Thione's patented and patent pending preventative and therapeutic healthcare applications are undergoing rigorous scientific evaluation. A series of basic (laboratory) research studies continue in progress, for instance, to demonstrate the value of the Thione Antioxidant Complex™ in quenching and neutralizing toxic free radicals generated by tobacco products. These studies include the effects in ameliorating damage to salivary and plasma proteins and to cells in culture. Moreover, various clinical studies, both the pilot initial observation category and the controlled, randomized clinical trials, are underway being conducted at very prestigious and well reputed medical institutions.

This section describes Thione's basic laboratory research and clinical investigation studies. Other studies not included are in the planning stages and depend too on adequate funding and appropriate laboratory or institutional partners. As results from the research become available, these will be appended at the end of each category.

Research Studies In Progress or Planned

Clinical Research

• Ability of lozenges with the Thione Complex™ to reduce the fat deposited in the liver and decrease oxidative stress in obese or diabetic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NASH Syndrome). M. L. Anderson, M.D., Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona (May, 2002)
  
  
• Salivary biochemical analysis and crevicular fluid antioxidant and free radical determinations following therapy with tablets and/or gels with the Thione Complex™ in patients with xerostomia and with periodontitis. R. M. Nagler, DMD, PhD, Dept. of Periodontics, the Saliva Clinic, and the Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
  
  
• Ability of lozenges with the Thione Complex™ to increase glutathione/selenium antioxidant levels in the epithelial lining fluid of the respiratory tract in patients with chronic lung disease. M. Moss, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia (April, 2002)
  
  
• Evaluation of the Thione Complex™ in toothpaste/gum gel on ameliorating signs and symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis. Dr. W. Levine, Perio Dental Research Clinic, Jerusalem, Israel
  
  
• Randomized, double blind study of the Thione Antioxidant Complex™ and an antifungal agent in a shampoo for the therapy of seborrheic dermatitis. A. Dascalu, MD, PhD and Y. Oron, PhD, Maccabi Clinic, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  
  
• Ability of lozenges with the Thione Complex™ to reduce HIV viral replication and increase CD4 T lymphocytes in patients positive for HIV. (Study submitted to ARCA, AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta, March 2001)

Basic Laboratory Research

• Effect of the Thione Complex incorporated in the filter of cigarettes during the manufacturing process on survival of human keratinocytes and fetal lung fibroblasts in cell culture. Studies will include cytotoxicity, apoptosis and DNA damage assessed by state of the art techniques. Gas smoke chemistry studies to be done also at the respective manufacturer's laboratories. (Studies to be done at contract research laboratories)
  
  
• Effect of cigarette smoke and the Thione Complex™ on the oxidation of salivary proteins and enzymes and plasma proteins and DNA of oral squamous cells and on cytotoxicity of human lymphocytes. A. Z. Reznick, Ph.D., Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
  
  
• Effect of the Thione Complex™ on protecting human buccal mucosal cells and keratinocytes from damage from smokeless tobacco extract. Dr. John Harbell, PhD, Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland