Complementary Medicine Research最新文献

Introduction: Infectious diarrhea (ID) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that poses a substantial risk to human well-being. In China, numerous clinical studies have investigated the efficacy of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GGQLD) in treating ID. However, there is a need for additional rigorous and evidence-based medical research to enhance physicians' confidence in their prescribing practices.

Methods: Seven Chinese and English databases were systematically searched. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3, and Stata 16.0 was used for the sensitivity analysis. Trial sequential analysis was performed using TSA v0.9, and GRADEprofiler was utilized to evaluate the quality of evidence.

Results: A total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,240 patients were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the combination of GGQLD with conventional Western medicine had better effects on clinical efficacy (relative risk [RR] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.10, 1.20]), duration of diarrhea symptoms (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -10.96, 95% CI [-11.97, -9.96]), duration of abdominal pain symptoms (WMD = -12.01, 95% CI [-14.12, -9.90]), duration of fever symptoms (WMD = -11.91, 95% CI [-13.39, -10.43]), interleukin-6 levels (WMD = -113.59, 95% CI [-113.03, -108.14]), and tumor necrosis factor-α levels (WMD = -62.18, 95% CI [-65.25, -59.11]) and that no significant adverse reactions occurred (RR = 0.45, 95% CI [0.10, 1.97]). The sample size of the included studies reached the expected size. The quality of evidence for outcome indicators was rated as low or very low.

Conclusions: The combination of GGQLD with conventional Western medicine demonstrates promising efficacy and safety in treating ID. Nonetheless, more high-quality RCTs are required to confirm this conclusion.

Introduction: The number of types of cancer, which is the leading severe health problem and is frequently seen in childhood period, has steadily increased over the years. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the herbal treatment methods used by parents of children with cancer during the chemotherapy process for symptom management.

Methods: The study was carried out with the parents of 126 children diagnosed with cancer. The data were collected with a questionnaire form created in line with the literature and the form for the amount and frequency of use of herbal treatment methods used by parents. The data were evaluated with descriptive statistics and χ2 test.

Results: The mean age of the children included in the study was 8.08 ± 3.15 (min = 3, max = 17) years, and the mean duration of diagnosis was 14.35 ± 13.22 (min = 6, max = 60) months. 78.6% (n = 99) of the parents included in the study stated that they used herbal treatment for the treatment of their child's disease. 79.4% (n = 100) of the parents thought that the herbal treatment they used was effective. The first reason (48.4%, n = 61) for using herbal treatment was "to do everything we could for the treatment."

Conclusion: It was determined that the use of herbal treatment methods was related to the mother's profession, the education level of the parents, and the place of residence. In particular, it is necessary to inform parents about herbal treatment methods through nurses with up-to-date information and to create the right attitude toward this issue.

Introduction: The effects of work-related stress (WRS) on occupational health often lead to reduced well-being and long-term sick leave. Itching or pruritus, a skin inflammation with a rash that provokes the desire to scratch, often occurs during stressful periods in patients with a history of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Case presentation: This patient suffered from severe WRS together with long-term therapeutically resistant pruritus for 8 years, resulting in severe itching. He was provided with an intervention with acupuncture treatment (AT) to prevent a long-term sick leave. The results showed an unexpected reduction in itching, skin inflammation, and eczema. Additionally, the treatment enhanced the patient's emotional and cognitive well-being and eliminated the need for sick leave.

Conclusion: Acupuncture can be an effective complementary treatment for severe itching related to WRS, in addition to standard medical treatments.

Introduction: Previously, an intervention involving volitional slow breathing reduced trait food craving with protective effects on cardiac vagal activity (CVA). Breathing with a low inspiration-to-expiration (i/e) ratio also increases CVA. High CVA was separately associated with low unregulated eating and lesser impulsivity. Hence, the present study assessed breathing with a low i/e for effects on state food craving, hunger and satiety, state impulsivity, and heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy obese persons.

Methods: Forty obese persons were randomized to two groups. The intervention group (mean age ± SD, 41.15 ± 12.63, M:F, 10:10) practiced metronome-regulated breathing with low i/e at 12 breaths per minute (expiration 72% of total breath duration) and attained expiration 55.8% of total breath duration, while the active control group (mean age ± SD, 44.45 ± 11.06, M:F, 13:07) sat motionless and directed their gaze and awareness to the stationary metronome without modifying their breath consciously. The HRV was recorded before, during, and after breathing intervention (or control) (standard limb lead I, acquisition at 2,000 Hz, with an LF filter = 0.5 Hz and HF filter = 50 Hz). Time-domain and frequency-domain HRV parameters were obtained with Kubios software. State food craving, and hunger and satiety were recorded before and after the intervention/control.

