GroupsIdeasRelatedThe Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., which promotes a plant-based diet, preventive medicine, and alternatives to animal research, and encourages what it describes as "higher standards of ethics and effectiveness in research." Its tax filing shows its activities as "prevention of cruelty to animals."Founded in 1985 by Neal Barnard, PCRM says that it "combines the clout and expertise of more than 12,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of 150,000 members across the United States and around the world." Its primary activities include emphasizing nutrition in medical education, conducting research into healthy diets, educating people about nutrition, "shifting research from animal 'models' to human-relevant studies," and promoting "alternatives to chemical tests on animals.C.C.
In this study we selected by phage display several new antibodies against human CD33. We then tested them in a variety of immunodetection assays, in parallel with previously described recombinant antibodies as well as commercial antibodies. The reactivity of individual antibodies varied strongly depending on the method used for immunodetection. The results demonstrate that the recombinant antibodies achieve performance comparable to the animal-derived antibodies.
In this study we selected by phage display several new antibodies against human PD-1: the ABCD_RC105 nanobody and ABCD_RC226, RC227 and RC229 human antibodies. We then tested them in a variety of immunodetection assays, in parallel with a previously described therapeutic antibody (ABCD_AS298). The newly discovered antibodies recognize the human PD-1 protein in ELISA and immunofluorescence assays and, albeit less efficiently, by western blot. The newly generated recombinant antibodies exhibited performance comparable to that of newly developed animal-derived antibodies.
The objective of this study was to examine how the public interprets the term “plant-based.” A self-administered survey was conducted July 7-9, 2025, following the Best Practices for Survey Reach of the American Association of Public Opinion research. A total of 2202 participants responded. Participants were asked their understanding of the term “plant-based.” Population data were weighted to approximate a target sample of adults based on education, age, race, and region. Descriptive statistics were reported using chi-squared test. Fifty-six percent equated “plant-based” to vegan, 35% with eating abundant plant foods as part of an omnivorous diet, 2% chose “other” and 7% chose “don’t know.” Those aged 65-94 were more likely to equate the term with vegan (63%), while those aged 18-34 (51%), Hispanics (48%), Asian Americans (46%), and adults from northeastern United States (48%) were least likely. Use of “plant-based” without definition leaves room for misinterpretation.
A 12-wk randomized clinical trial found that adults with type 1 diabetes on a low-fat, vegan diet (n = 29) showed greater improvements in insulin sensitivity compared with a portion-controlled diet (n = 29). This secondary analysis calculates the greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs) and cumulative energy demand (CED) of both diets by linking 3-d dietary records to external data sources. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed unadjusted and adjusted for change in energy intake. GHGE decreased in the vegan group by 55% (P = 0.001), compared with no change in the portion-controlled group (between-group P = 0.01). CED decreased in the vegan group by 44% (P = 0.01), with no change in the portion-controlled group (between-group P = 0.22). Energy intake was not a significant predictor of the observed changes. The decrease in GHGE and CED in the vegan group likely reflects reduced meat and dairy intake, suggesting that prioritizing plant-based foods over animal products may effectively reduce dietary environmental impact. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04944316 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04944316).
