Complementary Therapies

A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS), comum em pessoas com obesidade, causa interrupções respiratórias durante o sono e está associada a diversas comorbidades. Embora o CPAP seja eficaz, sua baixa adesão limita os resultados. A tirzepatida, um agonista dual de GIP e GLP-1, tem se mostrado promissora no tratamento da AOS, promovendo redução significativa do índice de apneia-hipopneia, melhora do sono e perda de peso. Este estudo tem como objetivo revisar a literatura científica a fim de analisar a eficácia do uso da tirzepatida na apneia obstrutiva do sono, tendo sido utilizados como referência bibliográfica 13 artigos recentes que passaram por uma análise rigorosa. Estudos atuais apontam a superioridade da tirzepatida frente a outras terapias medicamentosas, com benefícios adicionais no controle metabólico e efeitos comparáveis aos da cirurgia bariátrica. Sendo assim, de acordo com as evidências disponíveis, destaca-se o papel da tirzepatida como alternativa eficaz e inovadora no manejo da AOS.

Context: Integrative medicine (IM) is a rapidly growing field whose providers report clinical success in treating significant stress, chronic pain, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. While IM therapies have demonstrated efficacy for numerous medical conditions, IM for psychological symptoms has been slower to gain recognition in the medical community. Objective and Design: This large, cross-sectional study is the first of its kind to document the psychosocial profiles of 4182 patients at 9 IM clinics that form the BraveNet Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Results: IM patients reported higher levels of perceived stress, pain, and depressive symptoms, and lower levels of quality of life compared with national norms. Per provider reports, 60% of patients had at least one of the following: stress (9.3%), fatigue (10.2%), anxiety (7.7%), depression (7.2%), and/or sleep disorders (4.8%). Pain, having both physiological and psychological components, was also included and is the most common condition treated at IM clinics. Those with high stress, psychological conditions, and pain were most frequently treated with acupuncture, IM physician consultation, exercise, chiropractic services, diet/nutrition counseling, and massage. With baseline information on clinical presentation and service utilization, future PBRN studies can examine promising interventions delivered at the clinic to treat stress and psychological conditions.

Context: Despite the tremendous growth of integrative medicine (IM) in clinical settings, IM has not been well characterized in the medical literature. Objective: To describe characteristics and motivation of patients seeking care at an IM clinic. Design, Setting, and Participants: Patients from a nine-site practice-based research network participated in this cross-sectional survey. Clinicians documented patients' medical conditions. Main Outcome Measures: Patients provided information on demographics, lifestyle factors, and reasons for seeking care at an IM center. Clinicians documented the medical condition treated and procedures performed at the visit. Results: A total of 4,182 patients (84.5% white; 72.7% collegeeducated; and 73.4% female) reported their most important reasons for seeking IM. Top-ranked reasons were (1) "to improve health and wellness now to prevent future problems" (83.9%); ( ) "to try new options for health care" (76.7%); and (3) "to maximize my health regardless of whether or not my illness is curable" (74.6%). Interestingly, the same top reasons were reported by subgroups of patients who sought IM for wellness, acute care, or chronic illness. Patient reports of lifestyle also demonstrated healthier behaviors than national samples indicate. Patients seeking clinical care at IM centers desire an expanded paradigm of health care, one that seeks to maximize health.

Objectives. This study portrays the characteristics of patients who attended an integrative oncology clinic at a large comprehensive cancer center and evaluated whether this service addressed patients’ concerns about complementary and integrative medicine (CIM). Methods. Patient information was collected prior to an integrative consultation, including demographics, previous use of CIM, and primary reason for requesting the consultation. Concerns and outcomes were measured using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Well-being (MYCaW) Scale at the consultation and then again at follow-up (6-12 weeks later). Patients met with a physician for an integrative consultation that included a discussion of nutrition, supplements, physical activity, useful complementary therapies, and the mind—body—spirit connection. Results. A total of 238 patients were referred for consultation regarding the integration of CIM into their care. The majority of participants were female (60%, n = 143), and the mean...

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among people with cancer. Many are looking for informed advice and desire communication with their physicians about CAM use. Communication is crucial in establishing trust with patients, gathering information, addressing patient emotions, and assisting patients in decisions about care. The quality of communication in cancer care has been shown to affect patient satisfaction, decision making, patient distress and well-being, compliance, and even malpractice litigation. Communication is now recognized as a core clinical skill in medicine, including cancer care, and is important to the delivery of high-quality care. A communication approach that fosters a collaborative relationship that includes adequate information exchange, responds to emotional needs, and manages uncertainty can lead to informed decisions about CAM use. This type of communication can help facilitate an open disc...

Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant drug that used to treat seizures and nerve pain and such as most drugs have side effect. Systemic lupus erythematous is one of connective tissue disorders that often caused by an auto immune mechanism of unknown, although some drugs cause SLE. This report aimed to demonstrate the carbamazepine induced SLE after its oral consumption for Convulsion. This is the report carbamazepine- induced systemic lupus in a 16-year-old patient who had been treated with …

The World Health Organisation describes complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as an important health resource that can help in the management and prevention of lifestyle related chronic health conditions. It is therefore important to understand which forms of CAM may be of value for healthcare. Shamanic practices are increasingly being used as form of CAM in Western environments, but there is a lack of research investigating why people use them. To further understanding, qualitative data was collected using fifteen interviews and one survey of Western
clients of shamanic practices from the Four Winds Society program. A framework analysis influenced by the realist evaluation model was used to explore reasons related to the context, causal mechanisms, and perceived outcomes of shamanic practice use and how these interrelate. Over 250 reasons including 100 perceived outcomes, were found, generating over 45 themes, the most indicated of each sectionare discussed in this study. The results were compared to previous research in CAM and shamanic practice use to widen understanding of these areas. In this study, initial suffering transitioned to wellbeing, and a sense of meaning and purpose as reasons for shamanic practice use. Active engagement in the practices, professionality and safety were highly valued. Established holistic biopsychosocial models were expanded to thirteen levels of engagement that could impact health and wellbeing, suggesting that ‘we are interrelated on every level’. Future research is warranted to explore the benefits of shamanic practices and the potential of a new model that extends beyond current biopsychosocial models

The World Health Organisation describes complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as an important health resource that can help in the management and prevention of lifestyle related chronic health conditions. It is therefore important to understand which forms of CAM may be of value for healthcare. Shamanic practices are increasingly being used as form of CAM in Western environments, but there is a lack of research investigating why people use them. To further understanding, qualitative data was collected using fifteen interviews and one survey of Western
clients of shamanic practices from the Four Winds Society program. A framework analysis influenced by the realist evaluation model was used to explore reasons related to the context, causal mechanisms, and perceived outcomes of shamanic practice use and how these interrelate. Over 250 reasons including 100 perceived outcomes, were found, generating over 45 themes, the most indicated of each sectionare discussed in this study. The results were compared to previous research in CAM and shamanic practice use to widen understanding of these areas. In this study, initial suffering transitioned to wellbeing, and a sense of meaning and purpose as reasons for shamanic practice use. Active engagement in the practices, professionality and safety were highly valued. Established holistic biopsychosocial models were expanded to thirteen levels of engagement that could impact health and wellbeing, suggesting that ‘we are interrelated on every level’. Future research is warranted to explore the benefits of shamanic practices and the potential of a new model that extends beyond current biopsychosocial models

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of toxic compounds which are found in plants. Poisoning caused by these toxins is associated with acute and chronic liver damage. Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot), Petasites hybridus (common butterbur), Senecio vernalis (eastern groundsel) and Symphytum officinale (comfrey) are traditional phytotherapic species, which beside the therapeutic bioactive compounds contain PAs. The aim of the paper was to assess the safety of some dry extracts obtained from these species. For the determination of acute toxicity, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guideline No. 423 was used. For the determination of repeated dose oral toxicity, Senecionis vernalis herba and Symphyti radix extracts (250 mg÷kg) were administrated, by gavage, for 28 days, and their effects on animal weight, liver and biliary functions, hepatic tissue and oxidative stress were investigated. After the acute toxicity testing, the dry extracts were placed in the GH...

The roots of nonlinear diagnostic systems (NLS) lie not in modern software engineering, but in the centuries-old search for subtle regulatory patterns within the human body. From the meridian discoveries of Asian medical traditions to the biophoton research of early 20th-century Russia, a trajectory unfolds that connects ancient intuition with modern nonlinear spectral measurement. This article traces the scientific and cultural evolution of NLS, highlighting Stanislav Nesterov’s pioneering nonlinear trigger sensor, early Soviet biophysics, and the philosophical underpinnings of informational medicine. By situating these origins in a historical context, the article provides the foundation for understanding the subsequent development of Quantum Nonlinear Systems (QNLS) and their place in contemporary diagnostic science.

The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) is growing rapidly within the western world and the nexus with conventional health care services is expanding. Many nurses and other conventional health care providers are not only using CAM themselves but see many of their clients using these medicines and therapies. The attitudes to CAM can influence client satisfaction and client use of different therapies and many practitioners of conventional health care are seeking education and information to enhance their knowledge and use of CAM. This paper reflects on the attitudes to CAM and the education needs and services in the field of CAM as identified by western health care providers, in particular nurses.

Background: To explore the strengths and weaknesses of conventional biomedical research strategies and methods as applied to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and to suggest a new research framework for assessing these treatment modalities. Discussion: There appears to be a gap between published studies showing little or no efficacy of CAM, and reports of substantial clinical benefit from patients and CAM practitioners. This "gap" might be partially due to the current focus on placebo-controlled randomized trials, which are appropriately designed to answer questions about the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical agents. In an attempt to fit this assessment strategy, complex CAM treatment approaches have been dissected into standardized and often simplified treatment methods, and outcomes have been limited. Unlike conventional medicine, CAM has no regulatory or financial gatekeeper controlling their therapeutic "agents" before they are marketed. Treatments may thus be in widespread use before researchers know of their existence. In addition, the treatments are often provided as an integrated 'whole system' of care, without careful consideration of the safety issue.

Background: To explore the strengths and weaknesses of conventional biomedical research strategies and methods as applied to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and to suggest a new research framework for assessing these treatment modalities. Discussion: There appears to be a gap between published studies showing little or no efficacy of CAM, and reports of substantial clinical benefit from patients and CAM practitioners. This "gap" might be partially due to the current focus on placebo-controlled randomized trials, which are appropriately designed to answer questions about the efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical agents. In an attempt to fit this assessment strategy, complex CAM treatment approaches have been dissected into standardized and often simplified treatment methods, and outcomes have been limited. Unlike conventional medicine, CAM has no regulatory or financial gatekeeper controlling their therapeutic "agents" before they are marketed. Treatments may thus be in widespread use before researchers know of their existence. In addition, the treatments are often provided as an integrated 'whole system' of care, without careful consideration of the safety issue.

Systems biology offers cutting-edge tools for the study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The advent of 'omics' techniques and the resulting avalanche of scientific data have introduced an unprecedented level of complexity and heterogeneous data to biomedical research, leading to the development of novel research approaches. Statistical averaging has its limitations and is unsuitable for the analysis of heterogeneity, as it masks diversity by homogenizing otherwise heterogeneous populations. Unfortunately, most researchers are unaware of alternative methods of analysis capable of accounting for individual variability. This paper describes a systems biology solution to data complexity through the application of parsimony phylogenetic analysis. Maximum parsimony (MP) provides a data-based modeling paradigm that will permit a priori stratification of the study cohort(s), better assessment of early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment efficacy within each stratum, and a method that could be used to explore, identify and describe complex human patterning.

Background: As more integrative medicine educational content is integrated into conventional family medicine teaching, the need for effective evaluation strategies grows. Through the Integrative Family Medicine program, a six site pilot program of a four year residency training model combining integrative medicine and family medicine training, we have developed and tested a set of competency-based evaluation tools to assess residents' skills in integrative medicine history-taking and treatment planning. This paper presents the results from the implementation of direct observation and treatment plan evaluation tools, as well as the results of two Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) developed for the program. : The direct observation (DO) and treatment plan (TP) evaluation tools developed for the IFM program were implemented by faculty at each of the six sites during the PGY-4 year (n = 11 on DO and n = 8 on TP). The OSCE I was implemented first in 2005 (n = 6), revised and then implemented with a second class of IFM participants in 2006 (n = 7). OSCE II was implemented in fall 2005 with only one class of IFM participants (n = 6). Data from the initial implementation of these tools are described using descriptive statistics. Results from the implementation of these tools at the IFM sites suggest that we need more emphasis in our curriculum on incorporating spirituality into history-taking and treatment planning, and more training for IFM residents on effective assessment of readiness for change and strategies for delivering integrative medicine treatment recommendations. Focusing our OSCE assessment more narrowly on integrative medicine historytaking skills was much more effective in delineating strengths and weaknesses in our residents' performance than using the OSCE for both integrative and more basic communication competencies. As these tools are refined further they will be of value both in improving our teaching in the IFM program and as competency-based evaluation resources for the expanding number of family medicine residency programs incorporating integrative medicine into their curriculum. The next stages of work on these instruments will involve establishing inter-rater reliability and defining more clearly the specific behaviors which we believe establish competency in the integrative medicine skills defined for the program.

The Integrative Family Medicine (IFM) Program is a four-year combined family medicine residency program and integrative medicine fellowship. It was created in 2003 to address the needs of four constituencies: patients who desire care from well trained integrative physicians, physicians who seek such training, the health care system which lacks a conventional integrative medicine training route, and educational leaders in family medicine who are seeking new strategies to reverse the declining interest in family medicine amongst U.S. graduates. The program was designed jointly by the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM)

