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To: gg cox who wrote (13806)	11/23/2004 4:06:01 AM
From: axial	Respond to of 14101

Arthritis Pills Little Use in Beating Pain -Study Mon Nov 22, 7:02 PM ET LONDON (Reuters) - Painkillers taken by millions of arthritis sufferers worldwide are actually of limited use in relieving symptoms, Norwegian scientists said on Tuesday. Researchers from the University of Bergen said their findings suggested the drugs should be used only on a short-term basis and be prescribed much more critically in future. Current guidelines in many countries recommend using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including so-called COX-2 inhibitors, for treating patients with osteoarthritis. But there are mounting concerns about their safety, following the withdrawal of Merck & Co Inc's COX-2 drug Vioxx in September due to heart attack risk. At the same time, many older NSAIDs, such as naproxen and ibuprofen, can cause gastrointestinal problems. Jan Magnus Bjordal and colleagues pooled the results of 23 previous clinical trials to find out just how useful all types of NSAIDs and COX-2 drugs were in relieving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease. Their findings, published online by the British Medical Journal, showed that the drugs reduced pain in the short term only slightly better than placebo. "We were surprised that the effects were so small. These drugs are very commonly used but their effect is below what many patients report as clinically relevant for them," Bjordal told Reuters. Given the serious adverse effects that the drugs can cause, doctors needed to review carefully whether their use was justified, he said. story.news.yahoo.com

To: gg cox who wrote (13806)	11/26/2004 2:36:00 AM
From: Cal Gary	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14101

Hi gg The recent shorts are 'pros', especially the 12 million short shares. Retail cannot short at this penny level. I suspect (fully expect) the pros are hedged with the debenture offering. Wily thinks so too. Their hedge can range, as a percentage of debenture conversion. Examples: 1. Half-hedged happens when the pro shorts half the conversion (long shares on conversion). Half-hedging reduces risk (on the short leg) without being shut out on the upside (the long leg). 2. Full-hedged happens when the pro short exactly the same number of shares as he gets on conversion. This is the safest scenario. He enjoys the debenture like a bond with a 5% coupon, the equity risk is eliminated with the short. However, being fully hedged, he misses out completely on any violent upside. The Pro remedies this as follows, if the upside is managed (some use the word 'manipulated' instead, tomatoes tomatos) by the pros, and I expect this to happen, then the full-hedge short leg is bought back; to become half-hedged to even no-hedged. The pro then participates on the long side again with the unhedged debenture. (The long side cap or wall is removed) At any time he can return to half-hedge or full-hedge stance at higher prices. This locks in his gains. If the stock $ falls, he's hedged, there is no loss. What Wily eluded to is that the pros will play this up and down to lock in gains on both the ups and downs. OTOH, this is market timing at its finest. I am sure there will be a % of pros who will dedicate time to this short term trading with large share volumes, but I bet more will take the low risk approach, enjoy the 5% and they make more on the longer swing trades. So in response, the shorts in this trading area have a lot to be concerned about IMHO, I take the view that the shorts have nothing to be concerned about if they are fully hedged. The pros have it very good. Pennsaid works and works well, and its very good too.