Results: The intervention group decreased total state food craving scores and the sub-domains (i.e., desire to eat, positive reinforcement, lack of control and hunger), increased current satisfaction with food, decreased total state impulsivity (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.05 in all cases), increased HF-HRV and RMSSD (linear mixed model analyses with age and gender as fixed factors; p < 0.05 in all cases) during the intervention compared to the preceding baseline. The intervention group also showed an increase in positive mood and a decrease in aroused and negative mood states.

Conclusion: Changes in state food craving and impulsivity could be related to an increase in HRV or to changes in subjective relaxation and positive mood or to both.

Introduction: For women who have experienced failed attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF) and face medical issues, leading to infertility, the renewed effort to seek fertility treatment, coupled with decreasing likelihood of success, can exert substantial emotional and physical strains. Consequently, many couples opt to discontinue treatment before attaining pregnancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive outcomes in patients with unsuccessful prior IVF attempts who received a complementary treatment designed to alleviate emotional distress and burden.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis of data from infertile patients who initiated the complementary intervention at a private clinic between January 2014 and December 2016 was conducted. Information on diagnosis, history of infertility, prior assisted reproductive technology treatments, mode of conception, and pregnancy outcomes were retrieved.

Results: The data of 133 patients with a history of one or more unsuccessful IVF treatments were analyzed. Patients had an average age of 36.7 years (±4.4 SD) and had been experiencing infertility for an average of 4.6 years (±2.7 SD). The two main causes of their infertility were endometriosis (36.1%, 48 patients) and diminished egg quality (31.6%, 42 patients). By May 2020, a significant proportion of the patients, 81.2% (108 patients), had achieved pregnancy, leading to 94 live births, which represents a 70.7% success rate. These pregnancies mostly resulted from natural cycle IVF (35.1%), donor cycles (23.4%), and conventional IVF (21.3%). The dropout rate was comparatively low at 23.3%. The median time from the start of complementary treatment to delivery was 18 months, with a range of 12-28 months.

Conclusions: This study highlights the potential value of complementary treatment approaches in conjunction with standard medical care for women who have experienced unsuccessful IVF treatments in the past and thus face a reduced chance of motherhood. The reported 71% live birth rate is notably high, indicating that the inclusion of complementary treatments may provide women with past IVF failures a tangible opportunity for achieving successful pregnancy and childbirth. However, these findings need to be confirmed through randomized controlled studies.

Background: A fasting conference and scientific symposium on fasting were held in Berlin in June 2023. Researchers and clinicians from around the world shared new findings, clinical insights, and work in progress during a 3-day program.

Summary: Different fasting regimens, including prolonged, short-term, intermittent fasting, and time-restricted eating were discussed for preventive and therapeutic settings. Experimental and clinical findings shared ranged from biochemical and cellular fasting responses to fasting-mimicking agents, the role of the gut microbiome, and immunological effects. Clinically, a special focus was placed upon metabolic, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and oncological diseases. The discussion also covered how modern technologies, practical adaptations to traditional protocols, and a supportive network of specialized physicians can assist in the practical application of fasting, among other subjects.

Key messages: Dose-response relationships, gender aspects, and the subjective experience of fasting seem promising for future research, while further investigation of religious fasting may offer deeper insights into motivational and health aspects.

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrinology condition that could affect several aspects of the patient's life.

Case presentation: We present a 27-year-old woman who was sent to the traditional Persian medicine (TPM) clinic with a diagnosis of uncontrolled chronic hyperthyroidism (lower levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and higher levels of T3 and T4) and its complications, such as developing exophthalmos, palpitations, anxiety, sleep problems, hair loss, and dry skin. The patient was under treatment with prednisolone and methimazole for up to 1 year, but no acceptable improvement was achieved. The patient received a package of TPM recommendations, which included lifestyle modification, Melissa officinalis herbal tea, and Persian barley water. The patient was followed for 1 year. After 2 months of follow-up of the patient, the level of TSH increased, and the level of T3 and T4 decreased. In addition, the patient's symptoms, including exophthalmos, palpitation, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and dryness of the skin, were improved considerably. After 3 months of consumption of the TPM-based regime and prescription, the serum levels of TSH, T3, and T4, of the patient were in normal ranges. In a 1-year follow-up of the patient, the patient's condition was stable and her thyroid function tests were normal. We hereby present the following case to be in line with the CAse REports (CARE) checklist.

Conclusion: It appears that TPM lifestyle recommendations, M. officinalis herbal tea, and Persian barley water were effective in treating the patient with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. We recommend further studies and clinical trial designs in this regard.