For Immediate Release Washington D C - October 4th 2012 Contact: (202) 547-3686 TAIWANESE AMERICANS PROTEST OCAC NAME CHANGE Urge President Ma to Change Name to OTAC ("Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council") WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint letter to Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou dated October 4, 2012, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) along with 24 other Taiwanese American Organizations expressed their deep concern about the Ma administration's decision to change the name of the "Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission" to the "Overseas Chinese Affairs Council," effective September 1. The government's decision was uncovered by lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party during a question-and-answer session with OCAC Minister Wu Ying-jih on September 26 in the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan. The joint letter stated: "We strongly object to the use of the word "Chinese" in the title of a government agency whose main mission is to maintain contacts with members of the overseas community from Taiwan...The term "Chinese" is confusing, as it gives outsiders the impression that this is an organization under the control of the People's Republic of China and its Communist government. The organizations also criticized "the secretive way in which the Ma government implemented this change: without any democratic procedures, without any advice and consent by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, and most importantly, without communication with the overseas Taiwanese community. " They letter concluded: "We urge the Taiwan authorities to retain the present title of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Council, or -better yet- move forward and rename the agency as the Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council, to more fully represent the spirit of a free and democratic Taiwan." FAPA President Mark Kao, PhD. who initiated the letter, states: "As a branch of the Executive Yuan the whole OCAC institution is a redundant old KMT to begin with and should be abolished." Dr. Kao continues: "Until then, however, we need to call it what it is: an organization for cultural, education, economic, and informational exchanges between Taiwan and overseas Taiwanese, which has nothing to do with China or with Chinese." 台美人抗議僑委會更名 要求馬總統將其改為「Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council」(台灣僑務委員會) 台灣人公共事務會聯合其他24個台美人組織，於十月四日共同致信馬英九總統，表達對馬政府將「Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission」(同胞)改為「Overseas Chinese Affairs Council」(中國的)此事的強烈關切。僑委會之更名自九月一日起生效。 僑委會更名一事在九月二十六日立法院外交及國防委員會上，由民進黨籍立委質詢僑委會委員長吳英毅時才遭到拆穿。 聯名信中首先指出：「我們強烈反對任何與台灣旅外僑民相關的政府機關使用「Chinese」的稱謂…「Chinese」這個字眼會產生混淆，導致外人誤以為其是隸屬中華人民共和國這個共產政府下的組織。」 參與聯名的台美人組織也在信中批評：「馬政府沒有通過民主程序，例如徵求立法院的意見或同意，甚至事先和旅外台灣人溝通，就私自片面變更名稱的行為。」 信件最後結語：「我們強烈要求台灣當局保留中華民國僑務委員會現稱，或進一步將其改為『台灣僑務委員會』，更能完整代表台灣的民主自由精神。」 發起這封聯名信的台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「隸屬立法院的僑委會是老國民黨政權的累贅組織，應該予以廢除。」 高博士繼續指出：「然而在僑委會被廢除之前，我們應該就事論事；僑委會應該是為旅外台灣僑胞交流台灣的文化、教育、經濟、資訊的組織，跟中國及中國人一點關係也沒有。」 |
October 4, 2012 His Excellency Ma Ying-jeou Presidential Palace No. 122, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd. Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 10048 TAIWAN Dear President Ma: We, the undersigned overseas Taiwanese organizations, representing a broad section of the overseas Taiwanese community in the United States, write to you today to express our strong objection to the recent decision by your administration to change the name of the "Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission" to the "Overseas Chinese Affairs Council." We object not only to the substance of the change, but also to the undemocratic manner in which it was made. We strongly object to the use of the word "Chinese" in the title of a government agency whose main mission is to maintain contacts with members of the overseas community from Taiwan. We consider ourselves Taiwanese, and we are proud of our identity and heritage. The term "Chinese" is confusing, as it gives outsiders the impression that this is an organization under the control of the People's Republic of China and its Communist government. Aside from serving no discernible function or benefit, the reversal to an old title dating back to the period of the repressive Kuomintang regime also brings back memories of a one-party totalitarian system under martial law. This represents a setback for democracy and human rights in Taiwan, and is an insult to those courageous individuals who helped to bring about the country's momentous democratic transition less than two decades ago. Our objection also relates to the secretive way in which the Ma government implemented this change: without any democratic procedures, without any advice and consent by Taiwan's Legislative Yuan, and most importantly, without communication with the overseas Taiwanese community. Regrettably, this episode is but the most recent incident pointing to the erosion of democratic governance in Taiwan under the Ma government since 2008. Time and again, we see that this administration undermines the foundations of a young democracy that was established only 20 years ago through the sacrifice and unwavering determination of the people in Taiwan, together with us in the overseas Taiwanese community. We urge the Taiwan authorities to retain the present title of the Overseas Compatriot Affairs Council, or -better yet- move forward and rename the agency as the Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council, to more fully represent the spirit of a free and democratic Taiwan. We will also express these concerns in our communications with the US Congress and the Obama administration. Sincerely yours, Formosa Association for Public Affairs Dr. Wang Kang-Lu Memorial Foundation Greater Washington Taiwan Culture Center New York Taiwan Center North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association North American Taiwanese Professors Association North America Taiwanese Women's Association Professor Chen Wen-Chen Memorial Foundation San Diego Taiwanese Culture Association Taiwanese American Center of Northern California Taiwanese Association of America Ann Arbor Taiwanese Association Taiwanese Association of America-Boston Taiwanese American Association of Central Kentucky Taiwanese Association of America-Cincinnati Taiwanese Association of America-Chicago Taiwanese Association of America-Greater Orlando Taiwanese Association of America-Greater Washington D.C. Taiwanese Association of America-North Carolina Taiwan Center of Greater Los Angeles Taiwanese Hakka Association of America Taiwan Hakka Association of Public Affairs in North America The Formosan Association for Human Rights Word Taiwanese Congress World Federation of Taiwanese Associations |
親愛的馬總統： 謹代表旅美台灣人組織，向您表達我們嚴重的不滿。我們嚴正反對將中華民國僑務委員會的英文名稱，從「Compatriots」(同胞)改為「Chinese」(中國的)。 我們不僅反對這個片面更改名稱的行為，更反對其違背民主規範的蠻橫態度。 我們強烈反對任何與台灣旅外僑民相關的政府機關使用「Chinese」的稱謂。 我們是台灣人，也以身為台灣人並以台灣文化為傲。「Chinese」這個字眼會產生混淆，導致外人誤以為其是隸屬中華人民共和國這個共產政府下的組織。 撇除無識別度、有無利弊不談，將名字改回到國民黨高壓統治時期的譯名，讓人回想以前戒嚴時期一黨專政的蠻橫。這不僅是台灣民主及人權的倒退，對於過去二十年曾幫助台灣民主轉型的鬥士，更是種侮辱。 我們同時也譴責馬政府沒有通過民主程序，例如徵求立法院的意見或同意，甚至事先和旅外台灣人溝通，就私自片面變更名稱的行為。 很遺憾的是，這次事件不過是馬英九政府自2008年上任以來破壞台灣民主之犯行的冰山一角。這次，又讓我們再次見證馬政府如何暗中破壞由台灣人民和旅外台灣人20年來一同辛苦建立的台灣民主。 我們強烈要求台灣當局保留中華民國僑務委員會現稱，或更進一步將其改為「台灣僑務委員會」，更能完整代表台灣的民主自由精神。 同時我們也會將我們對此事的關注知會美國國會及歐巴馬政府。 連署組織： 台灣人公共事務會 王康陸博士紀念基金會 華府台灣文化中心 大紐約區台灣會館 北美台灣工程師協會 北美洲台灣人教授協會 北美洲台灣婦女會 陳文成教授紀念基金會 美國加州聖地牙哥台灣同鄉會 北加州台灣會館 全美台灣同鄉會 安娜堡台灣同鄉會 波士頓台灣同鄉會 肯達基中部台灣同鄉會 辛辛那提台灣同鄉會 芝加哥台灣同鄉會 大奧蘭多台灣同鄉會 大華府台灣同鄉會 北卡台灣同鄉會 大洛杉磯台灣會館 美洲台灣客家聯合會 北美台灣客家公共事務協會 全美台灣人權協會 世界台灣人大會 世界台灣同鄉會聯合會 |
2012年10月8日 星期一
台美人要求僑委會更名為「Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council」(台灣僑務委員會)
Legal jokes for free
A man went to his lawyer and told him, "My neighbor owes me $500 and he doesn't want to pay up. What should I do?"
