Press Release
Date Of Release: 08/30/99 (Embargoed through 08/29/99)
September/October 1999 issue

MEDICAL SENTINEL Announces New Policy ---
Requiring Open Data for Publication of Scientific Paper

With the increasing politicization of published scientific and medical research, e.g., gun and violence research, HIV-AIDS health policy, and now more recently, the unintended consequences of mandatory vaccinations (i.e., Hepatitis B and diarrhea due to rotavirus infection, etc.) in infants, the Medical Sentinel, the peer-reviewed journal of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is announcing a new policy with the upcoming (September/October 1999) issue of the Medical Sentinel.

As consideration of publication in the Medical Sentinel, the authors of clinical and scientific papers submitted to the Medical Sentinel must make available on the Internet the redacted raw data associated with their papers. The data from which conclusions are drawn will be posted at the lead author's website or at http://www.aapsonline.org.

The Medical Sentinel is thereby adopting a new standard of public access to research data for its published, scientific articles that goes beyond the heretofore, almost universal, editorial policy of peer-review. This new policy, which we call public review, will make scientific data available to other investigators and the public to facilitate the open exchange of information between scientists. This new policy will go hand in hand with the recently passed Congressional (Shelby) provision requiring public access to raw data of research studies funded by the federal government.

In the past, as revealed in congressional inquires, scientists, including government funded investigators, particularly in the area of gun and violence research, have breached accepted scientific practice by refusing to release and make available to other researchers their publicly funded original data for further critical analysis (See, Faria MA Jr., "Perversion of Science and Medicine, Medical Sentinel, Spring and Summer 1997, www.haciendapub.com).

In announcing this policy, Miguel A. Faria, Jr., M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the Medical Sentinel stated: "We invite the new editors of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and The Western Journal of Medicine (WJM), etc., to join us in restoring trust in published medical and scientific research in the medical literature by requiring public review of scientific information."

This was echoed by Jane M. Orient, M.D., Executive Director of AAPS, who in announcing journalistic independence added: "This new policy is exactly in line with the mission statement of the Medical Sentinel to promote scientific integrity and it will enhance academic freedom."

Concomitant with this new editorial policy of public review of scientific data the current issue of the Medical Sentinel contains two important articles impacting on future health care policy.

Chronic Fatigue, Gulf War Syndrome and other chronic illnesses linked to Mycoplasmal Infections

"Mycoplasmal Infections in Chronic Illnesses: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes, Gulf War Illness, HIV-AIDS and Rheumatoid Arthritis," by Dr. Garth Nicolson and associates reveals that invasive bacterial infections are associated with several acute and chronic illnesses, including: Asthma, Pneumonia, rheumatoid diseases, immunosuppression diseases such as HIV-AIDS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and Gulf War Illnesses (GWI). Using Forensic Polymerase Chain Reaction, the authors looked for the presence of one class of invasive infection (mycoplasmal infections) inside blood leukocyte samples from patients with CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), FMS, RA, and GWI. There was a significant difference between symptomatic CFS, FMS, GWI, and RA patients with positive mycoplasmal infections of any species (45-63%) and healthy positive controls (~9%) (P<0.001). This difference was even greater when specific species (M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. penetrans, M. pneumoniae) were detected. Except for GWI, most patients had multiple mycoplasmal infections (more than one species of mycoplasma). Patients with different diagnoses but overlapping signs and symptoms often have mycoplasmal infections, and such mycoplasma-positive patients generally respond to multiple cycles of particular antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin). Multiple cycles of these antibiotics plus nutritional support appear to be necessary for successful treatment. In addition, immune enhancement and other supplements appear to help these patients regain their health (http://www.immed.org).

Mandatory Vaccine Policy Criticized

Dr. Jane Orient, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, in another article entitled, "Mandating Vaccines: Government Practicing Medicine Without a License?" contends that public policy regarding vaccines is fundamentally flawed because it is permeated by conflicts of interest. It is based on poor scientific methodology (i.e., studies too small, too short, and too limited in populations represented), and insulated from independent criticism. In the case of the Hepatitis B vaccine, the risk of a serious adverse vaccine reaction may be as high as 4 per 1,000, and this risk must be weighed against the risk of contracting the disease, which has an annual incidence in the U.S. of approximately 4 per 100,000 (much less for young children). Mandatory universal immunization could lead to unwarranted and disproportionate injury to susceptible populations, who might also be the least affected by the disease one is trying to prevent. Indeed, evidence is accumulating that serious adverse reactions in the case of Hepatitis B and other vaccines are being ignored or have been downplayed in U.S. medical journals. (http://www.aapsonline.org).

For further information, contact Helen Faria, Managing Editor of the Medical Sentinel, at 1- (912) 757-9873.