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Cholesterol Reduction
Diabetes and Hypertension
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Glycolipids and Sulfolipids
Hematopoiesis and Immunomodulation
Human Research
by Country
Iron Bioavailability Anemia Prevention
Kidney and Liver Detoxification
Lactobacillus Improvement
Malnutrition Recovery
Phycocyanin and Immune System
Polysaccharides and Immune System
Radiation Protection and Immune System
Spirulina Production
Spirulina Scientific Reference Library
Over 100 references covering 30 years of international research.
Click on any reference below to view the scientific paper abstract.
This library is solely for education. It is not intended as medical advice or as a guide for self-treatment. Consult a qualified health care practitioner for diagnosis or treatment of any disease or medical condition.
References and Abstracts by Health Category
Anti-Viral Activity
* Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by an aqueous extract of spirulina platensis (arthrospira platensis). by Ayehunie S., Belay A. et al. Pub. in Journal of Acquired Immune deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology 18:7-12. 1998. USA.
* Calcium Spirulan, an inhibitor of enveloped virus replication, from a blue-green alga Spirulina. by Hayashi et al. 1996. Pub. in Journal of Natural Products, 59, 83-87. Japan.
* An extract from spirulina is a selective inhibitor of herpes simples virus Type 1. by Hayashi et al. 3. Japan.
* Antiviral activity of blue-green algae cultures. by Patterson. Pub. in Journal of Phycology 29, 125-130. USA.
* AIDS Antiviral sulfolipids from cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). by K. Gustafson, et al. 1989. Pub. in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, August 16, 1989, pg 1254. USA.
Anti-Cancer Studies
* Evaluation of chemoprevention of oral cancer with spirulina. by Babu, M. et al. 1995. Pub. in Nutrition and Cancer, Vol. 24, No. 2, 197-202. India.
* Inhibitive effect and mechanism of polysaccharide of spirulina on transplanted tumor cells in mice. by Lisheng, et al. 1991. Pub. in Marine Sciences, Qingdao, N.5. pp 33-38. China.
* Enhancement of endonuclease activity and repair DNA synthesis by polysaccharide of spirulina. by Qishen, P. et al. 1988. Pub. in Chinese Genetics Journal, 15 (5) 374-381. China.
* Inhibition of experimental oral carcinogenesis by topical beta carotene. by Schwartz, et al. 1986. Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Pub. in Carcinogenesis, May 1986 7(5) 711-715. USA.
* Prevention of experimental oral cancer by extracts of spirulina-dunaliella algae. by J. Schwartz, G. Shklar, et al. 1988. Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Pub. in Nutrition and Cancer, 11, 127-134. 1988. USA.
Beta Carotene, Cancer Prevention and Health Improvement
* Bioavailability of spirulina carotenes in preschool children. by V. Annapurna, et al. 1991. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. J. Clin. Biochem Nutrition. 10 145-151. India.
* Large scale nutritional supplementation with spirulina alga. by C.V. Seshadri. 1993. All India Coordinated Project on Spirulina. Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Research Center (MCRC) Madras, India.
* Inhibition of experimental oral carcinogenesis by topical beta carotene. by Schwartz, et al. 1986. Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Pub. in Carcinogenesis, May 1986 7(5) 711-715. USA.
* Prevention of experimental oral cancer by extracts of spirulina-dunaliella algae. by J. Schwartz, G. Shklar, et al. 1988. Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Pub. in Nutrition and Cancer, 11, 127-134. 1988. USA.
Cholesterol Reduction
* Cholesterol lowering effect of spirulina. by N. Nayaka, et al. 1988. Tokai Univ. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 37, No. 6, 1329-1337. Japan.
* Clinical and biochemical evaluations of spirulina with regard to its application in the treatment of obesity. by E.W. Becker, et al. 1986. Inst. Chem. Pfanz. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 33, No. 4, pg 565. Germany.
* Effects of spirulina on hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver in rats. by T. Kato and K. Takemoto. 1984. Saitama Medical College. Pub. in Japan Nutr. Foods Assoc. Journal. 37:323. Japan.
* Effects of spirulina on plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in rats. by K. Iwata. 1990. Pub. in Journal Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 36:165-171. Japan.
* Hypocholesterolemic effect of blue-green algae spirulina spirulina in albino rats. by M.A. Devi and L.V. Venkataraman. 1983. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, 28:519-530. India.
* The effect of spirulina on reduction of serum cholesterol. by N. Nayaka, et al. 1986. Tokai Univ. Pub. in Progress in Medicine, Vol. 36, No. 11. Japan.
Diabetes and Hypertension Reduction
* Effect of water soluble and water insoluble fractions of spirulina over serum lipids and glucose resistance of rats. by Y. Takai, et al. 1991. Pub. in J. Japan Soc. Nutr. Food Science, 44:273-277. Japan.
* Effects of spirulina on plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in rats. by K. Iwata, et al. 1990. Pub. in Journal Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol, 36:165-171. Japan.
Food and Nutrition
* Spirulina - Production & Potential. by Ripley D. Fox. 1996. Pub. by Editions Edisud, La Calade, R.N.7, 13090 Aix-en-Province, France.
* Algoculture: Spirulina, hope for a hungry world. by Ripley D. Fox. 1986. Pub. by Edisud, Aix-en-Province, France (in French).
* Current knowledge on potential health benefits of spirulina. by Amha Belay and Yoshimichi Ota. 1993. Pub. in Journal of Appl. Phycology, 5:235-241. USA.
* Health Benefits of Spirulina. by Denise Fox. 1993. In Spirulina, Algae of Life. April 1993. Bulletin No. 12. Pub. by Institute Oceanographique, Monaco.
* Large scale nutritional supplementation with spirulina alga. by C.V. Seshadri. 1993. All India Coordinated Project on Spirulina. Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Research Center (MCRC) Madras, India.
* Microalgae as Food and Supplement by Robert A. Kay. 1991. In Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutr. 30(6):555-573. Pub. by CRC Press. USA.
* Spirulina: a model for microalgae as human food. by Alan Jassby. 1988. In Algae and Human Affairs. edited by Lembi and Waaland. Pub. by Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK.
* Spirulina, the edible organism. by Orio Ciferri. 1983. In Microbiological Reviews.Dec 1983. 551-578. Italy.
Glycolipids and Sulfolipids
* Antiviral activity of blue-green algae cultures. by Patterson. Pub. in Journal of Phycology 29, 125-130. USA.
* AIDS Antiviral sulfolipids from cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). by K. Gustafson, et al. 1989. Pub. in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, August 16, 1989, pg 1254. USA.
* Biotechnology & Utilization of Algae: The Indian Experience. by L.V. Venkataraman and E.W. Becker. 1985. Pub. by Sharada Press. Pg 114-115. Mangalore, India.
* Glycolipids isolated from spirulina. by N. Kataoka, et al. 1983. Pub. in Agric. Biol. Chem. 47(10), 2349-2355. Japan.
Hematopoiesis and Immunomodulation
* Effects of polysaccharide and phycocyanin from spirulina on peripheral blood and hematopoietic system of bone marrow in mice. by Zhang Cheng-Wu, et al.. April 1994. Nanjing Univ. China. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. p.58. China.
* Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary spirulina. by Hayashi, et al. June 1994. Kagawa Nutrition Univ. Japan. Pub. in Journal of Nutr. Science and Vitaminology. Japan.
