said an audit of 1,500 patient charts from Kendall’s practice showed no changes in care based on Proove tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Via email, Kendall disputed that conclusion. He would not provide the audit and referred all questions to Proove. In his email statement, Meshkin said National Spine & Pain Center patients showed “significant improvement in treatment,” but did not provide any details.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Profit innovation: ‘unbundled’ charges\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Clinical trials helped increase testing, but insurers often rejected claims, leading Proove to devise another way to pump up its bottom line: creative billing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insurers deem many Proove tests experimental due to a lack of evidence that they could aid diagnosis or treatment of the patient. One consequence of the denials, said some former employees, is that Proove periodically stops paying many sales reps and even fires them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Proove also has failed to pay many physicians, including Taube, for research services — even doctors who actually did the work. Coston called it “the main thing I was getting yelled about by my doctors.” Taube said the company blamed slow insurance reimbursements.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By 2014, Proove could complete numerous tests using a single cheek swab. But insurance payments were less than what the company thought it could get for the same tests if they had been billed based on several different swabs, said current and former employees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So Proove adopted a new billing strategy in 2015. \u003ca href=\"https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3475304-STAT-Proove-Investigation-Documents.html#document/p19\" target=\"_blank\">Documents show\u003c/a> that instead of submitting an invoice for multiple genetic tests from one date of service — when the patient’s cheek was swabbed — Proove “unbundled” the charges, dividing them up among several invoices keyed to the dates lab reports were issued. Current and former employees said this process has become the norm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company might bill insurers for its “opioid risk test” on Monday, for its “pain perception” test the following Monday, and so on — suggesting that the patient was tested on several occasions. Combined billings were often in the range of $7,000 to $10,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A Southern California doctor, who would only comment anonymously, said he kicked Proove out of his practice. “[T]hey billed the insurance four times more than what they told me they would bill initially. … Several patients of mine became very upset at the unreasonable amount of money that they were charging the insurance company,” the doctor said in an email. Such reactions were common among physicians, said current and former employees.Michelle Cavanaugh, an expert with the California-based medical billing firm Kareo, called unbundling “working the system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What is the clinical justification for assigning it different dates?” said P. Thomas Hirsch, president of Laboratory Billing Solutions in Portsmouth, N.H., after hearing a description of Proove’s practices. “If they can’t give one, it’s just a scam.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/28/proove-biosciences-genetic-tests/\" target=\"_blank\">story\u003c/a> was originally published by STAT, an online publication of Boston Globe Media that covers health, medicine, and scientific discovery\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/345800/proove-employees-say-company-pushed-unneccesary-inaccurate-genetic-tests",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_345800"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_1064"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_17",
"futureofyou_1015",
"futureofyou_938",
"futureofyou_1194"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_346449",
"label": "futureofyou"
},
"futureofyou_341795": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_341795",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341795",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488384313000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "futureofyou",
"term": 1097
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488384313,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Will Gene Editing Wipe Out Inherited Diseases? Maybe One Day",
"title": "Will Gene Editing Wipe Out Inherited Diseases? Maybe One Day",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Don't expect designer babies any time soon — but a recent major ethics report leaves open the possibility of one day altering human heredity to fight genetic diseases, with stringent oversight, using new tools that precisely edit genes inside living cells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's called genome editing already is transforming biological research, and being used to develop treatments for patients struggling with a range of diseases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The science is nowhere near ready for a huge next step that raises ethical questions — altering sperm, eggs or embryos so that babies don't inherit a disease that runs in the family, says\u003ca href=\"https://nam.edu/human-genome-editing-science-ethics-and-governance/\" target=\"_blank\"> a report\u003c/a> released last month from the \u003ca href=\"https://nam.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"aligncenter noborder\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/205455452\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Human Genome Editing Consensus Study: Report Release from \u003ca href=\"https://vimeo.com/academies\">The National Academies\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>But if scientists learn how to safely pass alterations of the genetic code to future generations, the panel said \"germline\" editing could be attempted under strict criteria, including that it targets a serious disease with no reasonable alternative and is conducted under rigorous oversight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Caution is absolutely needed, but being cautious does not mean prohibition,\" said bioethicist \u003ca href=\"https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/racharo@wisc.edu\" target=\"_blank\">R. Alta Charo of the University of Wisconsin-Madison\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"This committee is not saying we will or should do germline — heritable — editing. What we are saying is that we can identify a set of strict conditions under which it would be permissible to do it,\" Charo added. \"But we are far, far away from being ready to try.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genome editing should not go beyond healing the sick and enhance traits such as physical strength, what's commonly called \"designer babies,\" the panel stressed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the public should get involved in these debates now, to say what might one day be acceptable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The long-awaited report offers advice — the prestigious academies cannot set policy. But it is considered a step toward creating international norms for responsible development of this powerful technology. The U.S. National Academies and its counterparts in Britain and China have been holding international meetings with the hope of doing just that.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">The public should get involved in these debates now, to say what might one day be acceptable.\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>\"Genome editing is a new tool for gene therapy and it has tremendous promise,\" Charo said. But, she added, it has to be pursued in a way that promotes well-being and is responsible, respectful and fair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genome editing is essentially a biological version of cut-and-paste software, allowing scientists to turn genes on or off, repair or modify them inside living cells. There are a few older methods but one with the wonky name \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/tag/crispr/\" target=\"_blank\">CRISPR-Cas9\u003c/a> is so much faster, cheaper and simpler to use that it has spurred an explosion of research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under development are ways to treat a range of diseases from sickle cell and hemophilia to cancer. In lab experiments using human cells or animals engineered with humanlike disorders, scientists are unraveling how gene defects fuel disease — and are even trying to grow transplantable human organs inside pigs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That kind of research is very promising, is adequately regulated today and should continue at full speed, the National Academies panel concluded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to the more sci fi-sounding uses, it's quite possible scientists will learn how to perform germline editing in five to 10 years, said panel co-chair \u003ca href=\"https://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/hynes\" target=\"_blank\">Richard Hynes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u003c/a>. Safety is one reason for caution, he said, as scientists will have to learn whether editing one gene has unwanted downstream effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some critics argue that families plagued by inherited diseases already have other alternatives — adopt, use donated eggs, or undergo\u003cem> in vitro\u003c/em> fertilization and discard resulting embryos that inherit the bad gene. But Charo noted that sometimes parents carry two copies of a lethal gene, guaranteeing any children inherit it. Others oppose the discarding of embryos for religious reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some families, \"you can see there would be strong arguments for doing it\" if the other criteria are met, said \u003ca href=\"https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/a-z-researchers/researchers-k-o/robin-lovell-badge/\" target=\"_blank\">Robin Lovell-Badge of Britain's Francis Crick Institute\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some countries prohibit any germline editing research. Others, such as Britain, allow laboratory research with genome editing in embryos, not for pregnancy but to understand human development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the U.S., scientists can perform laboratory embryo research only with private, not government, funding. Any attempt at pregnancy would require permission from the Food and Drug Administration, which is currently prohibited from using federal funds to review any such request.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The bottom line is there is no planetary government with enforcement power,\" Charo noted.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "341795 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=341795",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/03/01/will-gene-editing-wipe-out-inherited-diseases-maybe-one-day/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": true,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 761,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 21
},
"modified": 1488414291,
"excerpt": "An ethics report released last month allows for the possibility of one day altering human heredity to fight genetic diseases. It says no to designer babies though. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "An ethics report released last month allows for the possibility of one day altering human heredity to fight genetic diseases. It says no to designer babies though. ",
"title": "Will Gene Editing Wipe Out Inherited Diseases? Maybe One Day | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Will Gene Editing Wipe Out Inherited Diseases? Maybe One Day",
"datePublished": "2017-03-01T08:05:13-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-01T16:24:51-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "will-gene-editing-wipe-out-inherited-diseases-maybe-one-day",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Lauran Neergaard\u003cbr/>AP",
"path": "/futureofyou/341795/will-gene-editing-wipe-out-inherited-diseases-maybe-one-day",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Don't expect designer babies any time soon — but a recent major ethics report leaves open the possibility of one day altering human heredity to fight genetic diseases, with stringent oversight, using new tools that precisely edit genes inside living cells.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's called genome editing already is transforming biological research, and being used to develop treatments for patients struggling with a range of diseases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The science is nowhere near ready for a huge next step that raises ethical questions — altering sperm, eggs or embryos so that babies don't inherit a disease that runs in the family, says\u003ca href=\"https://nam.edu/human-genome-editing-science-ethics-and-governance/\" target=\"_blank\"> a report\u003c/a> released last month from the \u003ca href=\"https://nam.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"aligncenter noborder\">\n\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/205455452\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\n\u003cp class=\"wp-caption-text\">Human Genome Editing Consensus Study: Report Release from \u003ca href=\"https://vimeo.com/academies\">The National Academies\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>But if scientists learn how to safely pass alterations of the genetic code to future generations, the panel said \"germline\" editing could be attempted under strict criteria, including that it targets a serious disease with no reasonable alternative and is conducted under rigorous oversight.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Caution is absolutely needed, but being cautious does not mean prohibition,\" said bioethicist \u003ca href=\"https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/racharo@wisc.edu\" target=\"_blank\">R. Alta Charo of the University of Wisconsin-Madison\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"This committee is not saying we will or should do germline — heritable — editing. What we are saying is that we can identify a set of strict conditions under which it would be permissible to do it,\" Charo added. \"But we are far, far away from being ready to try.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genome editing should not go beyond healing the sick and enhance traits such as physical strength, what's commonly called \"designer babies,\" the panel stressed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the public should get involved in these debates now, to say what might one day be acceptable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The long-awaited report offers advice — the prestigious academies cannot set policy. But it is considered a step toward creating international norms for responsible development of this powerful technology. The U.S. National Academies and its counterparts in Britain and China have been holding international meetings with the hope of doing just that.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">The public should get involved in these debates now, to say what might one day be acceptable.\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>\"Genome editing is a new tool for gene therapy and it has tremendous promise,\" Charo said. But, she added, it has to be pursued in a way that promotes well-being and is responsible, respectful and fair.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Genome editing is essentially a biological version of cut-and-paste software, allowing scientists to turn genes on or off, repair or modify them inside living cells. There are a few older methods but one with the wonky name \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/tag/crispr/\" target=\"_blank\">CRISPR-Cas9\u003c/a> is so much faster, cheaper and simpler to use that it has spurred an explosion of research.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under development are ways to treat a range of diseases from sickle cell and hemophilia to cancer. In lab experiments using human cells or animals engineered with humanlike disorders, scientists are unraveling how gene defects fuel disease — and are even trying to grow transplantable human organs inside pigs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That kind of research is very promising, is adequately regulated today and should continue at full speed, the National Academies panel concluded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to the more sci fi-sounding uses, it's quite possible scientists will learn how to perform germline editing in five to 10 years, said panel co-chair \u003ca href=\"https://ki.mit.edu/people/faculty/hynes\" target=\"_blank\">Richard Hynes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u003c/a>. Safety is one reason for caution, he said, as scientists will have to learn whether editing one gene has unwanted downstream effects.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some critics argue that families plagued by inherited diseases already have other alternatives — adopt, use donated eggs, or undergo\u003cem> in vitro\u003c/em> fertilization and discard resulting embryos that inherit the bad gene. But Charo noted that sometimes parents carry two copies of a lethal gene, guaranteeing any children inherit it. Others oppose the discarding of embryos for religious reasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For some families, \"you can see there would be strong arguments for doing it\" if the other criteria are met, said \u003ca href=\"https://www.crick.ac.uk/research/a-z-researchers/researchers-k-o/robin-lovell-badge/\" target=\"_blank\">Robin Lovell-Badge of Britain's Francis Crick Institute\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some countries prohibit any germline editing research. Others, such as Britain, allow laboratory research with genome editing in embryos, not for pregnancy but to understand human development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the U.S., scientists can perform laboratory embryo research only with private, not government, funding. Any attempt at pregnancy would require permission from the Food and Drug Administration, which is currently prohibited from using federal funds to review any such request.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"The bottom line is there is no planetary government with enforcement power,\" Charo noted.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/341795/will-gene-editing-wipe-out-inherited-diseases-maybe-one-day",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_341795"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_896",
"futureofyou_94",
"futureofyou_295"
],
"collections": [
"futureofyou_1097"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_125387",
"label": "futureofyou_1097"
},
"futureofyou_341792": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_341792",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "341792",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488305532000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488305532,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Significantly Longer Life Expectancy Coming. For Americans, Not So Much: Study",
"title": "Significantly Longer Life Expectancy Coming. For Americans, Not So Much: Study",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>People born in 2030 will have longer lives than scientists once thought possible, but American babies born in 2030 will continue to have one of the lowest life expectancies of any developed country, according to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)32381-9/abstract\" target=\"_blank\">new study\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I can imagine that there is a limit, but we are still very far from it.'\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Scientists once thought an average life expectancy beyond 90 was impossible but medical advances combined with improved social programs are continuing to break barriers, including in countries where many people already live well into old age, according to the study's lead researcher, Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I can imagine that there is a limit,\" he said, \"but we are still very far from it.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ezzati estimated that someday people could survive on average to at least 110 or 120 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study shows South Korean girls born in 2030 are likely to have the greatest lifespan. They'll have a more than 50 percent chance of living past 90 --that's roughly 7 years longer than South Korean girls born in 2010. The longevity of South Korean women estimated in 2030 is due largely to investments in universal health care, he said. South Korea also led the list for men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's basically the opposite of what we're doing in the West, where there's a lot of austerity and inequality,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ezzati and his co-authors used death and longevity trends to estimate life expectancy in 35 developed countries for a baby born in 2030. The study was published online Tuesday in \u003ca href=\"http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current\" target=\"_blank\">The Lancet\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Women were ahead of men in all countries. Behind South Korea, women in France, Japan, Spain and Switzerland were projected to live until 88. For South Korea men, life expectancy is expected to reach 84. Next were Australia, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands at nearly 84.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the bottom of the list: Macedonia for women at nearly 78, and Serbia for men at about 73.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some genetic factors might explain the longevity in certain countries, Ezzati said, social and environmental factors were probably more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study estimated that the U.S., which already lags behind other developed countries, will fall even further behind by 2030, when men and women are projected to live to 80 and 83. American women will fall to 27th out of 35 countries, from their current ranking of 25, and men will fall from 23rd to 26th.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers note that, among rich countries, the U.S. has the highest maternal and child death rates, homicide rate and body-mass index. It's the only country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) without universal health care. \"The poor recent and projected U.S. performance is at least partly due to high and inequitable mortality from chronic diseases and violence, and insufficient and inequitable health care,\" the study notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an accompanying commentary, Ailiana Santosa of Umea University in Sweden wrote that the projections raise \"crucial issues\" about which strategies are needed to tackle worsening inequality problems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Achieving universal health coverage is worthy, plausible and needs to be continued,\" she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study was paid for by the U.K. Medical Research Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor's Note: This article has been edited for clarity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "341792 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=341792",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/02/28/significantly-longer-life-expectancy-coming-but-for-americans-not-so-much/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 555,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 18
},
"modified": 1488501908,
"excerpt": "People born in 2030 will have longer lives than once thought possible. American babies, however, will continue to have one of the lowest life expectancies of any developed country, according to a new study.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "People born in 2030 will have longer lives than once thought possible. American babies, however, will continue to have one of the lowest life expectancies of any developed country, according to a new study.",
"title": "Significantly Longer Life Expectancy Coming. For Americans, Not So Much: Study | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Significantly Longer Life Expectancy Coming. For Americans, Not So Much: Study",
"datePublished": "2017-02-28T10:12:12-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-02T16:45:08-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "significantly-longer-life-expectancy-coming-but-for-americans-not-so-much",
"status": "publish",
"customPermalink": "2017/02/27/significantly-longer-life-expectancy-coming-but-for-americans-not-so-much/",
"nprByline": "\u003cstrong>Maria Cheng\u003cbr />Associated Press\u003c/strong>",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"path": "/futureofyou/341792/significantly-longer-life-expectancy-coming-but-for-americans-not-so-much",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>People born in 2030 will have longer lives than scientists once thought possible, but American babies born in 2030 will continue to have one of the lowest life expectancies of any developed country, according to a \u003ca href=\"http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)32381-9/abstract\" target=\"_blank\">new study\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003caside class=\"pullquote alignright\">'I can imagine that there is a limit, but we are still very far from it.'\u003c/aside>\n\u003cp>Scientists once thought an average life expectancy beyond 90 was impossible but medical advances combined with improved social programs are continuing to break barriers, including in countries where many people already live well into old age, according to the study's lead researcher, Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"I can imagine that there is a limit,\" he said, \"but we are still very far from it.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ezzati estimated that someday people could survive on average to at least 110 or 120 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study shows South Korean girls born in 2030 are likely to have the greatest lifespan. They'll have a more than 50 percent chance of living past 90 --that's roughly 7 years longer than South Korean girls born in 2010. The longevity of South Korean women estimated in 2030 is due largely to investments in universal health care, he said. South Korea also led the list for men.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"It's basically the opposite of what we're doing in the West, where there's a lot of austerity and inequality,\" he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ezzati and his co-authors used death and longevity trends to estimate life expectancy in 35 developed countries for a baby born in 2030. The study was published online Tuesday in \u003ca href=\"http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current\" target=\"_blank\">The Lancet\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Women were ahead of men in all countries. Behind South Korea, women in France, Japan, Spain and Switzerland were projected to live until 88. For South Korea men, life expectancy is expected to reach 84. Next were Australia, Switzerland, Canada and the Netherlands at nearly 84.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the bottom of the list: Macedonia for women at nearly 78, and Serbia for men at about 73.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some genetic factors might explain the longevity in certain countries, Ezzati said, social and environmental factors were probably more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study estimated that the U.S., which already lags behind other developed countries, will fall even further behind by 2030, when men and women are projected to live to 80 and 83. American women will fall to 27th out of 35 countries, from their current ranking of 25, and men will fall from 23rd to 26th.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers note that, among rich countries, the U.S. has the highest maternal and child death rates, homicide rate and body-mass index. It's the only country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) without universal health care. \"The poor recent and projected U.S. performance is at least partly due to high and inequitable mortality from chronic diseases and violence, and insufficient and inequitable health care,\" the study notes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an accompanying commentary, Ailiana Santosa of Umea University in Sweden wrote that the projections raise \"crucial issues\" about which strategies are needed to tackle worsening inequality problems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\"Achieving universal health coverage is worthy, plausible and needs to be continued,\" she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study was paid for by the U.K. Medical Research Council and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Editor's Note: This article has been edited for clarity.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/341792/significantly-longer-life-expectancy-coming-but-for-americans-not-so-much",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_341792"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_452",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_1143"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_345912",
"label": "source_futureofyou_341792"
},
"futureofyou_333253": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_333253",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "333253",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488218883000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {
"site": "futureofyou"
},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488218883,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "Iceland Study on Higher Education Shows Natural Selection Still at Work",
"title": "Iceland Study on Higher Education Shows Natural Selection Still at Work",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://www.pnas.org/content/114/5/E727\">recent study\u003c/a> out of Iceland suggests Icelanders who have genes associated with obtaining more education are having fewer kids than the rest of the country's population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What does this mean? Well, if the trend continues, at some point down the evolutionary road, future generations may not be as genetically predisposed to acquiring advanced educational degrees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the study is limited to a specific population, and the effects of the reduction in these specific genetic markers are unclear, the research is an interesting reminder that natural selection is still working on people, and that we are still evolving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study expands on previous research, which identified DNA markers that tended to correlate with a higher level of education. The current study added dozens of new markers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the researchers looked at what was happening to this set of markers over multiple generations of Icelanders, going back to the 1910s, they saw that the DNA markers associated with higher education were becoming a bit less common with each generation. \u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although scientists don't know what these specific areas of our DNA actually do to enable a person to complete more years of schooling, many of them are located near genes affecting fetal brain development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's the reason for the reduction of these genes in Iceland's population? People with this particular set of markers are waiting longer to have kids, resulting in fewer offspring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now before everyone goes off and \u003ca href=\"https://futurism.com/genetic-idiocracy-genes-associated-with-high-education-are-becoming-rarer/\" target=\"_blank\">cites\u003c/a> the cult movie \"\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwZ0ZUy7P3E\" target=\"_blank\">Idiocracy\u003c/a>,\" in which the effect of less intelligent people having more kids over multiple generations is disastrous, consider that a number of studies comparing identical and fraternal twins suggest that genetic factors only account for around 40 percent of educational attainment. The set of genetic markers that the Iceland study looks at accounts for only around one-tenth of that 40 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Genetics of Educational Attainment is Complicated\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is no single gene that determines how high someone will go in terms of education. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225129?dopt=Abstract\">recent study\u003c/a> found at least 74 different areas of our DNA that affect someone’s eventual level of education. The Icelandic study bumped this number up to 120, but all together, these markers still only account for just under 4 percent of the number of genetic components that scientists have calculated affect a person's eventual number of years of schooling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This should not be surprising. Something as complicated as educational attainment is going to involve lots of different attributes, such as drive, persistence and raw intelligence, each of which can be broken down further. Many genes work together to impact the biological parts of these traits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And of course, as is true for most any trait this complex, multiple factors play a role: our environment in the womb, where we grow up, how our parents treated us, etc. all contribute in some way to how much education we will go on to receive. In fact, the environment of modern society has led to an increase in the number of college degrees rather than the decrease predicted by this genetic study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So while the Icelandic researchers definitely observed a decline in a certain set of DNA markers over the last century, it is unclear what effects, if any, will result. It may be that in the long run, environment will trump genetics, resulting in more Ph.D.s than we'll know what to do with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Iceland? Really?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first it might seem odd to do a study like this on a small, relatively isolated population like that of Iceland. But it isn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Icelanders have extensive genealogical records going back centuries, and most Icelandic people have had their DNA mapped. This allowed the researchers to compare generations and track the decline in these markers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers also had access to extensive records on people going back hundreds of years\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>including\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>birth dates, number of offspring and educational level. This depth of information is a veritable treasure trove for genetic researchers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course studying such an isolated group does have one big disadvantage—it is unclear whether these trends are specific to Iceland or if they are more universal. So additional work will need to be done with a more diverse population to see if the results hold up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The Debate Around Researching the Genetics of Intelligence\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One but by no means the only component of getting an advanced degree is raw intelligence. Researching the genetics of that trait has been somewhat controversial. A December 2015 National Geographic \u003ca href=\"http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151211-genetics-intelligence-racism-science/\" target=\"_blank\">article\u003c/a> reported on a meeting to discuss the issue at the Hastings Center, a bioethics think tank. At the meeting, Dorothy Roberts, a professor of law and sociology, \"disagreed with some behavioral geneticists' claims that their work would help intellectually disadvantaged children... ,\" reported National Geographic. Instead, Roberts said, the research would be used to support “racist, classist, gendered notions of intelligence.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But intelligence itself is so complex, the genetics of it may eventually prove to be no match for environmental factors. As this National Library of Medicine \u003ca href=\"https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/intelligence\" target=\"_blank\">primer \u003c/a>on the subject says, \"A person’s environment and genes influence each other, and it can be challenging to tease apart the effects of the environment from those of genetics.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We are, after all, much more than our genes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jon Brooks contributed to this post.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "333253 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=333253",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/02/27/iceland-study-on-higher-education-shows-natural-selection-still-at-work/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 941,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 25
},
"modified": 1488501958,
"excerpt": "A recent study out of Iceland suggests Icelanders who have genes associated with obtaining a higher degree in education are having fewer kids than the rest of the country's population.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "A recent study out of Iceland suggests Icelanders who have genes associated with obtaining a higher degree in education are having fewer kids than the rest of the country's population.",
"title": "Iceland Study on Higher Education Shows Natural Selection Still at Work | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Iceland Study on Higher Education Shows Natural Selection Still at Work",
"datePublished": "2017-02-27T10:08:03-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-03-02T16:45:58-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "iceland-study-on-higher-education-shows-natural-selection-still-at-work",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Barry Starr",
"path": "/futureofyou/333253/iceland-study-on-higher-education-shows-natural-selection-still-at-work",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"http://www.pnas.org/content/114/5/E727\">recent study\u003c/a> out of Iceland suggests Icelanders who have genes associated with obtaining more education are having fewer kids than the rest of the country's population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What does this mean? Well, if the trend continues, at some point down the evolutionary road, future generations may not be as genetically predisposed to acquiring advanced educational degrees.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the study is limited to a specific population, and the effects of the reduction in these specific genetic markers are unclear, the research is an interesting reminder that natural selection is still working on people, and that we are still evolving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study expands on previous research, which identified DNA markers that tended to correlate with a higher level of education. The current study added dozens of new markers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When the researchers looked at what was happening to this set of markers over multiple generations of Icelanders, going back to the 1910s, they saw that the DNA markers associated with higher education were becoming a bit less common with each generation. \u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although scientists don't know what these specific areas of our DNA actually do to enable a person to complete more years of schooling, many of them are located near genes affecting fetal brain development.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What's the reason for the reduction of these genes in Iceland's population? People with this particular set of markers are waiting longer to have kids, resulting in fewer offspring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now before everyone goes off and \u003ca href=\"https://futurism.com/genetic-idiocracy-genes-associated-with-high-education-are-becoming-rarer/\" target=\"_blank\">cites\u003c/a> the cult movie \"\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwZ0ZUy7P3E\" target=\"_blank\">Idiocracy\u003c/a>,\" in which the effect of less intelligent people having more kids over multiple generations is disastrous, consider that a number of studies comparing identical and fraternal twins suggest that genetic factors only account for around 40 percent of educational attainment. The set of genetic markers that the Iceland study looks at accounts for only around one-tenth of that 40 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Genetics of Educational Attainment is Complicated\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is no single gene that determines how high someone will go in terms of education. A \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225129?dopt=Abstract\">recent study\u003c/a> found at least 74 different areas of our DNA that affect someone’s eventual level of education. The Icelandic study bumped this number up to 120, but all together, these markers still only account for just under 4 percent of the number of genetic components that scientists have calculated affect a person's eventual number of years of schooling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This should not be surprising. Something as complicated as educational attainment is going to involve lots of different attributes, such as drive, persistence and raw intelligence, each of which can be broken down further. Many genes work together to impact the biological parts of these traits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And of course, as is true for most any trait this complex, multiple factors play a role: our environment in the womb, where we grow up, how our parents treated us, etc. all contribute in some way to how much education we will go on to receive. In fact, the environment of modern society has led to an increase in the number of college degrees rather than the decrease predicted by this genetic study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So while the Icelandic researchers definitely observed a decline in a certain set of DNA markers over the last century, it is unclear what effects, if any, will result. It may be that in the long run, environment will trump genetics, resulting in more Ph.D.s than we'll know what to do with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Iceland? Really?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At first it might seem odd to do a study like this on a small, relatively isolated population like that of Iceland. But it isn’t.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Icelanders have extensive genealogical records going back centuries, and most Icelandic people have had their DNA mapped. This allowed the researchers to compare generations and track the decline in these markers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The researchers also had access to extensive records on people going back hundreds of years\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>including\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>birth dates, number of offspring and educational level. This depth of information is a veritable treasure trove for genetic researchers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course studying such an isolated group does have one big disadvantage—it is unclear whether these trends are specific to Iceland or if they are more universal. So additional work will need to be done with a more diverse population to see if the results hold up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The Debate Around Researching the Genetics of Intelligence\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One but by no means the only component of getting an advanced degree is raw intelligence. Researching the genetics of that trait has been somewhat controversial. A December 2015 National Geographic \u003ca href=\"http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151211-genetics-intelligence-racism-science/\" target=\"_blank\">article\u003c/a> reported on a meeting to discuss the issue at the Hastings Center, a bioethics think tank. At the meeting, Dorothy Roberts, a professor of law and sociology, \"disagreed with some behavioral geneticists' claims that their work would help intellectually disadvantaged children... ,\" reported National Geographic. Instead, Roberts said, the research would be used to support “racist, classist, gendered notions of intelligence.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But intelligence itself is so complex, the genetics of it may eventually prove to be no match for environmental factors. As this National Library of Medicine \u003ca href=\"https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/traits/intelligence\" target=\"_blank\">primer \u003c/a>on the subject says, \"A person’s environment and genes influence each other, and it can be challenging to tease apart the effects of the environment from those of genetics.\"\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We are, after all, much more than our genes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Jon Brooks contributed to this post.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/333253/iceland-study-on-higher-education-shows-natural-selection-still-at-work",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_333253"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_1"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_120"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_333283",
"label": "futureofyou"
},
"futureofyou_338930": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_338930",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "338930",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1488214276000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1488214276,
"format": "standard",
"disqusTitle": "On Opioid Prescriptions, Doctors 'All Over the Map'",
"title": "On Opioid Prescriptions, Doctors 'All Over the Map'",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Which doctor a person happens to see at a local emergency room can have long-term consequences when it comes to opioid use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within the same hospital, some doctors are three times more likely to prescribe an opioid than other doctors, and patients treated by high-prescribing doctors are more likely to become long-term opioid users, according to a study published recently in the \u003cem>New England Journal of Medicine\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Physicians are just doing things all over the map,” says Dr. Michael Barnett, an assistant professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the study’s authors. “This is a call to arms for people to start paying a lot more attention to having a unified approach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study looked at how many opioid prescriptions emergency physicians gave to about 377,000 Medicare beneficiaries from 2008 through 2011. The lowest-prescribing quartile of doctors prescribed opioids to just 7 percent of patients, while the highest prescribed opioids to 24 percent — more than three times as often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Patients who saw a high-intensity prescriber were about 30 percent more likely to end up with a long-term opioid prescription of at least six months within the year following their hospital visit. They were also more likely to return to the hospital in the next 12 months with an opioid-related fall or fracture, a risk factor for seniors who take the powerful painkillers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Overall, about one in every 48 Medicare patients prescribed an opioid in the study were likely to become a long-term opioid user.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a growing consensus among doctors that opioids have long been overprescribed. In 2010, there were enough prescriptions written to supply every American adult with hydrocodone for a month, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6043a4.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of the problem, Barnett believes, is that there isn’t enough guidance for doctors on when it’s appropriate to prescribe an opioid. Much of the evidence for when they are appropriate comes from small studies sponsored by drug companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s kind of a grey area and there’s not very clear evidence around what you should do, so we use our own judgement. And there’s a huge gulf between what one doctor thinks and another,” Barnett explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take, for example, a patient who comes to the emergency room complaining of back pain. There’s evidence that opioids are not necessary in that situation, but many doctors prescribe them anyway, said Barnett. “The world of pain treatment outside of opioids is limited and can take time to figure out. Opioids are an easy fix.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem, he said, is that “even one prescription for opioids carries risks with it, that from my own experience as a provider, we tend to underestimate and under-explain to patients.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is very, very plausible that well-intentioned but perhaps overly aggressive prescribing of opioids makes it likely that a patient will continue a medication long-term even if they don’t truly need it,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/faculty/david-juurlink/\" target=\"_blank\">David Juurlink\u003c/a>, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. He was not involved in the study. “The doctors in the lowest quartile are the ones whose prescribing we should seek to be emulating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study did not look at whether the opioids were correctly prescribed in each incidence. Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://californiahealthline.org/news/prescribing-opioids-to-seniors-its-a-balancing-act/\">Carla Perissinotto\u003c/a>, a geriatrician at the University of California San Francisco, worries that some of the doctors in the lowest quartile might be under-prescribing. “We have to be careful to not make assumptions too quickly and assume they’re bad prescribers, because it could be the opposite,” said Perissinotto, who also was not involved in the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, a patient is prescribed just a handful of pills by a doctor at the emergency department to tide them over until the patient can visit his or her primary care physician.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But many primary care doctors simply refill the opioid prescription for another 30 days or longer, a phenomenon Barnett calls clinical inertia. “There’s this cognitive bias to keep going with the flow especially if the patient still feels they’re in pain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That can have long-term implications: One-third of people who have taken prescription opioids for at least two months say they became addicted to or physically dependent on them, a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2016/12/09/National-Politics/Polling/release_455.xml\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey found.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We know there is a population of people who will potentially get addicted if they’re exposed to an opioid,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://njms.rutgers.edu/departments/emergency_medicine/\">Lewis Nelson\u003c/a>, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, who was not involved with the study. “It’s a numbers game. The more people you expose, the more people you are likely to hit in that population likely to get addicted.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some hospitals are starting to help doctors prescribe opioids more judiciously. Many of those efforts have taken place after 2011, and therefore any changes would not be seen in the New England Journal of Medicine study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past year, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in New Jersey has been instructing doctors to prescribe opioids only as a last resort, said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.acep.org/About-Us/Mark-S--Rosenberg,-DO,-MBA,-FACEP/\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Rosenberg\u003c/a>, who runs the hospital’s emergency department and is on the board of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Rosenberg helped institute protocols that have doctors try other methods of pain relief first, such as a Novocain injection. In just over a year, the hospital has managed to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions written in the emergency room by 50 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New York City and Washington state have also tried to introduce opioid prescribing guidelines into hospitals, and the ACEP expects to release new nationwide guidelines for emergency physicians in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "338930 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=338930",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/02/27/on-opioid-prescriptions-doctors-all-over-the-map/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 995,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 22
},
"modified": 1488214276,
"excerpt": "Which doctor a person happens to see at a local emergency room can have long-term consequences when it comes to opioid use.",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "Which doctor a person happens to see at a local emergency room can have long-term consequences when it comes to opioid use.",
"title": "On Opioid Prescriptions, Doctors 'All Over the Map' | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "On Opioid Prescriptions, Doctors 'All Over the Map'",
"datePublished": "2017-02-27T08:51:16-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-02-27T08:51:16-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "on-opioid-prescriptions-doctors-all-over-the-map",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Jenny Gold\u003cbr />Kaiser Health News",
"source": "KQED Future of You",
"path": "/futureofyou/338930/on-opioid-prescriptions-doctors-all-over-the-map",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Which doctor a person happens to see at a local emergency room can have long-term consequences when it comes to opioid use.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Within the same hospital, some doctors are three times more likely to prescribe an opioid than other doctors, and patients treated by high-prescribing doctors are more likely to become long-term opioid users, according to a study published recently in the \u003cem>New England Journal of Medicine\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Physicians are just doing things all over the map,” says Dr. Michael Barnett, an assistant professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the study’s authors. “This is a call to arms for people to start paying a lot more attention to having a unified approach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study looked at how many opioid prescriptions emergency physicians gave to about 377,000 Medicare beneficiaries from 2008 through 2011. The lowest-prescribing quartile of doctors prescribed opioids to just 7 percent of patients, while the highest prescribed opioids to 24 percent — more than three times as often.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Patients who saw a high-intensity prescriber were about 30 percent more likely to end up with a long-term opioid prescription of at least six months within the year following their hospital visit. They were also more likely to return to the hospital in the next 12 months with an opioid-related fall or fracture, a risk factor for seniors who take the powerful painkillers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Overall, about one in every 48 Medicare patients prescribed an opioid in the study were likely to become a long-term opioid user.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a growing consensus among doctors that opioids have long been overprescribed. In 2010, there were enough prescriptions written to supply every American adult with hydrocodone for a month, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6043a4.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Part of the problem, Barnett believes, is that there isn’t enough guidance for doctors on when it’s appropriate to prescribe an opioid. Much of the evidence for when they are appropriate comes from small studies sponsored by drug companies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s kind of a grey area and there’s not very clear evidence around what you should do, so we use our own judgement. And there’s a huge gulf between what one doctor thinks and another,” Barnett explains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Take, for example, a patient who comes to the emergency room complaining of back pain. There’s evidence that opioids are not necessary in that situation, but many doctors prescribe them anyway, said Barnett. “The world of pain treatment outside of opioids is limited and can take time to figure out. Opioids are an easy fix.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The problem, he said, is that “even one prescription for opioids carries risks with it, that from my own experience as a provider, we tend to underestimate and under-explain to patients.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is very, very plausible that well-intentioned but perhaps overly aggressive prescribing of opioids makes it likely that a patient will continue a medication long-term even if they don’t truly need it,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/faculty/david-juurlink/\" target=\"_blank\">David Juurlink\u003c/a>, a professor of medicine at the University of Toronto. He was not involved in the study. “The doctors in the lowest quartile are the ones whose prescribing we should seek to be emulating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The study did not look at whether the opioids were correctly prescribed in each incidence. Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://californiahealthline.org/news/prescribing-opioids-to-seniors-its-a-balancing-act/\">Carla Perissinotto\u003c/a>, a geriatrician at the University of California San Francisco, worries that some of the doctors in the lowest quartile might be under-prescribing. “We have to be careful to not make assumptions too quickly and assume they’re bad prescribers, because it could be the opposite,” said Perissinotto, who also was not involved in the study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Usually, a patient is prescribed just a handful of pills by a doctor at the emergency department to tide them over until the patient can visit his or her primary care physician.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But many primary care doctors simply refill the opioid prescription for another 30 days or longer, a phenomenon Barnett calls clinical inertia. “There’s this cognitive bias to keep going with the flow especially if the patient still feels they’re in pain.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That can have long-term implications: One-third of people who have taken prescription opioids for at least two months say they became addicted to or physically dependent on them, a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2016/12/09/National-Politics/Polling/release_455.xml\" target=\"_blank\">Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey found.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We know there is a population of people who will potentially get addicted if they’re exposed to an opioid,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"http://njms.rutgers.edu/departments/emergency_medicine/\">Lewis Nelson\u003c/a>, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, who was not involved with the study. “It’s a numbers game. The more people you expose, the more people you are likely to hit in that population likely to get addicted.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some hospitals are starting to help doctors prescribe opioids more judiciously. Many of those efforts have taken place after 2011, and therefore any changes would not be seen in the New England Journal of Medicine study.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the past year, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in New Jersey has been instructing doctors to prescribe opioids only as a last resort, said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.acep.org/About-Us/Mark-S--Rosenberg,-DO,-MBA,-FACEP/\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Rosenberg\u003c/a>, who runs the hospital’s emergency department and is on the board of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Rosenberg helped institute protocols that have doctors try other methods of pain relief first, such as a Novocain injection. In just over a year, the hospital has managed to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions written in the emergency room by 50 percent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>New York City and Washington state have also tried to introduce opioid prescribing guidelines into hospitals, and the ACEP expects to release new nationwide guidelines for emergency physicians in 2018.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/338930/on-opioid-prescriptions-doctors-all-over-the-map",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_338930"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_452",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_190",
"futureofyou_938"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_345152",
"label": "source_futureofyou_338930"
},
"futureofyou_338935": {
"type": "posts",
"id": "futureofyou_338935",
"meta": {
"index": "posts_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "338935",
"score": null,
"sort": [
1487961866000
]
},
"parent": 0,
"labelTerm": {},
"blocks": [],
"publishDate": 1487961866,
"format": "aside",
"disqusTitle": "Hundreds of Babies Reported Harmed by Homeopathic Product",
"title": "Hundreds of Babies Reported Harmed by Homeopathic Product",
"headTitle": "KQED Future of You | KQED Science",
"content": "\u003cp>Case 7682299: Aug. 1, 2010. A mother gives her toddler three homeopathic pills to relieve her teething pain. Within minutes, the baby stops breathing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My daughter had a seizure, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing about 30 minutes after I gave her three Hyland’s Teething Tablets,” the mother later told the Food and Drug Administration. “She had to receive mouth-to-mouth CPR to resume breathing and was brought to the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Hyland’s\u003c/a>, promotes “safe, effective, and natural health solutions” that appeal to parents seeking alternative treatments. But the agency would soon hear much more about Hyland’s teething products. Staff at the FDA would come to consider Case 7682299 one of the luckier outcomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_341968\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-341968 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"A review of FDA records shows that some babies who were given Hyland’s teething products had repeated seizures, became delirious or turned blue and died. \" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-800x800.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-160x160.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-768x768.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1180x1180.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-960x960.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-240x240.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-375x375.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-520x520.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-32x32.jpg 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-50x50.jpg 50w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-64x64.jpg 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-96x96.jpg 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-128x128.jpg 128w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-150x150.jpg 150w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A review of FDA records shows that some babies who were given Hyland’s teething products had repeated seizures, became delirious or turned blue and died. \u003ccite>(Photo from FDA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A review of FDA records obtained by STAT under the Freedom of Information Act paints a far grimmer picture: Babies who were given Hyland’s teething products turned blue and died. Babies had repeated seizures. Babies became delirious. Babies were airlifted to the hospital, where emergency room staff tried to figure out what had caused their legs and arms to start twitching.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over a 10-year period, from 2006 to 2016, the FDA collected reports of “adverse events” in more than 370 children who had used Hyland’s homeopathic teething tablets or gel, a similar product that is applied directly to a baby’s gums. Agency records show eight cases in which babies were reported to have died after taking Hyland’s products, though the FDA says the question of whether those products caused the deaths is still under review.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(The agency is also investigating two other deaths tied to teething remedies but declined to confirm the manufacturer of the products or provide the case reports.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following an \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm523468.htm\" target=\"_blank\">FDA warning in September\u003c/a>, Hyland’s said that it \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/hylands-discontinues-teething-tablets-and-gels\" target=\"_blank\">would no longer manufacture\u003c/a> the teething products. But they remained on some store shelves for months, and are still available on the internet. They likely continue to be used in homes nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hyland’s, a 114-year-old private company based in Los Angeles, is the nation’s largest homeopathic business. It insists its products are safe and says the FDA has failed to show there is a scientific link between them and infant seizures or other complications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That doesn’t mean that children don’t have a sensitivity to a product. There is a lot of sensitivity on kids’ parts and we have to watch carefully,” said a spokeswoman, Mary Borneman. “It’s not something that condemns the entire product line.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Behind each of the FDA case numbers are angry and, in some cases, heartbroken parents. But a STAT examination — and the first detailed look at the case reports — also raises questions over the response of regulators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took four years until the FDA pushed Hyland’s to reformulate its remedies, in 2010. In the seven years since then, there has been a steady stream of reports of adverse events tied to Hyland’s homeopathic teething products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The FDA could bring the hammer down on them,” said Sarah Sorscher, an attorney for the nonprofit Public Citizen Health Research Group. “But it doesn’t. At the point where you have infants being hospitalized and deaths reported, it’s simply not acceptable for the agency to delay in taking action.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An FDA spokeswoman defended the agency’s handling of the matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is important to note that while adverse event reports give us some information about a product and serious injuries or deaths related to use of a particular product, they often indicate situations that require additional analysis and do not constitute conclusive evidence of a problem with the product,” the spokeswoman, Lyndsay Meyer, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the FDA’s difficulty in proving Hyland’s products harmed children, some doctors had no doubt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In case 462749, dated Sept. 15, 2011, a physician sent Hyland’s a handwritten note, stating his patient, a 5-month-old girl, was unresponsive for 45 minutes after taking its teething tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I am sure this was not an allergic reaction,” he wrote. “I would like you to report it, find a contact at the FDA, so we can start an investigation and pull this dangerous, unregulated product from the shelves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One mother wrote the company to say her son’s pupils dilated “like marbles with big black eyes.” Another described seizures her daughter continued to have after taking the tablets and told the company, “I hate hate hate u for this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_342003\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-342003 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"homeophathadverse\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-768x432.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-960x540.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adverse event report on Hyland' teething tablets, sent to FDA. \u003ccite>(Photo by STAT)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>An Industry Giant in a Giant Industry\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hyland’s and its parent company, Standard Homeopathy Co., are considered major players in the homeopathic market. CEO \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/meet-the-team/jay-borneman\" target=\"_blank\">John P. Borneman\u003c/a> comes from a family that has been in the business for generations, and is president of the industry group that publishes the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia, a compendium that serves as the bible of the industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company sells dozens of products for pain relief, stress, sleep problems, allergies, flu, and other maladies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with all homeopathic treatments, Hyland’s products are based on a theory that patients can benefit from highly diluted natural substances that, in their original form, might make people sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite a lack of scientific evidence that homeopathic remedies work, they are ubiquitous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Homeopathy has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Its products are big sellers around the world, and popular with adherents from Cher to Prince Charles. The industry also has political clout: It has been able to exempt itself from many rules proposed by Congress and the FDA over the years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike pharmaceutical company-produced drugs, homeopathic products don’t have to prove that they are effective at treating anything in particular before going on the market. It is left to the FDA’s drug division to determine whether they are unsafe after they are on the market — a difficult task since the adverse event reports are generally considered to represent only a fraction of the actual incidents and may lack sufficient information to allow for thorough investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I’m working in the emergency room and I have a family that comes in with a seizing infant, I may not have the wherewithal to get the history of homeopathic use,” said Dr. Edward W. Boyer, a toxicologist in Harvard Medical School’s emergency medicine department.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, parents assume that products described as natural remedies, as is the case with Hyland’s tablets and gels, could not possibly result in complications, and never mention their use to a doctor. Without sufficient evidence of a problem, the FDA lacks what it needs to use the enforcement tools it does have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Karinna Talbott, a 26-year-old mother in Colorado Springs, the fact that Hyland’s teething products were labeled “natural” made her lower her guard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When our fourth kiddo comes around and starts teething at three months, we were like, ‘OK, what can we do to give him some relief?’” Talbott said. “Someone told us about the teething tablets and we thought, ‘give them a try.' ’’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after her son began taking the tablets, she said, his hands began twitching.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t correlate it to the teething tablets,” Talbott said. “And his symptoms got worse, went to his arms and his feet. Sometimes they all happened together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Talbott said her doctor was at first uncertain as to the cause. But when they stopped giving him the tablets, the seizures also stopped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The neurologist said, maybe he was a little sensitive to the products in the teething tablet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Deadly nightshade’\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In investigating Hyland’s teething products, the FDA focused on an ingredient known as atropa belladonna, an herb known colloquially as “deadly nightshade.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In diluted form, the substance is not expected to pose any health risk. In 2010, however, FDA inspectors who examined Hyland’s facilities criticized the company for substandard manufacturing practices and found inconsistent levels of atropa belladonna in its products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency issued a public warning, noting “reports of serious adverse events in children taking this product that are consistent with belladonna toxicity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also noted that “infants are very susceptible to the neurotoxicity of drugs” because of how the body distributes and responds to drugs, and noted that “absorption of belladonna from the skin and mouth was fairly rapid.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company voluntarily took the products off shelves and agreed to reformulate them, although it insisted they were safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We felt it was the right thing to do so that parents didn’t have to be concerned about the product,” said Borneman, the spokeswoman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the number of serious adverse events tied by the FDA to the products kept climbing. Some pediatricians and neurologists concluded the tablets and gels were the cause. Many parents wrote to the FDA, accusingly, asking why the pills were still on the market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My son had 3 of Hyland’s Teething Tablets,” a mother told FDA on Feb. 13, 2012, noting that the product appeared to have caused several seizures. “I am shocked at the popularity of this product, which is growing, and the lack of knowledge among parents, as well as the lack of warnings on the labels. Parents desperately need to be warned about this product if it is going to stay on the shelves!!!! Please do something!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In September 2016, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm523468.htm\" target=\"_blank\">FDA announced\u003c/a> that it was investigating more adverse events reports and recommended that consumers stop using Hyland’s and other homeopathic teething products and dispose of any in their possession. Some stores, including Target and CVS, which sold Hyland’s and other homeopathic teething products, pulled them in response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA also asked Hyland’s to recall its products again. But this time Hyland’s stood its ground, and the agency has no authority to enforce a recall of homeopathic products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Borneman said the company’s “pharmacovigilance program,” a product safety review system launched after 2010, offers proof that the treatments are safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Homeopathic medicine has a very large margin of safety,” she said. “Our testing ensures there’s not too much belladonna in any bottle” of tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, the company decided to stop manufacturing the teething tablets. In an \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/hylands-discontinues-teething-tablets-and-gels\" target=\"_blank\">open letter to customers\u003c/a>, Hyland’s said the FDA warning had “created confusion among parents.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Putting you in a position of having to choose who to trust in the face of contradictory information is burdensome and undermines the FDA,” the company said, while insisting Hyland’s products, “including those you already have, are safe for use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several weeks ago, on Jan. 27, the FDA \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm538684.htm\" target=\"_blank\">issued another warning\u003c/a>, saying that laboratory analysis of Hyland’s teething tablets found levels of belladonna “sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label.” The agency warned consumers not to use the products and to seek medical care immediately if their child has seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, muscle weakness, or other problems after using homeopathic teething products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA also said there was no evidence that they actually worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_342006\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 768px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-342006 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent.jpg\" alt=\"homeopathicevent\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Report sent to FDA by a physician. \u003ccite>(Photo by STAT)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cracks in the FDA’s Authority\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With concerns about toxic levels of belladonna, and the sheer number of cases of adverse events, some critics — and parents — say the FDA should have moved faster in the case of Hyland’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they also acknowledge that the episode underlines the cracks in the agency’s regulatory power when it comes to homeopathic products. There is no set mathematical formula or official standard that spells out how many sick or deceased children must be reported before the FDA seizes a company’s inventory or levies fines or shuts it down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics say the fact that homeopathic products are generally highly diluted has kept them on the FDA’s back burner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s low on their priority list,” said Dr. Aaron S. Kesselheim, who \u003ca href=\"http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1513393#t=article\" target=\"_blank\">coauthored a paper\u003c/a> in the New England Journal of Medicine last year on the subject. “FDA for a long time just kind of deferred on homeopathic products because they are mostly inert and so diluted. The harm comes from people wasting their money, or diverting them from things that do work.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the case of some of Hyland’s products, however, Kesselheim believes that the toxic levels of belladonna show a substantial safety problem, putting a responsibility on FDA to respond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One problem the FDA has in doing so is a matter of staffing: The agency has a medical officer review each report from manufacturers, but it doesn’t have someone who can routinely follow up with the patient, the patient’s family, or physician for missing records necessary to take a serious enforcement action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is it fair to criticize FDA for the time lag between 2010 and now?” says Patricia Zettler, a former FDA counsel and associate law professor at Georgia State University. “I think the agency is in a tough position, with these kinds of products and with adverse event reports in general. They are not necessarily a perfect indication of something happening with a drug.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That said,” Zettler added, “it does sound like this is a product the agency was concerned about. It’s tough to parse out whether two reports of seizures should have been enough, or three or 10. There’s a balance the agency has to strike between acting quickly on safety information and not overreacting to something that may not actually be caused by the product.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public Citizen’s Sorscher said criminal cases take years to pursue, so the FDA would much prefer voluntary compliance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They don’t have a mechanism to say, ‘this ingredient is unsafe, nobody should sell it,’” she said. “It might be time for Congress to give FDA a standard and say, you can issue a regulation saying no one can make it anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outraged by the standoff between FDA and Hyland’s, Connecticut Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro \u003ca href=\"https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-introduces-bill-give-fda-mandatory-recall-authority-over-drugs\" target=\"_blank\">introduced a bill last week\u003c/a> called the Recall Unsafe Drugs Act. The proposal would give the FDA mandatory recall authority over homeopathic products and drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hyland’s refusal to recall its teething tablets, despite numerous health and safety warnings from the FDA, is downright shameful,” DeLauro said, adding that the company “is choosing instead to prioritize the company’s profits and reputation before the safety of our children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As it stands the FDA would have to go through an arduous legal process to take action against manufacturers such as Hyland’s. This is unacceptable and threatens the health and safety of American families.’’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the parents of Case 10723317, any action would come too late. A mother reported that on July 9, 2014, her 9-month-old daughter died after being given two teething tablets, crushed, for the first time. She gave her infant the tablets, then a bottle, and then left her to sleep. When she checked on her 45 minutes later, she was dead in her crib, beside a puddle of vomit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five months later, after reading online reports suggesting babies may experience seizures after taking belladonna, she contacted Hyland’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Customer did not request a refund or replacement,” noted the Hyland’s staffer who filed the report with the FDA. Hyland’s also noted that it was not able to test the bottle, because the customer threw it away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Due to the limited information provided by the reporter no further investigation is possible at this time of this incident,” the company concluded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ike Swetlitz contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/21/hylands-homeopathic-teething-fda/\" target=\"_blank\">story\u003c/a> was originally published by STAT, an online publication of Boston Globe Media that covers health, medicine, and scientific discovery.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
"disqusIdentifier": "338935 https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/?p=338935",
"disqusUrl": "https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/2017/02/24/hundreds-of-babies-reported-harmed-by-homeopathic-product/",
"stats": {
"hasVideo": false,
"hasChartOrMap": false,
"hasAudio": false,
"hasPolis": false,
"wordCount": 2799,
"hasGoogleForm": false,
"hasGallery": false,
"hasHearkenModule": false,
"iframeSrcs": [],
"paragraphCount": 72
},
"modified": 1488214874,
"excerpt": "The FDA has collected reports of 'adverse events' in over 370 children who used Hyland’s homeopathic teething products, and the agency is investigating whether the products caused the deaths of eight babies. ",
"headData": {
"twImgId": "",
"twTitle": "",
"ogTitle": "",
"ogImgId": "",
"twDescription": "",
"description": "The FDA has collected reports of 'adverse events' in over 370 children who used Hyland’s homeopathic teething products, and the agency is investigating whether the products caused the deaths of eight babies. ",
"title": "Hundreds of Babies Reported Harmed by Homeopathic Product | KQED",
"ogDescription": "",
"schema": {
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Article",
"headline": "Hundreds of Babies Reported Harmed by Homeopathic Product",
"datePublished": "2017-02-24T10:44:26-08:00",
"dateModified": "2017-02-27T09:01:14-08:00",
"image": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png"
}
},
"guestAuthors": [],
"slug": "hundreds-of-babies-reported-harmed-by-homeopathic-product",
"status": "publish",
"nprByline": "Sheila Kaplan\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/\">STAT\u003c/a>",
"source": "STAT",
"path": "/futureofyou/338935/hundreds-of-babies-reported-harmed-by-homeopathic-product",
"audioTrackLength": null,
"parsedContent": [
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Case 7682299: Aug. 1, 2010. A mother gives her toddler three homeopathic pills to relieve her teething pain. Within minutes, the baby stops breathing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My daughter had a seizure, lost consciousness, and stopped breathing about 30 minutes after I gave her three Hyland’s Teething Tablets,” the mother later told the Food and Drug Administration. “She had to receive mouth-to-mouth CPR to resume breathing and was brought to the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company, \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Hyland’s\u003c/a>, promotes “safe, effective, and natural health solutions” that appeal to parents seeking alternative treatments. But the agency would soon hear much more about Hyland’s teething products. Staff at the FDA would come to consider Case 7682299 one of the luckier outcomes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_341968\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-341968 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-800x800.jpg\" alt=\"A review of FDA records shows that some babies who were given Hyland’s teething products had repeated seizures, became delirious or turned blue and died. \" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-800x800.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-160x160.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-768x768.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-1180x1180.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-960x960.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-240x240.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-375x375.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-520x520.jpg 520w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-32x32.jpg 32w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-50x50.jpg 50w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-64x64.jpg 64w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-96x96.jpg 96w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-128x128.jpg 128w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic-150x150.jpg 150w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathic.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A review of FDA records shows that some babies who were given Hyland’s teething products had repeated seizures, became delirious or turned blue and died. \u003ccite>(Photo from FDA)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>A review of FDA records obtained by STAT under the Freedom of Information Act paints a far grimmer picture: Babies who were given Hyland’s teething products turned blue and died. Babies had repeated seizures. Babies became delirious. Babies were airlifted to the hospital, where emergency room staff tried to figure out what had caused their legs and arms to start twitching.\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over a 10-year period, from 2006 to 2016, the FDA collected reports of “adverse events” in more than 370 children who had used Hyland’s homeopathic teething tablets or gel, a similar product that is applied directly to a baby’s gums. Agency records show eight cases in which babies were reported to have died after taking Hyland’s products, though the FDA says the question of whether those products caused the deaths is still under review.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "fullwidth"
},
"numeric": [
"fullwidth"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(The agency is also investigating two other deaths tied to teething remedies but declined to confirm the manufacturer of the products or provide the case reports.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Following an \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm523468.htm\" target=\"_blank\">FDA warning in September\u003c/a>, Hyland’s said that it \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/hylands-discontinues-teething-tablets-and-gels\" target=\"_blank\">would no longer manufacture\u003c/a> the teething products. But they remained on some store shelves for months, and are still available on the internet. They likely continue to be used in homes nationwide.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hyland’s, a 114-year-old private company based in Los Angeles, is the nation’s largest homeopathic business. It insists its products are safe and says the FDA has failed to show there is a scientific link between them and infant seizures or other complications.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That doesn’t mean that children don’t have a sensitivity to a product. There is a lot of sensitivity on kids’ parts and we have to watch carefully,” said a spokeswoman, Mary Borneman. “It’s not something that condemns the entire product line.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Behind each of the FDA case numbers are angry and, in some cases, heartbroken parents. But a STAT examination — and the first detailed look at the case reports — also raises questions over the response of regulators.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It took four years until the FDA pushed Hyland’s to reformulate its remedies, in 2010. In the seven years since then, there has been a steady stream of reports of adverse events tied to Hyland’s homeopathic teething products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The FDA could bring the hammer down on them,” said Sarah Sorscher, an attorney for the nonprofit Public Citizen Health Research Group. “But it doesn’t. At the point where you have infants being hospitalized and deaths reported, it’s simply not acceptable for the agency to delay in taking action.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An FDA spokeswoman defended the agency’s handling of the matter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It is important to note that while adverse event reports give us some information about a product and serious injuries or deaths related to use of a particular product, they often indicate situations that require additional analysis and do not constitute conclusive evidence of a problem with the product,” the spokeswoman, Lyndsay Meyer, said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite the FDA’s difficulty in proving Hyland’s products harmed children, some doctors had no doubt.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In case 462749, dated Sept. 15, 2011, a physician sent Hyland’s a handwritten note, stating his patient, a 5-month-old girl, was unresponsive for 45 minutes after taking its teething tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I am sure this was not an allergic reaction,” he wrote. “I would like you to report it, find a contact at the FDA, so we can start an investigation and pull this dangerous, unregulated product from the shelves.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One mother wrote the company to say her son’s pupils dilated “like marbles with big black eyes.” Another described seizures her daughter continued to have after taking the tablets and told the company, “I hate hate hate u for this.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_342003\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-342003 size-medium\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-800x450.jpg\" alt=\"homeophathadverse\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-800x450.jpg 800w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-768x432.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse.jpg 1920w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-960x540.jpg 960w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeophathadverse-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Adverse event report on Hyland' teething tablets, sent to FDA. \u003ccite>(Photo by STAT)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>An Industry Giant in a Giant Industry\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hyland’s and its parent company, Standard Homeopathy Co., are considered major players in the homeopathic market. CEO \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/meet-the-team/jay-borneman\" target=\"_blank\">John P. Borneman\u003c/a> comes from a family that has been in the business for generations, and is president of the industry group that publishes the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia, a compendium that serves as the bible of the industry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company sells dozens of products for pain relief, stress, sleep problems, allergies, flu, and other maladies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with all homeopathic treatments, Hyland’s products are based on a theory that patients can benefit from highly diluted natural substances that, in their original form, might make people sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite a lack of scientific evidence that homeopathic remedies work, they are ubiquitous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Homeopathy has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Its products are big sellers around the world, and popular with adherents from Cher to Prince Charles. The industry also has political clout: It has been able to exempt itself from many rules proposed by Congress and the FDA over the years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike pharmaceutical company-produced drugs, homeopathic products don’t have to prove that they are effective at treating anything in particular before going on the market. It is left to the FDA’s drug division to determine whether they are unsafe after they are on the market — a difficult task since the adverse event reports are generally considered to represent only a fraction of the actual incidents and may lack sufficient information to allow for thorough investigations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If I’m working in the emergency room and I have a family that comes in with a seizing infant, I may not have the wherewithal to get the history of homeopathic use,” said Dr. Edward W. Boyer, a toxicologist in Harvard Medical School’s emergency medicine department.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In some cases, parents assume that products described as natural remedies, as is the case with Hyland’s tablets and gels, could not possibly result in complications, and never mention their use to a doctor. Without sufficient evidence of a problem, the FDA lacks what it needs to use the enforcement tools it does have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Karinna Talbott, a 26-year-old mother in Colorado Springs, the fact that Hyland’s teething products were labeled “natural” made her lower her guard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When our fourth kiddo comes around and starts teething at three months, we were like, ‘OK, what can we do to give him some relief?’” Talbott said. “Someone told us about the teething tablets and we thought, ‘give them a try.' ’’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after her son began taking the tablets, she said, his hands began twitching.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t correlate it to the teething tablets,” Talbott said. “And his symptoms got worse, went to his arms and his feet. Sometimes they all happened together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Talbott said her doctor was at first uncertain as to the cause. But when they stopped giving him the tablets, the seizures also stopped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The neurologist said, maybe he was a little sensitive to the products in the teething tablet.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Deadly nightshade’\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In investigating Hyland’s teething products, the FDA focused on an ingredient known as atropa belladonna, an herb known colloquially as “deadly nightshade.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In diluted form, the substance is not expected to pose any health risk. In 2010, however, FDA inspectors who examined Hyland’s facilities criticized the company for substandard manufacturing practices and found inconsistent levels of atropa belladonna in its products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency issued a public warning, noting “reports of serious adverse events in children taking this product that are consistent with belladonna toxicity.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also noted that “infants are very susceptible to the neurotoxicity of drugs” because of how the body distributes and responds to drugs, and noted that “absorption of belladonna from the skin and mouth was fairly rapid.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The company voluntarily took the products off shelves and agreed to reformulate them, although it insisted they were safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We felt it was the right thing to do so that parents didn’t have to be concerned about the product,” said Borneman, the spokeswoman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the number of serious adverse events tied by the FDA to the products kept climbing. Some pediatricians and neurologists concluded the tablets and gels were the cause. Many parents wrote to the FDA, accusingly, asking why the pills were still on the market.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“My son had 3 of Hyland’s Teething Tablets,” a mother told FDA on Feb. 13, 2012, noting that the product appeared to have caused several seizures. “I am shocked at the popularity of this product, which is growing, and the lack of knowledge among parents, as well as the lack of warnings on the labels. Parents desperately need to be warned about this product if it is going to stay on the shelves!!!! Please do something!”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In September 2016, the \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm523468.htm\" target=\"_blank\">FDA announced\u003c/a> that it was investigating more adverse events reports and recommended that consumers stop using Hyland’s and other homeopathic teething products and dispose of any in their possession. Some stores, including Target and CVS, which sold Hyland’s and other homeopathic teething products, pulled them in response.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA also asked Hyland’s to recall its products again. But this time Hyland’s stood its ground, and the agency has no authority to enforce a recall of homeopathic products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Borneman said the company’s “pharmacovigilance program,” a product safety review system launched after 2010, offers proof that the treatments are safe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Homeopathic medicine has a very large margin of safety,” she said. “Our testing ensures there’s not too much belladonna in any bottle” of tablets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the same time, the company decided to stop manufacturing the teething tablets. In an \u003ca href=\"https://www.hylands.com/hylands-discontinues-teething-tablets-and-gels\" target=\"_blank\">open letter to customers\u003c/a>, Hyland’s said the FDA warning had “created confusion among parents.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Putting you in a position of having to choose who to trust in the face of contradictory information is burdensome and undermines the FDA,” the company said, while insisting Hyland’s products, “including those you already have, are safe for use.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several weeks ago, on Jan. 27, the FDA \u003ca href=\"http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm538684.htm\" target=\"_blank\">issued another warning\u003c/a>, saying that laboratory analysis of Hyland’s teething tablets found levels of belladonna “sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label.” The agency warned consumers not to use the products and to seek medical care immediately if their child has seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, muscle weakness, or other problems after using homeopathic teething products.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The FDA also said there was no evidence that they actually worked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_342006\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 768px\">\u003cimg class=\"wp-image-342006 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/futureofyou/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent.jpg\" alt=\"homeopathicevent\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent.jpg 768w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-160x90.jpg 160w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-240x135.jpg 240w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-375x211.jpg 375w, https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/13/2017/02/homeopathicevent-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Report sent to FDA by a physician. \u003ccite>(Photo by STAT)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cracks in the FDA’s Authority\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With concerns about toxic levels of belladonna, and the sheer number of cases of adverse events, some critics — and parents — say the FDA should have moved faster in the case of Hyland’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But they also acknowledge that the episode underlines the cracks in the agency’s regulatory power when it comes to homeopathic products. There is no set mathematical formula or official standard that spells out how many sick or deceased children must be reported before the FDA seizes a company’s inventory or levies fines or shuts it down.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Critics say the fact that homeopathic products are generally highly diluted has kept them on the FDA’s back burner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s low on their priority list,” said Dr. Aaron S. Kesselheim, who \u003ca href=\"http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1513393#t=article\" target=\"_blank\">coauthored a paper\u003c/a> in the New England Journal of Medicine last year on the subject. “FDA for a long time just kind of deferred on homeopathic products because they are mostly inert and so diluted. The harm comes from people wasting their money, or diverting them from things that do work.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the case of some of Hyland’s products, however, Kesselheim believes that the toxic levels of belladonna show a substantial safety problem, putting a responsibility on FDA to respond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One problem the FDA has in doing so is a matter of staffing: The agency has a medical officer review each report from manufacturers, but it doesn’t have someone who can routinely follow up with the patient, the patient’s family, or physician for missing records necessary to take a serious enforcement action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Is it fair to criticize FDA for the time lag between 2010 and now?” says Patricia Zettler, a former FDA counsel and associate law professor at Georgia State University. “I think the agency is in a tough position, with these kinds of products and with adverse event reports in general. They are not necessarily a perfect indication of something happening with a drug.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That said,” Zettler added, “it does sound like this is a product the agency was concerned about. It’s tough to parse out whether two reports of seizures should have been enough, or three or 10. There’s a balance the agency has to strike between acting quickly on safety information and not overreacting to something that may not actually be caused by the product.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public Citizen’s Sorscher said criminal cases take years to pursue, so the FDA would much prefer voluntary compliance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They don’t have a mechanism to say, ‘this ingredient is unsafe, nobody should sell it,’” she said. “It might be time for Congress to give FDA a standard and say, you can issue a regulation saying no one can make it anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outraged by the standoff between FDA and Hyland’s, Connecticut Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro \u003ca href=\"https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-introduces-bill-give-fda-mandatory-recall-authority-over-drugs\" target=\"_blank\">introduced a bill last week\u003c/a> called the Recall Unsafe Drugs Act. The proposal would give the FDA mandatory recall authority over homeopathic products and drugs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Hyland’s refusal to recall its teething tablets, despite numerous health and safety warnings from the FDA, is downright shameful,” DeLauro said, adding that the company “is choosing instead to prioritize the company’s profits and reputation before the safety of our children.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As it stands the FDA would have to go through an arduous legal process to take action against manufacturers such as Hyland’s. This is unacceptable and threatens the health and safety of American families.’’\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For the parents of Case 10723317, any action would come too late. A mother reported that on July 9, 2014, her 9-month-old daughter died after being given two teething tablets, crushed, for the first time. She gave her infant the tablets, then a bottle, and then left her to sleep. When she checked on her 45 minutes later, she was dead in her crib, beside a puddle of vomit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five months later, after reading online reports suggesting babies may experience seizures after taking belladonna, she contacted Hyland’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Customer did not request a refund or replacement,” noted the Hyland’s staffer who filed the report with the FDA. Hyland’s also noted that it was not able to test the bottle, because the customer threw it away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Due to the limited information provided by the reporter no further investigation is possible at this time of this incident,” the company concluded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Ike Swetlitz contributed reporting.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
},
{
"type": "component",
"content": "",
"name": "ad",
"attributes": {
"named": {
"label": "floatright"
},
"numeric": [
"floatright"
]
}
},
{
"type": "contentString",
"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/21/hylands-homeopathic-teething-fda/\" target=\"_blank\">story\u003c/a> was originally published by STAT, an online publication of Boston Globe Media that covers health, medicine, and scientific discovery.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
"attributes": {
"named": {},
"numeric": []
}
}
],
"link": "/futureofyou/338935/hundreds-of-babies-reported-harmed-by-homeopathic-product",
"authors": [
"byline_futureofyou_338935"
],
"categories": [
"futureofyou_452",
"futureofyou_1062",
"futureofyou_1",
"futureofyou_73"
],
"tags": [
"futureofyou_972",
"futureofyou_1193",
"futureofyou_38",
"futureofyou_1192",
"futureofyou_1191"
],
"featImg": "futureofyou_341968",
"label": "source_futureofyou_338935"
}
},
"podcastsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"podcasts": {}
},
"radioProgramsReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"radioPrograms": {}
},
"radioSearchSegmentsReducer": {},
"programsReducer": {
"all-things-considered": {
"id": "all-things-considered",
"title": "All Things Considered",
"info": "Every weekday, \u003cem>All Things Considered\u003c/em> hosts Robert Siegel, Audie Cornish, Ari Shapiro, and Kelly McEvers present the program's trademark mix of news, interviews, commentaries, reviews, and offbeat features. Michel Martin hosts on the weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 1pm-2pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm\u003cbr />SAT-SUN 5pm-6pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/All-Things-Considered-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/all-things-considered"
},
"american-suburb-podcast": {
"id": "american-suburb-podcast",
"title": "American Suburb: The Podcast",
"tagline": "The flip side of gentrification, told through one town",
"info": "Gentrification is changing cities across America, forcing people from neighborhoods they have long called home. Call them the displaced. Now those priced out of the Bay Area are looking for a better life in an unlikely place. American Suburb follows this migration to one California town along the Delta, 45 miles from San Francisco. But is this once sleepy suburb ready for them?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/American-Suburb-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 19
},
"link": "/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/RBrW",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=1287748328",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/American-Suburb-p1086805/",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/american-suburb-podcast/feed/podcast",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMzMDExODgxNjA5"
}
},
"baycurious": {
"id": "baycurious",
"title": "Bay Curious",
"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bay-Curious-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Bay Curious",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/news/series/baycurious",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 3
},
"link": "/podcasts/baycurious",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bay-curious/id1172473406",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/500557090/bay-curious",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/category/bay-curious-podcast/feed/podcast",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9a90d476-aa04-455d-9a4c-0871ed6216d4/bay-curious",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/bay-curious",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6O76IdmhixfijmhTZLIJ8k"
}
},
"bbc-world-service": {
"id": "bbc-world-service",
"title": "BBC World Service",
"info": "The day's top stories from BBC News compiled twice daily in the week, once at weekends.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9pm-10pm, TUE-FRI 1am-2am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BBC-World-Service-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_world_service",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "BBC World Service"
},
"link": "/radio/program/bbc-world-service",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/global-news-podcast/id135067274?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/BBC-World-Service-p455581/",
"rss": "https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/p02nq0gn.rss"
}
},
"californiareport": {
"id": "californiareport",
"title": "The California Report",
"tagline": "California, day by day",
"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareport",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 8
},
"link": "/californiareport",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-the-california-report/id79681292",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/26099305-72af-4542-9dde-ac1807fe36d5/kqed-s-the-california-report",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432285393/the-california-report",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-the-california-report-podcast-8838",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcram/feed/podcast"
}
},
"californiareportmagazine": {
"id": "californiareportmagazine",
"title": "The California Report Magazine",
"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
"airtime": "FRI 4:30pm-5pm, 6:30pm-7pm, 11pm-11:30pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-California-Report-Magazine-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The California Report Magazine",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/californiareportmagazine",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 10
},
"link": "/californiareportmagazine",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-california-report-magazine/id1314750545",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM3NjkwNjk1OTAz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/564733126/the-california-report-magazine",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-california-report-magazine",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/tcrmag/feed/podcast"
}
},
"city-arts": {
"id": "city-arts",
"title": "City Arts & Lectures",
"info": "A one-hour radio program to hear celebrated writers, artists and thinkers address contemporary ideas and values, often discussing the creative process. Please note: tapes or transcripts are not available",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/cityartsandlecture-300x300.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.cityarts.net/",
"airtime": "SUN 1pm-2pm, TUE 10pm, WED 1am",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
"subscribe": {
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/City-Arts-and-Lectures-p692/",
"rss": "https://www.cityarts.net/feed/"
}
},
"closealltabs": {
"id": "closealltabs",
"title": "Close All Tabs",
"tagline": "Your irreverent guide to the trends redefining our world",
"info": "Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CAT_2_Tile-scaled.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Close All Tabs",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 1
},
"link": "/podcasts/closealltabs",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/close-all-tabs/id214663465",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC6993880386",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/92d9d4ac-67a3-4eed-b10a-fb45d45b1ef2/close-all-tabs",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/6LAJFHnGK1pYXYzv6SIol6?si=deb0cae19813417c"
}
},
"code-switch-life-kit": {
"id": "code-switch-life-kit",
"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
"airtime": "SUN 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Code-Switch-Life-Kit-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/code-switch-life-kit",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/1112190608?mt=2&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnByLm9yZy9yc3MvcG9kY2FzdC5waHA_aWQ9NTEwMzEy",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3bExJ9JQpkwNhoHvaIIuyV",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510312/podcast.xml"
}
},
"commonwealth-club": {
"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Commonwealth-Club-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.commonwealthclub.org/podcasts",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
"link": "/radio/program/commonwealth-club",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/commonwealth-club-of-california-podcast/id976334034?mt=2",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jb21tb253ZWFsdGhjbHViLm9yZy9hdWRpby9wb2RjYXN0L3dlZWtseS54bWw",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Commonwealth-Club-of-California-p1060/"
}
},
"forum": {
"id": "forum",
"title": "Forum",
"tagline": "The conversation starts here",
"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 9am-11am, 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Forum with Mina Kim and Alexis Madrigal",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/forum",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 9
},
"link": "/forum",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kqeds-forum/id73329719",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM5NTU3MzgxNjMz",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432307980/forum",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqedfm-kqeds-forum-podcast",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9557381633"
}
},
"freakonomics-radio": {
"id": "freakonomics-radio",
"title": "Freakonomics Radio",
"info": "Freakonomics Radio is a one-hour award-winning podcast and public-radio project hosted by Stephen Dubner, with co-author Steve Levitt as a regular guest. It is produced in partnership with WNYC.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/freakonomicsRadio.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://freakonomics.com/",
"airtime": "SUN 1am-2am, SAT 3pm-4pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/freakonomics-radio",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/Freakonomics-Radio-p272293/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/freakonomicsradio"
}
},
"fresh-air": {
"id": "fresh-air",
"title": "Fresh Air",
"info": "Hosted by Terry Gross, \u003cem>Fresh Air from WHYY\u003c/em> is the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues. One of public radio's most popular programs, Fresh Air features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Fresh-Air-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/fresh-air",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/4s8b",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=214089682&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Fresh-Air-p17/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/381444908/podcast.xml"
}
},
"here-and-now": {
"id": "here-and-now",
"title": "Here & Now",
"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
"airtime": "MON-THU 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Here-And-Now-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/here-and-now",
"subsdcribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?mt=2&id=426698661",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Here--Now-p211/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510051/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hidden-brain": {
"id": "hidden-brain",
"title": "Hidden Brain",
"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/05/hiddenbrain.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain",
"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "NPR"
},
"link": "/radio/program/hidden-brain",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Science-Podcasts/Hidden-Brain-p787503/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510308/podcast.xml"
}
},
"how-i-built-this": {
"id": "how-i-built-this",
"title": "How I Built This with Guy Raz",
"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2018/05/howIBuiltThis.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this",
"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/how-i-built-this",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/3zxy",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/How-I-Built-This-p910896/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510313/podcast.xml"
}
},
"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
"title": "Hyphenación",
"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Hyphenacion_FinalAssets_PodcastTile.png",
"imageAlt": "KQED Hyphenación",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 15
},
"link": "/podcasts/hyphenacion",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hyphenaci%C3%B3n/id1191591838",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/2p3Fifq96nw9BPcmFdIq0o?si=39209f7b25774f38",
"youtube": "https://www.youtube.com/c/kqedarts",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/6c3dd23c-93fb-4aab-97ba-1725fa6315f1/hyphenaci%C3%B3n",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC2275451163"
}
},
"jerrybrown": {
"id": "jerrybrown",
"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Political-Mind-of-Jerry-Brown-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 18
},
"link": "/podcasts/jerrybrown",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/790253322/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1492194549",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/series/jerrybrown/feed/podcast/",
"tuneIn": "http://tun.in/pjGcK",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/54C1dmuyFyKMFttY6X2j6r?si=K8SgRCoISNK6ZbjpXrX5-w",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/44420f75-3b0e-4301-ab3b-16da6b09e543/the-political-mind-of-jerry-brown"
}
},
"latino-usa": {
"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
"airtime": "MON 1am-2am, SUN 6pm-7pm",
"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/xtTd",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Latino-USA-p621/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201853034&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/APM-Marketplace-p88/",
"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
}
},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Masters-of-Scale-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "http://mastersofscale.app.link/",
"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindshift-podcast/id1078765985",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkM1NzY0NjAwNDI5",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/464615685/mind-shift-podcast",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/stories-teachers-share",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxSpNYZKNprFLCl7eEtyx"
}
},
"morning-edition": {
"id": "morning-edition",
"title": "Morning Edition",
"info": "\u003cem>Morning Edition\u003c/em> takes listeners around the country and the world with multi-faceted stories and commentaries every weekday. Hosts Steve Inskeep, David Greene and Rachel Martin bring you the latest breaking news and features to prepare you for the day.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3am-9am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Morning-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/morning-edition"
},
"onourwatch": {
"id": "onourwatch",
"title": "On Our Watch",
"tagline": "Deeply-reported investigative journalism",
"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/On-Our-Watch-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "On Our Watch from NPR and KQED",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 11
},
"link": "/podcasts/onourwatch",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1567098962",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5ucHIub3JnLzUxMDM2MC9wb2RjYXN0LnhtbD9zYz1nb29nbGVwb2RjYXN0cw",
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/onourwatch",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/0OLWoyizopu6tY1XiuX70x",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-Our-Watch-p1436229/",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/show/on-our-watch",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510360/podcast.xml"
}
},
"on-the-media": {
"id": "on-the-media",
"title": "On The Media",
"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm-3pm, MON 12am-1am",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/onTheMedia.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/otm",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wnyc"
},
"link": "/radio/program/on-the-media",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-media/id73330715?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/On-the-Media-p69/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/onthemedia"
}
},
"pbs-newshour": {
"id": "pbs-newshour",
"title": "PBS NewsHour",
"info": "Analysis, background reports and updates from the PBS NewsHour putting today's news in context.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PBS-News-Hour-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "pbs"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pbs-newshour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pbs-newshour-full-show/id394432287?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/PBS-NewsHour---Full-Show-p425698/",
"rss": "https://www.pbs.org/newshour/feeds/rss/podcasts/show"
}
},
"perspectives": {
"id": "perspectives",
"title": "Perspectives",
"tagline": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991",
"info": "KQED's series of daily listener commentaries since 1991.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Perspectives_Tile_Final.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Perspectives",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/perspectives/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 14
},
"link": "/perspectives",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id73801135",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/432309616/perspectives",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/category/perspectives/feed/",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93dzIua3FlZC5vcmcvcGVyc3BlY3RpdmVzL2NhdGVnb3J5L3BlcnNwZWN0aXZlcy9mZWVkLw"
}
},
"planet-money": {
"id": "planet-money",
"title": "Planet Money",
"info": "The economy explained. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, Meet me at the bar and tell me what's going on with the economy. Now imagine that's actually a fun evening.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/planetmoney.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/sections/money/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/planet-money",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/M4f5",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/Business--Economics-Podcasts/Planet-Money-p164680/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510289/podcast.xml"
}
},
"politicalbreakdown": {
"id": "politicalbreakdown",
"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Political-Breakdown-2024-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Political Breakdown",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 5
},
"link": "/podcasts/politicalbreakdown",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/political-breakdown/id1327641087",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e0c2d153-ad36-4c8d-901d-f1da6a724824/political-breakdown",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/572155894/political-breakdown",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/political-breakdown",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/07RVyIjIdk2WDuVehvBMoN",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/tag/political-breakdown/feed/podcast"
}
},
"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Possible-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.possible.fm/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "Possible"
},
"link": "/radio/program/possible",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/possible/id1677184070",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/730YpdUSNlMyPQwNnyjp4k"
}
},
"pri-the-world": {
"id": "pri-the-world",
"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.pri.org/programs/the-world",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "PRI"
},
"link": "/radio/program/pri-the-world",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pris-the-world-latest-edition/id278196007?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/PRIs-The-World-p24/",
"rss": "http://feeds.feedburner.com/pri/theworld"
}
},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
"title": "Radiolab",
"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
"airtime": "SUN 12am-1am, SAT 2pm-3pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/radiolab1400.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/radiolab",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/RadioLab-p68032/",
"rss": "https://feeds.wnyc.org/radiolab"
}
},
"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
"airtime": "SAT 4pm-5pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/reveal300px.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/reveal",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reveal/id886009669",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Reveal-p679597/",
"rss": "http://feeds.revealradio.org/revealpodcast"
}
},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Rightnowish-Podcast-Tile-500x500-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Rightnowish with Pendarvis Harshaw",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 16
},
"link": "/podcasts/rightnowish",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/721590300/rightnowish",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/arts/programs/rightnowish/feed/podcast",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rightnowish/id1482187648",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/rightnowish",
"google": "https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vS1FJTkMxMjU5MTY3NDc4",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/7kEJuafTzTVan7B78ttz1I"
}
},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
"airtime": "FRI 11am-1pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Science-Friday-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/science-friday",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/science-friday",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=73329284&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Science-Friday-p394/",
"rss": "http://feeds.wnyc.org/science-friday"
}
},
"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
"airtime": "SAT 1pm-2pm, 9pm-10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Snap-Judgment-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Snap Judgment",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 4
},
"link": "https://snapjudgment.org",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/snap-judgment/id283657561",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/449018144/snap-judgment",
"stitcher": "https://www.pandora.com/podcast/snap-judgment/PC:241?source=stitcher-sunset",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3Cct7ZWmxHNAtLgBTqjC5v",
"rss": "https://snap.feed.snapjudgment.org/"
}
},
"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Sold-Out-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/soldout",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 13
},
"link": "/podcasts/soldout",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/911586047/s-o-l-d-o-u-t-a-new-future-for-housing",
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/introducing-sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america/id1531354937",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/soldout",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/38dTBSk2ISFoPiyYNoKn1X",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/sold-out-rethinking-housing-in-america",
"tunein": "https://tunein.com/radio/SOLD-OUT-Rethinking-Housing-in-America-p1365871/"
}
},
"spooked": {
"id": "spooked",
"title": "Spooked",
"tagline": "True-life supernatural stories",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Spooked-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED Spooked",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 7
},
"link": "https://spookedpodcast.org/",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spooked/id1279361017",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/549547848/snap-judgment-presents-spooked",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/76571Rfl3m7PLJQZKQIGCT",
"rss": "https://feeds.simplecast.com/TBotaapn"
}
},
"tech-nation": {
"id": "tech-nation",
"title": "Tech Nation Radio Podcast",
"info": "Tech Nation is a weekly public radio program, hosted by Dr. Moira Gunn. Founded in 1993, it has grown from a simple interview show to a multi-faceted production, featuring conversations with noted technology and science leaders, and a weekly science and technology-related commentary.",
"airtime": "FRI 10pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tech-Nation-Radio-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://technation.podomatic.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "science",
"source": "Tech Nation Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tech-nation",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://technation.podomatic.com/rss2.xml"
}
},
"ted-radio-hour": {
"id": "ted-radio-hour",
"title": "TED Radio Hour",
"info": "The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, and new ways to think and create.",
"airtime": "SUN 3pm-4pm, SAT 10pm-11pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/tedRadioHour.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/?showDate=2018-06-22",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/ted-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/8vsS",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=523121474&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/TED-Radio-Hour-p418021/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510298/podcast.xml"
}
},
"thebay": {
"id": "thebay",
"title": "The Bay",
"tagline": "Local news to keep you rooted",
"info": "Host Devin Katayama walks you through the biggest story of the day with reporters and newsmakers.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Bay-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Bay",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/thebay",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 2
},
"link": "/podcasts/thebay",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bay/id1350043452",
"amazon": "https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d800ea4c-7a2c-42f2-b861-edaf78a5db0b/the-bay",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586725995/the-bay",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-bay",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/4BIKBKIujizLHlIlBNaAqQ",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC8259786327"
}
},
"thelatest": {
"id": "thelatest",
"title": "The Latest",
"tagline": "Trusted local news in real time",
"info": "",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/The-Latest-2025-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Latest",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/thelatest",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 6
},
"link": "/thelatest",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-latest-from-kqed/id1197721799",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/1257949365/the-latest-from-k-q-e-d",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/5KIIXMgM9GTi5AepwOYvIZ?si=bd3053fec7244dba",
"rss": "https://feeds.megaphone.fm/KQINC9137121918"
}
},
"theleap": {
"id": "theleap",
"title": "The Leap",
"tagline": "What if you closed your eyes, and jumped?",
"info": "Stories about people making dramatic, risky changes, told by award-winning public radio reporter Judy Campbell.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Leap-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED The Leap",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/podcasts/theleap",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "kqed",
"order": 17
},
"link": "/podcasts/theleap",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-leap/id1046668171",
"npr": "https://www.npr.org/podcasts/447248267/the-leap",
"stitcher": "https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kqed/the-leap",
"spotify": "https://open.spotify.com/show/3sSlVHHzU0ytLwuGs1SD1U",
"rss": "https://ww2.kqed.org/news/programs/the-leap/feed/podcast"
}
},
"the-moth-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-moth-radio-hour",
"title": "The Moth Radio Hour",
"info": "Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country. For information on all of our programs and live events, visit themoth.org.",
"airtime": "SAT 8pm-9pm and SUN 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/theMoth.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://themoth.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "prx"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-moth-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-moth-podcast/id275699983?mt=2",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/The-Moth-p273888/",
"rss": "http://feeds.themoth.org/themothpodcast"
}
},
"the-new-yorker-radio-hour": {
"id": "the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"title": "The New Yorker Radio Hour",
"info": "The New Yorker Radio Hour is a weekly program presented by the magazine's editor, David Remnick, and produced by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker. Each episode features a diverse mix of interviews, profiles, storytelling, and an occasional burst of humor inspired by the magazine, and shaped by its writers, artists, and editors. This isn't a radio version of a magazine, but something all its own, reflecting the rich possibilities of audio storytelling and conversation. Theme music for the show was composed and performed by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs.",
"airtime": "SAT 10am-11am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-New-Yorker-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/tnyradiohour",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "WNYC"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-new-yorker-radio-hour",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1050430296",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/podcasts/WNYC-Podcasts/New-Yorker-Radio-Hour-p803804/",
"rss": "https://feeds.feedburner.com/newyorkerradiohour"
}
},
"the-sam-sanders-show": {
"id": "the-sam-sanders-show",
"title": "The Sam Sanders Show",
"info": "One of public radio's most dynamic voices, Sam Sanders helped launch The NPR Politics Podcast and hosted NPR's hit show It's Been A Minute. Now, the award-winning host returns with something brand new, The Sam Sanders Show. Every week, Sam Sanders and friends dig into the culture that shapes our lives: what's driving the biggest trends, how artists really think, and even the memes you can't stop scrolling past. Sam is beloved for his way of unpacking the world and bringing you up close to fresh currents and engaging conversations. The Sam Sanders Show is smart, funny and always a good time.",
"airtime": "FRI 12-1pm AND SAT 11am-12pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Sam-Sanders-Show-Podcast-Tile-400x400-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"meta": {
"site": "arts",
"source": "KCRW"
},
"link": "https://www.kcrw.com/shows/the-sam-sanders-show/latest",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feed.cdnstream1.com/zjb/feed/download/ac/28/59/ac28594c-e1d0-4231-8728-61865cdc80e8.xml"
}
},
"the-splendid-table": {
"id": "the-splendid-table",
"title": "The Splendid Table",
"info": "\u003cem>The Splendid Table\u003c/em> hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture.",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Splendid-Table-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.splendidtable.org/",
"airtime": "SUN 10-11 pm",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/the-splendid-table"
},
"this-american-life": {
"id": "this-american-life",
"title": "This American Life",
"info": "This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered to stations by PRX The Public Radio Exchange, and has won all of the major broadcasting awards.",
"airtime": "SAT 12pm-1pm, 7pm-8pm",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/thisAmericanLife.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "wbez"
},
"link": "/radio/program/this-american-life",
"subscribe": {
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=201671138&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"rss": "https://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast/rss.xml"
}
},
"tinydeskradio": {
"id": "tinydeskradio",
"title": "Tiny Desk Radio",
"info": "We're bringing the best of Tiny Desk to the airwaves, only on public radio.",
"airtime": "SUN 8pm and SAT 9pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/300x300-For-Member-Station-Logo-Tiny-Desk-Radio-@2x.png",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-52030/tiny-desk-radio",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/tinydeskradio",
"subscribe": {
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/g-s1-52030/rss.xml"
}
},
"wait-wait-dont-tell-me": {
"id": "wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"title": "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!",
"info": "Peter Sagal and Bill Kurtis host the weekly NPR News quiz show alongside some of the best and brightest news and entertainment personalities.",
"airtime": "SUN 10am-11am, SAT 11am-12pm, SAT 6pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Wait-Wait-Podcast-Tile-300x300-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/wait-wait-dont-tell-me",
"subscribe": {
"npr": "https://rpb3r.app.goo.gl/Xogv",
"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=121493804&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
"tuneIn": "https://tunein.com/radio/Wait-Wait-Dont-Tell-Me-p46/",
"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/344098539/podcast.xml"
}
},
"weekend-edition-saturday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-saturday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Saturday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.",
"airtime": "SAT 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-saturday"
},
"weekend-edition-sunday": {
"id": "weekend-edition-sunday",
"title": "Weekend Edition Sunday",
"info": "Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.",
"airtime": "SUN 5am-10am",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Weekend-Edition-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "npr"
},
"link": "/radio/program/weekend-edition-sunday"
}
},
"racesReducer": {},
"racesGenElectionReducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026Reducer": {},
"racesGenElection2026PresidentialReducer": {},
"radioSchedulesReducer": {},
"listsReducer": {
"posts/futureofyou?category=future-of-you": {
"isFetching": false,
"latestQuery": {
"from": 480,
"size": 12
},
"vitalsOnly": false,
"totalRequested": 12,
"isLoading": false,
"isLoadingMore": true,
"total": {
"value": 809,
"relation": "eq"
},
"items": [
"futureofyou_351605",
"futureofyou_345830",
"futureofyou_341839",
"futureofyou_341833",
"futureofyou_347131",
"futureofyou_345944",
"futureofyou_345800",
"futureofyou_341795",
"futureofyou_341792",
"futureofyou_333253",
"futureofyou_338930",
"futureofyou_338935"
],
"complete": true
}
},
"recallGuideReducer": {
"intros": {},
"policy": {},
"candidates": {}
},
"savedArticleReducer": {
"articles": [],
"status": {}
},
"newslettersReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": false,
"newsletters": {},
"isSubscribing": false,
"isUnsubscribing": false,
"subscribedNewsletters": {}
},
"termsReducer": {
"about": {
"name": "About",
"type": "terms",
"id": "about",
"slug": "about",
"link": "/about",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"arts": {
"name": "Arts & Culture",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"description": "KQED Arts provides daily in-depth coverage of the Bay Area's music, art, film, performing arts, literature and arts news, as well as cultural commentary and criticism.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "arts",
"slug": "arts",
"link": "/arts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"artschool": {
"name": "Art School",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "artschool",
"slug": "artschool",
"link": "/artschool",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareabites": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareabites",
"slug": "bayareabites",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"bayareahiphop": {
"name": "Bay Area Hiphop",
"type": "terms",
"id": "bayareahiphop",
"slug": "bayareahiphop",
"link": "/bayareahiphop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"campaign21": {
"name": "Campaign 21",
"type": "terms",
"id": "campaign21",
"slug": "campaign21",
"link": "/campaign21",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"careers": {
"name": "Careers",
"type": "terms",
"id": "careers",
"slug": "careers",
"link": "/careers",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"checkplease": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "checkplease",
"slug": "checkplease",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"education": {
"name": "Education",
"grouping": [
"education"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "education",
"slug": "education",
"link": "/education",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"elections": {
"name": "Elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "elections",
"slug": "elections",
"link": "/elections",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"events": {
"name": "Events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "events",
"slug": "events",
"link": "/events",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"event": {
"name": "Event",
"alias": "events",
"type": "terms",
"id": "event",
"slug": "event",
"link": "/event",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"filmschoolshorts": {
"name": "Film School Shorts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "filmschoolshorts",
"slug": "filmschoolshorts",
"link": "/filmschoolshorts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"food": {
"name": "KQED food",
"grouping": [
"food",
"bayareabites",
"checkplease"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "food",
"slug": "food",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"forum": {
"name": "Forum",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/forum?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "forum",
"slug": "forum",
"link": "/forum",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou": {
"name": "Future of You",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou",
"slug": "futureofyou",
"link": "/futureofyou",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"jpepinheart": {
"name": "KQED food",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/food,bayareabites,checkplease",
"parent": "food",
"type": "terms",
"id": "jpepinheart",
"slug": "jpepinheart",
"link": "/food",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"liveblog": {
"name": "Live Blog",
"type": "terms",
"id": "liveblog",
"slug": "liveblog",
"link": "/liveblog",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"livetv": {
"name": "Live TV",
"parent": "tv",
"type": "terms",
"id": "livetv",
"slug": "livetv",
"link": "/livetv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"lowdown": {
"name": "The Lowdown",
"relatedContentQuery": "posts/lowdown?",
"parent": "news",
"type": "terms",
"id": "lowdown",
"slug": "lowdown",
