BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies最新文献

Background: Despite yoga's known benefits for physical and mental health, studies face challenges like small samples and high attrition, especially with medical professionals showing low adherence to yoga practices.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess yoga practice adherence, mainly participant experiences, future preferences, and its impact on participants' emotional states over a 6-week period.

Methods: the comprehensive yoga adherence program, including a 30-minute instructional video and weekly motivational messages and reminders. The video, accessible on various devices, was divided into pre-yoga stretches, yogic asanas, breathing exercises, and guided meditation. The study involved 15 participants from diverse backgrounds, including medical students, staff, and faculty members (above 18 years of age). Data collection was through three surveys, focusing on daily adherence, practice frequency, reasons for missed sessions, emotional states post-practice, and future yoga practice preferences. The study was conducted during the 2023/2024 academic year on the California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) campus.

Results: On average, participants engaged in yoga practice four days per week, with 17% practicing daily.: 20% of participants discontinued the practice during the study. 80% of participants reported feeling relaxed and happy after sessions, and none felt tired or bored. Common barriers to adherence included lack of time, motivation, and preference for alternative workouts. Participants expressed a strong desire to continue practicing yoga in the future, with varied preferences for virtual or in-person practice formats.

Conclusion: The study offers insights into the implementation challenges and feasibility of a comprehensive yoga adherence program. It highlights factors influencing participants' adherence and future practice preferences, contributing to effective strategies for promoting regular yoga practice and integrating it into wellness routines. The findings emphasize the need for tailored support to address diverse barriers to adherence and preferences for yoga formats. While there was significant adherence, understanding these factors is crucial for tailoring future programs to enhance participation and adherence.

Background: The global use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is steadily rising. Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer often turn to CAM to manage or improve their condition. As CAM becomes increasingly common in cancer care, understanding patients' views on formalising it within the healthcare system has grown more important. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the perspectives on the formalisation of CAM among current users diagnosed with prostate cancer at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Methods: The study employed an exploratory descriptive qualitative design. The design and reporting conformed to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist to ensure clarity and methodological rigour. Sixteen men with prostate cancer receiving treatment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were purposively selected to take part in the study. A semi-structured interview guide was specifically developed and used to gather data from the participants. The entire interview was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed through thematic content analysis, coding, and categorisation.

Results: The study found that participants view the legalisation and regulation of CAM treatments, the incorporation of herbal remedies into conventional treatments, the extension of the National Health Insurance Scheme to include CAM therapies, and the approval of herbal medicines by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and medical practitioners as positive factors that influence the formalization and use of CAM among men with prostate cancer.

Conclusion: To promote safe and integrated care, Ghanaian health authorities should prioritise the formal regulation and potential insurance coverage of CAM therapies, as these measures are critical in supporting the views of men with prostate cancer regarding CAM formalisation.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) continues to be a significant clinical challenge because of radioresistance and treatment-related toxicities. Safer radiosensitizers are urgently needed.

Objective: This study assessed the radiosensitizing effects of crocin and eugenol on OSCC-1 cells in vitro.

Methods: OSCC-1 cells were treated with crocin, eugenol, ionizing radiation, or their combinations. Cell viability (MTT assay), apoptosis (Annexin V/PI), and cell cycle distribution (PI staining) were assessed, along with transcriptional expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Cyclin A, and Cyclin B measured by RT-qPCR. The effects of the combinations were analyzed using the Chou-Talalay method.

Results: Both crocin and eugenol independently decreased OSCC cell viability and triggered apoptosis in a dose-dependent way. When used with IR, they worked together to boost cytotoxicity at moderate doses (CI < 1). Crocin caused early G1 arrest followed by G2/M accumulation, while eugenol strongly induced G2/M arrest and increased sub-G1 fractions. Molecular analysis showed activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway (↑Bax, ↑Caspase-3, ↓Bcl-2) and reduced levels of Cyclin A/B transcripts.

Conclusion: Crocin and eugenol effectively sensitize OSCC cells to IR by regulating apoptotic factors and promoting checkpoint arrest. Their favorable safety profiles and ability to enhance radiosensitivity support further in vivo studies and translational development as natural adjuncts in radiotherapy.