* Phagocytic potential of feline macrophages after exposure to a water soluble extract of spirulina in vitro. by M. Qureshi, et al. January 1996. Pub. in Immunopharmacology. in press. USA.
* Spirulina extracts enhances chicken macrophage functions after in vitro exposure. by M. Qureshi, et al. 1995. Pub. in Jour. Nutritional Immunology, No. 3 (4) 35-45. USA.
* Immune enhancement potential of spirulina in chickens. by M. Qureshi, et al. August 1994. Poultry Science Assoc. Dept. of Poultry Science, North Carolina State, NC. Pub. in Journal of Poultry Science Vol 73, S.1. p. 46. USA.
* Immunomodulary effects of spirulina supplementation in chickens. by M. Qureshi, et al. May 1995. North Carolina State. Pub. in Proc. of 44th Western Poultry Disease Conference, pp 117-120. USA.
* Immunostimulating activity of lipopolysaccharides from blue-green algae. by L. Besednova, et al. 1979. Pub. in Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii, Immunobiologii, 56(12) pp 75-79. Russia.
* Means to normalize the levels of immunoglobulin E, using the food supplement Spirulina. by L. Evets, et al. 1994. Grodenski State Medical Univ. Russian Federation Committee of Patents and Trade. Patent (19)RU (11)2005486. Jan. 15, 1994. Russia.
* Radioprotective effect of extract from spirulina in mouse bone marrow cells studied by using the micronucleus test. by P. Qishen, Kolman et al. 1989. In Toxicology Letters 48: 165-169. China.
* Study on effect and mechanism of polysaccharides of spirulina on body immune function improvement. by G. Baojiang, et al. April 1994. South China Normal Univ. China. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. pp 33-38. China.
* Immune response activation in channel catfish ictaluras punctatus fed spirulina enriched artemia. by B. Portoni et al. 1996. American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section. USA.
Iron Bioavailability and Prevention of Anemia
* Availability of iron to rats from spirulina, a blue-green algae. by P. Johnson and E. Shubert. 1986. Pub. in Nutrition Research Vol 6, 85-94. USA.
* Influence of extensive training on the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level and its correction. by Z. Trojacanec et al. 1998. Skopje, Macedonia. Pub in XXIV FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine, June 1998.
* Clinical experiences of administration of spirulina to patients with hypochronic anemia. by T. Takeuchi, et al. 1978. Tokyo Medical and Dental Univ. Japan.
* Iron transfer from spirulina to blood in rats. by K. Takemoto, et al. 1982. Saitama Medical College. Japan.
Kidney and Liver Detoxification
* Effect of chlorella, spirulina and chlorophyllin on fecal excretion of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins in rats. by K. Morita, et al. Pub. in Japan Journal Toxicology Environ. Health. 43 (1) 42-47 1997. Japan.
* Effect of spirulina on the renal toxicity induced by inorganic mercury and cisplatin. by H. Fukino, et al. 1990. Pub. in Eisei Kagaku, 36:5, 1990. Japan.
* The effect of spirulina on nephrotoxicity in rats. by Y. Yamane, et al. 1988. Chiba Univ. Presented at Annual Symposium of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, April 15, 1988. Japan.
Lactobacillus Improvement
* Effects of spirulina on caecum content in rats. by Y. Tokai, et al. 1987. Chiba Hygiene College Bulletin. Feb. 1987 Vol. 5, No. 2. Japan.
Malnutrition Recovery
* Spirulina - Production & Potential. by Ripley D. Fox. 1996. Pub. by Editions Edisud, La Calade, R.N.7, 13090 Aix-en-Province, France.
* Algoculture: Spirulina, hope for a hungry world. by Ripley D. Fox. 1986. Pub. by Edisud, Aix-en-Province, France (in French).
* Clinical experimentation with spirulina. by R. Ramos Galvan. 1973. National Institute of Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico (in Spanish).
* Current knowledge on potential health benefits of spirulina. by Amha Belay and Yoshimichi Ota. 1993. In Journal of Appl. Phycology, 5:235-241. USA.
* Effectiveness of spirulina algae as food for children with protein-energy malnutrition in a tropical environment. by P. Bucaille. 1990. University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Oct. 1990. Zaire. (in French).
* Food value of spirulina in humans. by C. Sautier and J. Tremolieres. 1976. Pub. in Ann. Nutrition Alim., 30:517-534. France (in French).
* Health Benefits of Spirulina. by Denise Fox. 1993. In Spirulina, Algae of Life. April 1993. Bulletin No. 12. Pub. by Institute Oceanographique, Monaco.
* Large scale nutritional supplementation with spirulina alga. by C.V. Seshadri. 1993. All India Coordinated Project on Spirulina. Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Research Center (MCRC) Madras, India.
* Observations on the utilization of spirulina as an adjuvant nutritive factor in treating some diseases accompanied by a nutritional deficiency. by V. Fica, et al. 1984. Clinica II Medicala, Spitalui Clinic, Bucuresti. Med. Interna 36 (3). Romania. (in Romanian).
* Spirulina in Jiangxi China. by Miao Jian Ren. 1987. Academy of Agricultural Science. Presented at Soc. Appl. Algology, Lille France Sep. 1987. China.
* The study on curative effect of zinc containing spirulina for zinc deficient children. by Wen Yonghuang, et al. 1994. Capital Medical College, Beijing. Presented at 5th Int'l Phycological Congress, Qingdao, June 1994. China.
Phycocyanin and Immune System Improvement
* Antitumoral agents containing phycobilin- also used to treat ulcers and hemorrhoidal bleeding. by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals and Tokyo Kenkyukai. 1983. Patent 58065216 A 830418. Japan.
* Effect of spirulina on the renal toxicity induced by inorganic mercury and cisplatin. by H. Fukino, et al. 1990. Pub. in Eisei Kagaku, 36:5, 1990. Japan.
* Effects of polysaccharide and phycocyanin from spirulina on peripheral blood and hematopoietic system of bone marrow in mice. by Zhang Cheng-Wu, et al.. April 1994. Nanjing Univ. China. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. China.
Polysaccharides and Immune System Improvement
* Calcium Spirulan, an inhibitor of enveloped virus replication, from a blue-green alga Spirulina. by Hayashi et al. 1996. Pub. in Journal of Natural Products, 59, 83-87. Japan.
* An extract from spirulina is a selective inhibitor of herpes simples virus Type 1. by Hayashi et al. 1993. Japan.
* Effects of polysaccharide and phycocyanin from spirulina on peripheral blood and hematopoietic system of bone marrow in mice. by Zhang Cheng-Wu, et al.. April 1994. Nanjing Univ. China. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. p.58. China.
* Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary spirulina. by Hayashi, et al. June 1994. Kagawa Nutrition Univ. Japan. Pub. in Journal of Nutr. Science and Vitaminology. Japan.
* Immune enhancement potential of spirulina in chickens. by M. Quereshi, et al. August 1994. Poultry Science Assoc. Dept. of Poultry Science, North Carolina State, NC. Pub. in Journal of Poultry Science Vol 73, S.1. p. 46. USA.
* Immunomodulary effects of spirulina supplementation in chickens. by M. Qureshi, et al. May 1995. North Carolina State. Pub. in Proc. of 44th Western Poultry Disease Conference, pp 117-120. USA.
* Immunostimulating activity of lipopolysaccharides from blue-green algae. by L. Besednova, et al. 1979. Pub. in Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii, Immunobiologii, 56(12) pp 75-79. Russia.
* Inhibitive effect and mechanism of polysaccharide of spirulina on transplanted tumor cells in mice. by Lisheng, et al. 1991.Pub. in Marine Sciences, Qingdao, N.5. pp 33-38. China.
* Radioprotective effect of extract from spirulina in mouse bone marrow cells studied by using the micronucleus test. by P. Qishen, Kolman et al. 1989. In Toxicology Letters 48: 165-169. China.
* Study on effect and mechanism of polysaccharides of spirulina on body immune function improvement. by G. Baojiang, et al. April 1994. South China Normal Univ. China. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conf. on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. pp 33-38. China.
* Enhancement of endonuclease activity and repair DNA synthesis by polysaccharide of spirulina. by Qishen, P. et al. 1988. Pub. in Chinese Genetics Journal, 15 (5) 374-381. China.
Radiation Protective Effect and Immune System Improvement
* Means to normalize the levels of immunoglobulin E, using the food supplement Spirulina. by L. Evets, et al. 1994. Grodenski State Medical Univ. Russian Federation Committee of Patents and Trade. Patent (19)RU (11)2005486. Jan. 15, 1994. Russia.
* Radioprotective effect of extract from spirulina in mouse bone marrow cells studied by using the micronucleus test. by P. Qishen, Kolman et al. 1989. In Toxicology Letters 48: 165-169. China.
* Spirulina- natural sorbent of radionucleides. by L.P. Loseva and I.V. Dardynskaya. Sep 1993. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 6th Int'l Congress of Applied Algology, Czech Republic. Belarus.
* Spirulina platensis and specialties to support detoxifying pollutants and to strengthen the immune system. by L.P. Loseva. Sep 1999. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 8th Int'l Congress of Applied Algology, Italy. Belarus.
Spirulina Production
* Spirulina - Production & Potential. by Ripley D. Fox. 1996. Pub. by Editions Edisud, La Calade, R.N.7, 13090 Aix-en-Province, France.
* Cultivez Vorte Spiruline - Manuel de Culture Artisanale de la Spirulina. by Jean-Paul Jourdan. 1996. (in French). English version Pub. by Antenna Technology, 1999.
* Spirulina Platensis (Arthospira) Physiology, Cell Biology and Biotechnology. Edited by Avigad Vonshak, Ben Gurion University, Israel. 1997. Pub. by Taylor & Francis, Rankine Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG24 8PR UK.
* Earth Food Spirulina: How this remarkable blue-green algae can transform your health and our planet. by Robert Henrikson. 1989, Revised 1997. Pub. by Ronore Enterprises, Inc. PO Box 3937, San Rafael, CA 94912 USA.
* Production of high quality spirulina at Earthrise Farms. by Amha Belay and Yoshimichi Ota. 1994. Pub. in Proc. of Second Asia Pacific Conference on Algal Biotech. Univ. of Malaysia. USA.
* Spirulina Industry in China: Present status and future prospects. by Ding-Mei Li, Yu-Zao Qi. Pub. in Journal of Applied Phycology, 1997.
* Spirulina (Arthrospira): potential application as an animal feed supplement. by Amha Belay, Toshimitsu Kato, Yoshimichi Ota. Pub. in Journal of Applied Phycology, 1996.
* Commercial production of microalgae in the Asia-Pacific rim. by Yuan-Kun Lee. National University of Singapore. Pub. in Journal of Applied Phycology,1997.
* Production of Spirulina rich in GLA and sulfolipids. by Hubert Durand-Chastel. Pub. in Intl Symposium Marine Cyanobacteria, Institute Oceanographique, Paris Nov. 1997.
* Spirulina National Symposium (India). by C.V. Seshadri and N. Jeeji Bai. 1992. Pub. by Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Research Center (MDRC), Madras, India.
* Algoculture: Spirulina, hope for a hungry world. by Ripley D. Fox. 1986. Pub. by Edisud, Aix-en-Province, France (in French).
* Biotechnology & Utilization of Algae: The Indian Experience. by L.V. Venkataraman and E.W. Becker. 1985. Pub. by Sharada Press, Mangalore, India.
* Spirulina, Algae of Life. April 1993. Bulletin Special No. 12. Pub. by Institute Oceanographique, Monaco.
* Micro-Algal Biotechnology. edited by Borowitska. 1986. Pub. by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Human Clinical Research by Country
Belarus
* Spirulina- natural sorbent of radionucleides. by L.P. Loseva and I.V. Dardynskaya. Sep 1993. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 6th Int'l Congress of Applied Algology, Czech Republic. Belarus.
* Spirulina platensis and specialties to support detoxifying pollutants and to strengthen the immune system. by L.P. Loseva. Sep 1999. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 8th Int'l Congress of Applied Algology, Italy. Belarus.
China
* Spirulina in Jiangxi China. by Miao Jian Ren. 1987. Academy of Agricultural Science. Presented at Soc. Appl. Algology, Lille France Sep. 1987. China.
* The study on curative effect of zinc containing spirulina for zinc deficient children. by Wen Yonghuang, et al. 1994. Capital Medical College, Beijing. Presented at 5th Int'l Phycological Congress, Qingdao, June 1994. China.
Germany
* Clinical and biochemical evaluations of spirulina with regard to its application in the treatment of obesity. by E.W. Becker, et al. 1986. Inst. Chem. Pfanz. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 33, No. 4, pg 565. Germany.
India
* Evaluation of chemoprevention of oral cancer with spirulina. by Babu, M. et al. 1995. Pub. in Nutrition and Cancer, Vol. 24, No. 2, 197-202. India.
* Bioavailability of spirulina carotenes in preschool children. by V. Annapurna, et al. 1991. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. J. Clin. Biochem Nutrition. 10 145-151. India.
* Large scale nutritional supplementation with spirulina alga. by C.V. Seshadri. 1993. All India Coordinated Project on Spirulina. Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Research Center (MCRC) Madras, India.
Japan
* Clinical experiences of administration of spirulina to patients with hupochronic anemia. by T. Takeuchi, et al. 1978. Tokyo Medical and Dental Univ. Japan.
* Cholesterol lowering effect of spirulina. by N. Nayaka, et al. 1988. Tokai Univ. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 37, No. 6, 1329-1337. Japan.
Macedonia
* Influence of extensive training on the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level and its correction. by Z. Trojacanec et al. 1998. Skopje, Macedonia. Pub in XXIV FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine, June 1998.
Mexico
* Clinical experimentation with spirulina. by R. Ramos Galvan. 1973. National Institute of Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico (in Spanish).
Romania
* Observations on the utilization of spirulina as an adjuvant nutritive factor in treating some diseases accompanied by a nutritional deficiency. by V. Fica, et al. 1984. Clinica II Medicala, Spitalui Clinic, Bucuresti. Med. Interna 36 (3). Romania. (In Romanian).
Russia
* Means to normalize the levels of immunoglobulin E, using the food supplement Spirulina. by L. Evets, et al. 1994. Grodenski State Medical Univ. Russian Federation Committee of Patents and Trade. Patent (19)RU (11)2005486. Jan. 15, 1994. Russia.
Zaire
* Effectiveness of spirulina algae as food for children with protein-energy malnutrition in a tropical environment. by P. Bucaille. 1990. University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Oct. 1990. Zaire. (in French).
