Submited on: 07 Sep 2010 12:03:10 AM GMT
Published on: 07 Sep 2010 03:03:53 PM GMT
 

1 Is the subject of the article within the scope of the subject category? Yes
2 Are the interpretations / conclusions sound and justified by the data? No
3 Is this a new and original contribution? Yes
4 Does this paper exemplify an awareness of other research on the topic? No
5 Are structure and length satisfactory? No
6 Can you suggest brief additions or amendments or an introductory statement that will increase the value of this paper for an international audience? Yes
7 Can you suggest any reductions in the paper, or deletions of parts? Yes
8 Is the quality of the diction satisfactory? No
9 Are the illustrations and tables necessary and acceptable? Yes
10 Are the references adequate and are they all necessary? No
11 Are the keywords and abstract or summary informative? No
  • Other Comments:

    REVIEW:

    The abstract should be rewritten to reflect the background, objectives, what was done, finding and conclusions.

     

    The article provided a good background. However, the problem statement and the writter's objectives were not clear.

    There was no presentation of the methods used to obtain the information being presented: search terms, databases or gray literature consulted, methods of appraisal of the information, etc. What appears to be the results were distributed between the introduction and discussion. The greater part of the discussion were background information which should have appeared in the introduction. 

    The conclusions have no supportive evidence in the article, and likely reflect the authors personal views. There are several inconsistencies in the listing of citations in the references.

    REMARKS: The article is of interesting topic indeed. It should however, be revised to provide more detail, better organization, and more logical approach. A systematic review should, in my thinking, be better for a topic of such public health importance.

  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:

    I have considerable experience and education as a researcher, teacher and reviewer in pharmacology, toxicology, complementary medicine, and public health. I am a reviewer for other 9 international health sciences jouirnals.

  • How to cite:  Ezeala C C.REVIEW ON Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;2(12):WMCRW001270
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  • Other Comments:

    One of my areas of research that I have published on is the High Risk Model of Threat Perception [1,2] a clinical model that predicts disease onset, its development, etiology, as well as morbidity and mortality. Emerging from this model is another model that I term the Dual-Placebo Effect, a dynamic that I suspect will be quite prevalent in alternative medicine circles where both practitioners and consumers/patients are likely to be influenced by self-fulfilling prophecies and beliefs that may be so strong that they cloud judgment; leading to the ingestion of agents that have been shown to be harmful, leading to, perhaps, psychological satisfaction in the short term, but illness in the long term that is mediated by an agent's toxicity. The author is doing consumers and practitioners alike a great service by making known that what one sees or is told is not all that one necessarily gets; in this case supposed healing elixirs that are actually laden with disease Trojan horses (hidden toxins) that one would never suspect.  
    1. Wickramasekera, I. (1988). Clinical behavioral medicine. NY: Plenum
    2. Carlstedt, R.A. (2009). Handbook of integrative clinical psychology, psychiatry and behavioral medicine: Perspectives, practices and research. NY: Springer Publishing

  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
    None
  • How to cite:  Carlstedt R A.Critical Issues in Complementary Medicine: Healing Elixirs or Disease Trojan Horses? Review of Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia WebMedCentral[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;2(4):WMCRW00676
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  • Other Comments: There may be an error in this paper. In discussing the case report described by the Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC, 2007), Denholm (2010) states that "serum" lead levels were reported to be 40-120 ?g/dL, with normal levels <10 ?g/dL. Reported serum and plasma lead concentrations are typically less than 2% of whole blood lead concentrations and these are extremely high serum or plasma lead concentrations. ADRAC (2007) states that the patient "had a lead level of 120 ?g/dL" and does not state whether lead was measured in whole blood, serum, or plasma. The author may want to indicate that the referenced article does not specify the matrix that lead was quantified in, indicate that whole blood lead concentrations are the normal biomarker for assessing lead exposure in clinical setting, and provide correct the normal ranges for whole blood lead and serum or plasma lead concentrations. Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC). Traditional Indian (Ayurvedic) and Chinese medicines associated with heavy metal poisoning. Aust Adv Drug Reactions Bull, 2007; 26(1):2 Denholm J. Complementary medicine and heavy metal toxicity in Australia . WebmedCentral TOXICOLOGY 2010;1(9):WMC00535
  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    Yes
  • References:
    Healey, N. 2009. Lead Toxicity, Vulnerable Subpopulations, and Emergency Preparedness. Radiation Protection and Dosimetry. 134(3-4): 143-151. Healey N, DR Chettle, FE McNeill, and DEB Fleming. 2008. Uncertainties in the Relationship between Tibia Pb and Cumulative Blood Lead Index. Environ Health Perspect 116(3):A109
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
    DABT; 11 years experience in the practice of human health risk assessment and applied toxicology
  • How to cite:  Healey N .Correction in normal range for blood lead concentrations[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;1(9):WMCRW0045
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  • Other Comments: The information is very well presented. In today's scenario, lots of herbal medicines are used by individuals for various purposes. The adverse effects of these medicines containing heavy metals are very well captured in the article. Lot of applause for the author.
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
    Toxicology
  • How to cite:  Kumar S .Significant and relevant information well captured.[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;1(9):WMCRW0039
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  • Other Comments: Relevant and significant information on herbal medicine which is well-captured in the article.
  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
    Toxicology
  • How to cite:  Kumar S .Complementary medicine and heavy metal toxicity in Australia[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;1(9):WMCRW0038
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Well written article
Posted by Dr. Deepak H D'Souza on 09 Sep 2010 09:14:53 AM GMT

  • Other Comments: This article is suitable for publication. It discusses an important and relevant issue in modern toxicology.
  • Competing interests:
    No
  • Invited by the author to review this article? :
    No
  • Have you previously published on this or a similar topic?:
    No
  • References:
    None
  • Experience and credentials in the specific area of science:
    i have 5 years of teaching experience as an assistant professor of forensic medicine and toxicology.
  • How to cite:  D'Souza D H.Well written article[Review of the article 'Complementary Medicine And Heavy Metal Toxicity In Australia ' by Denholm J].WebmedCentral 2010;1(9):WMCRW0032
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