Reemplazar ideas, reducir equívocos y refinar argumentos: una reinterpretación de las 3R de la experimentación animal

Propósito/Contexto. En el presente trabajo se llevará a cabo una reinterpretación de las tres erres (3R) propuestas por William Russell y Rex Burch (reemplazo, reducción y refinamiento), con el objetivo de ampliar su alcance y mejorar las prácticas de experimentación con animales no humanos. Metodología/Enfoque. Se revisará el sentido que le dieron Russell y Burch a las 3R y se evaluará el modo en que cada una de ellas podría redefinirse o complementarse a la luz de las prácticas científicas, las posibilidades técnicas y los conocimientos bioéticos actuales vinculados al uso de animales en investigación. Resultados/Hallazgos. El artículo mostrará que 1) no solo habrían de reemplazarse animales, sino también las ideas equívocas que tenemos, tanto sobre ellos, como sobre la importancia de la educación bioética en la formación científica, 2) que la reducción, además de referirse al número de sujetos utilizados en cada experimento, debería servir para acabar con investigaciones innecesarias, repetitivas y superfluas, así como con algunos persistentes equívocos sobre el modo de operar de la ciencia y 3) que el refinamiento tendría que salir del espacio experimental para extenderse al modo en que pensamos sobre ética animal en el ámbito de la investigación. Discusión/Conclusiones/Contribuciones. El trabajo da cuenta de la importancia que tiene la incorporación del conocimiento bioético contemporáneo en las prácticas de experimentación con animales para mejorar el carácter reflexivo y ético de la ciencia.

Purpose/Background. In the present work, a reinterpretation of the 3Rs (3Rs) proposed by William Russell and Rex Burch (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) will be carried out with the aim of broadening its scope and improving nonhuman animal experimentation practices. Methodology/Approach. The meaning given by Russell and Burch to the 3Rs will be reviewed and the way in which each of them could be redefined or complemented in the light of current scientific practices, technical possibilities and bioethical knowledge related to the use of animals in research will be evaluated. Results/Findings. The article will show that 1) not only animals should be replaced, but also the misconceptions we have, both about them and about the importance of bioethics education in scientific training, 2) that the reduction, in addition to the number of subjects used in each experiment, should serve to end unnecessary, repetitive and superfluous research, as well as some persistent misconceptions about the way science operates, and 3) that refinement should go beyond the experimental space to extend to the way we think about animal ethics in the research setting. Discussion/Conclusions/Contributions. The paper reports on the importance of incorporating contemporary bioethical knowledge into animal experimentation practices to enhance the reflexive and ethical character of science.

Objetivo/Contexto. Neste documento, uma reinterpretação dos 3Rs (3Rs) propostos por William Russell e Rex Burch (Substituição, Redução e Refinamento) será realizada com o objetivo de ampliar seu escopo e melhorar as práticas não-humanas de testes em animais. Metodologia/ Abordagem. Revisaremos o significado dado por Russell e Burch aos 3Rs e avaliaremos como cada um deles poderia ser redefinido ou complementado à luz das práticas científicas atuais, possibilidades técnicas e conhecimentos bioéticos relacionados ao uso de animais na pesquisa. Resultados/Descobertas. O artigo mostrará que 1) não somente os animais devem ser substituídos, mas também conceitos errôneos sobre eles e a importância da educação bioética no treinamento científico, 2) que a redução, além do número de sujeitos utilizados em cada experimento, deve servir para eliminar pesquisas desnecessárias, repetitivas e supérfluas, assim como alguns conceitos errôneos persistentes sobre a maneira como a ciência funciona, e 3) que o refinamento deve se estender além do espaço experimental para a maneira como pensamos sobre a ética animal na pesquisa. Discussão/Conclusões/Contribuições. O artigo explica a importância de incorporar o conhecimento bioético contemporâneo nas práticas de experimentação animal para realçar o caráter reflexivo e ético da ciência.

