The government scene: Human subjects group holds children hearings

1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kennedy Ajiroghene Osakwe Adakporia

Globally, several studies had established the effects of local gin in human subjects through laboratory, analytical, experimental and objective research methods. There is however a balancing need to investigate the effects from the prism of the consumers. Aim: To explore the pattern of consumption and effects of prolonged consumption of Ogogoro through a participatory model seeking the opinion of consumers. Methodology: Cross section survey of one hundred (100) consumers of Ogogoro with informed consent obtained from respondents. Results Study revealed that Ogogoro has a significant potential to cause heavy drinking as evidenced by 93% of respondents consumes 90mls to 180 mls daily and 88% consumes to oblige uncontrolled cravings. Significant secular and socio-economic effects were found to be quarrelsome, poor physical appearance, always broke, stigmatization, seen as public nuisance and low circle of friends. Conversely, there were low affirmations for loss of job, poor job performance, fighting and loss of friends. Notably, physiological and health effects were found to be excessive urination; loss of weight, excessive sleeping and appetite for food. Conclusion: While the government had adopted a punitive stance, the author opines advocacy on the potential effects and prevention of Ogogoro would be an achievable primordial strategy for potential consumers. Treatment and rehabilitation of existing consumers could aid as a remedial recovery. Upskilling of brewers and modification of the physico-chemical formulae to make less harmful could bring pragmatic solutions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Hua Kuo

This article provides a critical assessment of the development of Taiwan’s ethical framework for regulating medical and biopharmaceutical innovations. Advancing science, technology and society scholarship that treats ethics as subject to modification, adjustment and negotiation rather than as an abstract set of principles, this article examines the dominant role of East Asian states in the development of the life sciences. It also looks at the logic these states utilise to legitimise their therapeutic standards and to support the biopharmaceutical infrastructure in order to increase their economic competitiveness. In particular, this article traces the establishment of legal regulations in different social settings where innovations in clinical practice and medicine are introduced. It argues that, instead of a comprehensive, coherent ethical framework based on the adoption of international conventions, Taiwan’s 2011 Human Subjects Research Act is a techno-political assemblage, an inconsistent legal product involving not only policy makers but also physicians, the pharmaceutical industry and the state. This article also takes a critical stance towards institutional review boards (IRBs), which resolve jurisprudential conflicts within this legal framework of human research. It argues that, rather than being passive organisations that protect research from unethical fraud, IRBs in Taiwan have been institutions in which negotiations among investigators, research sponsors and the government are conducted in the name of health governance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (22) ◽  
pp. 2283-2299
Author(s):  
Apabrita Ayan Das ◽  
Devasmita Chakravarty ◽  
Debmalya Bhunia ◽  
Surajit Ghosh ◽  
Prakash C. Mandal ◽  
...  

Abstract The role of inflammation in all phases of atherosclerotic process is well established and soluble TREM-like transcript 1 (sTLT1) is reported to be associated with chronic inflammation. Yet, no information is available about the involvement of sTLT1 in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Present study was undertaken to determine the pathophysiological significance of sTLT1 in atherosclerosis by employing an observational study on human subjects (n=117) followed by experiments in human macrophages and atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E (apoE)−/− mice. Plasma level of sTLT1 was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in clinical (2342 ± 184 pg/ml) and subclinical cases (1773 ± 118 pg/ml) than healthy controls (461 ± 57 pg/ml). Moreover, statistical analyses further indicated that sTLT1 was not only associated with common risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in both clinical and subclinical groups but also strongly correlated with disease severity. Ex vivo studies on macrophages showed that sTLT1 interacts with Fcɣ receptor I (FcɣRI) to activate spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK)-mediated downstream MAP kinase signalling cascade to activate nuclear factor-κ B (NF-kB). Activation of NF-kB induces secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from macrophage cells that plays pivotal role in governing the persistence of chronic inflammation. Atherosclerotic apoE−/− mice also showed high levels of sTLT1 and TNF-α in nearly occluded aortic stage indicating the contribution of sTLT1 in inflammation. Our results clearly demonstrate that sTLT1 is clinically related to the risk factors of CAD. We also showed that binding of sTLT1 with macrophage membrane receptor, FcɣR1 initiates inflammatory signals in macrophages suggesting its critical role in thrombus development and atherosclerosis.


1996 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 1371-1379 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Douglass ◽  
D. Dhami ◽  
M. Bulpitt ◽  
I. J. Lindley ◽  
J. Shute ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Tanumihardjo ◽  
Anura V. Kurpad ◽  
Janet R. Hunt

The current use of serum retinol concentrations as a measurement of subclinical vitamin A deficiency is unsatisfactory for many reasons. The best technique available for vitamin A status assessment in humans is the measurement of total body pool size. Pool size is measured by the administration of retinol labelled with stable isotopes of carbon or hydrogen that are safe for human subjects, with subsequent measurement of the dilution of the labelled retinol within the body pool. However, the isotope techniques are time-consuming, technically challenging, and relatively expensive. There is also a need to assess different types of tracers and doses, and to establish clear guidelines for the use and interpretation of this method in different populations. Field-friendly improvements are desirable to encourage the application of this technique in developing countries where the need is greatest for monitoring the risk of vitamin A deficiency, the effectiveness of public health interventions, and the potential of hypervitaminosis due to combined supplement and fortification programs. These techniques should be applied to validate other less technical methods of assessing vitamin A deficiency. Another area of public health relevance for this technique is to understand the bioconversion of β-carotene to vitamin A, and its relation to existing vitamin A status, for future dietary diversification programs.


2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Larsson ◽  
Josef Frischer

The education of researchers in Sweden is regulated by a nationwide reform implemented in 1969, which intended to limit doctoral programs to 4 years without diminishing quality. In an audit performed by the government in 1996, however, it was concluded that the reform had failed. Some 80% of the doctoral students admitted had dropped out, and only 1% finished their PhD degree within the stipulated 4 years. In an attempt to determine the causes of this situation, we singled out a social-science department at a major Swedish university and interviewed those doctoral students who had dropped out of the program. This department was found to be representative of the nationwide figures found in the audit. The students interviewed had all completed at least 50% of their PhD studies and had declared themselves as dropouts from this department. We conclude that the entire research education was characterized by a laissez-faire attitude where supervisors were nominated but abdicated. To correct this situation, we suggest that a learning alliance should be established between the supervisor and the student. At the core of the learning alliance is the notion of mutually forming a platform form which work can emerge in common collaboration. The learning alliance implies a contract for work, stating its goals, the tasks to reach these goals, and the interpersonal bonding needed to give force and endurance to the endeavor. Constant scrutiny of this contract and a mutual concern for the learning alliance alone can contribute to its strength.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Moreira ◽  
Fernando Barbosa

Abstract. Delay discounting (DD) is the process of devaluing results that happen in the future. With this review, we intend to identify specificities in the processes of DD in impulsive behavior. Studies were retrieved from multiple literature databases, through rigorous criteria (we included systematic reviews and empirical studies with adult human subjects), following the procedures of the Cochrane Collaboration initiative. Of the 174 documents obtained, 19 were considered eligible for inclusion and were retained for in-depth analysis. In addition, 13 studies from the manual search were included. Thus, a total of 32 studies were selected for review. The objectives/hypotheses, results, and the main conclusion(s) were extracted from each study. Results show that people with pronounced traits of impulsivity discount rewards more markedly, that is, they prefer immediate rewards, though of less value, or postponed losses, even though they worsen in the future. Taken together, the existing data suggest the importance of inserting DD as a tool for initial assessment in conjunction with measures of addiction and stress level, as well as the consideration of new therapies.


2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareile Hofmann ◽  
Nathalie Wrobel ◽  
Simon Kessner ◽  
Ulrike Bingel

According to experimental and clinical evidence, the experiences of previous treatments are carried over to different therapeutic approaches and impair the outcome of subsequent treatments. In this behavioral pilot study we used a change in administration route to investigate whether the effect of prior treatment experience on a subsequent treatment depends on the similarity of both treatments. We experimentally induced positive or negative experiences with a topical analgesic treatment in two groups of healthy human subjects. Subsequently, we compared responses to a second, unrelated and systemic analgesic treatment between both the positive and negative group. We found that there was no difference in the analgesic response to the second treatment between the two groups. Our data indicate that a change in administration route might reduce the influence of treatment history and therefore be a way to reduce negative carry-over effects after treatment failure. Future studies will have to validate these findings in a fully balanced design including larger, clinical samples.


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