"Do you have any proof?", asked the lawyer. "Nope," replied the man.
"Okay, then write him a letter asking him for the $1,000 he owes you," said the lawyer.
"But it's only $500!" replied the man.
"Precisely, that's what he will reply and we will have the proof we need," said the lawyer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The professor of a Contract Law class asked one of his better students, "If you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?"
The student replied, "Here's an orange."
The professor was outraged."No! No! Think like a lawyer!"
The student then replied, "Ok. I will tell him - "I hereby give and convey to you all and singular, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before and hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A dog ran into a butcher shop and grabbed a roast off the counter.
Fortunately, the butcher recognized the dog as belonging to a neighbor of his. The neighbor happened to be a lawyer.
Incensed at the theft, the butcher called up his neighbor and said, "Hey, if your dog stole a roast from my butcher shop, would you be liable for the cost of the meat?"
The lawyer replied, "Of course, how much was the roast?" "$7.98."
A few days later the butcher received a check in the mail for $7.98.
Attached to it was an invoice that read: 'Legal Consultation Service: $150.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The lawyer's son wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, so he went to law school. He graduated with Honors, and then went home to join his father's legal firm.
At the end of his first day at work he rushed into his father's office, and said, "Father, you know what, in one day I managed to solve the accident case that you've been working on for 10 years!"
His father responded: " You idiot, we lived on the funding of that case for 10 years!"
頭等艙的美國大兵
[這是描寫在美國坐飛機時一位乘客見到的一封信]
|
台美人要求僑委會更名為「Overseas Taiwanese Affairs Council」(台灣僑務委員會)
美國會指控 華為、中興威脅美國家安全
〔編譯陳維真／綜合報導〕美國眾議院情報委員會八日發表報告，警告美國企業應避免和中國的通訊企業「華為」及「中興」有業務往來，因為這兩家企業與中國政府的關係，會對美國的國家安全構成威脅。
情報委員會根據長達十一個月的調查，完成這個報告。報告表示，「根據可用的機密與非機密資訊，不能信任華為與中興可不受外國政府影響，因此華為與中興對美國與美國的系統造成威脅」，「中國有能力、有機會以及有動機使用通訊公司，達到惡意目的。」報告還建議，美國政府應該阻擋華為以及中興在美國的商業併購案，也要避免採購帶有華為以及中興公司產品的設備，以免遭間諜侵害。報告中指出，兩間公司都無法就公司與中國政府的關係，以及在美的營運狀況有完整的答覆。特別是華為公司對企業組織、公司沿革、歷史、財務安排與管理都無法給予完整的資訊。儘管如此不能證實公司有何非法行為，但會影響委員會的決定。
指控華為與中國網軍往來
華為與中興均否認受到中國軍方資助。不過委員會表示，華為離職員工提供公司內部文件指出，華為提供特別的網路服務給解放軍的菁英網路戰爭部隊。
委員會警告，中國製造的通訊零件與系統中的惡意軟體或硬體，可讓北京在戰爭的關鍵時刻關閉或降低國安系統的安全。報告中指出，委員會從產業專家與華為現任與離職員工取得資料，顯示華為可能涉及賄賂、貪污、歧視行為、違反著作權，委員會計畫將這些指控轉交給美國司法部與國土安全部，以進行後續調查。
華為、中興雙雙喊冤
分析家指出，眾院情報委員會在美國總統大選進入白熱化階段之際發表報告，不管是歐巴馬還是羅尼，都會以此做為理論依據，開展對中國的攻擊，以贏取美國選民支持。華為發言人普魯門否任委員會的指控，批委員會只是想轉移注意力。中興也表示「深深的不同意」委員會的指控。
華為是全球第二大電信設備供應商，中興通訊排名第五，這項報告恐怕將打擊華為與中興在美國擴展業務的計畫。中國外交部發言人洪磊表示，中國電信企業在美國投資，實現中美關係共贏的性質，希望美國尊重事實、摒棄偏見。
WASHINGTON (AP) -- American companies should avoid doing business with China's two leading technology firms because they pose a national security threat to the United States, the House Intelligence Committee is warning in a report to be issued Monday.
The panel says U.S. regulators should block mergers and acquisitions in this country by Huawei Technologies Ltd. and ZTE Corp, among the world's leading suppliers of telecommunications gear and mobile phones.
Reflecting U.S. concern over cyber-attacks traced to China, the report also recommends that U.S. government computer systems not include any components from the two firms because that could pose an espionage risk.
"China has the means, opportunity, and motive to use telecommunications companies for malicious purposes," the report says.
The recommendations are the result of a yearlong probe, including a congressional hearing last month in which senior Chinese executives of both companies testified, and denied posing a security threat.
A U.S. executive of one of the companies said the firm cooperated with investigators, and defended its business record. Huawei is a "globally trusted and respected company," said William Plummer, vice president for external affairs.
On Monday, ahead of the report's release, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said investment by China's telecommunications companies in the United States showed the countries have mutually beneficial relations.
"We hope the U.S. will do more to benefit the interests of the two countries, not the opposite," said spokesman Hong Lei at a regular briefing.
The bipartisan report is likely to become fodder for a presidential campaign in which the candidates have been competing in their readiness to clamp down on Chinese trade violations. Republican Mitt Romney, in particular, has made it a key point to get tougher on China by designating it a currency manipulator and fighting abuses such as intellectual property theft.
The committee made the draft available to reporters in advance of public release Monday, but only under the condition that they not publish stories until the broadcast Sunday of a CBS' "60 Minutes" report on Huawei. In the CBS report, the committee's chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., urges American companies not to do business with Huawei.
The panel's recommendations will likely hamper Huawei and ZTE's ambitions to expand their business in America. Their products are used in scores of countries, including in the West. Both deny being influenced by China's communist government.
"The investigation concludes that the risks associated with Huawei's and ZTE's provision of equipment to U.S. critical infrastructure could undermine core U.S. national-security interests," the report says.
