Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing最新文献

Introduction

Febrile neutropenia is a common complication in patients undergoing chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Primary granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis is consistently associated with a notable reduction in the risk of febrile neutropenia. However, the use of G-CSF in patients who are already neutropenic from chemotherapy remains controversial. Studies have shown that 12.9 % of cancer patients incorporate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to alleviate chemotherapy side effects in Taiwan; thereby providing an alternative management strategy for febrile neutropenia in cancer patients.

Case presentation

This is an 18-year-old female with newly diagnosed precursor T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. After chemotherapy, the patient developed febrile neutropenia. Despite the use of antibiotics and G-CSF, the febrile neutropenia persisted for two months. Approximately ten days after the initiation of traditional Chinese medicine decoction with the strategy of tonifying the spleen and stomach, clearing yin fire, and uplifting yang, her absolute neutrophil count (ANC) had gradually increased. Additionally, after two weeks of treatment, her fever subsided. The patient continued with chemotherapy and was discharged in stable condition.

Discussion

Antibiotic use aligns with the TCM perspective of an “attack” approach. Conversely, our TCM decoction was designed to raise the ANC by tonifying the spleen and stomach, clearing Yin Fire, and uplifting Yang. Li Dongyuan, one of the four great masters of the Jin Yuan Dynasty, created the formula: Bupiwei Shengyang Sanhuo Decoction that is notable in this regard. The herbs in our decoction have shown hematopoietic and myelosuppression-alleviating effect. For many patients who do not respond adequately to G-CSF alone, integrative treatments involving both TCM and Western medicine can offer additional therapeutic benefits by increasing blood cell counts.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy studies suggest that the induction of “mystical experiences” combined with psycho-therapy is a possible intervention for psychiatric illness. Advanced meditation may induce powerful experiences comparable to psychedelics. We investigated effects of an intensive meditation practice called Fire Kasina. Six individuals completed a retreat, and participated in an interview in which they described their experiences. They also completed the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), Hood Mystical Experience Scale (HME), and Cole's Spiritual Transformation Scale. Mean MEQ scores were 85 %, similar to prior observations of high-dose psilocybin and were stronger than moderate-dose psilocybin (t(5) = 4.41, p = 0.007, d = 1.80; W(5) = 21, p = 0.031). Mean HME scores were 93 %, exceeding levels reported for NDEs (mean 74 %) and high-dose psilocybin (mean 77 %). In qualitative analysis, experiences were described as the most intense of the individual's life, while subsequent transformational effects included substantial shifts in worldview.

Introduction

Patients with end-stage heart failure have limited options for medical treatment, and this ultimately necessitates heart transplantation. Patients undergoing heart transplant surgery are burdened with substantial costs related to finances, procedural risks, and postoperative quality of life. This report presents a case of heart failure in a patient whose limbs and heart were preserved through a collaboration between modern and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Patient Presentation

A 47-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and was diagnosed with 3-vessel disease and acute decompensated heart failure on October 27, 2020. After extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), the patient presented with cyanosis and gangrene in all four limbs. Cardiologists and plastic surgeons recommended heart transplantation and amputation. The patient wanted to keep his limbs and heart intact and requested to receive TCM. A TCM physician was consulted by visiting staff to provide combined care. After TCM intervention, both the ejection fraction (EF) and gangrene improved. Until now, the patient continues to receive TCM treatment, lives with preserved limbs and heart, and went through SARS-CoV2 infection smoothly in 2023.

Conclusion

TCM met the expectations of the patient and reduced the high medical expenses. This approach may improve the outlook and be a more economical option for patients with end-stage heart failure.

The initial descriptions of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been a topic of discussion. Cases of persistent diarrhea have been documented as far back as ancient Greece, with even Hippocrates (∼ 460–370 BCE) exploring various potential causes of diarrhea. Persian medicine was the predominant medical practice in the Eurasia region until the 18th century and had roots in Hippocrates and the ancient civilization of the region. Scholars, such as Avicenna (980–1025 CE), extensively described a disease characterized by intestinal ulcers, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal pain in the early medieval period. While some of the definitions and etiologies of IBD in Persian medicine are based on humoral theories that differ from current medical concepts, recent studies have suggested a potential relationship between the traditional Persian medicine understanding of the disease and IBD. Persian medicine classifies patients with specific diseases into different types of disorders known as dystemperament, with the application of these differences referred to as "syndrome differentiation." These traditional classifications require distinct therapeutic approaches. Research has delved into the molecular bases of the humoral theory and the impact of syndrome differentiation on drug selection for patients, including those with IBD. However, further research is needed to explore the potential effectiveness of Persian medicine in treating IBD and to understand how this ancient classification system can contribute to improved disease management.

Objective

To evaluate the effect of berberine as adjuvant therapy for the treatment of reduced fertility potential in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through a meta-analysis.

Methods

We comprehensively searched CNKI, SinoMed, Wanfang, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of berberine as adjuvant therapy for treating reduced fertility potential in women with PCOS.

Results

A total of 10 RCTs involving 713 patients were included. Berberine in combination with Western medicine significantly improved endometrial thickness (weight mean difference [WMD] 1.62 mm; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.39–1.85), ovulation rate (risk ratio [RR] 1.41; 95 % CI 1.26–1.60), and clinical pregnancy rate (RR 1.96; 95 % CI 1.59–2.41) compared to Western medicine alone. Moreover, berberine as adjuvant therapy also significantly reduced the blood levels of luteinizing hormone (WMD -2.07 U/L; 95 % CI -2.62 to -1.51) and total testosterone (standard mean difference -0.70; 95 % CI -1.02 to -0.39) but not the level of follicle-stimulating hormone level (WMD -0.23 IU/L; 95 % CI -0.52 to 0.06).

Conclusions

Berberine may serve as an adjuvant therapy to enhance ovulation and increase clinical pregnancy rates in women with PCOS. The potential advantages of berberine may be linked to improvements in endometrial thickness, total testosterone, and luteinizing hormone level. However, further clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and establish definitive conclusions.

Indigenous communities across Canada persist at the forefront of environmental and climate-related challenges, necessitating a concerted effort to integrate traditional Indigenous land-based knowledge and practices that inherently promote environmental protection and resilience. Using a decolonial feminist theoretical framework, this research centers on Indigenous community perspectives on the climate crisis and their land-based adaptions. Such an approach empowers Indigenous communities to reclaim agency over their narratives and shape research agendas congruent with their lived realities and aspirations. The study concludes by promoting the imperative of revitalizing traditional Indigenous land-based knowledge, practices and relationships with their ancestral lands. Despite emerging recognition within the scientific literature and international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, of the significance of traditional Indigenous land-based knowledge, many climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives continue to overlook Indigenous participation at various decision-making junctures. Hence, this paper advocates the necessity for international frameworks to acknowledge and integrate traditional knowledge systems and Indigenous participation across national borders, fostering inclusive climate crisis solutions that resonate with Indigenous communities' perspectives and experiences.