scholarly journals Role of scientific data in health decisions.

1979 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 301-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
S W Samuels
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Sofikitis ◽  
Aris Kaltsas ◽  
Fotios Dimitriadis ◽  
Jens Rassweiler ◽  
Nikolaos Grivas ◽  
...  

The therapeutic range of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5) inhibitors is getting wider in the last years. This review study focuses on the potential employment of PDE5 inhibitors as an adjunct tool for the therapeutic management of male infertility. The literature tends to suggest a beneficial effect of PDE5 inhibitors on Leydig and Sertoli cells secretory function. It also appears that PDE5 inhibitors play a role in the regulation of the contractility of the testicular tunica albuginea and the epididymis. Moreover scientific data suggest that PDE5 inhibitors enhance the prostatic secretory function leading to an improvement in sperm motility. Other studies additionally demonstrate a role of PDE5 inhibitors in the regulation of sperm capacitation process. Placebo-controlled, randomized, blind studies are necessary to unambiguously incorporate PDE5 inhibitors as an adjunct tool for the pharmaceutical treatment of semen disorders and male infertility.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2250
Author(s):  
Evita Athanasiou ◽  
Antonios N. Gargalionis ◽  
Fotini Boufidou ◽  
Athanassios Tsakris

The role of certain viruses in malignant brain tumor development remains controversial. Experimental data demonstrate that human herpesviruses (HHVs), particularly cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), are implicated in brain tumor pathology, although their direct role has not yet been proven. CMV is present in most gliomas and medulloblastomas and is known to facilitate oncomodulation and/or immunomodulation, thus promoting cancer cell proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. EBV and HHV-6 have also been detected in brain tumors and high-grade gliomas, showing high rates of expression and an inflammatory potential. On the other hand, due to the neurotropic nature of HHVs, novel studies have highlighted the engagement of such viruses in the development of new immunotherapeutic approaches in the context of oncolytic viral treatment and vaccine-based strategies against brain tumors. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent scientific data concerning the emerging dual role of HHVs in malignant brain pathology, either as potential causative agents or as immunotherapeutic tools in the fight against these devastating diseases.


2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Henrique Nery Costa

INTRODUCTION: Zoonotic kala-azar, a lethal disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania is considered out of control in parts of the world, particularly in Brazil, where transmission has spread to cities throughout most of the territory and mortality presents an increasing trend. Although a highly debatable measure, the Brazilian government regularly culls seropositive dogs to control the disease. Since control is failing, critical analysis concerning the actions focused on the canine reservoir was conducted. METHODS: In a review of the literature, a historical perspective focusing mainly on comparisons between the successful Chinese and Soviet strategies and the Brazilian approach is presented. In addition, analyses of the principal studies regarding the role of dogs as risk factors to humans and of the main intervention studies regarding the efficacy of the dog killing strategy were undertaken. Brazilian political reaction to a recently published systematic review that concluded that the dog culling program lacked efficiency and its effect on public policy were also reviewed. RESULTS: No firm evidence of the risk conferred by the presence of dogs to humans was verified; on the contrary, a lack of scientific support for the policy of killing dogs was confirmed. A bias for distorting scientific data towards maintaining the policy of culling animals was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is no evidence that dog culling diminishes visceral leishmaniasis transmission, it should be abandoned as a control measure. Ethical considerations have been raised regarding distorting scientific results and the killing of animals despite minimal or absent scientific evidence


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-224
Author(s):  
Mohammed Husain G ◽  
Abdul Waheed M

Context: Increasing numbers of cancer patients are looking towards traditional medicines (TM) in an effort to sustain tumour remission or halt the metastasis. TM such as Chinese Traditional Medicines, Ayurveda and Unani Medicines are being used in many parts of world from centuries. However, scientific data is lacking for the clinical use of majority of these medicines in cancer management and systematic clinical evaluation is mandatory before recommending long term use. Objective: The role of traditional medicine for prevention and management of cancer are reviewed in this paper which will help to take a step further to bring these TM into mainstream therapy. Methods: Traditional knowledge about the claims of therapeutic potential is collected. Emphasis was given to the use of plant derived products. Further efforts were made to identify the driving factors for use of such TM for the cure of cancer. Results: There are several driving factors which attract patients towards TM out of which minimum side effects of TM remains on the priority. Apart from being used as standalone therapy, TM is progressively becoming more popular as adjuvant therapy to improve effectiveness of conventional treatment and to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Conclusion: Patients are inclining towards TM due to diverse reasons. The search for anticancer drugs from herbs has been very productive and advances in pharmacological techniques have exerted enormous drive on the research and development of new biologically active compounds of plant origin, which may act alone or in synergistic manner.


