Volume 2, Issue: 6 8 (June-Aug 2013) | Page: 44 57

ISSN 2278 4500

A research awareness e-Journal by

Chief Editor Dr. Saurav Arora

Editorial Advisory Board

Dr. Jos Eizayaga (Argentina) Dr. Silvia Waisse (Brazil) Dr. Leoni Bonamin (Brazil) Dr. Shivang Swaminarayan (India)
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Table of Contents

Editorial ................................................................................................................................... 45 Database of Scientific Publications in Homeopathy ......................................................... 46 Specialised databases of the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung ............................... 48 Immunomodulatory drugs (natalizumab), worsening of multiple sclerosis, rebound effect and similitude - Homeopathy 2013 ......................................................................... 56

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Editorial
Dear Reader, The up gradation process for web portal of Initiative to Promote Research in Homoeopathy was started few weeks back, and till date majority of the work has been completed. Certain changes were adopted, and the new interface is empowered with features like: Better look and adaptability: The New Graphic User Interface (GUI) Easier search Easy access from mobile, hand held devices and PDAs Better and quick social networking sharing options New and upgraded Database of Scientific Publications in Homeopathy (DSPH)

The second phase of up grading process will keep on running in the background, keeping website and contents fully accessible. In the meantime, you are kindly requested to report bugs and comments at www.audesapere.in/contact The current issue presents an article Specialised databases of the Karl and Veronica CarstensStiftung by Dr. Jrgen Clausen, Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Germany. This article will give you one spot information regarding various homeopathic databases by Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung. The article enlist brief about important and robust homeopathic databases like The CAM-Quest quick search, CAM-Quest Expert Search, The VetCR database, The HomBRex database and The CORE-Hom database. I hope that readers will now have wide options to search hundreds of homeopathic studies at one place. This issue also features a short excerpt of recently published paper Immunomodulatory drugs (natalizumab), worsening of multiple sclerosis, rebound effect and similitude by Dr. Marcus Zulian Teixeira, wherein he has discussed regarding role of Natalizumab in patients with active multiple sclerosis (MS), and worsening of MS as a consequence of the rebound effect and principle of similitude. I hope you like the new look and content of www.audesapere.in and come forward to collaborate and promote scientific research in homeopathy. Saurav Arora

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Database of Scientific Publications in Homeopathy

Major changes has been done in DSPH which is a fully dedicated bibliographic indexing service, consisting of peer reviewed scientific publications. The studies are placed according to the type. During the first upgrade process 452 studies were included in the database. The majority of the studies are from journal Homeopathy (2002-2013), International Journal of High Dilution Research (2008-2013) and few other journals. The details are as follows: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. Fundamental Research: 162 studies Clinical Research: 136 studies Drug Proving: 10 studies Drug Standardization: 10 studies Veterinary Research: 29 studies Agro Homeopathy: 32 studies Editorials: 26 studies Primary Health Care: 13 studies Surveys: 34 studies

DSPH: Total Articles included in Phase I

Primary Health Care, 13 Surveys, 34

Editorial, 26

Agro Homeopathy, 32

Fundamental, 162

Veterinary, 29

Drug Standardization, 10

Total Studies: 452

Drug Proving, 10 Clinical, 136

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You may search study keyword or title via Search Box given in each section:

You may also sort every column (Year, Name of Journal, Volume, Title, Model, Condition and Link) in ascending or descending order:

During the second and subsequent phases, more number of studies from journals will be included in the database.

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Specialised databases of the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung

Dr. Jrgen Clausen, Dr. Henning Albrecht Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung, Am Deimelsberg 36, 45276 Essen, Germany Cite it as: Jrgen Clausen, Henning Albrecht. Specialised databases of the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung. Research Updates-Homeopathy 2013;2(6-8):48-55. ISSN: 2278 4500

