In an unprecedented effort, a coalition of more than 50 research teams has double-checked a swathe of Brazilian biomedical studies — and was able to replicate less than half. That rate is in keeping with that found by other large-scale attempts to reproduce scientific findings. But the latest work assessed publications “based on methods, rather than research area, perceived importance or citation counts”, says metascience researcher Mariana Boechat de Abreu, one of the project coordinators. “We now have the material to start making changes from within” to improve the status quo, says de Abreu.
Gut microbes might help ease fibromyalgia
Results of a small trial hint that microbes associated with a healthy gut microbiome could ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia — a debilitating and poorly-understood chronic pain condition. Fourteen women with the condition received an experimental therapy containing gut bacteria from healthy women. All but two reported an improvement in their symptoms such as pain, anxiety and sleep disturbances. The trial is so small that “we should take the results with a grain of salt”, says co-organizer and pain scientist Amir Minerbi. “But it is encouraging [enough] to move forward.”
Reference: Neuron paper