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
What is the Hippocratic Oath?
Most assume that the Hippocratic oath is still taken by all doctors and that the most important part of the oath is a promise to “ first, do no harm.” Actually this phrase derives from another part of Hippocrates writing and is not in the oath. Additionally, incoming physicians do not recite the Hippocratic oath in its original form, though many physicians recite a modernized version of the oath.
The classic Hippocratic oath swears first to honor one’s teachers, take care of their family or children if need be, and offer free medical training to a teacher’s children. The oath does describe a promise to try not to harm anyone and to prescribe medicines to the best of one’s abilities, and to never give medications that could be used to poison someone or to cause a woman to abort a child.
The Hippocratic oath further promises never to cut anyone (perform surgery), which clearly is not valuable in modern applications. It enjoins that physicians keep their patients' conditions private, that they not have sexual relationships with patients or a patient’s family, and that they work always for the good of the patients.
Certain modern versions of the Hippocratic oath are similar in construction. Some physicians upon taking the oath still swear not to perform abortions. Most tenants of the oath are promises, and do not carry the strength of the initial Hippocratic oath. Instead, any practices of physicians in most countries are legislated by governing medical boards. Breaking the laws can mean losing one’s license to practice.
The original Hippocratic oath contains too many promises that have become increasingly morally challenging. For example, does a doctor perform abortions and does this constitute harm? Further, is physician-assisted suicide a violation of a modern oath? Thus the oath, like the marriage vows are promises that may not be kept, even if the oath is taken with due solemnity.
Interns and fellows have often stated that 120 hour work weeks are in direct violation of any oath a physician might take. If a physician is supposed to try not to harm people, then how can they order schedules for residents that might possibly harm their students?
Research suggests that those without adequate sleep have a car greater risk of being in a car accident. Does requiring a 24 or 48-hour schedule thus mean physicians violate their oath? Such a question remains problematic for the medical field.
Most would be surprised to learn that about 100 years ago, only 20% of American physicians took the Hippocratic oath. The number has actually increased steadily, with virtually all medical school graduates in the US now taking some form of the oath.
The modern oath seems more of a rite of passage than an actual swearing of actions. The only promises a physician must keep are those that are made laws by governments, Medical Review Boards, or by hospitals in which a physician works.
The classic Hippocratic oath swears first to honor one’s teachers, take care of their family or children if need be, and offer free medical training to a teacher’s children. The oath does describe a promise to try not to harm anyone and to prescribe medicines to the best of one’s abilities, and to never give medications that could be used to poison someone or to cause a woman to abort a child.
The Hippocratic oath further promises never to cut anyone (perform surgery), which clearly is not valuable in modern applications. It enjoins that physicians keep their patients' conditions private, that they not have sexual relationships with patients or a patient’s family, and that they work always for the good of the patients.
Certain modern versions of the Hippocratic oath are similar in construction. Some physicians upon taking the oath still swear not to perform abortions. Most tenants of the oath are promises, and do not carry the strength of the initial Hippocratic oath. Instead, any practices of physicians in most countries are legislated by governing medical boards. Breaking the laws can mean losing one’s license to practice.
The original Hippocratic oath contains too many promises that have become increasingly morally challenging. For example, does a doctor perform abortions and does this constitute harm? Further, is physician-assisted suicide a violation of a modern oath? Thus the oath, like the marriage vows are promises that may not be kept, even if the oath is taken with due solemnity.
Interns and fellows have often stated that 120 hour work weeks are in direct violation of any oath a physician might take. If a physician is supposed to try not to harm people, then how can they order schedules for residents that might possibly harm their students?
Research suggests that those without adequate sleep have a car greater risk of being in a car accident. Does requiring a 24 or 48-hour schedule thus mean physicians violate their oath? Such a question remains problematic for the medical field.
Most would be surprised to learn that about 100 years ago, only 20% of American physicians took the Hippocratic oath. The number has actually increased steadily, with virtually all medical school graduates in the US now taking some form of the oath.
The modern oath seems more of a rite of passage than an actual swearing of actions. The only promises a physician must keep are those that are made laws by governments, Medical Review Boards, or by hospitals in which a physician works.
The Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath
The Hippocratic Oath (OrkoV) is perhaps the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards. One of the best known prohibitions is, "to do no harm" (epi dhlhsei de kai adikihi eirxein)
Little is known about who wrote it or first used it, but it appears to be more strongly influenced by followers of Pythagoras than Hippocrates and is often estimated to have been written in the 4th century B.C.E.
Over the centuries, it has been rewritten often in order to suit the values of different cultures influenced by Greek medicine. Contrary to popular belief, the Hippocratic Oath is not required by most modern medical schools.
Hippocratic Oath
I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract:
To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to be a partner in life with him, and to fulfill his needs when required; to look upon his offspring as equals to my own siblings, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or contract; and that by the set rules, lectures, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to students bound by this contract and having sworn this Oath to the law of medicine, but to no others.
I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgement, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
In purity and according to divine law will I carry out my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, even upon those suffering from stones, but I will leave this to those who are trained in this craft.
Into whatever homes I go, I will enter them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding any voluntary act of impropriety or corruption, including the seduction of women or men, whether they are free men or slaves.
Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.
So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time. However, should I transgress this Oath and violate it, may the opposite be my fate.
Translated by Michael North, National Library of Medicine, 2002.
The Hippocratic Oath (OrkoV) is perhaps the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards. One of the best known prohibitions is, "to do no harm" (epi dhlhsei de kai adikihi eirxein)
Little is known about who wrote it or first used it, but it appears to be more strongly influenced by followers of Pythagoras than Hippocrates and is often estimated to have been written in the 4th century B.C.E.
Over the centuries, it has been rewritten often in order to suit the values of different cultures influenced by Greek medicine. Contrary to popular belief, the Hippocratic Oath is not required by most modern medical schools.
Hippocratic Oath
I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract:
To hold him who taught me this art equally dear to me as my parents, to be a partner in life with him, and to fulfill his needs when required; to look upon his offspring as equals to my own siblings, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or contract; and that by the set rules, lectures, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to students bound by this contract and having sworn this Oath to the law of medicine, but to no others.
I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgement, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.
I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
In purity and according to divine law will I carry out my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, even upon those suffering from stones, but I will leave this to those who are trained in this craft.
Into whatever homes I go, I will enter them for the benefit of the sick, avoiding any voluntary act of impropriety or corruption, including the seduction of women or men, whether they are free men or slaves.
Whatever I see or hear in the lives of my patients, whether in connection with my professional practice or not, which ought not to be spoken of outside, I will keep secret, as considering all such things to be private.
So long as I maintain this Oath faithfully and without corruption, may it be granted to me to partake of life fully and the practice of my art, gaining the respect of all men for all time. However, should I transgress this Oath and violate it, may the opposite be my fate.
Translated by Michael North, National Library of Medicine, 2002.
Negative drug research 'withheld'
Negative drug research 'withheld'
Drug companies have been accused of failing to publish drug trials which do not give the "right" result.
Regulatory bodies found it harder to make balanced decisions when negative information was not available, the Lancet medical journal said.
Published research suggested a type of antidepressant drug was safe for children, but unpublished data indicated it was not, a study showed.
The pharmaceutical industry said it was taking steps to solve the problem.
A study by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in London looked at previous research on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for children.