India has a rich tradition of complementary and alternative medicine(CAM) that has been handed down the ages through scriptures, books, manuscripts,etc. and also been a part of folklore. One of the major hallmarks of the present government in India has been institutionalization of complementary and alternative medicine under the terminology of AYUSH: Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani,Siddha and Homeopathy by setting up of a separate ministry to cater to this trend of medical pluralism. Ayurveda as a component of AYUSH has become extremely popular as a form of alternative medicine. This study makes an epidemiological analysis of the patients using Ayurveda through the evaluation of topics like gender, caste, occupation, education, migration,settlement patterns among others. It is found that Ayurveda is mostly used for treatment of chronic disorders and demographically, the proportion of upper caste patients, patients in the age group of 18-60 years, urban areas, patients belonging to joint families are common. Further, side effects of allopathy and trust on its efficacy promote transition towards Ayurveda. Despite its promised potential, the inability to deal with emergency, terminally ill patients and high cost of Ayurvedic medicines are some of the drawbacks of the practice. There is a need to promote generic scheme on lines of PMBJP in Ayurveda to realize the goals of integrative medicine.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in a representative cancer population prior to and within 6 months of diagnosis. A total of 304 newly diagnosed cancer patients from two UK cancer centres completed a postal survey. Of them, 100 patients (32.9%) used CAM before their cancer diagnosis, 59 of these CAM users continued post diagnosis. Twenty-nine individuals who had not used CAM before began to use it after their cancer diagnosis, creating a total of 88 (28.9%) CAM users in this sample. Reasons for not using CAM included lack of interest, lack of information or endorsement from professionals and satisfaction with conventional care. For those using CAM before diagnosis but not afterwards, the most common reason was a lack of expert guidance on what was safe to use. The use of CAM medicines bought from health food and other retail outlets was high. Complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer patients is common and demonstrates a complex pattern, but CAM use is not significantly greater than in the general population. Some patients purchase CAM medicines without seeking medical advice, thus risking drug interactions. Research to generate information on safety and efficacy of CAM is required.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Its treatment consists of surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy, alone or in combination. Among these, chemotherapy causes the most physical changes. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Mandala therapy on nausea, pain and distress among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. A true experimental research design was carried out among 80 patients (randomised to 40 each in the control and experimental group), selected by a consecutive sampling technique in a selected tertiary care centre. The baseline characteristics were assessed using pre-tested and predetermined tools such as demographic variables proforma, clinical variables proforma, nausea and vomiting tool, numerical pain rating scale and distress thermometer in both the groups. After the pre-test, mandala therapy was given to the experimental group of patients after 1 hour of starting the chemotherapy for 2-3 hours. Immediately after the intervention, post-test assessment of nausea, pain and distress was done in both the groups with the same tool. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings showed that there was a significant difference in post-test pain and distress (0.65 and 0.72) than the control group at p<0.005 level, without any changes in the nausea score indicating that Mandala therapy is effective in reducing pain and distress among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Its treatment consists of surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy, alone or in combination. Among these, chemotherapy causes the most physical changes. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Mandala therapy on nausea, pain and distress among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. A true experimental research design was carried out among 80 patients (randomised to 40 each in the control and experimental group), selected by a consecutive sampling technique in a selected tertiary care centre. The baseline characteristics were assessed using pre-tested and predetermined tools such as demographic variables proforma, clinical variables proforma, nausea and vomiting tool, numerical pain rating scale and distress thermometer in both the groups. After the pre-test, mandala therapy was given to the experimental group of patients after 1 hour of starting the chemotherapy for 2-3 hours. Immediately after the intervention, post-test assessment of nausea, pain and distress was done in both the groups with the same tool. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study findings showed that there was a significant difference in post-test pain and distress (0.65 and 0.72) than the control group at p<0.005 level, without any changes in the nausea score indicating that Mandala therapy is effective in reducing pain and distress among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy.

Honey is an ancient remedy for the treatment of infected wounds, which has recently been &#39;rediscovered&#39; by the medical profession. The use to which honey is put in medical care is increasing daily with many authors pointing out its importance and role in wound care. There have been reports that honey contains many microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. The aim of this paper is to highlight the various uses, organisms commonly found in honey, how the organisms arrived in the honey and their effects on wounds and wound care. Would the presence of these organisms not constitute a limiting factor to the use of honey in wound management? This is what this review aims to answer. A literature search was done on honey using pubmed, google, local books and journals. Relevant journals were extracted and discussed with emphasis on the antimicrobial properties as well as microbial content of honey and the implications of these. The production of honey as well as the storing proces...

I have conducted this survey to gather information based on the topic Allopathic medicine vs Alternative medicine to find out about peoples' opinions and preferences between allopathic and alternative medicines. This survey is based on treatment choices and awareness.

medical products that include herbal and complementary medicines, vaccines, and other biologicals and devices is important for postmarketing surveillance. Publication lends credence to important signals raised in these adverse event reports. Unfortunately, deficiencies in vital information in published cases can often limit the value of such reports by failing to provide enough details for either (i) a differential diagnosis or provisional assessment of cause-effect association, or (ii) a reasonable pharmacological or biological explanation. Properly described, a published report of one or more adverse events can provide a useful signal of possible risks associated with the use of a drug or medical product which might warrant further exploration. A review conducted by the Task Force authors found that many major journals have minimal requirements for publishing adverse event reports, and some have none at all. Based on a literature review and our collective experience in reviewing adverse event case reports in regulatory, academic, and industry settings, we have identified information that we propose should always

Myofascial pain is a common musculoskeletal problem, with the low back being one of the commonest affected regions. Several treatments have been used for myofascial low back pain through physical therapies, pharmacologic agents, injections, and other such therapies. This review will provide an update based on recently published literature in the field of myofascial low back pain along with a brief description of a sequenced, multidisciplinary treatment protocol called Skilled Hands-on Approach for the Release of myofascia, Articular, Neural and Soft tissue mobilization (SHARANS) protocol. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach is recommended for the successful management of individuals with myofascial low back pain.

Comparative Response of Oxidative Stress to Baduanjin Exercise Versus Electro-Acupuncture in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus groups did not show a significant difference. Conclusions: Both Baduanjin exercise and electro-acupuncture are good anti-oxidative therapeutic modalities to lower oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Surgical patients often experience psychological distress that can hinder their recovery. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) delivered by nurses, such as guided imagery and mindfulness exercises, may improve psychological well-being and surgical recovery. This meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of nurse-delivered MBIs on adult surgical patients. A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from January 2013 to November 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of nurse-delivered MBIs on adult surgical patients were included. Primary outcomes were anxiety, depression, and pain. Secondary outcomes included length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, and medication usage. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect sizes (Hedges' g). Six RCTs met the inclusion criteria, comprising 785 participants. Meta-analysis revealed that nurse-delivered MBIs significantly reduced anxiety (g = -4.09, 95% CI [-6.25, -1.93], p = 0.0002) and depression (g = -3.40, 95% CI [-4.96, -1.85], p < 0.00001) compared to standard care. Significant reductions in postoperative pain (g = -1.77, 95% CI [-2.10, -1.44], p < 0.00001) were also observed. No significant differences were found for length of hospital stay or postoperative complications. In conclusion, nurse-delivered MBIs effectively improve psychological well-being and reduce postoperative pain in adult surgical patients, supporting their integration into routine surgical care.