2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais Dutra Nascimento Silva ◽  
Lúcia Cristina da Cunha Aguiar ◽  
Jaqueline Leta ◽  
Dilvani Oliveira Santos ◽  
Fernanda Serpa Cardoso ◽  
...  

In this study, we analyze the contribution of the undergraduate student who participates in the process of generating scientific data and developing a research project using Brazilian research as an example. Historically, undergraduate students have performed the critical role of research assistants in developing countries. This aspect has been underappreciated as a means of generating scientific data in Brazilian research facilities. Brazilian educational institutions are facing major age-related generational changes among the science faculty within the next 5–10 yr. A lack of adequate support for graduate students leads to a concern that undergraduates will not be interested in choosing research assistant programs and, subsequently, academic research careers. To remedy this situation it is important to focus on ways to encourage new research careers and enhance university–industry collaborations.


Author(s):  
Augustine Nduka Eneanya

Over the past three decades, the relationship between ecology and public policy has changed because of the increasing role of scientific uncertainty in environmental policy making. While earlier policy questions might have been solved simply by looking at the scientific technicalities of the issues, the increased role of scientific uncertainty in environmental policy making requires that we re-examine the methods used in decision-making. Previously, policymakers use scientific data to support their decision-making disciplinary boundaries are less useful because uncertain environmental policy problems span the natural sciences, engineering, economics, politics, and ethics. The chapter serves as a bridge integrating environmental ecosystem, media, and justice into policy for public health and safety. The chapter attempts to demonstrate the linkage between the environmental policy from a holistic perspective with the interaction of air, water, land, and human on public health and safety.


Author(s):  
Ria Ann Dunkley

Citizen Science is increasing in popularity and used by many academics, community groups and Non-Governmental Organizations in scientific data collection. Despite this, little is known about the motivations and experiences of those who contribute to citizen science projects, nor about the impacts of involvement in citizen science upon the individual. Moreover, few have considered the pedagogic process that individuals undergo as they participate in these activities. Citizen science practitioners and program developers stand to benefit from increased understanding of these experiences in terms of their capacity to enhance environmental education. Such increased understanding of the implications of citizen science may also promote the development of sustainability education. This chapter synthesizes insights from existing literature, policy documents and practical projects to explore the pedagogic potential of the convergence of citizen science and environmental education. The chapter concludes that progressive evaluation approaches are needed to complement what is an emergent field.


Author(s):  
Augustine Nduka Eneanya

Over the past three decades, the relationship between ecology and public policy has changed because of the increasing role of scientific uncertainty in environmental policy making. While earlier policy questions might have been solved simply by looking at the scientific technicalities of the issues, the increased role of scientific uncertainty in environmental policy making requires that we re-examine the methods used in decision-making. Previously, policymakers use scientific data to support their decision-making disciplinary boundaries are less useful because uncertain environmental policy problems span the natural sciences, engineering, economics, politics, and ethics. The chapter serves as a bridge integrating environmental ecosystem, media, and justice into policy for public health and safety. The chapter attempts to demonstrate the linkage between the environmental policy from a holistic perspective with the interaction of air, water, land, and human on public health and safety.


<em>Abstract</em>.-The general acceptance that individual fisheries should be managed in the context of the ecosystem of which the target species are a part has led to the paradigm of ecosystem- based fisheries management (EBFM). Such management may be particularly suitable for diadromous fishes, which spend time in rivers, estuaries, and the sea, because their sustainability would benefit from a holistic approach. The extent to which this is possible and has been successful depends on a wide variety of biological, socioeconomic, and political factors. Fishing in all its forms is only one of a broad array of human activities in rivers, estuaries, and the coastal zone; hence, diadromous fisheries management requires not only integration across ecosystems, but also its inclusion in overall planning processes. Tropical diadromous fisheries in developing countries suffer from overfishing, lack of adequate human resources to manage the fisheries, insufficient scientific data for sound management and decision making, lack of monitoring capabilities, poor enforcement of laws, inefficient administration, and increasing conflicts between different types of users. Even in developed countries, many of these issues also have not been addressed. The extent to which an EBFM approach has been successful for tropical diadromous species is discussed using the various barramundi <em>Lates calcarifer</em>, mullet (Mugilidae), and tropical shad (<em>Tenualosa</em>) fisheries of Asia and Australia, taking into account issues of food security and the role of community-based management.


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