Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
@hpolymenis.bsky.social
Professor, microbiologist, veterinarian, teacher, daughter, wife, mother, fighter for social justice, 6 1/2 year pancreatic cancer thriver, and patient advocate.
Pinned
a baby yoda holding a blue wallet with the words plan you must written above it
ALT: a baby yoda holding a blue wallet with the words plan you must written above it
media.tenor.com
By the casual comments of the admins nominees for top science posts- this is going to be super bad for US health, science and science infrastructure. I don’t see universities with plans in hand. It’s patently wrong to play the wait and see game here. They already told you they want to burn it down.
Every new ache starts a panic.
November 8, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Every new ache starts a panic.
Immunotherapy infusion 3 is complete. Awaiting side effects but feel pretty good at the moment. 👏
November 7, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Immunotherapy infusion 3 is complete. Awaiting side effects but feel pretty good at the moment. 👏
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Astrophysics Data System (ADS) User Feedback Survey
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) digital library. Your insights will help us improve the platform and better serve the scientific community. All ...
docs.google.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Hey, astronomers. Can you imagine astronomy research without ADS?!?!? No? So, have you filled out the ADS survey yet?
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Help archives help you!
(Help archives keep funding!)
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Go vote Peeps!
November 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Go vote Peeps!
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Walmart, McDonalds and Amazon are the largest employers of people who require SNAP assistance.
The CEOs earned between 18-40 million last year, 1000x their median employee income.
They took billions in profits, while their workers relied on SNAP to survive.
Wanna fix fraud and abuse?
Fix that.
The CEOs earned between 18-40 million last year, 1000x their median employee income.
They took billions in profits, while their workers relied on SNAP to survive.
Wanna fix fraud and abuse?
Fix that.
November 3, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Walmart, McDonalds and Amazon are the largest employers of people who require SNAP assistance.
The CEOs earned between 18-40 million last year, 1000x their median employee income.
They took billions in profits, while their workers relied on SNAP to survive.
Wanna fix fraud and abuse?
Fix that.
The CEOs earned between 18-40 million last year, 1000x their median employee income.
They took billions in profits, while their workers relied on SNAP to survive.
Wanna fix fraud and abuse?
Fix that.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
RFK Jr unloaded a paper into my hellsite replies to support his teen sperm count claims. I do love a vigorous evidence-driven academic debate, so LFG! Does this paper show teens only have 50% of the sperm counts of dudes his age?
SPOILER: No.🧵
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/secretary-...
SPOILER: No.🧵
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/secretary-...
October 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
RFK Jr unloaded a paper into my hellsite replies to support his teen sperm count claims. I do love a vigorous evidence-driven academic debate, so LFG! Does this paper show teens only have 50% of the sperm counts of dudes his age?
SPOILER: No.🧵
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/secretary-...
SPOILER: No.🧵
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/secretary-...
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Many thanks @mehdirhasan.bsky.social for hosting us on @zeteo.com re: our new book #ScienceUnderSiege @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @publicaffairs1796.bsky.social
zeteo.com/p/science-un...
zeteo.com/p/science-un...
‘Science Under Siege’: Two Experts Sound the Alarm on Trump’s War on Science
Acclaimed scientists Michael E. Mann and Peter Hotez on how the MAGA antiscience movement threatens the entire planet, from the climate to pandemics, and how we fight back.
zeteo.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Many thanks @mehdirhasan.bsky.social for hosting us on @zeteo.com re: our new book #ScienceUnderSiege @michaelemann.bsky.social @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social @publicaffairs1796.bsky.social
zeteo.com/p/science-un...
zeteo.com/p/science-un...
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Christ.
RIF notices also sent to the CDC’s 2023 and 2024 class of civilian EIS officers known as its main disease detectives, per sources. These are the people who are typically the first responders in an outbreak. 4/4
October 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Christ.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
October 11, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear this but the CDC is being eviscerated right now. America is not going to have any kind of outbreak response capacity after tonight. Americans’ health data is no longer secure. Say goodbye to federal public health in any capacity. It’s a disaster. We won’t recover.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
Pope Leo XIV says 'inhuman treatment of immigrants' in the U.S. isn't 'pro-life'
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
n.pr
October 11, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Pope Leo XIV weighed in on U.S. politics, saying that Catholic politicians must be judged on the full range of their policy positions and suggesting that the country's immigration policy is "inhuman."
For those following along at home, immunotherapy and a lot of radiation are kicking my ass this past week. NOT fun. I know it’s going to get easier if I can just wait out the side effects. Send pet pictures please!
October 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
For those following along at home, immunotherapy and a lot of radiation are kicking my ass this past week. NOT fun. I know it’s going to get easier if I can just wait out the side effects. Send pet pictures please!
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
I wrote a thing about how this split the MMR up into monovalents is bullshit that Andrew Wakefield cooked up. It will be used to strip access to the MMR.
The MAHA movement continues to destroy public health.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
The MAHA movement continues to destroy public health.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
The Monovalent Mirage
A pretend alternative to the MMR exists, just ask Andrew Wakefield
open.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
I wrote a thing about how this split the MMR up into monovalents is bullshit that Andrew Wakefield cooked up. It will be used to strip access to the MMR.
The MAHA movement continues to destroy public health.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
The MAHA movement continues to destroy public health.
open.substack.com/pub/rasmusse...
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
#Priorauthorization #UtilizationManagement for costly 2nd-line 💊 is understandable but nearly one-half of plans have quantity limits for generic ondansetron, a cheap ($16 for 60 8mg tabs) & effective 1st-line drug
Make this make sense.
#fixPriorAuth
@michaelannica.bsky.social
@jamanetworkopen.com
Make this make sense.
#fixPriorAuth
@michaelannica.bsky.social
@jamanetworkopen.com
Prior Authorization, Quantity Limits, and Step Therapy for Antiemetics
This cross-sectional study evaluates whether antiemetic drugs for patients with cancer who have Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace or Medicaid plans are subject to utilizatio...
jamanetwork.com
October 7, 2025 at 1:39 PM
#Priorauthorization #UtilizationManagement for costly 2nd-line 💊 is understandable but nearly one-half of plans have quantity limits for generic ondansetron, a cheap ($16 for 60 8mg tabs) & effective 1st-line drug
Make this make sense.
#fixPriorAuth
@michaelannica.bsky.social
@jamanetworkopen.com
Make this make sense.
#fixPriorAuth
@michaelannica.bsky.social
@jamanetworkopen.com
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Social worker Lauren Shaffer provides tips and insights into managing scanxiety, the worry that accompanies follow-up scans and tests for cancer patients. https://bit.ly/3FTbV0J
Scanxiety—A Nearly Universal Experience Among Cancer Patients
Social worker Lauren Shaffer provides tips and insights into managing scanxiety about follow-up scans and tests for patients.
bit.ly
October 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Social worker Lauren Shaffer provides tips and insights into managing scanxiety, the worry that accompanies follow-up scans and tests for cancer patients. https://bit.ly/3FTbV0J
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Vaccine disinformation/misinformation is as damaging as banning vaccines because it accomplishes the same thing i.e. fewer people get vaccinated as a result.
RFK. Jr's agenda doesn't need to explicitly take vaccines off shelves to meet its goals pseudoscience and misinformation are doing the job.
RFK. Jr's agenda doesn't need to explicitly take vaccines off shelves to meet its goals pseudoscience and misinformation are doing the job.
October 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Vaccine disinformation/misinformation is as damaging as banning vaccines because it accomplishes the same thing i.e. fewer people get vaccinated as a result.
RFK. Jr's agenda doesn't need to explicitly take vaccines off shelves to meet its goals pseudoscience and misinformation are doing the job.
RFK. Jr's agenda doesn't need to explicitly take vaccines off shelves to meet its goals pseudoscience and misinformation are doing the job.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
PubMed Update (no pun intended)
Publications with Pub Date
8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211
8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719
10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)
It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25
1/2
Publications with Pub Date
8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211
8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719
10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)
It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25
1/2
a man in a black vest says no bueno in front of mountains
ALT: a man in a black vest says no bueno in front of mountains
media.tenor.com
October 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
PubMed Update (no pun intended)
Publications with Pub Date
8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211
8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719
10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)
It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25
1/2
Publications with Pub Date
8/1//24 62209
9/1/24 64765
10/1/24 68211
8/1/25 61610
9/1/25 63719
10/1/25 35936 (as of 10/2/25)
10/1/25 38673 (as of 10/6/25, 8:00 AM)
It appears that ~40% of the expected number of publications are missing for 10/1/25
1/2
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Fun fact: Peyton Rous discovered the first cancer-causing virus in 1911– but didn’t receive the Nobel Prize until 1966, when he was 87 years old. It can be to be tough to be ahead of your time.
#LaskerLaureate Peyton Rous born #OTD in 1879. He was recognized for his work on the causes of cancers, the source of antibodies, and the mechanism of blood cell generation and destruction. 🧪 ow.ly/zp3b50KH2pY
October 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Fun fact: Peyton Rous discovered the first cancer-causing virus in 1911– but didn’t receive the Nobel Prize until 1966, when he was 87 years old. It can be to be tough to be ahead of your time.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Great article by a polio survivor. Salk declined to patent the polio vaccine, saying “it belongs to the people.”
"Physician-scientists are the artisans working through the night, arguing, racing, debating seemingly crazy ideas, all the while taking on complex questions to find a cure to benefit all of humankind. Vaccines are manmade miracles among us." www.thebulwark.com/p/polio-vacc...
The Polio Vaccine Was a Miracle—and We Must Not Forget It
As a polio survivor, I am a dinosaur today. My great hope is that our country’s living memory of the disease ends with my generation.
www.thebulwark.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Great article by a polio survivor. Salk declined to patent the polio vaccine, saying “it belongs to the people.”
First evening since my first immunotherapy tx (7 days in) and I’m learning to manage the fever. Tylenol and Advil in my car, in my office and in my nightstand. 😂
a man in a yellow suit is making a chemical experiment and the caption says better living through chemistry
ALT: a man in a yellow suit is making a chemical experiment and the caption says better living through chemistry
media.tenor.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:10 AM
First evening since my first immunotherapy tx (7 days in) and I’m learning to manage the fever. Tylenol and Advil in my car, in my office and in my nightstand. 😂
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Shutdown fight—to save the average American family $13k in Obamacare health insurance subsidies. GOP want to dissolve this and then allow rates to rise to any amount.
October 2, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Shutdown fight—to save the average American family $13k in Obamacare health insurance subsidies. GOP want to dissolve this and then allow rates to rise to any amount.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Very concerned about this...
"A shutdown will allow a 'backdoor impoundment'. OMB could gut the government’s capacity to administer programs it opposes. The administration could kill programs unilaterally without the inconvenience of Congress-- all perfectly legal."
www.govexec.com/management/2...
"A shutdown will allow a 'backdoor impoundment'. OMB could gut the government’s capacity to administer programs it opposes. The administration could kill programs unilaterally without the inconvenience of Congress-- all perfectly legal."
www.govexec.com/management/2...
www.govexec.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Very concerned about this...
"A shutdown will allow a 'backdoor impoundment'. OMB could gut the government’s capacity to administer programs it opposes. The administration could kill programs unilaterally without the inconvenience of Congress-- all perfectly legal."
www.govexec.com/management/2...
"A shutdown will allow a 'backdoor impoundment'. OMB could gut the government’s capacity to administer programs it opposes. The administration could kill programs unilaterally without the inconvenience of Congress-- all perfectly legal."
www.govexec.com/management/2...
Radiation to eye day 10 today! Last treatment- then we have sbrt to my pelvis and continuing immunotherapy. So far worst side effect is fever and it’s not so bad. Btw our fundraiser for #letswinpc! Had raised $4600!!! You can still donate to help us reach 5k! letswinpc.kindful.com
Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer | Kindful
letswinpc.kindful.com
September 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Radiation to eye day 10 today! Last treatment- then we have sbrt to my pelvis and continuing immunotherapy. So far worst side effect is fever and it’s not so bad. Btw our fundraiser for #letswinpc! Had raised $4600!!! You can still donate to help us reach 5k! letswinpc.kindful.com
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
thank you to all the NIH staff who stand by their duty and put in heroic efforts to get it done. I'll never forget it and will be eternally grateful.
The fiscal year ends tomorrow.
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
Here are results from NIH Reporter downloaded an hour ago.
The total amount of funding committed for FY2025 at this point is 99.0% of that for FY2024. The same difference could be due to a variety of technical factors.
1/3
September 29, 2025 at 6:31 PM
thank you to all the NIH staff who stand by their duty and put in heroic efforts to get it done. I'll never forget it and will be eternally grateful.
Reposted by Dr.Dr. Helene Andrews-Polymenis
Today is the 97th anniversary of penicillin's discovery!
Many know the story of Fleming's serendipitous find. But fewer know that the antibiotic-producing mold drifted in from a nearby lab where it was being studied during an unusually cool period that allowed it to grow.
apnews.com/today-in-his...
Many know the story of Fleming's serendipitous find. But fewer know that the antibiotic-producing mold drifted in from a nearby lab where it was being studied during an unusually cool period that allowed it to grow.
apnews.com/today-in-his...
Today in History: September 28, Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1924: First round-the-world flight 2020: Global COVID death toll reaches 1 million 2022: Hurricane Ian strikes Florida
apnews.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Today is the 97th anniversary of penicillin's discovery!
Many know the story of Fleming's serendipitous find. But fewer know that the antibiotic-producing mold drifted in from a nearby lab where it was being studied during an unusually cool period that allowed it to grow.
apnews.com/today-in-his...
Many know the story of Fleming's serendipitous find. But fewer know that the antibiotic-producing mold drifted in from a nearby lab where it was being studied during an unusually cool period that allowed it to grow.
apnews.com/today-in-his...