1. Introduction
In evidence-based medicine, a systematic review of several randomized and controlled clinical trials, including a meta-analysis of the summarized data, represents the highest grade of evidence with regard to a given medicinal intervention. The compilation of such a systematic review is preceded by a rigorous literature search for appropriate publications. In conventional medicine, several specialised databases exist and systematic reviewers usually resort to the free-of-charge meta-database PubMed (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) of the National Library of Medicine of the United States of America or to other databases with costs (e.g.EMBASE (http://www.elsevier.com/onlinetools/embase/about), OVID (www.OVID.com), DIMDI (http://www.dimdi.de/static/de/db/in dex.htm). The problem for review authors in the field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is that the conventional databases usually only contain a small fraction of relevant studies [4, 15]. This is most particularly due to the fact that many of these CAM

studies are published without having passed the so called peer-review process - an approach to maintain standards of quality and to ensure the credibility of scientific publications. Publications in books, conference proceedings or reports are not covered by conventional databases. Moreover, several CAM studies are published in languages other than English, French or Spanish, which may be an additional obstacle for inclusion in conventional databases. These problems were identified by the Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung and therefore several databases, meeting different needs, were established by this foundation over the years. These databases provide the possibility to perform rigorous literature searches in the field of CAM with main focus on homeopathy. The Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stifung is the leading foundation in Europe promoting naturopathy and homeopathy. The foundation's objective is to create the scientific bases for integrating naturopathy and homeopathy into academic medicine and university teaching. 48

In the top menu bar of the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung website (http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/) there is an option labelled Service with a sub-heading labeled Freie Datenbanken (Free databases), leading the visitor directly to a brief description (in German) of the currently available databases, including CAMQuest, HomBRex, VetCR, and COREHom. These abbreviations are further explained in the text below. All these databases are free of charge. However, the publication of database contents by third persons (e.g., data transfer to a different database which charges or which envisions profit in some other manner) is not permitted without explicit approval of the Karl und Veronica Carstens-Stiftung.

menu system allows the user to select therapies, general therapeutic areas, and specific diseases by simply clicking on the corresponding terms. The search results are displayed as a list with bibliographical information about the respective publications on the selected subject matter. The search results may be filtered by type of publication (e.g. review or clinical study) or by publication with/without abstract. The CAM-Quest Quick Search is available in English, French, German and Dutch. For those who are interested in further information about less common therapeutic methods or diseases, CAMQuest provides an Expert Search. This allows detailed search requests by key word, author, full text or journal. The Expert Search contains about 16000 data sets and among these about 10000 case reports of veterinary and human homeopathy. The Expert Search is available in English and German. Using the expert search, however, requires a certain amount of training. The aim of CAM-Quest is to show that there is a large number of publications on CAM, covering a variety of therapies and diseases. Apart from physicians and other healthcare professionals, CAMQuest can be used for searching for clinical research in CAM by researchers, students, librarians, pharmacists, journalists, lobbyists, stakeholders and everybody else with an interest in CAM. It provides a solid base for discussions with the political sector or with health 49

2. The CAM-Quest database

In the CAM-Quest database, the user can easily inquire about information on CAM therapies for specific diseases. The database is not limited to homeopathy and naturopathy, but comprises all therapeutic approaches in the field of CAM, including e.g. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). CAM-Quest provides two different ways to retrieve information: the CAM-Quest Quick Search and the CAM-Quest Expert Search. The CAM-Quest Quick Search is extremely user-friendly. The search results are limited to 16 therapeutic areas and 9 therapeutic approaches (in summary about 5000 publications); despite these limits, the most important therapies and diseases are included. The

insurers when arguments and numbers are needed regarding the question as to whether specified research in CAM exists or not. It is also a practical tool for all patients wishing to find out whether there are any complementary therapeutic options for their health problems. Patients can print their search results and discuss them with their physicians. Furthermore, CAM-Quest is helpful for physicians when searching for additional therapeutic treatments. Access to CAM-Quest is free of charge and no registration is necessary.

veterinarians planning a study or searching for additional therapeutic options.

4. The HomBRex database

HomBRex is the abbreviation for "Homeopathy Basic Research experiments." The database contains all experiments performed within the context of basic research in homeopathy. In contrast to the VetCR and CORE-Hom databases, the HomBRex database particularly focuses on plants, parts of plants, and microorganisms like fungi and bacteria as model systems, instead of diseased humans or animals. However, healthy humans and animals or cell lines from these two groups are included when used as model systems. This is, for instance, in the context of drug provings (or in modern terms: homeopathic pathogenetic trials) in humans that at least observe one objective parameter (e.g., blood pressure). Moreover, the HomBRex database contains many experiments studying potencies and high potencies without any biological model system, but using physical and chemical techniques in order to determine whether there are differences between potencies and non-potentised dilutions or solvents. The HomBRex database allows one to search for bibliographical data, as well as providing detailed information on the applied organism, research field and the homeopathic remedy under study. The presented results contain additional information on application of high potencies (Yes / No) and study design. 50

