The Telmarc Group

No 178 AR-V7: A Driver of Prostate Metastasis?

August 2020 The discovery of AR-V7 a splicing variant of the androgen receptor provided an interesting window on the effects of splicing variants in cancer. This Note discusses the structure and functioning of AR-V7 and focuses on the splice variant characteristic. Many authors have proposed using it as a prognostic metric but it may also be a possible therapeutic target

No. 177  Fibroblasts and Cancer: "The Wound that would not heal"

June 2020  Understanding cancers means not only understanding the cancer cells per se but also the tumor micro environment, the collection of other cells which support and protect the cancer cell mass. Attempts at blocking aberrant pathways or using immunotherapeutic methods have been seen to be blocked in a vast number of attempts. The blockage may very well be due to the TME as we discuss herein. Moreover, the fibroblast is an exceptionally interesting target for TME remediation and we examine that in detail.

No. 176  Thyroglobulin: When is it a tumor marker?

May 2020 Thyroglobulin is produced in the thyroid and is a driver of T3/T4 production. It has been used as a cancer marker in patients undergoing a thyroidectomy. However, with increasing lobectomies in more indolent thyroid cancers the use of TG may be problematic. We explore this issue as a possible parallel to the similar ones with PSA in prostate cancer

No. 175 IL-6, COVID-19, and Cytokine Storms

April 2020 One of the major debilitating factors of COVID-19 is the development of a cytokine storm. Many are driven by IL-6. We examine these in this report as well as putative therapeutics.

No. 174 ERG: A Master Transcription Factor?

April 2020 ERG is a transcription factor which can split off and get bound with TMPRSS2. The result is prostate cancer. We examine ERG as a putative Master Transcription Factor, MTF, and as such a target for therapeutics

No. 173 A Primer for COVID-19

March 2020 We prepared a primer for understanding COVID-19 and its spread. 

No. 172 Eikonomics

March 2020 Imaging and integration of images for diagnostic and prognostic issues is discussed. 

No. 171 miRNAs Redux

February 2020 Micro RNAs have become a significant element in diagnostic and prognostic efforts on a variety of cancers. We examine some of the current issues herein and discuss methods of using miRNAs as both diagnostic and prognostic tools

No. 170 mTOR Target of Opportunity

February 2020 mTOR is a protein that sits in the midst of a multiplicity of paths and it is acted upon in a variety of ways and it then acts upon others in a similar variety. We examine the current status of mTOR and its application to a variety of Cancers

No. 169 Adaptive Mutability and Cancer

January 2020 This note discusses the putative argument for adaptive mutations as a cause of cancer re-emerging after therapeutic treatment.

No. 168 Bladder Cancer: An Interesting set of diagnostic options

October 2019 Bladder cancer has a moderate incidence and mortality. It can in many ways be considered a chronic disease but one requiring considerable surgical care and thus quite costly. We examine several non-invasive measures for diagnostic, staging and prognostic evaluations.

No. 167 Tumor Associated Immune Cells: On the One Hand and on the Other Hand

October 2019 The immune system is a powerful protective part of human homeostasis. Invaders, external and internal, can be identified, tagged, attacked and disposed of. On the other hand, the immune cells often take part in protecting and enhancing the viability of such invaders as cancer cells. We examine this dual role of elements of the immune system based on several approaches to the current understandings.

  No. 166 Thyroid Cancer and Genetic Differentiation

September 2019: Papillary Thyroid Cancer is the most common of thyroid cancers. However, like so many cancers, there are a multiplicity of sub-types and histologically determining them can be difficult. Genetically determining them should conceptually be more dispositive. We examine some recent work in this area.

No. 165 Immunotherapy: Possible Directions

August 2019: We have seen an expansion in the immunotherapeutic approaches to dealing with cancers. There are approaches in dealing with melanoma and lung cancers which were unheard of a decade ago. The hematopoietic cancers can now be dealt with using CAR-T cells, specifically designed T cells. CIK, cytokine induced killer cells use the patients own NK cells to be strengthened and sent back into the fight. TILs have been doing the same for decades now. This note examines the multiplicity of other possible approaches.