Objective-This study assessed the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies in patients with early systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc). Methods-At the annual visit, SSc patients enrolled in the Genetics versus Environment in Scleroderma Outcomes Study (GENISOS) were queried about their use of CAM therapies and intended symptom target, including herbal or nutriceutical therapy, acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) and mind-body therapy (relaxation, meditative, imagery). The CAM user SSc patients were compared to matched non-CAM users over two years for database results of demographic, clinical and health-related quality of life SF-36 questionnaires by analysis of covariance. Results-25% of the university GENISOS group were CAM users: age: 54 years; female: 89%; diffuse cutaneous involvement: 47%; total skin score: 13.5; Medsger severity index: 5.8. Over 70% used ≥1 CAM therapies for over 1 year, independent of health insurance. Symptoms targeted included arthritis/arthralgia, pain, GI dysmotility and fatigue. CAM users had significantly higher mean mental component summary (MCS) scores on SF-36 at Baseline and Year 2, (49 and 49.9), compared to non-CAM users (42 and 40.2, respectively, p<0.01). At Year 2, the CAM user group had significantly higher scores of SF-36 domains physical component score, role-physical, bodily pain and vitality, whereas scores declined in the non-CAM user group. SSc, 70% of those in the CAM user group reported a long-term commitment to CAM therapies. Higher perceived mental functioning in CAM users might reflect more selfmotivation to manage symptoms and subsequently, promote practices that result in higher perceived physical functioning.

Dance Therapy seeks to develop people's (including the visually impaired) potential for them to achieve a better integration both with themselves and with others, and thus having great chances of a better Quality of Life (QOL). GENERAL OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of Therapy Dance in the QOL of visually impaired individuals. METHOD: This is a study of quantitative and qualitative design, carried out in a social rehabilitation institution for visually impaired individuals in the interior of the state of SP, Brazil. Seventeen visually impaired individuals participated in the study, 10 of them with blindness and 07 of them with partial sight, among which, 07 had already practiced Dance Therapy before the study was carried out and 10 who had never had any contact with Dance Therapy. The Dance Therapy classes had an average length of 1h10min and were held once a week for 15 weeks. For data collection, the following instruments were used: World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment-Bref (WHOQOL-bref) to measure QOL scores, applied before the beginning of the study and after the end of the 15 classes. Socio-demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interview about QOL, both applied at the end of the 15 classes. After each of the 15 Dance Therapy classes, testimonies were also collected about what was experienced. For data analysis, statistical tests were performed with the IBM SPSS® Statistics software. To compare the quality of life (WHOQOL-bref) perceived by the visually impaired before and after Dance Therapy classes, the Wilcoxon test for related samples was used. When comparing QOL between the blind and partial sight groups, whether or not they participated in Dance Therapy before participating in the study, the Mann-Whitney test was used in each phase (before and after). The analysis of the content of the interviews and testimonies was done through a descriptive qualitative analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a positive contribution to the general QOL (p = 0.021), in the physical (p = 0.035) and environment (p = 0.015) domains after Dance Therapy classes. Blind people showed better results in QOL than those with partial sight before Dance Therapy in the physical (p = 0.033) and psychological (p = 0.007) domains and, after Dance Therapy, no significant difference was observed between the groups. Comparing QOL before and after Dance Therapy classes, there was a significant difference in the group of blind people regarding the general assessment of QOL in the question: "How would you assess your quality of life?" (p = 0.038), and in the partial sight group in relation to the facets evaluated in the physical domain (p = 0.28) and in the question: "How satisfied are you with your health?" (p = 0.023). There were also improvements in motor expression, self-regulation of organic functions, elevation of positive thoughts, expression of feelings, especially affective, self-esteem and increased social integration, which characterize positive contributions to the QOL of the visually impaired, provided by Dance Therapy classes. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The findings of the study permit us to infer, conclusively, that Dance Therapy contributed in a positive way in the QOL of visually impaired individuals.

When people who advocate integrating conventional science-based medicine with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are confronted with the lack of evidence to support CAM they counter by calling for more research, diverting attention to the ‘package of care’ and its non-specific effects, and recommending unblinded ‘pragmatic trials’. We explain why these responses cannot close the evidence gap, and focus on the risk of biased results from open (unblinded) pragmatic trials. These are clinical trials which compare a treatment with ‘usual care’ or no additional care. Their risk of bias has been overlooked because the components of outcome measurements have not been taken into account. The components of an outcome measure are the specific effect of the intervention and non-specific effects such as true placebo effects, cognitive measurement biases, and other effects (which tend to cancel out when similar groups are compared). Negative true placebo effects (‘frustrebo effects’) i...

