...Marcia Angell's article suggests that the research community should amplify their commitment and practice of the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Health Organization. Suggesting the use of a placebo group for the control experiment in clinical trials infringes ethical standards. She infers that ethical principles are challenged and dodged by sponsoring agencies instead of compliance, as well as enforcement of the code of ethics. Harold Varmus and David Satcher acknowledge the difficulties involved in conducting medical research but disagree, defending the trials adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki. Also endorsing the observance of the Belmont report principles. Angell recognizes the temptations of overlooking ethical standards...
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...ntroduction The Aloe vera plant has been known and used for centuries for its health, beauty, medicinal and skin care properties. The name Aloe vera derives from the Arabic word “Alloeh” meaning “shining bitter substance,” while “vera” in Latin means “true.” 2000 years ago, the Greek scientists regarded Aloe vera as the universal panacea. The Egyptians called Aloe “the plant of immortality.” Today, the Aloe vera plant has been used for various purposes in dermatology. History Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes in several cultures for millennia: Greece, Egypt, India, Mexico, Japan and China.1 Egyptian queens Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes. Alexander the Great, and Christopher Columbus used it to treat soldiers’ wounds. The first reference to Aloe vera in English was a translation by John Goodyew in A.D. 1655 of Dioscorides’ Medical treatise De Materia Medica.2 By the early 1800s, Aloe vera was in use as a laxative in the United States, but in the mid-1930s, a turning point occurred when it was successfully used to treat chronic and severe radiation dermatitis.2 Plant The botanical name of Aloe vera is Aloe barbadensis miller. It belongs to Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family, and is a shrubby or arborescent, perennial, xerophytic, succulent, pea- green color plant. It grows mainly in the dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe and America. In India, it is found in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil...
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...Anti-fibrosing treatments have failed to demonstrate any benefit and cyclophosphamide, which has been used for many years ,has been evaluated in two prospective randomised studies which showed a significant but modest effect on pulmonary function. (72) A multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide(CYC) followed by oral azathioprine for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma did not demonstrate significant improvement in the primary or secondary end points(Primary outcome measures were change in percent predicted forced vital capacity and change in DLCO,secondary outcome measures included changes in appearance on HRCT and dyspnea scores) in the active treatment group versus the group receiving placebo.(73) Many of the...
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...S0895-4356(97)00203-5 The Powerful Placebo Effect: Fact or Fiction? Gunver S. Kienle* and Helmut Kiene ¨ Institut fur Angewandte Erkenntnistheorie und Medizinische Methodologie, D-79112 Freiburg, Germany ABSTRACT. In 1955, Henry K. Beecher published the classic work entitled ‘‘The Powerful Placebo.’’ Since that time, 40 years ago, the placebo effect has been considered a scientific fact. Beecher was the first scientist to quantify the placebo effect. He claimed that in 15 trials with different diseases, 35% of 1082 patients were satisfactorily relieved by a placebo alone. This publication is still the most frequently cited placebo reference. Recently Beecher’s article was reanalyzed with surprising results: In contrast to his claim, no evidence was found of any placebo effect in any of the studies cited by him. There were many other factors that could account for the reported improvements in patients in these trials, but most likely there was no placebo effect whatsoever. False impressions of placebo effects can be produced in various ways. Spontaneous improvement, fluctuation of symptoms, regression to the mean, additional treatment, conditional switching of placebo treatment, scaling bias, irrelevant response variables, answers of politeness, experimental subordination, conditioned answers, neurotic or psychotic misjudgment, psychosomatic phenomena, misquotation, etc. These factors are still prevalent in modern placebo literature. The placebo topic seems to invite sloppy...