No. 164 What is Cancer?

August 2019: Carcinoma in situ, CIS, is a diagnosis which has become more popular. What we no see is increasing incidence with constant mortality. But is the incidence real or just a result of a diagnosis which is not cancer? We explore this issue.

No. 163 LPCAT1 and Cancer Progression

July 2019: LPCAT1 is an enzyme involved in the production of lipid structures in cell walls. If it is overactive apparently it accelerates cancer growth. This paper examines its uses as a putative therapeutic.

No. 162 miRNAs, Genes and Cancer Cytology

July 2019: Histology and cytology are descriptive methods of ascertaining cancer cells. Genetic profiling is another means to accomplish this. The question is; how
does the genetic change in a cancer cell get reflected in its morphology? We
examine this with some insights from recent literature. The answer is still
evasive.

No. 161 EMT, lncRNA, TGF, SMAD and Cancer

June 2019: Long non coding RNA has the ability to interact in a variety of gene expression paths. We examine one recently proposed and use it as a basis to better grasp the TGF/SMAD functioning

No. 160 Thyroid Cancer: Seek and Ye Shall Find

March 2019: There is a dramatic increase in diagnosed thyroid cancers per population but no significant change in mortality per population. This report examines thyroid cancers and looks at them as an interesting target to examine such constructs as the cancer stem cell, EMT mechanism, immunotherapeutics, miRNAs and other challenging topics.

No. 159 Exosomes and Cancer

March 2019 Exosomes are small walled vesicles that are emitted by a variety of cells. Malignant cells emit these many of which contain miRNAs. We examine a new paradigm for metastasis which incorporates this construct. This may lead to a novel set of therapeutics

No. 158 NSD2 and Prostate Cancer

February 2019 NSD2 is a methyltransferase and is linked to PCa metastatic behavior. We examine this result in some detail making some observations.

No. 157 EMT and Cancers

January 2019 We examine the epithelial mesenchymal transitions and their relationships to a variety of cancers.

No. 156 Growth Factors and Cancer

December 2018 Growth Factors and Receptors have played a significant role in cell homeostasis as well as malignancy. We examine some of the major ones in an attempt to place them in the context of putative therapeutic targets.

No. 155 Autophagy: On the One Hand and on the Other

October  2018 A follow up paper discussing more details on autophagy and prostate cancer. 

No. 154 Autophagy and Cancer

September  2018 Autophagy is the cleaning of cell debris. However there has been identified links with cancers and means to use autophagy to address many cancer types. This report examines this area.

No. 153 Adoptive Cell Transfer

June  2018 Adoptive Cell Transfer is a technique whereby Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes, usually T cells, are collected from a tumor, enhanced ex vivo and replaced with the intent of enhancing the immune system. Work in this area has progressed and we examine herein multiple approaches as well as some history of the ACT, We also argue for further consideration of the innate system including NK cells as well as complement.

No. 152 Neuroendocrine PCa

June  2018 Neuroendocrine cells are cells which take signals from neural cells and produce signals for other cells. Neuroendocrine cells are in the prostate, and the prostate itself is highly innervated. Neuroendocrine PCa is highly aggressive. It has been observed and now logically asserted that by blocking the signals to the neuroendocrine cells we block the release of certain growth factors essential to angiogenesis and proliferation. We examine this work in some detail.

No. 151 Liquid Biopsy and Cancer

May  2018 We examine the use of liquid biopsies to determine the presence of cancers. Targets are circulating tumor cells, RNA, DNA and exosomes.

No. 150 Aptamers and Cancer

May  2018 We examine the use of aptamers, short selectable oligonucleotides, for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

No. 149 Warburg and Prostate Cancer

January 2018 We examine a recent paper regarding the use of the Warburg effect in addressing prostate cancer via lipid metabolism. 

No. 148 Glucose, Warburg, Cancer and Pathways

January 2018 The Warburg effect has been present for almost a century. It is also called aerobic glycolysis. Namely it is an observation that in cancer cells, even with available oxygen, glycolysis occurs resulting in lactate yet only a small fraction of pyruvate passes through the TCA (Krebs) cycle. We examine recent work in this area and make a proposal of rate limiting in the pathway to explain Warburg.

