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Reviews
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Other Comments:
The conclusions drawn are scientifically sound and correct, as far as a case report concerns. The author acknowledges similar work done before and provides references to that.
I`d suggest to change the title as follows: Positive effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine (eye drops) on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly subject - A Case Report...
The 1st phrase in the Introduction section needs revision.
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
As cardiologist I have no specific ophtalmology therapeutic area expertise.......it is the methodological part that I can judge on.
- How to cite: Pater C .What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report . [Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(5):WMCRW001783
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 07 May 2012 03:53:13 PM
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Other Comments:
The topic is interesting. However nothing has been said on ethical cosniderations applied in this study. Moreover, the conclusion based on the study on one person is not so much strong.
I think if there was a few patients as control to the patient in the intervention, the conclusion would be stronger. Please add a few sentences on suggestions for future studies and limitations
Best wishes for the author
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
I am a nurse and in the nursing science the conclusion on new measures to replace known and previous treatments should be with caution.
- How to cite: Vaismoradi M .What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(5):WMCRW001775
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 04 May 2012 05:27:50 PM
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Other Comments:
- General. Typographical corrections such as “self-administered for 90 days” in abstract; “solution of N-acetylcarnosine eye drops”. Writing style may benefit from certain changes as well. Quite a bit of repetition of information in the writing, which can be avoided.
- Method. Methods used for determination of clinical efficacy for vision improvement should be discussed in general and the method used in this paper should be critically assessed. For example, authors mention % improvement of visual acuity and glare sensitivity along with a general mention of ‘considerable evidence’ in Introduction without further discussion. Prior use of the method used by the author in the current paper and the variability associated with this method should be discussed as well.
- Data. The first paragraph of the Conclusions section describes data, but it is somewhat confusing. Data presented in Tables 1 and 2 should include annotation for abbreviations used and an equation for calculation for % vision improvement. A consideration of normal variability in measurements by this method should be included in the discussion of whether the presented results are significantly different.
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
None
- How to cite: Narang A S.Review[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001726
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 24 Apr 2012 05:38:53 PM
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Other Comments:
1. Too many references for a case report.
2. Babizhayev references could be condensed.
3. Conclusion (A mechanism of action for this drug needs to be established through additional research in this
area.
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Competing interests:
None
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
Yes -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Research Assistant Professor.
- How to cite: Briggs L .Research Assistant Professor (Chiropractic)[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001683
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 14 Apr 2012 04:03:48 PM
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Other Comments:
This case report is of interest, and the manuscript is well written, documented and organized.
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Competing interests:
None
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
No
- How to cite: Hmadcha K .What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report [Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001664
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 09 Apr 2012 04:11:00 PM
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Other Comments:
Too many references for a case report. Suggest to reduce to half.
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
I am a pulmonologist and therefore have no experience in this area.
- How to cite: Abdul Rahaman J .Effects of topical N-Acetylcarnosine on cataract: A case report[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001657
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 07 Apr 2012 04:56:07 PM
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Other Comments:
- In the introduction section, definition of cataracts seems quite unnecessary.
- Half the population ages 65-74, and 70% over 75 present cataract-inhibited visions. Reference is required for this report. The sentence also lacks a verb.
- In the discussion section, definition of cataract surgery seems quite unnecessary.
- The introduction part lacks proposing any probable mechanism by which the medication would be effective.
- As the efficacy of this medication has not been proven yet, was the patients aware of this issue that this intervention was not necessary beneficial for him? Were any informed written consents obtained from the patient? If yes, they should be mentioned in the study.
- Another question in my mind is : "is this the routine in your health system that the patients visited by optometrists do not require to be reexamined with an ophthalmologist? If yes, I think it would be a better idea to be placed in the article.
- "follow-up eye examinations" seems to have been performed just once so it should be corrected.
- " self-administered" this term seems quite confusing, what do you mean by that? The patient himself applied the drop every time? If yes, no need to be presented. The patient by his own will chose the medication? If yes, no need to be present in either case. I would suggest this term to be eliminated.
- " topical N-Acetylcarnosine eye-drops protocol", is there any approved protocol? If not, this term should not be used.
- In the acknowledgment part, there should be a sentence about the second visit by the alternative doctor which seems unnecessary and has been performed because of the present study. Who paid for the second visit? The author or the patient.
- References 21-24, 17-18, 12,5 could be replaced or deleted.
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Competing interests:
no
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Anesthesia, pain management
- How to cite: Golzari S E.N-Acetylcarnosine[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001654
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 05 Apr 2012 11:17:23 PM
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Other Comments:
Although this is only a case and no firm conclusion can be reached from the results of any single case study, this report is very prospective and an interesting issue.
So, novel studies are needed as clinical investigation.
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Competing interests:
No
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Yes
- How to cite: Aribas B .What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report [Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001652
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 05 Apr 2012 11:21:37 PM
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Other Comments:
The work appears clear from the optmetrist point of view. But what are the other conditions of the eye which can only confirmed by an ophthalmologist. What is the improvement in each eye. The discussion deals heavly with the surgical treatment of cataract but in this report the focus is on medical management of cataract and also not alternative management. What about the complaince and correct methodology of applying the eye drops. And finally one small doubt -- who are "Doctors of Optometry" ? Are they optometricians.
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Competing interests:
no
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Worked as Government medical officer where cataract surgery camps were conducted, supervised a optometrician in the government hospital.
- How to cite: Satish N S.what are the other conditions of the eye of this elderly subject ?[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001651
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 05 Apr 2012 04:11:50 PM
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Other Comments:
The subject is partly outside the field of alternative medicine, the drug in object does not appear to be strictly considered as an alternative/non conventional treatment.
The paper is not original since the topic has been addressed in many studies before. It has value as a case report corroborating the evidence of a positive effect of the drug.
I suggest to include a brief description of the mechanism by which the drug would exert its effect: antioxidant, etc...
Too many references for a case report, most of them by the same author: should be cut by 50% at least.
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Competing interests:
None
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Invited by the author to review this article? :
No -
Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
No
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References:
None -
Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
Practitioner of alternative/complementary medicine.
- How to cite: Luchetti M .Topical N-Acetylcarnosine for cataract in the elderly[Review of the article 'What are the Effects of Topical N-Acetylcarnosine [eye drops] on Cataract-Inhibited Vision in an Elderly Subject? - A Case Report ' by Misner B].WebmedCentral 2012;3(4):WMCRW001644
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 04 Apr 2012 08:27:14 PM
The author claims that use of n-acetylcarnosine eye drops improved the subjects cataract
The claims are not novel, as there have been many hundreds of such benefits. However, it is rare that a case study is presented formally in a learned publication
Yes
Yes. The finds reported by the author ar typical to those reported informally bothers
This is only one case report, with the obvious limitations
Yes
There is a need for a more full and complete clinical trial with many participants
No
As a single case report it is interesting to notice that the results confirm other published and unpublished literature. The improvement of sensitivity to glare is typical. There has been a lot of commercial interest in these drops and it is necessary to reportany further cases in a way that is separate from commerciall bias
No
No
Yes
Kyriazis M, The Cataract Cure, iUniverse publishing 2012
None
Responded by Dr. Bill Misner on 08 Dec 2012 05:51:46 PM