Eubios News in Bioethics & Biotechnology - November 2003
Eubios Journal
of Asian and International Bioethics 13
(2003), 226-237.
Comments are written in text form together with recent references. This list
continues from the last issue of EJAIBand
will continue. The full list of news (OLD = 1991-1993; NEW = 1994+) is
available on-line topic-by-topic, at: http://eubios.info/NBB.html
Abbreviations
Genetic
Engineering of Plants
Rice to lessen
the risk of allergies is being developed in Japan,
AgraFood Biotech 113 (15 Sept. 2003), 21. So far biologically little
evolution of resistance to
Bt toxin has been found,
NatBio 21 (2003), 958-9. On insect resistant plants,
NatBio 21 (2003), 1152-4;
Genetical Research 81 (2003), 169-77. On evolution of plant resistance,
Heredity 91 (2003), 345-52.
Research to develop resistance to fungal disease and blight by GM or copper is
discussed in Nature 425 (2003),
15. Plants containing botulinium A antibodies have been harvested, Canadian
Biotech News 12 (28 July 2003), 1. On broad
viral resistance in transgenic plants, TIBTECH 21 (2003), 373-5. Transgenes in forest
trees
are discussed in
Trends in Plant Science
8 (2003), 363-5. genome analysis of photosynthetic prokaryotes is possible, Science 298 (2002), 1616-20.
Hormones and the
Green revolution are discussed in
Science
302 (2003), 71-2; PNAS 100
(2003), 10144-5. Reasons for
touch
sensitivity in plants are discussed in
Trends in Plant Science 8 (2003), 312-4, 403-4. There are some common
functions between hemoglobins in animals and plants,
Trends in Plant
Science 8 (2003), 387-93. The association
between legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria is discussed in Nature 425 (2003), 569-70, 585-92.
Stress
tolerance in plants can be made through over-production of trehalose,
Trends
in Plant Science 8 (2003), 355-7. Enhanced
flower formation in Arabidopsis stressed by salt occurs after genetic
engineering glycine betaine, The Plant J. 36 (2003), 165-76. In general on selection of transgenic plants, Trends
in Plant Science 8 (2003), 353-4, 357-8,
380-6. Improvements in processing characteristics of potatoes is possible, Trends
in Plant Science 8 (2003), 310-2. Vitamin A
enriched potato is being developed in Columbia, NS (18 Oct. 2003), 6. Expression and production of
bioactive human interleukin-18 is reported in
Biotechnology Letters 25 (2003), 1629-35.
Genetic Engineering of Animals
On
cloning
horses, Current Biology 13
(2003), R659-60. In general on cloning animals,
TIBTECH 21 (2003), 428-32;
PNAS 100 (2003), 11924-5;
NS (6 Sept. 2003), 12. Pluripotent stem cells have been
made form adult mouse inner ear,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1293-9. A review of the difficulties in protein production
in animals is in NatBio 9 (2003),
965-7. On biofactories,
Scientist (28 July 2003), 26-7. The chicken genome is soon expected, Science 300 (2003), 1667-9.
Use of
zebrafish as genetic models is discussed in
GEN
23 (15 Oct. 2003), 1, 19,20,22,25. A book review of the
Red Canary: The
Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal is Nature 425 (2003),
772.
Transgenic mouse
studies suggest mutant presenilin triggers activation of several genes,
Nature 425 (2003), 565-6. Loss of Omi mitochondrial
protease activity causes the neuromuscular disorder of
mnd2 mutant
mice,
Nature 425 (2003), 721-7. Cdk2 knockout mice are viable,
Current
Biology 13 (2003), 1775-85. Wild-type nonneuronal
cells extend survival of SOD1 mutant motor neurons in ALS mice,
Science 302 (2003), 113-7. A mouse model of prostrate cancer
found that deficiency of
Pparg
does not alter the development of cancer, NatMed. 9 (2003), 1265-6. Stem cells for remodeling hearts
are described in
NatMed. 9
(2003), 1195-208. Disruption of ppt2
in mice results in a lysosomal storage disorder, PNAS 100 (2003), 12325-30. A
feline model
of mucolipidosis II is described in
J. Heredity 94 (2003), 363-73. A regulatory mutation in IGF2 alters muscle growth
in pigs,
Nature 425
(2003), 832-6.
Designer Molecules
Use of
"junk" DNA is being made,
Science
300 (2003), 1646-9. Use of ancient DNA and study of it is discussed in CAM 38 (2003), 14-6. On expanding the genetic code,
Science 302 (2003), 584-5. Use of
RNA
interference for therapy is discussed in
Lancet 362 (2003), 1401-3; Nature
425 (2003), 10-2, 232-3. Microbes may be useful for making electricity, Science 301 (2003), 1453. A review of small robots is
SA (Nov. 2003), 42-7. A DNA computer is described in
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 19.
Biotechnology & the Public
A
UK survey involving 650 public meetings
and 37,000 persons responses to surveys on the question of GM crops found 54% of people do not wish GM crops to be
grown in the UK, and a further 18% said they would only approve if there was no
risk of cross-contamination,
Guardian (25 Sept. 2003);
Nature 425 (2003), 329, 331;
AgraFood Biotech114 (29 Sept. 2003), 2-3;
Science 300 (2003), 1637-8. Only 8% said they were happy to
eat GM food. Most people in the
USA do not know they have eaten GM food,
AgraFood Biotech 114 (29 Sept. 2003), 8; 116 (2003), 11. Suggestions
from the European group (Empire team) on the use of empirical data in bioethics
and the regulation of biotechnology are in
BME 190 (2003), 8-11. The public has its own view of
risk,
Nature 425 (2003), 343.
On
ethics of biotechnology, Law and the
Human Genome Review 18 (2003), 165-74; and 11 papers in
CQHE 12 (2003), 329-446; Solomon, RC. "
Fate
and fatalism",
Philosophy East & West 53 (2003), 435-54. On the discovery of DNA structure, CAM 38 (2003), 10-3;
Nature 425 (2003), 901;
Science 302 (2003), 231. Public representations of
cloning
in Canada are summarized in
Health Law Review 11 (3, 2003), 22-4. Papers on the media and popular culture are in Harvard
Educational Review 73 (2003), 253-465.
Claims by a company that its smallpox vaccine could enhance immunity against
AIDS in the media were criticized as hype in Nature 425 (2003), 332.
Description
of a bioethics course in the UK is in J. Biol. Education 37 (2003), 91-95; and
from Korea, Choi, K. & Cho, HH., "Effects of teaching ethical issues
on Korean school students' attitudes towards science",
J. Biol.
Education 37 (2002), 26-9. A survey of education
in Taiwan is Hu, R. et al. "Science curriculum components favoured by high
school students in Taiwan",
J. Biological Education 37 (2003), 171-55. Bioethics was popular. Methods
for health information in Africa in the Ptolemy project are discussed in
BMJ 327 (2003), 790-3. On science education,
Science 301 (2003), 1443, 1485; 302 (2003), 232-3;
Nature 425 (2003), 234-6.
Human
freedom and divine action is debated in
Science & Christian Belief 15 (2003), 101-16, 195-6. Teaching evolution is
discussed in
TREE 18 (2003),
499-502. On science policy, Nature
425 (2003), 663-4.
The
first Chinese rocket to carry an
astronaut
into space is discussed in
NS
(25 Oct. 2003), 6-8. NASA and the space shuttle are discussed in
Nature 425 (2003), 1. The risks of an asteroid hitting the
earth are discussed in
NS (20
Sept. 2003), 12. Researchers have tried to market ideas to get others to accept
them, Lancet 362 (2003), 1204-5.
On nanomedicine, Lancet 362
(2003), 673; NS (30 Aug. 2003),
16. On ethical issues of nanotechnology, Bulletin of Science,
Technology and Society 23 (2003), 236-45.
Regulation & Field Trials of
GMOs
An overview of
GM crops is
Nature 425 (2003), 655-9. In
September Brazil allowed GM soybean to be grown,
Int. Herald
Tribune (25 Sept. 2003), 12; NS (4 Oct. 2003), 5. The issues of
Indian
Bt cotton are discussed in
APBN 7
(2003), 1204; AgraFood Biotech
116 (27 Oct. 2003), 9. The harvest may not have been productive, GeneWatch 16 (Sept. 2003), 12-4. Indian hybrid and modified
rice is discussed in
NS (19 Sept.
2003), 19. Chinese GM
rules are of more concern to the USA than the EU,
AgraFood Biotech 114 (29 Sept. 2003), 8. A report on biosafety
options for Asean countries is available from UNIDO (Email:
office.Thailand@unido.org) . 14 African countries have agreed to common GM
guidelines,
AgraFood Biotech 114
(29 Sept. 2003), 14. On GM crops in developing countries, Lancet 362 (2003), 835;
SA (Oct. 2003), 6. New Zealand's biggest insurer, Vero
Insurance, will not insure GM crops, Food Chemical News (6 Oct. 2003), 7-8. On
agbiotech in
Japan,
GEN 23
(July 2003), 46, 48.
Romanian farmers claim to have boosted soybean yields by 31%
according to a study using GM soybeans,
AgraFood Biotech 112 (1
Sept. 2003), 6.
Italy's ban on GM corn
has been rejected by the European Court of Justice, Int. Herald Tribune
(10 Sept. 2003);
AgraFood Biotech 115
(13 Oct. 2003), 13. Austria however has threatened to maintain
its GMO moratorium,
AgraEurope (5 Sept.
2003), 4-5. On UK research on GM crop safety suggesting wildlife
diversity was less in the GM fields,
Science 302 (2003), 542; NS (27
Sept. 2003), 5; (18 Oct. 2003), 7-9; (25 Oct. 2003), 3, 21; Current
Biology 13 (2003), R819-20; Nature 425 (2003), 751. GM maize has been approved in Czech
republic,
AgraFood Biotech 115
(13 Oct. 2003), 14.
USDA is requiring
permits for GM
industrial crops, Food
Chemical News (11 Aug. 2003), 8,9;
Nature 425 (2003), 892. The US EPA may monitor GM crops
from space,
Nature 425 (2003),
112. On the safety of Bt crops, NatBio 21 (2003), 1003-9; Science
301 (2003), 1845-7. Public oversight of biotechnology in Cambridge
Massachussetts, USA has been suggested to be a flourishing model for elsewhere,
GeneWatch 16 (Sept. 2003), 7-10.
