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The World Health Organization wants to set up an international registry of clinical trials. The idea is to prevent companies concealing negative results after trials are complete. The American Medical Association has already called for a US registry.
Iraq research appeal
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Iraq鈥檚 interim science minister has appealed for $15 million to rebuild the country鈥檚 research. 鈥淭he plan is to redirect Iraqi scientists and technologists to solve problems in industry, agriculture and environment,鈥� says Rashad Mandan Omar. There will be no 鈥渄estructive research鈥�, he told the news agency AFP on Monday. 鈥淭hat chapter is closed. It is finished and we鈥檙e fed up with it.鈥�
No Gulf war syndrome
The largest study yet of British military personnel who served in the 1990 Gulf war confirms previous findings that they have generally poorer health than colleagues who did not go to the Gulf, and slightly more infertility (BMC Public Health 2004, vol 4, p 27). But the government-funded study again found no evidence for a unique Gulf syndrome, unlike a study of US veterans that used different analytical techniques.
U-turn on Viagra
In a move that could trigger a trade dispute, China鈥檚 state intellectual property office has rescinded the Viagra patent it granted to US drug giant Pfizer in 2001, saying the description was incomplete. Several Chinese companies that want to produce generic versions of the drug had challenged the patent.
Slowly does it
Premature ejaculation can be prevented by a simple plastic ring worn constantly on the end of the penis. Its inventor, Andy Zamar of the Priory Hospital in London, told a meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists last week that trials in 50 men have proved the device is effective.