Related Experiment Videos
Evidence-based complementary and alternative veterinary medicine--a contradiction in terms?
Sebastian Arlt1, Wolfgang Heuwieser
1Clinic for Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinarian Medicine, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Berliner Und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift
|November 3, 2010
Summary
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) use is growing, but rigorous research on its efficacy and safety is limited. Evidence-Based Alternative Veterinary Medicine is achievable with high-quality studies considering CAM
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Background:
- CAM therapies like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and homeopathy are increasingly used for human and animal diseases.
- CAM is a controversial topic, particularly within the framework of Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a balanced analysis of existing data on CAM in both human and veterinary medicine.
- To assess the scientific validity and research requirements for CAM interventions.
Main Methods:
- Review of currently available data on CAM efficacy and safety in human and veterinary medicine.
- Analysis of research methodologies and their applicability to CAM therapies.
Main Results:
- Limited rigorous research data exists regarding the efficacy and safety of most CAM therapies.
- Acupuncture shows increasing acceptance in academic medicine, supported by meta-analyses demonstrating efficacy for specific conditions.
- Decisions on CAM use should be guided by the best available scientific evidence.
Conclusions:
- CAM interventions require validation through high-quality, stringent research to ensure objective efficacy and safety assessments.
- Clinical trials for CAM should incorporate unique aspects, such as individualized treatment approaches.
- Evidence-Based Alternative Veterinary Medicine is a feasible concept that requires robust scientific investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:09Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
The concept of therapeutic equivalence (TE) in drugs with multiple indications is complex. A generic drug may be therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name product for one specific indication, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's equivalent for all other indications. Evidence of TE in one patient group and bioequivalence shown in healthy volunteers can support—but not confirm—TE for other indications. However, definitive proof requires individual clinical studies for each indication due to...
01:22Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...
01:31Confirmation Biases
The confirmation bias is the tendency to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that is inconsistent with our expectations. For example, if you think that your professor is not very nice, you notice all of the instances of rude behavior exhibited by the professor while ignoring the countless pleasant interactions he is involved in on a daily basis. Have you ever fallen prey to the confirmation bias, either as the source or target of such bias?
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
01:16Bioequivalence: Overview
Pharmaceutical equivalents, by definition, are drug products with the same active ingredient in the same quantities, encapsulated in identical dosage forms, and intended for the same administration routes. These pharmaceutical equivalents are deemed bioequivalent if the bioavailability of the active entity in the drug preparations is similar. Moreover, pharmaceutical equivalents demonstrating bioequivalence are also regarded as therapeutically equivalent. This means that when used as directed,...
01:19Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Excipients and Impurities-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
Pharmaceutical products contain more than just the active drug; they also contain various excipients such as binders, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, and other elements. In some cases, impurities or contaminants might be present. Traditionally, quality control in pharmaceuticals has primarily focused on the analysis of the active drug, often overlooking the impact of these additional components. The recent issue with heparin contamination by over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, a...