“ The UK is the only country in Europe to have issued comprehensive advice about the use of all SSRIs in children ”
Department of Health
It found that in published studies, all SSRIs appeared to have a favourable ratio of risk to benefit.
But, after also looking at unpublished trials, it was found that, with the exception of fluoxetine, the risks exceeded the benefits.
The Department of Health said last year that most SSRIs should not be given to children.
Tim Kendall, at the centre, said this damaged the role of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in drawing up guidelines.
He said: "Drug sponsors who withhold trial data, or do not make full trial reports available, undermine the guideline programme, which can ultimately lead to recommendations for treatments that are ineffective, cause harm, or both."
Manipulation
The Lancet accused pharmaceutical companies of "confusion, manipulation and institutional failure".
It said Governmental bodies such as NICE require legal powers to ensure biomedical research is used to improve health even if it does not lead to profits for pharmaceutical companies.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said it accepted that "things could be better" but that the industry was taking steps to make improvements.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem, we understand that the situation is not entirely satisfactory."
However, part of the blame lay with medical journals which were not keen on publishing negative trial results as they did not make such good news, he said.
The ABPI lists some unpublished trials on its website and a Europe-wide register of all unpublished data will become available to regulatory authorities under a new European Union directive.
The ABPI spokesman added that of the five SSRIs available in the UK, only one is recommended for use in children and the pharmaceutical companies would not be promoting them as this was illegal.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The UK last year advised that the treatment of childhood depression with any SSRI, except Prozac, should not continue, after a thorough review of data.
"The UK is the only country in Europe to have issued comprehensive advice about the use of all SSRIs in children."
She added: "The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency supports the need for greater transparency from companies and forthcoming changes to EU and UK legislation will strengthen the law in this area."
Editor's response
Deborah Glover, editor of the Journal of Wound Care, dismissed the idea that medical journals were reluctant to publish negative trial results.
She told BBC News Online: "I rather think the ABPI spokesman may be confusing the academic, research focused, professional journals with tabloid newspapers.
"I have in previous editorials called for industry to allow the publication of the less than positive results from their research as I believe that not only will this give our readers the information they require, but demonstrates an integrity and confidence on behalf of the industry that facilitates trust between themselves, clinicians and patients.
"The ABPI should now 'name and shame' the journals who appear to be only after the sensational headlines. I would be interested to hear about them as having undertaken a straw poll amongst my colleagues, I can only find those who refute their claims."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3652185.stm
Published: 2004/04/23 09:29:50 GMT
© BBC MMX
Drug companies have been accused of failing to publish drug trials which do not give the "right" result.
Regulatory bodies found it harder to make balanced decisions when negative information was not available, the Lancet medical journal said.
Published research suggested a type of antidepressant drug was safe for children, but unpublished data indicated it was not, a study showed.
The pharmaceutical industry said it was taking steps to solve the problem.
A study by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in London looked at previous research on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for children.
“ The UK is the only country in Europe to have issued comprehensive advice about the use of all SSRIs in children ”
Department of Health
It found that in published studies, all SSRIs appeared to have a favourable ratio of risk to benefit.
But, after also looking at unpublished trials, it was found that, with the exception of fluoxetine, the risks exceeded the benefits.
The Department of Health said last year that most SSRIs should not be given to children.
Tim Kendall, at the centre, said this damaged the role of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in drawing up guidelines.
He said: "Drug sponsors who withhold trial data, or do not make full trial reports available, undermine the guideline programme, which can ultimately lead to recommendations for treatments that are ineffective, cause harm, or both."
Manipulation
The Lancet accused pharmaceutical companies of "confusion, manipulation and institutional failure".
It said Governmental bodies such as NICE require legal powers to ensure biomedical research is used to improve health even if it does not lead to profits for pharmaceutical companies.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said it accepted that "things could be better" but that the industry was taking steps to make improvements.
A spokesman said: "We are aware of the problem, we understand that the situation is not entirely satisfactory."
However, part of the blame lay with medical journals which were not keen on publishing negative trial results as they did not make such good news, he said.
The ABPI lists some unpublished trials on its website and a Europe-wide register of all unpublished data will become available to regulatory authorities under a new European Union directive.
The ABPI spokesman added that of the five SSRIs available in the UK, only one is recommended for use in children and the pharmaceutical companies would not be promoting them as this was illegal.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "The UK last year advised that the treatment of childhood depression with any SSRI, except Prozac, should not continue, after a thorough review of data.
"The UK is the only country in Europe to have issued comprehensive advice about the use of all SSRIs in children."
She added: "The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency supports the need for greater transparency from companies and forthcoming changes to EU and UK legislation will strengthen the law in this area."
Editor's response
Deborah Glover, editor of the Journal of Wound Care, dismissed the idea that medical journals were reluctant to publish negative trial results.
She told BBC News Online: "I rather think the ABPI spokesman may be confusing the academic, research focused, professional journals with tabloid newspapers.
"I have in previous editorials called for industry to allow the publication of the less than positive results from their research as I believe that not only will this give our readers the information they require, but demonstrates an integrity and confidence on behalf of the industry that facilitates trust between themselves, clinicians and patients.
"The ABPI should now 'name and shame' the journals who appear to be only after the sensational headlines. I would be interested to hear about them as having undertaken a straw poll amongst my colleagues, I can only find those who refute their claims."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3652185.stm
Published: 2004/04/23 09:29:50 GMT
© BBC MMX
Stem cells 'arrest brain damage'
By Paul Rincon
BBC News Online science staff, at the BA festival
Newborn babies with brain damage could be treated by stem cell therapy using cells taken from their bone marrow.
Researchers told the BA Festival of Science they successfully transplanted human foetal cells from bone marrow into the brains of newborn mice.
Dr Huseiyn Mehmet of Imperial College hopes to use the technique to replace dead tissue in the brains of babies.
He said they could also be cooled, as this seemed to delay the natural cell death that follows brain injury.
Cooling therapy
There are several causes of brain damage in newborn babies.
Babies born at term can have the blood supply to their brain broken off, called hypoxia, when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around their necks. This can result in debilitating injury to the brain.
A national study has also shown that babies born before 30 weeks have an 80% chance of some form of neurological deficit.
The researchers, led by Dr Mehmet, showed that human foetal stem cells could integrate into the brains of mouse foetuses which are still in the wombs of their mothers.
Transplantation of foetal stem cells could be combined with cooling therapy, which seems to slow down the advancing process of cell death following brain injury.
"The idea would be that when babies were born you would cool them, saving many of the cells," Dr Mehmet said.
"By reducing the body temperature by 3C over 12 hours, we get a substantial improvement in animal trials and now initial clinical trials.
"Later on you could take out some of the bone marrow, tweak it so you trigger some differentiation in the brain cells' lineages - not all the way, of course.
"Then depending on what that individual's deficit is you can then transplant some of the stem cell lineages into the brain."
Cell difference
Foetal stem cells are the equivalent of adult stem cells except that they are taken from the newborn.
They differ from the embryonic stem cells which can form all the cells in the body of an organism.
When tissue is damaged, cells around the damaged area start to die through a natural process of attrition called apoptosis.
This occurs because the dead cells in the damaged area no longer provide them with the survival signals they require to survive. Cooling could be effective in slowing down this process.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3638474.stm
Published: 2004/09/09 10:25:04 GMT
© BBC MMX
BBC News Online science staff, at the BA festival
Newborn babies with brain damage could be treated by stem cell therapy using cells taken from their bone marrow.
Researchers told the BA Festival of Science they successfully transplanted human foetal cells from bone marrow into the brains of newborn mice.
Dr Huseiyn Mehmet of Imperial College hopes to use the technique to replace dead tissue in the brains of babies.
He said they could also be cooled, as this seemed to delay the natural cell death that follows brain injury.
Cooling therapy
There are several causes of brain damage in newborn babies.
Babies born at term can have the blood supply to their brain broken off, called hypoxia, when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around their necks. This can result in debilitating injury to the brain.
A national study has also shown that babies born before 30 weeks have an 80% chance of some form of neurological deficit.
The researchers, led by Dr Mehmet, showed that human foetal stem cells could integrate into the brains of mouse foetuses which are still in the wombs of their mothers.
Transplantation of foetal stem cells could be combined with cooling therapy, which seems to slow down the advancing process of cell death following brain injury.
"The idea would be that when babies were born you would cool them, saving many of the cells," Dr Mehmet said.
"By reducing the body temperature by 3C over 12 hours, we get a substantial improvement in animal trials and now initial clinical trials.
"Later on you could take out some of the bone marrow, tweak it so you trigger some differentiation in the brain cells' lineages - not all the way, of course.
"Then depending on what that individual's deficit is you can then transplant some of the stem cell lineages into the brain."
Cell difference
Foetal stem cells are the equivalent of adult stem cells except that they are taken from the newborn.
They differ from the embryonic stem cells which can form all the cells in the body of an organism.
When tissue is damaged, cells around the damaged area start to die through a natural process of attrition called apoptosis.
This occurs because the dead cells in the damaged area no longer provide them with the survival signals they require to survive. Cooling could be effective in slowing down this process.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3638474.stm
Published: 2004/09/09 10:25:04 GMT
© BBC MMX
Secrecy penalises cancer patients
Secrecy penalises cancer patients
By Paul Rincon
BBC News Online science staff, at the BA festival
Doctors are missing key information they need to make decisions for cancer patients because some drug companies are not publishing clinical trials.
Scientists said about a quarter of cancer trials do not reach the public domain years after they are completed.
Experts from Cancer Research UK, a charity, called for a comprehensive database in order to monitor research.
They were speaking at the British Association's annual Festival of Science, meeting this week in Exeter.
Dr Richard Sullivan, head of clinical programmes at Cancer Research UK, said if work remained unpublished it could slow down trials by other research groups and also lead to work being duplicated.
Commitment demanded
"The medical community needs to know the results of clinical trials to be able to view the entire picture of how a treatment works, how it compares to other therapies and what choices could serve patients best," he said.
"In academia, most preliminary trials end up being published. For confidential business information reasons and strategic reasons many preliminary trials do not see the light of day.
"We are calling on industry to make a commitment to publishing these in the long term."
A study in 2003 looking at 500 cancer clinical trials found that 26% failed to be fully published five years after preliminary data was first presented at a leading cancer conference.
"All scientists, whether clinical or not, have a responsibility to make sure their data is accessible to the wider community," said Professor Fran Balkwill, head of translational oncology at the Cancer Research UK clinical centre in London.
Unduly rosy view
An additional problem arose from scientists publishing positive results and not negative ones for particular cancer drugs.
"If only positive results are published this can distort medical literature and leave doctors thinking a treatment is more effective than it actually is," he explained.
"This in turn can affect the validity and findings of subsequent reviews, treatment decisions and clinical practice guidelines."
Dr Sullivan added that many drug companies were not registering their clinical trials in the first place.
"We want to see a situation in five years' time when all clinical trials in cancer research or any other area are registered," said Dr Sullivan.
He explained that 95-98% of all academic clinical trials are registered when they are opened up. Dr Sullivan welcomed the move by some companies such as GlaxoSmithKline to register all their clinical trials.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3632882.stm
Published: 2004/09/06 19:02:58 GMT
© BBC MMX
By Paul Rincon
BBC News Online science staff, at the BA festival
Doctors are missing key information they need to make decisions for cancer patients because some drug companies are not publishing clinical trials.
Scientists said about a quarter of cancer trials do not reach the public domain years after they are completed.
Experts from Cancer Research UK, a charity, called for a comprehensive database in order to monitor research.
They were speaking at the British Association's annual Festival of Science, meeting this week in Exeter.
Dr Richard Sullivan, head of clinical programmes at Cancer Research UK, said if work remained unpublished it could slow down trials by other research groups and also lead to work being duplicated.
Commitment demanded
"The medical community needs to know the results of clinical trials to be able to view the entire picture of how a treatment works, how it compares to other therapies and what choices could serve patients best," he said.
"In academia, most preliminary trials end up being published. For confidential business information reasons and strategic reasons many preliminary trials do not see the light of day.
"We are calling on industry to make a commitment to publishing these in the long term."
A study in 2003 looking at 500 cancer clinical trials found that 26% failed to be fully published five years after preliminary data was first presented at a leading cancer conference.
"All scientists, whether clinical or not, have a responsibility to make sure their data is accessible to the wider community," said Professor Fran Balkwill, head of translational oncology at the Cancer Research UK clinical centre in London.
Unduly rosy view
An additional problem arose from scientists publishing positive results and not negative ones for particular cancer drugs.
"If only positive results are published this can distort medical literature and leave doctors thinking a treatment is more effective than it actually is," he explained.
"This in turn can affect the validity and findings of subsequent reviews, treatment decisions and clinical practice guidelines."
Dr Sullivan added that many drug companies were not registering their clinical trials in the first place.
"We want to see a situation in five years' time when all clinical trials in cancer research or any other area are registered," said Dr Sullivan.
He explained that 95-98% of all academic clinical trials are registered when they are opened up. Dr Sullivan welcomed the move by some companies such as GlaxoSmithKline to register all their clinical trials.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3632882.stm
Published: 2004/09/06 19:02:58 GMT
© BBC MMX
Drug research openness promised
The world's leading drug companies have promised to publish more data about clinical trials into new medicines to reassure the public about their safety.
Results of all industry clinical trials will be published on the internet later this year under plans drawn up by pharmaceutical trade associations.
The database is voluntary but all the major pharmaceutical companies are said to have signed up to it.
The move follows years of pressure on drug firms to publish negative results.
In September, 11 medical journals published a joint editorial calling for more transparency so unflattering results could not be covered up.
“ By publishing not just the results of trials that have taken place - whether positive or negative - but also those that are just starting, the industry has made a major step towards achieving greater transparency ”
Dr Richard Barker
The editorial was published a month after GlaxoSmithKline agreed to release information on all its clinical studies to settle a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who had accused the firm of suppressing data on the anti-depressant Paxil, known as Seroxat in the UK and Europe.
A study by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health published in the Lancet in April also accused drug firms of suppressing negative data about SSRIs, a type of anti-depressant drug.
Recently, several trade associations, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), have set up their own registers as have several of the biggest firms.
Transparency
The database will only contain results of trials sponsored by the industry - about half of the total number carried out.
The others are sponsored by bodies such as the NHS and various research charities.
And the drug firms are only required to publish trials a year after they have been approved.
There is no requirement to publish data on trials on drugs that do not make it to the market and it will not be retrospective either.
However, Dr Richard Barker, director general of the ABPI, said: "The industry recognises that there are important public health benefits associated with making clinical trial information more widely available to healthcare practitioners, patients and others.
