Here is a blog post from the NEJM Journal Watch Blogger, by Dr. Paul Saks, August 8, 2016. A bit on the fishy side, maybe....
Fishy, Fishy, Fishy, Fish!
I received this exciting offer recently:
Dear Ms. Griffin:
Thank you so much for reaching out to me about submitting a paper to the Johnson Journal of Aquaculture Research. I have long been an admirer of your journal, and am proud to say I was one of the inaugural subscribers; I eagerly await each issue with great excitement.
Your invitation today was propitious, since, as luck would have it, my research team and I have just completed a major study on the topic of Fish Disease.
...
Let me get right to the point — we think our study is groundbreaking. If we don’t win a Nobel Prize in Fish Disease (there is one in Fish Disease, right?), we’ve been robbed.
Here’s the abstract:
Background:
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (commonly known as freshwater white spot disease, freshwater ich, or freshwater ick) is a common disease of freshwater fish in home aquariums. It can cause white spots, clamped fins, and reclusive behavior due to severe embarrassment, poor little things. The optimal treatment is unknown.
Methods:
We randomized household guppies with moderate-severe ick to standard of care treatment (whatever that is) or a chlorhexidine whole body wash. Outcomes were assessed by trained fishologists blinded to study arm, using validated ick instruments and quality of life scores (CDC HRQOL-14, SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, and some other letters put together that sound impressive).
Results:
After informed consent was obtained (at least to the extent possible from a fish), 6 guppies were enrolled, 3 in each treatment group. Baseline characteristics seemed roughly comparable, but how would we know (they’re just little guppies, after all). On a 100-point ickiness scale, the chlorhexidine washed guppies scored 22.4 International Ick Units (IIUs), vs 57.8 IIUs for the standard-of-care group (p < 0.0000001 — wow, that’s significant, isn’t it). Quality of life measures also favored the chlorhexidine-treated group (“I’m just happier,” one guppy said).
Conclusion:
For common aquarium guppies suffering the embarrassment of freshwater ick, chlorhexidine whole body wash is superior to usual treatment. Prevents MRSA, too.
I hope you will consider our study carefully. Eminent personalities like us ponder long and hard about the best venue for such important research. Your email was perfectly timed.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Paul E. Sax
Henry Limpet Professor of Ichthyologic Ick
University of Travis County
I received this exciting offer recently:
Re: Fish Disease — Manuscript Invitation
Dear Dr. Paul E Sax,
We gladly invite you and your colleagues to contribute the articles on the topic Fish Disease in Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research of Johnson Publishers.
During our past two volumes, we had an excellent and fruitful cooperation, especially with our Editorial Board members.
We hope this volume will be interesting, with the presence of articles from eminent personalities like you.
We are looking forward to receive and review your papers. For any information needed, please feel free to contact via e-mail:
aquaculture@johnsonpublishers.international
Thank you for your attention towards this letter.
We are happy to announce that this is the 2nd year for this Journal. It will be a great honor for us and an excellent opportunity for you to share your newest scientific work on the field of Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research related issues in our international scientific review.
Regards,
Jennifer Griffin
Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research
Johnson Publishers
9600 Great Hills
Trail # 150 w
Austin, Texas
78759(Travis County)
E-mail: aquaculture@johnsonpublishers.international
What an opportunity! Here’s my response:Dear Dr. Paul E Sax,
We gladly invite you and your colleagues to contribute the articles on the topic Fish Disease in Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research of Johnson Publishers.
During our past two volumes, we had an excellent and fruitful cooperation, especially with our Editorial Board members.
We hope this volume will be interesting, with the presence of articles from eminent personalities like you.
We are looking forward to receive and review your papers. For any information needed, please feel free to contact via e-mail:
aquaculture@johnsonpublishers.international
Thank you for your attention towards this letter.
We are happy to announce that this is the 2nd year for this Journal. It will be a great honor for us and an excellent opportunity for you to share your newest scientific work on the field of Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research related issues in our international scientific review.
Regards,
Jennifer Griffin
Johnson Journal of Aquaculture and Research
Johnson Publishers
9600 Great Hills
Trail # 150 w
Austin, Texas
78759(Travis County)
E-mail: aquaculture@johnsonpublishers.international
Dear Ms. Griffin:
Thank you so much for reaching out to me about submitting a paper to the Johnson Journal of Aquaculture Research. I have long been an admirer of your journal, and am proud to say I was one of the inaugural subscribers; I eagerly await each issue with great excitement.
Your invitation today was propitious, since, as luck would have it, my research team and I have just completed a major study on the topic of Fish Disease.
...
Let me get right to the point — we think our study is groundbreaking. If we don’t win a Nobel Prize in Fish Disease (there is one in Fish Disease, right?), we’ve been robbed.
Here’s the abstract:
Background:
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (commonly known as freshwater white spot disease, freshwater ich, or freshwater ick) is a common disease of freshwater fish in home aquariums. It can cause white spots, clamped fins, and reclusive behavior due to severe embarrassment, poor little things. The optimal treatment is unknown.
Methods:
We randomized household guppies with moderate-severe ick to standard of care treatment (whatever that is) or a chlorhexidine whole body wash. Outcomes were assessed by trained fishologists blinded to study arm, using validated ick instruments and quality of life scores (CDC HRQOL-14, SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF, and some other letters put together that sound impressive).
Results:
After informed consent was obtained (at least to the extent possible from a fish), 6 guppies were enrolled, 3 in each treatment group. Baseline characteristics seemed roughly comparable, but how would we know (they’re just little guppies, after all). On a 100-point ickiness scale, the chlorhexidine washed guppies scored 22.4 International Ick Units (IIUs), vs 57.8 IIUs for the standard-of-care group (p < 0.0000001 — wow, that’s significant, isn’t it). Quality of life measures also favored the chlorhexidine-treated group (“I’m just happier,” one guppy said).
Conclusion:
For common aquarium guppies suffering the embarrassment of freshwater ick, chlorhexidine whole body wash is superior to usual treatment. Prevents MRSA, too.
I hope you will consider our study carefully. Eminent personalities like us ponder long and hard about the best venue for such important research. Your email was perfectly timed.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Paul E. Sax
Henry Limpet Professor of Ichthyologic Ick
University of Travis County
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