50 years ago, the sugar industry quietly paid scientists to point blame at fat for heart disease.

<p>In the 1960s, the sugar industry funded research that downplayed the risks of sugar and highlighted the hazards of fat, according to a newly published article in <a href='https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2548255'>JAMA Internal Medicine</a>. The article draws on internal documents to show that an industry group called the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF) wanted to refute concerns about sugar's possible role in heart disease. The SRF then sponsored research by Harvard scientists that did just that. The result was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1967, with no disclosure of the sugar industry funding.</p>            <p>The sugar-funded project in question was a literature review, examining a variety of studies and experiments. It suggested there were major problems with all the studies that implicated sugar, and concluded that cutting fat out of American diets was the best way to address coronary heart disease. The authors of the new article say that for the past five decades, the sugar industry has been attempting to influence the scientific debate over the relative risks of sugar and fat.</p>            <p>The researchers note that they worked under some limitations — 'We could not interview key actors involved in this historical episode because they have died,' they write. Other organizations were also advocating concerns about fat, they note. There's no evidence that the SRF directly edited the manuscript published by the Harvard scientists in 1967, but there is circumstantial evidence that the interests of the sugar lobby shaped the conclusions of the review, the researchers say.</p>            <p>For one thing, there's motivation and intent. In 1954, the researchers note, the president of the SRF gave a speech describing a great business opportunity. If Americans could be persuaded to eat a lower-fat diet — for the sake of their health — they would need to replace that fat with something else. America's per capita sugar consumption could go up by a third.</p>            <p>But in the '60s, the SRF became aware of flowing reports that sugar is a less desirable dietary source of calories than other carbohydrates, as John Hickson, SRF vice president and director of research, put it in one document. He recommended that the industry fund its own studies — 'Then we can publish the data and refute our detractors.' The next year, after several scientific articles were published suggesting a link between sucrose and coronary heart disease, the SRF approved the literature-review project. It wound up paying approximately $50,000 in today's dollars for the research.</p>            <p>One of the researchers was the chairman of Harvard's Public Health Nutrition Department — and an ad hoc member of SRF's board. A different standard for different studies Glantz, Kearns and Schmidt say many of the articles examined in the review were hand-selected by SRF, and it was implied that the sugar industry would expect them to be critiqued.</p>            <p>In a letter, SRF's Hickson said that the organization's particular interest was in evaluating studies focused on carbohydrates in the form of sucrose. 'We are well aware,' one of the scientists replied, 'and will cover this as well as we can.' The project wound up taking longer than expected, because more and more studies were being released that suggested sugar might be linked to coronary heart disease. But it was finally published in 1967. Hickson was certainly happy with the result: 'Let me assure you this is quite what we had in mind and we look forward to its appearance in print,' he told one of the scientists.</p>            <p>The review minimized the significance of research that suggested sugar could play a role in coronary heart disease. In some cases the scientists alleged investigator incompetence or flawed methodology. It is always appropriate to question the validity of individual studies, Kearns told Bloomberg via email. But, she says, the authors applied a different standard to different studies — looking very critically at research that implicated sugar, and ignoring problems with studies that found dangers in fat.</p>            <p>Epidemiological studies of sugar consumption — which look at patterns of health and disease in the real world — were dismissed for having too many possible factors getting in the way. Experimental studies were dismissed for being too dissimilar to real life. One study that found a health benefit when people ate less sugar and more vegetables was dismissed because that dietary change was not feasible. Another study, in which rats were given a diet low in fat and high in sugar, was rejected because such diets are rarely consumed by man.</p>            <p>The Harvard researchers then turned to studies that examined risks of fat — which included the same kind of epidemiological studies they had dismissed when it came to sugar. Citing few study characteristics and no quantitative results, as Kearns, Glantz and Schmidt put it, they concluded that cutting out fat was no doubt the best dietary intervention to prevent coronary heart disease.</p>            <p>In a statement, the Sugar Association — which evolved out of the SRF — said it is challenging to comment on events from so long ago. 'We acknowledge that the Sugar Research Foundation should have exercised greater transparency in all of its research activities, however, when the studies in question were published funding disclosures and transparency standards were not the norm they are today,' the association said. Generally speaking, it is not only unfortunate but a disservice that industry-funded research is branded as tainted, the statement continues. What is often missing from the dialogue is that industry-funded research has been informative in addressing key issues.</p>            <p>The documents in question are five decades old, but the larger issue is of the moment, as Marion Nestle notes in a commentary in the same issue of JAMA Internal Medicine: 'Is it really true that food companies deliberately set out to manipulate research in their favor? Yes, it is, and the practice continues.' In 2015, the New York Times obtained emails revealing Coca-Cola's cozy relationships with sponsored researchers who were conducting studies aimed at minimizing the effects of sugary drinks on obesity. Even more recently, the Associated Press obtained emails showing how a candy trade association funded and influenced studies to show that children who eat sweets have healthier body weights than those who do not.</p>            <p>As for the article authors who dug into the documents around this funding, they offer two suggestions for the future. Policymaking committees should consider giving less weight to food industry-funded studies, they write. They also call for new research into any ties between added sugars and coronary heart disease.</p>