The report says the committee received information from industry experts and current and former Huawei employees suggesting that Huawei, in particular, may be violating U.S. laws. It says that the committee will refer the allegations to the U.S. government for further review and possible investigation. The report mentions allegations of immigration violations, bribery and corruption, and of a "pattern and practice" of Huawei using pirated software in its U.S. facilities.
Huawei is a private company founded by a former Chinese military engineer, and has grown rapidly to become the world's second largest supplier of telecommunications network gear, operating in more than 140 countries. ZTE Corp is the world's fourth largest mobile phone manufacturer, with 90,000 employees worldwide. While their business in selling mobile devices has grown in the U.S., espionage fears have limited the companies from moving into network infrastructure.
The report says the companies failed to provide responsive answers about their relationships and support by the Chinese government, and detailed information about their operations in the U.S. It says Huawei, in particular, failed to provide thorough information, including on its corporate structure, history, financial arrangements and management.
"The committee finds that the companies failed to provide evidence that would satisfy any fair and full investigation. Although this alone does not prove wrongdoing, it factors into the committee's conclusions," it says.
In Washington, Huawei executive Plummer said Friday the company cooperated in good faith with the investigation, which he said had not been objective and amounted to a "political distraction" from cyber-security problems facing the entire industry.
All major telecommunications firms, including those in the West, develop and manufacture equipment in China and overlapping supply chains require industry-wide solutions, he added. Singling out China-based firms wouldn't help.
Plummer complained that the volume of information sought by the committee was unreasonable, and it had demanded some proprietary business information that "no responsible company" would provide.
In justifying its scrutiny of the Chinese companies, the committee contended that Chinese intelligence services, as well as private companies and other entities, often recruit those with direct access to corporate networks to steal trade secrets and other sensitive proprietary data.
It warned that malicious hardware or software implants in Chinese-manufactured telecommunications components and systems headed for U.S. customers could allow Beijing to shut down or degrade critical national security systems in a time of crisis or war.
The committee concluded that Huawei likely has substantially benefited from the support of the Chinese government.
Huawei denies being financed to undertake research and development for the Chinese military, but the committee says it has received internal Huawei documentation from former employees showing the company provides special network services to an entity alleged to be an elite cyber-warfare unit within the People's Liberation Army.
The intelligence committee recommended that the government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, bar mergers and acquisitions by both Huawei and ZTE. A multi-agency regulatory panel chaired by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, CFIUS screens foreign investment proposals for potential national security threats.
Last year, Huawei had to unwind its purchase of a U.S. computer company, 3Leaf Systems, after it failed to win CFIUS approval. However, Huawei employs 1,700 people in the U.S., and business is expanding. U.S. revenues rose to $1.3 billion in 2011, up from $765 million in 2010.
ZTE has also enjoyed growth in its sale of mobile devices, although in recent months it has faced allegations about banned sales of U.S.-sanctioned computer equipment to Iran. The FBI is probing reports that the company obstructed a U.S. Commerce Department investigation into the sales.
The intelligence panel says ZTE refused to provide any documents on its activities in Iran, but did provide a list of 19 individuals who serve on the Chinese Communist Party committee within the company. ZTE's citing of China's state secrecy laws for limiting information it could release only added to concern over Chinese government influence over its operations, the report says.
___
AP researcher Zhao Liang in Beijing contributed
2012年10月5日 星期五
咖啡因有可能增加失明的機率
Coffee Linked to Vision Loss
A new Harvard study has discovered a high incidence of vision problems among men and women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day. The research, published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, linked heavy consumption of caffeinated coffee with increased likelihood of developing exfoliation glaucoma, an eye disorder that affects about 10 percent of adults over age 50 and can lead to vision loss or blindness.
Specifically, the researchers reported that adults who drank three or more cups of coffee daily were 34 percent more likely to develop exfoliation glaucoma, compared to those who abstained from coffee. Women with a family history of glaucoma were at the highest risk, with their threat of exfoliation glaucoma soaring by 66 percent if they quaffed three or more cups of java per day.
Here’s a closer look at the study and what it means for coffee-lovers.
Coffee: The Original Wonder Drug?
What is exfoliation glaucoma?
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness in the world, affects 60 million people. It is a group of painless diseases that can damage the optic nerve, if untreated. Typically, this damage results from increased pressure within the eye, usually due to fluid buildup.
Think of the eye as a sink in which the faucet is always running and the drain is always open. A tiny gland behind the iris produces fluid to nourish the cornea and lens, then the fluid flows out of the eye through spongy tissue called the trabecular network, explains the Glaucoma Foundation.
Exfoliation glaucoma, sometimes called “exfoliation syndrome,” is marked by tiny, dandruff-like flakes building up on the lens of the eye. The flakes are rubbed off as the lens of the iris (colored part of the eye) moves, causing the spongy tissue that normally serves as the eye’s drain to get clogged. The result is increased pressure, sometimes very high pressure, inside the eye. The cause of exfoliation glaucoma is unknown, but genetics appear to play a role.
5 Secrets to Preserving Your Eyesight
How was the study conducted?
The Harvard study was the first to link heavy coffee consumption and glaucoma risk in Americans by analyzing data from nearly 79,000 women in the well-known Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and more than 42,000 men in the Health Professionals Followup Study (HPFS).
The researchers looked at men and women ages 40 or older who did not have glaucoma at the start of the study, and had received eye exams from 1980 (for women in the NHS) or 1986 (for men in the HPFS) to 2008. The study looked at health questionnaires the participants filled out about consumption of caffeinated drinks, including coffee, and their medical records (to identify cases of exfoliation glaucoma).
The analysis showed a significant rise in incidences of exfoliation glaucoma among people who drank three or more cups of coffee, but nolink between drinking other caffeinated beverages, such as soda or tea.
The Scandinavian Link
"Scandinavian populations have the highest frequencies of exfoliation syndrome and glaucoma," author Jae Hee Kang, ScD, of Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told Science Daily.
"Because Scandinavian populations also have the highest consumption of caffeinated coffee in the world and our research group has previously found that greater caffeinated coffee intake was associated with increased risk of primary open-angle glaucoma [another form of the disease], we conducted this study to evaluate whether the risk of exfoliation glaucoma…may be different by coffee consumption,” Kang added.
Watch Out For These 8 Dangerous Ingredients
Should you cut down on coffee?
As I’ve reported previously, coffee has a number of health perks, including reducing risk for superbug infections, diabetes, strokes, and breast and prostate cancer. Kang emphasizes that further study is necessary to find direct evidence that heavy consumption of caffeinated coffee is indeed a risk factor for exfoliation glaucoma.
“If [the findings are] confirmed,” she told HealthDay News, “those at risk of exfoliation glaucoma—particularly those with a family history of glaucoma—would be recommended to limit their intake [of coffee] to less than three cups per day.”
Several eye experts say that they’re not cutting down on java—at least not yet, because this type of study is not designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, variables other than drinking large amounts of caffeinated coffee may explain the apparent association with glaucoma.
10 Ways to Beat Fatigue That Are Safer than Caffeine
Who is at risk for glaucoma?
Because glaucoma is painless, many people don’t know they have it until irreversible vision impairment occurs. To detect it in the early, treatable stages, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting a comprehensive eye exam every three to five years starting at 40 and annually starting at 60.