3. The VetCR database

The VetCR (Veterinary Clinical Research) database provides detailed information on clinical studies in veterinary homeopathy. Besides bibliographical data, this database enables the user to search for diseases, study design and species. The search results contain a description of the exact dosages of the homeopathic remedies, and the controls used, plus brief summaries of the study results. The majority of studies deal with farm animals such as cattle or pigs. Companion animals comprise only a minor proportion of the literature. Besides clinical studies, a small number of recent case reports on homeopathic treatment of animals is included in VetCR. The interface is in English. The database comprises about 300 entries. It is free of charge without registration. The database is particularly directed at

HomBRex contains about 1800 experiments. The interface is in English and use of the database is free of charge after (cost-free) registration. The HomBRex database supports scientists in planning new studies or to reproduce experiments from other groups. The database allows the researcher to verify which biological models have proven valuable and / or reproducible in homeopathy basic research, and which have not. A comparison with previous studies may help to resolve, or to avoid from the outset, any existing issues within the researchers own experiments. The database will appeal mainly to scientists and physicians who are interested in basic research.

feature is the possibility of limiting the search results by quality criteria established in the major review articles in homeopathy [1-3]. Another special feature is the grouping of publications in the search results of the CORE-Hom database. If several publications belong to the same large cohort study, for example, or if they are re-analyses or secondary publications of older publications, such attributes will be clearly visible. Another category indicates in which review articles or meta-analyses the individual studies were assessed. So far, CORE-Hom contains about 800 publications. The CORE-Hom database is still under construction. It can already be used, but some studies have not yet been indexed completely, or their indexing is as yet quite rudimentary. Also, some of the above-mentioned special features have not yet been implemented, or have been only partially implemented to date. The database will be a valuable asset for scientists, health professionals and patients in future, since the main results of each study are indicated as part of the search results. The interface of CORE-Hom is in English. Access to CORE-Hom is free after costfree registration.

5. The CORE-Hom database

The CORE-Hom database complements the VetCR database, focusing on clinical research in homeopathy in human medicine. CORE-Hom is the abbreviation for Clinical Outcome REsearch in Homeopathy. Observational studies, randomised, and non-randomised controlled clinical trials are included in this database. The database enables searching by bibliographical data and by one or more of several categories of detailed information, e.g. disease, remedy, study design and quality. Brief summaries of the study results are included in the search results obtained. The data entries also contain abstracts of the publications, if available. A special

6. Conclusion
Table 1 contains an overview of the core information comprising each of the four databases described above. Based on these databases, several papers have 51

already been published, mostly in peerreviewed journals [5-15]. These publications are general articles introducing the respective databases, as well as important review articles attempting to clarify specific scientific issues by means of the database contents. All databases are maintained continuously: new publications are added and errors in the existing records are corrected. Users of the databases are encouraged to inform the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung about any publications missing from the databases or any errors of content they might identify.

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Table 1: Comparative overview on the databases of the Karl and Veronica Carstens-Stiftung
Name Topic Free access Registration required? CAM-Quest Search Quick CAM in general Yes No German, English, Languages Approx. number data sets 5000 Therapies: http://www.camDutch, French quest.org/suche/therapien/ of Publications Web address

Diseases: CAM-Quest Search VetCR Studies veterinary homeopathy HomBRex Basic research Yes Yes English 1800 [5-10] of Yes No English 300 [11-15] Expert CAM in general Yes No German, English1 16000

http://www.cam-

quest.org/suche/krankheiten/ http://expert.cam-quest.org:81/ http://www.carstensstiftung.de/clinresvet/index.php http://www.carstensstiftung.de/hombrex/ Yes Yes English 800 www.carstens-stiftung.de/corehom

in homeopathy CORE-Hom1 Studies human homeopathy

1 under construction

of

A similar version of this article has been previously released in Reckweg Journal 8(1), 2013, pp. 21 - 23

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Reference list 1. M. E. Dean (2004) The Trials of Homeopathy, Germany. 2. K. Linde, N. Clausius, G. Ramirez, D. Melchart, F. Eitel, L. V. Hedges, and W. B. Jonas effects 843. 3. A. Shang, K. Huwiler-Muntener, L. Nartey, P. Juni, S. Dorig, J. A. Sterne, D. Pewsner, and M. Egger (2005) Are the clinical effects of homoeopathy placebo effects? Comparative study of placebocontrolled trials of homoeopathy and allopathy. Lancet 366(9487), pp. 726732. 4. R. T. Mathie, D. Hacke, J. Clausen, T. Nicolai, D. S. Riley and P. Fisher (2013) Randomised controlled trials of homeopathy in humans: characterising the research journal literature for systematic review. Homeopathy 11. 102(1), pp. 3-24 5. J. Clausen, R. Van Wijk, and H. Albrecht (2011) Review of the use of high potencies in basic research on 10. 9. 8. of (1997) Are the clinical homoeopathy placebo 7. KVC-Verlag, Essen, 6.

