Atul, who admits to being "the brash one in the pack, " was keen to study in the U.S. His dad agreed, on the condition that he get married first.

FORBES: Pipe Dreams

The study was based on data contributed by 596 patients with the disease, formally called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. By showing that the drug didn't have any effect on progression of the condition, it contradicted a small study three years ago that suggested such a benefit was possible.

WSJ: ALS Study Falls Short, But Use of Social Media Holds Promise

This study highlights the impact obesity will have on the numbers of people with the condition in the future.

BBC: Rise in obesity poses 'dementia time bomb'

The USC study began a decade ago at two Wall Street banks that granted access on the condition they remain anonymous.

WSJ: Warning: Banking May Be Hazardous to Your Health

The government tries to adjust its payments based on the perceived patient risk, but the insurance industry has figured out a way to game that system and extract even more profit by focusing on the least costly patients for a given medical condition, one recent academic study found.

FORBES: No Sequester for Corporations

The study, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2006, should shed some light on the true condition of long-term care in these countries.

FORBES: Montevideo: Unprepared

So based on one mediocre study from 12 years ago, involving only a small number of patients, for only one condition, Cohen is calling for acupuncture to become standard treatment for all cancer patients.

FORBES: Bad Medicine Infiltrates MD Anderson Cancer Center