Hi all, I notice that several of you, including @helen1000 and others, have been posting published research about promising new treatments on the horizon.

Many of the veteran members of the MAC support group will remember @katemn when I say: It's imperative to do your "due diligence" and research reliable current information to be your best advocate for your health. Doesn't that sound like Katherine?

So, in this light, I would like to point out some important criteria when evaluating published research articles to understand if treatments may be right for you.

1. Take note of the date of the research. Was it published in the past few years or over a decade ago? Are newer updated results available?
2. What is the phase of the study? In vitro (tested in a petri dish) or in vivo (tested in mice) studies are not yet ready for use in humans.
Phase 1 human trials are also not ready for standard treatment for all patients. They're still testing the safety and efficacy of a treatment.
It isn't until phase 3 or 4 that a new treatment approach is being tested on a wider population and it's efficacy is likely beneficial.
3. Is the paper a case study? Case studies are used to document singular situations that MAY lead to further study interest. The hypothesis has not be tested and not yet replicated. Such is the situation with the article posted about Kampo. It is a case study only:
- Case Report: Kampo Medicine for Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium Pulmonary Disease https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8601257/

Also note the disclaimer posted on the
"scientific literature databases offered to the public by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). NLM is not a publisher, but rather collects, indexes, and archives scientific literature published by other organizations. The presence of any article, book, or document in these databases does not imply an endorsement of, or concurrence with, the contents by NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), or the U.S. Federal Government."

So, back to Katherine's statement. Do your due diligence. Research well and discuss with your doctor. Also remember the Community Guidelines (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/) which underline:
1. Be careful about giving out medical advice
- Sharing your own experience is fine, but don't tell other members what they should do.
- Experiences and information shared by members on the Mayo Clinic Connect are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
- Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the community.