Screening is particularly crucial if you have any of these risk factors, says the Glaucoma Foundation:
- Being over 60. You are six times more likely to develop glaucoma if you’re older than 60.
- Family history. Having close relatives with glaucoma multiples your risk by four to nine times.
- Steroid medication use. One study found that heavy use of inhaled steroids for asthma boosted glaucoma risk by 40 percent.
- Ethnicity.African-Americans are six to eight times more likely to develop glaucoma than Caucasians. People of Hispanic ancestry are also at higher risk.
- Eye injury. Blunt injuries that “bruise” the eye can lead to glaucoma, either soon after the injury or years later. Use protective eyewear for activities that may cause eye injury, such as sports like boxing or baseball, or using power tools.
1.3坪的總統套房
〈星期專論〉1.3坪的總統套房
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2012/new/jul/22/today-p1.htm
◎王美琇
這是台灣卸任總統陳水扁先生的牢房。
四面都是牆，只有一扇窗戶可以透進一些陽光。窗戶對面牆上有個柵欄小窗，看守的警衛隨時會透過小窗察看室內動靜。牆的右下角有一個老鼠洞般的小缺口，是遞送牢飯的入口。
沒有人性的總統牢房
獄方說，這個牢房有一．八六坪。但阿扁總統說只有一．三坪，因為扣掉如廁的茅坑和茅坑旁的水桶雜物置放區。這就是卸任總統在台北監獄的「總統套房」，而且是雙人房。
他上廁所的地方不是蹲式或坐式馬桶，而是中間挖一個洞的茅坑。起床時，他必須蹲在茅坑上刷牙洗臉；洗澡時，他雙腳站立在茅坑兩邊，伸手舀起水桶的水往身上淋浴。茅坑的左上角有個監視器，廿四小時監看，如廁洗澡全都錄，無所遁形。
在扣掉茅坑和置物區後，僅存的空間必須兩人對分，所以每個人實際可以使用的面積是○．六坪。阿扁總統就是在○．六坪的空間裡，睡地板、蹲著吃飯、坐著讀書、趴在地上寫文章。水泥地上雖隔了一層薄薄的木板，但冬天的寒意依舊穿透木板直逼脊骨，他必須鋪上棉被才得以驅寒入眠。
扁訴說著牢獄生活，臉上掛著有點苦澀又無奈的笑容。他的額頭暗沉、臉色黑黑的，少了以前常見的容光煥發。我問他為什麼臉這麼黑？他說是太陽曬的。以前一天只有放封半小時，一個月前因為很多立委和醫生關心，所以獄方增加到每天一小時，因此就盡量曬太陽。
也因為有太多立委和國內外醫生的關切，終於在一個月前，獄方在他的牢房對面的空牢房放了一張桌椅，讓扁在坐了近四年的牢獄後，第一次可以「坐著」吃飯和寫字。但這張桌椅只有幾小時的使用時限，時間到就必須回到他的「總統套房」。
很多探監者問獄方為何不讓扁「下工」（到工廠工作）？因為一般犯人每天可以下工八小時。獄方說，安全問題他們無法負責。安全問題？是擔心扁在工廠搞組織、搞工運嗎？因為不能下工，所以扁除了每天一小時的放封時間外，其餘二十三小時都必須蹲在一．三坪的總統套房。
扁的身心都出問題
寫到這裡，心裡有點酸楚。我試著閉上眼睛（也請你試著閉上眼睛）想像一下：如果把自己關在一個一．三坪、有馬桶作伴的浴室裡，我能夠忍受多久？……恐怕一小時我都無法忍受。可是你知道嗎？扁已經在這樣的空間生活近四年了。他沒有被關到發瘋，實在是奇蹟。
台大創傷外科柯文哲醫師說起探扁的故事。扁問柯醫師：「我能不能到長庚醫院檢查身體？」柯問他為什麼想去長庚？扁說：「我只有上次去桃園醫院就醫時有睡過床。我很想睡在床上。」聽了真是鼻酸。
因為長期監禁在幽閉狹小的空間，而且長時間趴在地上寫字，他在長庚醫院徹底檢查後，醫院的醫生和扁總統醫師團的醫師們，都異口同聲指出扁已經罹患多種疾病，包括：心臟冠狀動脈問題、高血脂症、攝護腺血塊、胃食道逆流、十二指腸前壁炎、直腸糜爛、左下肺葉塌陷、輸精管出血、關節炎、自主神經錯亂、創傷後壓力症候群、重鬱症等。
美國人權醫師團來探監後，其中一位醫師Ken
Yoneda說：「我完全無法想像一個前總統會被關在生活狀況這麼差的牢裡。這種事情在美國絕不會發生。就算前總統尼克森犯法，也沒有坐過牢。」另一位醫師Joeseph
Lin說：「扁的獄中環境非常不人道，除了診斷出的心臟和胃食道逆流等問題外，他有時會感到窒息，無法呼吸，感覺快要死掉。」
美國醫師團做出診斷結論：扁因為長期密閉監禁和壓力，有嚴重身心問題，必須立刻接受全面性治療和改善監獄環境，否則健康會持續惡化下去。
七月十二日，美國眾議員安德魯斯和龍格聯名提交一份名為「長期囚禁對台灣前總統陳水扁身心狀況的影響」報告書，給美國國會「湯姆．藍托斯人權委員會」。這份二十四頁的調查報告，敦促台灣總統馬英九基於人道考量，儘速讓陳水扁保外就醫。
全世界沒有任何民主國家，敢如此明目張膽惡整一個卸任總統，即使他有罪。不過也有很多人認為，扁案的審理過程，充滿太多違反正當法律程序的司法瑕疵。
總統職位，是國家尊嚴和榮譽的最高象徵。馬政府對待陳前總統的做法，不但是在踐踏總統名位、踐踏國家尊榮和民主價值，更是法西斯的惡質權力鬥爭︱︱利用國家機器把政敵鬥到你死我活為止。
文明的最低檢驗標準
結束探訪，和扁握手道別。走兩步，回頭看他，只見他揮揮手又摸摸膝蓋。想起他因為長期趴在地上寫字而出問題的手指和膝蓋關節。
心頭百感交集。大步走出台北監獄，耳邊輕輕響起柯文哲醫師的話：「讓阿扁病死在監獄裡，符合台灣社會的最大利益嗎？」
到底是什麼樣的政權，可以把一個卸任總統折磨到瀕臨瘋狂和垂死邊緣？到底是什麼樣的文明素養，可以讓一個民主國家的現任總統如此對待一個卸任總統？是這個現任總統馬英九先生太殘忍？還是台灣社會太冷酷無情？
台灣，是一個文明社會嗎？還是一個弱肉強食的原始森林？究竟什麼是文明？
有人說，文明的最低檢驗標準，是看你對待弱者的態度。更何況，他是被關出一身病的卸任總統。不是嗎？
心裡的疑惑、憤怒和苦悶揪成一團，融化在炎炎夏日的台北街頭。
（作者王美琇為專欄作家）
（備註：筆者擬將本文譯成英文，並與社團合作擴大社會連署，然後將連署文本和醫界連署一併寄給全世界重要媒體與人權組織，請其嚴重關切此案。）
http://www.taiwanenews.com/doc/20120802105.php
Crying out for humanitarianism
By Michelle Wang 王美琇
Four square meters. That is the size of former president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) prison cell.