On the safety of GM rapeseed, Science 302 (2003), 401-2. The safety of farmed fish is
discussed in
Science 301 (19 Sept.
2003); NS (25 Oct. 2003), 4; Nature 425 (2003), 753.
On
ethical and religious issues of GM crops,
Science &
Christian Belief 15 (2003), 141-64. A discussion of what is
conventional and its redefinition is in
The Ram's Horn 215 (Oct. 2003), 1-2. The EU has released a report
Towards
Sustainable Agriculture for Developing Countries: Options from life Science and
Biotechnologies (32pp.,
http://europa.eu.int/comm./research/sadc. Nitrogen flows from fertilizers are
causing much damage, Nature 425
(2003), 894-5. On sustainability, Ecological Economics 46 (2003), 231-48;
Science 302 (2003), 357.
A report on
bioweapons in the 21st century is
Politics & the Life
Sciences 21 (2002), 1-27. Planning for smallpox outbreaks is
discussed in
Nature 425 (2003), 681-5.
On bioethics and defense,
CQHE 12 (2003), 455-65.
Self-regulation by scientists is called for in
Science 302 (2003), 368-9, 543;
Nature 425 (2003), 647. Also on biodefense,
Science 301 (2003), 1824, 1852-3; 302 (2003), 206-7. On
chemical weapons like those used in the Moscow theatre siege,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1346. Agricultural terrorism is
discussed in
SA (Oct. 2003),
12-3; NS (30 Aug. 2003), 8-9.
Vaccines & Diseases
There are
further doubts about a link between mercury-based vaccines and autism,
Science 301 (2003), 1454-5. In the UK public aid is being removed from those
fighting for MMR vaccine suits,
BMJ 327 (2003), 640. On risk and public attitudes to MMR vaccine, BMJ 327 (2003), 725-8. Measles vaccination is being
expanded,
Lancet 362 (2003),
1386.
More than 90% of
persons vaccinated in the past against smallpox have significant immunity
against it,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1131-7.
The balancing of individual versus group is calculated in Bauch, CT. et al.
"Group interest versus self-interest in smallpox vaccination policy",
PNAS 100 (2003), 10564-7. There
is research on whether smallpox vaccine might help protect
against HIV,
BMJ 327 (2003), 699.
Adverse effects of smallpox vaccine are reported in Lancet 362 (2003), 1345. Jenner is remembered in
Lancet 362 (2003), 1092. Clonal vaccinia virus can be grown
in cell culture, and on smallpox vaccine production,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1115-6, 1125-30. The US smallpox
vaccination campaign stopped,
NS
(23 Aug. 2003), 6.
New
vaccine research is discussed in
NEJM 349
(2003), 1312-14;
Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2 (2003), 767-8; Science
302 (2003), 602. A retraction of a paper on a cancer vaccine has been made, Nature 425 (2003), 4;
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1221.
Polio eradication and
the vaccine are discussed in
BMJ 327
(2003), 466, 769; Lancet 362
(2003), 909-14, 1292; NatMed. 9
(2003), 1225, 1231. Polio coverage in India is reviewed in SSM 57 (2003), 1807-19. Variation and equity in
immunization in India are mixed,
SSM
57 (2003), 2075-88. The benefits of hepatitis A booster vaccination are debated
in Lancet 362 (2003), 1065-71. A
survey of the validity of reported vaccine coverage in 45 countries is Lancet 362 (2003), 1022-7.
Discussion of
lessons from
SARS in 2003 are in Lancet
362 (2003), 1207. Taiwan has reduced the death toll from SARS from 180 to 37
deaths, thus the WHO world total is reduced in
774 from 916 deaths. On SARS in Guangdong,
Lancet
362 (2003), 1353-8. Three animal
models
of SARS are now ready, Science 302 (2003), 213;
Nature 425 (2003), 915. The future of SARS is unsure,
Lancet 362 (2003), 714, 1294;
BMJ 327 (2003), 411, 950;
Science 301 (2003), 1642-3;
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 9; (6 Sept. 2003), 36-7; (20 Sept.
2003), 52;
NatMed. 9 (2003),
1229; Nature 425 (2003), 333. So
is its origin, Science 302
(2003), 5, 276-9, 766-7. Lab safety should be improved, Science 302 (2003), 31. On potential SARS drugs,
Science 300 (2003), 1763-7. In Hong Kong many are to receive
influenza vaccines , in case that SARS reemerges they will be able to
distinguish,
Lancet 362 (2003),
809.
The global fund
for infectious diseases is discussed in
Lancet 362 (2003), 1381. Ethics in public health and infectious
diseases are discussed in
Issues in Medical Ethics 11 (2003), 113-5. In general on infectious diseases,
NEJM 349 (2003), 1681; Lancet 362 (2003), 1290;
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1108;
Science 302 (2003), 398. There is a cholera outbreak in
Liberia,
Lancet 362 (2003), 966.
On West Nile virus, NEJM 349
(2003), 1236-45; Science 302
(2003), 248; and monkeypox, Science
300 (2003), 1639. Tuberculosis is discussed in NEJM 349 (2003), 1149-56.
Interferon may be
able to control tuberculosis,
Science
302 (2003), 654-9. Individuals fat
composition may alter resistance to TB,
NS (30 Aug. 2003), 12.
Herpesvirus 8 may have a role in hypertension,
NEJM
349 (2003), 113-22. On
malaria, NEJM
349 (2003), 1496-9;
Science 301 (2003),
1503-8; Nature 425 (2003), 437.
Bill Gates has pledged US$168 million for new malaria research, Science 301 (2002), 1828;
Nature 425 (2003), 331, 435;
Current Biology 13 (2003), R820-1. A Chinese herb qinghao (sweet
wormwood) may be useful against malaria,
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 16. Genes from a parasitic worm are
being used to fight a snail fever disease in China,
Nature 425 (2003), 227. Studies on tularemia bacteria
are being made ,
Science 302 (2003), 222-3.
Asthma
prevention is discussed in
BMJ 327
(2003), 770. Antibiotic use in babies increases risk of asthma, NS (4 Oct. 2003), 16. On prevention of chronic
non-communicable diseases,
Lancet
362 (2003), 903-8.
A UK teenager is
fighting
vCJD with the aid of pentosan
polysulphate, BMJ 327 (2003), 765.;
Nature 425 (2003), 673. Unknown strains of BSE prions have
been found in routine tests,
Nature
425 (2003), 648. On prion disease,
Nature 425 (2003), 561-2,
673-4; NatMed. 9 (2003), 1096,
1252; Science 302 (2003), 763-4; NS (4 Oct. 2003), 10. Horizontal prion transmission is
reported in mule deer,
Nature 425
(2003), 35-6.
On
antibiotics resistance and new drug development,
Scientist
(8 Sept. 203), 29-30. Drug companies are not developing many new antibiotics,
Nature 425 (2003), 225:
Science 301 (2003), 1850-1. The WHO has urged farmers to
reduce the use of antibiotic growth agents,
Lancet 362 (2003), 626. A veterinary link to drug
resistance in African tryanosomiasis was suggested in
Lancet 358 (2001), 603-4.
AIDS & Sexually Transmitted
Diseases
Ethical issues of AIDS vaccine trials are discussed in Lancet 362
(2003), 992-4. There may be some benefit of smallpox vaccine against HIV, but
research is continuing, BMJ 327 (2003),
600. Hepatitis B is being transmitted in northwestern China
through reuse of syringes for childhood
vaccination, SSM 57 (2003), 1821-32. Links between antiretroviral
therapy and malaria are discussed in Lancet
362 (2003), 1008-9, 1039+. A record of more than 100,000 compounds tested
against HIV is online, www.niaid.nih.gov/daids/dtpdb, Science 302 (2003), 757.
In
Switzerland the mortality of persons with HIV is similar to those with cancer,
yet only HIV patients are excluded from life insurance policies, Lancet 362 (2003), 877-8.
On willingness to pay for AIDS treatments, Lancet 362 (2003), 1152-3.
The
ethics of testing for HIV is discussed
in BMJ 327 (2003), 563. On partner notification of STDs, BMJ 327 (2003), 633-4. Drug users in China
are being tested for HIV without consent, BMJ 327 (2003), 579. Human Rights Watch has accused China of
denying the extent of AIDS in China, Lancet
362 (2003), 879. Drug-resistant strains of HIV are increasing in Japan,
with 17% of persons in 2002 having such strains compared to 5% in 2001, Lancet 362 (2003), 1052. AIDS in Myanmar is discussed in Science 301 (2003), 1650-2; and in Thailand, Science 301 (2003), 1662-3.
Short
postexposure prophylaxis in newborn babies can help lessen risk of HIV in women
who missed counseling to avoid HIV transmission, Lancet 362 (2003), 1171-7. On antiretroviral therapy, NEJM 349 (2003), 827-8, 1036-46; Lancet 362 (2003), 679-86, 882; TIBTECH 21 (2003), 420-3. Genetically modified
bacteria in condoms to release HIV-blocking proteins may be useful to protect
against HIV, NS (13 Sept. 2003), 18. The
catholic church has said that condoms do not stop AIDS, NS (11 Oct. 2003), 8.
In
general on the AIDS crisis, Lancet 362
(2003), 1045, 1339; BMJ 327
(2003), 698; NatMed. 9 (2003),
1097. AIDS and food crisis combine in Africa, Lancet 362 (2003), 1210, 1234-7. On the South African AIDS
taskforce, Lancet 362 (2003),
713; NatMed. 9 (2003), 1098. HIV
social research, is suggested in SSM
57 (2003), 1573-92.
Microbes & Pollution Remedies
Cleaning up
after war can take much time and money,
SA
(Oct. 2003), 26-7. Some sunken oil tankers from WWII in the pacific are only
now releasing the oil in the ocean,
NS (22 Feb. 2003), 12-3; (5 April 2003), 16. On
phytoremediation,
EST 37 (2003), 342A. Degradation of PCBs
in marine sediment treated with UV and ionizing radiation is reviewed in
EST 37 (2003), 3808-15. Spawning salmon can transfer
pollutants,
BMJ 327 (2003), Nature 425 (2003), 255. Oil spills with ice makes
degradation more difficult,
NS
(20 Sept. 2003), 18.
Removal of
uranium in groundwater is reviewed in
EST 37
(2003), 4304-8. The environmental cleanup of the Everglades has suffered a
potential setback with the sacking of the judge in charge,
Nature 425 (2003), 551. Degradation of xenobiotics in
bioreactors is discussed in
Biotechnol Bioeng 84 (2003), 399-405.
