Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Comments Re:13 year BMJ investigation of research misconduct ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability www.ahrp.org FYI Responding to the AHRP Infomail--Medical Journal Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down (December 27) Eddie Vos,* expert nutrition specialist offers comments about the13-year ' " investigation " of alleged research misconduct by an Indian physician, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (December 27). Noting that the BMJ allowed 10 years to elapse before ever confronting Dr. Ram Singh with accusations about the integrity of his research, Eddie Vos puts the blame on the journal. Had the editor given Dr. Singh a fair and square opportunity to defend his work, he might have been able to do so. At that time, he might have been able to provide the raw data. On the other hand, iIf misconduct had been found, the journal had a duty to inform its readers about the false claims in the BMJ article. But the journal editor's " investigation " was conducted in secret. Vos notes that " Relating that an Indian researcher was remiss to have records of a long-published study destroyed by 'termites' sounds exotic and 'fishy' but it makes no sense since the West uses shredders, as per policy and routinely so. " Indeed, he notes that Canadian universities REQUIRE scientists to destroy original research data. There is another issue that AHRP finds troubling, an issue not addressed by the WSJ: that is, BMJ's extraordinary endorsement, in 2003, of a highly controversial recommendation that is sure to make pharmaceutical companies even richer. The BMJ breathlessly endorsed much expanded use of statins to reduce heart atacks--an endorsement contradicted by Dr. Singh's findings that nutrition and life-style changes are the best means for reducing heart attacks. .. In an October, 2003 editorial, Dr. (then) editor of the BMJ rhapsodized about the " Pollypill " (which some have called the " weapon of mass salvation " ). The Polypill solution was introduced as the lead article in the BMJ June 28, 2003 issue as a magic bullet combination: " A strategy to reduce heart disease by more than 80% " . The two British authors' contention was that 1 in 3 people over the age of 54 could look forward to an additional 11 or 12 years of life free from cardiovascular disease by taking a daily Polypill. See: Wald NJ, Law MR. A strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease by more than 80%. BMJ 2003;326: 1419-24. (28 June.)[Abstract/Free Full Text] Dr. 's October editorial has the ring of an evangelist preacher: " Light the blue touch paper and retreat 5 metres. That's what we did when we published a series of papers suggesting that if everybody started taking a pill containing six ingredients at the age of 55 then deaths from heart disease and stroke would be reduced by 80%. The pill would contain aspirin, a statin, folic acid, and three antihypertensives at half dose. Versions of all the drugs are now off patent, and the pill could be produced for pence. Wild with enthusiasm, I suggested that the issue of the BMJ that published the articles might be the most important for 50 years and become a collector's item....It could be available for me to take on my 55th birthday on 11 March 2007 (no cards, please). " http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7418/0-g See: Letters in response to Dr. 's editorial: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/327/7418/0-g#37410 See also, " Converting Millions of Healthy People Into Perpetual Patients " by Roisch, MD, clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at New York Medical College and is President of the American Institute of Stress who critiques those who led the Polypill stampede: " A guest editorial by , co-director of the Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland was not quite as gushy [as 's]. However, it also seemed to endorse the authors' claim that the Polypill would have " a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the Western world than any other known intervention " ! Not surprisingly, the professors filed a patent application for their formulation and a trademark application for the name Polypill over three years ago....There is apparently little concern about safety because of the relatively low dosages of the various drugs, which apparently does not reduce their effectiveness... " See: http://www.redflagsweekly.com/rosch/2003_jul21.html * Most Recent Publications of Eddie Vos: Vos E, Rose C. Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Women. JAMA Dec. 14, 2005. Vos E, Rose C. Questioning the benefits of statins. Can Med Ass'n J. Nov. 8, 2005. Vos E. Use of statins not supported by study. Br Med J. 2005 (331):159. Vos E. Modified Mediterranean diet and survival. Key confounder was missed. Br Med J. 2005 (330):1329. Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav 212-595-8974 veracare@... Re: Medical Journal Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down Dear Vera, while it is undeniable that the initial randomization of patients was flawed in this now 13 year old publication's, it is inexcusable to wait that long with such accusations, 10 years after the initial publication was printed. Clearly the Journal is at fault here. Please realize that reputable Canadian universities force their researchers to destroy original research data unless a compelling case is made not to. Relating that an Indian researcher was remiss to have records of a long-published study destroyed by 'termites' sounds exotic and 'fishy' but it makes no sense since the West uses shredders, as per policy and routinely so. There was no indication of deliberate fraud and unfortunately this episode tarnishes the entire Indian research world without adequate analysis because of a Journal's delay in acting, i.e. asking for the data when they were clearly still available in 1992. Dr. Singh, with eminent Israeli researcher Berry and others, published another study in 2002 Lancet that showed that an increase in plant based omega-3 fatty acid reduces second heart attacks and deaths thereof. This study is here: http://tinyurl.com/cp5px [Medline 12433513]. This study doubled the intake of plant based omega-3 fatty acid and reported an about halving of second cardiovascular events. As amazing as this may seem, it is entirely in line with a similar study, the Lyon Diet Heart Study, that nobody questions, see here: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/6/733. Let us not flush the baby with the bath water and dismiss studies that find amazing benefit with nutritional approaches [no drugs] and most importantly omega-3 increases that actually lower cardiovascular deaths. The Journal should have asked others to repeat the study in question rather than generating this Royal Mess that benefits nobody but the established drug and low cholesterol / low-fat industries that have proven not to be beneficial to people's health. Please send this around in my name, signed, Eddie Vos http://www.health-heart.org -------------------------------- > VERACARE wrote: > > ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) > Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability > www.ahrp.org > > FYI > > A front page report in The Wall Street Journal underscores the inherent > flaw in the " peer review " vetting system used by science journals. > > This case involves a 12- year investigation by (then) editor of the > BMJ, Dr. . The investigation was sparked by two letters > sounding an alarm about a 1992 article by Dr. Ram Singh, a cardiologist > practicing in India, published in the BMJ. > > Dr. Singh is the author of numerous articles in prestigious journals, > including The Lancet and the American Journal of Cardiology. > > There are troubling aspects to the case to be sure--such as missing > data which may have been eaten by termites; the lack of computerized > data, due to primitive resources; > > and statistical errors which Dr. Singh readily acknowledges. > > One has yet to evaluate whether Dr. Singh's reports claiming > astonishing reduction in heart attacks in patients who changed their > diets by increasing fruits and vegetables, fibers and a glass of > whiskey is entirely without merit--particularly because such life-style > changes have been shown by others to be effective. > > But such medical advice collides with the chemical solution that > pharmaceutical stakeholders recommend for our current ailments, many > of which are linked to diet, and sedentary life-styles. > > Although there are different contributing factors in any one of the > research related scandals that have been recently uncovered--whether > they occurred at prestigious US. or U.K, or Canadian academic > institutions, or in India, South Korea, or China--there is an > underlying flaw underscored in each and every research publication > scandal. > > The underlying flaw that seems to elude journal editors and the > scientific community is the need to independently examine the actual > data BEFORE publication. > > Journal editors must adopt a PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT for all authors > submitting clinical trial reports if they want to protect the integrity > of both the journals and the scientific literature. Authors should be > REQUIRED to submit ALL RAW DATA along with their research report. > > Journal editors have it in their power to refuse to publish any > clinical trial report unless its data has been independently analyzed. > > Only then, can the integrity of the journal literature--and of > medicine--be restored. > > Until such a publication rule is adopted, science journal editors will > repeatedly find themselves in the embarassing situation of having to > find a face-saving explanation of how one after another of its > published clinical trial reports is shown to be unsupported by the > data. > > > Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav > 212-595-8974 > veracare@... > > PAGE ONE > http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB113565052512831921- lMyQjAxMDE1MzI1NzYy NTcwWj.html > > THE WALL STREET JOURNAL > Playing DetectiveAt Medical Journal, > Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down > > Termite-Eaten Data Plague Dr. 's 12-Year Probe Of an Indian > Researcher > Pestering a Busy Statistician > > By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS in London and PETER WONACOTT in Moradabad, India > > December 27, 2005; Page A1 > > In 1992, the British Medical Association's flagship journal published a > study led by Indian doctor Ram B. Singh with a striking finding: > Heart-attack victims who ate more fiber, fruits and vegetables for a > year cut their risk of death during that period by almost half. > > A year later, , the journal's editor, received two letters > questioning the findings. What followed was an extraordinary inquiry > stretching over a dozen years and 5,000 miles. Along the way, Dr. Singh > contended that termites had eaten crucial data and Dr. spent four > years begging a busy statistician to deliver a report. > xxx cut xxx FAIR USE NOTICE This email contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this email is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. _______________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 Comments Re:13 year BMJ investigation of research misconduct ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability www.ahrp.org FYI Responding to the AHRP Infomail--Medical Journal Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down (December 27) Eddie Vos,* expert nutrition specialist offers comments about the13-year ' " investigation " of alleged research misconduct by an Indian physician, as reported in the Wall Street Journal (December 27). Noting that the BMJ allowed 10 years to elapse before ever confronting Dr. Ram Singh with accusations about the integrity of his research, Eddie Vos puts the blame on the journal. Had the editor given Dr. Singh a fair and square opportunity to defend his work, he might have been able to do so. At that time, he might have been able to provide the raw data. On the other hand, iIf misconduct had been found, the journal had a duty to inform its readers about the false claims in the BMJ article. But the journal editor's " investigation " was conducted in secret. Vos notes that " Relating that an Indian researcher was remiss to have records of a long-published study destroyed by 'termites' sounds exotic and 'fishy' but it makes no sense since the West uses shredders, as per policy and routinely so. " Indeed, he notes that Canadian universities REQUIRE scientists to destroy original research data. There is another issue that AHRP finds troubling, an issue not addressed by the WSJ: that is, BMJ's extraordinary endorsement, in 2003, of a highly controversial recommendation that is sure to make pharmaceutical companies even richer. The BMJ breathlessly endorsed much expanded use of statins to reduce heart atacks--an endorsement contradicted by Dr. Singh's findings that nutrition and life-style changes are the best means for reducing heart attacks. .. In an October, 2003 editorial, Dr. (then) editor of the BMJ rhapsodized about the " Pollypill " (which some have called the " weapon of mass salvation " ). The Polypill solution was introduced as the lead article in the BMJ June 28, 2003 issue as a magic bullet combination: " A strategy to reduce heart disease by more than 80% " . The two British authors' contention was that 1 in 3 people over the age of 54 could look forward to an additional 11 or 12 years of life free from cardiovascular disease by taking a daily Polypill. See: Wald NJ, Law MR. A strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease by more than 80%. BMJ 2003;326: 1419-24. (28 June.)[Abstract/Free Full Text] Dr. 's October editorial has the ring of an evangelist preacher: " Light the blue touch paper and retreat 5 metres. That's what we did when we published a series of papers suggesting that if everybody started taking a pill containing six ingredients at the age of 55 then deaths from heart disease and stroke would be reduced by 80%. The pill would contain aspirin, a statin, folic acid, and three antihypertensives at half dose. Versions of all the drugs are now off patent, and the pill could be produced for pence. Wild with enthusiasm, I suggested that the issue of the BMJ that published the articles might be the most important for 50 years and become a collector's item....It could be available for me to take on my 55th birthday on 11 March 2007 (no cards, please). " http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/327/7418/0-g See: Letters in response to Dr. 's editorial: http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/327/7418/0-g#37410 See also, " Converting Millions of Healthy People Into Perpetual Patients " by Roisch, MD, clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at New York Medical College and is President of the American Institute of Stress who critiques those who led the Polypill stampede: " A guest editorial by , co-director of the Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland was not quite as gushy [as 's]. However, it also seemed to endorse the authors' claim that the Polypill would have " a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the Western world than any other known intervention " ! Not surprisingly, the professors filed a patent application for their formulation and a trademark application for the name Polypill over three years ago....There is apparently little concern about safety because of the relatively low dosages of the various drugs, which apparently does not reduce their effectiveness... " See: http://www.redflagsweekly.com/rosch/2003_jul21.html * Most Recent Publications of Eddie Vos: Vos E, Rose C. Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Women. JAMA Dec. 14, 2005. Vos E, Rose C. Questioning the benefits of statins. Can Med Ass'n J. Nov. 8, 2005. Vos E. Use of statins not supported by study. Br Med J. 2005 (331):159. Vos E. Modified Mediterranean diet and survival. Key confounder was missed. Br Med J. 2005 (330):1329. Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav 212-595-8974 veracare@... Re: Medical Journal Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down Dear Vera, while it is undeniable that the initial randomization of patients was flawed in this now 13 year old publication's, it is inexcusable to wait that long with such accusations, 10 years after the initial publication was printed. Clearly the Journal is at fault here. Please realize that reputable Canadian universities force their researchers to destroy original research data unless a compelling case is made not to. Relating that an Indian researcher was remiss to have records of a long-published study destroyed by 'termites' sounds exotic and 'fishy' but it makes no sense since the West uses shredders, as per policy and routinely so. There was no indication of deliberate fraud and unfortunately this episode tarnishes the entire Indian research world without adequate analysis because of a Journal's delay in acting, i.e. asking for the data when they were clearly still available in 1992. Dr. Singh, with eminent Israeli researcher Berry and others, published another study in 2002 Lancet that showed that an increase in plant based omega-3 fatty acid reduces second heart attacks and deaths thereof. This study is here: http://tinyurl.com/cp5px [Medline 12433513]. This study doubled the intake of plant based omega-3 fatty acid and reported an about halving of second cardiovascular events. As amazing as this may seem, it is entirely in line with a similar study, the Lyon Diet Heart Study, that nobody questions, see here: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/6/733. Let us not flush the baby with the bath water and dismiss studies that find amazing benefit with nutritional approaches [no drugs] and most importantly omega-3 increases that actually lower cardiovascular deaths. The Journal should have asked others to repeat the study in question rather than generating this Royal Mess that benefits nobody but the established drug and low cholesterol / low-fat industries that have proven not to be beneficial to people's health. Please send this around in my name, signed, Eddie Vos http://www.health-heart.org -------------------------------- > VERACARE wrote: > > ALLIANCE FOR HUMAN RESEARCH PROTECTION (AHRP) > Promoting Openness, Full Disclosure, and Accountability > www.ahrp.org > > FYI > > A front page report in The Wall Street Journal underscores the inherent > flaw in the " peer review " vetting system used by science journals. > > This case involves a 12- year investigation by (then) editor of the > BMJ, Dr. . The investigation was sparked by two letters > sounding an alarm about a 1992 article by Dr. Ram Singh, a cardiologist > practicing in India, published in the BMJ. > > Dr. Singh is the author of numerous articles in prestigious journals, > including The Lancet and the American Journal of Cardiology. > > There are troubling aspects to the case to be sure--such as missing > data which may have been eaten by termites; the lack of computerized > data, due to primitive resources; > > and statistical errors which Dr. Singh readily acknowledges. > > One has yet to evaluate whether Dr. Singh's reports claiming > astonishing reduction in heart attacks in patients who changed their > diets by increasing fruits and vegetables, fibers and a glass of > whiskey is entirely without merit--particularly because such life-style > changes have been shown by others to be effective. > > But such medical advice collides with the chemical solution that > pharmaceutical stakeholders recommend for our current ailments, many > of which are linked to diet, and sedentary life-styles. > > Although there are different contributing factors in any one of the > research related scandals that have been recently uncovered--whether > they occurred at prestigious US. or U.K, or Canadian academic > institutions, or in India, South Korea, or China--there is an > underlying flaw underscored in each and every research publication > scandal. > > The underlying flaw that seems to elude journal editors and the > scientific community is the need to independently examine the actual > data BEFORE publication. > > Journal editors must adopt a PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT for all authors > submitting clinical trial reports if they want to protect the integrity > of both the journals and the scientific literature. Authors should be > REQUIRED to submit ALL RAW DATA along with their research report. > > Journal editors have it in their power to refuse to publish any > clinical trial report unless its data has been independently analyzed. > > Only then, can the integrity of the journal literature--and of > medicine--be restored. > > Until such a publication rule is adopted, science journal editors will > repeatedly find themselves in the embarassing situation of having to > find a face-saving explanation of how one after another of its > published clinical trial reports is shown to be unsupported by the > data. > > > Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav > 212-595-8974 > veracare@... > > PAGE ONE > http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB113565052512831921- lMyQjAxMDE1MzI1NzYy NTcwWj.html > > THE WALL STREET JOURNAL > Playing DetectiveAt Medical Journal, > Editor Finds Truth Hard to Track Down > > Termite-Eaten Data Plague Dr. 's 12-Year Probe Of an Indian > Researcher > Pestering a Busy Statistician > > By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS in London and PETER WONACOTT in Moradabad, India > > December 27, 2005; Page A1 > > In 1992, the British Medical Association's flagship journal published a > study led by Indian doctor Ram B. Singh with a striking finding: > Heart-attack victims who ate more fiber, fruits and vegetables for a > year cut their risk of death during that period by almost half. > > A year later, , the journal's editor, received two letters > questioning the findings. What followed was an extraordinary inquiry > stretching over a dozen years and 5,000 miles. Along the way, Dr. Singh > contended that termites had eaten crucial data and Dr. spent four > years begging a busy statistician to deliver a report. > xxx cut xxx FAIR USE NOTICE This email contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material in this email is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml If you wish to use copyrighted material from this update for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. _______________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.