There are walls on each side and only one little window to let in sunlight. On the wall across from the window, there is a small opening with bars where at any time the guards can see what is going on in the cell. In the lower right corner of the wall there is a small hole, like a little rat hole; that’s where the prison food is delivered.
Prison representatives say the cell is 6m2, but Chen only has 4.3m2 because you have to deduct the space for the toilet, the water bucket and various other items. This is the home of the former president in Taipei Prison, and it is a double.
The toilet is not a squat toilet, nor is it a water closet, it is just a hole in the floor.
When Chen gets out of bed, he must squat over the hole to wash his face and brush his teeth.
To take a shower, he has to stand over the hole, one foot on either side, reach for the ladle in the bucket and pour the water over himself. To the left above the hole, there is a 24-hour security camera that records everything he does, even when he takes a shower or uses the toilet. There is no escape.
After deducting the space that is occupied by the latrine and miscellaneous items, the remaining space is shared by two people, which means they only get about 2m2 each.
In a space of just 2m2, Chen has to sleep on the floor, eat squatting on the floor, read sitting on the floor and write his articles lying on the floor. Although there is a thin wooden tiling, the winter cold seeps into the bones and Chen needs a thick quilt to keep warm and get to sleep.
When Chen talks about life in prison, his smile is marked by frustration and bitterness. His forehead and face are dark, lacking the radiance that was so often there in the past. When I ask him why his face is so dark, he says it’s sunburn.
In the past, he was only allowed out for half an hour a day, but after legislators and doctors started to express concern, that was increased to one hour a day, and he now gets as much sun as he can.
As a result of the concern shown by many legislators and physicians both in Taiwan and abroad, one month ago the prison administration finally placed a desk and a chair in the empty cell across from Chen’s cell. For the first time in four years of prison life, he can now sit down to eat his food and to write, although he is only allowed to use the desk for a few hours at a time.
When the time is up, he must return to his “presidential suite.”
Many visitors ask why the prison administration does not let Chen work in the prison factory, as “normal” criminals work there eight hours a day.
However, prison officials say it is because they cannot guarantee it will be safe. Safe for who? Are they afraid that he will organize the other prisoners and start a labor union?
Since Chen cannot work in the factory, with the exception of the one hour he gets to spend outside every day, he spends most of the time squatting on the floor in his 4m2 presidential suite.
At this point, I am filled with sorrow. I am closing my eyes (you should, too) and trying to imagine what it would be like to be locked up in a tiny bathroom with nothing but a toilet and trying to imagine how long I would be able to stand it. Probably not even an hour.
Chen has lived in this space for four years now. It is almost unbelievable that he hasn’t lost his mind yet.
Ko Wen-che (柯文哲), a doctor of thoracic surgery and trauma at National Taiwan University Hospital, talked about his examination of the former president.
Chen asked if he could get a physical examination at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. When Ko asked why he wanted to go to that hospital, Chen said: “The last time I have slept in a bed was when I went to Taoyuan General Hospital for a check-up. I really want to sleep in a bed.”
As a result of having been locked up in a small dark space and lying on the floor for so long, the doctors at Taoyuan General Hospital and the doctors on Chen’s medical team followed up on the thorough medical check received at the hospital by saying that Chen had contracted several illnesses, including coronary artery problems, hyperlipidemia, prostate blood clots, gastroesophageal reflux disease, duodenal wall inflammation, rectal erosion, a collapsed left lower lung lobe, bleeding vas deferens, arthritis, autonomic nerve disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and major depression.
One of the members of the US team of human rights doctors that visited Chen, Ken Yoneda, said after the visit that he found it unimaginable that a former president would be locked up in a prison with such low living standards. Joseph Lin, another member of the team, said the environment in Chen’s cell was inhumane and that in addition to having been diagnosed with heart and gastroesophageal problems, Chen also said that he sometimes felt like he was choking and that he was about to die.
The US medical team concluded that Chen was suffering from serious physical and mental problems caused by long-term isolation, monitoring and stress and that he needed immediate and comprehensive medical treatment and an improved prison environment otherwise his health would continue to deteriorate.
On July 12, US senators Robert Andrews and Dan Lungren presented a report titled The Effects of Incarceration on the Mental and Physical Health of Former President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. The 24-page report strongly urged President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to grant medical parole to Chen on humanitarian grounds.
No democracy around the world would dare treat a former president in such a brazenly evil manner, even one guilty of committing a crime, and there are also many people who believe the trials that found Chen guilty were marked by judicial flaws and violations of the due course of law.
The presidency is a symbol of national dignity and honor. The Ma administration’s treatment of Chen not only tramples all over the presidency, national dignity, honor and democratic values, it is also a sign of fascist-style power struggle — using the state apparatus to suppress a political enemy.
After I finished the interview and said goodbye to Chen, I took two steps, and then turned around to look at him. I saw how he waved and touched his knee. It reminded me that he has developed joint problems in his fingers and his knees after spending such a long time writing lying on the floor. My head spun with emotions.
Walking out of the prison, something Ko had said rang in my ears: “Is it really in Taiwan’s best interest to let Chen die in prison?”
What kind of regime would let a former president suffer so much that he is on the verge of losing his mind and close to dying? What would make the incumbent president of a democracy treat a predecessor in this way? Is Ma a cruel person or is it that Taiwanese society itself is cruel and heartless?
Is Taiwan a civilized country or is it a country ruled by the law of the jungle? What does civilization even mean?
Some say the most fundamental standard for judging a civilization is how it treats its weak and disadvantaged. Aren’t we now mistreating a sick and weak former president?
Confused, angry and dejected, I continued down the streets of Taipei, scorching in the summer heat.
Michelle Wang is a political commentator.
Translated by Perry Svensson
Taipei Times 2012-08-02
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2012/08/02/2003539220/1
類固醇注射藥劑汙染導致致命的黴菌腦膜炎 Aspergilus meningitis
ASPERGILLUS MENINGITIS - USA (03): CONTAMINATED DRUG
****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
[1]
Date: Fri 5 Oct 2012
Source: NBC News, Associated Press (AP) report [edited]
<http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14241074-hundreds-may-be-at-risk-in-meningitis-outbreak?lite>
The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at
least 5 people widened dramatically Thu 4 Oct 2012, as health
officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got
steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk. Clinics and
medical centers rushed to contact patients who may have received the
apparently fungus-contaminated shots and the FDA urged doctors not to
use any products at all from the Massachusetts pharmacy that supplied
the suspect steroid solution. It is not clear how many patients
received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will
get sick.
So far, 35 people in 6 states -- Tennessee (25), Virginia (4),
Maryland (2), Florida (2), North Carolina (1) and Indiana (1) -- have
contracted fungal meningitis, and 5 of them have died, according to
the CDC. All had received steroid shots for back pain, a highly common
treatment.
In an alarming indication the outbreak could get a lot bigger,
Massachusetts health officials said the pharmacy involved, the New
England Compounding Center [NECC] of Framingham, MA, has recalled 3
lots consisting of a total of 17 676 single-dose vials of the steroid,
preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate. An unknown number of
those vials reached 75 clinics and other facilities in 23 states
between July 2012 and September 2012, federal health officials said.
Several hundred of the vials, maybe more, have been returned unused, a
Massachusetts official said.