Environmental Issues
Environmental
ethics are discussed in
Ecological Economics
44 (2003), 11-27; 46 (2003), 307-8;
Asian Ethnicity 3 (2002), 263-5;
Environmental Health
Perspectives 111 (2003), 133-7; Ethics (Jan. 2003), 405-7;
Environmental Ethics 24 (2002), 135-148; Rolston, H. "Environmental
ethics in Antarctica",
Environmental Ethics 24 (2002),115-34. Nations compete to claim more of
the continental shelf,
Science
298 (2003), 1877-8; On Aristotle and the environment, Environmental
Ethics 24 (2002), 409-28; and Gandhi, Environmental
Ethics 24 (2002), 227-35. On ethics of
environmental design, Environmental Ethics 24 (2002), 242-61. The author of Tragedy of the Commons, Garret Hardin has died,
Science 302 (2003), 32. Discussion of
Johannesburg
conference one year after is in
Science
302 (2003), 197; NS (7 Sept.
2003), 3, 8-9; Environment 45
(2003), 20-6. On the globalization of nature, Science 296 (2002), 1612;
Ecological Economics 44 (2003), 77-89. Papers on community-based
participatory research and environmental justice are discussed in
Environmental
Health Perspectives 110 (2002), Supplement
2, 139-310. The study of Oceanic settlement and human history is reviewed in TREE 18 (2003), 531-40. The changing state of nature is
discussed in
TREE 18 (2003),
326-30. On environmental economics,
Ecological Economics 40 (2002), 1-130; 46 (2003), 310-2;
Can.
J. Agricultural Economics 51 (2003),
197-216; Environmental Health Perspectives 110 (2002), A228-9, A582-5. Growing numbers of people work for the
environment, NS (12 July 2003), 46-7. Teachers' perceptions of teaching
environmental issues in Hong Kong are discussed in J. Science
Education and Technology 12 (2003), 187+. A
study of Latino Angler's environmental risk perceptions is Medical
Anthropology Quarterly 17 (2003), 99-116.
Green
engineering principles are suggested in
EST
37 (2003), 94-101. The UNEP is suggesting ways to help with China's
environment, Nature 425 (2003),
336. China's environment is discussed in
Environmental Health
Perspectives 110 (2002), A500-1, A510-1,
A516-27. Enforcement styles of environmental protection officials in China were
studied in J. Public Policy 23
(2003), 81-115. On environmental modeling and conceptualism, EST 37 (2003), 4685-93. The amount of land required for
one person to live is discussed in
Nature 421 (2003), 898. On sustainability, PNAS 100 (2003), 8062-85;
NS (22 Feb. 2003), 44-7. Environmental noise pollution
retards auditory cortical development,
Science 302 (2003), 498-502.
The question of
whether environmental
mutagens have
caused oncomutations in people is debatable, NatGen 34 (2003),
255-9. Genomics tools in environmental impact assessment are reviewed in
EST 37 (2003), 356-63A; and on environmental genomics,
EST 36 (2002), 372-3A; 37 (2003), 125-6A;
Environmental
Health Perspectives 110 (2002), A746-7,
A750-3, A756-9; Lancet 361
(2001), 1356-60. On ecotoxicology, EST 37 (2003), 324-30A. Traces of Agent Orange are still
found in food in Vietnam,
BMJ 327
(2003), 521. On the studies of the real levels dumped on Vietnam, Nature 422 (2003), 649, 681-7, 793. On
mercury
pollution in India,
Lancet 362 (2003),
1050; and Japan, Lancet 358
(2001), 1349; and general, EST 37
(2003), 167-8A. Arsenic pollution in Bangladesh is related to
agricultural water pumping,
Science 296
(2002), 2143-6; 298 (2002), 1535-6, 1602-6; 300 (2003), 1066. Lead
safety is discussed in
Science 298
(2002), 732; EST 37 (2003),
3256-60; NS (26 April 2003), 21; NEJM 349 (2003), 1810-2.
Ethics of hog production are discussed in
Environmental
Health Perspectives 110 (2002), 437-44. On sustainable farming,
Science 301 (2003), 309.
Pesticide use damages farmers health,
SSM 57 (2003), 1559-71;
Environmental Health
Perspectives 110 (2002), 233-40; and
farmer's children, EST 37 (2003),
323A; Environmental Health Perspectives 111 (2003), 1259-64. Some residues cannot be extracted from soil, EST 37 (2003), 138A+. A
solar unit to
dispose of medical waste in countries without over means is displayed in
Lancet 362 (2003), 1251, 1285-6.
In general on
environmental
health: Lancet
362 (2003), 587;
Nature 425 (2003),
346-7; AJPH 91 (2001), 1964-7.
The question of how much one human life is worth is compared in Science 299 (2003), 1836-7. It is difficult to gauge the
price of good health,
EST 37
(2003), 365-8A. Child health and the environment is discussed in NEJM 349 (2003), 1682-3;
EST 37 (2003), 168-9A. It may kill 5 million children a
year according to WHO,
Bulletin of WHO 81 (2003), 385-6. Air pollution and health in San Paulo
has not improved much between 1986 to 1998 because of increased number of cars,
despite measures to reduce damage,
SSM
57 (2003), 2013-22. Also on air pollution, Lancet 360 (2002), 549, 1184, 1210-4, 1233-42;
Environmental
Health Perspectives 110 (2002), 499-590; BMJ 324 (2002), 691-2;
NatMed. 9 (2003), 490. Climate has affected dengue fever,
Lancet 360 (2002), 830-4;
BMJ 325 (2002), 1094-8. Adelie
penguins
are affected by climate change,
Science
300 (2003), 429-30; as are other organisms, Science 296 (2002), 2158-62; 299 (2003), 1844-5;
PNAS 100 (2003), 4957-62, 7650-4;
NS (8 March 2003), 24. On toxic
corporate
crime,
Lancet 361 (2003), 1753. Global
pollution controls are discussed in EST 37 (2003), 134A. In India legal action is discussed in Lancet 359 (2002), 53.
Endocrine
disruptors are discussed in EST
37 (2003), 173-4A, 313A, 331-6A, 345-6A, 2847-54, 3430-4, 3764-73, 4021-6,
4098-105;
Environment 43 (9, 2003),
37-8; Science 300 (2003), 31-2,
1069; NS (14 June 2003), 10; BMJ 323 (2001), 1317-8. A study of some PCBs compounds
in human tissue in Tokyo between 1970 and 2000 is reported in
EST 37 (2003), 817-21. The global distribution of PCBs
is surveyed in
EST 37 (2003),
667-72; Science 299 (2003),
1642-3. The effects on frogs are discussed in AJMG 104 (2003), 99-109. On persistence of fluorinated
compounds,
EST 37 (2003), 312-3A.
Nitrate may be a disrupter, EST
37 (2003), 162A. Cadmium is also a gender bender, NS (19 July 2003), 16. Drugs in water are also a
problem,
EST 36 (2002), 377-8A.
PBDE may overtake PCBs in popular fish, EST 37 (2003), 240-1A. PDBEs may come from old furniture
where it was used as flame retardants,
EST 37 (2003), 164-5A. The pollution caused by excessive fertilizer is
discussed in Nature 425 (2003),
894-5. The effects may be made worse with UV radiation, Ecological
Applications 13 (2003), 1083-93. Oxygen
deficiency also disrupts fish reproduction, EST 37 (2003), 122A. Rocket fuel perchlorate is
discussed in
Science 299 (2003),
1829; EST 37 (2003), 166-7A.
Japanese environmental leadership is discussed in
Politics
& the Life Sciences 21 (2002), 66-71. Japan is learning from
Germany how to reduce waste,
Environment
43 (2003), 20-32. On Japanese Foreign Aid Policy and sustainable development, Bulletin
of Science, Technology and Society 23
(2003), 302-10. The Kyoto Protocol is discussed in
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 42-5;
Nature 423 (2003), 792;
BMJ 323 (2002), 1146;
Science 299 (2003), 1669.
Europe may be
able to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions
4-6% if energy was harvested from logging residues, UNU news release
(21 Sept. 2003). The EU has started greenhouse gas trading,
EST 37 (2003), 321A. On
climate change,
Science 299 (2003), 2005-10; 301 (2003), 479-83; 302 (2003),
210, 404-5;
NS (22 March 2003),
18; (24 May 2003), 8; (7 June 2003), 7; (12 July 2003), 5; (13 Sept. 2003),
6-7; (20 Sept. 2003), 25; (4 Oct. 2003), 18; (11 Oct. 2003), 12; Nature 419 (2002), 188+.; 421 (2003), 879; 424 (2003),
271-6, 867;
Naturwissenschaften
90 (2003), 282-8; Ecological Economics 44 (2003), 29-42; EST 37
(2003), 123-5A, 165-6A. Alaska is warming up fast, Nature 425 (2003), 338-9. On
wildfires,
Nature 420 (2002), 29-30; 421 (2003), 913-9;
NS (17 Aug. 2002), 8.
Insurance costs are
discussed in
NS (27 July 2002), 7.
Liability is discussed in Nature
421 (2003), 891-2.
On
transportation,
EST 37 (2003), 314-5A.
Discussion of hydrogen as a fuel is
Science 300 (2003), 1740-2; 301 (2003), 315-6; 302 (2003),
226-9;
NS (5 Oct. 2002), 14; (11
Oct. 2003), 47; Nature 418
(2002), 928-9; 422 (2003), 104. US law could boost renewable fuel use, NatBio 20 (2002), 860;
EST 36 (2002), 369-70A;
Science 298 (2002), 1847; 299 (2003), 1494, 1813; 300
(2003), 17. Potential for cheap oil is discussed in
NS (2 Aug. 2003), 9-10.
Psychosocial
benefits of private vehicle use are discussed in
Transportation Research
Part F 6 (2003), 217-31. Fuels for urban
buses are discussed in EST 37
(2003), 4823-4. An additive has been developed called Envirox, which enhances
fuel efficiency of diesel engines, NS (18 Oct. 2003), 24. Jojoba is an alternative fuel, NS (8 March 2003), 18. On reducing costs for sulfur
removal,
EST 37 (2003),
319-20A. If airplanes flew at
lower altitudes they could lower the impact on the global climate,
NS (19 Oct. 2002), 6-7. Power from
waves
is suggested in
NS (20 Sept. 2003), 33-4;
and solar energy, NS (12 April
2003), 14-5; (6 Sept. 2003), 23. The problems of the US electricity grid are
discussed in NS (23 Aug. 2003),
7.