Moving forward in the ethical consideration of invertebrates in experimentation: Beyond the Three R's Principle

Introduction: The Three R´s Principle (Refinement, Reduction, and Replacement), postulated more than 60 years ago, is the main ethical framework currently applied for conducting animal research. This principle has never been reviewed applying a philosophical reflection during all of these years, even though a variety of animal ethics studies have presented new insights. The Three R´s Principle was designed to be used as a policy tool to ameliorate the suffering of animals and to reduce the use of animals in research, but has failed in achieving these goals. This principle is only applied when using sentience vertebrates, and fails to consider invertebrates as their capacity to sentience is still disputed. In this way, invertebrates are reified, which has been determined to be detrimental as their suffering has been consistently denied. As a consequence, new insights are necessary to improve scientific practices. Epistemology and ethics have always been viewed as opposing approaches. ´Epistemology-based Ethics' subordinate ethical concern to scientific facts and 'Ethics-based Epistemology' purports that ethical practice should guide epistemological practices. Objective: In this paper, we maintain that unifying both approaches under a broader conceptual framework may result in the view that these are not, actually, opposite approaches. We propose to progress beyond the Three R's Principle and extend it to a position equal to the level of the ethical and epistemological approaches. We also propose to use the Precautionary Principle as it is always better to be safe than sorry, and to include two more Rs. Methods: This paper is based on the analysis of different ethical frameworks used in biology and ecology that can be implemented in invertebrates experimentation. Results: The analysis revealed that different ethical approaches are frequently used in biological research, but not all of them are implemented in experimental research that involves invertebrates. We argue that the ethical considerations used in any research field can be implemented in invertebrate research. Conclusion: We propose a Five R´s Principle: the traditional Refinement, Reduction, and Replacement, used along with Respect and Responsibility (a respectful relationship with every living being regardless of its complexity and personal commitment to conscientiously apply ethics concepts).

Introducción: El Principio de las Tres R (Refinamiento, Reducción y Reemplazo), postulado hace más de 60 años, es el principal marco ético que se aplica actualmente para realizar investigaciones en animales. Este principio no ha sido revisado desde una reflexión filosófica a pesar de tantos años y de lavariedad de estudios en ética animal que han presentado nuevas ideas. Este principio solo se aplica cuando se utilizan vertebrados sintientes, y no tiene en cuenta a los invertebrados, ya que su capacidad de sentiencia aún está cuestinada. De esta manera, los invertebrados son cosificados, lo que ha sido en su detrimento ya que su sufrimiento ha sido constantemente negado. El Principio de las Tres R fue diseñado para ser utilizado como una herramienta de política para mejorar el sufrimiento de los animales y reducir el uso de animales en la investigación, pero no ha logrado alcanzar estos objetivos. Como consecuencia, se necesitan nuevas ideas para mejorar las prácticas científicas. La epistemología y la ética siempre se han visto como enfoques opuestos. La concepción ética subordinada de a los hechos científicos se llama "Ética basada en la epistemología" y, en cambio, la "Epistemología basada en la ética" pretende que la práctica ética guie las prácticas epistemológicas. Objetivo: En este trabajo, proponemos que unificar ambos enfoques bajo un marco conceptual más amplio y eliminar la percepción de que son enfoques opuestos. Proponemos avanzar más allá del Principio de las Tres R , extenderlo y colocar un mismo nivel a los enfoques éticos y epistemológicos. También proponemos utilizar el Principio de precaución, ya que siempre es mejor prevenir que curar e incluir dos R más. Métodos: El trabajo está basado en un análisis de diferentes corrientes éticas utilizadas en biología y ecología que pueden ser implementadas en la experimentación con invertebrados. Resultados: El análisis de los trabajos reveló que hay diferentes posturas éticas que se usan frecuentemente en biología, pero no todas ellas son implementadas en la experimentación con invertebrados. Bajos nuestra argumentación sostenemos que las consideraciones éticas usadas en cualquier campo de investigación puede ser implementada en la experimentación con invertebrados. Conclusión: De esta manera, proponemos un Principio de las Cinco R: Refinamiento, Reducción, Reemplazo para ser usados junto con el Respeto y la Responsabilidad (una relación respetuosa con cada ser vivo independientemente de su complejidad y un compromiso personal de aplicar conscientemente los conceptos éticos).

