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• Re: Alas, Alas, Animal Models!
  Alfred N Jackson
  Published on: 14 September 2004
• Alas, Alas, Animal Models!
  A G Unnikrishnan
  Published on: 8 September 2004
• Alas animal models
  Alfred N Jackson
  Published on: 25 August 2004

• Published on: 14 September 2004

  Re: Alas, Alas, Animal Models!

  • Alfred N Jackson, Primary Care Physician

  Editor

  There is a very sad account of the fatal consequences of extrapolation of animal findings to humans, "recent experience with fialuridin ... five out of 15 patients died, two required emergency liver and kidney transplant for liver and kidney failure-this effect had not been demonstrated in four animal species."[1] This is a very sobering account of the consequences of extrapolating animal findings to humans....

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  Editor

  There is a very sad account of the fatal consequences of extrapolation of animal findings to humans, "recent experience with fialuridin ... five out of 15 patients died, two required emergency liver and kidney transplant for liver and kidney failure-this effect had not been demonstrated in four animal species."[1] This is a very sobering account of the consequences of extrapolating animal findings to humans. Having said that, there are probably innumerable benefits which have resulted from animal experiments. I think the important point is that these benefits have been serendipitous. Because it is certain that the similarities which do exist between animal and human responses to physiological (and other) stimuli have nothing to do with the fallacious concept of "evolution of species".

  References

  1. BMJ 25April 1998 pp1295-1298.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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• Published on: 8 September 2004

  Alas, Alas, Animal Models!

  • A G Unnikrishnan, Assistant Professor, Department of Endocrinology

  Dear Editor

  Jackson raises a point that is indeed relevant, and I fully agree that premature extrapolations to human therapeutics are dangerous.[1] If animals were all horses, wishes would fly! These animal studies only provide a glimpse into new possibilities and futuristic ideas. I am concerned about any other interpretation, and my opinion too is that, for the present, these findings cannot be translated into da...

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  Dear Editor

  Jackson raises a point that is indeed relevant, and I fully agree that premature extrapolations to human therapeutics are dangerous.[1] If animals were all horses, wishes would fly! These animal studies only provide a glimpse into new possibilities and futuristic ideas. I am concerned about any other interpretation, and my opinion too is that, for the present, these findings cannot be translated into day-to-day practice.

  The evolving hypothesis of tissue-specific insulin resistance is still in the realm of basic sciences, and must cross several boundaries before it is ready for direct clinical application. Basic scientists working with animal models have to confront several unique challenges: genetic polymorphisms, extreme heterogeneity of the illnesses (as in the case of the metabolic syndrome) and practical aspects, to name a few. I believe that the “bedside-to-bench” journey is relevant too; what is needed is a two-way transfer of ideas between the bedside and the bench. On many occasions, animal models fail us as they are already modeled on an over-simplified biological basis. It is likely that a clinician’s inputs on the illness and its complexities are valuable. Connecting the basic scientist’s knowledge of biological phenomena with the clinician’s understanding of the realities of human disease effectively could well fulfill the aim of translational research.[2]

  I thank Jackson for raising an important issue, and agree with the evolutionary aspects as well.

  References

  1. Jackson AN. Alas animal models [electronic response to Unnikrishnan AG. Tissue-specific insulin resistance] postgradmedj.com 2004http://pmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/80/946/435

  2. Marincola FM. Translational Medicine: A two-way road. J Transl Med. 2003; 1:1.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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• Published on: 25 August 2004

  Alas animal models

  • Alfred N Jackson, Primary Care Physician

  Dear Editor

  Is it feasible to extrapolate animal findings to human medicine? We did not evolve (see http://www.kean.edu/~breid/chrom2.htm ). These chromosome numbers certainly do not support any evolutionary suppositions. Furthermore the mechanisms of meiosis serve to "fix" the chromosome numbers of sexually reproducing species. Is it not, therefore, dange...

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  Dear Editor

  Is it feasible to extrapolate animal findings to human medicine? We did not evolve (see http://www.kean.edu/~breid/chrom2.htm ). These chromosome numbers certainly do not support any evolutionary suppositions. Furthermore the mechanisms of meiosis serve to "fix" the chromosome numbers of sexually reproducing species. Is it not, therefore, dangerous to read too much into animal experiments? What is the rationale for applying animal findings to human therapeutics?

  References

  Unnikrishnan A G. Tissue-specific insulin resistance. Postgrad Med J 2004;80:435.

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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