Claim Review: Sugar Industry Funded Research to Shift Blame to Fat

<p>The claim that drug research has not significantly advanced in the past half-century, with most new drugs being variations of existing ones, was made in an article published on The Expose on August 28, 2024. This claim is based on an essay by Dr. Vernon Coleman, originally written 50 years ago and republished in 1975.</p>
<p>To evaluate this claim, it is essential to consider the context and advancements in pharmaceutical research over the past five decades.</p>
<h2>Historical Context</h2>
<p>Dr. Coleman's essay, written in the 1970s, highlighted the trend of diminishing originality in drug development. He noted that research efforts were concentrated on cancer, cardiovascular disorders, viral diseases, and psychological disorders. However, progress was hindered by the complex nature of these conditions and a lack of comprehensive understanding of biochemistry.</p>
<h2>Advancements in Drug Research</h2>
<p>While it is true that many new drugs are variations of existing ones, significant advancements have been made in pharmaceutical research. For instance, the development of targeted therapies for cancer, such as monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors, has revolutionized cancer treatment. These therapies are designed to specifically target cancer cells, reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes. A study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4776980/">Journal of Clinical Oncology</a> highlights the impact of targeted therapies on cancer treatment.</p>
<p>In the field of cardiovascular disorders, the introduction of statins in the late 1980s has significantly reduced the risk of heart disease. Statins work by lowering cholesterol levels, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. A review published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3967093/">Journal of the American College of Cardiology</a> discusses the efficacy and safety of statins.</p>
<p>For viral diseases, the development of antiviral drugs has been crucial. For example, the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV has transformed the disease from a fatal condition to a manageable chronic illness. A study published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843618/">Lancet</a> discusses the impact of ART on HIV treatment.</p>
<p>In the field of psychological disorders, the development of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been a significant advancement. SSRIs are a class of antidepressants that work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. A review published in the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4172306/">Journal of Clinical Psychiatry</a> discusses the efficacy and safety of SSRIs.</p>
<h2>Challenges in Drug Research</h2>
<p>Despite these advancements, drug research faces significant challenges. The complexity of diseases, the need for a comprehensive understanding of biochemistry, and the ethical considerations in drug development are ongoing issues. Additionally, the high cost of drug development and the need for extensive clinical trials can hinder progress.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>The claim that drug research has not significantly advanced in the past half-century is partially true but oversimplifies the complexities and advancements in pharmaceutical research. While many new drugs are variations of existing ones, significant advancements have been made in targeted therapies for cancer, statins for cardiovascular disorders, antiviral drugs for viral diseases, and SSRIs for psychological disorders. However, drug research continues to face significant challenges, and ongoing efforts are needed to address these issues.</p>

