JULY 2023 NEWS
Featured topic: coronavirus
On Science-Based Medicine,
David Gorski posted:
“RFK Jr.: A fart-filled argument gives way to an antisemitic conspiracy theory that COVID-19 is an 'ethnically targeted' bioweapon.”
“’Base Spike Detox’and Signature Spike Support Formulas: Nattokinase quackery to treat COVID-19 and COVID-19 ‘vaccine injury’.” Products promoted by Dr. Peter McCullough are discussed.
“COVID-19 has exposed the toothlessness of state medical boards.” “The bottom line is that now, as in years past, state medical boards are largely toothless when it comes to regulating the practice of medicine and stopping dangerous doctors from endangering patients…Until there is the political will to empower state medical boards to go after quacks, again be they COVID-19 quacks or any other quack, and provide the resources to them to be able to do so without risking starving their other important activities of funding, it unfortunately appears that a patient’s best defense is a healthy skepticism, as in ‘let the patient beware,’ which is very difficult given the differential in medical knowledge between physicians and their patients, with the most likely means of punishing such doctors being to sue them for malpractice after they have injured a patient.”
Jonathan Howard posted:
“When doctors have different standards of evidence for the virus and the vaccine.” “817,000 thousand Americans had already died of COVID by December 23, 2021, and 244,000 more would die the next year. Millions more survived, but were injured. These numbers could have been lower if doctors had not become defense attorneys for SARS‑CoV‑2 and prosecutors against the vaccine, and instead applied similar standards of evidence to both.”
“Praise for Dr. Monica Gandhi.” “Ideally, leaders of American medicine would have had the courage to correct misinformation spread by their fellow doctors. At a bare minimum, they didn’t have to lavish praise on a doctor who repeatedly polluted our COVID landscape with obvious misinformation and falsely pacified people the worst was over, when in fact the worst was yet to come.”
“Conspirituality: a book recommendation.” “Conspirituality is a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the daunting task we face in repairing the damage done by disinformation doctors.”
On Respectful Insolence, “Orac” posted:
“A mouse ‘died suddenly’ of ‘turbo cancer’ after a COVID-19 vaccination.” “Last week, Stew Peters Tweeted out a link to a study in which a mouse ‘died suddenly’ of ‘turbo cancer’ after being vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This study is even more ridiculous than the usual ‘turbo cancer’ study…I conclude by wondering once again why the investigators did this study. The design was so artificial with its intravenous dosage of a vaccine not intended to be administered intravenously plus its use of such a massive dose, that, no matter what the results of the study, they would not be applicable to humans.”
“'Contamination' of COVID vaccines with SV40: The stupidity continues.” “Dr. Peter McCullough has latched onto a recent claim that COVID-19 vaccines are contaminated with cancer-causing ‘SV40.’ It’s all biobabble bereft of understanding of basic molecular biology.”
“Bronny James suffers a cardiac arrest, and Elon Musk amplifies the antivax ‘died suddenly’ conspiracy.”
Featured topic: vaccines (general)
On Science-Based Medicine, Frank Han:
Posted “The Grand Debunk of the antivaxxer book ‘Turtles All the Way Down’ (part 1/10).” “The authors of the book make little to no effort to sincerely understand why current vaccine clinical trials are done in the manner that they are, and even attempt to complain that things were not done that were actually done.” The series continued with Part 2, “supposedly concerned with ‘The Science of Adverse Events’,” and Part 3, dealing with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
On Respectful Insolence, “Orac”:
Posted “Now Steve Kirsch wants to ‘collaborate’ with provaccine scientists?” “Steve Kirsch is known for his ludicrous challenges issued to vaccine advocates to ‘debate’ vaccines. Now he wants to ‘collaborate’ with provaccine scientists to test whether vaccines cause autism. His proposal is equally ludicrous.”
Wrote “Bill Ackman is shocked that people think he’s antivax.” “Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman wonders why people are calling him antivax. All he did was to defend RFK Jr. and amplify old antivax tropes on Twitter.”
Posted “An antivaxxer abuses evolution to go full transphobe.” James Lyons-Weiler is discussed. “Nobody should be surprised at how eagerly antivaxxers have jumped on the transphobe bandwagon in response to the moral panic being stoked over the gender-affirming care of trans adolescents or how eagerly someone like Lyons-Weiler abuses evolutionary theory and history to do it. Antivaxxers have long blamed vaccines for turning kids gay, so why not transgender too?”
