Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C N Renckens

Publications and source records attributed to C N Renckens.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Medical-scientific societies, quality control and disfunctional physicians].

One doctor denied an existing fatal malignancy and diagnosed cancer in patients who did not have it. He and two other doctors gave the impression that they could cure patients by methods of which the efficacy has not been demonstrated. All three were members of a society for alternative medicine; two of them no longer are. The third, an internist, is still a member of his alternative scientific medical society, but of the Netherlands Association of Internal Medicine as well. A clinical chemist with a private laboratory that continually diagnoses nutritional deficiencies in a disputable way, and a neurologist who cooperates with a highly controversial American back physician were not expelled from their associations nor corrected by them. The Dutch Health Inspectorate is investigating dysfunctioning physicians and may well take action against them. The medical-scientific societies could well pay closer attention to their task of promoting the quality of the professional activities of their members.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2001

[Definition of 'quack' in the public debate on alternative medicine].

In May 1999 the Amsterdam Court of Justice decided that a retired internist and propagandist of his own alternative cancer therapy, could rightfully be called a quack by his critics. Recently this judgment was reversed on appeal. The first court used the medical definition of quackery: a treatment of which the supposed benefits are unsubstantiated. The court of appeal, however, took into consideration that to the general public calling someone a quack is an indication that this person is a swindler and practises medicine unlawfully. This definition is supported by the most authoritative Dutch dictionary. Apparently a different semantic interpretation of the term quack has led to these strongly diverging verdicts. The terms quack and quackery are indispensable in the public debate on alternative medicine.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed2000

[The miraculous growth of "quackery funds"].

In 1998 and 1999 three new charity foundations were established in the Netherlands, covering the same areas as the Dutch Heart Foundation, the Netherlands Cancer Foundation and the National Rheuma Foundation respectively. Analysis of the set-up of the three new foundations, of their philosophy, their constitutions and the background of the persons involved shows a remarkably uniform pattern, making it very likely that the set-up of these alternative foundations is a part of the marketing strategy of some Dutch wholesalers in orthomolecular drugs. More legal regulation of charity foundations is seriously needed.

Complementary Therapies↗
PubMed1999

[The national cancer fund (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds) and the Houtsmuller-therapy for cancer].

Dr. Houtsmuller, a retired internist, introduced an anticancer diet ten years ago. He claimed to have cured himself from metastatic melanoma by following a diet consisting of healthy nutrients, large amounts of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and shark cartilage powder in combination with psychological support. The efficacy of the therapy was never described in a scientific article. Currently about 63% of all cancer patients in the Netherlands using a diet use the Houtsmuller diet. The national cancer fund (Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds) invited him to speak at their 50-year commemorative symposium. Shortly before he admitted that his medical history did not mention metastatic melanoma. Dr. Houtsmuller has seriously damaged the position of physicians in the Netherlands by addressing patients directly without first seeking support from his scientific medical peers. Cancer organizations such as Koningin Wilhelmina Fonds are urged to properly inform the public about the real value or lack of value of alternative treatments in general and of alternative diets in particular.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Prognosis of fertility in women with unexplained infertility and sperm agglutinins in the serum.

From 1967 to 1973 serum samples of 1709 infertile women were tested for antispermatozoal antibodies with the gelatin agglutination test. In 110 cases sperm agglutinins were demonstrated in titers ranging from 4 to 1024. The clinical data of 99 couples were evaluable, and in 65 there appeared to be unexplained infertility. Out of these 65 women, 44 became pregnant in the posttesting follow-up period of 6 to 13.5 years (median, 10 years). With increasing titers there was a significant decrease in the probability of becoming pregnant. Of the women who became pregnant, in general, those with higher titers had to wait longer for their pregnancy than those with lower titers. Moreover, with increasing titers there was a tendency toward a longer duration of infertility before the serum was tested. This latter observation supports the contention that the agglutinin titer influences the fecundability rate. The titers of those becoming pregnant and those remaining infertile, however, showed considerable overlap. Favorable results in the postcoital test were associated with a better prognosis, but this was independent of the titers.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