Hydrocarbon
pollution in USA is reviewed in
PNAS 100
(2003), 11975-9. The oceans are becoming more acid,
Nature 425 (2003), 365;
NS (27 Sept. 2003), 8. On ocean fertilization to absorb
carbon dioxide,
Science 300
(2003), 67-8. On sulfur emissions in Asia, EST 36 (2002), 4707-13. Warming seas may have sucked
water out of Africa,
NS (18 Oct.
2003), 15. The way that rivers flood is being analyzed, Nature 425 (2003), 459. On flooding,
Nature 421 (2003), 805; 422 (2003), 254-6. On
water
shortages,
SA (Nov. 2003),
18; Lancet 359 (2002), 2010; Nature 419 (2002), 187-230; 422 (2003), 8, 243, 251-3, 364;
Science 297 (2002), 926-7; 299
(2003), 165; NS (22 March 2003),
11, 29; (29 March 2003), 8-9; (26 April 2003), 24-5; EST 37 (2003), 83-4A, 87-8A, 90A. Caffeine is a marker
of pollution of water,
EST 37
(2003), 691-700. Marine recreation and microbiology is discussed in BioScience 51 (2001), 817-25. A greenhouse to attract rain in
the desert is discussed in
NS (26
Jan. 2002), 40-3.
On ozone and
climate change,
Science 302 (2003),
236-7; SA (Aug. 2002), 9-10. The
Antarctic ozone hole may be record size this year,
Nature 425 (2003), 114-5. The UN history and ozone
protection is reviewed in
Ecological Economics 46 (2003), 309-10. Farmers want to be exempt from
the zone treaty ban on methyl bromide,
NS (5 Oct. 2002), 11. On UV damage, Environmental Health
Perspectives 110 (2002), A392-3.
On nuclear
power,
Science 298 (2002), 1553-4.
Efforts to dismantle Russian nuclear ships are delayed for
various factors,
Science 301 (2003),
1460-3. Forests near Chernobyl are still under stress,
NS (6 Sept. 2003), 10;
Nature 425 (2003), 763. On thyroid cancer 15 years after
Chernobyl,
Lancet 359 (2002),
1946-7. The UK may stop nuclear reprocessing, Nature 425 (2003), 7. Depleted
uranium shells
cause harm after
war to children who
play with them, NS (27 July 2002), 5; (19 April 2003), 3-6. A
report from a uranium grab is
Science
297 (2003), 1456. Risks of radiation are discussed in
NS (26 Oct. 2002), 8. The damages of radiation to
atomic weapon survivors of UK bomb tests are discussed in
NS (23 Nov. 2002), 14. Managing the legacy of US
nuclear weapons production is reviewed in
American Scientist 90 (2003), 514-23. Nuclear waste transport is
discussed in
Environmental Health Perspectives 111 (2003), 263-72. Nuclear releases can be traced
in 125I in tree rings,
EST 37
(2003), 1271-5. On Yucca mountain, SA (March 2003), 26-7.
Biodiversity
A
description of underwater
tourism is Newsweek
(13 Oct. 2003), 34-8. Legal ivory sales did not help curb the black market,
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 11.
A
new report is Wardle, P., et al.,
World Forests, Society and Environment (UNU, 2003). China is being blamed for felling of
trees in Myanmar,
NS (25 Oct.
2003), 5. The pristine forest of the Amazon in 1492 may have had
many people,
Science 301 (2003), 1645-6,
1710-4. On world national parks, Science 301 (2003), 1289. Wilderness and biodiversity conservation are
reviewed in PNAS 100 (2003),
10309-13; NS (23 Aug. 2003), 4-5.
Havens can be difficult to find, Nature 425 (2003), 754. On environmental services of biodiversity, PNAS 100 (2003), 2764-9. Genetic diversity in crop plants
is reviewed in
Crop Science 43
(2003), 1235-48.
A
report has said the science of listing endangered species in the USA is sound,
but their habitats are threatened,
Science
302 (2003), 35. On biodiversity and evolution in general, Science 300 (2003), 1621, 1692-1711. Evolution, assymetry
and order are discussed in
NS (16
Aug. 2003), 32-5. The effects of human settlement on birds in Colorado are
reported in Ecological Applications
13 (2003), 1041-59. In one moa species females were 3 times bigger than males, Nature 425 (2003), 172+;
NS (13 Sept. 2003), 17. On Chinese biodiversity
preservation,
Nature 425 (2003),
890. Biodiversity in South Africa may be protected if people value it, Ecological
Economics 46 (2003), 199-216.
Cod
fish farming is debated in The
Ecologist (Sept 2003), 56-7. Ecological subsidies alter the
structure of marine communities,
PNAS
100 (2003), 11927-8. The fishery effects of marine reserves give benefits
beyond their boundaries, TREE 18
(2003), 448-55. Also on loss of fish stocks, Nature 425 (2003), 125-6. Sturgeons are endangered and
miscalculations were made,
NS (20
Sept. 2003), 6-7. A census on marine biodiversity has been made suggesting
20,000 species of fish, Science
302 (2003), 773; Nature 425
(2003), 889. Loss of eels is occurring, Science 302 (2003), 221-2;
NS (4 Oct. 2003), 14; and of Klamanth fish,
Science 302 (2003), 765. Trawlers are causing many deep sea
fish to be lost,
NS (30 Aug.
2003), 6. The use of rigs as reefs is discussed in Nature 425 (2003), 891.
Animal Rights
An animal rights
group has claimed it caused explosions at Chiron company in USA,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1230;
Scrippharma.com 2881 (3 Sept. 2003), 12. In general on animal rights
groups,
Science 298 (2002), 1515.
On ethics of GM, Verhoog, H. "Naturalness and the genetic modification of
animals", TIBTECH 21 (2003),
294-7. A discussion of a pig's life is in In Context 10 (Fall 2003), 10-11. Fox hunting is discussed in
NS (16 Aug. 2003), 4. Captivity of wide-ranging animals
is discussed in
Nature 425
(2003), 473.
Naval sonar may
be responsible for deaths of porpoises and whales,
Nature 425 (2003), 549;
NS (11 Oct. 2003), 10. Levels of toxaphene congeners in
Beluga whales in Canada are reported in
EST 37 (2003), 4603-9. On whaling,
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 3.
The UN has called
for an emergency meeting on protection of the
Great Apes,
Financial Times (4 Nov. 2003), 4. A
gorilla count has resumed in central Africa,
Nature 425 (2003), 652. About 91 genes separate humans and
chimpanzees (see HGP News). Ebola is threatening them also,
Science 300 (2003), 1645. On humanizing a chimp brain,
NS (18 Oct. 2003), 5. Illusions in the primate brain
are discussed in
Science 302
(2003), 789-91 (Also see Brain Function news section). A book review of Intelligence
of Apes and Other Rational Beings is Nature 425 (2003), 454. On primate origins,
Science 298 (2003), 1564-7, 1606-10. There appears to have
been widespread human
cannibalism,
TREE 18 (2003), 489-90. Meat eating in humans dates back
to 2.5 million years in our ancestors,
NS (6 Sept. 2003), 19. A discussion of whether Neanderthals
were caring is in
J. Human Evolution
(Nov. 2003); Science 301 (2003),
1319. Paternal care in a multi-male primate society (savannah baboons) is
reported in Nature 425 (2003),
136-7, 179-81; NS (13 Sept. 2003),
26.
Brain function
A
review is Fehr, E. & Fischbacher, U., "The nature of human
altruism",
Nature 425 (2003),
785-91. Consciousness is discussed in NEJM 349 (2003), 1196-7. The neural basis of economic decision making
is analyzed in
Science 300 (2003),
1673-5, 1755-8; 300 (2003), 1662-3. On the pain of social loss, Science 302 (2003), 237-9, 290-2. Fear is reviewed in
NS (6 Sept. 2003), 30-5. Monkeys reject unequal pay,
Nature 425 (2003), 297-9;
NS (20 Sept. 2003), 19. Cooperation is discussed in
Science 302 (2003), 634-6. Gene expression profiles in honey
bees can predict behaviour,
Science
302 (2003), 296-9. Mice are being used in a brain protein project, Nature 425 (2003), 110. On neurophilosophy,
Science 301 (2003), 1328-9. Split personalities are discussed
in
NS (16 Aug. 2003), 36-9. On
recording human memories, Nature
425 (2003), 571-2. Genetic contributions to brain arousal are reviewed in PNAS 100 (2003), 11019-22. On face and objects in macaque
cerebral cortex,
Nature Neuroscience 6 (2003), 989-95.
Developments
in computer
speech are reviewed in Science
301 (2003), 1494-5. Language during sleep is discussed in
Nature 425 (2003), 614-6. On spam and computer
intelligence,
SA (Nov. 2003),
22-3. The domestication of social cognition in dogs is reported in Science 298 (2002), 1634-6. Evolution of language is
discussed in
Science 298 (2002),
1565-6, 1569-79; Nature 425
(2003), 340-2. The effects of meditation on the mind are surveyed in Science 302 (2003), 44-7.
Safety of Recombinant DNA
Products
The use of
TPA and stroke is discussed in
Science
301 (2003), 1677. Novartis's generic
HGH
has been approved in Europe, Scripppharma.com 2865 (9 July 2003),
22. TNF is a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1245-50. Designing bacteria and white
cells to deliver drugs to the gut is possible,
Lancet 362 (2003), 964-5. Psoriasis may be treated by
biologics,
BMJ 327 (2003), 634-5.
Neutralizing antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis affect the efficacy
of using it, Lancet 362 (2003),
1184-91. On erythropoietin to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, Lancet 362 (2003), 1255-60. Insulin and cognitive function
may be related,
Lancet 362
(2003), 1253. Use of parathyroid hormone in treating postmenopausal as well as
male osteoporosis is suggested in NEJM 349 (2003), 1207-15, 1216-26.
Food safety
A new GM soybean
may have health advantages,
AgraFood Biotech 113 (15 Sept. 2003), 20. Studies on acceptance of Golden rice in the
Philippines suggest it may be accepted, NatBio 21 (2003), 971-2.
Labeling to manage
the marketing of GM foods is discussed in
TIBTECH 21 (2003), 389-93; EST
37 (2003), 343A. The EU level for GM presence in seeds will be set between
0.3-0.7% next year, AgraFood Biotech
116 (27 Oct. 2003), 12.