Synopsis:
Nutrition plays a critical role in cancer prevention, treatment, recovery, and survivorship. This paper is designed for cancer patient caregivers, family members, equipping them with practical, evidence-based knowledge on how food and nutrition influence cancer outcomes.
Paper explore the science of “food as medicine” and learn how specific nutrients and dietary patterns can support the body during cancer treatment.
It will addresses cancer-malnutrition, one of the most common yet under recognized complications, and highlights strategies to improve appetite, maintain strength, and preserve quality of life.
Paper also introduce emerging research in dietary chemoprevention and adjuvant nutritional compounds - that show promise in enhancing therapy response and reducing side effects.

Children with cancer in high-income and low-income countries often use traditional complementary/alternative medicine (TCAM). With efforts by the World Health Organization and international twinning programs improving access to conventional care for patients with childhood cancer, understanding the global use of TCAM is important because reliance on TCAM may affect time to presentation, adherence, and abandonment of care. In the current study, the authors describe the process and validation of an international survey documenting the use of TCAM among children with cancer. The survey was designed to collect information on TCAM use and associated factors through both open-ended and close-ended questions. During the period between June 2012 and December 2013, the survey was administered to 300 children and adolescents (or their parents) who were undergoing treatment for cancer at a collaborating institution located in Mexico, Uruguay, and Nicaragua. For the majority of constructs, the ...

 The present paper aimed at collecting recommendations on non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) for apathy and on the role of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in this domain.  Based on the experts' opinion, NPT should be tailored to deficits, clinical objectives, and preferences of each patient. ICT may help to improve treatment personalization, increase motivation, and aid remote treatment delivery.

Infertility is worldwide burning phenomena that not only affects people physically & emotionally but it also has deep social implications in an underdeveloped country like Pakistan where majority of the population is living in rural areas having low level of awareness regarding various issues pertaining to health with a high level of infertility almost 22%. It approximately affects 48 million couples and almost 186 million individuals globally. The present study discovers the social stigma of infertility, investigating its causes & consequences by multidisciplinary lens. The social stigma stems from the societal, cultural and religious expectations of proliferation which leads to discrimination & marginalization against infertile couples. This societal stigma manifests in many ways such as strained relationships, psychological distress and minimize social standing which affect females in patriarchal societies. The article also highpoints the role of family dynamics, media & community in alleviating stigma. The study in hand was conducted to explore the psychosocial problems faced by infertile couples in rural areas of Punjab Pakistan. The target population was the infertile couples from rural areas of Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Lahore and Jhang who were getting treatment at various health centers for primary or secondary infertility. A sample of 200 respondents (50 from each district purposively) was chosen through multistage sampling technique. Data was collected by using interview schedule. The research study reveals the several psycho social impacts of the infertility such as stress, depression, tensions, frustration and anxiety, poor mental health, divorce, domestic violence, loss of prestige and dissatisfaction in relationship. This study also emphasizes the urgent need for awareness, policy formulation and support systems to minimize the stigma of infertility and empathetic societal outlook.

The attention on battery longevity and performance has increased due to the quick uptake of electric cars (EVs) as a sustainable substitute for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. The foundation of EV technology, batteries control the vehicle's dependability, efficiency, and range. With their distinct chemical characteristics, alkaline. Batteries are one of the various battery varieties that may be advantageous for specific EV applications. However, a variety of variables, including charge-discharge cycles, temperature fluctuations, and usage patterns, affect their life cycle and efficiency. To maximize performance, lower maintenance costs, and guarantee user safety, it is crucial to precisely calculate these batteries' Remaining Useful Life (RUL). Conventional approaches to RUL prediction frequently depend on statistical methods or empirical models, which might not take into consideration the intricate relationships between the factors influencing battery deterioration. For a potential solution to this issue machine learning (ML) algorithms, which can examine big datasets and reveal hidden patterns. This study intends to provide a reliable framework for forecasting the RUL of alkaline batteries in EVs by utilizing cutting-edge machine learning models. This will ultimately help to enhance battery management systems and encourage the wider use of EV technology.

Objective: The authors evaluated attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use in 2 populations of women receiving chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: Women with EOC currently being treated with chemotherapy at 2 tertiary cancer centers, in Canada and the United Kingdom, completed a self-administered questionnaire on attitudes and perceptions of CAM and types of CAM used within the previous month. Results: One hundred ninety-two patients (94 from Canada, 98 from United Kingdom) completed the questionnaire. Overall, 85 women (44%) were identified as CAM users. Complementary and alternative medicine use was more common among Canadian women (52%) compared with women from the United Kingdom (37%), P == 0.02. Participants used 71 different types of CAM, the majority (61 %) taking multiple CAM. The frequency of CAM use was the same in primary compared with recurrent disease. Eighty-nine percent of CAM users considered it important for their oncologist to be aware of CAM use. Canadian women, however, were less likely to infonn their physician (Canada: 50%; United Kingdom: 81 %), P = 0.02. Motivations for CAM use were the same in both populations including assist healing (60%), boost the immune system (57%), improve quality of life (48%), and relieve symptoms (45%). Thirteen percent thought CAM could cure cancer, whereas 17% thought it would prevent recurrence. Conclusions: Complementary and alternative medicine use is common in women receiving chemotherapy for EOC. Increasingly, interactions between CAM and prescribed medication are being identified. Oncologists should be aware and actively inquire about CAM use. Although patterns of CAM use differed, the motivation for starting CAM was similar, highlighting the need to address supportive care in all patients.