"By publishing not just the results of trials that have taken place - whether positive or negative - but also those that are just starting, the industry has made a major step towards achieving greater transparency."
Trade associations across Europe and in the US and Japan have signed up to the plan.
But Tim Kendall, co-director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in London, said he was not convinced an industry-backed voluntary register would work.
"I do not think self-regulation is going to change things. It is not in the interests of pharmaceutical companies to be honest and open.
"People do not trust industry-backed publications. I think it is better we are sceptical."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4151273.stm
Published: 2005/01/06 12:21:08 GMT
© BBC MMX
Results of all industry clinical trials will be published on the internet later this year under plans drawn up by pharmaceutical trade associations.
The database is voluntary but all the major pharmaceutical companies are said to have signed up to it.
The move follows years of pressure on drug firms to publish negative results.
In September, 11 medical journals published a joint editorial calling for more transparency so unflattering results could not be covered up.
“ By publishing not just the results of trials that have taken place - whether positive or negative - but also those that are just starting, the industry has made a major step towards achieving greater transparency ”
Dr Richard Barker
The editorial was published a month after GlaxoSmithKline agreed to release information on all its clinical studies to settle a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who had accused the firm of suppressing data on the anti-depressant Paxil, known as Seroxat in the UK and Europe.
A study by the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health published in the Lancet in April also accused drug firms of suppressing negative data about SSRIs, a type of anti-depressant drug.
Recently, several trade associations, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), have set up their own registers as have several of the biggest firms.
Transparency
The database will only contain results of trials sponsored by the industry - about half of the total number carried out.
The others are sponsored by bodies such as the NHS and various research charities.
And the drug firms are only required to publish trials a year after they have been approved.
There is no requirement to publish data on trials on drugs that do not make it to the market and it will not be retrospective either.
However, Dr Richard Barker, director general of the ABPI, said: "The industry recognises that there are important public health benefits associated with making clinical trial information more widely available to healthcare practitioners, patients and others.
"By publishing not just the results of trials that have taken place - whether positive or negative - but also those that are just starting, the industry has made a major step towards achieving greater transparency."
Trade associations across Europe and in the US and Japan have signed up to the plan.
But Tim Kendall, co-director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in London, said he was not convinced an industry-backed voluntary register would work.
"I do not think self-regulation is going to change things. It is not in the interests of pharmaceutical companies to be honest and open.
"People do not trust industry-backed publications. I think it is better we are sceptical."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/4151273.stm
Published: 2005/01/06 12:21:08 GMT
© BBC MMX
Cannabis drug cuts arthritis pain
A drug made from an extract of cannabis has helped to reduce the pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis.
The drug, Sativex, has been developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, which is assessing the medical benefits of cannabis under a UK government licence.
Tests of a spray form of the drug on 58 arthritis patients showed it helped reduce pain, and improve quality of sleep.
Few people showed signs of side effects, the company said.
“ Cannabis-based medicines may offer therapeutic potential across a range of medical conditions. ”
Dr Philip Robson
GW Pharmaceuticals has previously carried out trials showing that Sativex can reduce the pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
Dr Philip Robson, director of GW's Cannabinoid Research Institute, said: "These results are particularly exciting because this is the first ever controlled clinical trial of a cannabis-based medicine in the treatment of arthritis.
"To date, GW's research has concentrated on multiple sclerosis and neuropathic pain and it is therefore very encouraging to see these positive effects of Sativex on pain and other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
"This exploratory trial provides further strong support to our belief that cannabis-based medicines may offer therapeutic potential across a range of medical conditions."
The research will now focus on the most effective dose to give patients.
Big help
The study was welcomed by the Arthritis Research Campaign.
A spokeswoman said: "It's not going to cure the disease, but it will do a lot to alleviate the pain and suffering of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
"Cannabis is probably less harmful than other available painkillers.
"This idea that people with rheumatoid arthritis will be sitting around smoking joints and getting high is quite wrong; cannabis-based pain killers should be taken very seriously."
Arthritis Research Campaign scientists have previously carried out studies which showed that cannabidiol - a natural constituent of cannabis that has no mind-altering effects in its purified form - can ease the effects of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
GW cultivates some 40,000 cannabis plants a year at a secret location in the English countryside.
The government has already said it would grant permission for the use of cannabis-based medications if trials produced positive results.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3790227.stm
Published: 2004/06/09 10:07:15 GMT
© BBC MMX
The drug, Sativex, has been developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, which is assessing the medical benefits of cannabis under a UK government licence.
Tests of a spray form of the drug on 58 arthritis patients showed it helped reduce pain, and improve quality of sleep.
Few people showed signs of side effects, the company said.
“ Cannabis-based medicines may offer therapeutic potential across a range of medical conditions. ”
Dr Philip Robson
GW Pharmaceuticals has previously carried out trials showing that Sativex can reduce the pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
Dr Philip Robson, director of GW's Cannabinoid Research Institute, said: "These results are particularly exciting because this is the first ever controlled clinical trial of a cannabis-based medicine in the treatment of arthritis.
"To date, GW's research has concentrated on multiple sclerosis and neuropathic pain and it is therefore very encouraging to see these positive effects of Sativex on pain and other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
"This exploratory trial provides further strong support to our belief that cannabis-based medicines may offer therapeutic potential across a range of medical conditions."
The research will now focus on the most effective dose to give patients.
Big help
The study was welcomed by the Arthritis Research Campaign.
A spokeswoman said: "It's not going to cure the disease, but it will do a lot to alleviate the pain and suffering of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
"Cannabis is probably less harmful than other available painkillers.
"This idea that people with rheumatoid arthritis will be sitting around smoking joints and getting high is quite wrong; cannabis-based pain killers should be taken very seriously."
Arthritis Research Campaign scientists have previously carried out studies which showed that cannabidiol - a natural constituent of cannabis that has no mind-altering effects in its purified form - can ease the effects of collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
GW cultivates some 40,000 cannabis plants a year at a secret location in the English countryside.
The government has already said it would grant permission for the use of cannabis-based medications if trials produced positive results.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3790227.stm
Published: 2004/06/09 10:07:15 GMT
© BBC MMX
Woman died on cannabis drug trial
Woman died on cannabis drug trial
A woman developed mental health problems and later died after taking part in trials of a cannabis-based drug, an inquest has heard.
Diabetic Rene Anderson, aged 69 from Sheffield, was taken to hospital after starting to take Sativex to see if it would relieve pain she was suffering.
She died in March 2004 from acute kidney failure.
The continuing inquest is expected to have implications for the use of drugs derived from cannabis.
Useful relief
Mrs Anderson, a retired supermarket supervisor from Silkstone Close in Frecheville, had been taking part in a trial supervised by diabetes expert Dr Solomon Tesfaye.
He told the court he wanted to investigate whether cannabis could provide useful relief from the severe pain experienced by diabetic neuropathy sufferers.
Sativex, which is not yet licensed in the UK but has been granted a licence in Canada, had shown good results in multiple sclerosis sufferers, Dr Resfaye said.
He was first aware of Mrs Anderson's case when her family complained about her mental problems just days after her treatment began.
Admitted to hospital
The doctor said the dose of the drug, which is taken using an oral spray, was reduced but Mrs Anderson's daughter, Jackie Sadler, rang back two weeks later to tell of her mother's deterioration.