The US FDA has said
that GM food from
animals is safe for
humans, Int. Herald Tribune (31 Oct. 2003), 1, 10. Just days after the Food and Drug Administration announced
preliminary findings that meat and milk from cloned animals were safe to
consume, a scientific review panel for the agency said that there was not
enough data to support that conclusion and asked for more studies. (
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/05/health/05CLON.html)
Analysis of the
Codex
guidelines for GM foods is in NatBio 21 (2003), 739-41. Debates
in
Africa on the import of GM food are
in The Ram's Horn 214 (Sept. 2003), 1-6. On the estimated market
for GM potatoes in
China, Curtis KR. Et
al. "Is China the market for genetically modified potatoes?", AgBio
Forum 5 (4, 2002). Book reviews on GM food include
Nature 425 (2003), 454-5;
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 46;
The Ecologist (Sept. 2003), 60;
BMJ 327 (2003), 567.
Infusing a
hormone fragment PYY reduces
appetite, NEJM
349 (2003), 941-8;
BMJ 327 (2003), 578; Lancet 362 (2003), 883;
NEJM 349 (2003), 926-8. Oleylethanolaminde regulates
feeding through PPAR receptor interactions,
Nature 425 (2003), 90-3. PPAR receptors as therapeutic
targets are discussed in
Science
302 (2003), 406-7. Fussy eating may be genetic, Science 302 (2003), 561. Fast foods may trick the body,
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 10. Addiction and sugar is discussed
in
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 23.
Antiviral effects of milk protein lactoferrin are reviewed in AgrofoodIndustry
Hi-Tech 14 (March 2003), 43-46; and
anti-carcinogenic effects in p. 35-9. On the food antioxidants market, AgrofoodIndustry
Hi-Tech 14 (March 2003), 58-60.
Prader-Willi syndrome is a type of genetic model of starvation, Lancet 362 (2003), 989-91. Many
pets are also
obese,
Science 301 (2003), 1665. In
general on obesity, Science 301
(2003), 1325. A new scanner allows detection of body fat easily, NS (6 Sept. 2003), 14-5. Cities may be designed to help
avoid obesity,
Lancet 362 (2003),
1046-7. US pediatricians have called for checks on childhood obesity, BMJ 327 (2003), 518.
Disease Risks & Drugs
Faster healing
with fewer scars is reported from initial trials of Renevo,
NS (4 Oct. 2003), 10. The early cessation of the trial
of letrozole after tamoxifen is debated in
BMJ 327 (2003), 885. On the greatest threat to women's
health,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1165.
On cancer treatment, NS (23 Aug.
2003), 36-9. The NIH is developing more drug discovery work, Science 302 (2003), 218-20. On the dangers of drugs,
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 38-40. Drugs for coronary artery
disease are reviewed in
Nature
425 (2003), 902. A drug PTC124 may cure cystic fibrosis, NS (18 Oct. 2003), 16. An indigenous cure for diabetes
is discussed in
NatMed. 9 (2003),
1228. The idea that a small amount of a toxin may help our health is being
reexamined, Science 302 (2003),
376-9.
Attempts to stop
doping in
sports are discussed in NS
(4 Oct. 2003), 23;
Nature 425 (2003),
752. The pursuit of happiness and drugs is discussed in
NS (4 Oct. 2003), 40-7;
NS (11 Oct. 2003), 36-41. On marijuana as a drug,
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1227;
Nature 425 (2003), 756. Cocaine and heroin use limits the
ability of brain cells to make new connections,
NS (30 Aug. 2003), 14. After effects of ecstasy are
discussed in
Nature 425 (2003),
109, 223; NS (13 Sept. 2003), 5.
Altered sleep patterns affect many persons, Nature 425 (2003), 896-8. Hypochondria is discussed in
Time (13 Oct. 2003), 42-3. On use of lithium as a drug,
Nature 425 (2003), 118-20.
Voluntary
measures can reduce exposure to
dioxins
in diet, EST 37 (2003), 316-7A. (See also Environment News
section). Rebates have been offered to reduce lead poisoning in hunters in US,
to those who use non-lead bullets,
Los Angeles Times (28 Sept. 2003), B10.
A review after
80 years of the Slovenian Institute of Public health is in
Croatian Medical
J. 44 (2003), 511-9. Urban health is discussed
in Lancet 362 (2003), 1091-2. A
piano to stop repetitive stress disorder is discussed in SA (Oct. 2003), 16-7.
The impacts of
radioactive waste on health are discussed in
Croatian Medical J. 44 (2003), 520-33.
Discussion of
the safety of
cellphones is in NS
(13 Sept. 2003), 12-3, 46-9; (26 Oct. 2003), 9. Radiowaves from phone masts can
be used to track cars and traffic,
NS
(25 Oct. 2003), 23.
Patenting & Business
The
WTO has agreed that poor nations can use anti-HIV drugs
without regard for patents and import cheap drugs from other countries,
Lancet
362 (2003), 753, 807;
BMJ 327 (2003),
517, 571-2, 639; NatMed. 9
(2003), 1232; NS (6 Sept. 2003),
5. Canada is changing its patent law to allow export of cheap drugs, Lancet 362 (2003), 1290. WIPO is intensifying efforts to
protect
indigenous knowledge,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1206. On patent laws,
NatBio 21 (2003), 960. Sharing knowledge is discussed in
Scientist (20 Oct. 2003), 48-9. Patent laws and stem cells are
discussed in
J. Law & Medicine
10 (2003), 488-505. In general on gene patents,
Ethics &
Medicine 19 (Summer 2003), 85-98; NatBio 21 (2003), 729-31. A US appeals court has said that
scientific knowledge is not a manufactured product for the purposes of the
patent law,
Science 300 (2003),
1635; 301 (2003), 1643. On biotechnology law, Nature 425 (2003), 116-7. On agricultural IP and public
sector research,
Science 302
(2003), 781-3. On software licensing, SA (Nov. 2003), 24.
Philanthropic
gifts for health are discussed in
Lancet
362 (2003), 1087;
Scientist (6 Oct.
2003), 48-9 (also see the Vaccines and Diseases News section). Charitable
trusts are models for genomic biobanks,
NEJM 349 (2003), 1180-5. Research results from Wellcome
trust funding should be available to all,
BMJ 327 (2003), 828. The role of the European Commission
in biotechnology innovation is presented in
J. Commercial
Biotechnology 10 (2003), 6-14. A biotech
strategy for Europe is proposed in BIOforum Europe (Aug. 2003), 186-7. Trends in licensing are
summarised in
J. Commercial Biotechnology 10 (2003), 54-9.
On university
patents and global health,
Science 301
(2003), 1629. There has been criticism of Columbia University patents in
biotechnology and profiteering, NatBio 21 (2003), 953. The US National Institute for Clinical Excellence has
been advised to break close links with industry, BMJ 327 (2003), 637. Argentina and Cuba have agreed on
trade of drugs for dollars owed by Cuba,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1385. Biotech in
Singapore
is discussed in
NS (20 Sept. 2003),
50-53; and on new US biotech hubs, NatBio 21 (2003), 111. A book review of Westwick, PJ., The National
Labs: Science in an American System, 1947-1974,
is Nature 425 (2003), 240. Japan
is funding more biotechnology research, Nature 425 (2003), 9. Science and the student entrepreneur
are discussed in an education context in
Science 298 (2002), 1556. Profits from biotech are
summarized in
J. Commercial Biotechnology 9 (2003), 283-5; NS (13
Sept. 2003), 56. The NIH roadmap is summarized in Science 302 (2003), 63-4. On research in nanotechnology,
NatBio 21 (2003), 1127-9. A criticism of the economics of
De
Beers and diamond mining is
The Ecologist (Sept. 2003), 34-8.
Birth Control
In
Australia the
Therapeutic Goods Authority has proposed that a post-coital intervention
Postinor-2 for preventing implantation will be available over the counter,
Bioethics
Research Notes 15 (2003), 29-31. Improving
sexual health of adolescents is discussed in
Lancet 362 (2003), 830-1. On education of birth control in Hong
Kong,
J. Biological Education 36 (2002),
189-94. Fertility and perinatal health among Finnish immigrants in Sweden is
discussed in
SSM 57 (2003), 1443-54.
Evolution and maternal age at menarche is discussed in
SSM 57 (2003), 17771-81. Fewer boys are born in economic hard
times,
NS (30 Aug. 2003), 20. Children
born in June may have more grandchildren,
NS (20 Sept. 2003), 21. Combination estrogen-progestin oral
contraceptives are discussed in
NEJM
349 (2003), 1443-50. On male pregnancy in fish,
Current Biology 13 (2003), R791.
Doctors in
India have
been accused of prescribing an unapproved drug letrozole for fertility,
BMJ 327 (2003), 768. The American Society for Reproductive
Medicine Prevention of Infertility Campaign is discussed in
F&S 79 (2003), 295+. Hormone
replacement therapy (
HRT) is discussed
in
BMJ 327 (2003), 820-1;
Lancet 362 (2003), 1328-32; SA (Oct. 2003), 17-8. The head of the
German Commission on Safety of medicines has likened HRT to thalidomide,
BMJ 327 (2003), 767. HRT for men for aging is not to be
advised,
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 18.
Sudan is tightening
its laws against female genital mutilation,
BMJ 327 (2003), 580. A book review of Travis, CB.,
Evolution,
Gender and Rape (MIT press, 2003) is
TREE 18 (2003), 324-5. UK interview research on 33 women to
examine what is "normal" about heterosexual desire and
orgasm is in
SSM 57
(2003), 1735-45. Fears of political interference about studies of sexual
behaviour in USA are raised in
Nature
425 (2003), 885; SA (Oct. 2003), 13-4. A study has claimed that homosexual
orientation can be changed,
NS (11 Oct.
2003), 19. Papers on concepts of sexual perversity are in
The Monist 86 (2003), 3-140. The rate of mixed marriages in USA is
rising, SA (Oct. 2003), 19.
