In an article in the most recent issue of the Journal of the Amercian Medical Association, an article on the effect of Niacin as an HDL-raising drug in diabetic patients. The authors -- Doctors MB Elam, DB Hunninghake, KB Davis et al. -- conducted a double-blind study in which some patients received Niacin and others a placebo. Folks who take Niacin report a flushing sensation in the face, toes and fingers when they take this drug. The researchers were concerned that the absence of this flushing sensation would tip off the patients receiving the placebo, which would be a bad thing, from an experimenter's point of view. Their solution to this problem was reported as follows:
"Some of the niacin placebo tablets (15%) contained 50 mg of niacin to minimize unblinding of participants secondary to absence of flushing (a common adverse effect of niacin)."
"Unblinding"?
Is this what Jesus did for blind Bartimaeus the beggar on the road from Jericho? (Mark 10:46-52)
Is this really a word? Or just another example of Medspeak?
Father,
Not a word I use, but a legitimate one all the same:
The verb 'unblind':
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=unblindThe adjective 'unblinded':
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=unblindedThe medical usage at
http://www.smartlink.net/~martinjh/ch_glos.htm#uUNBLIND
To reveal the treatment assignment of an individual patient or group of patients to an individual or group of individuals associated with the trial (e.g., patients, study physicians, treatment effects monitoring committee) who have heretofore been denied this information.What I'd like to know is - can a window be unblinded, and if so, is it also undressed?
Way to go, Marty!
But--haven't you ever heard of 'window dressing'?
Usually only in regards to a young blond biddy attached to the arm of an older rich guy.
The Merriam-Webster definition seems not to include the usage in the JAMA article.
The medical definition looks like the real thing, however.
I am now unblinded to this usage/meaning.
Going off on a tangent here (a decidedly rare occurrence in this forum)...all this unblinded talk has reminded me of a song by Manfred Mann <blinded by the light>. Has ANYBODY ever figured out what on earth he is saying.
a song by Manfred Mann <blinded by the light>. Has ANYBODY ever figured out what on earth he is saying.
No, I've got no bloody idea, bel, and I hope someone can enlighten us. I'm sure I'm suffering from a bad case of Mondegreen here. I've always thought the next line went:
Wrapped up like a douche another owner in the night
?????
Blinded by the Light
Manfred Mann's Earth Band
- words and music by Bruce Springsteen
- Manfred Mann's Earth Band version (Warner 8252) was released August 1976
and reached #1 in early 1977. It was in the Billboard Top 40 for 15 weeks.
- lyrics as recorded by Manfred Mann's Earth Band on the 1976 album
"The Roaring Silence" (Warner 3055)
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Madman drummers bummers, Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground
The calliope crashed to the ground
But she was...
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Some silicone sister with a manager mister told me I go what it takes
She said "I'll turn you on sonny to something strong, play the song with the funky break"
And go-cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart to see if it was safe outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride
Asked me if I needed a ride
But she was...
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tired
She's gonna make it through the night
She's gonna make it through the night
------ guitar solo ------
But mama, that's where the fun is
But mama, that's where the fun is
Mama always told me not to look into the eye's of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is
Some brimstone baritone anticyclone rolling stone preacher from the east
Says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in it's funny bone, that's where they expect it least"
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner, watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone, reminding him of romance
The calliope crashed to the ground
But she was...
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light, revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night
Regarding the second line, see http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_148.html
An interesting thread Pattersteve (if I may make so bold with your name).
What ?I find fascinating about this is that they're trying out Niacin, in a double-blind experiment, against a placebo, that also contains Niacin. Is this one for the Ig Nobel Awards?
cheer
the sunshine warrior
Good point, Shanks. The authors would doubtless respond that the test subjects on "real" Niacin were gradually worked up to a point where they were taking 3000 mg/day while the placebo subjects received only 50 mg doses, which is enough to produce flushing but insufficient to improve the HDL/LDL ratio.
Thanks, padre - I was another "wrapped up like a douche" singer. I guess it has something to do with the way we non-American types tend to pronounce "deuce" - like the difference between Noo York and Nyu York. Now I just have to try to get "wrapped up like a douche" out of my head!
Words and music by Bruce Springsteen? That man gets everywhere. I wonder if anybody's ever made an album of Springsteen songs recorded by others - Patti Smith, Tina Turner, Manfred Mann etc?
Max, I'm sure being Non-American has nothing to do with your mondegreen. My own interpretation of the song included the exact same words as yours for that line. In fact, I've never come across someone who knew what that line was.
Et bien. thank-you, mon Père.
Mind you, now that I know the words I am no further ahead
. What the hell (oops, heck) is he saying.
everything you wanted to know about 'blinded by the light' lyrics (except what they mean):
http://www.kissthisguy.com/real.html
Merci tsuwm mon choux.
This has got to be one of those <we'll never know> songs, like American Pie that has, what, a million interpretations.
I've never come across someone who knew what that line wasAye to that one, xara!
It's one of those "Chinese Whispers" songs, isn't it?
Personally I'd thought the line was
Wrapped up like a blue Sherona in the night- which must mean that I first heard it after
My Sherona(which has been discussed on another thread, with amusing results, if anyone's interested:
http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Board=miscellany&Number=6311)
Everything ties up!
Everything ties up!
Synchronicity, my dear Mann.
BTW, for y'all who live in the US of A... there's a box calendar out there called "Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy", containing 365 of our favo(u)rite mondegreens.... (I can get it for ya wholesale...)
"Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy"
Now wouldn't that be perfect for Bonfire Night!
Thanks for that Anna.
Happy Fawkes Day, from across the Pond, y'all
"Chinese Whispers" would be "Gossip" (I think??) in PC American usage *stern gaze at not-so-neophyte nephew*
Cheers Auntie dear - I'm sure it'll all go with a bang!
P.S. for the uninitiated/interested, here's what we get up to locally (check out the Gallery in particular):http://www.cliffebonfire.co.ukand here's a Website that's not too bad at explaining what it's all (really) about:http://www.bcpl.net/~cbladey/guy/html/mainz.html- not as good as it used to be, but never mind.shanks - "kiss this Guy" - brilliant
Chinese Whispers(If this is a YART, it's one that spans more than 3 months, by the way)..known over this side of the Pond as an amusing party game, as it happens
Hinges on an iteration of mondegreens - as does gossip, indeed!
stern gaze<sigh>
Happy Fawke's Day, from across the Pond
from across the other(much bigger) Pond, thanks for the reminder to remember, remember, the fifth of November, gunpowder,treason and plot!
I believe, Father Steve, that the modifier "un" has been abused by more important people than medical people and Bruce Springsteen. The wordsmith "Sonny Boy" Williamson recorded these lyrics in mid-century Memphis in the song - UNSEEING EYE...
That unseeing eye, reminds me of a midnight dream.
It reminds me of somebody, that I have never seen.
Boys you had better be careful about what you might say or do.
You had better be careful boys about what you say or do.
That Unseeing Eye is always watching you.
Seems like you don't care about about places you go
Seems like you don't care what you say or do
But that Unseeing eye is WATCHING YOU.
Welcome to the board, Milum, whoever and wherever you are. I had rather thought this old thread to be dead and buried. You breathed some life back into it. Father Steve