No. 147 Microbiome, Immune System and Cancer

December 2017 The microbiome is the complex set of bacteria, viruses, and fungi which cohabit with the human. This concatenation of organisms generally are mutually beneficial. At time they may battle one another. Here we explore some recent work regarding the microbiome, the innate immune system and cancer

No. 146 Inflammation, Immunity and Cancer

December 2017 We present an idiosyncratic analysis of inflammation and its interaction with the immune system and resulting cancerous changes. We focus on two elements; pentraxin 3 and the bromodomain, BET. The analysis attempts to summarize the impact of human environmentally generated chronic inflammation, such as that which results from obesity in Type 2 Diabetes, and the increased incidence of cancers. We do not attempt to present anything new but do try to connects a set of diverse dots in this field.

No. 145 Prostate Cancer Mortality

July 2017 In a recent article in NEJM the authors contend that there is no material difference between prostatectomy and "observation" in the mortality rates of patients with all classes of PCa. We argue that their results are fatally flawed and demonstrate what in our opinion are those flaws. 

No. 144 Platelets and Check Point Inhibitors

April 2017 Platelets have been demonstrated as a vehicle to disseminate various check point inhibitors locally to treat cancer excisions and remove lingering cells. We examine this in some detail.

No. 143 PARP, DNA and PCa

February 2017 We have reviewed some recent work on PARP which is a single strand DNA repair protein and PCa. PARP inhibitors can eliminate the double strand DNA repair defects when BRCA -/- tumors are present. 

No. 142 Immune Set Points

February 2017 We examine the recent work regarding the existence of set points in the activity of T cells and in their use against cancers. The paper examines multiple points and presents some extensions.

No 141 Gene Drive

December 2016 Gene Drives are genetically engineered mechanisms which effectively insert a desired gene segment into a species. The supersaturate the species genetic makeup by inserting a gene along with a CRISPR/Cas9 or similar self-replicating mechanism.

No. 140 CAR T Cells and Cancer

November 2016 The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor or CAR T cells has provided an interesting and powerful new tool in cancer therapy. We provide a brief summary of this new area.

No. 139 A Proposed Metric for Measuring Bacterial Growth

September 2016 This paper discusses some novel methods to ascertain variations in bacterial growth rates from a hypothesis testing perspective. 

No. 138 NKX3.1 and PCa

July 2016 NKX3.1 is a homeobox gene which has been identified as a factor in PCa. We examine its effects and do so in the context of some recent research results. 

No. 137 Biofilm Growth and Infiltration

May 2016 We have examined the growth of biofilms with a focus on remediating drinking water systems such as those in Flint, MI. Biofilms are factors that both impair the flow systems and present putative health risks. Our focus is on trying to explain their establishment and mitigate against such establishment by surface modifications such as nano Se and surface nano treatments. 

No. 136 Cancer Stem Cells and Cells of Origin Redux

May 2016 There is an ongoing debate regarding the cancer cell of origin CCO and the cancer stem cell CSC in PCa. This paper reexamines the issue which we first looked at some four years ago. We suggest an alternative view, using system metrics and stochastic spatio-temporal models. 

No. 135 Seven Types of PCa

April 2016 A recent paper identified some 7 gene fusions or mutations found in the initial stages of PCa. We examine these in some detail.

No. 134 CHK2, AR, and PCa

February 2016 This is a discussion of a new paper which argues that CHK2 gene product down regulates AR expression and this its absence is seen in various CRPC.

No. 133 LY6 and Prognostic Markers

February 2016 This is a discussion of a new paper discussing LY6 markers for prognostic values in many cancers and their use to identify cancer stem cells.

No. 132 More PCa Markers

February 2016 This is a discussion of a new proposed set of markers for PCa detection.

No. 131 pro-NPY and PCa

February 2016 This is a discussion of a proposed new marker for PCa progression.

No. 130 SPOP and Prostate Cancer

November 2015 This paper examines some recent studies examine the role of SPOP and PCa.

