Re: Fw: More subtle propaganda from UC on statistics and suicides and breast impla

[Guest guest]

Patty: I've been using the Thymuskin shampoo and scalp treatment for a year now...very expensive..and it doesnt work. At first my hair stop falling out as much but after using the product for six months it started again. Now when I stop using it, it falls out more!!! So I feel stuck paying for something that doesnt work. Any other ideas would be great.

Vickie

>From: "*~Patty~*"

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Fw: More subtle propaganda from UC on statistics and suicides and breast impla

>Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 16:26:20 -0700

>

>Excuse me while I choke on these words.....(I wonder if this "know it all" has even interviewed women sick from implants?)

>----- Original Message -----

>From: ilena rose

>ilena@...

>Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 2:34 PM

>Subject: More subtle propaganda from UC on statistics and suicides and breast impla

>

>

>EXCERPT: For example, a recent study found higher suicide rates among women who have had breast implants. "People might like to conclude that breast implants are causing suicides," Utts said. But the study design doesn't support that result. To avoid confusion when interpreting observational studies, you have to include possible alternate explanations, Utts said.

>

>"For instance, women's self image could confound the study on breast implants and suicide," she said.

>

>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>

>To write Utts:

>

>jmutts@...

>

>http://www.epi.ucdavis.edu/F-uttsj.htm

>

>

>

>http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=6632

>

>What You Should Know About Statistics

>October 20, 2003

>

>

>Poor understanding of statistics causes many to view numbers cynically. And news reports of confusing, seemingly contradictory figures worsen the problem. Utts, a UC statistics professor, thinks changing college statistics courses could help citizens better understand statistics-oriented news.

>

>Calculation-heavy courses teach t-tests, ANOVAs, and other statistical procedures. But students don't learn to spot common errors in statistical statements -- a problem when they need to read statistical results and interpret them for their own lives, said Utts.

>

>In a recent paper published in the journal American Statistician, Utts describes seven common ways that statistics are misinterpreted, in news reports and elsewhere. The most insidious mistake, she said, is confusion about cause-and-effect relationships.

>

>"Often, an observational study will link two variables where you'd like to think that there's a cause-and-effect relationship," said Utts. But based on the way these studies are done, there is no justification for concluding that cause-and-effect relationships exist, she said.

>

>For example, a recent study found higher suicide rates among women who have had breast implants. "People might like to conclude that breast implants are causing suicides," Utts said. But the study design doesn't support that result. To avoid confusion when interpreting observational studies, you have to include possible alternate explanations, Utts said.

>

>"For instance, women's self image could confound the study on breast implants and suicide," she said.

>

>Confusing the terms "average" and "normal" is another common pitfall. "We're always hearing that 'the normal temperature for today is 80 degrees,'" Utts said. "But that's the average of temperatures recorded on this date in the past." Including a range of likely values with reported averages -- for example, "temperatures on this date have varied from 64 to 91 degrees" -- is more useful, she said.

>

>Utts is the author of "Seeing Through Statistics" and co-author of "Mind on Statistics." She gives regular talks for general audiences on the everyday use of statistics.

>

>

>Media contact(s):

>. Andy Fell, UC News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@...

>

Surf and talk on the phone at the same time with broadband Internet access. Get high-speed for as low as $29.95/month.* *Depending on the local service providers in your area.

[Guest guest]

Vickie,

I myself prefer to go the more natural route, and after examining and researching the ingredients listed for Thymuskin, opted not to use it. The main objection I had was the Sodium Laureth Sulfate (which has hair loss as one of its side effects! Go figure!).

My preference for going more natural involves the use of essential oils and thymus extracts. Here is one article that you might find helpful:

In 1998 double-blind study published in the Archives of Dermatology> (Hay 1998) found that 44 percent of participants who massaged their> scalps with a mixture of essential oils daily for seven months showed> growth in bald patches. The tonic was composed of active essential> oils described.>> 2 drops thymus vulgaris (88-mg)> 3 drops lavandula angustifolia (108-mg)> 3 drops rosmarinus officinalis (114-mg)> 2 drops cedrus atlantica (94-mg)>> and used the carrier oils:>> jojoba oil 3-ml> grapeseed oil 20-ml (NOT grapefruit seed oil)>> While the original paper gives only limited detail about the nature> of the essential oils other scientists have given more detailed> recommendation to keratin.com. There are several> different "chemotypes" for the essential oils used in the original> study. Specific recommendations include:>> For rosemary : Rosmarinus officinalis CT cineole> For thyme: " sweet thyme " such as Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol or> linalol or geraniol or terpineol (but never " red thyme " such as> Thymus vulgaris CT thymol which is pretty caustic for the skin)> For cedarwood: Cedrus atlantica (which is not Texas cedarwood. Under> this generic name, Juniperus species are safe, but never use Thuya> species)>>> In the published study 86 volunteers with alopecia areata massaged> oils into the scalp each evening for a minimum of 2 minutes; followed> with warm towel wrap to aid absorption of oils for about an hour.> Half of them received the complete tonic and half of them received> the carrier oils alone as a control.>> The results were that 19 (44%) of 43 patients in the active group> showed improvement compared with 6 (15%) of patients in the control> group (P = .008). An alopecia scale was applied by blinded observers> on sequential photographs and was shown to be reproducible with good> interobserver agreement.>> The investigators concluded that the results showed aromatherapy to> be a safe and effective treatment for alopecia areata. Treatment with> the essential oils was significantly more effective than treatment> with the carrier oil alone.

