JULY 2024 NEWS



Featured topic: COVID-19

 

On Science-Based Medicine,

 

David Gorski posted:

 

Allison Neitzel posted:

 

On Respectful Insolence, “Orac” posted:

 

Edzard Ernst posted:

 

Other topics

 

On Science-Based Medicine,

 

Mark Crislip:

 

Scott Gavura:

 

David Gorski:

 

Clay Jones:

 

Steven Novella:

 

On Respectful Insolence, “Orac”:

  

Edzard Ernst

 

On McGill Office for Science and Society, Joe Schwarcz:

 

In Skeptical Inquirer:

  

July 2 – Paul Knoepfler wrote “Lung Institute stem cell clinic loses class action suit, patients awarded $9M.” “There is no good evidence in my view that stem cells, PRP [platelet-rich plasma], or other similar biologics can help lung diseases…While lawsuits like this latest class action suit and actions by state AGs [attorneys general] can have positive impact, they are no substitute for oversight by the FDA. State medical boards have also generally failed to address stem cell clinic doctors in their states, even after complaints are filed.”

 

July 15 – Mak and others published “Use of massage therapy for pain, 2018-2023: a systematic review” (JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 1;7(7):e2422259 Paper). “This study found that despite a large number of randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews of massage therapy for painful adult health conditions rated a minority of conclusions as moderate-certainty evidence and that conclusions with moderate- or high-certainty evidence that massage therapy was superior to other active therapies were rare.”

 

July 15 –Trisha Pasrich wrote “These essential oils have science-backed health benefits.” Essential oils are used in aromatherapy. “From a purely medical perspective, it’s hard to say that many essential oils are doing anything profound. The health claims linked to most varieties, such as citronella, bergamot, rose and sandalwood, are lacking in convincing data from clinical studies. But there is reasonable medical evidence for a few uses, including: Peppermint oil capsules for irritable bowel syndrome. Lavender oil capsules or aromatherapy for sleep and anxiety. Tea tree oil applied topically for acne.”

 

July 16 – Andrea Love discussed at-home allergy tests. “I want to say unequivocally that at-home allergy tests should never be used for diagnosis. They are not FDA-approved or validated for use. Their methods and results are not accurate and trusting them can lead to harmful consequences…Relying on unvalidated testing methods such as urine tests or finger prick tests for allergies can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and potentially overlooking other underlying health issues. While these may seem like convenient methods, they are not a replacement for professional expert evaluation and FDA-approved testing.”

 

July 16 – F. Perry Wilson wrote “Does this 'stem cell' therapy contain any actual stem cells?” A study was described in which procedures used in stem cell clinics were tested. Samples taken from adipose tissue or bone marrow contained few, if any, stem cells.

 

July 22 – Marcus Banks wrote “Ask teenage boys if they use muscle-building supplements.”

 

July 29 – Melinda Wenner Moyer wrote “Swish, spit, repeat: is oil pulling good for your teeth?” Oil pulling is a practice from Ayurvedic medicine. There is no evidence that it has any benefits compared to tooth brushing.

 

 

Additions to previous months

 

May 2 – As noted in Consumer Health Digest, “A federal judge in the Southern District Court of New York has accepted a jury’s finding that Quincy Bioscience Holding Company, Inc.; Quincy Bioscience, LLC; Prevagen, Inc.; Quincy Bioscience Manufacturing, LLC; and four other corporate defendants made fraudulent and deceptive statements about the supplement Prevagen and are liable for violating New York’s consumer-protection laws…The OAG [Office of the Attorney General]’s lawsuit asserted Quincy did not have adequate scientific evidence to substantiate claims about Prevagen, including it: (a) improves memory, (b) improves memory within 90 days, (c) reduces memory problems associated with aging, (d) provides other cognitive benefits, including a healthy brain function, a sharper mind, and clearer thinking, and (e) has been ‘clinically shown’ to do each of these things…Prevagen derives its supposed active ingredient from a protein that makes jellyfish glow.”

 

June 2 – Shah and others published “A systematic review supporting the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines on vitamin D” (J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 Jul 12;109(8):1961-1974 Paper). “In children and adolescents, low-certainty evidence suggested reduction in respiratory tract infections with empiric vitamin D. There was no significant effect on select outcomes in healthy adults aged 19 to 74 years with variable certainty of evidence. There was a very small reduction in mortality among adults older than 75 years with high certainty of evidence. In pregnant women, low-certainty evidence suggested possible benefit on various maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. In adults with prediabetes, moderate certainty of evidence suggested reduction in the rate of progression to diabetes. Administration of high-dose intermittent vitamin D may increase falls, compared to lower-dose daily dosing.”

 

June 21 – Andrea Love posted “Adrenal fatigue: another fake diagnosis.” “Adrenal fatigue is the false belief that our adrenal glands become ‘worn out’ as a result of prolonged, repetitive stress – and the output of key regulatory hormones, like the 'master stress hormone' cortisol, is diminished. Let’s be clear: adrenal fatigue is not a true medical condition.”


PREVIOUS NEWS PAGES