Understanding financial conflicts of interest

Article Abstract:

The question of physicians' conflicts of interest needs a more systematic evaluation of the causes of conflicts and methods for avoiding conflicts. Conflicts of interest can occur for physicians in a variety of areas. These include the referral of patients to facilities where the physician has a financial stake, industry-sponsored research and gifts from drug companies. Conflicts of interest occur when professional judgement may be influenced, or may appear to be influenced, by a secondary consideration. Regulation of conflicts of interest is important in maintaining the integrity of the profession. Standards for assessing potential conflicts should consider how likely it is that a factor will influence professional judgement and what harm would occur as a result of that influence. Most schemes for handling conflicts of interest rely on disclosure of the affiliation that might influence, or appear to influence, clinical judgement.

Standards, Economic aspects, Column, Conflict of interests (Agency), Medical ethics, Conflicts of interest

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Immune-complex glomerulonephritis - deposits plus interest

Article Abstract:

Immune complexes are antigen-antibody complexes, and their accumulation in the glomerulus of the kidney can cause the characteristic inflammation of glomerulonephritis. One viral infection associated with immune-complex glomerulonephritis is hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV antigens have been found in immune complexes circulating through the blood and in the immune complex deposits of infected patients. Recently eight patients with the membranoproliferative type of immune-complex glomerulonephritis were found to have hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Interferon has been used with some success in treating both HCV- and HBV-associated cases of glomerulonephritis. Further studies are needed to determine why only some patients with HCV and HBV infections develop immune-complex glomerulonephritis and why viral immune complexes deposit in different parts of the glomerulus.

Health aspects, Editorial, Physiological aspects, Immune complexes

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Glomerulonephritis

Article Abstract:

More research is needed to identify effective treatments for glomerulonephritis. This condition is an inflammation of the glomerulus, which is the part of the kidney where waste products are filtered from the blood. It may be a complication of other diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or systemic lupus erythematosus. Drugs, bacteria and viruses can also damage the glomerulus. Symptoms include blood and protein in the urine, decreased urine production and tissue swelling caused by fluid retention. Immunosuppressive drugs are often used to treat this condition because some of the damage is caused by an activated immune system.

Analysis

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