• StringTheory@beehaw.org
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    2 years ago

    “The JCU trial provides sufficient proof of concept that infection with live hookworms is safe and appears to have some sort of beneficial effects on people’s metabolic health, which will hopefully be confirmed by future clinical trials designed to confirm efficacy and explore how hookworms influence metabolism,” said Dr Paul Giacomin, AITHM Senior Research Fellow and immunologist.

    Eat less vs feed a crop of worms in my guts…. Hmmmmm. I mean, it’s an efficient way of making sure you don’t absorb all the calories you consume. It would be a bummer if my worms’ eggs were infecting people who didn’t over-eat and would be harmed.

    The anti-inflammatory aspect is intriguing, but there has to be better options for creating that response.

    This “give you worms so you can continue to overeat without consequences” approach is far too reminiscent of the ancient Roman vomitoria. There has to be a less wasteful way to deal with obesity and its metabolic consequences.

    • hallettj@beehaw.org
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      2 years ago

      Yes, I met someone who was allergic to basically everything, and said she had good results with hookworms

  • Mandy@beehaw.org
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    2 years ago

    who the fuck went “yeah, ima get some dangerous parasites into my guts” how much money did they get for that

      • Mandy@beehaw.org
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        2 years ago

        australias healthcare system cant be as abysmally bad as america…right?..right?

    • fuzzywolf23@beehaw.org
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      2 years ago

      The difference between medicine and poison is the dose. The worms were not dangerous at the dose being studied, as indicated by the fact people got healthier over a 2 year period.

      • Mandy@beehaw.org
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        2 years ago

        sure but idk living parasites seem like part of an equation id rather remove

        wanna go back to leech treatments? maybe tapeworms too to loose some weight?

        it just seems to volatile

        • PostmodernPythia@beehaw.org
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          2 years ago

          Leeches are still used, and are very effective in some cases. It’s ok to be grossed out by medicine. That doesn’t mean it’s outdated or shouldn’t exist.

          • Mandy@beehaw.org
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            2 years ago

            it has nothing to do with a gross factor parasites like these are called that for a reason and there was especially a reason it was used hundreds of years ago and only picked back up a couple of decades ago

            you maybe comfortable attaching a living predatory parasite on your body but that is something i wont ever call medicine

            • PostmodernPythia@beehaw.org
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              2 years ago

              Ok, then in certain circumstances your disgust response that directly contradicts the evidence may result in a lower chance of your survival. Your body, your call. I wholeheartedly support your right to refuse care. I, however, am rather fond of living and will use whatever medical intervention works best.

              • Mandy@beehaw.org
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                2 years ago

                lets agree to disagree on the use of this specific type of invention than, if they figure out a way without the sue of uuuh, what we discussed id be happy to make use of it.