Objective: This case report discusses the effective management of a full-thickness rotator cuff injury using Ayurvedic treatment modalities in a 65-year-old patient who declined surgical intervention.
Background: After sustaining an injury from an external impact, the patient experienced severe shoulder pain and reduced mobility. Clinical and radiological assessments confirmed a full-thickness supraspinatus tear.
Intervention: Opting for a non-surgical approach, the treatment plan included a series of Ayurvedic polyherbal formulations and topical applications along with a set of guided physical rehabilitation.
Results: Remarkably, the patient achieved complete symptomatic relief and regained full shoulder function within five months. This case underscores the potential of Ayurvedic medicine as an alternative and adjunct therapeutic strategy for managing rotator cuff injuries, advocating for broader research into its clinical applications and underlying therapeutic mechanisms in orthopedic ailments.
Conclusion: This case report demonstrates improved quality of care by integrating Ayurvedic therapies with rehabilitative exercise. This suggests a potential change in practice by incorporating complementary therapies like Ayurveda to manage rotator cuff injury.
Background: Fatigue, a common and serious symptom in multiple sclerosis patients, negatively affects patients' activities of daily living and their quality of life. While foot reflexology has been widely used in fatigue management in recent years, its effect on multiple sclerosis-related fatigue patients remains unclear.
Primary study objective: This systematic review aimed to examine the effect of foot reflexology on multiple sclerosis-associated fatigue.
Methods/design: The protocol of the systematic review and the article writing were based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols criteria. In this systematic review, the literature search was conducted in September 2022, in the databases "Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane Library," without any year limitation. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established according to the PICOS criteria. Two independent researchers selected the studies and assessed their quality. The reviewed articles were analyzed using the data extraction form developed by the researchers.
Setting: Systematic review.
Results: Seven studies, including six randomized controlled trials and one quasi-experimental study with a total of 434 participants, were included in this systematic review. In six studies, it was found that foot reflexology significantly reduced multiple sclerosis-associated fatigue, while in one study there was a decrease in fatigue level, but the difference was insignificant.
Conclusıon: The reviewed studies showed that foot reflexology positively impacts the management of multiple sclerosis-related fatigue. It is suggested to perform further studies on foot reflexology's usefulness in multiple sclerosis patients, utilizing blinding and randomization techniques, with larger sample sizes and excellent methodological quality.
Background: Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a problem of achieving or maintaining a firm erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Objective: To compare the efficacy of polyherbal oral and topical Unani formulations (Majoon/Electuary and Tila/liniment) versus Tentex Forte and Himcolin in Erectile dysfunction.
Methods: This study was a comparative clinical trial conducted on 36 patients, with n = 18 in each test and control group. The test group was treated with polyherbal oral formulation (Majoon) 1 tsp twice daily and few drops of Tila locally. The control group received two capsules of Tentex Forte twice daily, with a few drops of Himcolin gel locally. Likewise, both groups were treated for 28 days. Study outcomes viz. difficulty in achieving and maintaining penile erections, and International Index of Erectile Function-15 score were assessed before and at the end of the study. Student t tests, Mc Nemars, and chi-square tests were used for data analysis.
Results: The findings of this study suggest that there is a highly significant effect of either intervention on difficulty in achieving and maintaining penile erection (P < .001) and IIEF-15 scores (P < .001). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = .15), which signifies that both interventions have a comparable effect on erectile dysfunction.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that polyherbal Unani formulation Majoon 7g twice orally and a few drops of Tila locally are equally effective as Tentex Forte and Himcolin in managing erectile dysfunction.
Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. However, current treatment options are not ideal.
Methods: In this study, mRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs expression profiles in four pairs of HCT116 and FHC cells were detected by microarray technology. The potential functions and enriched pathways of the differentially expressed RNAs were predicted using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways analyses. Bioinformatics software was used to construct co-expression networks of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-miRNA to reveal the potential mutual regulatory mechanisms of ceRNA.
Results: The result showed that 6681 mRNAs, 12784 lncRNAs, and 14301 CircRNAs were changed in HCT116 and FHC groups. Meanwhile, the differentially expressed RNAs were confirmed by RT-qPCR and then focused on the up-regulated genes of hsa_circ_0025288, ENSG00000233429.9, and NT5E by Maximum difference expression level.
Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical basis for the regulatory mechanism of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis and development of colorectal cancer cells. Therefore, this study pointed to ENSG00000233429.9 and hsa_circ_0025288 as potential molecular targets for colorectal cancer treatment in the future.
Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation can cause obesity, with diet playing an important role in promoting or reducing inflammation.
Primary study objective: Examining the relationship between diet quality and the soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) levels in obese individuals compared to healthy people.
Methods/design: Body weight, height, waist, hip, and neck circumference were measured, and body mass index (BMI), waist/hip, and waist/height ratio were calculated. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), LPS, LBP, sCD14, and TLR4 were analysed. Diet Quality Index-International was calculated using the 3-day food consumption record.
Setting: Conducted in Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital Endocrine Outpatient Clinic in Turkey.
Participants: 40 women of ages 20-45 with no systemic disease and a BMI between 30.0-39.9 kg/m2 were enrolled in the case group; while 40 healthy women with BMI and age distribution similar to the case group were enrolled in the control group.
Intervention: Anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and food consumption records were collected.
Results: While there was no statistically significant difference between the case and control groups in serum sCD14, LPS, LBP, and TLR4 levels (P > .05), the difference in IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP levels was found to be statistically significant (P < .05). The mean Diet Quality Index-International total score was 49.88 ± 6.29 in the case group and 54.77 ± 7.41 in the control group (P < .05). A low-level, negative, but significant relationship was detected between the serum sCD14, LBP, and TLR4 means of the case and control groups and Diet Quality Index-International total score. It was determined that a high Diet Quality Index-International total score was correlated with decreased IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP, sCD14, and TLR4.
Conclusion: Increased nutritional quality in women with different BMI was associated with lower metabolic endotoxemia.
Introduction: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) is a vascular abnormality in capillaries. CCMs can lead to different complaints depending on their location. Their size can range from microscopic up to several centimeters in diameter. In CCM, the walls of the capillaries are thinner than normal and less elastic. The blood vessel walls in cavernomas are weak and thin and can leak blood into the surrounding brain or spinal cord tissue. This leak can damage surrounding brain tissue and cause neurological problems. CCMs are dynamic lesions that may regress, progress in size, or even develop through de novo formation. The most feared side effect is intracerebral hemorrhage which may cause focal neurological symptoms such as headache and epileptic seizures.
Case study: Our patient was a 44-year-old male with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 1-2. He had recently experienced a brain hemorrhage 15 days ago. Additionally, he had mild vision loss and headaches. An MRI revealed a cavernoma located 2 cm deep in the occipital lobe with a diameter of 1 cm. The standard therapy for a cavernoma typically includes surgery or radiotherapy. However, a conservative treatment approach may also be considered, depending on the patient's symptoms and overall condition. It is prudent to consider conservative medical treatment for CCMs, especially when weighing the potential side effects of more invasive procedures like microsurgery or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Adverse effects include neurological damage, infection, and radiation-induced complications. In this case, we reviewed the literature to evaluate the appropriate treatment modality for our patient.
Conclusion: Conservative management typically involves monitoring the patients with regular imaging and medication. Each treatment option has its risks and benefits, and the decision should be tailored to the individual patient's condition, location and size of the CCM, and overall health.
Background: Smoking is considered one of the most important public health problems globally, and smokers have reduced lung functions, poor posture, and lower quality of life.
Primary study objective: To evaluate the effects of yoga practice among chronic smokers.
Methods: This case-control study included 28 participants with a power independent of 0.8 and an alpha (α) error of 0.05.
Setting: Fizyoram Physical Therapy Center.
Participants: A total of 28 participants were divided into the Smoker Group (SG) (n = 14) and Control Group (CG) (n = 14) according to the Fagerström Cigarette Dependence Test (FT).
Intervention: The participants performed yoga, including active movements and poses while standing (Asana) and voluntarily regulated breathing (Pranayama), twice a week for six weeks.
Primary outcome measures: All the volunteers were assessed for pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle strength, including Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP). Furthermore, posture, body awareness, and quality of life were evaluated using the New York Postural Rating Chart, Body Awareness Questionnaire, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results: The study showed that yoga led to statistical differences in pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength, posture, and quality of life in both groups (P < .05). Moreover, the change in MIP and MIP% was statistically higher in CG (P < .05) compared to SG. Lastly, SG experienced a significant lowering of FT scores from pre- to post-intervention (P = .001).
Conclusion: We found that yoga training can improve pulmonary parameters, posture, body awareness, and quality of life in smokers as healthy comparators. Thus, we suggest that practicing yoga not only enhances health-related functions but can also facilitate smoking cessation.
Background: Gout is a metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of urate crystals in joints due to a high concentration of uric acid in the blood. This leads to inflammation and joint swelling. Gout is traditionally treated with drugs that lower the uric acid level and reduce inflammation, but these treatments can have adverse effects. Phytopharmaceuticals, such as cinnamaldehyde nanoparticles (CANPs), have gained popularity as gout treatments. The study aimed to explore the anti-gout and antioxidant activities of CANPs in gouty mice.
Methodology: Cinnamon bark was used to synthesize CANPs, which were then characterized. The in vivo study was conducted using BALB/c mice, randomly divided into six groups (n = 6 per group). The control group received a normal diet, while the MSU group was injected with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals into the ankle joint to induce a disease model. The allopurinol group was treated with the standard drug allopurinol, serving as a positive control. Three treatment groups were administered different doses of CANPs; the experimental drug at concentrations of 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 20 ppm, respectively. CANPs were subsequently administered orally to the mice. CANPs were studied for their impact on liver function, renal function, lipid profile, total protein, antioxidant activity, and blood parameters.
Results: CANP administration had a favorable effect on gouty mice, according to the findings. CANPs dramatically lowered uric acid, urea, and creatinine concentrations, demonstrating their potential for treating hyperuricemia and gout. CANPs improved liver function, lipid profile, antioxidant activity, and blood parameters.
Conclusion: The study suggests that CANPs derived from cinnamon exhibit anti-gout and antioxidant properties in gouty mice. These findings support the potential use of CANPs as a natural and alternative treatment for gout. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic applications of CANPs in treating gout in humans.
Objective: This review examines the factors affecting the risk of skin tears and the prevalence of skin tears associated with nursing interventions in long-term care services.
Methods: Data sources included MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. This research included 9 studies evaluating the prevalence of skin tears and risk factors published from 2018 to 2023.
Results: Literature indicates that the prevalence of skin tears varies between 2.23% and 92% depending on the care setting. Discrepancies in prevalence rates were linked to differences in patient populations, wound classification methods, and healthcare practices. Risk factors included age, fragile skin, malnutrition, dehydration, balance disorders, and external causes like falls and adhesive dressings. It has been determined that skin tears, which occur due to internal factors such as changes in the epidermis and dermis or age-related comorbidities, and external factors such as hydration status, bath frequency, and use of medical adhesive products, have a higher prevalence, especially in the aging population.
Conclusion: In line with the results obtained from the studies examined, it is seen that many variables determined among the factors affecting the risk of skin tear are included in the framework of nursing care practices, and therefore, the needs and interventions determined by nurses in patient care have a very important place in ensuring and protecting skin integrity.