No. 129 Trust but Verify: The PSA Saga

November 2015 This is a case study which demonstrates the various swings when using PSA. It looks at its use in a Markovian manner and considers its ability to predict.

No. 128 Prostate Cancer Prognostics

October 2015 This paper examines the many PCa diagnostic and prognostic tests. It adds significantly to the basic PSA which we believe is still a valuable tool.

No. 127 STAT3 and PCa: Of Mice and Men

August 2015: STAT3 is a gene expression that can be activated by IL-6 and previously was considered a driver in metastatic growth. A recent paper presents an alternative picture which we consider herein. This presentation demonstrates the complexity of genetic dynamic pathways as well as the issue of mouse models versus human reality.  

No. 126 Prostate Cancer Metastasis: A Simple Example

July 2015 This report provides more detail on our cancer models and focuses on recent observations by Gundem et al on multiple gene expression states and cell proliferation rates.

No. 125  CRISPR and Cancer Revised

April 2015 This is a revision of the WP 111 and includes details on CRISPR functions 

No. 124 CRISPR Cas9: A Genomic Tool

April 2015 We examine CRISPR as a tool to be used in genomic engineering. This paper looks at basic principles in the utilization of this as a tool for editing genes. 

No. 123 Metformin, Statins and PCa

February 2015 Recent results demonstrating the efficacy of combined metformin and statin use in prostate cancer is reviewed and analyzed. This work demonstrates the impact of inflammatory processes on cancer. 

No. 122 MDS and DNMT1 Pathway Control

February 2015 MDS, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, is a complex hematopoietic disorder that appears to be driven by epigenetic methylation of transcription factor regions in various cell lines. A standard procedure has been to use high doses of DNMT1 suppressors and these have demonstrated efficacy in almost all cases for a period of time. However there is the question of what targets are methylated, how and what the proper dosages should be. Recent research has argued for a substantially lowered dose, which may have substantial efficacy in view of the fact that system demethylation could be problematic. We examine this process herein.  

No. 121 Sirt1, Exosomes and Prostate Cancer

January 2015: We use a recent paper regarding the suppression of the gene in Sirt1 in mice to examine a set of issues. First, we examine the issue of putative exaggeration of the extensibility of results from mice to humans. Second, we examine the relationship of miRNAs to a control mechanism in the process. Third, we consider the impact of exosomes as a putative mechanism for metastasis.

No. 120 CNVs and Prostate Cancer

This paper discusses some recent research on the use of CNVs for prognostic measures in prostate cancer. We examine this work and others. We also remark upon how the Press reports on these types of findings and ask what is the duty of the researchers to assure reporting clarity. 

No. 119 SNPs and Prostate Cancer

This is a continuation of analyses of SNPs as means for assessing PCa.

No. 118 Vitamin D and Prostate Cancer

We examine the use of Vitamin D as both a preventative of and treatment for Prostate Cancer. The results are not clear.

No. 117 SPDEF, ETS Transcription Factors and PCa

We examine the transcription factor ETS and its related pathway elements in the progression of metastatic prostate cancer. 

No. 116 Methylation, Prostate Cancer, Prognostics

August 2014 This paper examines some recent work on methylation markers and their use in ascertain prognostic measures for progression of PCa. 

No. 115 Endosomes and Melanoma

July 2014 This paper examines some recent work on Rab7 and the enosome process in metastatic melanoma cells. Endosomes may bring in nutrients that feed proliferation.

No. 114 NOTCH, miR-146a and Melanoma

June 2014 This paper examines the recent reports of the identification of a miRNA that blocks a control element, NUMB, and thus activates a transcription factor in the Notch receptor.

No. 113 Wealth

May 2014 This paper considers the recent work by Piketty and the commentary by Francis both regarding wealth and inequality. It does so in the context of the entrepreneurial economy and historical precedents.

No. 112 Prostate Cancer: miR-34, p53, MET and Methylation

May 2014 The interaction between pathway elements, receptors, methylation and miRNAs is well played out in these recent observations on PCa.

No. 111 CRISPR and Cancer

April 2014 This is a brief paper on the use of CRISPR-Cas9 complex to deal with genetic changes causing cancer. This is an interesting tool for the genomic engineering toolkit. 

No. 110 ERG and Prostate Cancer

January 2014 This is a discussion based upon some recently reported results linking aggressive prostate cancer to ERG fusion with TMPRSS2 in HGPIN.

No. 109 Reading Marx on a Cold Day

January 2014 This is a short paper examining Marx and his theories in light of the massive upheaval in means of production. Namely, following Wiener and his analysis it is clear that labor is a smaller element of anything produced and this the core assumptions of Marx should be re-examined.

No. 108 Cancer Cell Dynamics

January 2014 We have revised our work on cancer cell dynamics and placed them in a single white paper. There is both editing and new material here.

No. 107  Prostate Cancer Genetic Metrics

January 2014 We have examined and integrated studies of PCa genetic tests and we argue that many of them may be merely correlations and not causations.

No. 106 Divergent Transcription

December 2013 Divergent Transcription is the transcription of RNA segments not part of the normal process of gene to protein. Many of the RNA segments do not become proteins but do set up a network process enabling the creation of new genes. We examine this process herein. 

No. 104 Prostate Cancer and Blood Borne Markers

December 2013 There has been continuing work on blood borne markers. We discuss two approaches here based on recent work. 

No. 103 Prostate Cancer Indolence

December 2013 There has been some recent work examining the putative markers to determine prostate cancer indolence and aggressiveness. This paper examines that work and makes some detailed observations. This is a critical tool for managing this disease. 

No. 102 MDS and Methylation

August 2013 MDS is a disorder of the blood forming cells due to methylation. This paper investigates the literature and progress made in multi-tiered treatment using methylating suppressing therapeutics, bone marrow transplants and cytokine induced killer cells. 

No. 101 Exosomes and Cancer

August 2013 Exosomes a vesicles which are ejected by cells and contain RNA which may be reflective of the state of a cell's health. Recent work has shown that using exosome RNA may provide improved diagnostic capabilities in several areas of cancer detection. This paper discusses some of these issues.

No. 100 lncRNA and Prostate Cancer

long non-coding RNA is one of several epigenetic factors which can change gene expression. This short paper presents new results which show its effect in prostate cancer. This represents s significant advancement in epigenetic factors.

No. 99 SNPs and Cancer Prognostics

 July 2013 SNP and Cancer Prognostics  (July 2013) We have examined SNPs and cancer prognostics for several cases. The arguments are we believe somewhat shaky and we explain why. SNP use is general done without any causative basis and at best it is correlative but oftentimes irreproducible. 

No. 98 CCP and Prostate Cancer

CCP and Prostate Cancer  (July 2013) Recent work on using a collection of genes related to cell cycle progression, CCP, has resulted in a metric for prostate cancer prognostics. We examine this metric and in our opinion show significant concern as to reproducibility. 

No. 97 ATF2 and Melanoma

ATF2 and Melanoma  (July 2013) Multiple target genes and their products have been focused on for controlling melanoma. ATF2 is a transcription factor which is of interest because when in the nucleus it results in proliferation and when in the cytoplasm results in apoptosis.

No. 96  PD-1 and Melanoma Therapeutics

PD-1 and Melanoma Therapeutics (June 2013) There has been a great deal of development of therapeutics for melanoma utilizing the immune system against the metastatic cells. We discuss here two new therapeutics both of which target PD-1 receptors, inhibiting them and thus allowing the activation of the T cell against the melanoma.

No. 95  MER Tyrosine Kinase Receptors and Inhibition

MER TK Receptors (June 2013) is a discussion of a specific receptor and its impact on metastatic melanoma. It uses this specific pathway to discuss issues regarding inhibitors.

No. 94 Melanoma Therapeutics

Melanoma Therapeutics  (May 2013)  This White Papers discusses the many new and innovative therapeutics useful for melanoma.

No. 93 Cancer Cell Dynamics Methylation and Cancer

Cancer Cell Dynamics  (April 2013)  We extend our examination of cancer spatio-temporal dynamics and add a Markov chain model for malignant cellular transitions. From this we are able to develop a simple and closed form solvable model for the average number of malignant cells of a specific type at a specific location at a specific time. We examine the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic implications of this methodology.