But many other vials were used. At a clinic in Evansville, Indiana,
more than 500 patients got injections from the suspect lots, officials
said. At 2 clinics in Tennessee, more than 900 patients, perhaps many
more, did.
The investigation began about 2 weeks ago after a case was diagnosed
in Tennessee. The time from infection to onset of symptoms is anywhere
from a few days to a month, so the number of people stricken could
rise.
Investigators this week found contamination in a sealed vial of the
steroid at the New England company, according to FDA officials. Tests
are under way to determine if it is the same fungus blamed in the
outbreak. The company has shut down operations and said it is working
with regulators to identify the source of the infection.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we advise all health care
practitioners not to use any product" from the company, said Ilisa
Bernstein, director of compliance for the FDA's Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research.
The type of fungal meningitis involved is not contagious like the more
common forms. It is caused by a fungus often found in leaf mold and is
treated with high-dose antifungal medications, usually given
intravenously in a hospital. The common mold _Aspergillus_ was
cultured from 5 patients, the CDC said Thursday [4 Oct 2012].
The New England company is what is known as a compounding pharmacy.
These pharmacies custom-mix solutions, creams, and other medications
in doses or in forms that generally aren't commercially available.
Other compounding pharmacies have been blamed in recent years for
serious and sometimes deadly outbreaks caused by contaminated
medicines. Compounding pharmacies are not regulated as closely as drug
manufacturers, and their products are not subject to FDA approval.
A national shortage of many drugs has forced doctors to seek
custom-made alternatives from compounding pharmacies. The New England
company at the center of the outbreak makes dozens of other medical
products, state officials said. But neither the company nor health
officials would identify them.
The company said in a statement Thursday [4 Oct 2012] that despite the
FDA warning, "there is no indication of any potential issues with
other products." It called the deaths and illnesses tragic and added:
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone employed by NECC are with those
who have been affected."
A 2011 state inspection of the Framingham facility gave the business a
clean bill of health.
[Byline: Mike Stobbe]
- --
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
類固醇止痛劑污染 美5死，至少35人感染真菌性腦膜炎
〔編譯俞智敏／綜合五日外電報導〕美國衛生官員警告說，由麻州「新英格蘭藥品調劑中心」（ＮＥＣＣ）所供應的一種治療背痛用的類固醇遭真菌污染，注射這種藥物的患者至少有三十五人感染真菌性腦膜炎，已有五人死亡。
據聯邦衛生官員表示，今年七月至九月間有數目不詳的類固醇藥瓶被送到二十三州的七十五間診所和醫療機構，印地安那州艾文斯維市的一間診所就有逾五百人恐已注射了這批問題藥物，田納西州的兩間診所更有逾九百人接受注射。目前田納西州感染病例達二十五人最多，並包括三名死亡病例，維吉尼亞和馬里蘭州也有患者不治。
衛生當局警告說，全美二十三州恐有數百、甚至數千人有遭到感染的風險。但目前並不清楚曾注射問題藥物的患者人數，也無法確知這些患者是否都會受感染。
據美國疾病管制與預防中心（ＣＤＣ）指出，已知包括田納西、維吉尼亞、馬里蘭、佛羅里達、北卡羅萊納及印地安那等六州共三十五人感染了真菌性腦膜炎，並有五人死亡，這些患者都曾因背痛接受類固醇藥劑注射這種常見的療法。不過這種真菌性腦膜炎並不會傳染，而且可透過靜脈注射高劑量的抗黴菌藥物治療。ＣＤＣ指出，從感染到症狀出現的時間可能從數天到一個月，因此受感染的人數恐繼續上升。涉案藥局也已暫停所有作業。
美處方調劑藥物 不像藥廠受到嚴格規範
藥品調劑中心負責依醫師處方來調劑特製藥物，並不像藥廠受到嚴格規範，所調製的藥品也不需經美國食品藥物管理局（ＦＤＡ）同意即可上市。過去數年來也曾有類似案件，但由於美國許多藥品短缺，迫使醫師不得不使用由這些藥局特別調製的藥品。
****************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>
[1]
Date: Fri 5 Oct 2012
Source: NBC News, Associated Press (AP) report [edited]
<http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/05/14241074-hundreds-may-be-at-risk-in-meningitis-outbreak?lite>
The potential scope of the meningitis outbreak that has killed at
least 5 people widened dramatically Thu 4 Oct 2012, as health
officials warned that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of patients who got
steroid back injections in 23 states could be at risk. Clinics and
medical centers rushed to contact patients who may have received the
apparently fungus-contaminated shots and the FDA urged doctors not to
use any products at all from the Massachusetts pharmacy that supplied
the suspect steroid solution. It is not clear how many patients
received tainted injections, or even whether everyone who got one will
get sick.
So far, 35 people in 6 states -- Tennessee (25), Virginia (4),
Maryland (2), Florida (2), North Carolina (1) and Indiana (1) -- have
contracted fungal meningitis, and 5 of them have died, according to
the CDC. All had received steroid shots for back pain, a highly common
treatment.
In an alarming indication the outbreak could get a lot bigger,
Massachusetts health officials said the pharmacy involved, the New
England Compounding Center [NECC] of Framingham, MA, has recalled 3
lots consisting of a total of 17 676 single-dose vials of the steroid,
preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate. An unknown number of
those vials reached 75 clinics and other facilities in 23 states
between July 2012 and September 2012, federal health officials said.
Several hundred of the vials, maybe more, have been returned unused, a
Massachusetts official said.
But many other vials were used. At a clinic in Evansville, Indiana,
more than 500 patients got injections from the suspect lots, officials
said. At 2 clinics in Tennessee, more than 900 patients, perhaps many
more, did.
The investigation began about 2 weeks ago after a case was diagnosed
in Tennessee. The time from infection to onset of symptoms is anywhere
from a few days to a month, so the number of people stricken could
rise.
Investigators this week found contamination in a sealed vial of the
steroid at the New England company, according to FDA officials. Tests
are under way to determine if it is the same fungus blamed in the
outbreak. The company has shut down operations and said it is working
with regulators to identify the source of the infection.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we advise all health care
practitioners not to use any product" from the company, said Ilisa
Bernstein, director of compliance for the FDA's Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research.
The type of fungal meningitis involved is not contagious like the more
common forms. It is caused by a fungus often found in leaf mold and is
treated with high-dose antifungal medications, usually given
intravenously in a hospital. The common mold _Aspergillus_ was
cultured from 5 patients, the CDC said Thursday [4 Oct 2012].
The New England company is what is known as a compounding pharmacy.
These pharmacies custom-mix solutions, creams, and other medications
in doses or in forms that generally aren't commercially available.
Other compounding pharmacies have been blamed in recent years for
serious and sometimes deadly outbreaks caused by contaminated
medicines. Compounding pharmacies are not regulated as closely as drug
manufacturers, and their products are not subject to FDA approval.
A national shortage of many drugs has forced doctors to seek
custom-made alternatives from compounding pharmacies. The New England
company at the center of the outbreak makes dozens of other medical
products, state officials said. But neither the company nor health
officials would identify them.
The company said in a statement Thursday [4 Oct 2012] that despite the
FDA warning, "there is no indication of any potential issues with
other products." It called the deaths and illnesses tragic and added:
"The thoughts and prayers of everyone employed by NECC are with those
who have been affected."