Other topics
On Science-Based Medicine,
Scott Gavura:
Posted “The effects of vitamin D supplementation on major cardiac events,” discussing a trial involving more than 21,000 older Australians (Thompson et al. BMJ. 2023 Jun 28;381:e075230 Paper). “We already know from this same data set that vitamin D had no effect on all-cause mortality. This well done clinical trial offers modest evidence that supplementation may reduce the incidence of some cardiovascular events. However, in aggregate, no benefit was show on overall cardiovascular event occurrence. When considered in the context of accumulated research to date that has showed vitamin D has no measurable benefit, it is difficult to consider even these very weak findings to be very compelling. We do know that vitamin D is inexpensive, and that there is low risk of toxicity. But this trial adds to the body of evidence showing no cardiovascular benefits to supplementation.” Edzard Ernst also discussed the study. “This is an impressive study and a disappointing result. That vitamin D supplementation might reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events was known before; thus we would not have needed such an expensive study to arrive at this conclusion. That the protective effect might be more marked in patients taking statins or other cardiovascular drugs seems odd, in my view. Could it be, I ask myself, that the protective effect is unrelated to cardiovascular drugs but simply more marked in those individuals who are at a higher than average risk of cardiovascular events? In any case, the protective effect is small and seems to be of questionable clinical relevance.”
Wrote “Novak Djokovic credits the Tao Patch for his success: What does the science say?” “The TaoPatch is just the latest iteration of the seemingly endless stream of products that take advantage of consumer credulity, the belief in superstition, and a lack of skepticism. If this product could genuinely improve Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis, it would be endorsed in medical guidelines and recommended by experts. If it genuinely enhanced sports performance, it would be prohibited in competition. Unfortunately, the results claimed by the manufacturer are highly implausible, and in the absence of any convincing evidence, the TaoPatch remain unproven.”
David Gorski:
Wrote “The return of marketing hype for 'whole body scans'…now with AI!” “Two decades ago, I cut my skeptical teeth countering advertising for whole body scans by companies making extravagant promises for their products. This particular medical fad faded for a while, but now it’s back with a vengeance…with AI! Looking at these products, what I see is basically the quackery that is functional medicine on steroids and powered by AI.”
Steven Novella:
Wrote “Washington Post falls for acupuncture pseudoscience.” “Following the acupuncture story closely for 30 years also gives one a good perspective – because there seems to be an never-ending revolving door of these preliminary studies, and proponents breathlessly reassuring that we are finally about to explain how acupuncture works. But we never seem to get closer. Acupuncture research has been chasing its tail for decades, because acupuncture is a fiction. There are no acupoints, and the effects of acupuncture are nothing but placebo. A fair and science-based reading of the literature clearly shows this. But proponents have been experts and creating this false narrative, and the Washington Post just fell for it.”
Edzard Ernst:
Discussed a Cochrane review of the McKenzie method for (sub)acute non-specific low back pain. The review is: Almeida et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Apr 5;4(4):CD009711 Abstract. “The authors concluded that, based on low- to very low-certainty evidence, the treatment effects for pain and disability found in our review were not clinically important. Thus, we can conclude that the McKenzie method is not an effective treatment for (sub)acute NSLBP.”
Posted “Our struggle to publish criticism of a questionable homeopathy paper.”
Wrote “Homeopathy for substance use disorders? No, I don’t think so!”
Discussed a review of Kneipp hydrotherapy. “This is certainly the best review of the subject so far. It makes it very clear that the evidence for Kneipp hydrotherapy is weak, mostly because of the many flaws in the primary studies... It follows, I fear, that Kneipp hydrotherapy is almost entirely not evidence-based.” The review is: Ortiz et al. BMJ Open. 2023 Jul 9;13(7):e070951 Paper.
Posted “The dark side of chiropractic care.” An article by John Mac Ghlionn was discussed.
Wrote “Never going to a chiropractor again.” Chiropractic treatment led to a dissected artery. “Of course, chiros will queue up to stress that important details are missing in this case report. To them, I would merely say this: THERE IS NO GOOD EVIDENCE THAT NECK MANIPULATIONS BRING ANY BENEFIT AND QUITE A BIT OF EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. SO, WHY NOT JUST STOP OFFERING THE PROCEDURE?”
Posted “Static magnetic field therapy ‘is recommended as an easy-to-use and drug-free method’ – let me explain why I do not believe this conclusion.” “Apart from the fact that the treatment has no biological plausibility, I have three main reasons for my skepticism. 1. The authors stated that there was no distinguishable difference between the sham and SMF devices in terms of their appearance, weight, or texture, which helped to ensure that the study was double-blinded. This is nonsense, I am afraid! … a placebo effect can easily explain the outcomes. 2. Authors who feel that their tiny study of a highly implausible therapy lends itself to concluding that their therapy ‘is recommended as an easy-to-use and drug-free method for reducing DPN [diabetic peripheral neuropathy] symptoms and improving QoL [quality of life]’ can, in my view, not be taken seriously. 3. Something that always makes me suspicious of clinical trials is a lack of a placebo response where one would normally expect one. In this study, the control group exhibits hardly any placebo response.”
Argued against the claim that “chiropractors can play an important role as public health advocates.” “So, what is the real contribution of chiropractors to public health? Chiropractors tend to advise their clients against vaccinations. Some mislead the public by claiming they boost immunity and prevent serious infections. Many undermine evidence-based medicine by promoting obsolete myths such as ‘the innate’ or subluxations. Many sell supplements that could interact with prescription drugs. Many make bogus health claims for profit. I would therefore argue that, on balance, the contribution of chiropractors to public health might be considerable …sadly, however, it goes in the wrong direction.”