The use of herbal products among pregnant women is high Worldwide because they consider them safer than medication. They use herbs for nausea, vomiting, and other pregnancy related problems. Pregnant women like to use herbal products despite limited data on safety and efficacy. The objectives of this study are to measure the prevalence and predictors of herb use among a sample of Palestinian pregnant women and the possible influence of herbal consumption on pregnancy outcomes. This study was a questionnaire-based cross sectional descriptive study. It was conducted in the maternity ward of Rafedia Governmental Hospital between March and May 2012, a random sample of women who gave birth during the study period were met and asked to answer a face to face questionnaire. The results showed that the prevalence of using herbal products among pregnant women was 40.0%, the most common herbs were anise (61.7%), chamomile (53.3%), sage (55%), mixture of herbs (33.3%), and thyme (29.2%). The women preferred the herbs because they considered herbs safer than medications. There was no relation between herbal products use and any variable (age, educational level, living place, medical insurance, family income, work, chronic disease, parity and xii medication use). No negative relationship between herbal use and outcome on pregnant women and infants was found. This study found that the use of herbs during pregnancy is very common among Palestinian women. To provide the best care to pregnant women who use herb products, clinicians and pharmacist are recommended to stay up to date with herb use and their safety in pregnancy. The physicians are recommended to ask pregnant women about herb use because this practice is common among pregnant women, so doctors need to consider this to avoid any possible drug-herb interaction or negative outcomes on the mother or the fetus.

Objectives: Herbal medicine (phytotherapy) is widely used, but the evidence for its effectiveness is a matter of ongoing debate. We compared the quality and results of trials of Western phytotherapy and conventional medicine. Study Design and Setting: A random sample of placebo-controlled trials of Western phytotherapy was identified in a comprehensive literature search (19 electronic databases). Conventional medicine trials matched for condition and type of outcome were selected from the Cochrane Central Controlled Trials Register (issue 1, 2003). Data were extracted in duplicate. Trials described as double-blind, with adequate generation of allocation sequence and adequate concealment of allocation were assumed to be of higher methodological quality. Results: Eighty-nine herbal medicine and 89 matched conventional medicine trials were analyzed. Studies of Western herbalism were smaller, less likely to be published in English, and less likely to be indexed in MEDLINE than their counterparts from conventional medicine. Nineteen (21%) herbal and four (5%) conventional medicine trials were of higher quality. In both groups, smaller trials showed more beneficial treatment effects than larger trials. Conclusions: Our findings challenge the widely held belief that the quality of the evidence on the effectiveness of herbal medicine is generally inferior to the evidence available for conventional medicine.

Hintergrund: Atherosklerose ist eine Systemerkrankung. Die Assoziation mit dem metabolischen Syndrom bedingt ein multimodales Therapie-Setting zur Symptomlinderung sowie zur Primär- und Sekundärprävention. In der Therapieplanung sind Informationen zur Evidenz der Interventionen und eine logische Grundlage für eine sinnvolle Kombination wichtig. Methode: Für einen meta-narrativen Review (MNR) zur Evidenz komplementärmedizinischer und konventioneller Pharmakotherapien bei peripherer arterieller Verschlusskrankheit (PAVK) wurden mittels systematischer Literaturrecherche (Datenbanken z.B. MEDLINE; Suchbegriffe z.B. Pharmakotherapie) bis September 2012 Meta-Analysen randomisierter kontrollierter Studien (RCTs) unter den Aspekten Netzwerkpharmakologie und Forschungsparameter evaluiert. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 4 verwertbare Meta-Analysen gefunden. Gegenüber Placebo bewirken die Vera eine signifikante Zunahme der maximalen Gehstrecke um 63,5 m (95% Konfidenzintervall (CI) 27,11-99,91 m; Padma...

Die Wirkstoffe pflanzlicher Arznei-und Heilmittel sind pleiotrope Vielstoffgemische mit Multi-Target Eigenschaften einschließlich antiinflammatorischer Wirkungen. Eine pleiotrope Entzündungshemmung könnte bei tumorkranken Menschen als Versuch der Verhinderung bzw. Verzögerung der Metastasierung eine bedeutsame Rolle spielen. Zahlreiche experimentelle Daten für europäische wie auch außereuropäische Pflanzen und verschiedene phytotherapeutische Kombinationen weisen auf eine solche Möglichkeit hin. Trotz der bislang nur geringen Anzahl klinischer Untersuchungen könnten derartige phytotherapeutische Behandlungsversuche vertretbar erscheinen, wenn für solche Arznei-und Heilpflanzen aus Anwendungsbereichen bei nicht tumorkranken Menschen gesicherte Daten über Qualität und Sicherheit dokumentiert sind und eine Übertragung solcher Daten auf die Situation tumorkranker Menschen unter kritischer Abwägung möglich erscheint. Phytotherapeutika spielen zudem in der Supportivtherapie eine zunehmende Rolle, wobei zahlreiche dieser Phytotherapeutika neben ihrer symptomatischen supportiven Wirksamkeit auch antiinflammatorische Wirkungen zeigen. Die gezielte Auswahl von supportiv wirksamen Phytotherapeutika mit zusätzlichen antiinflammatorischen Effekten könnte für tumorkranke Menschen neben der Symptomlinderung simultan die Möglichkeit einer antiinflammatorischen antitumoralen Wirksamkeit bieten als eine Art personalisierter Phytotherapie. Zurzeit besteht diesbezüglich noch ein großer Bedarf an therapeutisch orientierter klinischer Forschung.

