During a discussion over the weekend, we were commenting that next to hair cutteries and salons, blogs perhaps have the the highest "precious" factor when it comes to creative names. Well, Blogborygmi points out a whole category of naming I hadn't considered, but one that I work with every day. The cute, clever and often downright awful acronyms given to clinical and scientific trials. This is a real list, I'm not making these up.
AWESOME -- Angina With Extremely Serious Operative Mortality Evaluation
BATMAN -- BiodivYsio® BATiMastat SV stent versus balloon ANgioplasty
HeADDFIRST -- Hemicraniectomy And Durotomy for Deterioration From Infarction Relating Swelling Trial
IMPRESS -- Inhibition of MetalloProtease by BMS-186716 in a Randomized Exercise and Symptoms Study;
PROVE IT -- PRavastatin Or atorVastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy;
SHOCK -- SHOuld we emergently revascularize occluded coronaries for Cardiogenic shocK
Seriously, how can people keep a straight face at cardiology conferences?
"Oh yeah, Bob, it's easy enrolling candidates for the AWESOME study."
"Great, John. But we're under a lot of pressure in the PROVE IT trial to, you know, prove it. Hey, over there -- who's that guy?"
