Dear Atis,

Regarding your first question, there is a publication from Sathe et al (2013) in the Indian Journal of Nephrology. This paper explore the use and effects of mercury on human health and you can access it here Article Acute renal failure secondary to ingestion of Ayurvedic medi...

In any case I will say that using of metallic mercury as a medicament can´t be considered as a safe practice. According to the WHO the ingest of metallic mercury is associated to several damages to the nervous system. It is well documented the adverse effects of metallic mercury to the human body. You can obtain plenty information about this topic in this website

http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/mercury/en/

All the best,

Mario

Dear Atis

Good to notice your interest in mercurial preparations. Before answering to your question, I wish to know your areas of interest and why this issue came into your mind.

@ Dear Mario,

It is unfortunate to have many such publications that raises concerns on traditional formulations. Without having any basic idea about such practices; no one can claim that these practices are harmful or hazardous or toxic.

Dear Mario, the second paragraph of your response to the question deals with use of Metallic Mercury in therapeutics. I wish to know, which medical system uses metallic mercury in therapeutics? Where ever it is used; these systems have a meticulous process to convert them into a safer form that will be administered by carefully following a set of guidelines as mentioned in their respective systems. For my understanding, no one uses metallic mercury as such in therapeutics.

There are a huge number of published articles on possibilities of Mercurial toxicity with traditional formulations and the one tagged by Mario is one. Dear Mario, thanks for sharing the communication of Sathe et al (2013) from Indian Journal of Nephrology. Parallel to this, i request you to read our communication in the same journal at Article Metallic preparations of Ayurveda: A boon to the ailing humanity

Dear Atis,

There are ample of article that evaluated safety and efficacy aspects of various metallic preparations; all such publications are open on the web. Please write me your area of interest, so that i can share such relevant articles.

Thank you Dr Mario and Dr. Galib for your discussion on above topic. Even though I am not expert in this field I try to share my ideas. Today there are several paid journals publishing the papers without reviewing. I have seen above said reports in National news papers with + and -- reports. Finally common man in a ambiguity condition due these reports. It is right time to educate the people with the latest knowledge otherwise situation continues for ever.....

Good Afternoon

@ Narasimha Rao Ji

I appreciate your views. Spurious / sub standard journals is one of the biggest problem in current scenario. There is no one to take care. Even the list of Accepted Journals released recently by UGC is also questionable. List of Predatory Journals of Bealls is disappeared that made the scenario worst. There is mushrooming of bogus journals that credit you publications over the night. Wish to hear your views..

Dear Dr. Galib

Thank you for your kind response along with your views on current day research publications.you said correctly regarding present UGC promotion towards sub standard journals. Plagiarism is very common phenomenon in most of the journals, it is a serious problem also. Who will check this malady..? Finally, plagiarism and manipulations in scientific research will made adverse affects not only on science but also on community.

With regards

GMNRAO

Dear all,

Thanks for the fruitful discussion. Regarding specifically to the use of heavy metals as mercury, I just want to point out that the risk associated to the ingest, exposure or skin absorption of these elements has been widely documented by several studies and organizations as the WHO. Please find attached a review paper from NCBI, although I'm sure that there is plenty more for read.

http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/mercury/en/

In any case, acute or chronical exposure to these elements implies a risk, no matter the way in which they are used (Inorganic, organic or complexed).

In any case is through science how we will find out if our practices are improving our health or not

With my best wishes,

Mario

Dear Mario

The question is about the traditional preparations that contains Mercury. Do you have any experiences with these? Or theoretically and hypothetically fingering the harmful nature to traditional mercurials too..

Good Morning All

@ Narasimha Rao Ji

Recently UGC released a Public Notice (No. F. 1-18/2010(CPP-II) dated 1st September, 2017) on University Grants Commission Regulations towards Promotion of Academic Integrity and Prevention of Plagiarism in Higher Education Institutions that also had a few concerns.

UGC basically focuses on maintaining university standards of teaching, examination and research basically in arts, social sciences and humanities. There are many Health Universities in India that impart education in medical streams (including allopathy, Ayurveda, siddha, unani etc.) How these regulations are useful to curb (possible) academic misconduct in such universities / medical institutions is not clear.

Under point 5-c-vi (Awareness Programmes and Trainings); the regulation proposed encouraging a researcher to register on international researcher's Registry systems that is very much essential. But, the regulation should also provide a list of valid, authentic, approved, certified, genuine such registries for different streams. If, it is not under purview of a regulation; authority of UGC should prepare dynamic list of such registries (stream wise) and display them in the website.