Background: In current trials of acupuncture for migraine treatment, the heterogeneity in therapeutic outcomes has been noted, which may be closely tied to the use of diverse sham acupuncture designs. This paper aims to evaluate the reporting quality of sham acupuncture and assess the potential impact of the consistency for intervention procedure between sham and true acupuncture groups on efficacy size in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for migraine.

Methods: RCTs with sham acupuncture as a control in migraine were searched in four English and four Chinese databases from inception to May 2024. Based on the SHARE checklist, the distribution of reported items and reporting rates were investigated. The meta-regressions were conducted to assess the potential impact of the consistency of intervention procedures between sham and true acupuncture groups on efficacy size of acupuncture for migraine.

Results: Evaluation of the 46 included studies revealed that a significant proportion of item descriptions were incomplete, such as the information informed or explained to patients (Item 5, 4(8.70%)), relevant operation training information (Item 6.2, 6(13.04%)) and Communication between practitioner and patient (Item 3.3, 8(17.39%)). Meanwhile, the Basic manipulation techniques (β=-0.76), Times of manipulation (β=-0.34), Time point of manipulation (β=-0.34), Frequency of manipulation (β=-0.34) and Duration of manipulation per time (β=-0.34) significantly impact efficacy of acupuncture on migraine.

Conclusions: The reporting quality of sham acupuncture in the acupuncture RCTs focusing on migraine was inadequate. Some details and context factors of sham acupuncture were often not reported. The differences of manipulation between sham and true acupuncture may be significant factors affecting the effect of acupuncture for migraine. In future acupuncture trials, the manipulation-related factors should be considered in the design of sham acupuncture and the specific reporting guidelines for sham acupuncture like SHARE should be adopted.

Background: Chicoric acid (CA) has been used as a nutritional supplement, health food, and medicine because of its antioxidant property. This study aimed to investigate whether CA can prevent motor dysfunction in a zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: AB-strain zebrafish (24 hours post-fertilization) were incubated with 25 µM 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) with or without CA for 5 days. The levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione, reactive oxygen species and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in brain tissue were measured. Additionally, the expression of molecules from the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway were assayed by Western blot.

Results: Compared with the control group, zebrafish in the MPTP group had impaired motor function. Treatment with CA prevented the changes of the total distance, the mean speed, and attenuated dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in the PD zebrafish model. CA also reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species and increased the antioxidant enzymes and glutathione level. Furthermore, CA augmented the expression of Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, GCLC, and GCLM in the brain of the PD zebrafish model.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest the protective effects of CA may be associated with regulating the antioxidant system, possibly involving the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a substantial contributor to cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Contemporary medications for CAD management need to be administered for longer periods with limited success. In addition, these medications have limitations owing to their adverse effects on long-term use. Therefore, it is imperative to identify safe, effective, and economical therapeutic options to lower the risk of CAD-related morbidity, mortality, and recurrence. This protocol was developed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions, Pushkar Guggulu and Haritaki, as an adjunct to standard care in individuals diagnosed with stable CAD compared with standard care alone.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) employs a double-blind, randomized controlled design and will be conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India. A total of 100 individuals of any gender aged 40-70 years and diagnosed with stable CAD will be enrolled in the study. The participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either Ayurveda interventions (Pushkar Guggulu capsules 1 gram, and Haritaki capsules 500 mg twice daily after meals) or the matching placebo of both the aforementioned Ayurveda interventions for 180 days. The conventional standard care per the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for CAD management will be provided in both groups. The primary outcome is the change in the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) score from baseline. The secondary outcome measures include the change in the grade of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society grading scale of angina pectoris; the change in the grade of the exercise stress test from baseline; the change in lipid profile, IL-6, and serum pro-BNP levels from baseline; the change in the need for standard care medications for CAD from baseline; and the change in health-related QoL (assessed by the SF-12 questionnaire). Safety will be evaluated by recording the incidence of adverse events and changes in laboratory safety parameters (CBC, LFT, KFT) from baseline.

Discussion: The outcomes of this RCT can be utilized to develop a strategy to integrate Ayurveda interventions with conventional standard management to achieve a better prognosis in CAD patients.

Trial registration: The study is prospectively registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI/2024/02/062553 dated February 12, 2024).