Two new studies provide more evidence tilting the balance in favor of triglycerides, rather than HDL, playing a causative role in cardiovascular disease. But it is still too early to know whether the findings of any of the studies will point to useful new methods to prevent and treat disease.
Source: CardioBrief: Studies Spotlight Triglycerides, Put HDL in the Shade | Medpage Today
There are links to other studies at the end of this Medpage article.
Take Home – Do not ignore triglycerides.
Salvage radical prostatectomy can greatly increase a man’s chance of survival when traditional radiation therapy has failed.
Source: Surgical Procedure Improves Survival Rates for Men with Prostate Cancer if Radiation Treatments Fail
Another reason to ‘pull it out as soon as is safe and reasonable’
Source: Didn’t Take That IVC Filter Out? Consider IVC Thrombosis | Medpage Today
A recent poll shows 27 percent of Americans have visited an urgent care center in the past two years. Why? Most cite convenience.
Source: Can’t Get In To See Your Doctor? Many Patients Turn To Urgent Care : Shots – Health News : NPR
Meldonium is also known as mildronate, it increases exercise capacity in athletes and the Olympic figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova admitted to testing positive to the drug on Monday
Source: What is meldonium and why did Maria Sharapova use it? | Sport | The Guardian
Rock band AC/DC postpone the rest of their US tour as singer Brian Johnson is advised by doctors he risks “total hearing loss”.
Source: AC/DC postpones US tour as Brian Johnson risks deafness – BBC News
Time for the band to hire a new singer.
Preferably younger than 68.
Welcome to peak insanity.
You might ask what does this have to do with underwriting? Great question. Here’s your answer:
Back during the savings and loan crisis in the US (yes, I’m old) I remember seeing lots of lender initiated life insurance applications to cover mortgage debt. The applications were made years after the loans were on the books. One app sticks in my mind. Like any good underwriter I asked for and received a financial statement. The valuation of the real estate seemed high to me. I told the underwriter to decline the case based on inadequate finances. I was questioned on my decision.
One of the properties (there were multiple properties listed on the balance sheet) was in the same city the underwriter lived in. I said go drive by the house and you tell me if you think it’s worth $800,000 based upon appearance and location. The next day he walked into my office.
“It’s an empty lot.”
Hey, at least there are buildings on this $7.2 million property in Vancouver!
Published online before print February 16, 2016, DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2015.65.7759 Ronald C. Chen, R. Bryan Rumble, D. Andrew Loblaw, Antonio Finelli, Behfar Ehdaie, Matthew R. Cooperberg, Scott C. Morgan, Scott Tyldesley, John J. Haluschak, Winston Tan, Stewart Justman, and Suneil Jain
lifeunderwriter.net 
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