Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo in medicine.  

The mammography wars heat up again (2012 edition) (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/the-mammography-wars-heat-up-again-2012-edition/ The benefits of mammography are confounded by issues such as lead time and length bias that make it difficult to tell if mammography saves lives and, if it does, how many. The Komen foundation continues to oversell screening mammography. Their arguments are based on oversimplification and misinterpretation of the evidence.  

ASEA: Another Expensive Way to Buy Water (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/asea-another-expensive-way-to-buy-water/ ASEA is a supplement marketed with imaginative pseudoscientific jargon. They claim it promotes health through redox signaling molecules. It doesn’t; it couldn’t possibly; it’s nothing but salt water.  

Are Berries the New Snake Oil? (Steven Novella) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/are-berries-the-new-snake-oil/ Various kinds of berries are alleged to be the latest superfood cure-all. Dr. Oz is now promoting lingonberries. There’s no supporting evidence, and the claims for benefits of antioxidants in general are questionable.  

Stem Cell Therapy Regulation Plays Catch Up (Jann Bellamy) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/stem-cell-therapy-regulation-plays-catch-up-2/ A recent court decision highlights the problems with products and procedures alleged to provide stem cell therapy but not backed by research. The court upheld an FDA injunction, agreeing that the FDA had jurisdiction to regulate these as drugs.  

Jurassic Farce (Mark Crislip) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/jurassic-farce/ A petition is being circulated to ban genetically modified mosquitoes. Sterile mosquitoes have the potential to reduce mosquito-borne diseases in humans and save many lives. Mosquito genocide would have many benefits and few downsides.