A 2011 state inspection of the Framingham facility gave the business a
clean bill of health.
[Byline: Mike Stobbe]
- --
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
Fungal Meningitis Outbreak Grows, 5 Dead
Posted: 10/04/2012
October 4, 2012 — Federal health officials warned healthcare providers Thursday to immediately stop using any products from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts, the company that made the injectable medication linked to a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis that appears to be growing.
"We are urging health providers to check their drug supply and purchase records to determine if they have purchased any products from NECC, immediately discontinue use and isolate those products from their supply," Ilisa Bernstein, PharmD, JD, director of the Office of Compliance, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said during a telephone briefing with reporters.
On September 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was notified by the Tennessee Department of Health of a patient with the onset of meningitis roughly 19 days after epidural steroid injection at a Tennessee ambulatory surgery center. All initial cultures for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were negative for any potential infection. Subsequently, the patient had a fungus isolated from CSF by fungal culture.
On September 28, investigators identified a similar case outside of Tennessee, "possibly indicating contamination of a widely distributed medication," Benjamin Park, MD, medical officer of the Mycotic Diseases Branch at CDC said.
As of October 4, a total of 35 cases in 6 states have been identified with a clinical picture consistent with fungal infection. At least 5 patients have died. Fungus has been identified from specimens in a total of 5 patients so far.
All infected patients received preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate from 3 now-recalled lots of the steroid injection compounded and distributed by NECC.
Dr. Bernstein reported that FDA has detected fungal contamination by direct microscopic examination of particulate matter taken from a sealed vile of methylprednisolone acetate injection collected from NECC. "FDA is in the process of further identifying the fungal contaminate. Foreign material has also been observed in other vials produced by the company that were collected by FDA during an inspection. Additional microbial testing is underway," she said.
Ongoing Investigation
"As of October 3, NECC has voluntarily shut down all operations and expanded its recall to include all methylprednisolone acetate prepared by NECC as well as all other drug products for intrathecal administration prepared by NECC. FDA will post this expanded recall on our website as soon as it is available," Dr. Bernstein added.
"While these are significant steps toward containing the potentially contaminated drug products, out of abundance of caution, FDA is taking the additional steps of advising health care providers not to use any product that originated from NECC until the investigation into the source of the outbreak is complete and further information is provided," Dr. Bernstein said.
She emphasized that the investigation into the source of the outbreak is ongoing, but given the severity of the illnesses seen so far, "we believe these precautionary measures are warranted to protect the public health."
Dr. Park report reported that infected patients have typically presented 1 to 4 weeks after injection with a variety of symptoms, including fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and/or new symptoms consistent with stroke.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers to contact all patients who received steroid injections using product from any of the 3 recalled lots to determine whether they are having symptoms. "Patients may be experiencing mild symptoms not typical of meningitis. Even patients with mild symptoms should be evaluated immediately," Dr. Park said.
Furthermore, although the CDC is aware only of infections occurring in patients who received epidural steroid injections, people who received other types of injections of methylprednisolone acetate from the 3 lots should also be contacted to assess for signs of infection, Dr. Park said.
"This is an ongoing investigation," Dr. Park said, "and unfortunately, despite the current recall, we expect to see additional cases as this investigation unfolds. However, it is possible that if patients are identified soon and started on appropriate antifungal therapy some of the unfortunate consequences may be averted."
About 75 facilities in 23 states have received shipments of the potentially contaminated steroid product from NECC: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia.
CDC and FDA are continuing to work with state health departments on this "challenging investigation," Dr. Park said.
© 2012
Medscape Medical News © WebMD, LLC
Heartwire © WebMD, LLC
WebMD Health News © WebMD, LLC
Reuters Health Information ©
Send comments and news tips to news@medscape.net.
全新機轉的抗葡萄球菌藥劑--Brilacidin
Member of New Antibiotic Class Treats Staph Skin Infections
October 4, 2012 (San Francisco, California) — A phase 2 trial has found brilacidin, a new drug in a novel class of antibiotics, to be effective and safe for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Daniel Jorgensen, MD, MPH, MBA, an infectious disease physician and senior vice president and chief medical officer of PolyMedix in Radnor, Pennsylvania, reported the results in a poster session here at the 52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
In this double-blind active-comparator study conducted at 21 sites in Canada, Russia, and Ukraine, 215 patients with ABSSSI and evidence of methicillin-sensitive or methicillin-resistant S aureus were randomized to receive daptomycin for 7 days or 1 of 3 doses of brilacidin: an intravenous (IV) loading dose on day 1 of 0.40 mg/kg (low-dose group), 0.75 mg/kg (medium-dose group), or 1.0 mg/kg (high-dose group), followed by 4 days of IV brilacidin at 0.30 to 0.35 mg/kg and then 2 days of placebo.
The researchers performed efficacy and safety assessments during treatment (day 2/3), at the end of treatment (day 7/8), as a test of cure (days 10 to 14), and on long-term follow-up (day 28). Serial photographs of skin lesions were reviewed by trained infectious disease physicians to confirm the evaluations at all time points.
Effective at All Doses
Efficacy, whether defined by the criteria of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the trial sponsor, was very good, according to the researchers. The FDA criteria included cessation of spread of erythema, edema, and induration; no increase in lesion size; and the absence of fever. Sponsor-defined criteria included a decrease in lesion size and signs and symptoms, and no additional surgery to treat the infection after day 1. Both sets of criteria included no additional antibacterial drugs (although the cut-off time for their use was different).
Using the sponsor's definition, clinical response rates ranged from 91.4% to 97.5% on day 2/3, and from 80.0% to 97.4% on day 28 in the 3 brilacidin groups. For daptomycin, the clinical response rate was 91.5% on day 2/3 and 93.6% on day 28.
Sponsor-Defined Clinical Response Rates in the Brilacidin and Daptomycin Groups
| Time of Assessment | Low-Dose Brilacidin, % (n = 40) | Medium-Dose Brilacidin, % (n = 35) | High-Dose Brilacidin, % (n = 39) | Daptomycin, % (n = 47) |
| Day 2/3 | 97.5 | 91.4 | 92.3 | 91.5 |
| Day 7/8 | 92.5 | 94.3 | 97.4 | 95.7 |
| Days 10–14 | 92.5 | 91.4 | 97.4 | 95.7 |
| Day 28 | 87.5 | 80.0 | 97.4 | 93.6 |
Dr. Jorgensen explained that the 95% confidence intervals for the clinical response rates of the brilacidin and daptomycin groups overlapped. "That gives us a lot of flexibility in terms of bringing [the brilacidin] dose down and shortening the course of therapy, maximizing efficacy and minimizing any adverse events," he told Medscape Medical News.
Graphs of time to complete clinical response and time to fever resolution showed essentially overlapping lines for all 3 doses of brilacidin and for daptomycin. Complete clinical responses began on day 4 and continued to rise until day 28. Time to fever resolution began on day 1 and peaked at greater than 90% by day 4/5.
The most common treatment-related adverse events with brilacidin were numbness and tingling (including paresthesias and similar sensory disturbances), with 65% of patients in the low- and medium-dose groups and 87% of those in the high-dose group affected.
