Cameroon's health minister warns against ‘urine therapy’
The health minister of Cameroon, Urbain Olanguena Awono, has warned that drinking urine may not be good for people's health. He said in a public statement: ‘Given the risks of toxicity associated in the short, medium and long term with ingesting urine, the health ministry advises against the consumption of urine and invites those who promote the practice to cease doing so forthwith or risk prosecution’.
Cannabis affects babies in the womb
Exposure to cannabis in the womb could cause children to experience learning difficulties and hyperactivity, Italian researchers suggest. They injected pregnant rats each day with a quantity of the cannabinoid equivalent to a low to moderate daily dose in humans. When the rats were young, those exposed to the cannabinoid were significantly more hyperactive than the other group, although this difference disappeared by adulthood. However, the cannabinoid rats scored lower on learning tests throughout their lives.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2871901.stm, 26 March 2003
Does cannabis damage mental health?
A consultant in toxicology from St Mary's Hospital in London, UK, Professor John Henry, reported that studies from Sweden and elsewhere pointed to an increase in schizophrenia among regular cannabis smokers. According to Henry some cases of schizophrenia are attributable to the consumption of cannabis, rather than the alternative explanation that patients prone to mental illnesses are more likely to be drawn to use the drug. Currently, the number of cannabis users in the UK is estimated at more than three million.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2923647.stm, 7 April 2003
Supplements and herbal products recalled in Australia
Australia's national regulator for medicines and other therapeutic goods, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), suspended the manufacturing licence of Pan Pharmaceuticals in April for 6 months and is recalling over 200 therapeutic goods. The TGA found serious safety and quality breaches at the company. It launched an investigation into Pan Pharmaceuticals after faulty batches of Pan's anti‐travel sickness medication Travacalm Original Tablets were associated with 19 people being hospitalised and 68 others experiencing potentially life‐threatening adverse reactions. Subsequent laboratory tests found that the active ingredient hyoscine hydrobromide varied in content from 0 to 700% of the listed dose. Inspectors found serious safety and quality breaches at the company, which included substitution of ingredients, manipulation of test results and substandard manufacturing processes.
Cochrane Collaboration CM Field receives 4‐year grant from NIH
The Cochrane Collaboration Complementary Medicine (CM) Field has recently been awarded a four‐year grant from the US NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The overall purpose of the grant is to enhance the Cochrane Collaboration CM Field as a resource for researchers as well as practitioners and consumers interested in CAM. Specifically, the project will improve and increase the registry of CAM trials; expand the visibility and use of the registry; increase the number of high‐quality systematic reviews in CAM; and increase the collaboration and promotion of the Cochrane CAM Field.
The CM Field will begin a bursary scheme to provide financial assistance to researchers working on Cochrane systematic reviews in CAM so that CAM reviews are completed and published in The Cochrane Library.
Cochrane Collaboration Email Newsletter, 8 May 2003
Chinese turn to herbs to prevent SARS
Chinese people seeking protection against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus turned to traditional herbal remedies; Ba Wei or Eight Ingredients are among those used. They believe the herbs – which include dried honeysuckle and wild chrysanthemum – helps boost their resistance and ward off SARS.
Yahoo News, 30 April 2003
Fight SARS with homoeopathy?
On their website, Healwell Homeopathic Products recommend the following products to control severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS): ‘Based on the WHO reported clinical picture and progression of SARS cases, the following homoeopathic medicine based on symptom similarity could be helpful: Aconite 200, Eupatorium perfoliatum 200, Bryonia 200, Gelsemium 30, and Ars Alb 200’. FACT wonders whether this is innocent nonsense or irresponsible advice.
Turnips touted as SARS cure in Beijing
Turnip prices have jumped in Beijing after the vegetable was touted as a key ingredient in a potion to fight the deadly virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Carrots, leeks, garlic and ginger have leapt in popularity too after the popular Star Daily tabloid published a recipe for fighting SARS last week that included those ingredients along with turnips.
RAND study raises safety concerns about ephedra and ephedrine
An exhaustive review by RAND researchers of health studies involving products containing the herb ephedra (Ephedra sinica) or the drug ephedrine raises concern about the safety of the products, which are used by millions of Americans to promote weight loss or enhance athletic performance. The available evidence is sufficient to conclude that these products are related to a two‐ or three‐fold increase in side‐effects such as nausea, vomiting, jitteriness and palpitations, according to a new RAND Health study. Furthermore, the evidence suggests a link between these products and catastrophic events such as sudden death, heart attack or stroke. The US Department of Health has announced a series of actions to protect Americans from the risks related to dietary supplements containing ephedra.
http://www.rand.org, 28 February 2003
EU to clamp down on health and nutrition claims
The European Commission has produced draft legislation under which many health and nutritional claims for food products would be banned. The draft proposal is currently in interservice consultation but, if it does become law, unverifiable claims such as ‘boosts your immune system’, ‘helps keep your body feeling good’ and ‘halves your calorie intake’ would be outlawed by article 6 of the proposal. Phrases such as ‘80% fat‐free’, where a product actually contains 20%, fat would no longer be permitted and terms such as ‘low‐fat’, ‘high fibre’ and ‘low sugar’ would all be strictly regulated. Endorsements of food products by medical or dental practitioners or their associations, and claims aimed at children would also be banned if the proposals are adopted. Health claims would have to be approved in advance by the European Food Safety Authority who would have to ensure that the proposed wording of the claim is supported by scientific data.