----- Original Message -----

From: Vickie

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 1:36 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: More subtle propaganda from UC on statistics and suicides and breast impla

Patty: I've been using the Thymuskin shampoo and scalp treatment for a year now...very expensive..and it doesnt work. At first my hair stop falling out as much but after using the product for six months it started again. Now when I stop using it, it falls out more!!! So I feel stuck paying for something that doesnt work. Any other ideas would be great.

Vickie

[Guest guest]

Here is the reference to thymus extracts and hair care. I just wanted to point out the difference in the other article I posted, which referred to the essential oil "thymus vulgaris ", which is in fact, the essential oil of the herb thyme. Didn't want to cause any confusion there.

Thymus 2000 products were developed on the basis of a scientific concept about cosmetic substances by Dr. Hartmut Bohringer at his Biological Product Laboratories in Karlsruhe, Germany. ThymusKing.com is the exclusive USA importer of this exciting new Thymus extract enriched product line. The ancient knowledge of primitive people, skilled in the art of naturalistic beauty care through plant extracts, have been combined with recent knowledge gained by Thymus research & implemented in a modern cosmetic program. Thymus extracts from the Thymus gland have become a crucial natural remedy used in modern medicine. The medical application ranges from prevention of physical deterioration to anti-cancer treatment. It is widely known that the Thymus gland controls important mechanisms within the immune system. The gland produces messenger agents that regulate growth and regenerative processes in the human body. Since it is known that Thymus extracts are taken up by external skin layers, where they stimulate the T cells, which are responsible for the skin's defense mechanism, new ways of usage have been opened up in hair care and skin care. Thymus extracts make the skin more resistant to external influences, such as harmful substances from the atmosphere ad well as everyday stress. Thymus products help to keep a healthy skin by preventing premature aging processes and wrinkles. Aside from its application in skin care, the regenerative power of thymus substances have been very successful in hair care. In many cases Thymus extracts act against hair loss, eliminate dandruff and improve skin irritations.

----- Original Message -----

From: *~Patty~*

Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2003 1:56 PM

Subject: Re: Fw: More subtle propaganda from UC on statistics and suicides and breast impla

Vickie,

I myself prefer to go the more natural route, and after examining and researching the ingredients listed for Thymuskin, opted not to use it. The main objection I had was the Sodium Laureth Sulfate (which has hair loss as one of its side effects! Go figure!).

My preference for going more natural involves the use of essential oils and thymus extracts. Here is one article that you might find helpful:

In 1998 double-blind study published in the Archives of Dermatology> (Hay 1998) found that 44 percent of participants who massaged their> scalps with a mixture of essential oils daily for seven months showed> growth in bald patches. The tonic was composed of active essential> oils described.>> 2 drops thymus vulgaris (88-mg)> 3 drops lavandula angustifolia (108-mg)> 3 drops rosmarinus officinalis (114-mg)> 2 drops cedrus atlantica (94-mg)>> and used the carrier oils:>> jojoba oil 3-ml> grapeseed oil 20-ml (NOT grapefruit seed oil)>> While the original paper gives only limited detail about the nature> of the essential oils other scientists have given more detailed> recommendation to keratin.com. There are several> different "chemotypes" for the essential oils used in the original> study. Specific recommendations include:>> For rosemary : Rosmarinus officinalis CT cineole> For thyme: " sweet thyme " such as Thymus vulgaris CT thujanol or> linalol or geraniol or terpineol (but never " red thyme " such as> Thymus vulgaris CT thymol which is pretty caustic for the skin)> For cedarwood: Cedrus atlantica (which is not Texas cedarwood. Under> this generic name, Juniperus species are safe, but never use Thuya> species)>>> In the published study 86 volunteers with alopecia areata massaged> oils into the scalp each evening for a minimum of 2 minutes; followed> with warm towel wrap to aid absorption of oils for about an hour.> Half of them received the complete tonic and half of them received> the carrier oils alone as a control.>> The results were that 19 (44%) of 43 patients in the active group> showed improvement compared with 6 (15%) of patients in the control> group (P = .008). An alopecia scale was applied by blinded observers> on sequential photographs and was shown to be reproducible with good> interobserver agreement.>> The investigators concluded that the results showed aromatherapy to> be a safe and effective treatment for alopecia areata. Treatment with> the essential oils was significantly more effective than treatment> with the carrier oil alone.