Initial survey on the use of animals in scientific research and teaching reveals divided opinion of the Brazilian population / Investigação inicial sobre o uso de animais na pesquisa científica e no ensino revela opinião dividida da população brasileira

ABSTRACT Objective: Specific legislation regulating the use of animals in research in Brazil was introduced in 2008. However, the viewpoint of the Brazilian population regarding the use of animals in research and teaching activities remains largely unknown. Investigation of the public viewpoint on and understanding of the topic is required given the current shifts in the animal ethics scenario in Brazil. The objective of this study was to provide the first insight into the Brazilian population viewpoint on the use of animals in scientific research and teaching activities. Methods: Data collected in a survey involving 2,115 individuals aged 16 years or older and residing in 130 municipalities distributed across the five Brazilian macroregions (North, Northeast, South, Southeast, and Midwest) were analyzed. The margin of error for entire sample was set at 2%, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: This survey revealed that most Brazilian citizens are in favor of the use animals in research, particularly for medical purposes. Different views depending on the nature of research were identified. Approximately 80% of respondents were also in favor of frequent oversight of laboratories and animal facilities. Conclusion: Survey findings indicate that the opinion of the Brazilian population is divided when it comes to the use of animals in scientific research and teaching. Divided opinions expose a limited understanding of the importance of basic sciences and emphasizes the need for improved communication between the scientific community and the general population. Further strategies aimed to promote animal welfare are discussed.

RESUMO Objetivo: A legislação específica que regula o uso de animais em pesquisa no Brasil foi introduzida em 2008. No entanto, a opinião da população brasileira sobre o uso de animais em atividades de pesquisa e ensino ainda é desconhecida. No atual cenário brasileiro em mudança com relação à ética animal, é necessário avaliar as visões e o conhecimento da população sobre o assunto. O objetivo deste destudo foi realizar o primeiro levantamento da opinião da população brasileira sobre o uso de animais em atividades de ensino e pesquisa científica. Métodos: Analisamos os resultados de uma pesquisa com 2.115 indivíduos com 16 anos ou mais de 130 municípios das cinco macrorregiões brasileiras (Norte, Nordeste, Sul, Sudeste e Centro-Oeste). A margem de erro para toda a amostra foi de 2% dentro de um intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: A pesquisa revelou que a maioria da população brasileira era favorável ao uso de animais em pesquisas, principalmente para fins médicos. Diferentes pontos de vista, dependendo da natureza da pesquisa, também foram identificados. Além disso, aproximadamente 80% dos entrevistados eram favoráveis ao monitoramento frequente de laboratórios e instalações de animais. Conclusão: A opinião da população brasileira está dividida com relação ao uso de animais em pesquisa e ensino científicos. Essa divisão expõe um entendimento limitado da importância das ciências básicas e destaca a necessidade de uma melhor comunicação entre a comunidade científica e a população em geral. Outras ações para alcançar as melhorias desejadas no bem-estar animal são discutidas.

Bem-estar em invertebrados: um parâmetro ético de responsabilidade científica e social da pesquisa? / ¿Bienestar en invertebrados: un parámetro ético de la responsabilidad científica y social de la investigación? / Invertebrate well-being: an ethical parameter of scientific and social research responsibility?

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar a promoção do bem-estar de invertebrados usados em pesquisa por meio da sua representação no meio científico, divulgação das pesquisas e inclusão nos debates éticos. A análise atestou predomínio de abordagens biológicas, utilitaristas em animais de interesse médico e economico, cuja incipiência de informações sobre as condições de obtenção, manipulação e experimentação comprometem a reprodutibilidade e desenvolvimento da área. Discute-se a inclusão dos invertebrados nos debates éticos cuja reivindicação de normatizações e proteção, demanda a instrumentalização do pesquisador em busca pela excelência técnica e ética no planejamento, execução e divulgação de sua pesquisa a fim de fortalecer o contrato social e cientifico gerador de benéficos para ciência e para qualidade de vida do animal.