Claim Review: Drug Research Stagnation Over the Past Half-Century

<h2>Introduction</h2>
<p>In recent news, Karen Kingston has made claims about the development of a supervirus combining RNA from SARS-CoV-2, mpox, and HIV. This article aims to review these claims and provide a thorough analysis based on scientific evidence.</p>
<h2>The Claim</h2>
<p>Karen Kingston asserts that scientists are attempting to create a supervirus that combines RNA from SARS-CoV-2, mpox, and HIV. She suggests that this virus could be aerosolised and transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, with the aim of weakening the immune systems of the population.</p>
<h2>Analysis of the Claim</h2>
<h3>Scientific Feasibility</h3>
<p>The idea of combining RNA from different viruses to create a supervirus is highly speculative and lacks scientific basis. Viruses have specific mechanisms for replication and transmission, and combining their RNA in a way that creates a new, highly infectious virus is not supported by current scientific knowledge.</p>
<p>A study published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0869-5">Nature Medicine</a> discusses the challenges and limitations of viral engineering, highlighting the complexity of viral genomes and the difficulty of creating new viruses with desired properties.</p>
<h3>Transmission Mechanisms</h3>
<p>Kingston's claim that the supervirus could be aerosolised and transmitted through skin-to-skin contact is also questionable. Viruses have specific modes of transmission, and altering these modes is not straightforward. For example, HIV is primarily transmitted through bodily fluids, not through skin-to-skin contact.</p>
<p>A review article in the <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30120-1/fulltext">Lancet Infectious Diseases</a> discusses the transmission mechanisms of various viruses, emphasizing the importance of understanding these mechanisms for effective disease control.</p>
<h3>Immune System Weakening</h3>
<p>The claim that the supervirus aims to weaken the immune systems of the population is not supported by scientific evidence. While some viruses can cause immune system dysfunction, the idea of a supervirus designed specifically for this purpose is speculative and lacks credible scientific backing.</p>
<p>A study published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/immunity/fulltext/S1074-7613(20)30187-6">Journal of Immunity</a> discusses the complex interactions between viruses and the immune system, highlighting the need for further research to understand these interactions fully.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>The claim that scientists are developing a supervirus combining SARS-CoV-2, mpox, and HIV is largely unfounded and lacks credible scientific evidence. The idea of creating such a virus is highly speculative and not supported by current scientific knowledge. It is important to rely on peer-reviewed scientific studies and expert opinions when evaluating claims about viruses and their transmission mechanisms.</p>

Claim Review: The COVID-Mpox-HIV Supervirus

<p>Ivan Pernar tvrdi da amalgamske plombe sadrže 50% žive i da zubari uvjeravaju pacijente da su sigurne, unatoč potencijalnim rizicima. Ova tvrdnja je izazvala zabrinutost kod mnogih ljudi, posebno onih koji su skeptični prema cjepivima koja sadrže živu.</p>
<p>Amalgamske plombe, često nazvane 'srebrne plombe,' zaista sadrže živu. Sastoje se od približno 50% žive, uz druge metale poput srebra, kositra i bakra. Živa u ovim plombama je u stabilnom obliku, vezana za druge metale, što smanjuje njenu potencijalnu toksičnost.</p>
<p>Zabrinutost proizlazi iz činjenice da je živa poznati neurotoksin. Međutim, brojne znanstvene studije su istražile sigurnost amalgamskih plombi. Američka agencija za hranu i lijekove (FDA) i Svjetska zdravstvena organizacija (WHO) su obje pregledale dostupne dokaze i zaključile da su amalgamske plombe sigurne za upotrebu u zubnim restauracijama.</p>
<p>Studija objavljena u <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096006/">Journal of the American Dental Association</a> pokazala je da količina žive oslobođene iz amalgamskih plombi je minimalna i ne predstavlja značajan rizik za zdravlje. Druga studija <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3096006/">Europske komisije za znanstveni odbor za nove i identificirane zdravstvene rizike</a> također je zaključila da upotreba dentalnog amalgama nije značajan rizik za ljudsko zdravlje.</p>
<p>Važno je napomenuti da, iako su amalgamske plombe općenito smatrane sigurnima, neke osobe mogu imati alergije ili osjetljivosti na metale koji se koriste u ovim plombama. U takvim slučajevima, alternativni materijali poput kompozitnih smola ili porculana mogu se koristiti.</p>
<p>U vezi s tvrdnjom da je koncentracija žive u pljuvački osoba s amalgamskim plombama 1000 puta veća nego kod onih bez njih, ovo je pretjerivanje. Studije su pokazale da, iako postoji blagi porast razine žive u pljuvački osoba s amalgamskim plombama, te razine su i dalje ispod praga koji se smatra štetnim.</p>
<p>Zaključno, iako amalgamske plombe sadrže živu, znanstveni konsenzus je da su sigurne za upotrebu u zubnim restauracijama. Tvrdnja da predstavljaju značajan rizik za zdravlje nije potkrijepljena dostupnim dokazima.</p>
<p><br></p>
<figure><img src="https://remedia-staging.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/JfPnwWLd6QlfL-4rMqJjk/ivan_pernar_o_crnim_plombama_i_njihovom_sadr%C5%BEaju.jpg" height="auto" width="auto" alt="Ivan Pernar o crnim plombama i njihovom sadržaju"/></figure>
<p><br></p>

Provjera tvrdnje: Amalgamske plombe sadrže 50% žive i nisu sigurne

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