No. 92 Wireless Vs. Fiber

Wireless Vs. Fiber  (April 2013)  The competition between wireless and fiber has become more intense over the past few years. In addition it can be seen in the actual deployment of fiber that companies such as Verizon have limited the deployment to high end business applications and also to the inter-connection backbone for the wireless plant. This paper examines the changes in the technology that allow for potential deployment of an all wireless plant for both residential and commercial usage. The reasons for such a change are several fold; technological, operational, and financial. Our conclusion is that technology has progressed in wireless at a high competitive manner and that bandwidth is readily available. Using wireless may now be the means to provide voice and data as well as bandwidth intensive uses such as video as well. 

No. 91 Methylation and Cancer

Methylation and Cancer  (March 2013)  We examine methylation and several cancers. There has been statements that all cancers are epigenetic and we have discussed several of these previously. One of the epigenetic factors is methylation, a somewhat understood phenomenon often seen in cancers, and often indicate as causative rather than a consequence. Recent work in anti-methylation therapeutics has raised interest here as well as preventative measures as ways to reduce methylation. methylation.

No. 90 Telomeres and Melanoma

Telomeres and Melanoma (February 2913)  Telomeres are the end points of chromosomes and they tend to shorten each mitotic doubling and are often the life limiting factor in cell lifetimes. Several researchers have discovered in a high percentage of melanomas a changed gene which creates an excess of TERT the protein that ensures Telomere survival. We examine this finding and consider some consequences.

No. 89 miRNA and Melanoma

miRNA and Melanoma (January 2013) is a brief report discussing the importance miRNA in melanoma and to a degree to other cancers. The report focuses on the growing significance of miRNAs in understanding cancer and potentially in developing therapeutics.

No. 88 Extracellular Matrix vs. Intracellular Pathways

Extracellular Matrix vs. Intracellular Pathways is a brief report discussing the importance of the ECM in cancer dynamics. It uses the recent paper from Fisher's Lab Team looking at melanoma metastasis.

No. 87 Prostate Cancer Prognostic Markers

Prostate Cancer Prognostic Markers is a brief report on some recent work detailing two papers presenting prognostic markers. The markers are mostly immune system markers for late stage PCa. They at best can tell when death is short term, 10 months, or long term, 30-36 months. It is our opinion that the result does not provide patient or clinical value. 

No. 86 Cancer Models for Understanding, Prediction, and Control

Cancer Models is a review and development of an integrated. Intracellular pathway based model along with a full body distributed propagation model of cancer cells. It links the two together and demonstrates how the constants may be determined and how the models may be used for prognostic value and treatment. The underlying cancer being considered is melanoma.

No. 85 Prostate Cancer Stem Cells

Prostate Cancer Stem Cells is an analysis of the current state of thinking of cancer stem cells as they apply to prostate cancer. The document reviews many of the current papers and provides a detailed analysis of the process of cell cycle management and control. In addition is poses a number of significant questions regarding these theories. NOTE: This paper was highlighted by MD Anderson Cancer Center, Tang Lab, in it Highlights for 2012.

No. 84 Epistemology of Cancer Genomics

Epistemology of Cancer Genomics is a study of some of the underlying principles, philosophic and otherwise, regarding the building of cancer genomic models.

No. 83 Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia

This is a study of HG PIN as a vehicle leading to PCa. We examine its genetic development and then look at the issue of cancer stem cells and HGPIN conversion. AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

No 82 Prostate Cancer: Metastatic Pathway Identification

Prostate Cancer: Metastatic Pathway Identification (February 2011) This White Paper looks at some recent work done at Dana Farber and examines it from the perspective of pathways. The work at Farber is in line with what we were looking at a couple of years ago as we saw the needs for such developments in health care and its costs management. We examine their result in the light of it being an early step as well as in needing additional development and clarification.

No 81 Backscatter Radiation and Cancer

Backscatter Radiation and Cancer (December 2010) This is a White Paper which presents an analysis of the issue of Backscatter Radiation and its impact on cancer in the human. It focuses on melanoma since the backscatter is primarily in the top 1 cm of the human exposed. It shows that there should be considerable concern regarding the widespread use of this technology.