The researchers describe the events as transient and mild, and indicated that they did not lead to any discontinuations. Only 1 of 55 patients (1.8%) in the daptomycin group experienced numbness and tingling. Excluding numbness and tingling, treatment-related adverse events occurred in 5.6% to 9.6% of patients in the brilacidin groups and in 10.9% of those in the daptomycin group.
In the brilacidin groups, 1.9% of patients in the low-dose group, 3.7% in the medium-dose group, and 5.6% in the high-dose group experienced elevated systolic blood pressure. In the daptomycin group, no patients did. The elevated blood pressures resolved in less than 24 hours. Geographic clustering of patients with elevated blood pressure at 2 sites has prompted the researchers to evaluate possible methodological errors.
Fifteen patients discontinued brilacidin because of a treatment-related serious or other adverse events. There were no discontinuations in the daptomycin group.
There was no evidence of liver or kidney toxicity, no deaths, and no prolongation in the QTc interval with brilacidin, Dr. Jorgensen said.
The researchers conclude that 5 days of brilacidin administered at any of the doses is safe and produces early and sustained clinical response rates equivalent to those seen with daptomycin in the treatment of ABSSSI.
Future studies will explore lower doses and shorter courses of brilacidin. "It has a longer half-life than most antibiotics [16 to 22 hours], and it has what we call a postantibiotic effect," Dr. Jorgensen noted. Because of its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, it might be possible to front-load the dose and shorten treatment, he explained.
Brilacidin is one of a series of small-molecule defensin mimetics that PolyMedix is developing. "Basically, it's a synthetic mimic of our body's own host defense proteins," Dr. Jorgensen told Medscape Medical News. Protein-based defensin mimetics have been tried previously, but they are difficult to develop. He said this compound is the first involving a nonpeptide small molecule. Beyond its antibiotic properties, brilacidin has antiinflammatory and antibiofilm properties, Dr. Jorgensen said.
After viewing the poster, Jesús Rodríguez-Baño, MD, PhD, professor and head of infectious diseases at the Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena and the University of Seville in Spain, told Medscape Medical News that brilacidin is "not only a new drug, it also has a new mechanism of action."
He said that skin and soft tissue infections "are the easy infections for all drugs.... It would be very attractive to see if it works in other types of infections, not only skin and soft tissue."
Dr. Rodríguez-Baño cautioned that data from phase 3 trials are needed, "but this is a very, very interesting start for a new era in antibiotic therapy."
This trial was sponsored by PolyMedix. Dr. Jorgensen is an employee of PolyMedix. Dr. Rodríguez-Baño has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
52nd Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC): Abstract L1-1662. Presented September 11, 2012.
Medscape Medical News © 2012 WebMD, LLC
Send comments and news tips to news@medscape.net.
2012年10月2日 星期二
新的致命性coronavirus (屬於SARS一類)，似乎不太容易人傳人
New Virus Not Spreading Easily Between People: WHO
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) Sep 28 - A new and potentially fatal virus, from the same family as SARS, which was discovered in a patient in London last week appears not to spread easily from person to person, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
In an update on the virus, which has so far killed a Saudi man and made a patient from Qatar critically ill, the United Nations health agency said it was working with international partners to understand the public health risk better.
"From the information available thus far, it appears that the novel coronavirus cannot be easily transmitted from person-to-person," it said in a statement.
The WHO put out a global alert on Sunday saying a new virus had infected a 49-year-old Qatari who had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia, where another man with the same virus had died.
The Qatari was described as critically ill on Tuesday and is being treated in a London hospital. No new confirmed cases of infection with the virus have since been reported, the WHO said.
The new virus shares some of the symptoms of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, another coronavirus, which emerged in China in 2002 and killed around a tenth of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide.
Both patients who have so far been confirmed with the virus suffered kidney failure.
SEVERITY
"Given the severity of the two laboratory confirmed cases, WHO is continuing to monitor the situation in order to provide the appropriate response, expertise and support to its member states," the WHO statement said.
Scientists at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors disease in the European Union, said initial virology results and the separation in time of the only two confirmed cases suggest the infection may have come from animals. Such diseases are known as zoonoses.
"(It) is quite probably is of zoonotic origin and different in behavior from SARS," the scientists wrote in a "rapid communication" study in the online journal Eurosurveillance.
The WHO's clinical guidance to its 194 member states says health workers should be alert to anyone with acute respiratory syndrome and requiring hospitalization who had been in the Middle East where the virus was found or in contact with a suspected or confirmed case within the previous 10 days.
The U.N. agency has not recommended any travel restrictions in connection with the new virus, but said it was working closely with Saudi authorities on health measures for Muslims making the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Health experts said rapid progress has already been made in figuring out the nature and genetic makeup of the new coronavirus, and in the development of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests.
The WHO said it is working with laboratories in various countries to make these tests available as quickly as possible.
Reuters Health Information © 2012
2012年10月1日 星期一
美眾議員呼籲「美國和平研究所」設置「台灣安全分析中心」
Formosan Association for Public Affairs 552 7th Street. SE. Washington, DC 20003, USA | |
For Immediate Release Washington D C - October 1st 2012 Contact: (202) 547-3686
U.S. Representative urges USIP to set up Center for Taiwan Security Analysis WASHINGTON (October 1st 2012) -- In a letter dated September 28, 2012 to John Marshall, incoming president of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), a non-partisan center for the study of conflict prevention created by the U.S. Congress in 1984. Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) asked Marshall to establish new Center for Taiwan Security Analysis within the USIP. Rep. Andrews wrote to Marshall that: "Even though Taiwan is a sovereign independent country today, its citizens live in the shadow of over 1,600 short- and medium-range ballistic missiles aimed by the PRC. The PRC still refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan, continues to claim Taiwan as a renegade province, and in 2005 passed an 'Anti-Secession Law' mandating military action if Taiwan moves toward formal de jure independence."
The letter continued: "In light of the growing military imbalance across the Taiwan Strait and the continuing threat posed by the PRC, it is imperative that the United States seeks ways to reduce the probability of armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait, which remains a major global flashpoint."
Andrews concluded: "As you assume your new position at the helm of the USIP, I encourage you to establishment of a "Center for Taiwan Security Analysis" within the Institute with the goal of conducting in-depth analysis on the U.S.-China-Taiwan relationship from a conflict-prevention lens."
FAPA President Mark Kao, Ph.D. states: "The USIP is world-renowned for its work to prevent or end violent conflict around the world, and there are few places where its insights and analyses are needed more than in the Taiwan Strait."
Dr. Kao adds: "As recent events in East Asia have underscored the fragility of peace and stability in the waters surrounding Taiwan, it becomes clear that the protection of U.S. interests requires a better understanding of the complex sources of potential conflict in the Asian Pacific region."
| |
美眾議員呼籲「美國和平研究所」設置「台灣安全分析中心」
紐澤西州民主黨眾議員安德魯斯（Robert Andrews） 於九月二十八日致函即將上任的 「美國和平研究所」 （USIP）所長馬歇爾（John Marshall）， 籲其於所內設置一 「台灣安全分析中心」。 USIP為一超黨派機構， 於一九八四年由美國國會所成立， 專責衝突預防研究。
| |
The Hon. Jim Marshall, President September 28, 2012 |
訂閱：
文章 (Atom)