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...Case 1 Assignment: Vaccines Submitted to: Dr. Nicole Welch GNED 1102-014 Controversies in Science Tuesday and Thursday 11:00am – 12:20pm Due Date: October 14, 2015 Submitted by: Danielle Cruz 2016150214 Table of Contents Peer-Reviewed, Scientific, Primary Research Article. “Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of a vero-cell-culture-derived trivalent influenza vaccine: a multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial” by P Noel Barrett et al. 3 Background 3 Research Purpose 3 Research methods 4 Participants and Study Design 4 Randomization and masking 4 Procedures 4 Results 5 Interpretation/Conclusion 6 Media Articles Discussing the Effectiveness and Safety of the Influenza Vaccine 6 Potential Biases in Media Articles 8 Is the Influenza Vaccine Safe to Use? 9 Is the Influenza Vaccine Effective? 9 Works Cited 10 Peer-Reviewed, Scientific, Primary Research Article. “Efficacy, Safety, and Immunogenicity of a vero-cell-culture-derived trivalent influenza vaccine: a multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial” by P Noel Barrett et al. Background Knowledge of what sort of protection vaccines does to people is restricted. Because there are constant changes in the...
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...Can essential fatty acid supplementation play a role in the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? For submission 22nd April 2006 Dissertation, 3rd Year ION Contents Abstract 3 1.0 Introduction 4 1.1 Prevalence 4 1.2 Diagnosis 4 DSM-IV Checklist for Diagnosing ADHD 6 Figure 1. DSM-IV Checklist for Diagnosing ADHD 6 1.3 Associated Conditions 7 1.4 Prognosis 7 1.5 Aetiology 7 1.5.1 Genetics 8 1.5.2 Environmental Influences 8 1.5.3 Essential Fatty Acids 8 1.5.4 Food Sensitivities 9 1.5.5 Heavy Metal Toxicity 9 1.5.6 Nutrient deficiencies 9 1.5.7 Pregnancy/birth trauma 10 1.5.8 Hypoglycaemia 10 1.5.9 Digestive 10 1.5.10 Thyroid 11 1.6 Clinical Management 11 1.7 Understanding the Role of Essential Fatty Acids 12 1.7.1 What are Essential Fatty Acids? 12 Figure 2. Major Food Sources of Essential Fatty Acids 12 Figure 3. Omega-3 and Omega-6 metabolic pathways 13 1.7.2 Essential Fatty Acids and Brain Function 13 1.7.3 Physical Signs of Fatty Acid Deficiency 14 2.0 Literature Review 15 2.1 DHA Supplementation 15 2.2 Combined DHA, EPA, GLA Supplementation 18 2.3 Combined EPA, DHA, ALA Supplementation 19 2.4 ALA Supplementation 22 2.5 Summary of studies reviewed 23 Figure 4. Summary of Studies Reviewed 23 3.0 Discussion 24 3.1 Future Research 27 4.0 Conclusion 28 5.0 Nutritional Strategy 29 5.1 Benchmarking 29 5.2 Dietary Strategy 29 5.3 Lifestyle Strategy 29 5.4 General Supplement programme...
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...DULOXETINE VS PLACEBO FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE DULOXETINE VS PLACEBO FOR URINARY INCONTINENCE TAMMY RILEY OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE UNIVERSITY STRESS INCONTINENCE Stress urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine on effort or exertion or on sneezing, coughing, or laughing. These symptoms affect many women between the ages of 33-75 years of age. The current treatment options for stress incontinence is limited to pelvic floor muscle training, devices, behavioral interventions and surgery . EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE GUIDELINES The title of the guideline is Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guidelines. The guideline was developed as a framework for diagnosis and treatment of non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) and to provide direction to clinicians and patients regarding how to recognize non neurogenic overactive bladder. The direction of the study was to “conduct a valid diagnostic process and approach treatment with the goals of maximizing symptom control and patient quality of life while minimizing adverse events and patient burden” (National Guideline Clearinghouse, 2014). Another guideline objective was to serve as a guide for all types of providers who evaluate and treat OAB patients, including those in general practice as well as those who specialize in various branches of medicine. The guideline of the evidence based practice states that the first line of treatment...
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...Annotated Bibliography “What is the evidence of positive benefits with using T.E.N.S. (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit for pain management?” Bi, X., Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on pain in patients with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Physical Therapy Science 27: 23-25 (2014). Xia Bi, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Gongli Hospital, China, focused his research on investigating the effectiveness with using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on patients in pain due to a spinal cord injury. Bi states that there have been many clinical papers that have reported positive effects of TENS in pain management but controversy exists over which conditions can be treated using this method. He states that if TENS were shown to be effective method of alleviating pain in Spinal Cord Injury (SPI) patients, it would decrease medical costs and improve quality of life. Bi discusses how their results are consistent with those of previous studies (Celik EC, The effect of low frequency TENS in the treatment of neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury) which reported the effectiveness of TENS in the pain relief of SCI patients. The study had several limitation which were mention in the paper stating that the sample size of subjects was insufficient for generalization of the results, a follow up was not performed, and lastly they did not compare the efficacy of low frequency TENS...
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...to a particular problem is. A hypothesis is an assumption that we will use the next step, experimentation to determine whether or not the hypothesis is true. An experiment is simply the tests that are done to prove or disprove a particular hypothesis. One of the main ways scientist experiment with their hypotheses is with research studies. If after experimentation research and experiments can’t prove your hypothesis, you both modify the hypothesis and restart experiments and research studies or you can reject the hypothesis and start over from the very beginning. One of the best ways of proving your hypothesis is through various types of research studies. A few different research studies are epidemiology studies and also clinical trials. According to Clinicalresearch.edu, Epidemiology is “the study of distribution and determents of health-related states or events in specified populations.” Also considered observational studies, Epidemiology analyze things...
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...Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2003; 17: 895–904. doi: 10.1046/j.0269-2813.2003.01543.x A randomized controlled trial of a probiotic, VSL#3, on gut transit and symptoms in diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome H. J. K IM, M. CAM ILLERI, S. M C KINZIE, M. B. LEMPKE, D. D. BURTO N, G. M. THOMFORDE & A. R. ZINSMEISTER Clinical Enteric Neuroscience Translational & Epidemiological Research Program, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA Accepted for publication 3 February 2003 SUMMARY Aim: To investigate the effects of a probiotic formulation, VSL#3, on gastrointestinal transit and symptoms of patients with Rome II irritable bowel syndrome with predominant diarrhoea. Methods: Twenty-five patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome were randomly assigned to receive VSL#3 powder (450 billion lyophilized bacteria/day) or matching placebo twice daily for 8 weeks after a 2-week run-in period. Pre- and posttreatment gastrointestinal transit measurements were performed in all patients. Patients recorded their bowel function and symptoms daily in a diary during the 10-week study, which was powered to detect a 50% change in the primary colonic transit end-point. Results: There were no significant differences in mean gastrointestinal transit measurements, bowel function scores or satisfactory global symptom relief between the two treatment groups, pre- or post-therapy. Differences in abdominal bloating scores between treatments were borderline significant...
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...Public health spotlight on tobacco use Tobacco is a product prepared from the leaves of the tobacco plant by curing them. Tobacco contains the alkaloid nicotine, a stimulant. Tobacco use is a risk factor for many diseases, especially those affecting the heart, liver and lungs, and several cancers. In 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) named tobacco as the world's single greatest cause of preventable death. TYPES OF TOBACCO PPRODUCTS There is no safe form of tobacco use. All forms contain nicotine and can cause addiction and health problems. Mainly two types smoking and smokeless tobacco 1. Smoking tobacco https://youtu.be/c6Ul9QIfBno Cigarettes Bidis Cigars, Cigarillos and Little Cigars Electronic cigarette or E- cigarette (nicotine delivery system) Hookah Pipe 2. Smokeless Tobacco * is not burned * Includes tobacco that can be sucked or chewed1 * Can be spit or swallowed, depending on the product1 * Can be spit less, depending on the product2 * Contains nicotine and is addictive1 * May appeal to youth because it comes in flavors such as cinnamon, berry, vanilla, and apple3,4 Types of smokeless tobacco: * Chewing tobacco (loose leaf, plug, or twist and may come in flavors)1 * Snuff (moist, dry, or in packets [U.S. snus]) * Dissolvable (lozenges, sticks, strips, orbs) Tobacco Facts and Figures Smoking * Harms nearly every organ of the body * Causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general ...