No 80 PSA Evaluation Methodologies

Evaluation Methodologies (December 2010) This is a White Paper which develops a new PSA evaluation methodology using a system model for prostate cell growth based upon measurable constants. It uses a maximum likelihood approach and is both verifiable and predictable. The paper looks at specific examples but does not provide any clinical recommendations.

No 79 The PSA Controversy

The PSA Controversy (November 2010) This is a White Paper which looks in detail at the PSA test and the many controversies surrounding it. We argue that the development of a CMS CER process will cause significant morbidity and mortality to seniors on Medicare as a result of the confusion regarding the effectiveness of the process.

No 78 Progressivism, Individualism and the Public Intellectual

Progressivism and Individualism (August 2010) This book is a draft of a work in progress which compares neo-individualism to neo-progressivism. It attempts to place a light on the political issues of the current day by placing them in historical context.

No 77 Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: Cause and Effect

Obesity and Diabetes  (June 2010) This paper is a length analysis of the cause and effects in the chain of sequelae of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes and includes a financial analysis and discussion on policy implications.

No 75 The Rowe Conjecture and the Efficient Market Hypothesis

The Rowe Conjecture and the EMH  (February 2010) This White Paper looks at the efficient market hypothesis and bubbles employing a conjecture of Nick Rowe. It combines true market behavior with buyer perception and demonstrates cycles.

No 74 A Comparison of HR 3962 and HR 3200

A Comparison of HR 3962 and HR 3200 (November 2009) This White Paper looks at both Bills and presents details from several key sections.

No 73 Economic Dynamics of the Public Option in Health Care

Economic Dynamics of the Public Option (November 2009) This White Paper looks at the Public Option from a dynamic economic perspective including attractants and repellants for both patients and providers. It demonstrates an analytical tool which can be used to ascertain the dynamic and interactive behavior of the PO. It also shows how the CBO estimate may be well off the mark due to these factors.

No 72 Some Ideas on a Health Care Plan

Some Ideas on a Health Care Plan (September 2009) This is a White Paper which develops a Health Care Plan in a simple and straight forward manner and shows how it can be fully funded providing universal service and coverage from existing funds.

No 71 Medicare Myths and Realities: A Précis Revised

 Medicare Myths and Realities  (July 2011) This is a Revised White Paper which looks at the myths and realities of Medicare. It builds on prior work and puts in one short White Paper the main argument for Medicare and against the cynics and critics who are attacking it.

No 70 Health Care Cost Reductions

Health Care Cost Reductions  (September 2009) This is a White Paper which focuses on specific areas for cost reductions in health care. We estimate a $650 Billion dollar reduction in the 2008 health care costs which can be readily carried forward. We examine a set of specific areas and propose strategies and action plans.

No 68 Medicare: Some Facts Amongst the Fiction

Medicare: Some Facts Amongst the Fiction  (September 2009) This is a White Paper which looks at the many issues surrounding Medicare. We show that the average worker contribute 65% more to Medicare than they will ever collect. The problem with Medicare is NOT Medicare but that Congress "steal" the money which has been contributed. This is a clear precedent against ever considering a Government sponsored plan.

No 67 The FED Balance Sheet and Inflation

The FED Balance Sheet and Inflation (August 2009) is a White Paper in which we examine the current explosion in monetary base and its impact on long term inflation. We see a doubling of the monetary base with no change yet in M2 and we expect the M2 growth to explode in the next few years. Inflation well in excess of 15% is anticipated. The new proposed Stimulus, Stimulus II will exacerbate this along with the additional spending proposed by the current Administration.

No 66 Quality: A Challenge for Healthcare

Quality: A Challenge for Healthcare (August 2009) is a White Paper in which we examine the issue of quality. All the legislation purports to provide quality care but there are no definitions. Everyone BUT the patient is involved in determining quality. The Brits define quality by a single number and then ration health care accordingly. The use of that system here we believe would be a death sentence for many.