Posted “King Charles: reflexology to help women getting pregnant?” “Reflexology is not merely implausible as a treatment for infertility, it also boasts of some fairly rigorous trial evidence. A clinical trial…testing whether foot reflexology might have a positive effect on the induction of ovulation stated that ‘the results suggest that any effect on ovulation would not be clinically relevant.’ So, as so often before in the realm of SCAM [so-called alternative medicine], Charles has demonstrated that his lack of critical thinking leads him to the least promising options.”
Wrote “Important legal case against ‘Sobrenix,’ a supplement for alleviating alcohol cravings.” While praising the actions taken by the FTC (Press release), he wrote: “WHY ARE CONSUMERS NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECTED BY THEIR NATIONAL REGULATORS FROM CHARLATANS WHO SELL INEFFECTIVE AND OFTEN DANGEROUS SCAMs AT HIGH COSTS?”
Posted “Death after kratom and a $11million pay-out.”
July 1 – Rogers, Lawlor, and Moeller published “Vitamin C supplementation and athletic performance: a review” (Curr Sports Med Rep. 2023 Jul 1;22(7):255-259 Paper). “Based on a lack of consistent data and potential for blunted physiologic adaptations to training, long-term high-dosage supplementation with vitamin C is not recommended. Athletes should obtain antioxidants through a nutrient-rich diet instead of through supplement use.”
July 17 – Cohen and others examined contents of five ingredients with purported performance-enhancing properties (R vomitoria, methylliberine, turkesterone, halostachine, and octopamine) in 63 sports supplements (JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Jul 3;6(7):e2323879 Paper). Only 6 of the products contained an amount of the ingredient equal within 10% of the amount stated on the label; many had little or none of the ingredient. 7 products contained at least one FDA-prohibited ingredient.
July 19 – Élias and others published “Probiotic supplementation during antibiotic treatment is unjustified in maintaining the gut microbiome diversity: a systematic review and meta-analysis” (BMC Med. 2023 Jul 19;21(1):262 Paper).
July 24 – Nick Tiller wrote “Magic jewelry and the irony of ignorance.” “These charms and trinkets can harness quantum energy fields, resonate with the body’s intrinsic frequencies, emit magnetic pulses, and surround the owner with protective and healing energies. From sports performance to health and healing, there are earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings for every desire.”
Additions to previous months
April, 2022 – Dai and others published “Cochrane systematic reviews on traditional Chinese medicine: What matters-the quantity or quality of evidence?” (Phytomedicine. 2022 Jan 10;98:153921 Paper). “Although TCM-related CSRs have covered a large number of diseases, the current quality of evidence is insufficient to support the efficacy of most TCM interventions. It is not worthwhile to spend time and resources performing a CSR when the included trials have poor methodological quality.”
May, 2023 – Zulauf-McCurdy and others reviewed complementary and alternative treatments for pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2023
May 1;44(4):e322-e332 Abstract). “In the systematic review of basic efficacy, evidence of effectiveness was mixed but replicated previous evidence for the possible efficacy of cognitive training, neurofeedback, and essential fatty acid supplementation for certain patients. With respect to alternative and complementary efficacy, no CAT outperformed or enhanced evidence-based treatments (stimulant medications and behavioral therapy) when replication was required. Individual meta-analyses indicated that cognitive training was the only CAT that demonstrated overall basic efficacy (SMD = 0.216; p = 0.032).”
May 26 –Jonathan Jarry wrote “What the 'Big Pharma' accusation gets right (and wrong) about the drug industry.” “Valid criticism of the pharmaceutical industry often snowballs into demonization, leading conspiracy theorists to promote an alternative that is simply hypocritical…Take-home message: 1. There are legitimate criticisms of the ways in which drugs are developed and marketed by the pharmaceutical industry, from the withholding of negative results to the use of representatives to exaggerate the benefits of new drugs to doctors; 2. The people who endorse the ‘Big Pharma’ conspiracy theory will often promote the rejection of pharmaceutical drugs and their replacement with lifestyle modifications and dietary supplements, but the former is often inadequate to treat disease and the latter is almost always based on poor studies; 3. Pharmaceuticals are useful but the drug industry needs more transparency and regulation, and initiatives like the AllTrials campaign have made progress on that front.”
June 20 – Russ Pomeroy wrote “Why Traditional Chinese Medicine is the worst alternative ‘medicine’.” “Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that acupuncture, tai chi, and various herbal and animal-based remedies can bring the body's life forces into balance, thus restoring good health. The practice is superstitious nonsense. TCM offers little to no health benefit while endangering various animal species, putting consumers at risk from dodgy products, and increasing the likelihood of global pandemics. Given its immense popularity around the world, it may be the most damaging alternative ‘medicine’."