Archives of medical research
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Historical Article
50th anniversary of the Declaration of Helsinki: the double standard was introduced.
The Declaration of Helsinki (DoH), adopted by the World Medical Association (WMA), is one of the most influential international documents in research ethics, is turning 50 in 2014. Its regular updates, seven versions (1975, 1983, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2013) and two notes of clarification (2002, 2004), characterize it as a 'live' document. The seventh version of the DoH was amended by the 64th WMA General Assembly, Fortaleza, Brazil, October 2013. ⋯ The major problem was the insertion of the phrase 'less effective than the best proven' on placebo paragraph in order to allow double standard in medical research in low-resource countries. The DoH is a 'live' document, which will continually have to deal with new topics and challenges. Health equity needs to be a priority, and with that, a single ethical standard for medical research.
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Biomarkers associated with anti-EGFR antibodies therapy have been investigated in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted this study to evaluate the clinical utility of a combined assessment of EGFR status and genomic mutations of the EGFR downstream signal pathway in predicting the efficacy of anti-EGFR antibody treatment. ⋯ Combined assessment of DISH plus IHC and EGFR downstream gene mutations was useful to predict the response to anti-EGFR antibodies treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer patients in our study.
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The objective of this observational study was to determine whether there is an association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and uric acid and to identify the risk markers for AF in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ⋯ The novel finding of this study is that the occurrence of AF in OSA patients is strongly related to serum uric acid level, left atrial diameter, percentage of time with SaO2 <90% and CRP level. These results may be helpful for monitoring AF occurrence in OSA patients.
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The use of a combination of analgesics could provide an optimal pain treatment with minimal side effects. Combinations of tramadol and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have demonstrated synergistic antinociceptive effects as well as a significantly reduced occurrence of adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive and constipation effects of tramadol and metamizole alone or in combination in rats and to discern among the types of drug interactions that exist using dose-response curves and an isobolographic analysis. ⋯ The preclinical antinociceptive interaction and adverse effects produced by the combination of tramadol and metamizole suggests that caution should be exercised when using this combination in the clinical therapy of pain.
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Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of bacterial cell-cell communication that controls a large number of systems affecting pathogenicity. Interrupting this communication system can provide nonvirulent pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) potential of an anacardic acids mixture isolated from Amphipterygium adstringens, a medicinal plant known as "cuachalalate", to prevent the onset of bacterial infections as an alternate to antibiotics. ⋯ Because an anacardic acids mixture isolated from A. adstringens demonstrated anti-QS, it could be further exploited for novel molecules to treat the emerging infections of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens.