scholarly journals Exploiting science? A systematic analysis of complementary and alternative medicine clinic websites’ marketing of stem cell therapies

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e019414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake Murdoch ◽  
Amy Zarzeczny ◽  
Timothy Caulfield
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Stem Cell Therapies ◽  
Cell Therapies ◽  
Regulatory Status ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

ObjectiveTo identify the frequency and qualitative characteristics of stem cell-related marketing claims made on websites of clinics featuring common types of complementary and alternative medicine practitioners. The involvement of complementary and alternative medicine practitioners in the marketing of stem cell therapies and stem cell-related interventions is understudied. This research explores the extent to which they are involved and collaborate with medical professionals. This knowledge will help with identifying and evaluating potential policy responses to this growing market.DesignSystematic website analysis.SettingGlobal. US and English-language bias due to methodology.Main outcome measuresRepresentations made on clinic websites in relation to practitioner types, stem cell therapies and their targets, stem cell-related interventions. Statements about stem cell therapies relating to evidence of inefficacy, limited evidence of efficacy, general procedural risks, risks specific to the mode of therapy, regulatory status, experimental or unproven nature of therapy. Use of hype language (eg, language that exaggerates potential benefits).Results243 websites offered stem cell therapies. Many websites advertised stem cell transplantation from multiple sources, such as adipose-derived (112), bone marrow-derived (100), blood-derived (28), umbilical cord-derived (26) and others. Plant stem cell-based treatments and products (20) were also advertised. Purposes for and targets of treatment included pain, physical injury, a wide range of diseases and illnesses, cosmetic concerns, non-cosmetic ageing, sexual enhancement and others. Medical doctors (130), chiropractors (53) and naturopaths (44) commonly work in the clinics we found to be offering stem cell therapies. Few clinic websites advertising stem cell therapies included important additional information, including statements about evidence of inefficacy (present on only 12.76% of websites), statements about limited evidence of efficacy (18.93%), statements of general risks (24.69%), statements of risks specific to the mode(s) of therapy (5.76%), statements as to the regulatory status of the therapies (30.86%) and statements that the therapy is experimental or unproven (33.33%). Hype language was noted (31.69%).ConclusionsStem cell therapies and related interventions are marketed for a wide breadth of conditions and are being offered by complementary and alternative practitioners, often in conjunction with medical doctors. Consumer protection and truth-in-advertising regulation could play important roles in addressing misleading marketing practices in this area.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Hispanics in the United States

2007 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 994-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca I Ortiz ◽  
Kelly M Shields ◽  
Kevin A Clauson ◽  
Patrick G Clay
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Dietary Supplements ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Star Anise ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cam Use ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Hispanics in the US and highlight the modalities most likely to be unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners. DATA SOURCES: A search of the literature published in English and a subsequent bibliographic search were conducted using MEDLINE, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, EMBASE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System (1980– March 2007). Primary search terms included, but were not limited to, Hispanic, Latino, complementary and alternative medicine, and dietary supplements. Studies that assessed or evaluated the use of CAM in the Hispanic population were reviewed. Articles that included both Hispanics and non-Hispanics were also included. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: The literature search yielded 42 articles focused on the use of CAM by Hispanics. Survey was the most common method used in these studies, although some hybrid interviews were also conducted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Hispanics were identified homogenously in some studies and more correctly as a heterogeneous population in others. Some trials examined overall CAM use, whereas others looked at specific dietary supplements and herbs. Most reports found a higher than expected rate of CAM use in Hispanics (50–90%). A number of products potentially unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners, such as linden, sapodilla, and star anise, were reported as commonly used in several studies. Many studies were limited by the sample size or use of only one Hispanic subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics use a wide range of CAM therapies, including several that may be unfamiliar to healthcare practitioners. Understanding the rationale, motivations, and history of Hispanics' use of CAM will enhance the cultural competence of healthcare professionals and help address these patients' medical needs. TRASFONDO: El uso de terapias de medicina complementaria y alternativa (CAM) es común entre los pacientes y se cree que la etnicidad influye en la frecuencia y extensión de su uso. Los pacientes de origen Hispano son una sub-población en rápido crecimiento. Con el fin de proveer efectivamente cuidado a este grupo de pacientes, es importante entender el papel de las terapias CAM en los tratamientos de esta población.

scholarly journals Targeting Programmed Cell Death to Improve Stem Cell Therapy: Implications for Treating Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zhang ◽  
Xin-xing Wan ◽  
Xi-min Hu ◽  
Wen-juan Zhao ◽  
Xiao-xia Ban ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Stem Cell Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Stem Cell Therapies ◽  
Cell Therapies ◽  
Wide Range

Stem cell therapies have shown promising therapeutic effects in restoring damaged tissue and promoting functional repair in a wide range of human diseases. Generations of insulin-producing cells and pancreatic progenitors from stem cells are potential therapeutic methods for treating diabetes and diabetes-related diseases. However, accumulated evidence has demonstrated that multiple types of programmed cell death (PCD) existed in stem cells post-transplantation and compromise their therapeutic efficiency, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms in PCD during stem cell transplantation and targeting cell death signaling pathways are vital to successful stem cell therapies. In this review, we highlight the research advances in PCD mechanisms that guide the development of multiple strategies to prevent the loss of stem cells and discuss promising implications for improving stem cell therapy in diabetes and diabetes-related diseases.

scholarly journals Alternative Medicine’ Complaints Lodged to the Tehran Forensic Medicine Organization From 2011 to 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Emam Hadi ◽  
Baharak Sabet Divshaly ◽  
Farahnaz Azimy ◽  
Babak Sabet Divshaly
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Exclusion Criterion ◽  
Final Decision ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine is a non-conventional therapy and includes a wide range of medical treatments in different countries. This study was done to evaluate alternative medicine complaints lodged to the Tehran Forensic Medicine Organization from 2011-2017.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all documented complaints of complementary medicine lodged to the Tehran Forensic Medicine Organization from 2011-2017 were reviewed and assessed with retrospective follow-up. The inclusion criterion was complaints from complementary and alternative medicine, and the exclusion criterion was incomplete data. The study data included patients’ demographic data, the therapist, the specialty of the therapist, type of disease, treatment method, adverse effects, the initial and final decision by the commission, and the amount of medical error. This information was extracted from the existing documents and recoded in the checklists.Results: Medical errors were found in 53.4% of the complaints examined. The most common cause of complaint (63%) was the adverse effects, of which the most common ones were phytotherapy (45.2%) and cupping (Hijama) (20.5%). The error was significantly different between physician and non-physician healers (P=0.001).Conclusion: Based on this study, among the alternative medicine complaints lodged to the Tehran Forensic Medicine Organization from 2011-2017, the adverse effects were the main problem of complementary therapies confirmed in more than half of the complaints.

Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among General Population in South India - A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 2400-2405
Author(s):  
Yamuna Devi M. S. ◽  
Shanmugapriya S ◽  
Kaavya S
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
South India ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to a wide range of clinical therapies outside of conventional medicine used along with the physician prescribed drugs to complement the treatment. It is widely accepted and used across the globe. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of use of CAM among the general population and to determine the acceptability, extent and pattern of CAM use. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was done among the general population in South India. 300 participants aged >18 years were included in the study irrespective of their genders. An interviewer-administered questionnaire with 20 questions was used to assess CAM usage. The statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test using SPSS version 25. The mean age was 50.39 (± 15.67) years. CAM usage was significantly influenced by age, educational qualification, occupation, geographical area and accessibility to a health care facility. The prevalence of CAM usage was found to be 62%. Homeopathy/Herbal medicine (34%) was the most commonly used CAM. About 35% had used CAM without the knowledge of their treating physician. More than 60% believe that CAM is safe with fewer side effects and around half of them had symptomatic relief following CAM usage. Our study results indicate the need for more studies testing various CAM modalities exploring their uses, adverse effects & interactions with other drugs, which in turn can guide the physicians in their treatment. 

General practitioners’ beliefs about the clinical utility of complementary and alternative medicine

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (03) ◽  
pp. 246-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aron Jarvis ◽  
Rachel Perry ◽  
Debbie Smith ◽  
Rohini Terry ◽  
Sarah Peters
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
North West ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The North ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

AimTo investigate GPs’ beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its role in clinical practice.BackgroundDespite the prevalence of CAM in the United Kingdom, little is known about GPs beliefs regarding these alternative approaches to patient management and how they view it in relation to their clinical conduct and practice.MethodA qualitative study conducted on 19 GPs recruited from the North West of England. Semi-structured telephone interviews were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes emerged from the data: limited evidence base, patient demand and concerns over regulation.ConclusionDespite recognising the limited evidence base of CAM, GPs continue to see a role for it within clinical practice. This is not necessarily led by patient demand that is highly related to affluence. However, GPs raised concerns over the regulation of CAM practitioners and CAM therapies.

scholarly journals Mothers’ Attitudes toward the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Children with Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atena Dadgari ◽  
Imane Bagheri ◽  
Naiire Salmani ◽  
Mahnaz Mirakhor
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Children With Cancer ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Face ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Background: Children who have cancer suffer from a wide range of symptoms and side-effects of disease and treatment, and such conditions have harmful effects on the quality of life of a child and family. So, the families of such children turn to complementary and alternative medicine treatments for children with cancer. Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed at determining the mothers’ attitudes toward the use of complementary and alternative medicine in children with cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional research was conducted from January 2018 to January 2019 in the oncology section of Yazd Shahid Sadooghi Hospital in a nonrandom and convenience sampling method on 150 mothers of children with cancer. The instruments of data collection include demographic information questionnaires and a 6-part questionnaire to evaluate mothers’ performance. To investigate the face and content validity of the questionnaire, the opinions of 10 experts were considered, and to investigate the reliability of the questionnaire, the test-retest method was used, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was reportedly 0.80. After completing the questionnaires, the collected data were analyzed, using SPSS 23 by utilizing descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation (SD), frequency, and percent. Results: Overall, 83.34% of mothers mentioned praying as a way of complementary and alternative medicine, 67.34% used complementary and alternative medicine to increase child recovery chance, 74% reported general child recovery, 20% reported the occurrence of side-effects following the use of complementary and alternative medicine, 67.33% introduced their friends as their information source, 33.6% avoided informing the physician regarding the use of complementary and alternative medicine, and 76% maintained that due to the objection of physicians, they avoided informing him/her. Conclusions: The use of complementary and alternative medicine is common among mothers but due to the occurrence of side-effects, using invalid information sources and hiding it from a physician, the oncologists must provide a suitable opportunity for asking and answering to guide mothers for correct performance in the use of complementary and alternative medicine.

Laboratory tests commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine: a review of the evidence

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart L Jones ◽  
Bruce Campbell ◽  
Tanya Hart
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
The United States ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Inductively Coupled ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

It is increasingly easy for the general public to access a wide range of laboratory tests. Tests can be ordered online with little or no input from a health professional. The complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) community promote and sell a wide range of tests, many of which are of dubious clinical significance. Many have little or no clinical utility and have been widely discredited, whilst others are established tests that are used for unvalidated purposes. They range from the highly complex, employing state of the art technology, e.g. heavy metal analysis using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, to the rudimentary, e.g. live blood cell analysis. Results of ‘CAM tests’ are often accompanied by extensive clinical interpretations which may recommend, or be used to justify, unnecessary or harmful treatments. There are now a small number of laboratories across the globe that specialize in CAM testing. Some CAM laboratories operate completely outside of any accreditation programme whilst others are fully accredited to the standard of established clinical laboratories. In this review, we explore CAM testing in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia with a focus on the common tests on offer, how they are reported, the evidence base for their clinical application and the regulations governing their use. We will also review proposed changed to in-vitro diagnostic device regulations and how these might impact on CAM testing.

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