Introduction: The present study examines if Lycopodium 200 (Lyco-200) has demonstrable anti-cancer activities in mice which are chronically fed carcinogens, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and phenobarbital (PB) to induce liver cancer.
Materials and methods: Mice in 5 different groups were chronically fed for varying periods of time: group I: normal diet; group II: normal diet + alcohol 200); group III: p-DAB + PB; group IV: p-DAB + PB + alcohol 200 (vehicle of Lyco-200 being ethyl alcohol); group V: p-DAB + PB + Lyco-200. They were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120, and the following parameters were assessed: cytogenetic endpoints like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm-head anomaly; toxicity biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases, alanine and aspartate amino transferase, glutathione reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content. Additionally, scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of liver tissues were made at day 90 and 120, and immunodetection of p53 protein as well as gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases in liver tissue were performed. Furthermore, studies were conducted on blood glucose, hemoglobin and cholesterol, estradiol, testosterone and cortisol, and lymphocyte and hepatic cell viabilities. Physical properties of Lyco-200 and potentized alcohol 200 were analyzed by using methods such as UV, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy).
Results: Lyco-200 reduced cytogenetic damages yielding positive modulations of all biochemical, pathological and other risk factors, cell viability and expression of p53 protein and matrix metalloproteinases as compared to controls.
Conclusion: Studies on other mammals are recommended to further investigate the potential of Lyco-200 in liver cancer.
{"title":"Supportive evidence for the anticancerous potential of alternative medicine against hepatocarcinogenesis in mice.","authors":"Surajit Pathak, Nandini Bhattacharjee, Jayanta Kumar Das, Sandipan Chaki Choudhury, Susanta Roy Karmakar, Pathikrit Banerjee, Saili Paul, Antara Banerjee, Anisur Rahman Khuda-Bukhsh","doi":"10.1159/000103280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000103280","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The present study examines if Lycopodium 200 (Lyco-200) has demonstrable anti-cancer activities in mice which are chronically fed carcinogens, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) and phenobarbital (PB) to induce liver cancer.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Mice in 5 different groups were chronically fed for varying periods of time: group I: normal diet; group II: normal diet + alcohol 200); group III: p-DAB + PB; group IV: p-DAB + PB + alcohol 200 (vehicle of Lyco-200 being ethyl alcohol); group V: p-DAB + PB + Lyco-200. They were sacrificed at day 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 or 120, and the following parameters were assessed: cytogenetic endpoints like chromosome aberrations, micronuclei, mitotic index and sperm-head anomaly; toxicity biomarkers like acid and alkaline phosphatases, alanine and aspartate amino transferase, glutathione reductase, succinate dehydrogenase and catalase activities, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione content. Additionally, scanning and transmission electron microscopic analyses of liver tissues were made at day 90 and 120, and immunodetection of p53 protein as well as gelatin zymography for matrix metalloproteinases in liver tissue were performed. Furthermore, studies were conducted on blood glucose, hemoglobin and cholesterol, estradiol, testosterone and cortisol, and lymphocyte and hepatic cell viabilities. Physical properties of Lyco-200 and potentized alcohol 200 were analyzed by using methods such as UV, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Fluorescence Spectroscopy, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Lyco-200 reduced cytogenetic damages yielding positive modulations of all biochemical, pathological and other risk factors, cell viability and expression of p53 protein and matrix metalloproteinases as compared to controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Studies on other mammals are recommended to further investigate the potential of Lyco-200 in liver cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"148-56"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000103280","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-06-01Epub Date: 2007-06-22DOI: 10.1159/000103287
John A Ives, James Giordano
Do unusual claims require extraordinary proof? A scientific claim is evaluated through application of the scientific method. This involves experimentation (most rigorously in comparison to some form of control) and/or observation. Analyses and descriptions can be quantitative or qualitative, but adherence to stringent criteria to ensure validity of method and outcomes is essential. Claims that have been evaluated by this method are then disseminated through publication and/or presentation so as to be independently tested by other scientists. If such tests support the original claim, then, following a sufficient but indeterminate number of successful replications, the claim and any accompanying hypotheses and theories may be added to the scientific lexicon. If such tests fail to support the original claim, it is questioned and rejected (usually following a lesser number of replication attempts than is required to accept or sustain such claims). These results are commonly considered as ‘proof’ among the non-scientific, lay public. However, this is a misnomer. The process of discarding and/or accepting scientific claims is one of convergence upon ‘a truth’ that is subject to change as a consequence of scientific knowledge itself. Therefore, scientific claims and the truths they seek are always tangential. Unlike a mathematical proof, scientific claims and accompanying hypotheses and theoretical bases are always subject to scrutiny, challenge and revision, based upon both ongoing evaluation of the claim, and intellectual understanding of science and nature, at large. This is true for unusual claims as well as the more mundane. To suggest that something further needs to be applied to scrutinize an unusual claim is to misunderstand the principles of the scientific process, and scientific philosophy. It is of course a truism that all important or groundbreaking claims are by definition ‘unusual’. The elegance of the scientific process is that it addresses and evaluates all claims and discoveries identically. The process itself is progressive as Joshua Roebke claims ‘... science is ... an unending courtship, flirting ever closer with the absolute truth it desires though may never attain’ [2]. The scientific method, though rigorous, is not perfect. But, as Roebke notes, may be ‘... the best tool humans have for discerning facts of the world ...’ and ‘its utility, despite its limitations, earns it our trust’. The process of peer review is only a first step toward solidifying such trust and participating in that courtship. In this issue, such attention may be directed to somewhat ‘unusual’ scientific claims regarding outcomes and mechanisms of homeopathic treatments in which it is claimed that medicinal value may be found in solutions that do not contain the active ingredient. This seems contrary to the established theoretical understanding of pharmacobiology. However, the scientific approach is not to reject a claim simply because it seems implausible or u
{"title":"Unusual claims, normative process: on the use and stringency of the scientific method.","authors":"John A Ives, James Giordano","doi":"10.1159/000103287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000103287","url":null,"abstract":"Do unusual claims require extraordinary proof? A scientific claim is evaluated through application of the scientific method. This involves experimentation (most rigorously in comparison to some form of control) and/or observation. Analyses and descriptions can be quantitative or qualitative, but adherence to stringent criteria to ensure validity of method and outcomes is essential. Claims that have been evaluated by this method are then disseminated through publication and/or presentation so as to be independently tested by other scientists. If such tests support the original claim, then, following a sufficient but indeterminate number of successful replications, the claim and any accompanying hypotheses and theories may be added to the scientific lexicon. If such tests fail to support the original claim, it is questioned and rejected (usually following a lesser number of replication attempts than is required to accept or sustain such claims). These results are commonly considered as ‘proof’ among the non-scientific, lay public. However, this is a misnomer. The process of discarding and/or accepting scientific claims is one of convergence upon ‘a truth’ that is subject to change as a consequence of scientific knowledge itself. Therefore, scientific claims and the truths they seek are always tangential. Unlike a mathematical proof, scientific claims and accompanying hypotheses and theoretical bases are always subject to scrutiny, challenge and revision, based upon both ongoing evaluation of the claim, and intellectual understanding of science and nature, at large. This is true for unusual claims as well as the more mundane. To suggest that something further needs to be applied to scrutinize an unusual claim is to misunderstand the principles of the scientific process, and scientific philosophy. It is of course a truism that all important or groundbreaking claims are by definition ‘unusual’. The elegance of the scientific process is that it addresses and evaluates all claims and discoveries identically. The process itself is progressive as Joshua Roebke claims ‘... science is ... an unending courtship, flirting ever closer with the absolute truth it desires though may never attain’ [2]. The scientific method, though rigorous, is not perfect. But, as Roebke notes, may be ‘... the best tool humans have for discerning facts of the world ...’ and ‘its utility, despite its limitations, earns it our trust’. The process of peer review is only a first step toward solidifying such trust and participating in that courtship. In this issue, such attention may be directed to somewhat ‘unusual’ scientific claims regarding outcomes and mechanisms of homeopathic treatments in which it is claimed that medicinal value may be found in solutions that do not contain the active ingredient. This seems contrary to the established theoretical understanding of pharmacobiology. However, the scientific approach is not to reject a claim simply because it seems implausible or u","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"138-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000103287","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-06-01Epub Date: 2007-06-22DOI: 10.1159/000102956
Ronald Grossarth-Maticek, Renatus Ziegler
Background: Mistletoe preparations such as Iscador are commonly used in complementary medication for many cancer indications, particularly solid cancers. The efficacy of this complementary therapy is still controversial.
Objective: Does longterm therapy with Iscador show any effect on survival, tumor progression and psychosomatic self-regulation of patients with cervical cancer?
Patients and methods: Prospective recruitment and long-term follow-up was carried out in 3 controlled cohort studies: In a randomized matched-pair study (19 pairs), cervical cancer patients with distant metastases and no mistletoe therapy were matched for prognostic factors. By paired random allocation, one of the patients was recommended mistletoe therapy by the attending physician. In 2 non-randomized matched-pair studies, cervical cancer patients without (102) and with (66) metastases, who already received mistletoe therapy, were matched with control patients without Iscador therapy.
Results: For survival, the non-randomized studies showed significant effects in favor of Iscador therapy: hazard ratio (HR) estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23 (0.14-0.39) and 0.37 (0.17-0.80), respectively. An effect of long-term Iscador therapy on tumor progression was not seen. Psychosomatic self-regulation in the Iscador group improved significantly within 12 months compared with the control group in the randomized as well as in 1 non-randomized study (cervical cancer without metastases): estimate of the median difference and 95% CI: 0.70 (0.15-1.05) and 0.25 (0.15-0.35), respectively.
Conclusion: Iscador may have the effect of prolonging overall survival of cervical cancer patients. In the short term, psychosomatic self-regulation increases more markedly under complementary Iscador therapy than under conventional therapy alone.
{"title":"Prospective controlled cohort studies on long-term therapy of cervical cancer patients with a mistletoe preparation (Iscador).","authors":"Ronald Grossarth-Maticek, Renatus Ziegler","doi":"10.1159/000102956","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000102956","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mistletoe preparations such as Iscador are commonly used in complementary medication for many cancer indications, particularly solid cancers. The efficacy of this complementary therapy is still controversial.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Does longterm therapy with Iscador show any effect on survival, tumor progression and psychosomatic self-regulation of patients with cervical cancer?</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>Prospective recruitment and long-term follow-up was carried out in 3 controlled cohort studies: In a randomized matched-pair study (19 pairs), cervical cancer patients with distant metastases and no mistletoe therapy were matched for prognostic factors. By paired random allocation, one of the patients was recommended mistletoe therapy by the attending physician. In 2 non-randomized matched-pair studies, cervical cancer patients without (102) and with (66) metastases, who already received mistletoe therapy, were matched with control patients without Iscador therapy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>For survival, the non-randomized studies showed significant effects in favor of Iscador therapy: hazard ratio (HR) estimate and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23 (0.14-0.39) and 0.37 (0.17-0.80), respectively. An effect of long-term Iscador therapy on tumor progression was not seen. Psychosomatic self-regulation in the Iscador group improved significantly within 12 months compared with the control group in the randomized as well as in 1 non-randomized study (cervical cancer without metastases): estimate of the median difference and 95% CI: 0.70 (0.15-1.05) and 0.25 (0.15-0.35), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Iscador may have the effect of prolonging overall survival of cervical cancer patients. In the short term, psychosomatic self-regulation increases more markedly under complementary Iscador therapy than under conventional therapy alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"140-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000102956","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Die Komplementärmedizin (CAM) macht zweifellos Fortschritte. Immer mehr Patienten sehen es als selbstverständlich an, dass ihnen neben der konventionellen (Schul-)Medizin auch Gesundheitsleistungen angeboten werden, die sich um einen anderen, komplementären Zugang zu ihren Problemen bemühen. Für junge Mediziner gehört es zum guten postgradualen Ton, sich zusätzlich zum akademischen Studium in einer komplementärmedizinischen Methode auszubilden; demgemäß gibt es zunehmend Bemühungen, CAM in den Studienbetrieb einzubauen [1, 2] und/oder für fundierte postgraduale Weiterbildungsangebote zu sorgen. In England gibt es sicher die meisten universitären Lehrund Forschungseinrichtungen für CAM, aber auch in der Schweiz, in Deutschland, Norwegen und Ungarn wird CAM an den Universitäten immerhin schon angeboten. Und selbst in Österreich hat der Krankenanstaltenverbund der Gemeinde Wien (KAV), der größte Ärzteausbilder Europas, die Akademie für Ganzheitsmedizin (Gamed) beauftragt, einen einjährigen Lehrgang «Integrative Health Care» als Blended-Learning-Programm zu entwickeln und aufzubauen. Auch bei den Hochschullehrern scheint sich ein Umdenken anzubahnen, wenn man den Ergebnissen der Umfrageuntersuchung von Brinkhaus et al. glauben darf: Demnach sind rund 60% der Institutsleiter dafür, dass CAM unterrichtet und auch in die klinische Praxis integriert wird. Auf den ersten Blick mag man denken, das seien viele. Bei Patientenbefragungen liegt der Anteil derer, die CAM für eine sinnvolle Angebotserweiterung halten allerdings regelmäßig höher. Außerdem ist anzunehmen, dass es sich bei den Angaben vieler Hochschullehrer eher um ein Lippenbekenntnis handelt – es kostet ja nichts, prinzipiell dafür zu sein, dass CAM unterrichtet wird. In Österreich ist die Situation der fehlenden akademischen Anbindung der Komplementärmedizin besonders krass: Keine einzige universitäre medizinische Abteilung widmet sich CAM, weder klinisch noch lehrend und schon gar nicht forschend, geschweige denn, dass es einen Lehrstuhl für CAM gäbe. Demgegenüber stehen geschätzte 4500 (von insgesamt etwa 16 000) niedergelassene ÄrztInnen, die eine oder mehrere komplementärmedizinische Methoden in ihrem Praxisalltag integriert anwenden und deren Aus-, Fortund Weiterbildung exklusiv außeruniversitär stattfindet. Ähnlich, wenn auch nicht ganz so krass, ist es ja auch in anderen Ländern. Dennoch – die Fortschritte sind auch hier nicht zu übersehen. Die Debatte um den Sinn der Komplementärmedizin verschiebt sich von einer aggressiv und erkenntnistheoretisch oft ahnungslos geführten Wirksamkeitsdebatte immer mehr hin zu pragmatischeren Fragen, z.B. der ökonomischen. Das Kostenargument hat als «Joker» das Argument von der «Unschädlichkeit» und «Nebenwirkungsfreiheit» von CAM abgelöst [4]. Die Komplementärmediziner werben für ihre Sache nun nicht mehr so sehr, indem sie zu beweisen suchen, dass sie ebenso gute RCTs (randomized controlled trials) machen wie ihre Kollegen von der konventionellen Medizi
{"title":"[Fit for Europe?].","authors":"Bettina Reiter","doi":"10.1159/000102059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000102059","url":null,"abstract":"Die Komplementärmedizin (CAM) macht zweifellos Fortschritte. Immer mehr Patienten sehen es als selbstverständlich an, dass ihnen neben der konventionellen (Schul-)Medizin auch Gesundheitsleistungen angeboten werden, die sich um einen anderen, komplementären Zugang zu ihren Problemen bemühen. Für junge Mediziner gehört es zum guten postgradualen Ton, sich zusätzlich zum akademischen Studium in einer komplementärmedizinischen Methode auszubilden; demgemäß gibt es zunehmend Bemühungen, CAM in den Studienbetrieb einzubauen [1, 2] und/oder für fundierte postgraduale Weiterbildungsangebote zu sorgen. In England gibt es sicher die meisten universitären Lehrund Forschungseinrichtungen für CAM, aber auch in der Schweiz, in Deutschland, Norwegen und Ungarn wird CAM an den Universitäten immerhin schon angeboten. Und selbst in Österreich hat der Krankenanstaltenverbund der Gemeinde Wien (KAV), der größte Ärzteausbilder Europas, die Akademie für Ganzheitsmedizin (Gamed) beauftragt, einen einjährigen Lehrgang «Integrative Health Care» als Blended-Learning-Programm zu entwickeln und aufzubauen. Auch bei den Hochschullehrern scheint sich ein Umdenken anzubahnen, wenn man den Ergebnissen der Umfrageuntersuchung von Brinkhaus et al. glauben darf: Demnach sind rund 60% der Institutsleiter dafür, dass CAM unterrichtet und auch in die klinische Praxis integriert wird. Auf den ersten Blick mag man denken, das seien viele. Bei Patientenbefragungen liegt der Anteil derer, die CAM für eine sinnvolle Angebotserweiterung halten allerdings regelmäßig höher. Außerdem ist anzunehmen, dass es sich bei den Angaben vieler Hochschullehrer eher um ein Lippenbekenntnis handelt – es kostet ja nichts, prinzipiell dafür zu sein, dass CAM unterrichtet wird. In Österreich ist die Situation der fehlenden akademischen Anbindung der Komplementärmedizin besonders krass: Keine einzige universitäre medizinische Abteilung widmet sich CAM, weder klinisch noch lehrend und schon gar nicht forschend, geschweige denn, dass es einen Lehrstuhl für CAM gäbe. Demgegenüber stehen geschätzte 4500 (von insgesamt etwa 16 000) niedergelassene ÄrztInnen, die eine oder mehrere komplementärmedizinische Methoden in ihrem Praxisalltag integriert anwenden und deren Aus-, Fortund Weiterbildung exklusiv außeruniversitär stattfindet. Ähnlich, wenn auch nicht ganz so krass, ist es ja auch in anderen Ländern. Dennoch – die Fortschritte sind auch hier nicht zu übersehen. Die Debatte um den Sinn der Komplementärmedizin verschiebt sich von einer aggressiv und erkenntnistheoretisch oft ahnungslos geführten Wirksamkeitsdebatte immer mehr hin zu pragmatischeren Fragen, z.B. der ökonomischen. Das Kostenargument hat als «Joker» das Argument von der «Unschädlichkeit» und «Nebenwirkungsfreiheit» von CAM abgelöst [4]. Die Komplementärmediziner werben für ihre Sache nun nicht mehr so sehr, indem sie zu beweisen suchen, dass sie ebenso gute RCTs (randomized controlled trials) machen wie ihre Kollegen von der konventionellen Medizi","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"136-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000102059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26906257","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-06-01Epub Date: 2007-06-22DOI: 10.1159/000101948
Katrin Goedsche, Martin Förster, Claus Kroegel, Christine Uhlemann
Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer from exacerbations caused by infections of the bronchial tract.
Objective: What effects do hydrotherapeutic applications according to Kneipp have on lung function, blood gases, immune system and quality of life of patients with COPD?
Patients and methods: 20 patients with COPD (17 males, 3 females); mean age: 64; forced expiratory volume (FEV1): 62 of 100% (on average); no acute exacerbations, no oral corticosteroids. Measurements were performed (I) at 10 weeks pre-treatment, (II) immediately before therapy (I-II: baseline-period), (III) after 10 weeks treatment with 3 cold affusions and 2 cold washings of the upper part of the body (self-treatment) per week each, (IV) 3 months after completion of the treatment (follow- up). The following parameters were measured: lung function, blood gases, routine lab, experimental lab (interleukines, lymphocytes), maximal expiratory flow (PEF), quality of life and respiratory infections.
Results: The pH increased over the course of the study. PEF and the number of lymphocytes significantly increased over the treatment (II-III). Intracellular expression of IL-4 by T lymphocytes decreased. However, the expression of IFN-gamma increased. Frequency of infections was lower during follow-up (IV) than before and during therapy. Quality of life after treatment was estimated to be good in all patients.
Conclusions: Repeated cold stimulations (affusions) can influence the frequency of respiratory infections and improve subjective well-being. It may cause an immunological modulation in terms of the Th1-type pattern.