No 65 Health Care Delivery Options and Strategies

Health Care Options (May 2009) is a current White Paper which looks at the Obama and Baucus Plans and does so in the context of two philosophical schools, overall decision elements and then examines several key weaknesses, namely the Comparative Clinical Effectiveness issue and the issue of Bundling payments. The philosophical schools are the Rawls schools of Justice and the Fleck school of thought collectives. We have examined the Rawls approach a decade ago in the context of Universal service in telephony and we expand that to health care. The Fleck analysis is interesting in that it brings into question the very existence of the "facts" that are used in the underlying arguments and presents the construct of the thought collective.

No 64 Galbraithian (April 2009)

Galbraitianistic (April 2009) is a White Paper where we look at the current Administration, and indirectly others, from the eyes of a Galbraithian and attempt to deconstruct their world view and the paradigms which shape it.

No 63 Remediable Diseases (April 2009)

Remediable Diseases (April 2009) is a White Paper which examines a set of cancers which can be detected in many cases in early stages. However for many of these there is little support for ensuring that this is accomplished resulting a three times increase in health care costs due to the failure to capture at an early state. The failure to capture at a early state is an economic and psychological problem. We believe that the issue can be re-mediated by addressing both issues. Further this analysis brings out an interesting and quite important observation about almost all health care proposals, namely that they merely project the past forward assuming that there will be no fundamental change in medicine and medical techniques. We believe that for many cancers in the 2010-2030 time period that significant genetic modalities of detection and therapeutics will alter the very structure of the health care delivery system.

No 62 Cap and Trade (March 2009)

Cap and Trade (March 2009) is a recent White Paper which looks at the cap and trade proposals of the Administration. It does so by developing a simple but accurate model for the process. It shows that on one hand it is achievable if everything works but that in any political environment there will be so many counter-forces that it will suffer significant litigious lag. In addition we examine the many unintended consequences and it is this analysis which is grossly lacking for all other studies.

No. 61 Type 2 Diabetes: A Controllable Epidemic (March 2009)

Type 2 Diabetes: A Controllable Epidemic (March 2009) is a White Paper which demonstrates the potential impact an economic control of behavior can have in reducing a major health care cost. Type 2 Diabetes is caused by obesity in almost all cases. It currently, in 2008 costs, accounts for almost $275 billion annually or 12% of all health care costs. We estimate that by 2020 it will account for 25% of health care costs and is growing at 10-11% per annum. It is possible to control this at the source by taxing "carbs" as we have taxed tobacco. This paper presents the case from the perspective of the medical evidence, costs factors and economic control models.

No 58 Observations on HR1: The Stimulus Package (February 2009)

Observations on HR1: The Stimulus Package (February 2009) is a White Paper we have prepared to analyze the Stimulus Package HR1 passed by the US House last week. We wish to make several key observations. The more than $350 billion in new Appropriations are massive Pork with tails which will end up costing the taxpayer much more than the Bill itself. They will create massive un-funded mandates and there has been de minimis discussion of any of them. Second, the additions to existing Appropriations, increases in spending, of $250 billion are a mix of support and handouts. The Tax portion of $187 billion is slow to get deployed and does nothing to create a single job!

No 57 Healthcare Policy Redux (February, 2009)

Healthcare Policy Redux (February 2009) is a White Paper which reviews the current Healthcare dilemma and in turn compares some of the current plans including the Obama Plan and goes back and looks at the Hillary Healthcare Plan of 1993. The latter is a benchmark in how not to do anything. We bring up to data many of the issues make recommendations of Demand Control in Healthcare as well as Supply improvement, especially on the cost side.

No. 49 The Electronic Medical Record

The Electronic Medical Record (January 2009) This is a White Paper which looks at the proposed Obama Plan for the Electronic Medical Record, EMR, as an key element in the economic stimulus package. We argue from our more than twenty years of work in this area that an EMR is an evolving thing and that just throwing money at it may not just be a waste of money but could actually create real harm.

1990 Harvard Architecture Paper

The Harvard Architecture paper was the primary first step paper which established the Kuhn approach that we now broadly use.

Hattie F Kruger Overview