Plagiarism is one type of misconduct. The regulation should also focus upon other types of academic misconduct like that of self-citations / improper citations etc. In one way, these regulations are expected to promote academic integrity. Penalties are also imposed upon the involved students / researchers / faculties. But, what about the platforms (like that of Predatory Journals) that encourage Plagiarized Communications / Plagiarized Research Papers to get published over the night? There should be stringent penalties or regulations to curtail all such predatory journals and publishers. Though, UGC has released an Approved List of Journals (http://www.ugc.ac.in/journallist/) that would be considered for the purpose of Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) and Direct Recruitment of academic staff, these regulations appear to focus primarily on quantity, ignoring quality. Still, there are many questionable journals in that list. It is unfortunate to see that UGC certifying such journals to be credible and approve their publications for promotions, annual appraisals. This further encourage practicing plagiarism, dilute researches, pollute the science badly further damaging the science at international levels. There is a need to take serious action against such practices and the current regulations may be helpful in preventing the scenario to some extent.

Academic writing is a skill that need to be developed in the young students. How many such Indian organizations / HEIs exist in current scenario that focus on developing writing skills? The regulations should focus upon improving skills first rather than punishing them. One need to introduce effective writing programs, how to check the drafts for plagiarism and how to avoid it, support the student in learning these. Authority must bring a change in the scenario.

Most of the literature survey / review of dissertations / thesis (non-core area) often be very similar. Sentences, definitions, concepts, historical aspects are of course reused many times. Plagiarism in such areas is difficult to avoid. Considering this; the levels of plagiarism need to be redefined.

Still, one issue pinches in mind. How to distinguish between intentional similarities (i.e. actual plagiarism) and common phrases. Even the software cannot identify which is intentional one? A mechanism to justify this need to be addressed.

Good Morning Dear Dr. Galib

Thank you very much for your valuable views and opinion regarding the current state of the Journals and their mode of publication. I strongly agree with your statements.

When UGC recommended some journals, non CAS aspirants also going to publish in that journals and ultimately quality may be diluted. Instead of the original scientific data manipulated data may be published as a real work. Two to three years back there was a case in New Delhi regarding the self plagiarism of Chemistry Professor and stopped the funding facility to that professor (one more case also registered long back in the capital city).

Many academicians criticise the self citations like you, I think in some cases it is unavoidable, for example if I am going to write a review article on my specialisation so it it obligation for me to cite my papers..

How far plagiarism checked by the software ?? reconstruction of sentences and lines were not identified by the software.

As you said awareness camps/ training programmes should be conducted to familiar with writing practices for young researchers to overcome, plus inculcate the ethics.

As a whole research is slowly diluting in academic institutions even though good infrastructure and literature facilities are available easily when comparing with the yesterday years.

with kind regards

GMNRao

Yes Sir

Thanks for the support

Do you involve as a peer in such training programs?

Dear Dr. Galib

As a teacher and researcher I think it is my minimum responsibility to involve such a programmes, best of luck with your activities. Youngsters like you should involve, make a platform and try to change the scenario otherwise situation may be uncontrollable in future.

with regards

GMN Rao

Good Morning All

@ Narasimha Rao Ji

Thanks for the supporting words. We will always be young to know new information from the peers like you.

Yes, we do teach our students regarding good writing skills, communication techniques, predatory journals etc. We use to travel across the country to generate awareness regarding the importance of good publications. But, when the authorities like UGC etc. are coming up with such kind of policies; the young generation (not only young generation, but it also include many professionals) never wish to hear you, ultimately generating poor researches, substandard publications finally bringing bad repute to the science, society and to the country. This is bitter truth.

Once again thanks for the support and kind words..

Good evening Dear Dr Galib

I am very happy having fruitful discussion with you and sharing the views to generate the innovative thoughts. We are in the field of science to communicate the fruits of research to common man.

Thank and have a nice weekend

GMNRAO

in the formulation if the amount all the components might not be the same as in the old original formulation .ayurveda is a strong medicine system . they have been tested on human for years maybe the formulation is not as exact as the old one .that might be the reason .

@Sujata Ji

Nice to view your post. Do any scientific studies in your country are available on this aspect? Do you use Mercury in medicine?

Dear Atis,

Good Morning

I was awaiting for your response on my initial question. I wish to know your areas of interest and why you developed curiosity on metallic preparations? For me this is important to post selective papers on this platform.

For the time being, please find two important papers that might be useful to you.

Regards

I think mercury is safe if it will use in Herbomineral formulation .if mercury alone use then classical method is best todays mufle furnance is not suitable for it because it will not properly enhnce the potentition .so for mercury if it will totally convert in nano particle and sanskrit with ancient sloaks then it will good for health.