{"title":"[Repeated cold water stimulations (hydrotherapy according to Kneipp) in patients with COPD].","authors":"Katrin Goedsche, Martin Förster, Claus Kroegel, Christine Uhlemann","doi":"10.1159/000101948","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000101948","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often suffer from exacerbations caused by infections of the bronchial tract.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>What effects do hydrotherapeutic applications according to Kneipp have on lung function, blood gases, immune system and quality of life of patients with COPD?</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>20 patients with COPD (17 males, 3 females); mean age: 64; forced expiratory volume (FEV1): 62 of 100% (on average); no acute exacerbations, no oral corticosteroids. Measurements were performed (I) at 10 weeks pre-treatment, (II) immediately before therapy (I-II: baseline-period), (III) after 10 weeks treatment with 3 cold affusions and 2 cold washings of the upper part of the body (self-treatment) per week each, (IV) 3 months after completion of the treatment (follow- up). The following parameters were measured: lung function, blood gases, routine lab, experimental lab (interleukines, lymphocytes), maximal expiratory flow (PEF), quality of life and respiratory infections.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pH increased over the course of the study. PEF and the number of lymphocytes significantly increased over the treatment (II-III). Intracellular expression of IL-4 by T lymphocytes decreased. However, the expression of IFN-gamma increased. Frequency of infections was lower during follow-up (IV) than before and during therapy. Quality of life after treatment was estimated to be good in all patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Repeated cold stimulations (affusions) can influence the frequency of respiratory infections and improve subjective well-being. It may cause an immunological modulation in terms of the Th1-type pattern.</p>","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"158-66"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000101948","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Produkte pflanzlichen Ursprungs werden nicht nur in der Phytotherapie, sondern auch in der Homöopathie, der Anthroposophie und in vielen anderen so genannten «alternativen Therapierichtungen» eingesetzt. Phytotherapie und Phytopharmaka bewegen sich heute außerdem in einem regulatorisch extrem heterogenen Umfeld. Das erklärt, warum sich die Arzneimittel so stark unterscheiden, wobei nur einigen der Therapierichtungen (vor allem der Homöopathie und der anthroposophischen Medizin) bestimmte Arzneimittelklassen eindeutig zugewiesen sind. Unter den Produkten, die als Arzneimittel verkehrsfähig sind und die pflanzliche Wirkstoffe enthalten, gibt es (nach Zulassungsbzw. Registrierungsstatus) folgende Kategorien: – Homöopathische Arzneimittel mit Registrierung oder Zulassung – Tees und Teemischungen mit Standardzulassung – Anthroposophische Arzneimittel mit Registrierung – «Traditionelle Arzneimittel» auf der Basis tradierten Wissens nach § 109a AMG – «Traditionelle Arzneimittel», die nach der Richtlinie 2001/ 83/EG (d.h. nach §§ 39 a–d AMG) zugelassen wurden – Arzneimittel, denen eine Zulassung nach den §§ 21–24 AMG bzw. § 105 AMG erteilt wurde Der unterschiedliche Zulassungsstatus bedingt nicht nur erhebliche pharmazeutische Unterschiede (Wirkstoff entweder eine Arzneidroge oder eine Extraktzubereitung), sondern auch eine zum Teil dramatisch unterschiedliche Dosierung. Allein aus diesem Grund ist es unmöglich, über die Wirksamkeit von Produkten aus einer bestimmten Arzneipflanze oder Arzneidroge eine generelle Aussage zu machen. Vielmehr ist die Wirksamkeit jeder Arzneidrogenzubereitung getrennt und für jedes Präparat spezifisch zu bewerten. Mag die Dosierungsproblematik bei Tees oder bei den homöopatischen Dilutionen noch allgemein plausibel sein, so ist doch weitgehend unbekannt, dass die meisten «traditionellen Arzneimittel» (auf der Basis tradierten Wissens nach § 109a AMG) aufgrund regulatorischer Vorgaben so niedrig dosiert sind («mindestens 10% einer wirksamen Dosierung»), dass sie außerhalb der traditionellen Indikationen nicht wirksam sein können. Somit lässt eine Zulassung allein nicht zwingend auf eine geprüfte Wirksamkeit schließen. Bei den nach §§ 21–24 bzw. § 105 AMG zugelassenen Arzneimitteln geht man hingegen allgemein davon aus, dass sie wirksam sind, da die Zulassung nach den generellen Prinzipien des Nachweises der Wirksamkeit, der Unbedenklichkeit und der pharmazeutischen Qualität erteilt wurde. Allerdings ist ebenfalls nur Experten bekannt, dass für die große Mehrzahl dieser nach §§ 21–24 bzw. § 105 AMG zugelassenen Phytopharmaka vor allem der Nachweis der Wirksamkeit lediglich bibliographisch, d.h. bezugnehmend auf publiziertes Wissen, und nicht präparatespezifisch erbracht und anerkannt wurde. Dieser bezugnehmende Beleg wäre akzeptabel, wenn es sich bei den unterschiedlichen Phytopharmaka – ähnlich wie bei Generika – um «generell ähnliche» (essentially similar) Präparate handeln würde. Die Zulassungssystematik erlaubt es jedoch,
