James Smoliga, DVM, PhD Profile picture
#Physiology Professor | #SportsMedicine & #Exercise Expert | Sharing #Medical & #Science news | Debunking #Pseudoscience | Used to run fast | Honey Connoisseur
Mar 3, 2022 37 tweets 17 min read
1/

The #Qcollar jugular compression device is "FDA CLEARED" to "protect athletes' brains during head impacts." @US_FDA

Does this mean that it is safe, effective, and based on sound science?

Not quite! Before you believe the company's big claims, read this full thread! Below is an index to my fully-referenced thread:

2/ A bit about what FDA cleared really means
3/ Critique of the study that got Qcollar FDA cleared
4/ Summary of problems w/ their other studies
5/ Qcollar's continued pattern of false claims
6/ Their plan to profit from taxpayers
Mar 2, 2022 4 tweets 3 min read
I say this NOT from a political standpoint, but from a medical one. #SOTU

#POTUS said $35 cap is for Type I #diabetes. Helps ~1M. That's good!

The 1 in 10 ppl have diabetes is mostly those w/Type II: 37,000,000 ppl. THAT's where high costs are!

cdc.gov/diabetes/data/… Again, NOT political, just can't help myself from trying to disentangle potentially confusing medical stats.

The common citation is how common Type II diabetes is (1 in 10), but the program is meant to address Type I diabetes costs (about 1 in 500 kids).

beyondtype1.org/type-1-diabete…
Jan 10, 2022 18 tweets 15 min read
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New research shows that only 10% #Omicron cases are in ppl who have gotten #COVID19 #Booster.

This may be MISINTERPRETED as:

"Only 10% of people w/ #BoosterDose get #OmicronVariant"

OR

#BoosterShots are 90% effective"

Not that simple! READ ON!

medrxiv.org/content/10.110… 2/

First, this is NOT a critique of the study (currently a pre-print).

Researchers at @MethodistHosp who did this provided a VERY valuable piece of info and are not making any inappropriate claims. Great work!

It's just that it's easy for public/media to misinterpret results!
Dec 15, 2021 33 tweets 17 min read
🖐️Have you ever seen those studies claiming finger length is related to health and behavior?

There's a whole field of research exploring the ratio between index and ring finger (known as 2D:4D digit ratio).

I think it's mostly #pseudoscience!

Take a few minutes and read on!👇 Before the debunking details, a disclaimer.

I care about scientific quality+integrity, & helping people understand the nuance behind abstracts & media headlines.

I'm not intending to disparage anybody personally. Perhaps some of this research is legit, but many issues w/ 2D:4D.
Mar 1, 2021 24 tweets 11 min read
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@US_FDA approved the #Qcollar jugular compression device to "protect athletes' brains during head impacts."

This decision was based on VERY FLAWED DATA and does NOT demonstrate the safety or effectiveness of the Q-collar.

Read detailed thread⬇️

bit.ly/3q9ZZJL 2/

Here is the text from the @FDADeviceInfo press release.

If you don't understand the highly nuanced #MRI technique known as DTI, these results sound straightforward and convincing.

THEY ARE NOT. Don't be fooled by these numbers!🤔

I will dissect these in the thread below. Image
Aug 10, 2019 57 tweets 35 min read
Does the woodpecker-inspired #Qcollar protect the brain & prevent #concussion?

Take 3 minutes to read this fully referenced thread presenting evidence that a jugular compression collar is unlikely to keep athletes safe

Please SHARE, help inform others!

bit.ly/QCollar Thread/2a

The #Qcollar is based on the idea that jugular compression increases blood in the brain to create a "bubble wrap" effect, which prevents the it from bouncing around inside the skull.

According to the company, this mechanism is found in Nature.
bit.ly/2KqTJvS