Introduction: nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy is the most common and severe complications in patients suffering from cancer. This study is done with the aim of designing evidence-based nursing care instruction in nausea and vomiting of the patients suffering from chemotherapy. Methods: It’s adevelopment study method in chemotherapy ward of Baqiatallah(A.J) hospital in 2014. Nausea and vomiting nuFrsing care instruction was designed based on the Stetler Model with evidence-based approach. The ideas of ten faculty members of the selected universities were considered for assessing the validity of the instruction content through Delphi model. Applicability of the instruction was assessed through interview with 8 relevant clinical experts. In addition to assessing nursing reference books, some articles were studied from some websites including: Google scholar, Elsevier, Cochran, Proquest, Pubmed and SID; the key words for searching these articles included; care instruction, evide...

Overuse of antibiotics is a major problem in the treatment of bovine mastitis, and antibiotic treatment is frequently non-curative, thus alternative treatments are necessary. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a purified phage cocktail for treatment of bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in a well-defined mouse model. Candidate phages were selected based on their in vitro performance and subsequently processed into an optimally composed phage cocktail. The highest scoring phages were further tested for efficacy and resistance suppression in broth and raw milk, with and without supplemental IgG. As these in vitro results displayed significant decreases in CFU, the cocktail was purified for testing in vivo. Lactating mice were intramammarily inoculated with S. aureus N305 (ATCC 29740), a clinical bovine mastitis isolate commonly used for experimental infection of dairy cows. The phage cocktail was applied via the same route 4 h post-inoculation. Treated mammary glands were graded for gross pathological appearance and excised for bacterial and phage load quantification as well as histopathology. Observation of gross macroscopic and histopathological changes and CFU quantification demonstrated that the phage cocktail treatment significantly improved mastitis pathology and decreased bacterial counts. Phage PFU quantification indicated that the tested phage cocktail treatment was able to maintain high intramammary phage titers without spreading systemically. The in vivo results complement the in vitro data and support our concept of phage therapy as an innovative alternative or supplementation therapy to antibiotics for the treatment of bovine mastitis.

Background: The main representatives of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which occur with dysregulation of the immune system and chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Treatment includes aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, corticosteroids and biological agents. There is already evidence that IBD patients have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, the association with extraintestinal cancer is still poorly studied. The use of drugs to treat IBD, associated with systemic immune dysregulation, can decrease the body's defense against the development of malignancies. Objective: To conduct an integrative review on extraintestinal neoplasms that may occur as a consequence of the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases. Methods: An integrative review was carried out to investigate the possible relationship between the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases and the increased incidence of extraintestinal neoplasms. Data sources included PubMed, Scielo and Elsevier/ScienceDirect, with specific search strategies. The selection of studies was based on analyzing the titles and reading the full texts. Cohort studies published between 2013 and 2023 were included. Exclusion criteria were applied to eliminate out-of-scope studies. Data collection was conducted using a validated questionnaire, and seven articles were finally included in the review. Results: Yadav et al. found no statistically significant increase in overall cancer risk with the use of aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or anti-TNF agents. However, there was an increased risk of melanoma in patients treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Ostermann et al. showed an increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and other malignancies with the use of combination therapy of adalimumab with immunosuppressants. However, they found no significant results with the use of adalimumab monotherapy. Khan et al. showed a higher risk of lymphoma in patients treated with thiopurines, increasing significantly after 4 years of therapy. Ólen et al. showed an increased risk of lymphoma in CD patients undergoing combined therapy (immunosuppressant and biologic) and second-line biologics. Lopez et al. found no increased risk of myeloid disorders with thiopurines, but there was an increased risk in patients with past exposure to these. Rungoe et al. observed an increased risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in patients who used TNF-α and azathioprine for a prolonged period. Long-term exposure did not affect the risk of low-grade intraepithelial lesions or cancer in CD or RCU. Finally, Rouvroye et al. found no association between immunosuppressive therapy and the risk of vulvovaginal cancer. Patients who used immunobiological drugs had a younger age at diagnosis of vulvar or vaginal cancer. Conclusions: This integrative review reveals diverse results on the impact of treatments for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases on extraintestinal malignancy rates. The complexity of cancer risk assessment highlights the need for a personalized therapeutic approach, considering individual factors, duration of treatment and specific choice of drugs, highlighting the importance of further research to guide safer and more effective therapeutic strategies for IBD patients.