Embryo Status
Russia is attempting to curb abortion rates and access,
Lancet
362 (2003), 968. The capital execution of the murderer of an abortion doctor in
the USA is discussed in
BMJ 327 (2003),
577. At the same time the US has introduced laws to ban late term abortion,
though it is under hold from Federal judges in 3 states Reuters (8 Nov. 2003). (
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/05/politics/05CND-ABOR.html)
Italian private law experience on protection of embryos is
reviewed in
Law and the Human Genome Review 17 (2002), 83-98. On
government policy on embryos,
Ethics & Medicine 19 (Summer 2003), 75-84. A discussion of how to deal
with frozen embryos is in
SEACB Bioethics Newsletter XV (Aug. 2003), 1-3. On ethics of abortion,
European
J. Health Law 9 (2002), 337-59.
A review of the
process of twinning is in
Lancet 362
(2003), 735-43.
Assisted Reproductive Technology
(ART)
The
UN has delayed a vote on human
cloning. European allies and
dozens of Islamic states that support therapeutic cloning blocked consideration
of the cloning ban at the United Nations until the end of 2005 (
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8840-2003Nov6.html)
There was scientific lobbying on both sides,
Current
Biology 13 (2003), R785-6. A technique to
combine 2-3 cloned embryos into one increases the chance of making a live
animal,
NS (18 Oct. 2003), 19. Even if
they do not want to clone babies, researchers must to learn how to produce
duplicate human cells safely. That is the conclusion of experts who have
outlined a program to identify and solve the problems that currently plague
cloning (
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994334) The
law over somatic cell nuclear transfer is not keeping up with technology,
NatBio
21 (2003), 969-70. The UK has licensed Roslin Institute to create embryos for
research,
JAMA 290 (2003), 449-50.
On
ethics of ES cell research, Law and
the Human Genome Review 18 (2003), 43-54;
Catholic Medical
Quarterly 54 (2003), 8-11. A critical
analysis of ES cell research in Australia is in J. Law & Medicine 10 (2003), 514-30. Scientists in China have used
interspecies hybrids of rabbi and human to make ES cells,
NS (23 Aug. 2003), 14. On ES cells,
NEJM 349 (2003), 267-74, 275-86, 1480-2;
Science 301 (2003), 1017; 302 (2003), 371;
PNAS 100 (2003), 11817-926;
Nature 425 (2003), 778-9;
Cell 113 (2003), 551-7;
Current
Biology 13 (2003), R375-6. Visiting
German professors who work on ES cells might face jail upon return,
Science 301 (2003), 577. The
ethics of cloning
are discussed in
Bioethics 17 (2003),
447-59, 503-525; CQHE 12 (2003),
353-410. The issue of consent for use of spare embryos and stem
cell research is discussed in
Health Law Review 11 (3, 2003), 3-12; Science
301 (2003), 927.
IVF
allows fetuses to be made from
3 genetic parents, NS (18 Oct. 2003), 12.
Spain has approved the use of frozen embryos for
research,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1385. ART in Spain is discussed in
Law
and the Human Genome Review 17 (2002),
205-14. The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recommended all
couples medically eligible for IVF will have 3 free cycles under NHS, BMJ 327 (2003), 511-2. On health inequality and risk
taking in France,
SSM 57 (2003),
2115-25. Insurance issues in USA are discussed in F&S 80 (2003), 32-3.
Two
women in the
UK lost court cases to use
their frozen embryos without consent of their ex-partners, BMJ
327 (2003), 831. A
Japanese court has
ruled that a woman cannot use sperm from her dead husband, despite the approval
of his family, Yomiuri Shimbun (13 Nov. 2003), 1. In another
case, a Japanese couple who used US
surrogates found that an old law that requires medical documents and proof of
childbirth in women over 50 years of age, prevented them from claiming a
Japanese passport for the child - who has a US passport only after having been
born there, Yomiuri Shimbun (23 Oct. 2003), 1. On the
exploitation argument against commercial surrogacy,
Bioethics (2003), 169-87. Parents contribute to the narrative
identity of children from
AID, (2003), 2229-42. In vitro
maturation of follicles is reviewed in
NatMed. 9 (2003), 1095. On use of shared oocytes, F&S 80 (2003), 54-60. The UK HFEA is considering egg
giving,
BMJ 327 (2003), 250.
On
the
risks of ARTs for children born, F&S
79 (2003), 1270-6. There are concerns about use of unsound tests for
infertility,
BMJ 327 (2003), 641. Male
infertility is reviewed in BMJ
327 (2003), 669-73. The genetic basis of infertility is discussed in Reproduction 126 (2003), 13-25. On picking cells and cloning from
embryos,
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 12.
Making synthetic sex cells is described in Nature 424 (2003), 364-6. Two
papers in the 25 September 2003 issue of
Human
Reproduction suggest that the increasing
availability of sex selection technology is not likely to skew the balance
between the sexes. For more information:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-09/sari-ssf092303.php
Fetal Environment & Neonates
Ethical issues
in mother and midwife relations are discussed in
Nursing Ethics 10 (2003), 580-601. Birthweight extremes at low and
high end are associated as risks
for cerebral palsy,
Lancet 362
(2003), 1089-90, 1106+.
Learning
disability is reviewed in
Lancet 362
(2003), 811-21. The deficient care of Russian learning-disabled children is
reported in Lancet 362 (2003),
1291. On child labour, SA (Oct.
2003), 66-73. Some parents also make children deliberately sick to gain
attention, NS (16 Aug. 2003),
40-3. On bad memories in children, Lancet 362 (2003), 825-6. A computer game to improve children's listening
skills is suggested in NS (16
Aug. 2003), 10-1.
Early life can
alter risk for asthma,
NEJM 349 (2003),
1473-5. Association between antenatal cytokine production and
development of asthma and atropy at 6 years has been found,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1166, 1192-7. Listening to mothers and
depression in Goa, India is reported in
SSM 57 (2003), 1797-806. Weight control throughout life
is important for blood pressure,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1178-83. Women given hormones as children to stunt growth have increased risk of
infertility, NS (27 Sept. 2003),
6-7.
Genetic Disease Markers
Memory can be affected by a single gene, serotonin,
Nature
Neuroscience (Nov. 2003),
NS
(16 Aug. 2003), 17. DISC-1 gene may predispose to schizophrenia, BMJ 327 (2003), 622-3. A candidate gene for
dyslexia
has been found,
PNAS 100 (2003),
11190-2. Copper and Alzheimer disease is discussed in
PNAS 100 (2003), 11193-4.
Mutant stem
cells may seed cancer,
Science 301 (2003), 1308-10. A review on causes of cancer is
SA (July 2003), 49-57. A neural
survival factor is a candidate oncogene in breast cancer, PNAS 100 (2003), 10931-6. The brain morphogenetic gene
Otx1 has a role in hematopoiesis,
PNAS 100 (2003), 10299-303.
A gene linked to osteoporosis has been identified by Decode
Genetics, the Icelandic company that is leading efforts to find the genes that
underlie common human diseases, http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/03/science/03OSTE.html
Variation in use of genetic code are discussed in
NS (30 Aug. 2003), 34-7. Not all genes follow rules of
inheritance,
Science 301 (2003),
1837-9. Study of mutations in animals are discussed in
Nature 425 (2003), 29-33. On genomic imprinting,
Genetics 165 (2003), 205-22. A genes position can affect its
function,
Nature 425 (2003), 457.
Genetic Screening Methodology
Early
methods for Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and trisomy 18 screening are discussed
in
NEJM 349 (2003), 1405-13, 1471-3. On
individual risk communication, BMJ
327 (2003), 703-7. Cervical cancer screening every 3 years instead of 1 year
has an excess mortality of 3 in 100,000, NEJM 349 (2003), 1501-9. Difficulties in assessing
individual cancer risk are discussed in
Science 301 (2003), 574-5.
BRCA1 and 2 gene tests are discussed in
Science 301 (2003), 642-6.
Microarrays
are discussed in
Lancet 362 (2003),
1428; PNAS 100 (2003), 10585-7; Science 301 (2003), 586-90; 302 (2003), 211, 240-1, 667+.
Enzymes have scanned DNA using electric pulse,
NS (18 Oct. 2003), 10. Toxicity can be prevented with
gene tests,
Science 301 (2003),
588-90; Nature 424 (2003), 749.
Nanoparticle-based biobar codes can provide ultrasensitive detection of
proteins, Science 301 (2003), 884-6. Physical examination is important
in the care of medical inpatients,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1100-5. The use of genetic profiling in clinical forms of
leprosy is described in Science 301 (2003), 1527-30.
DNA Fingerprinting & Privacy
The collapse of
Swedish company UmanGenomics that has a tissue bank with samples from 87,000
persons raises ethical dilemmas on what to do with the data,
Nature 425 (2003), 123-4. Charities may be another way to
organize biobanks,
NEJM 349
(2003), 1180-4. The UK Biobank has draft ethics guidelines, www.ukbiobank.com, BMJ 327 (2003), 700.
Discussion of the biobank
is made in Lancet 362
(2003), 834; Current Biology 13 (2003), R689-90. The use of DNA by police in the UK is discussed in Lancet 362 (2003), 927. Criticism of the Estonian Genbank is in www.openDemocracy.net (29 May
2003), 1-4. On the Icelandic genebank and Kari Stefansson, NatMed. 9 (2003), 1099.
Privacy in human research is reviewed in
J. Law &
Medicine 10 (2003), 410-34, 506-13. On privacy in UK law,
Modern
Law Review 66 (2003), 726-58. Sale of
Canadian doctor's drug data has gone to court, Lancet 362 (2003), 884. Internet makes privacy more
difficult,
Science 301 (2003), 1449. Consent to using family tissue is
discussed in
BMJ 327 (2003),
759-60. Family attitudes to using samples taken at coroner's postmortem exams
in UK are reported in BMJ 327
(2003), 781-2. Identification of missing persons in mass graves in Iraq may
need DNA analysis, Lancet 362
(2003), 1325-6.
A German teacher
was refused a job because relatives have Huntington's disease,
BMJ 327 (2003), 827. Genetic
discrimination
is discussed in
J. Law & Medicine 10
(2003), 470-87; Science 302 (2003), 745. DNA testing can check rhino
poachers,
NS (6 Sept. 2003), 9.
Ethics & Genetic Screening
There have been
delays in
Japanese Millennium projects
due to ethical issues of genetics, APBN 7 (2003), 1011. The Erice
Declaration of the Ethical Principles of Pharmacogenomic Research are in
Law
and the Human Genome Review 17 (2002),
223-8. A report from the French National Bioethics Committee on Sharing Genetic
Information with Family Members is Les Cahiers 36 (2003), 5-12. On genetic testing in Huntington
disease and CF,
Scientist (20
Oct. 2003), 24-5. On BRCA testing,
Science 301 (2003), 591-3.