Resumen Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la promoción del bienestar de invertebrados utilizados en la investigación a través de su representación en la comunidad científica, la difusión de las investigaciones y la inclusión en los debates éticos. El análisis arrojó como resultado el predominio de los enfoques biológicos, utilitaristas en animales de interés médico y económico, cuya insipiencia de informaciones sobre las condiciones de obtención, manipulación y experimentación comprometen la reproducibilidad y desarrollo del área. Se discute la inclusión de los invertebrados en los debates éticos cuya reivindicación de normas y protección, demanda la instrumentalización del investigador en busca de la excelencia técnica y ética en la planificación, ejecución y difusión de sus investigaciones, con el fin de fortalecer el contrato social y científico generador de beneficios para la ciencia y para la calidad de vida del animal.

Abstract We aimed to evaluate the promotion of the welfare of invertebrates used in research through their representation in the scientific community, the dissemination of research and inclusion in ethical debates. The analysis resulted in the predominance of biological, utilitarian approaches in animals of medical and economic interest, whose incipience of information on the conditions of collecting, manipulation, and experimentation compromise the reproducibility and development of the area. It is discussed the inclusion of the invertebrates in the ethics debates, whose claim for standards and protection, demands the exploitation of the researcher in search of technical and ethical excellence in the planning, execution and dissemination of his research to strengthen the social and scientific contract generator of benefits to science and to the animal's quality of life.

Uso de animais como zooterápicos: uma questão bioética / The use of animal-assisted therapy: a bioethical question

Resumo Aborda questões éticas no uso de animais como zooterápicos, que, embora documentado há séculos para múltiplas culturas e resistente ao processo de desenvolvimento urbano e tecnológico, congrega uma pluralidade de agentes morais e vulneráveis, constituindo um dilema cuja solução consensual e justa demanda a intervenção de novas ferramentas, como a bioética ambiental. Analisando textos científicos, sistematiza os argumentos e valores intrínsecos às decisões de como e quando utilizar animais como recursos médicos. Pelo método bioético, reflete sobre soluções condicionadas à comunicação muldimensional entre os atores constituintes dos três pilares da sustentabilidade - ambiente, sociedade e economia - envolvidos nessa questão ética global, focando na conservação e na produção sustentável.

Abstract This paper addresses ethical questions concerning animal-assisted therapy (zootherapy). While it has been documented for centuries in several cultures and is resistant to urban and technological developments, it combines multiple moral and vulnerable agents, constituting a dilemma whose fair and consensual solution calls for new perspectives, like environmental bioethics. Through analyses of scientific texts, the arguments and values intrinsic to decisions about how and when to use animals as medical resources are systematized. Using bioethics as a method, reflections are offered about the potential solutions dependent on the multidimensional communication between the players from the three pillars of sustainability - environment, society, and economy - involved in this global ethical question, focusing on conservation and sustainable production.

Brazilian attitudes towards the use of animals in research / Atitudes de brasileiros no uso de animais em pesquisa

Little research has examined the views of Latin Americans on the use of animals in research. This study examined the degree to which Brazilians support the use of animals in research and the reasons they put forth to explain their position. Participants were randomly assigned to research scenarios describing the use of animals for biomedical or environmental benefits, and varying in the number of pigs required. Each scenario began by proposing the use of conventional pigs and then advanced to the development and use of genetically modified animals (GMA). A total of 151 quantitative and 307 qualitative answers were analysed. Scenario and number of animals had little effect on support, but opposition increased from 25% to 58% when pigs were used to develop a GM strain for the environmental scenario. Support to use of animals was often conditional upon adequate protection of the animals' welfare. Participants were less willing to support research on environmental scenario when this involved the creation of GMA, in part because they feared the risk associated with this technology.(AU)

Há poucos estudos sobre a opinião de latino-americanos quanto ao uso de animais em pesquisa. Este estudo avaliou o grau de apoio e as motivações de brasileiros em relação a essa questão. Os participantes foram aleatoriamente apresentados a dois cenários, um biomédico e outro ambiental, variando também o número de animais usados. Cada cenário se iniciava com o uso de suínos convencionais e prosseguia com o desenvolvimento e uso de animais geneticamente modificados. Foram analisadas 151 respostas quantitativas e 307 qualitativas. O cenário e o número de animais tiveram pouco efeito no apoio ao uso dos animais, no entanto, a oposição aumentou de 25% para 58% quando o uso de suínos geneticamente modificados foram apresentados no cenário ambiental. O apoio ao uso de animais em pesquisa estava frequentemente condicionado ao grau de bem-estar animal, e o apoio à pesquisa diminuiu com o uso de animais geneticamente modificados, em parte, devido aos riscos associados a essa tecnologia.(AU)

Review of Ethical Issues in the Preclinical and Clinical Trial of Drug / 中国医学伦理学

The ethical issues are different at different research stages of drug discovery.At the preclinical trial phase,laboratory animals are indispensable.The medical animal ethics committees need to approve and supervise animal testing during the experiment whether it adheres to the principles of animal protection,animal welfare principles and ethicalprinciples.At the phase of clinical trials,the subject of drug is human.The medical ethics committee should take full account of the ethical issues arising from the special medicine,special populations and disease in the process of trial and formulate detailed and feasible clauses,thus to ensure the scientificity of the trial and the rights and interests of subjects and promote new drug discovery and integrate with international standards.

Application of Animal Ethical Education in Comprehensive Experimental Teaching of Preclinical Medicine / 中国医学伦理学

Through the discussion of the basic components and development of experimental animal ethical education and the effect of strengthening animal ethical education on comprehensive experimental teaching of preclinical medicine,this paper analyzed the status of animal ethical education in the comprehensive experimental teaching of preclinical medicine,and pointed out the medical students' existing problems of animal ethical education in the comprehensive experimental teaching of preclinical medicine,including that they didn't understand the real meaning of animal experiments and the experimental attitude was not correct;they ignored the feelings of experimental animals and increased the pain of experimental animals;school did not provide specialized animal ethics education and related animal ethics research was inadequate.And this paper put forward the countermeasures aiming at the as follows,teachers need to expound animal ethics knowledge before the experiment,strengthen experimental operation management and standardize the operation of animal experiments;the teachers should teach by personal example and verbal instruction and pay attention to animal ethical education in the experimental teaching process.

Thinking of the Animal Ethics Education in Medical Students′Functional Experiment / 中国医学伦理学

There existed animal ethical issues in the process of functional experiment including poor breeding environment before animal experiment, insufficient prepare before class, not standard experimental operation, less attention paid to the study of anesthesia, disposal on animals after the experiment. Based on the analysis of these issues and combined with the thought of respect for animals′rights and attention to animal welfare, the authors put forward suggestions from the aspects including the schools′active attention and support, curriculum, standardizing the experimental design and operation steps, improving the animal experiment teachers′ethical consciousness, cul-tivating the students′experimental animal ethical consciousness. In addition, this paper put forward the thinking of further strengthening education:the domestic medical colleges generally need to strengthen medical ethics educa-tion, and should adopt various forms to cultivate medical students′medical ethics quality of treasuring life.

Bioética de la investigación preclínica en las ciencias biomédicas / Bioethics of preclinical research in biomedical sciences

Introducción: la oposición a la utilización de animales en la investigación biomédica se apoya en diversos argumentos científicos y éticos. Objetivo: realizar una revisión bibliográfica sobre la bioética de la investigación preclínica en las ciencias biomédicas. Procedimientos empleados en la recogida de la información: la búsqueda en Internet abarcó artículos publicados fundamentalmente en los últimos 5 años. Se evaluaron revistas internacionales de impacto de la Web of Sciencies relacionadas con el tema (38 revistas). Se consultaron las bases de datos de sistemas referativos, como MEDLINE, PubMed y SciELO con la utilización de descriptores como animal research ethical, animal welfare, animal ethics committee, animal pain, alternatives to laboratory animals y sus y sus equivalentes en español. Se incluyeron artículos en idioma inglés, portugués y español. Se obtuvio 141 artículos, pero el estudio limitó solo a 53, porque enfocaban esta temática de manera más integral. Análisis e integración de la información: al analizar el comportamiento de los artículos respecto a su representatividad en las diferentes revistas científicas donde fueron publicados, 5,9 por ciento de ellos correspondieron a la revista Alternatives to laboratory animals: ATLA e igual porcentaje a la Cambridge quarterly of healthcare ethics. Los restantes artículos estuvieron distribuidos de manera uniforme entre las otras revistas. Conclusiones: el conocimiento y cumplimiento de los principios bioéticos que rigen la conducta de los seres humanos, su relación con el medio ambiente y las ramas del conocimiento, permite brindar un abordaje generalizador y un enfrentamiento abarcador a aspectos significativos de la investigación con animales(AU)

Introduction: opposition to the use of animals in biomedical research is based on a variety of scientific and ethical arguments. Objective: carry out a bibliographic review about the bioethics of preclinical research in biomedical sciences. Data collection procedures: an online search was conducted for papers preferably published in the last five years. An evaluation was performed of international high impact journals from the Web of Sciences which dealt with the subject (38 journals). Databases from reference systems such as MEDLINE, PubMed and SciELO were consulted with the aid of search terms like animal research ethical, animal welfare, animal ethics committee, animal pain, alternatives to laboratory animals and their Spanish counterparts. The papers included were in English, Portuguese or Spanish. Of the 141 papers obtained, the reviewers selected the 53 which approached the study topic in a more comprehensive manner. Analysis and integration of information: an analysis of the representativeness of papers in the scientific journals where they were published showed that 5.9 percent corresponded to the journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals: ATLA, and an equal percentage to the journal Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics. The remaining papers were evenly distributed among the other journals. Conclusions: awareness of and compliance with the bioethical principles governing the behavior of human beings and their relationship to the environment and fields of knowledge, enable a generalizing approach to and comprehensive management of significant aspects of animal research(AU)

Consideration on Strengthen the Ethical Education of Laboratory Animal in Pharmacology Experimental Teaching / 中国医学伦理学

This paper points out the experimental animal ethics education in pharmacology teaching and the im-portance of the experiment,it is good to raises the student good humanity accomplishment and scientific research quality, and promote medical research and life ethics of benign interaction.It also expounds the basic content of ex-perimental animal ethics education,including:animal welfare, the 3R principle, AAALAC accreditation and analy-sis of the experimental animal welfare legislation status, raises questions about animal ethics education problems and thinking in the pharmacology experiment teaching in ourschool.The experimental animal ethics education should become an important part of pharmacology experimental teaching, which enhanced the students′s ethical awareness to better understand and respect for life, and contribute to the sustainable development of medical and pharmaceutical research.

Atividade assisiida por animais como alternativ complementar ao tratamento de pacientes: a busca por evidências científicas / Actvidad asistidda por animales com una alternativa complementariaa para el tratamiento de los pacientes: la búsqueda por la evidencia científica / Anmal- assisted activity as an complementary alternative to patient's treatment: search for scientific evidence

Salud, contemporáneamente, se entiende como un estado de completo bienestar físico, mental y social, y no solamente la ausencia de enfermedad. La actividad asistida por animales cumple este concepto y ya se utiliza hace unos años, como medida complementaria al tratamiento farmacológico, con el objetivo de la mejora y el bienestar del paciente. Su eficacia se ha demostrado a través de estudios de todo el mundo, en diferentes áreas como pediatría, geriatría y psiquiatría, entre otros, y trayendo beneficios tanto físicos como para la salud mental de las personas institucionalizadas. Ante esta realidad, hemos tratado de identificar cuáles son las investigaciones publicadas sobre el tema hasta el año 2013, en cinco bases de datos principales (Bireme, Cochrane, Embase, Pubmed y Scielo) de la palabra "animal-assisted activity". Se excluyeron los elementos repetidos en la misma base de datos, así como uno en japonés , uno en alemán, y que se centró en la terapia asistida con animales y no en la actividad asistida por animales. 55 artículos fueron encontrados en las cinco bases de datos: Bireme (28), Embase (13) Cochrane (1) Pubmed (11) y Scielo (2). Sólo 17 artículos cumplieron los criterios de inclusión preestablecidos. Todos mostraron resultados positivos en la aplicación de la actividad asistida por animales para los enfermos o personas en el aislamiento social. De este modo, se puede observar que esta práctica, aunque importante para ayudar a la búsqueda de lo bienestar integral del paciente y que está siendo acepta y formalizado en muchos países, sigue estando muy poco extendida científicamente.

Nowadays being healthy is understood as a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing over the absence of conditions and diseases. Animal-assisted activity (AAA) meets the actual concept of being healthy and it has been used for several years as a complementary measure to the pharmacological treatment, aiming at patient's recovery and well-being. The AAA's efficacy has been reported worldwide in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, among others, proved beneficial both at physical and psychic levels of institutionalized individuals. This study aimed to identify studies published until 2013 about AAA, in 5 important databases (Bireme, Cochrane, Embase Pubmed and Scielo), using the term "Animal-assisted activity" Duplicate articles in the same database, one article written in Japanese, one in German and the articles focused on therapy assisted by animals were excluded. A total of 55 articles were found from five databases: Bireme (28), Embase (13), Cochrane (1), Pubmed (11) e Scielo (2). Only 17 articles fulfilled the pre established criteria. All displayed positive results in applying Animal-assisted activity to sick or socially isolated individuals. It was concluded that this practice, despite it's importance supporting the patient's well-being and being recognized in several countries, it is still not widely widespread scientifically.

Saúde, contemporaneamente, entende-se como um estado de completo bem- estar físico, mental e social e não somente a ausência de doença. A atividade assistida por animais atende este conceito e já tem sido utilizada há alguns anos, como medida complementar ao tratamento medicamentoso, tendo como objetivo a melhora e o bem-estar do paciente. A sua eficácia tem sido comprovada através de estudos de todo o mundo, em diferentes áreas como pediatria, geriatria e psiquiatria, entre outras, e trazendo benefícios tanto físicos como para a saúde mental das pessoas institucionalizadas. Diante desta realidade, temos tentado identificar quais são as investigações publicadas sobre o tema até o ano 2013, em cinco importantes bases de dados (Bireme, Cochrane, Embase, Pubmed e Scielo) a partir do vocábulo "animal-assisted activity". Excluiu-se os artigos repetidos na mesmo banco de dados, além de um em japonês, um em alemão, e os que versavam sobre terapia assistida por animais e não sobre o tema atividade assistida por animais. Foram encontrados 55 artigos nas cinco bases de dados:: Bireme (28), Embase(13), Cochrane (1), Pubmed (11) e Scielo (2). Apenas 17 artigos cumpriram os critérios de inclusão pré-estabelecidos. Todos mostraram resultados positivos na aplicação da atividade assistida por animais aos doentes ou pessoas em isolamento social. Com isso, pode-se verificar que esta prática, embora importante para ajudar à procura do bem-estar integral do paciente, e que esta sendo aceita e oficializada em muitos países, ainda é pouco difundida cientificamente.

Practice of laboratory animal ethics in medical experiment class and its reflection / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Animal experiment is a primary part of medical education. At present , medical students are lack of education about laboratory animal ethics and they do not usually treat animals fol-lowing rules of laboratory animal ethics. To solve this problem, we focused on the education of labora-tory animal ethics and 3R theory (reduction, replacement, refinement) in order to help the medical students treat laboratory animals nicely. We enforced the construction of the laboratory rules and regu-lations, and improved animal experiments conditions. With these efforts, we successfully standardized and scientized our experiment classes.