{"title":"[Statement of the Commission for \"Quality and Transparency of Phytopharmaca\" by order of the \"Komitee Forschung Naturmedizin e.V.(KFN)\"].","authors":"Theodor Dingermann","doi":"10.1159/000102937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000102937","url":null,"abstract":"Produkte pflanzlichen Ursprungs werden nicht nur in der Phytotherapie, sondern auch in der Homöopathie, der Anthroposophie und in vielen anderen so genannten «alternativen Therapierichtungen» eingesetzt. Phytotherapie und Phytopharmaka bewegen sich heute außerdem in einem regulatorisch extrem heterogenen Umfeld. Das erklärt, warum sich die Arzneimittel so stark unterscheiden, wobei nur einigen der Therapierichtungen (vor allem der Homöopathie und der anthroposophischen Medizin) bestimmte Arzneimittelklassen eindeutig zugewiesen sind. Unter den Produkten, die als Arzneimittel verkehrsfähig sind und die pflanzliche Wirkstoffe enthalten, gibt es (nach Zulassungsbzw. Registrierungsstatus) folgende Kategorien: – Homöopathische Arzneimittel mit Registrierung oder Zulassung – Tees und Teemischungen mit Standardzulassung – Anthroposophische Arzneimittel mit Registrierung – «Traditionelle Arzneimittel» auf der Basis tradierten Wissens nach § 109a AMG – «Traditionelle Arzneimittel», die nach der Richtlinie 2001/ 83/EG (d.h. nach §§ 39 a–d AMG) zugelassen wurden – Arzneimittel, denen eine Zulassung nach den §§ 21–24 AMG bzw. § 105 AMG erteilt wurde Der unterschiedliche Zulassungsstatus bedingt nicht nur erhebliche pharmazeutische Unterschiede (Wirkstoff entweder eine Arzneidroge oder eine Extraktzubereitung), sondern auch eine zum Teil dramatisch unterschiedliche Dosierung. Allein aus diesem Grund ist es unmöglich, über die Wirksamkeit von Produkten aus einer bestimmten Arzneipflanze oder Arzneidroge eine generelle Aussage zu machen. Vielmehr ist die Wirksamkeit jeder Arzneidrogenzubereitung getrennt und für jedes Präparat spezifisch zu bewerten. Mag die Dosierungsproblematik bei Tees oder bei den homöopatischen Dilutionen noch allgemein plausibel sein, so ist doch weitgehend unbekannt, dass die meisten «traditionellen Arzneimittel» (auf der Basis tradierten Wissens nach § 109a AMG) aufgrund regulatorischer Vorgaben so niedrig dosiert sind («mindestens 10% einer wirksamen Dosierung»), dass sie außerhalb der traditionellen Indikationen nicht wirksam sein können. Somit lässt eine Zulassung allein nicht zwingend auf eine geprüfte Wirksamkeit schließen. Bei den nach §§ 21–24 bzw. § 105 AMG zugelassenen Arzneimitteln geht man hingegen allgemein davon aus, dass sie wirksam sind, da die Zulassung nach den generellen Prinzipien des Nachweises der Wirksamkeit, der Unbedenklichkeit und der pharmazeutischen Qualität erteilt wurde. Allerdings ist ebenfalls nur Experten bekannt, dass für die große Mehrzahl dieser nach §§ 21–24 bzw. § 105 AMG zugelassenen Phytopharmaka vor allem der Nachweis der Wirksamkeit lediglich bibliographisch, d.h. bezugnehmend auf publiziertes Wissen, und nicht präparatespezifisch erbracht und anerkannt wurde. Dieser bezugnehmende Beleg wäre akzeptabel, wenn es sich bei den unterschiedlichen Phytopharmaka – ähnlich wie bei Generika – um «generell ähnliche» (essentially similar) Präparate handeln würde. Die Zulassungssystematik erlaubt es jedoch, ","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"180-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000102937","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26906258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-06-01Epub Date: 2007-06-22DOI: 10.1159/000102759
Gary Bruno Schmid, Katharina Brunisholz
Background: Natural and alternative healing methods are becoming ever more popular in the USA and Europe. Nevertheless, objective data about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by persons suffering from schizophrenic disturbances is scarce.