A book review essay is Macer, D. "Genetic choices", Bioethics 17 (2003), 567-72. In general on genetics and
ethics,
Croatian Medical J. 44
(2003), 533-7.
Arguments
against the selection of embryos as tissue donors are in
BME 190 (2003), 13-6; and arguing for see
EJAIB (Nov. 2003). Patient organizations in France are
discussed in
SSM 57 (2003),
2127-36.
A book review of
Original Intelligence is Nature 424 (2003), 17. Nature versus nurture is discussed
in
Science 301 (2003), 1554-5.
A new book is
Wyndham, Diana,
Eugenics in Australia: Striving for National Fitness
(Galton Institute, 2003, 406pp., ISBN 0950406678).
China has tightened its genetic regulations,
Asian Wall
Street J. (13 Oct. 2003), A1, A5. A paper
exploring eugenics in China is Su Baoqi & Macer, DRJ.,
"Chinese people's attitudes towards genetic diseases and children with
handicaps",
Law and the Human Genome Review 18 (2003), 191-212. A history of the Cambridge Eugenics Society from
1911-13 and 1930-33, and reasons for its demise are in Galton
Institute Newsletter 48 (June 2003), 1-8.
On Nazi corruption, Nature 424
(2003), 650. Hitler used penicillin made by the Allies after his bombing in
1944, NS (6 Sept. 2003), 8. A
review on Lysenkoism and the VII International Congress of
Genetics,
Genetics 165 (2003), 1-9. On
the dangers of inbreeding, NS (18
Oct. 2003), 38-41. On race and medicine,
Science 301 (2003), 594-6.
Gene Therapy
Prolongation and extension of
life by diet restriction can work in many
species, Science 301
(2003), 1679-81. Compounds in grape may promote long life, Science 301 (2003), 1165. On extending life, NS (18 Oct. 2003), 46-9; (1 Nov. 2003), 42-6; Nature
424 (2003), 132-3; J. Heredity 94
(2003), 432. Old growth trees are being found in many places, Science 301 (2003), 768-9. Some animals have extreme
longevity, Science 301 (2003), 611, 373-5; NS (13 Sept. 2003), 24. Biochemistry of lifespan is
discussed in Nature 424 (2003),
259-60. Age can induce a switch to a hyper-recombinatorial state, Science 301 (2003), 1908-10. On genetic enhancement, CQHE 12 (2003), 411-7. Elite athletes appear to have
particular genes, NS (30 Aug.
2003), 4-5. On hair regeneration, NatMed. 9 (2003), 1257-8. On cosmetic surgery prices, The Ecologist (Sept. 2003), 44-5.
The explanation for leukemia in two
children in SCID trials, where 9 out of
10 children have had positive results is presented in Hacein-Bey-Abina, S. et
al. "LMO2-associated clonal T cell proliferation in two patients after
gene therapy for SCID-X1", Science 301 (2003), 415-9. Gene
therapy for ALS may be ready, NatMed. 9 (2003), 1256-7. A gene therapy trial for Parkinson
disease has begun, Lancet 362 (2003),
712. Development of gene therapies for muscular dystrophy is being advanced
through animal models, NatMed. 9
(2003), 997-8. In general on gene therapy accuracy, Science 301
(2003), 400-1.
Treatment with gentamicin appears
to correct CFTR function in CF patients, NEJM 349 (2003), 1433-41. Virotherapy is reviewed in SA (Oct. 2003), 50-7.
Human Genome Project (HGP)
The question of
whether human genomic
databases are a
global public good are discussed in European J. Health Law 9
(2002), 27-41. Genomics and global health is discussed in
Science 302 (2003), 597-601. On social and
ethical
issues of the human genome,
Turkish J. Medical Ethics, Law & History 11 (2003), 162-69. Allegations of exploitation of
Chinese
subjects for their DNA continues, in
GeneWatch 16 (Sept. 2003), 10-11.
In general on
the future of genomic medicine,
NEJM 349
(2003), 969-74, 996-8; Nature 425
(2003), 123-4, 758-62; Heredity
91 (2003), 353; Science 302
(2003), 533, 588-609. On the HapMap project,
Nature 425 (2003), 758-9. The complete DNA sequence of
human chromosome 6 is finished,
Nature 425 (2003), 775-6, 805-11. The hidden layers of genomic information in
non-coding areas are described in SA
(Nov. 2003), 26-33. A gene expression atlas of the central nervous system based
on ABCs is in Nature 425 (2003),
917-25. The dog genome is announced in
Science 301 (2003), 1613+, 1809, 1843, 1854-5, 1898-1903;
Nature 425 (2003), 442. Also on dog genetics,
Science 298 (2002), 1540-2. The genome sequence of
Chromobacterium
violaceum is reported in
PNAS
100 (2003), 11660-5.
The collection
of mouse cDNA clones is described in
Science 302 (2003), 217-8; Nature
425 (2003), 226. Functional analysis of mouse chromosome 11 is in Nature 425 (2003), 81-6. Digital gene and protein databases
are discussed in
The Scientist
(22 Sept. 2003), 30-1. On human Y chromosome, NatGen 34 (2003), 246-7. A gene-coexpression network for
global discovery of conserved genetic modules is announced in
Science 302 (2003), 249-55. On EST tags,
Trends in
Plant Science 8 (2003), 321-9. On clinical proteomics,
Nature 425 (2003), 905. China is
concentrating on the liver proteome, Nature 425 (2003), 441.
Human
history is being traced with fossil and DNA evidence,
Science
300 (2003), 1641; 302 (2003), 555;
SA
(Nov. 2003), 54-63; PNAS 100
(2003), 11188-9; NS (16 Aug.
2003), 17; Nature 425 (2003),
453. It appears that until 10,000 years ago there were few human males breeding
with many females, NS (6 Sept.
2003), 18. Of the small number of genes (N=91) different between chimps and
humans, 90% (N=83) are active in the brain, NS (16 Aug. 2003), 14;
PNAS 100 (2003).
General Medical Ethics
Research risks
can eventually become risks to research,
Law and the Human Genome Review 17 (2002), 23-30; and on clinical trials,
BMJ 326 (2003), 304, 1456-7;
Lancet 361 (2003), 978-9, 1296-7;
NEJM 348 (2003), 1377-80, 1383-6;
JAMA 288 (2002), 2118-9;
Science 298 (2002), 923. On a clinical trial of ventilators,
Science 300 (2003), 122-3; 301
(2003), 149. German
guidelines on research ethics are in
Law and the Human Genome Review 17 (2002), 57-74.
Placebos are
discussed in
Science 299 (2003), 995;
302 (2003), 1659, 61; BMJ 325
(2002), 560, 1329-31; NEJM 347
(2002), 137-9. Discussion of bioethics committees is in Bioethics 17 (2003), 301-368;
JAMA 290 (2003), 360-6;
Lancet 361 (2003), 978, 1015-6. Case of an unethical
Singapore clinical trial are disclosed in
Lancet 361 (2003), 1277.
On informed
consent and law,
Catholic Medical Quarterly
54 (2003), 12-20; BMJ 327 (2003),
285-6; Lancet 361 (2003), 2171. Informed
consent is also discussed in
JAMA 289 (2003), 1963-8; European J. Health Law 9 (2002), 287-91, 293-320;
BMJ 324 (2002), 39-41; 326 (2003), 1039; 327 (2003),
284-6;
NEJM 348 (2003), 1496-7.
The readability of informed consent forms is discussed in NEJM 347 (2002), 2134-40; 348 (2003), 2262-3;
JME 28 (2002), 45-8;
Lancet 360 (2002), 1266, 1301-2. Communicating
risks
is discussed in
BMJ 326 (2003), 1276,
1333-4; 327 (2003), 691-6, 725-8, 728-31, 731-6, 736-41, 741-5, 745-9; Medicine,
Health Care and Philosophy 3 (2000),
239-275; Prenatal Diagnosis 22
(2002), 1188-94; JAMA 289 (2003),
92, 93, 95. A UK survey found many patients do not know about drugs, BMJ 327 (2003), 180. Patient
preferences
need to be respected,
BMJ 326 (2003),
373-6, 520, 569, 674, 877-9; 327 (2003), 303-4, 542-5; SSM 57 (2003), 1969-80.
On protecting the vulnerable in research, Bioethics 17 (2003), 399-416, 460-86;
NZ Med. J. 115 (2002), 23-4.
Child consent is discussed
in
Nursing Ethics 10 (2003), 504-11; BMJ 326 (2003), 64-5. Perceptions in
mental
illness on treatment are discussed in
BMJ
327 (2003), 697, 824-5; Lancet
361 (2003), 2096-7. On refusals of treatment by mentally ill persons, NEJM 349 (2003), 1392. Refusals by persons with
anorexia
nervosa is discussed in
Bioethics 17 (2003), 261-89.
Responsibility
is discussed in
The Monist 85 (2002),
398-435. Rawl's defense of the priority of liberty is discussed in Phil.
& Public Affairs 31 (2003), 246-71.
Papers on G.E. Moore's Principia Ethica are in Ethics 113
(2003), 465-677. On Hegel's love and law, Social Research 70 (2003), 393-432. On idealism and ethics,
Philosophical
Studies 114 (2003), 1-22. Aristotle on
consciousness is reviewed in Mind
111 (2002), 751-816. Reviews of Kass, LR., Life, Liberty and the
Defense of Dignity, are NEJM 348 (2003), 766-8;
JAMA 289
(2003), 2869-70. On the slippery slope,
Harvard Law Review 116 (2003), 1026-1137.
Not telling the
truth is discussed in
Bioethics 17
(2003), 417-24. Patient decision making and Confucianism is
discussed in
Croatian Medical J. 44
(2003), 558-661. On democracy and Confucian values, Philosophy East
& West 52 (2002), 281-310; 53 (2003),
39-63. Japanese
medical ethics is discussed in
Lancet
361 (2003), 2058; SSM 55 (2002),
301-11. On Jewish medical ethics,
BMJ 327 (2003), 169;
NEJM 348 (2003), 1299-300. A series of 4 articles on
health care ethics in
Turkey are in
Nursing Ethics 10 (2003), 459-503.
Reasoning in bioethics is discussed in
Bioethics 17 (2003), 243-60;
Science 298 (2002), 2335. On conservative bioethics and
paradoxes about life,
BME 190
(2003), 17-24. A European network on ethics , Eurethnet is
described in
BIOforum Europe (Aug.