homeopathy. Homeopathy 100(4), pp. 288-292. J. Clausen, R. Van Wijk, and H. Albrecht (2010) Infection models in basic research on homeopathy. Homeopathy 99(4), pp. 263-270. R. Van Wijk, J. Clausen, and H. Albrecht (2009). The rat in basic therapeutic research in homeopathy. Homeopathy 98(4), pp. 280-286. R. Van Wijk and H. Albrecht (2007) Classification of systems and methods used in biological basic research on homeopathy. Homeopathy 96(4), pp. 247-251. R. Van Wijk and H. Albrecht (2007) Proving and therapeutic experiments in the HomBRex basic homeopathy research database. Homeopathy 96(4), pp. 252-257. H. Albrecht, R. Van Wijk, and S. Dittloff (2002) A new database on basic research in homeopathy. Homeopathy 91(3), pp. 162-165. J. Clausen, H. Albrecht, and R. T. Mathie (2013) Veterinary Clinical Research Database for Homeopathy: Placebo-

effects? Lancet 350(9081), pp. 834-

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Controlled Trials. Complement Ther Med. 21(2), pp. 115-20. 12. J. Clausen and H. Albrecht (2010) Database research in on veterinary clinical homeopathy.

14.

R.T. Mathie, D. Hacke, J. Clausen (2012). Randomised veterinary characterising research 203. controlled homeopathy: the peer-reviewed for systematic trials of

literature

Homeopathy 99(3), pp. 189-191. 13. J. Clausen (2010). Veterinary Clinical Research Database for Homeopathy. Homeopathy Newsletter Research Institute 2010. 15.

review. Homeopathy 101(4), pp. 196-

R.T. Mathie, D. Hacke, J. Clausen (2013). Systematic review, with meta-analysis, of randomised placebo-controlled trials of veterinary homeopathy. Vet Rec. submitted.

http://homeoinst.org/sites/default/files/ newsletters/HRI_Newsletter10_Autumn20 10.pdf

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Immunomodulatory drugs (natalizumab), worsening of multiple sclerosis, rebound effect and similitude - Homeopathy 2013
Marcus Zulian Teixeira www.newhomeopathicmedicines.com Has just been published in the British journal Homeopathy the article titled Immunomodulatory drugs (natalizumab), worsening of multiple sclerosis, rebound effect and similitude, of the increasing principle the of scientific basis SNC, reducing the frequency of outbreaks, the number of brain injury and disease progression. Despite the beneficial primary effects of this enantiopathic treatment, experimental and observational studies show a worsening in the basal activity of the MS after the suspension of natalizumab (rebound effect or immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome without progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), with intense exacerbation of symptoms, an increase in the number and/or size of demyelinating lesions and fatal disease progression. As well as observed with natalizumab, fingolimod and tumor necrosis factor antagonists drugs (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept), it is worth noting that recent studies have shown a high frequency and intensity of rebound effect or paradoxical reaction after the suspension of other immunomodulators drugs used in other diseases, warning of the risks of this new class of drugs that (biological presents response palliative modifiers),

homeopathic healing before the modern pharmacology: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2387 0382 According to this review, current hypotheses maintain that the main event in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) is the activation of peripheral autoreactive T lymphocytes, which after multiply and cross the blood-brain barrier trigger a cascade of inflammatory events in the CNS, culminating in demyelination and axonal damage of neurons. The migration of these leukocytes through this barrier requires interaction with adhesion molecules expressed on the surface of cells, such as selectins, integrins and their endothelial receptors. Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody selective inhibitor of these adhesion molecules that prevents the migration of leukocytes to the

(antagonistic or enantiopathic) action more 56

effective than other drugs. This finding is based on an intrinsic property to the rebound phenomenon and the principle of similitude, in which the magnitude of the secondary action of the organism is directly proportional to the intensity of the primary action of the drug.

With this review, we expanded on hundreds of scientific papers the pharmacological basis of this line of research we've seen developing for more than 15 years, demonstrating the universality of natural law of homeopathic cure.

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