<<The problem with this abstract is that it initially states that over 200 viruses can cause the common cold but most are caused by rhinoviruses. What it fails to mention is the fact that there are over 100 different rhinovirus serotypes.>>
The 200 includes most rhinoviruses and is not a "failure of mentioning" but a limit on words. Abstracts typically have a word limit. That is why they are "abstracts".
<<There was no attempt to establish the diversity of serotypes present in the test population or to even verify the fact that the test subjects were suffering from a rhinovirus infection. >>
True, yet it alleviated symptoms in a double blind study. The p<0.001
and stats were done independently by university statisticians.
<<Nor was there any explanation as to how and where the test subjects were selected. If they were all chosen from the same geographic location, such a single college campus, then the probability is high that they were all suffering from the same rhinoviral serotype (assuming they WERE in fact suffering from a rhinoviral infection). >>
It's a presentation abstract, not a complete study paper. That would be in the M/M portion of the paper. Yeah right, they all had the same infection. The tests were done over a two year period. Highly unlikely. You seem to be saying either there is one strain to account for all these cases (not likely at all, but then see below - that was the Tremacamra study model) or there are multiple strains that have not been accurately categorized (probably true - then see above re: statistical significance - and frankly, that is the whole point).
<< is that a zinc based treatment may not be equally effective against all rhinovirus serotypes. Without a study that is clearly designed to test the effectiveness of Zicam against all known rhinovirus serotypes, it is very likely that the overall efficacy of this treatment may be significantly less than what is suggested in this abstract. >>
The overall efficacy can be known as best feasible. Nobody really cares which specific serotypes of rhinoviruses cause the most colds since they share the same mechanism of entry. Nobody seriously tracks this data year to year, either. Since it varies from location to location, it does not matter. That is precisely why a remedy that works like Zicam is desirable. I suppose you would posit the same argument against the Tremacamra study in JAMA, published this spring. Tremacamra is a bioengineered ICAM; they studied one known viral strain of rhinovirus. Good enough for JAMA, not for Hank, I guess. The point is that the rhinoviruses are known to share the same ICAM. That is precisely why an OTC like Zicam will be more feasible since it blocks a generic mechanism rather than inactivate a specific viral protein.
<<Since Zicam was specifically designed to inhibit rhinovirus absorption, we can also assume that the treatment is worthless against other viruses which can cause cold symptoms.>>
Most colds are caused by rhinoviruses. If you subtract out the viruses that typically infect kids, it is even more significant to the remedy-buying adult population. If I knew there was a greater than 3 of 4 chance that I could alleviate my symptoms in 2 days vs. 10-14, I would spend the $10-$12 to find out. I think most adults would, too.
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