2003), 180-2. Patients are expecting more of doctors according to a recent
survey, BMJ 327 (2003), 581.
Bioethics and
rural health is discussed in
SSM 56 (2003),
2277-88. On cross-cultural medical ethics, Bhardwaj, M. & Macer, DRJ.,
"Policy and ethical issue sin applying medical biotechnology in developing
countries",
Medical Science Monitor
9 (2003), RA49-54. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 17 (2003), 3-4;
Bulletin WHO 81 (2003), 306;
Science 300 (2003), 573-4;
Lancet 360 (2002), 1992; 361 (2003), 1309;
BMJ 325 (2002), 1493-5;
JAMA 289 (2003), 94;
NEJM 347 (2002), 1087-9. Interactions between doctors and
cancer patients are discussed in
SSM
57 (2003), 791-806. On feminist ethics,
SSM 56 (2003), 1643-52;
Health Care Analysis 9 (2001), 115-246.
Virtues for
student
education are suggested in SEACB
Bioethics Newsletter XV (Oct 2003), 1-2. On teaching ethics in
Kerala, India,
Issues in Medical Ethics
11 (2003), 116-7. On teaching global ethics, Bioethics 17 (2003), 432-46. Involving patients in medical
education is also useful,
BMJ 327
(2003), 326-8. Also on education, BMJ 326 (2003), 97-9, 100-1, 921-3; MJA 178 (2003), 167-8;
J. Clinical Ethics 12 (2002), 97-110;
Medicine, Health Care
and Philosophy 2 (1999), 217-254. Changing
doctors behaviour is education needed for many already graduated as social
cultures change, SSM 55 (2002),
1771-7.
Obituaries to
Dorothy Wertz include:
Bioethics 17 (4,
2003), v; and Dorothy Nelkin, Lancet
362 (2003), 497. Links to drug companies are discussed in BMJ 326 (2003), 1352;
Science 297 (2002), 2211.
Law & Medical Ethics
The WMA has
delayed to agree on a revised
Declaration of Helsinki,
Lancet 362 (2003), 963, 1005. The
WMA and
Israeli medical Association are
discussed in BMJ 327 (2003), 561-2; and on doctors in conflict,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1327. The research relationships between
researchers in North and South are discussed in
SSM 57 (2003), 1957-67;
BMJ 325 (2002), 783. On the ethics of
asylum
seekers,
Bioethics 17 (2003), 487-502.
The World Bank is going to include human rights and social
factors into its project assessment,
Financial Times (4 Nov. 2003), 1, 8.
The US Supreme
Court has limited forced drugging of mentally ill persons before trial,
Lancet 361 (2003), 2131. On the death penalty,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1287;
The Ecologist (June 2003), 24-6;
NEJM 348 (2003), 864-5. On torture,
BMJ 326 (2003), 773-5, 1405.
EU clinical
trial directives are expected to be in place eventually but are taking time,
BME 190 (2003), 3. Doctor performance should be publicly
accountable,
Lancet 362 (2003),
1404-8. Legal issues in maternal-fetal conflicts are discussed in Modern
Law Review 66 (2003), 809-14. The question
of whether patients can sue researchers for false advertising in papers is
discussed in NS (27 Sept. 2003),
9.
Scientific Ethics
The unethical
hype associated with many press releases of scientific developments is
criticized in
NatGen 35 (2003), 1. Conflicts
of interest are debated in
GeneWatch 16
(Sept. 2003), 3-6; NS (30 Aug.
2003), 21. Nature journals will
also require authors of review papers to disclose financial interests, BMJ 327 (2003), 829. Whistle-blowing is discussed in
Nursing
Ethics 10 (2003), 526-40. On corruption, NS (11 Oct. 2003), 3. Teaching students about
plagiarism is discussed in
J. Biol. Education 36 (2002), 139-40. On coping with peer rejection and
Nobel laureates,
Nature 425 (2003),
645.
The US is
requiring persons who edit
Iranian
papers to gain a license, and the IEEE is withdrawing some benefits to Iranian members, Science
301 (2003), 1646; 302 (2003), 210. Islamic science is suffering from such
embargoes,
Science 302 (2003), 545; Nature 425 (2003), 107, 237, 444-9, 899. Science should be
kept free of political intervention,
Nature 425 (2003), 121;
Science 302 (2003), 758;
Nature Neuroscience 6 (2003), 901. A paper published 3 years ago in
Nature
Medicine has been withdrawn by German
scientists, BMJ 327 (2003), 637; NatMed. 9 (2003), 1093, 1221;
Science 298 (2002), 1531-2. A paper
retraction
by US scientists is in
Science 302
(2003), 1479. Many research projects suffer from contaminating cells in
culture, NS (20 Sept. 2003), 5,
8-9. The results of some inquiries made in the UK on research fraud are being
held secret, BMJ 327 (2003), 519.
The question of whether good science can come from unethical research is
discussed in J. Biol. Education
36 (2002), 170-5. On what is unethical research,
NS (27 Sept. 2003), 25;
Science 302 (2003), 1554. Planned surveys of misconduct have
met with resistance,
Science 298
(2002), 1549.
Euthanasia
& Terminal Care
Euthanasia is
discussed in papers in
Bioethics Outlook
14 (June 2003), 1-12; Bioethics
17 (2003), 526-41; Lancet 362
(2003), 1239-40; BMJ 327 (2003),
465; NS (4 Oct. 2003), 48-51. Korean
experience with advance directives are discussed in
Nursing Ethics 10 (2003), 638-53. Conflicts of interest in end of
life decisions are discussed in
Lancet 362 (2003), 1419-20. A debate on discussion of resuscitation
with terminally ill patients is
BMJ 327
(2003), 614-6. The withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in anticipation of
death in an ICY is discussed in NEJM
349 (2003), 1123-32. A study of 106 Thai patients found 63% knew
their cancer diagnosis,
SSM 57 (2003),
1675-82. On suicide rates, Lancet
362 (2003), 961-2. Family history of suicide is a predictor of future suicide, Am
J. Psychiatry 160 (2003), 1525-6.
Disability and the future of US Medicare is discussed in
NEJM
349 (2003), 1084-5. On disability in older adults,
SSM 57 (2003), 1875-89. Older patients should be offered
the full range of treatments,
Lancet
362 (2003), 808; and on age discrimination, BMJ 327 (2003), 1300-1;
SSM 57 (2003), 687-96, 757-62. Health care spending
among
elderly in USA is reported in
NEJM 349 (2003), 1048-55. Early Alzheimer disease is
discussed in
NEJM 349 (2003),
1056-63. Fatalism is discussed in
Philosophy East & West 53 (2003), 435-89.
Organ Transplants & Brain
Death
Ethics of
living
donor transplants are discussed in Issues
in Medical Ethics 11 (2003), 104-5. On ethics of donation of tissue,
Lancet 362 (2003), 932. The ethics of
organ lists are discussed in Bioethics 17 (2003), 425-31. Living liver donation in the UK is reviewed in BMJ 327 (2003), 676-9; and in
Japan in
Lancet 362 (2003), 687-90, 674. In Japan among 1853 donors
there was no death, but some morbidity has been reported.
A
heart transplant recipient has climbed the Matterhorn in
the Swiss Alps,
Lancet 362 (2003), 880-1. Chronic renal failure
after transplantation of a non-renal organ is increasing,
NEJM 349 (2003), 931-40, 994-6. Stem cell homing for
heart repair is discussed in
Lancet
362 (2003), 675, 697-703. Regeneration is reviewed in
NS (27 Sept. 2003), 40-3. On control of skin
morphogenesis,
Current Opinion in Biotechnology 14 (2003), 520-5. Robotic skin is being developed,
NS (25 Oct. 2003), 25. Artificial muscles are reviewed
in
SA (Oct. 2003), 34-41.
The use of brain
death criteria to declare death in
China
is discussed in China Daily (12 April, 2003),
BME 190 (2003), 4. The city of Shenzen in China has
outlawed sale of organs,
BMJ 327
(2003), 520. In general on commerce,
Lancet 362 (2003), 1335.
A review of the
state of
xenotransplantion is in Lancet
362 (2003), 557-9, 1421-2. Guidelines are discussed in
NEJM 349 (2003), 1294-5. Teaching autopsies are ending in
some countries,
BMJ 327 (2003),
802-6.
Health Costs
On biotechnology-based health care needs for India,
NISTADS
NEWS 5 (April 2003), 9-15. The ethics of
nurse migration from the developing world to richer countries is discussed in
Nursing
Ethics 10 (2003), 666-70. An editorial on
poverty and terrorism is in BME
190 (2003), 1.
Internet Sites
The question of who will pay for
open access to journal papers is discussed in
Nature 425 (2003), 334, 554-5, 559;
Science 302 (2003), 550-4. One journal for Medline has been
discussed,
Lancet 361 (2003), 1388-9;
Nature 423 (2003), 15. On the Internet and intellectual property,
Columbia Law Review 103 (2003),
534-613. Wellcome Trust will fund research that leads to publication in open
access journals,
Nature 425 (2003),
440. The loss of Internet references is surveyed in
Science 302 (2003), 787-8. The quality of Internet access is
discussed in
SSM 57 (2003), 875-80.
There are fears of Internet paralysis as worms and viruses spread,
Nature 425 (2003), 3. On information networks,
PNAS 100 (2003), 12516-21. On spam,
NS (8 March 2003), 42-4; (22 March 2003), 19; (28 June 2003),
24.
Use of Email and Internet for health information is
surveyed in
JAMA 289 (2003), 2400-6. On
telephone consultations,
BMJ 326
(2003), 966-9. Telerobotics has brought surgical skills to remote communities
in Canada,
Lancet 361 (2003), 1794-5.
Online support for mood disorders is describe din:
JAMA 290 (2003), 3073-7.
Sites include:
English mental health law website:
www.mentalhealthlawyers.com.
HIV InSite (
http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu) is a
university-based global
Internet resource on HIV/AIDS, part of the University of
California San Francisco's Center
for HIV Information (CHI).
UNESCO
Asia Pacific Office Bioethcis Links,
www.unescobkk.org/rushsap
Red Latinoamericana de Biotica se encuentra ya
disponible.:
www.redbioeticaunesco-lac.org
Extending life:
http://longevity-science.org/
CERPH new
URL :
www.cerph.org
Biotech site
at
http://www.biotech-register.com/
Southern
Cross Bioethics Institute, www.bio-ethics.com