Objective: To examine whether patients who had undergone or were undergoing stationary treatment for a schizophrenic disturbance preferred CAM and, if so, to what extent.
Material and methods: Via a special questionnaire, 70 patients in the adult psychiatry wards of a public hospital in Switzerland were interviewed. Most patients were undergoing stationary treatment with neuroleptics. The questionnaire covered various types of standard medical treatment as well as treatments with CAM, and explored patient motivation for their respective use.
Results: CAM methods were quite popular: they were used by 82% of all women and 91% of all men for treatment of mental problems, and were further recommended by 93% of women and 80% of men. Sex, age, highest educational level, present vocational position and severity of illness had no significant influence upon popularity. Most popular CAM methods were preparations for ingestion, psychological and imaginative procedures, body-oriented psychotherapy, and treatments involving sensory perceptions. Motivation for use of CAM encompassed personal interest, friends, family and acquaintances as well as an overall wish for treatment complementary to main stream.
Conclusions: CAM methods are used in addition to - not instead of - usual practices of established medicine, and are just as popular as standard methods. Accordingly, CAM can justifiably be regarded as belonging to the 'main stream' of the health-seeking public.
{"title":"[Evaluation of use of complementary and alternative medicine by schizophrenic patients].","authors":"Gary Bruno Schmid, Katharina Brunisholz","doi":"10.1159/000102759","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000102759","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Natural and alternative healing methods are becoming ever more popular in the USA and Europe. Nevertheless, objective data about the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by persons suffering from schizophrenic disturbances is scarce.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine whether patients who had undergone or were undergoing stationary treatment for a schizophrenic disturbance preferred CAM and, if so, to what extent.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Via a special questionnaire, 70 patients in the adult psychiatry wards of a public hospital in Switzerland were interviewed. Most patients were undergoing stationary treatment with neuroleptics. The questionnaire covered various types of standard medical treatment as well as treatments with CAM, and explored patient motivation for their respective use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>CAM methods were quite popular: they were used by 82% of all women and 91% of all men for treatment of mental problems, and were further recommended by 93% of women and 80% of men. Sex, age, highest educational level, present vocational position and severity of illness had no significant influence upon popularity. Most popular CAM methods were preparations for ingestion, psychological and imaginative procedures, body-oriented psychotherapy, and treatments involving sensory perceptions. Motivation for use of CAM encompassed personal interest, friends, family and acquaintances as well as an overall wish for treatment complementary to main stream.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>CAM methods are used in addition to - not instead of - usual practices of established medicine, and are just as popular as standard methods. Accordingly, CAM can justifiably be regarded as belonging to the 'main stream' of the health-seeking public.</p>","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"167-72"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000102759","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"[DHEA: castle in the air rather than the fountain ou youth].","authors":"Karl-Ludwig Resch","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"185-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26906260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2007-06-01Epub Date: 2007-06-22DOI: 10.1159/000102073
Karl-Ludwig Resch
{"title":"[Smoking cessation: never mind if it's good for health, as long as it's fun].","authors":"Karl-Ludwig Resch","doi":"10.1159/000102073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000102073","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54318,"journal":{"name":"Forschende Komplementarmedizin","volume":"14 3","pages":"182-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2007-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1159/000102073","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"26801055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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