A reactogenic "placebo" and the ethics of informed consent in Gardasil HPV vaccine clinical trials: A case study from Denmark.

Background: Medical ethics guidelines require of clinical trial investigators and sponsors to inform prospective trial participants of all known and potential risks associated with investigational medical products, and to obtain their free informed consent. These guidelines also require that clinical research be so designed as to minimize harms and maximize benefits.

Objective: To examine Merck's scientific rationale for using a reactogenic aluminum-containing "placebo" in Gardasil HPV vaccine pre-licensure clinical trials.

ALK upregulates POSTN and WNT signaling to drive neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. While MYCN and mutant anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) cooperate in tumorigenesis, how ALK contributes to tumor formation remains unclear. Here, we used a human stem cell-based model of neuroblastoma.

A volatilized pyrethroid insecticide from a mosquito repelling device does not impact honey bee foraging and recruitment.

Because nontarget, beneficials, like insect pollinators, may be exposed unintentionally to insecticides, it is important to evaluate the impact of chemical controls on the behaviors performed by insect pollinators in field trials. Here we examine the impact of a portable mosquito repeller, which emits prallethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, on honey bee foraging and recruitment using a blinded, randomized, paired, parallel group trial. We found no significant effect of the volatilized insecticide on foraging frequency (our primary outcome), waggle dance propensity, waggle dance frequency, and feeder persistency (our secondary outcomes), even though an additional deposition study confirmed that the treatment device was performing appropriately.

Timing of ERCP after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for large main pancreatic duct stones.

Background And Aims: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is performed to fragment large main pancreatic duct (MPD) stones in symptomatic patients. Subsequent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often performed to clear the stone fragments. Edema of surrounding tissue after ESWL theoretically affects the ability to perform ERCP.

Impact of withdrawal time on adenoma detection rate: results from a prospective multicenter trial.

Background And Aims: Performing a high-quality colonoscopy is critical for optimizing the adenoma detection rate (ADR). Colonoscopy withdrawal time (a surrogate measure) of ≥6 minutes is recommended; however, a threshold of a high-quality withdrawal and its impact on ADR are not known.

Methods: We examined withdrawal time (excluding polyp resection and bowel cleaning time) of subjects undergoing screening and/or surveillance colonoscopy in a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.