"link": "/lowdown",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"mindshift": {
"name": "Mindshift",
"parent": "news",
"description": "MindShift explores the future of education by highlighting the innovative – and sometimes counterintuitive – ways educators and parents are helping all children succeed.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "mindshift",
"slug": "mindshift",
"link": "/mindshift",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"news": {
"name": "News",
"grouping": [
"news",
"forum"
],
"type": "terms",
"id": "news",
"slug": "news",
"link": "/news",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"newsletters": {
"name": "newsletters",
"type": "terms",
"id": "newsletters",
"slug": "newsletters",
"link": "/newsletters",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"perspectives": {
"name": "Perspectives",
"parent": "radio",
"type": "terms",
"id": "perspectives",
"slug": "perspectives",
"link": "/perspectives",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"podcasts": {
"name": "Podcasts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "podcasts",
"slug": "podcasts",
"link": "/podcasts",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pop": {
"name": "Pop",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pop",
"slug": "pop",
"link": "/pop",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"pressroom": {
"name": "Pressroom",
"type": "terms",
"id": "pressroom",
"slug": "pressroom",
"link": "/pressroom",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"quest": {
"name": "Quest",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "quest",
"slug": "quest",
"link": "/quest",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"radio": {
"name": "Radio",
"grouping": [
"forum",
"perspectives"
],
"description": "Listen to KQED Public Radio – home of Forum and The California Report – on 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento, 88.3 FM in Santa Rosa and 88.1 FM in Martinez.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "radio",
"slug": "radio",
"link": "/radio",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"root": {
"name": "KQED",
"image": "https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/2020/02/KQED-OG-Image@1x.png",
"imageWidth": 1200,
"imageHeight": 630,
"headData": {
"title": "KQED | News, Radio, Podcasts, TV | Public Media for Northern California",
"description": "KQED provides public radio, television, and independent reporting on issues that matter to the Bay Area. We’re the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California."
},
"type": "terms",
"id": "root",
"slug": "root",
"link": "/root",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"science": {
"name": "Science",
"grouping": [
"science",
"futureofyou"
],
"description": "KQED Science brings you award-winning science and environment coverage from the Bay Area and beyond.",
"type": "terms",
"id": "science",
"slug": "science",
"link": "/science",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"stateofhealth": {
"name": "State of Health",
"parent": "science",
"type": "terms",
"id": "stateofhealth",
"slug": "stateofhealth",
"link": "/stateofhealth",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"support": {
"name": "Support",
"type": "terms",
"id": "support",
"slug": "support",
"link": "/support",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"thedolist": {
"name": "The Do List",
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "thedolist",
"slug": "thedolist",
"link": "/thedolist",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"trulyca": {
"name": "Truly CA",
"grouping": [
"arts",
"pop",
"trulyca"
],
"parent": "arts",
"type": "terms",
"id": "trulyca",
"slug": "trulyca",
"link": "/trulyca",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"tv": {
"name": "TV",
"type": "terms",
"id": "tv",
"slug": "tv",
"link": "/tv",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"voterguide": {
"name": "Voter Guide",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "voterguide",
"slug": "voterguide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"guiaelectoral": {
"name": "Guia Electoral",
"parent": "elections",
"alias": "elections",
"type": "terms",
"id": "guiaelectoral",
"slug": "guiaelectoral",
"link": "/guiaelectoral",
"taxonomy": "site"
},
"futureofyou_category_future-of-you": {
"isLoading": true
},
"futureofyou_1": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "KQED Future Of You",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "KQED Future Of You Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1,
"slug": "future-of-you",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/future-of-you"
},
"source_futureofyou_351605": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_351605",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_345830": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_345830",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_341839": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_341839",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_347131": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_347131",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_345944": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_345944",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_341792": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_341792",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_338930": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_338930",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "KQED Future of You",
"isLoading": false
},
"source_futureofyou_338935": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "source_futureofyou_338935",
"meta": {
"override": true
},
"name": "STAT",
"isLoading": false
},
"futureofyou_73": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_73",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "73",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "KQED News",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "KQED News Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 73,
"slug": "kqed-news",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/kqed-news"
},
"futureofyou_1061": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1061",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1061",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Your Brain on Tech",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Your Brain on Tech Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1061,
"slug": "your-brain-on-tech",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/your-brain-on-tech"
},
"futureofyou_1204": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1204",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1204",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "algorithms",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "algorithms Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1204,
"slug": "algorithms",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/algorithms"
},
"futureofyou_1062": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1062",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1062",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Hope/Hype",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Hope/Hype Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1062,
"slug": "hopehype",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/hopehype"
},
"futureofyou_1201": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1201",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1201",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "corneal inlay",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "corneal inlay Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1201,
"slug": "corneal-inlay",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/corneal-inlay"
},
"futureofyou_565": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_565",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "565",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "vision",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "vision Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 565,
"slug": "vision",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/vision"
},
"futureofyou_452": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_452",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "452",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Health Policy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Health Policy Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 452,
"slug": "health-policy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/health-policy"
},
"futureofyou_819": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_819",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "819",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "EKG",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "EKG Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 819,
"slug": "ekg",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/ekg"
},
"futureofyou_742": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_742",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "742",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "heart health",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "heart health Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 742,
"slug": "heart-health",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/heart-health"
},
"futureofyou_872": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_872",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "872",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "teens",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "teens Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 872,
"slug": "teens",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/teens"
},
"futureofyou_1198": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1198",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1198",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "autoimmune disease",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "autoimmune disease Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1198,
"slug": "autoimmune-disease",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/autoimmune-disease"
},
"futureofyou_68": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_68",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "68",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "microbiome",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "microbiome Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 68,
"slug": "microbiome",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/microbiome"
},
"futureofyou_949": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_949",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "949",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "multiple sclerosis",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "multiple sclerosis Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 949,
"slug": "multiple-sclerosis",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/multiple-sclerosis"
},
"futureofyou_1196": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1196",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1196",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Above the Noise",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Above the Noise Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1196,
"slug": "above-the-noise",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/above-the-noise"
},
"futureofyou_1197": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1197",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1197",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "social status",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "social status Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1197,
"slug": "social-status",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/social-status"
},
"futureofyou_1195": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1195",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1195",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "STEM",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "STEM Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1195,
"slug": "stem",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/stem"
},
"futureofyou_1064": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1064",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1064",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Your Genes",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "category",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Your Genes Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1064,
"slug": "your-genes",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/category/your-genes"
},
"futureofyou_17": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_17",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "17",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "DNA",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "DNA Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 17,
"slug": "dna",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/dna"
},
"futureofyou_1015": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1015",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1015",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "genetic testing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "genetic testing Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1015,
"slug": "genetic-testing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/genetic-testing"
},
"futureofyou_938": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_938",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "938",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "opioids",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "opioids Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 938,
"slug": "opioids",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/opioids"
},
"futureofyou_1194": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1194",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1194",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Proove Bioscience",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Proove Bioscience Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1194,
"slug": "proove-bioscience",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/proove-bioscience"
},
"futureofyou_896": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_896",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "896",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Cas9",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Cas9 Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 896,
"slug": "cas9",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/cas9"
},
"futureofyou_94": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_94",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "94",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "CRISPR",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "CRISPR Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 94,
"slug": "crispr",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/crispr"
},
"futureofyou_295": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_295",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "295",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "gene editing",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "gene editing Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 295,
"slug": "gene-editing",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/gene-editing"
},
"futureofyou_1097": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1097",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1097",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Hope/Hype",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "collection",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Hope/Hype Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1097,
"slug": "hopehype",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/collection/hopehype"
},
"futureofyou_1143": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1143",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1143",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "life expectancy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "life expectancy Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1143,
"slug": "life-expectancy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/life-expectancy"
},
"futureofyou_120": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_120",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "120",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "genetics",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "genetics Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 120,
"slug": "genetics",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/genetics"
},
"futureofyou_190": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_190",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "190",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "doctors",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "doctors Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 190,
"slug": "doctors",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/doctors"
},
"futureofyou_972": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_972",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "972",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "alternative medicine",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "alternative medicine Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 972,
"slug": "alternative-medicine",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/alternative-medicine"
},
"futureofyou_1193": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1193",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1193",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "atropa belladonna",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "atropa belladonna Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1193,
"slug": "atropa-belladonna",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/atropa-belladonna"
},
"futureofyou_38": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_38",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "38",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "FDA",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "FDA Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 38,
"slug": "fda",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/fda"
},
"futureofyou_1192": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1192",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1192",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "homeopathy",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "homeopathy Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1192,
"slug": "homeopathy",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/homeopathy"
},
"futureofyou_1191": {
"type": "terms",
"id": "futureofyou_1191",
"meta": {
"index": "terms_1716263798",
"site": "futureofyou",
"id": "1191",
"found": true
},
"relationships": {},
"featImg": null,
"name": "Hyland's",
"description": null,
"taxonomy": "tag",
"headData": {
"twImgId": null,
"twTitle": null,
"ogTitle": null,
"ogImgId": null,
"twDescription": null,
"description": null,
"title": "Hyland's Archives | KQED Arts",
"ogDescription": null
},
"ttid": 1191,
"slug": "hylands",
"isLoading": false,
"link": "/futureofyou/tag/hylands"
}
},
"userPermissionsReducer": {
"wpLoggedIn": false
},
"eventsReducer": {},
"fssReducer": {},
"tvDailyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvWeeklyScheduleReducer": {},
"tvPrimetimeScheduleReducer": {},
"tvMonthlyScheduleReducer": {},
"userAccountReducer": {
"user": {
"email": null,
"emailStatus": "EMAIL_UNVALIDATED",
"loggedStatus": "LOGGED_OUT",
"loggingChecked": false,
"articles": [],
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"phoneNumber": null,
"fetchingMembership": false,
"membershipError": false,
"memberships": [
{
"id": null,
"startDate": null,
"firstName": null,
"lastName": null,
"familyNumber": null,
"memberNumber": null,
"memberSince": null,
"expirationDate": null,
"pfsEligible": false,
"isSustaining": false,
"membershipLevel": "Prospect",
"membershipStatus": "Non Member",
"lastGiftDate": null,
"renewalDate": null,
"lastDonationAmount": null
}
]
},
"authModal": {
"isOpen": false,
"view": "LANDING_VIEW"
},
"error": null
},
"youthMediaReducer": {},
"checkPleaseReducer": {
"filterData": {
"region": {
"key": "Restaurant Region",
"filters": [
"Any Region"
]
},
"cuisine": {
"key": "Restaurant Cuisine",
"filters": [
"Any Cuisine"
]
}
},
"restaurantDataById": {},
"restaurantIdsSorted": [],
"error": null
},
"userAgentReducer": {
"userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)",
"isBot": true
},
"requestOutcomesReducer": {
"notFound": []
},
"navPromosReducer": {
"isFetching": false,
"fetchFailed": false,
"hasFetched": true,
"promos": {
"news": {
"name": "2026 Voter Guide",
"link": "/voterguide",
"imageURL": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Nav-News-Nov2026ElectionCoverage@2x-7bd4aad4.png",
"description": "Get informed in minutes with our Voter Guide for California’s November 3 election."
},
"podcasts-radio": {},
"video-tv": {},
"events": {},
"support": {}
}
}
}