science friday

Science Friday

But enough about politics. Let's talk about balls.

I never knew this, but apparently in the UK, developing testes are

compared to the shapes of certain popular candies. But a harmless

redesign may have pediatricians by the short hairs. A stellar article

in the BMJ implores:

We previously reported that two chocolates -- Teasers and Truffles

-- were strikingly similar to the 8 ml bead of the orchidometer

used to assess testicular volume. We therefore suggested that they

could be used to stage puberty in males and, because of their wide

availability and low cost, commended their use.

We were recently dismayed to discover that the manufacturer has

changed the shape of both these chocolates. Both are now flat

bottomed, and even non-specialists will notice that they bear

little resemblance to testes. More disturbingly, they are no longer

much use for assessing testicular volume. Only one of six

paediatric endocrine specialists (comprising trainees, consultants,

and specialist nurses) felt confident that they could use the new

Teasers or Truffles to gauge testicular volume relative to the 8 ml

cut-off which indicates that puberty is proceeding satisfactorily.

...

This is a major setback for paediatric endocrinology, and the^

manufacturer's decision to change the sweets' morphology^ without

consulting the medical profession is a further kick^ in the Teasers

[ed: *snerk*]. Despite conveying our concerns to the manufacturer,^

we have received no clear explanation, nor any reassurance that^

this issue is being taken seriously.

The article's title? Dissent of the Testis. I'm totally in the wrong

line of work.

Posted at 9:09 AM

Filed under: Your Mom

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Mendacious D

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