EU Food Law, 28 February 2003, http://www.agra-europe.com
Evening primrose research fraud
A neurophysiologist in the UK has been reprimanded by the General Medical Council after being found guilty of research fraud in a trial of the drug Tarabetic, also known as Efamol, a constituent of evening primrose oil intended for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. He was accused of breaching the trial's protocol of randomisation into treatment and control groups. Having played a major role in the preliminary work on the drug, he had been promised 0.5% of Tarabetic's profits should it come to market.
BMJ 2003; 326: 730.
Legislation introduced to extend licensure to naturopathic physicians in California
In an effort to expand consumer access to natural medicine, legislation has been introduced in the California legislature to extend licensure to the State's naturopathic physicians. This Bill will establish title protection and allow a scope of practice commensurate with the training of naturopathic doctors. Under this legislation, consumers will have access to licensed naturopathic doctors and the full range of diagnostic evaluation, treatment benefits, disease prevention and health promotion that naturopathic doctors provide.
Can a tropical worm help to relieve the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
Researchers in Scotland have found that secretions from a parasitic worm, called a filarial nematode, have an anti‐inflammatory effect. They believe the discovery could help people with autoimmune diseases (conditions where the body's own immune system attacks itself for no apparent reason). The worm lives off humans and is carried by hundreds of millions of people in the tropics, where the incidence of autoimmune disease is much lower. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde say the worm secretes a molecule called ES‐62 which enables the worm to survive inside the host but does not appear to have any visible impact on humans except to reduce inflammation. The scientists have received funding from Scotland's Proof of Concept fund, which aims to support technological innovation.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2808437.stm, 17 March 2003
Patients can report adverse reactions
Patients who suffer adverse reactions to drugs will be able to report the problem to the NHS Direct helpline in the UK. It will be the first time that the public has been able to report their own experiences of adverse drug reactions. Until now it has been up to the health professionals to record adverse events under the Yellow Card scheme. If the pilot project set up in south east London proves successful, it will be made available at all 22 NHS Direct call centres in the UK.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2976811.stm, 6 May 2003
Robert Atkins dies aged 72
Doctor Robert C Atkins, who created the best‐selling low‐carbohydrate, high‐protein ‘Dr Atkins’ Diet’ died in April, aged 72 years. Atkins had suffered a severe head injury after falling on an icy sidewalk while walking to work. He first advocated his unorthodox weight‐loss plan, which emphasises meat, eggs and cheese and discourages bread, rice and fruit, in his 1972 book, Dr Atkins’ Diet Revolution. His philosophy enjoyed a resurgence in the 1 990s with Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, which sold more than 10 million copies world‐wide and spent 5 years on The New York Times best‐seller list.
Safety of high doses of vitamins and minerals
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued advice 1 following publication of a 360‐page report entitled Safe Upper Levels for Vitamins and Minerals produced by the independent Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals (EGVM). 2 The report provides nutritional and toxicological data on over 30 vitamins and minerals. The FSA has expressed concern that, while most are safe if taken within the recommended limits, some people may irreversibly harm their health by taking high doses of certain vitamins and minerals over a long period. The report is based on vitamins and minerals in food supplements and fortified foods. It does not address the medicinal uses of vitamins and minerals, which may be taken at higher doses under medical guidance. The amounts of most vitamins and minerals that people take are not thought to be harmful, but the Agency is now advising the public on what levels of supplements are unlikely to cause any harm.
Vegetarian dies of CJD
In the UK, a 20‐year‐old man who was brought up as a vegetarian in an Asian vegetarian household has died of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD). He had eaten beef only on a handful of occasions. It is thought the most likely route of contamination was through gelatine, an ingredient from animal bones used in many products and not always labelled (e.g. in alcohol).
Vinegar to identify cervical cancer in women?
Research carried out in South Africa has found that washing the cervix or neck of the womb with vinegar shows up potentially cancerous cells. An early trial has suggested the technique is as effective as a pap smear, which is the more usual way of spotting the disease. Doctors believe their research could pave the way for developing countries to introduce a cheap and effective screening programme for cervical cancer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk, 10 March 2003