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...“Poorly managed pain can slow recovery, create burdens for patients & their families, & increase costs to the healthcare system”[13] & taxpayer. If this can be significantly reduced, it has to be better for the women, their families & society. Each year in NZ there are >2800 women diagnosed with Breast Cancer, with the number increasing each year [14]. “PMPS is defined as a chronic pain. It is considered a neuropathic condition which arises after surgery for breast cancer PMPS is different from other painful syndromes as it is typically localised to the anterior or lateral region of the thorax, auxiliary&/or medial upper arm, causing burning pain, shooting pain, pressure sensation or numbness”.[15-20]. This report analysed over 45 different journal articles that looked at the incidence of PMPS & treatment options [1,2,4-15,21-51]. The use of Gabapentin & Venlafaxine showed statistically significant data to warrant further consideration [1,2,8,11,1327,31,32,34,39,40,46,47,50,51] Gabapentin, initially used to treat seizure disorders[22,24,26] now it is commonly used to treat neuropathic pain [35,41] & has opioid sparing properties which makes it ideal in the postoperative setting39,52]. Venlafaxine, a serotonin...
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...Many individuals at some point in their lives may report feelings of extreme sadness or simply “feeling depressed”. However, such feelings are only one of seven symptoms recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of three primary clinical forms of depression recognized by the DSM-IV. The DSM-IV recognizes the following seven symptoms as indicative of Major Depressive Disorder: (1) significant weight loss (while not trying to lose weight), significant weight gain, or change in appetite; (2) insomnia or hypersomnia; (3) psychomotor agitation or retardation; (4) fatigue or loss of energy; (5) feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt; (6) decreased concentration or indecisiveness; and (7) recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt (Craighead, Ritschel, Arnarson, & Gillespie, 2008, chap. 8). According to the DSM-IV, an individual must experience “marked distress or a decrease in level of functioning” for at least 2 weeks (Craighead et al., 2008, p. 281). The individual must also experience on an almost daily basis, an occurrence of a dysphoric mood or loss of interest/pleasure in almost all activities two weeks prior to the diagnosis of MDD (Craighead et al., 2008, chap. 8). The patient must experience at least four of the seven previously mentioned symptoms (only three if both loss of interest/pleasure and dysphoric mood are present) (Craighead et al., 2008, chap. 8). It...
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...------------------------------------------------- Clinical trial From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | This article may be too long to read and navigate comfortably. Please consider splitting content into sub-articles and using this article for a summary of the key points of the subject.(October 2010) | Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety (or more specifically, information about adverse drug reactions and adverse effects of other treatments) and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions (e.g., drugs, diagnostics, devices, therapy protocols). These trials can take place only after satisfactory information has been gathered on the quality of the non-clinical safety, and Health Authority/Ethics Committee approval is granted in the country where the trial is taking place. Depending on the type of product and the stage of its development, investigators enroll healthy volunteers and/or patients into small pilot studies initially, followed by larger scale studies in patients that often compare the new product with the currently prescribed treatment. As positive safety and efficacy data are gathered, the number of patients is typically increased. Clinical trials can vary in size from a single center in one country to multicenter trials in multiple countries. Due to the sizable cost a full series of clinical trials may incur, the burden of paying for all the necessary people and services...
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...About Our Favorite Cosmeceutical Ingredients? Jacquelyn Levin, DO; James Q. Del Rosso, DO, FAOCD; Saira B. Momin, DO Abstract To date, we are unaware of a review that has investigated common cosmeceutical ingredients in order to answer the three specific questions proposed by the father of cosmeceuticals, Dr. Albert Kligman. It is the goal of this review to gather all the published scientific data on five common cosmeceutical ingredients, answer the three major questions about the scientific rationale for their use, and ascertain how much we really know about consumers’ favorite cosmeceutical ingredients. Most of the research concerning cosmeceutical retinoid ingredients is based upon the effects of retinoic acid on the skin. Clinical trials concerning...
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