Sheffield coroner Chris Dorries heard how Mrs Anderson suffered a series of physical problems after she was admitted to hospital in October 2003, 23 days after starting to take Sativex
These included pneumonia which culminated in her death five months later.
The coroner said the purpose of the inquest was to examine what links there were, if any, between the experimental treatment and the physical deterioration which led to Mrs Anderson's death.
The inquest, which began on Monday, is expected to last five or six days.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4522108.stm
Published: 2005/12/12 15:52:13 GMT
© BBC MMX
A woman developed mental health problems and later died after taking part in trials of a cannabis-based drug, an inquest has heard.
Diabetic Rene Anderson, aged 69 from Sheffield, was taken to hospital after starting to take Sativex to see if it would relieve pain she was suffering.
She died in March 2004 from acute kidney failure.
The continuing inquest is expected to have implications for the use of drugs derived from cannabis.
Useful relief
Mrs Anderson, a retired supermarket supervisor from Silkstone Close in Frecheville, had been taking part in a trial supervised by diabetes expert Dr Solomon Tesfaye.
He told the court he wanted to investigate whether cannabis could provide useful relief from the severe pain experienced by diabetic neuropathy sufferers.
Sativex, which is not yet licensed in the UK but has been granted a licence in Canada, had shown good results in multiple sclerosis sufferers, Dr Resfaye said.
He was first aware of Mrs Anderson's case when her family complained about her mental problems just days after her treatment began.
Admitted to hospital
The doctor said the dose of the drug, which is taken using an oral spray, was reduced but Mrs Anderson's daughter, Jackie Sadler, rang back two weeks later to tell of her mother's deterioration.
Sheffield coroner Chris Dorries heard how Mrs Anderson suffered a series of physical problems after she was admitted to hospital in October 2003, 23 days after starting to take Sativex
These included pneumonia which culminated in her death five months later.
The coroner said the purpose of the inquest was to examine what links there were, if any, between the experimental treatment and the physical deterioration which led to Mrs Anderson's death.
The inquest, which began on Monday, is expected to last five or six days.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4522108.stm
Published: 2005/12/12 15:52:13 GMT
© BBC MMX
Six taken ill after drug trials
Six taken ill after drug trials
Six men remain in intensive care after being taken ill during a clinical drugs trial in north-west London.
The healthy volunteers were testing an anti-inflammatory drug at a research unit based at Northwick Park Hospital when they suffered a reaction.
Relatives are with the patients, who suffered multiple organ failure. Two men are said to be critically ill.
An investigation has begun at the unit, run by Parexel, which said it followed recommended guidelines in its trial.
The men were being paid to take part in the early stages of a trial for the drug to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and leukaemia until they were taken ill on Monday within hours of taking it.
Eight volunteers were involved, but two were given a placebo at the unit which is on Northwick Park Hospital's grounds but is run independently.
“ This is an absolutely exceptional occurrence - I cannot remember anything comparable ”
Richard Ley, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
The hospital's intensive care director Ganesh Suntharalingam said the patients were admitted very quickly and were receiving "close monitoring and appropriate treatment".
A Northwick Park Hospital spokesman said two were in a critical condition, while the other four were "serious but stable".
Richard Ley, spokesman for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: "This is an absolutely exceptional occurrence. I cannot remember anything comparable."
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) immediately withdrew authorisation for the trial. An international warning has also gone out to prevent it being tested abroad.
Its inspectors will visit the research unit and it is in contact with the local strategic health authority, the Department of Health and police about the cases.
Animal testing
Chief executive officer Professor Kent Woods said: "Our immediate priority has been to ensure that no further patients are harmed.
"We will now undertake an exhaustive investigation to determine the cause and ensure all appropriate actions are taken."
It had approved the trial and the drug had already been tested on animals and in a laboratory.
Volunteers are paid up to £150 a day to take part in clinical trials.
Healthy volunteers are used to test the safety of the drug in "phase one" of the trial before further tests with people who have the condition to determine whether the drugs work.
'Swift response'
Parexel, which was running the trial, said it had followed guidelines and such cases were extremely rare.
Professor Herman Scholtz, from Parexel, said the clinical research organisation had followed regulatory, medical and clinical research guidelines during the study.
He said: "When the adverse drug reaction occurred, the Parexel clinical pharmacology medical team responded swiftly to stop the study procedures immediately."
He added: "Such an adverse drug reaction occurs extremely rarely and this is an unfortunate and unusual situation.
"Since our unit is located within the hospital, we have immediate access to world-class medical care and we did everything possible to get the patients treated as quickly as possible."
Have you taken part in a drug trial? How did you find the experience? Would you consider taking part in one? Have you conducted a drug trial? Send us your comments and experiences.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4807042.stm
Published: 2006/03/15 09:52:27 GMT
© BBC MMX
Six men remain in intensive care after being taken ill during a clinical drugs trial in north-west London.
The healthy volunteers were testing an anti-inflammatory drug at a research unit based at Northwick Park Hospital when they suffered a reaction.
Relatives are with the patients, who suffered multiple organ failure. Two men are said to be critically ill.
An investigation has begun at the unit, run by Parexel, which said it followed recommended guidelines in its trial.
The men were being paid to take part in the early stages of a trial for the drug to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and leukaemia until they were taken ill on Monday within hours of taking it.
Eight volunteers were involved, but two were given a placebo at the unit which is on Northwick Park Hospital's grounds but is run independently.
“ This is an absolutely exceptional occurrence - I cannot remember anything comparable ”
Richard Ley, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
The hospital's intensive care director Ganesh Suntharalingam said the patients were admitted very quickly and were receiving "close monitoring and appropriate treatment".
A Northwick Park Hospital spokesman said two were in a critical condition, while the other four were "serious but stable".
Richard Ley, spokesman for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: "This is an absolutely exceptional occurrence. I cannot remember anything comparable."
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) immediately withdrew authorisation for the trial. An international warning has also gone out to prevent it being tested abroad.
Its inspectors will visit the research unit and it is in contact with the local strategic health authority, the Department of Health and police about the cases.
Animal testing
Chief executive officer Professor Kent Woods said: "Our immediate priority has been to ensure that no further patients are harmed.
"We will now undertake an exhaustive investigation to determine the cause and ensure all appropriate actions are taken."
It had approved the trial and the drug had already been tested on animals and in a laboratory.
Volunteers are paid up to £150 a day to take part in clinical trials.
Healthy volunteers are used to test the safety of the drug in "phase one" of the trial before further tests with people who have the condition to determine whether the drugs work.
'Swift response'
Parexel, which was running the trial, said it had followed guidelines and such cases were extremely rare.
Professor Herman Scholtz, from Parexel, said the clinical research organisation had followed regulatory, medical and clinical research guidelines during the study.
He said: "When the adverse drug reaction occurred, the Parexel clinical pharmacology medical team responded swiftly to stop the study procedures immediately."
He added: "Such an adverse drug reaction occurs extremely rarely and this is an unfortunate and unusual situation.
"Since our unit is located within the hospital, we have immediate access to world-class medical care and we did everything possible to get the patients treated as quickly as possible."
Have you taken part in a drug trial? How did you find the experience? Would you consider taking part in one? Have you conducted a drug trial? Send us your comments and experiences.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4807042.stm
Published: 2006/03/15 09:52:27 GMT
© BBC MMX
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